346 FLOWERLESS PLANTS. 
So exciting is it to the nervous system of many that its 
effects are very ludicrous; a talkative person cannot keep 
silence or secrets —one fond of music is perpetually singing, 
and if a person under its influence wishes to step over a 
straw or stick, he takes a stride or jump sufficient to clear 
the trunk of a tree. It is needless to say delirium, coma 
and death often results as in the case of alcoholic spirits. 
The most remarkable fact is that the fluids of the de- 
bauchee become similarly narcotic, and are therefore pre- 
served in times of scarcity. Thus a whole village, as some 
suy, may be intoxicated through the medium of one man, 
and thus one fungus serves to prolong these most fearful and 
disgusting orgies for many days together. It is worthy of 
note that the very same erroneous impression as to size and 
distance produced by this plant, are also created by the 
hasheesh of India, and are also frequently noticed among idi- 
ots and lunatics. It has been suggested that many of these 
may have suffered martyrdom at the stake during the witch 
mania of Scotland, owing to their natural and temporary 
defect — inability to step over a straw being considered the 
conclusive test of familiarity with evil spirits. And with 
those devoted to its intentional use, we should say it really 
does come within one of it. It is curious to observe how 
the effects produced by various species of poisonous fungi 
should be so very similar to alcoholic liquors. The effects 
in both eases may be traced to a kindred cause. Alcohol, 
as all know, is the product of fermentation or corruption, 
arrested at a certain stage of fungoid growth, as also is the 
case with the yeast and rising process of the pastry cook and 
brewer. Having, hence, one common origin, it is less won- 
der their effects should be similar; and, we may add, they 
tend to produce a like poisoned condition in the human body. 
This is exemplified in excessive beer and liquor consumers, 
the slightest accident or even scratch on which will often 
cause death. 
_ Thus they become the short-lived mushroom humanity 
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