EDIBLE FUNGI. 
431 
tion of the drop to the vase is 1 to 20 times 20,000, or 1 to 400,000. But the 
drop contains only 1 per cent, of real acid, therefore the proportion of hydro¬ 
cyanic acid in the vase is 1 in 400,000 x 100, or 1 in 40,000,000. The author 
states that this division may be pushed even further, and that 1 in 120,000,000 
of air may be detected. 
The following experiment indicates the value of this test in toxicological in¬ 
quiries:—A piece of fresh meat, weighing 600 grammes, was divided into two 
equal parts ; one part was sprinkled with 20 drops of the 1-per-cent, solution 
of hydrocyanic acid, and then exposed to the air for twenty-four hours. At the 
end of this time it was placed in a vase of 25 litres capacity, and a piece of the 
test paper suspended over it. In two minutes the coloration of the p^aper 
commenced, and a few minutes later was complete. The other piece of meat 
was kept for comparison, and exposed in another vase in precisely the same 
manner, but no reaction was obtained. Careful experiments were made with 
this paper upon the vapours of other acids, but these exerted no influence. The 
colour developed on the paper by hydrocyanic acid remains for a long time, but 
diminishes as the paper dries. After several days it passes to a greenish-grey, 
but revives slightly on remoistening the paper. 
Turpentine an Antidote to Phosphorus. 
M. Vigla states that, in a certain lucifer factory, the workmen who dip the 
matches wear on their chest a little vessel containing essence of turpentine, 
which is said to preserve the operators from the evil effects of the phosphorus 
vapours. It is well known that the vapour of turpentine, and many other 
hydrocarbons completely extinguishes the phosphorescent light which phosphorus 
ordinarily emits when in contact with air, and apparently prevents the slow 
combustion from taking place. Its influence in protecting the workmen may be 
due to this property. 
Dr. Andant relates in the ‘ Bulletin General de Therapeutique,’ a curious 
case to show the influence of turpentine in phosphorus poisoning. A workman, 
sixty-three years old, wishing to commit suicide, masticated the tipped ends of 
a boxful of wax matches. Immediately afterwards, thinking to assist the action 
of the poison, he swallowed about half an ounce of essence of turpentine mixed 
with a pint of water. After some time, finding the poison did not act, he 
chewed the ends of two more boxfuls of the matches, and then lay down, as he 
thought, to die. He suffered from extreme thirst, some pains in the bowels, 
accompanied by constipation, but nothing more. He had taken the phosphorus 
contained on about a hundred and fifty matches, but, thanks to the turpentine, 
he recovered, enduring no ill effects, and with no medical treatment beyond a 
dose of castor-oil. 
EDIBLE FUNGI. 
Dr. Bull, of Hereford, to whom the first prize for Fungi was awarded on Tuesday last 
at South Kensington, offered, at the request of the Council, in the unfortunate absence 
of our great mycologist, the Rev. Mr. Berkeley, some most interesting remarks on a few 
of the more prominent kinds in the different collections exhibited. The subject was one, 
he said, that was surrounded with difficulties, owing to the vast amount of ignorance and 
prejudice with which it was associated. Esculents of other descriptions were sought for 
with avidity ; but although the ground teemed with Fungus food, it was allowed to be 
waited. The first species to which he specially alluded was what is aptly called the 
Vegetable Beefsteak (Fistulina hepatica), of which a very fine specimen was shown. 
This is said to be the best possible addition to a beefsteak, and, indeed, if properly cooked, 
a steak in itself. Cut in slices, stewed for half an hour, and then fried with gravy, it was 
said that it might easily be mistaken, if one’s eyes were shut, for the animal diet after 
