The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-10-17
DEADLY MUSHROOMS
III sEeyTiFUL HT ENoMogs
e64NlIA Fal1iLN.

.
IIi Hrftiianf B'nHG>1g HilaEAslis7 2
p{eio6s Potion mat n Fatal 10 the
1styes 81 lIen and Cattle
n The dark shade OF lofty pine trees
ana under Spreading OAKS IN more
qDed woods n mushroom is found SO
Sfai1fab1e IN cnlor and graceful II
lbf7n that ITS beauty has excited adj
iratfun FOR hundreds Of yeafs. The
Dior OF It's bright oranSe cap and It's
4hnlk white stem and gIi.s IS height
sened BY tie surrornding darkness OF
the woods md presents contrast as
singular as iris beautiful.
But beneath the pleasing exterior OF
fhis brilliant fungus poison lurks so
fatdI to the lives OF men and cattle
that It Is called the deadly amanitas
aud IN different countries mothers eau
lion their children to beware OF its
cliafh1s
Amanfta muscafla. the deadly, or
as. amanita. Is completely incased In
& deeee-ilke covering during the early
stages OF it's growth, which makes Il
decidedly egg shaped In form As
the stem lengthens this covering either
adberes In loose patches to the top of
The cap or It slips away and forms
Iheathing to the cup at the base OF the
stem.
Another inner covering breaks away
IN its turn from the cap as the mush-
room expands and forms conspicuous
collar about the upper part of the
stem. The Sulbors 'bRse of the stem
and these ruDtured. Reecy coverings
are pronounced characteristics which
ere most helpful in distinguishing this
dangerous fungus from the other varie-
lies OF mushrooms.
It Is strong. free from pests md
Erovs to a height from four 70 sixteen
inches. In color the cap IS sometimes
bright scarlet, again orange or yellow
Or reddish in the center and light vel
low toward the edges, aud 1t has no
HeeabIe wartlike patches spread over
the top On old plants the color fades
put and late IN the season particularly
forms of the deadly amanIta are found
which are almost white. The stem Is
easily separated from the cup at its
base.
This mushroom is more generally
known than any OF the other poison
ous species. 1t hns long been used as
Z fly poison in Europe, and it takes its
name, muscaria, from the Latin word
Tor a fly. Its poisonous effect upon hui
man beings begins few hours after
Il has been eaten. The symptoms are
nnusea and faintuess. with cold per-
spiratiOn and stupor, followed in Sc
we're cases by death from gradual
weakening OF the heart
A strong emetIc should be given at
Once, and in all cases a physician
should be called. Sulphate of atropin
Is the only known chemical anidote
Tor this poison. and TO save the patient
It must be promptly administered by
hypodermic injections
The poison may also be absorbed
through the pores of the skin, and bad
eases of poisoning have been produced
by simply holding an amanita in the
closed hand or breathing its eXhalh-
lions in Il warm room.
II poisonous mushrooms are packed
N the same box with edible ones the
Tirus from the poisonous fUaSi Is alb
sorbed by the harmless mushrooms,
and they become as dangerous to eat
as the original offenders.
In certain countries the deadly anna
alta seems to lose some Of its Yiruleh'
~, and in the north of Russia and
parts of northeastern Asia it IS used in
tho same manner rs wine for its IN
oOxicating effects. The mushrooms are
gathered in hot weather and are hung
ap in the air to dry or they are some
Zines picked fresh and put into soup
81 sauces. A small amount swallowed
whole is enough to produce days III
soxicatlon.
another fatally dangerous member
Of the amanita family is the death
.up (Amanita phallOides). beautiful
mushroom which also grows in die
woods, especially In pine forests. 1t Is
not so highly colOred as the deadly
amanita, and, unlike that mushroom.
&C has a smooth. satiny cap. 1t Is usu-
ally white or straw colOred, but speci-
mems are found which are light brown.
green, yellow and spotted. The stem
Is white and nearly smooth, and the
CUP ut the base of the stem is invaria-
bly, present.
The death cup is even more poison
Dus than the deadly amanita and
stands first among all noNious fungi
Tor It's poisonous qualities. 1t grows
In the eastern and middle states and
N particularly large quantities near
the city of Washington.
Another amanita CAmanita vcrnusJ,
found in the woods in spring, is also
very poisonous and may he told by
IT'S color which Is u creamy white
throughout
Although 1t Is said thatIthe nmanit"s
are the only mushrooms which have
proved fatal to human lie, there are
other varieties which cansc such acute
distress that it Is well to gnard against
eating them.
The bolcti. for instance, have several
varieties which are nonedibIc, although
many kinds, on the other hand, make
delicious food. The boletl are distin-
guishcd uy spongc-ike surface OF
pores instead OF Gills beneath the cap
The harmful varieties are bitter as a