On certain persons all mushrooms, even the very best of the eatable kinds, act more or less injuriously. They cause vomiting, diarrhœa, and colic. In this respect they are on the same footing with the richer sorts of fish, which by idiosyncrasy act as poisons on particular constitutions. It is probably under this head that we must arrange an extraordinary case mentioned by Sage of a man who died soon after eating a pound of truffles. He was seized with headache, a sense of weight in the stomach, and faintness; and he lived only a few hours.[[2419]]
Lastly, it is not improbable from a singular set of cases to be related presently, that, contrary to what some botanists have alleged, the best mushrooms when taken in large quantity, and for a considerable length of time, are deleterious to every one.
Foderé,[[2420]] Orfila,[[2421]] Decandolle,[[2422]] and Greville,[[2423]] have laid down general directions for distinguishing the esculent from the poisonous varieties; but it is extremely questionable whether their rules are always safe; and certainly they are not always accurate, as they would exclude many species in common use on the continent. It appears that most fungi which have a warty cap, more especially fragments of membrane adhering to their upper surface, are poisonous. Heavy fungi, which have an unpleasant odour, especially if they emerge from a vulva or bag, are also generally hurtful. Of those which grow in woods and shady places a few are esculent, but most are unwholesome; and if moist on the surface they should be avoided. All those which grow in tufts or clusters from the trunks or stumps of trees ought likewise to be shunned. A sure test of a poisonous fungus is an astringent, styptic taste, and perhaps also a disagreeable, but certainly a pungent, odour. Some fungi possessing these properties have indeed found their way to the epicure’s table; but they are of very questionable quality. Those whose substance becomes blue soon after being cut are invariably poisonous. Agarics of an orange or rose-red colour, and boleti which are coriaceous or corky, or which have a membranous collar round the stem, are also unsafe; but these rules are not universally applicable in other genera. Even the esculent mushrooms, if partially devoured and abandoned by insects, are avoided by some as having in all probability acquired injurious qualities which they do not usually possess; but this test I have often disregarded.—These rules for knowing deleterious fungi seem to rest on fact and experience; but they will not enable the collector to recognise every poisonous species. The general rules laid down for distinguishing wholesome fungi are not so well founded, and therefore it appears necessary to specify them.
On the Poisonous Principle of the Fungi.—Few attempts have been hitherto made to discover by chemical analysis the principles on which the effects of the poisonous mushrooms depend. M. Braconnot analyzed a considerable number both of the esculent and poisonous species, and found in some a saccharine matter, in others an acrid resin, in others an acrid volatile principle, and in all a spongy substance, which forms the basis of them, and which he has denominated fungin.[[2424]] The last ingredient is innocuous, and it does not appear that M. Braconnot could trace the peculiar powers of the fungi to any of the acrid principles. The subject was afterwards resumed by M. Letellier, who says he found in some of them one, in others two poisonous principles. One of these is an acrid matter so fugacious, that it disappears when the plant is either dried, or boiled, or macerated in weak acids, alkalis, or alcohol. To this principle he says are owing the irritant properties of some fungi. The other principle is more fixed, as it resists drying, boiling, and the action of weak alkalis and acids. It is soluble in water, has neither smell nor taste, and forms crystallizable salts with acids; but he did not succeed in separating it in a state of purity. To this principle he attributes the narcotic properties of the fungi. He found it in the Amanita bulbosa, muscaria, and verna; and he therefore proposed to call it amanitine. Its effects on animals appear to resemble considerably those of opium.[[2425]]—Chansarel found that the poisonous principle resides in the juice, and not in the fleshy part after it is well washed.[[2426]]
Of the Symptoms produced in Man by the Poisonous Fungi.—The mode of action of the poisonous fungi has not been particularly examined; but the experiments of Paulet long ago established that they are poisonous to animals as well as to man.[[2427]]
The symptoms produced by them in man are endless in variety, and fully substantiate the propriety of arranging them in the class of narcotico-acrid poisons. Sometimes they produce narcotic symptoms alone, sometimes only symptoms of irritation, but much more commonly both together. It is likewise not improbable, that fungi, even though not belonging to the varieties commonly acknowledged as poisons, induce, when taken for a considerable length of time, a peculiar depraved state of the constitution, leading to external suppuration and gangrene. Each of these statements will now be illustrated by a few examples.
The following is a good instance of pure narcotism. A man gathered in Hyde Park a considerable number of the Agaricus campanulatus by mistake for the A. campestris, stewed them, and proceeded to eat them; but before ending his repast, and not above ten minutes after he began it, he was suddenly attacked with dimness of vision, giddiness, debility, trembling, and loss of recollection. In a short time he recovered so far as to be able to go in search of assistance. But he had hardly walked 250 yards when his memory again failed him, and he lost his way. His countenance expressed anxiety, he reeled about, and could hardly articulate. The pulse was slow and feeble. He soon became so drowsy that he could be kept awake only by constant dragging. Vomiting was then produced by means of sulphate of zinc; the drowsiness gradually went off; and next day he complained merely of languor and weakness.[[2428]]—An equally remarkable set of cases of pure narcotism, which occurred a few years ago in this city, has been related by Dr. Peddie. Half an hour after eating the Agaricus procerus, an elderly man and a boy of thirteen were attacked with giddiness and staggering, as if they were intoxicated; and in an hour they became insensible, the man indeed so much so that for some time he could not be roused by any means. Emetics having little effect, the stomach was cleared out by the pump, and powerful stimulants were employed both inwardly and outwardly, by means of which sensibility was in some degree restored. Occasional convulsive spasms ensued, and afterwards furious delirium, attended with frantic cries and vehement resistance to remedies, and followed by a state like delirium tremens. The pupils were at first much contracted, afterwards considerably dilated as sensibility returned, and in the boy contracted while he lay torpid, but dilated when he was roused. In neither instance was there any pain felt at any time; nor were the bowels affected. Another boy who took a small quantity only had no other symptom but giddiness, drowsiness, and debility.[[2429]]—A singular form of the narcotic effects of the fungi occurred in the case of a boy of fourteen, who had eaten the Agaricus panterinus near Bologna. In the course of two hours he was seized with delirium, a maniacal disposition to rove, and some convulsive movements. Ere long these symptoms were succeeded by a state resembling coma in every way, except that he looked as if he understood what was going on: and in point of fact really did so. He recovered speedily under the use of emetics.[[2430]]
In the next set of cases the symptoms were those of almost pure irritation. Several French soldiers in Russia ate a large quantity of the Amanita muscaria, which they had mistaken for the Amanita cæsarea. Some were not taken ill for six hours and upwards. Four of them, who were very powerful men, thought themselves safe, because while their companions were already suffering, they themselves felt perfectly well; and they refused to take emetics. In the evening, however, they began to complain of anxiety, a sense of suffocation, frequent fainting, burning thirst, and violent gripes. The pulse became small and irregular, and the body bedewed with cold sweat; the lineaments of the countenance were singularly changed, the nose and lips acquiring a violet tint; they trembled much; the belly swelled, and a profuse fetid diarrhœa supervened. The extremities soon became livid, and the pain of the abdomen intense; delirium ensued; and all four died.[[2431]]
Such cases, however, do not appear to be very common; and much more generally the symptoms of poisoning with the fungi present a well-marked conjunction of deep narcotism and violent irritation, as the instances now to be mentioned will show.
Besides the four soldiers whose cases have just been described, several of their comrades were severely affected, but recovered. Two of these had weak pulse, tense and painful belly, partial cold sweats, fetid breath and stools. In the afternoon they became delirious, then comatose, and the coma lasted twenty-four hours.