occasionally watered.—The French practise a method of rearing these plants, which, is both simple and expeditious: they pour the water, that has been employed for washing eatable mushrooms, on the usual hot-beds, and thus a constant succession of growth is obtained, especially if the stalks be left in the ground, when their heads or caps are gathered for the table.—In China, the putrefied wood of elms and willows is form-into a bed, and covered with the leaves of these trees; the whole is then frequently watered with a weak solution of nitre. This composition produces continual crops of the most delicious champignons, which are collected in the manner before stated.
Mushrooms form an isthmus between the animal and vegetable kingdoms; and it is not yet ascertained, whether they can be propagated by seed. When in a state of putrefaction, they emit a cadaverous smell; and it appears from the experiments of Von Humboldt, that they are equally good conductors of Galvanism, or of the Galvanic Fluid, as real animal matters. He farther observes, that their participation of animal nature is evinced by chemical analysis; because mushrooms contain a remarkable portion of azote and phosphorus; and morels may be converted into fat, by means of the sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol, diluted with water.
Considered as an article of food, mushrooms are by no means wholesome or nourishing: being tough, and greatly resembling soft leather, they are almost indigestible, and ought not to be eaten by persons of weak or inactive stomachs. Besides, many species of this numerous genus of vegetables are extremely deleterious, and cannot be accurately distinguished from such as are harmless and esculent: it would not, therefore, be attended with any loss, excepting to the epicure, if mushrooms were totally banished from our tables. But, if they must be dressed, it will be advisabie to employ a large portion of vinegar, or other vegetable acids, to counteract their acrimonious and narcotic nature.—In order to ascertain, with greater certainty, whether all the plants of a collection which is destined to undergo the culinary process, be of an inoffensive nature, it will be proper to put a peeled onion in the vessel in which they are to be cooked; and, if this root acquire a blueish or dark hue, we may conclude that there doubtless are poisonous mushrooms among them. Should, however, any noxious species have been inadvertently eaten, it will be requisite to take a dose of ipecacuanha, or of the antimonial emetics, in order to eject the poison as speedily as possible; or, if the accident be discovered only after some hours have elapsed, copious draughts of vinegar and water, or oil and vinegar, will then form the most efficacious antidotes.
MUSIC, denotes the art of producing and combining sounds, in such a manner as to render them agreeable to the ear.
Music forms a pleasing recreation, and is calculated to produce the happiest effects upon the mind, or to exhilarate the animal spirits. Hence it has with the greatest advantage been employed medicinally; several instances having occurred, in which patients labouring under delirious fever, were calmed; and, a critical sleep succeeding, they were eventually cured.
