or poisoning by muscarine consists primarily in removing
the unabsorbed portion of the mushroom from the alimentary canal and in
counteracting the effect of muscarine on the heart. The action of this
organ should be fortified at once by the subcutaneous injection, by a
physician, of atropine in doses of from one one-hundredth to
one-fiftieth of a grain. The strongest emetics, such as sulphate of zinc
or apomorphine, should be used, though in case of profound stupor even
these may not produce the desired action. Freshly ignited charcoal or
two grains of a one per cent. alkaline solution of permanganate of
potash may then be administered, in order, in the case of the former
substance, to absorb the poison, or, in the case of the latter, to
decompose it. This should be followed by oils or oleaginous purgatives,
and the intestines should be cleaned and washed out with an enema of
warm water and turpentine.

Experiments on animals poisoned by _Amanita muscaria_ and with pure
muscarine show very clearly that when the heart has nearly ceased to
beat it may be stimulated to strong action almost instantly by the use
of atropine. Its use as thus demonstrated has been the means of saving
numerous lives. We have in this alkaloid an almost perfect physiological
antidote for muscarine, and therefore in such cases of poisoning its use
should be pushed as heroically as the symptoms of the case will warrant.
The presence of phallin in _Amanita muscaria_ is possible, and its
symptoms should be looked for in the red color of the blood serum
discharged from the intestines.

=Phallin.=--The exact chemical nature of this extremely toxic substance
is not certainly known, but it is generally conceded to be of an
albuminous nature. That it is an extremely deadly poison is shown by the
fact that .0015 grain per 2 lbs. weight of the animal is a fatal dose
for cats and dogs. It is the active principle of the most deadly of all
mushrooms, the _Amanita phalloides_, or death-cup fungus. We quote again
from Mr. Chestnut's account of phallin and its treatment: "The
fundamental injury is not due, as in the case of muscarine, to a
paralysis of the nerves controlling the action of the heart, but to a
direct effect on the blood corpuscles. These are quickly dissolved by
phallin, the blood serum escaping from the blood vessels into the
alimentary canal, and the whole system being rapidly drained of its
vitality. No bad taste warns the victim, nor do the pr