therefore, a simple list will be given of the two classes, with references to the proper source for minute descriptions of them, and some general observations on the effects of the poisonous species.
List of the wholesome and poisonous Fungi.—The only good account yet published of the innocent or eatable fungi of Great Britain is contained in an elaborate essay on the subject by Dr. Greville of this place. He enumerates no fewer than twenty-six different species, which grow abundantly in our woods and fields, and which, although most of them utterly neglected in this country, are all considered abroad to be eatible , and many of them delicate. They are the following: Tuber cibarium, or common truffle; T. moschatum and T. album, two species of analogous qualities; Amanita cæsarea or aurantiaca, the Oronge of the French, a species which is often confounded by the ignorant with a very poisonous one, the A. muscaria, or pseudo-aurantiaca; Agaricus procerus; A. campestris, the common mushroom of meadows; A. edulis, or white caps; A. oreades, or Scotch bonnets; A. odorus; A. uburneus; A. ulmarius; A. ostreatus; A. violaceus; A. deliciosus; A. piperatus; and A. acris; Boletus edulis; and B. scaber; Fistulina hepatica; Hydnum repandum; Morchella esculenta, the common morelle; Helvella mitra, and H. leucophæa. Of these the Agaricus acris, procerus, and piperatus are probably unwholesome; and the Amanita cæsarea is very rare in this country, if indeed it is indigenous at all. The A. muscaria, with which it is apt to be confounded, is common enough. The species to which our cooks confine their attention are the Tuber cibarium or truffle, the Agaricus compestris, or common mushroom, and the Morchella esculenta, or morelle. The Agaricus edulis is also to be met with in some markets, but is not in general use.[1]
The best description of the poisonous species is to be found in Orfila's Toxicology. He enumerates the Amanita muscaria, alba, citrina, and viridis; the Hypophyllum maculatum, albocitrinum, tricuspidatum, sanguineum, crux-melitense, pudibundum and pellitum; the Agaricus necator, acris, piperatus, pyrogalus, stypticus, annularis, and urens.[2] To these may be added the Agaricus semiglobatus, on the authority of Messrs. Brande and Sowerby,[3] the A. campanulatus,[4] the A. procerus, on the authority of a case by Dr. Peddie of this city,[5] the A. myomica, on the authority of Ghiglini,[6] the A. panterinus on that of Dr. Paolini of Bologna,[7] the A. bulbosus of Bulliard, or Amanita venenata, on that of Pouchet,[8] the Agaricus vernus, insidiosus, globocephalus, sanguineus, torminosus and rimosus, on that of Letellier,[9] and the Hypophyllum niveum on the authority of Paulet.
Circumstances which modify their qualities.—The qualities of the
- ↑ On the Esculent Fungi of Great Britain. Mem. Wernerian Society, iv. 339.
- ↑ Toxicol. Gén. 417-428.
- ↑ London Med. and Phys. Journal, iii. 41.
- ↑ Ibid. xxxvi. 451.
- ↑ Edinburgh Med. and Surg. Journal, xlix. 192.
- ↑ Journal de Chimie Médicale, 1835, 488.
- ↑ Annali Universali di Medicina, 1842, i. 549.
- ↑ Journal de Chimie Médicale, 1839, 325.
- ↑ Journal de Pharmacie, 1837, 369.
