TOXICOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS WITH 

 SOME OF THE HIGHER FUNGI 



Ernest D. Clark and John L. Kantor 



INTRODUCTION 



From the earliest times it has been observed that the consump- 

 tion of certain species of mushrooms is followed by extremely 

 unpleasant and occasionally fatal results. Amanita muscaria and 

 Amanita phalloides, among others, have earned a very unsavory 

 reputation by their ever growing list of fatalities. The danger 

 from these plants is so great that usually only novices are unaware 

 of their appearance and properties. Consequently, their death- 

 roll receives its greatest additions from among foreigners and chil- 

 dren. However, cases of mistaken identity have occurred even 

 in the baskets of experienced persons. Among the species of 

 Amanita we find many of the most poisonous forms, but other 

 groups have dangerous representatives as well, although none 

 quite so fatal. 



The evil reputation of Amanita muscaria induced Schmiedeberg 

 and Koppe* to investigate its poison from chemical and pharma- 

 cological standpoints. From their careful work it became evident 

 that this plant contained an active principle which they called 

 muscarin. This was at first considered an alkaloid of the general 

 nature of strychnin and morphin, but later work has shown that 

 it is probably a complex ammonia derivative. Muscarin is an 

 extremely active substance and although present in the fungus 

 in small amounts, it is still able to show its characteristic and fatal 

 effects. Muscarin is particularly violent in its action on the ner- 

 vous system, causing increased secretion, rapid pulse, then paral- 

 ysis and finally cessation of heart action by stimulating the inhibi- 

 tory nerve-endings of that organ. All of these effects may be 

 neutralized by the administration of atropin in small doses; the 

 latter being a complete antidote for pure muscarin. Unfortunately, 



* Schmiedeberg and Koppe : Das Muskarin. Leipzig, 1869. 



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