The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-02

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| the toxlcation of mushrooms.
A kind of amanita, only less deadly
than the muscaria, is entirely white and
has no warts. Its appearance being not
such as to excite suspicion, it is frequent
| ly eaten with fatal effects. 1t is found in
| spring on the edges of woods, but occurs
less frequently in the summer and au-
tumn. Only few weeks ago very IN
| telligenG Chinaman in the employ OF
| Count Mitkiewicz gathered quantity of
mushrooms of this species in the suburbs
of this city, giving most OF them to
neigh bors. Luckily, they were afraid to
try them, but he partook of some an d
died in consequence. An injection OF
| sulphate of atrocpin would probably have
| saved his life.
A FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
| 1t is the purpose of DR.. Taylor to go
| through the entire series of bad mush-
| rooms, obtaining from each it's specific
poison in manner similar to that al
| ready described. There are certain species
which, not actually dangerous to life,
are very acid, affecting the mucous lining
OF the intestinal canal. Among these
| are the socalled russulas. They produce
dlarrhoea, often an aggravated type.
The active principles of these agarics
will be studied also. There is a species
known RS Ine emeUlc" mushroom,
which would doubtless be extremely
dangerous were it not that it promptly
causes vomiting.
1t is believed that medicinal uses will
be found for some of the mushroom
poisons. Already it has been discovered
that amanitin has the effect Of check
ing sweats. Research will be conducted
in this line by experiments with ami
mails.
In gathering mushrooms it is good
rule to avoid those that have an unpleas-
ant odOr or taste, or which grow in filthy
o aces. Some of the bad agarics are so
repulsive in smell and appearance that
1t is hard to imagine how any body could
feel disposed to pick or eat them. Yet
even the SO called fetidwood witch.
the stencil of which is enough to turn
the stomach has been eaten frequently.
The same is true of the "trellised
clathrus," which has horrible smell,
and is extremely dangerous. Nothing
could be more unpleasant to the eye than
the we'll known "verdigrisn mushto DOM
which is covered with a disgusting
greenish slime. 1t is highly poisonous.
THE MYSTERY OF THE FUNGI.
Regard with suspicion all mushrooms
whose flesh on being broken turns green
ish or blush. A very poisonous species
is the fiery milk" mushroom, from
which exudes a juice that burns the
tongue like fire. Brilliant hues are al
ways to be considered as dou btfuI sign.
The deadly attic" mushroom has white
top with under surface of bright Grim
son. When broken the flesh turns to
deep blue. The tests commonly applied
with q silver spoon or white onion are
worthless. Distrust mushrooms that
have thick and heshy roots-a character
istic of the deadly amanitas. Certain
of the amanita family are the finest and
do for person not exper6 in such mat
tiers to attempt to distinguish between
the good and the bad.
Mistake in mushrooms have caused so
many deaths that most people in this
country do not venture to eat the best
known esculent varieties. Literature on
the subject is becoming extensive how
ever, and efforts are being made TO edu
cate the public at large in more exact
knowledge of these plants. Regarded
until recently as mysterious and even
uncanny, their very processes of growth
have been held as one of natures secrets.
In the evening they are not, and on the
sprinkleds with them, They come from
nowhere, developed Suddenly out Of
nothing, as if by magic.
Within the last few years the mystery
has been solved. 1t is known now that
the vegetation of the mushroom develops
below the surface of the ground in a
fine network of thread-like filaments
termed "mycelium." This is the socalled
spawn" of the plant. The mushroom is,
to this mycelium what it's flower is to a
tree or a shrub. 1t is formed slowly, be-
ginning with knot in the network of
spawn, and is complete in all its parts
before it makes it's appearance above
ground. At the same time it is COM
pressed into very small compass. Pres
emily along comes moist night and the
little agaric expands, lifting itself out
through the soft earth.
The mushroom bears on it's under sur
face tens of thousands of minute spores,
which correspond to the seeds of flower
ing plants. They fall upon the ground
eventually, and, terminating reproduce
the mycelium. Very humble plants are
these fungi, but in some parts of the
world they contribute largely to the. food
supply of human beings.