12 



that is striate near the margin. Various stages in the development 

 of this dangerous toadstool are shown from 1, the young "button" 

 stage, to 6, the fully-developed specimen, in Figure 6. 



The poisonous properties reside in an alkaloid called muscarine, 

 which retards the action of the heart, followed by giddiness, cold 

 sweat, lockjaw, stupor and death. Atropine, the active principle of 

 belladonna (Atropa Belladonna L. ), is an important heart stimulant 



Fig. 6. 



The Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria L.) 



that counteracts the action of the muscarine, and is given hypo- 

 dermically in doses of one one-hundredth to one one-hundred-and- 

 fiftieth of a grain. If possible, the undigested portions of the toad- 

 stool should be removed from the stomach and the lower intestines 

 cleansed by a warm water enema. The case should be placed in 

 the hands of a skilled physician at the earliest possible moment. 



