The _Agaricus muscarius_ is bright red with yellow spots. Phallin
is a toxalbumin which destroys the red blood-corpuscles, causing the
serum to become red in colour and the urine blood-stained. Fibrin is
liberated, and thromboses occur, especially in the liver. The symptoms
may be mistaken for phosphorus-poisoning or acute yellow atrophy of the
liver. Muscarine affects the nervous system chiefly.
_Edible fungi_ have an agreeable taste and smell, and are firm in
substance. _Poisonous fungi_ have an offensive smell and bitter taste,
are often of a bright colour, and soon become pulpy.
_Symptoms._--These may be of the narcotic or irritant types. Usually,
however, there is violent colic, with thirst, vomiting, and diarrhoea,
mental excitement, followed by delirium, convulsions, coma, slow pulse,
stertorous breathing, cyanosis, cold extremities, and dilated pupils.
_Post-Mortem._--In phallin-poisoning the blood remains fluid; numerous
haemorrhages are present, with fatty degeneration of the internal organs.
_Treatment._--Use the stomach-tube to give a solution of permanganate of
potash, emetics, followed by a hypodermic injection of 1/50 grain of
atropine.
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