News and Notes 



279 



found to contain two poisons, one active in the raw plant only 

 and the other resisting both cooking and digestion. Atropine is 

 still considered a perfect antidote for muscarine, found in 

 Amanita mus carta, but another poison may perhaps be present 

 also in this species. 



Amanita rubescens and A. solitaria contain the same blood- 

 destroying toxin found in uncooked plants of A. phalloides, but 

 this is destroyed by heat. On the other hand, this poison is 

 absent in A. strobiliformis, A. chlorinosma, A. radicata and A. 

 porphyria, and the deadly and resistant amanita-toxin is present 

 in quantity. A. Frostiana has not yet been proven poisonous, 

 which indicates that it is quite distinct from A. muscaria. 



Russula emetica is mentioned as a strong irritant; Helvella 

 esculent a contains a poison similar to that found in uncooked A. 

 phalloides; certain phalloids of fetid odor are uniformly fatal to 

 hogs ; species of Volvaria are questionable ; and Boletus luridus 

 occasionally disturbs the system for a time, but has a very ob- 

 jectionable taste, which prevents it from being eaten in quantity. 

 No authentic cases of true poisoning, according to the author, 

 are known among the black-spored or brown-spored agarics. 

 In conclusion, Dr. Ford remarks : 



" The examination of these various species of fungi, represent- 

 ing now nearly twenty distinct forms, demonstrates one or two 

 facts which should be particularly emphasized. In the first place, 

 our methods of chemical analysis of mushrooms, and especially 

 the methods of isolating their poisons, are now so developed that 

 a little material, two or three small specimens in fact, and even 

 one good-sized plant, may be studied and an opinion be given as 

 to the properties of the species. In the second place, a more 

 extended investigation should be carried out in regard to the* 

 properties of all the mushrooms believed on clinical grounds 

 to be poisonous, but of which no laboratory study has thus far 

 been made. Finally, such a piece of work, to be of lasting value 

 to Science, can only be accomplished through the cooperation of 

 trained mycologists who can identify with certainty the species 

 of mushrooms selected for study." 



