Phallin has some of the properties of the toxalbumin of poisonous spiders, and is a vegetable toxalbumin.
It has been remarked that in cases of poisoning by A. phalloides, the mushroom has tasted very good, and those poisoned felt well for several hours after eating.
Phalloides poisoning is said to bear a marked resemblance to phosphorus poisoning and to acute jaundice. There is no known antidote to the poisonous alkaloid phallin.
According to Prof. Kobert's analyses, the proportion of phallin in the dried mushroom amounts to less than 1%, but its effect on account of its concentration is the more intensive.
Extensive experiments made by Kobert with ox blood in regard to the comparative action of different substances in their power of dissolving the red blood corpuscles demonstrate that phallin in this respect exceeds all known substances. Kobert states that "If phallin be added to a mixture of blood with a 1% solution of common salt, using the blood of man, cattle, dogs, or pigeons, the blood corpuscles will be entirely dissolved by the poison diluted to 1-125,000."
Prof. Kobert states that he has examined the species Boletus edulis, Agaricus campester, and Amanita Cæsarea a number of times, but could never detect the action of phallin in them. Neither has he found it in A. muscaria.
The Poisonous Alkaloid of Gyromitra esculenta Fries (Helvella esculenta Pers.)
Helvellic Acid.
Prof. Kobert writes of a number of cases of poisoning in the Baltic provinces of Russia by the mushroom Helvella esculenta Persoon, sometimes called the Lorchel. It should be here stated that the Helvella esculenta of Persoon is the Gyromitra esculenta of Fries. This mushroom is described as edible and placed in the edible lists by Dr. M. C. Cooke, Prof. Peck, and other distinguished mycologists, who have tested it and found it edible when perfectly fresh.