184 
Mycologia 
investigations are needed upon these fungi to determine more 
clearly the relationship of their toxic principles to those found 
in Amanita muscaria. 
Inocybe infelix Peck 
While this plant has never been investigated from the stand- 
point of edibility, it has been shown by Ford 42 that it contains a 
definite poison for both rabbits and guinea pigs, which resists des- 
iccation and boiling. In these animals the fungous extract in 
small doses produced a deep sleep from which they awoke in a 
few hours apparently well, while with large doses profound and 
acute intoxication developed from which they died in a short time. 
The animals did not show the characteristic “ muscaria ” effects 
and Ford was therefore led to conclude that Inocybe infelix con- 
tained a narcotic poison of some sort. Further work is required 
in regard to the qualities of this species, particularly since the 
symptoms noted in the poisoned animals are not entirely inconsis- 
tent with muscarin poisoning. 
Inocybe decipiens Bresadola 
This fungus has not thus far been tested for edibility, but it has 
been shown by Ford and Sherrick 38 that it contains a poison be- 
longing to the muscarin-pilocarpin series. In large animals it 
causes an acute intoxication resembling that produced by Aman- 
ita muscaria with lacrymation, salivation, contracted pupils, and 
labored respiration as the chief symptoms. Upon the frog's heart 
the fungus extracts had the typical “ muscaria ” effect causing a 
stoppage in diastole which was neutralized by atropin. Inocybe 
decipiens should, therefore, be grouped with the deadly poisonous 
fungi, as liable to contain muscarin. 
The Hebelomas 
Ivobert 50 states that both Hebeloma rimosum and Hebeloma 
fastibile contain muscarin-like poisons, the nature of which is un- 
known. Mycologists have usually regarded the genus Hebeloma 
as unfit for food. At the present time little is known of American 
specimens of this group, either from the systematic or toxicological 
standpoint. 
