of atropin.

It would seem from the foregoing cases that the intensity and action of
the mushroom poison must depend in some degree on the constitution of
the individual, as well as on the quality and quantity of the mushrooms
eaten. The first treatment should be to get rid of the poison
immediately and by every possible means, so as to prevent or at least
arrest the progress of inflammation of the alimentary canal, and at the
same time to prevent the absorption of the poison. In a majority of
cases the recovery of the victim depends solely upon the promptness with
which vomiting is excited. Vertigo, convulsions, spasms, and other grave
nervous symptoms, which ordinarily follow the cessation of the most
important functions, yield, ordinarily, to the action of an emetic
without the necessity of ulterior remedies, if taken in time, while the
substance is yet in the stomach; when it has entered the lower bowels
purgation is necessary. Sweet oil should always be taken in combination
with castor oil, or such other purgatives as are used. Enemas of cassia,
senna, and sulphate of magnesia have also been used with good effect.

The fatal poisoning of Count Achilles de Vecchj, in November, 1897, by
eating the Amanita muscaria, is so fresh in the public recollection, and
the details in regard to it were so widely published through the
newspaper press, that it is unnecessary to take up space in
recapitulating the circumstances.

The death of Chung Yu Ting, in 1894, was occasioned by eating mushrooms
which he had collected in a patch of woods near Washington, D. C., and
which I identified at the time as Amanita phalloides, sometimes called
the "Death Cup." He had eaten very freely of this mushroom and died
after great suffering, although ten hours had elapsed before the toxic
effects began to show themselves.

Since it has been shown that vinegar and the solution of common salt
have the power to dissolve the alkaloids of the poisonous mushrooms, it
follows that the liquor thus formed must be extremely injurious. It
should, therefore, be obvious that vinegar and salt should not be
introduced into the stomach after poisonous mushrooms have been eaten.
The result would only be to hasten death. Ether and volatile alkali are
also attended with danger. A physician should in all cases be promptly
called, and, if muscarin poisoning is suspected, hypodermic injections
of the sulphate of atropin, the only chemical antidote known to be
e