FUNGALES. 



675 



Among the edible fungi, what are called Mushrooms are the best known; 

 these are different species of Agaricus, but principally the A. campestris, A. 

 deliciosus, &c. ; many of the species of this genus, on the other hand, are 

 exceedingly poisonous, and are known as Toadstools. The " Oronge" of 

 the French, is the Amanita aurantiaca ; this is wholesome and delicious, 

 whilst most of the other species are extremely poisonous. The Morchella 

 esculenta, or Morelle, is highly esteemed in Canada, and the Tuber cibarium, 

 or Truffle, has a universal reputation. In this country very (exv species are 

 eaten, in England rather more, whilst in Russia from thirty to forty different 

 kinds are^ made use of. A long list of works might be cited on the eatable 

 and deleterious species, but the most complete is that of Roque {Hist, des 

 Chaw/pig. Comestibles et Venemeux). It is impossible to decide, except from 

 experience, which Sre wholesome and which unwholesome, and it would even 

 appear that the same species may be one or the other according to circum- 

 stances. 



Fig. 327. 



a. Agaricus vernus. b. A. phalloides. _ 



muscarius. g. A. pantherinus 



Poisonous Fungi. 



c. A. porphyrius. d. A. vaginatus. e. A. nivalis. /. A. 



The poisonous fungi are exceedingly numerous, and when eaten produce 

 the usual symptoms of the acro-narcotics. No specific antidote is known ; 

 the only mode is to ca*use their speedy evacuation from the body, and to con- 

 duct the subsequent treatment according to the symptoms that may be pre- 

 sent. One of the most poisonous of the Fungi, is the Amanita muscaria, 

 yet even this is used in some parts of Asiatic Russia, for the purpose of pro- 

 ducing intoxication; one or two small ones will cause drunkenness for a 

 whole day, more especially if a fluid be taken immediately after them. But 

 its most singular property is the effect it produces on the urine, which be- 

 comes so imbued with the active principles as to cause the same symptoms 

 as the fungus itself: thus, if a man is intoxicated one day from taking the 

 plant, and have slept himself sober, next morning, as is the custom, drinks a 

 cup full of his urine, he will be still more drunk than he was the preceding 

 day. The intoxicating property of the urine is also capable of being propa- 

 gated, and Dr. Langsdorf mentions that the full effects may be transmitted 

 through five individuals. Thus with a few of these fungi, a party may keep 

 up their debauch for a week. 



Some of the fungi are employed as remedial agents; thus the internal 

 spongy portion of several species of Polyporus, when beaten till soft, is used 

 as a styptic to restrain bleeding ; it has also been recommended as a support 



