The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-07
MUSHROOMS NEVER
 HAVE WHITE CELLS
How to Tell Common Varieties
 From Toadstools.

Some one once said that the only way to tell mushrooms from toad stools was to eat them and see if you disd. while this may be true of a few varieties of the fungus which re- sembIe each other so closely that an expert is not always sure, the more common varieties of edible and poi sonous fungi may readily be distin- gufshed from each other
 It is not safe for novice to gather the immature or button mushrooms, because it is difficult to deteru1ine their Characteristics. There are no single tests by which one can distin- guish edible from poisonous mush- rooms, such as taste, odor, the black ening of a silver spoons and so on. Even when the proper mushrooms have been eaten, i'll effects may fol- low if the mushrooms have been kept too long, have been fnsufficiently cooked or have been eaten in too great quantity Mushrooms should ncver be eaten if over a day old.
 The common mushrooms when ma tured are plate shaped and have lIt- tie g1Ils like radiating knife blades on the under side, like the spokes of a wheel. These girls are salmon color Of pink in the newly opened fungus, but dark purple Or brown in the old CT kinds. The poisonous species all have white gf1ls.
 The horse mushroom is like the com mon variety, but much larger, from four to ten inches across the top, and of white or brown hue on top. As the gfiIs are white at first and turn dark brown with age 1t is not well to pick this kind unless one knows positively that it is not poisonous.
 There is another mushroom called the horsetaH, or shaggy mane varfe- ry The top does not expand. but re- R-7 -re- closed umbrella When about a day old the mushroom turns black and dIssolves away into fnky fluid and should not be eaten in this condition.
 A variety of mushroom which grows in clusters which form an imperfect circle or crescent and are rather small are very like toadstoo1s in all Characteristics and should be gather ed with great care. The under sur face of the cap is brown or blac4zish in the mature plants of poisonous spe- cies-
 To escape eating poisonous mueh- rooms do not gather the buttons and be suspicious of those growing in woods or shady spots that show any bright hue or have a scaly or dotted cap or white gil1s-
 If poisoning by mushrooms has oc-- cured. the first aid rule is to rid the stomach and bowels of remaining poi son. Give emetics of mustard, a ta- blesponful in three glasses of warm water. unless vomiting is already ex- cessive When vomiting ceases, give a tablespoonful Of castor oil or com pound cathartic pill. Give no salts. Antidote the poison. Give a cup of strong coffee and fifteen drops of tfnc- lure of be1ladonna to an adult: re- peat both once, after two hours have passed Rest and stimulate Put the patient to bed. Give W1iskey, a ta- blespoonfuI in twice as much water. Give tincture of digitalis. ten drops ev- cry two hours. till two or three doses are taken by adults tfssF
 Mushroom poisoning may come on in from a few hours to half a day. The symptoms are vomiting, cramps, pains In legs. possibly confusion as if drunk. stupidity, followed by excite ment and perhaps convuIsions. Lips and face may be blue and the pulse may be weak