202 



Mycologia 



more than half way when his memory again failed him: he lost 

 the road, although previously perfectly acquainted with it, but was 

 fortunately met by a friend, who with difficulty learned his state 

 and brought him to me. . . . His countenance betrayed great 

 anxiety; he could scarcely stand, but reeled about somewhat like 

 a drunken man ; he spoke with hesitation and reluctance ; he com- 

 plained of no pain except some transient twitches in his legs; he 

 had no nausea ; he suffered much from giddiness, and was greatly 

 inclined to sleep ; his pulse was slow and feeble. . . . Distressing 

 pains in the calves of his legs," and weakness and languor the 

 next day were also noted. An emetic was given, after which the 

 man rapidly recovered. 



Specimens of the plant responsible for this case were seen by 

 Dr. Glen and his teacher, William Salisbury, and identified as 

 Agaricus campanulatus L. (= Panaeolus campanulatus [L.] Fr.), 

 Glen refers to a similar case reported by Salisbury in The Gentle- 

 man's Magazine for September, 1815. This reference was not 

 looked up. 



Panaeolus campanulatus, it is true, is somewhat difficult to de- 

 termine, because of its great variability and its many close rela- 

 tives ; nevertheless, it cannot be doubted that Glen had to do with 

 a Panaeolus and not with a Coprinus, and that is sufficient for our 

 purposes. That the active poisonous principle was the same in 

 both cases seems equally certain, if we may judge from symptoms; 

 and the statements in paragraph four of this note may also be 

 safely adduced in our attempt to clear Coprinus comatus of the 

 imputation of being poisonous. Experiments with these common 

 plants ought to settle the question beyond peradventure. 



Cambridge, Mass. 



