Ford and Clark: Properties of Poisonous Fungi 175 
tions of it are used in killing flies, is in most places, at least in the 
northern and eastern parts of the country, a common species — 
often a good deal more abundant than the common mushroom. 
It is found during the summer along roadsides, on the borders of 
fields, and especially in groves of coniferous trees. It prefers a 
poor soil, of gravelly or sandy character, and occurs only ex- 
ceptionally in the grassy pastures preferred by the common mush- 
room. It grows singly and not in groups, and attains a large size, 
being one of the most striking toadstools. It differs from the 
common mushroom in having gills which are always white, never 
pink or purple, and in having a hollow stem which is bulbous at 
the base and clothed with irregular, fringy scales on all the lower 
part. The pileus varies in color from a brilliant yellow to orange 
and a deep red, the yellow and orange 'being more frequent than the 
red. The surface is polished [and sometimes sticky], having 
scattered over it a larger or smaller number of prominent, angular 
warty scales, which can be easily scraped off. The gills and stalk 
are white, and there is a large membranous collar, which hangs 
down from the upper part of the stem.” 
Clinical aspects 
The clinical features of poisoning by Amanita muscaria are 
quite as characteristic as those in Amanita phalloides intoxication 
and should enable physicians to distinguish clearly between the 
two conditions. Unfortunately, poisonous fungi are usually gath- 
ered by the ignorant who sometimes eat a number of different 
varieties and consequently the symptoms in the patients point to 
the combined action of different toxic principles. In general, 
however, there is no difficulty in recognizing the character of the 
intoxication. In Amanita muscaria poisoning there is usually a 
very short interval between the ingestion of the fungi and the first 
signs of trouble. This prodromal stage varies from one or two to 
five or six hours depending upon the amount of the fungi eaten. 
Careful observation of this feature will frequently be of the great- 
est value in deciding upon the kind of intoxication which the 
cases present. In the severe cases the patients show an excessive 
salivation and perspiration, a flow of tears, nausea, retching, vom- 
iting and diarrhoea with watery evacuations. The pulse may 
