Agaricus Phalloides

Authorities. 2, Dr. Carresi, Annal. Univ. de Cuivdie, 1829 (Lancet, 1829-30 (1), p. 758), a family of five persons ate of a dish of mushrooms; 3, Maschka, Prag. Vjs., 46, 1855, p. 138, poisoning of seven persons by eating the mushrooms; 4, Dr. Michel, Gaz. Hebdoin., 1S76, three cases of poisoning.

—Coma and rattling respiration before death,®.

Head

Vertigo always on rising up, without loss of consciousness

Violent pains in the head

Eyes

Pupils dilated

Face

Face pale, sunken; eyes sunken, weak, and lustreless; nose and mouth dry

Tetanic closure of the jaws, with at times grating of the teeth

Speech stammering

Throat

Constant burning sensation in the pharynx after vomiting

Stomach

Violent vomiting and diarrhoea

No vomiting

Abdomen

Abdomen meteoric

Abdomen sunken

Violent pains in the abdomen

Violent pain in the abdomen, with vomiting and diarrhoea

Spasmodic constrictive pain in the abdomen, extending into the lower extremities, after the stools

Stool p. 279

Involuntary stools

Stools yellowish-white, liquid

XTrinnvy Ovyous.

Secretion of urine scanty

Pulse p. 279

Pulse rapid, thready

Pulse very small and rapid

Pulse at the wrist not felt in two cases, hut in the carotids it was very weak and rapid

Upper Extremities p. 279

Convulsions of the upper extremities

Lower extremities bluish

Lower extremities cyanotic

Generalities p. 279

First Casc. A woman, set. thirty-three years, ate a quantity of the mushrooms at dinner. At 10 p.m. she was taken with a very severe headache and intense thirst, soon followed by pains in the abdomen, vomiting of black substances, but no stools. At 4 a.m. she had an emetic and a cathartic, which produced profuse vomiting and diarrhoea. The next day she was admitted to the hospital; the skin was cold and dry, the eyes sunken, the face had the aspect of one suffering from cholera ; the pains in the abdomen were very severe, and forced cries from the patient. The vomiting and hiccough continued, and the patient complained excessively of burning heat in the throat, and of violent pains in the articulations, especially of the ankles, aggravated by movement. The abdomen was very sensitive, but not tympanitic. The pulse was small and rapid, the body very cold, but the extremities were not violet. The cutaneous sensibility was decidedly diminished, especially over the chest, abdomen, thighs, and arms. The pupils were irregularly and considerably contracted, the left forming a mere black central point, the right being a little larger ; both were insensible to light. She responded slowly to questions, constantly complained of the articular pains, from time to time became much agitated and uttered cries. There were frequently involuntary black stools, without tenesmus. The temperature was 36.6

Stool and Anus p. 279

A woman, set. thirty-three years, ate some of the mushrooms. Eight hours afterwards she noticed weakness of the limbs and intense thirst; about 9 oclock she was seized with the most intense pains in the abdomen. At 11 oclock there were vomiting and diarrhoea, with tenesmus ; the vomiting was incessant, accompanied by very violent pain in the pit of the stomach and throat. Extreme restlessness caused by the pain; she could not remain in bed. Thirst was intense, but she vomited everything she took. The next day, at 5 p.m., the skin was cold and dry, there was profound prostration, and the stomach and abdomen were painful. There was incessant hiccough, from time to time, accompanied by regurgitations. Pulse small, rapid. Heart’s action very feeble, but not irregular. Diarrhoea very profuse, without odor. There was no urine. Pupils contracted, but mobile. Skin cool, temperature 37.8°. She received syrup of ether, coffee, and digitalis.

Urinary Organs p. 279

A man was brought to the hospital in a state of profound coma; the face was bluish, cyanotic, eyes sunken, devoid of expression, pupils contracted, heart’s action very slow, exceedingly feeble. Pulse imperceptible, respiration stertorous. Extremities cold ; nails blue. The patient looked like one suffering from cholera. Complete loss of sensibility. It was stated that after eating the mushrooms he was taken with violent pain in the abdomen, diarrhoea, vomiting, and chilliness, and fell into a state of coma, when the vomiting and diarrhoea ceased. Just before death respiration became feeble, the heart ceased to beat, and the pupils became wildly dilated

Two hours afterwards seized with headache, giddiness, violent pain in the stomach, sickness, ardent thirst, and trembling of all the limbs, and had ultimately fallen into a comatose state. The mother and eldest son, who was an adult, vomited freely, with, considerable relief; the others passed the whole night under violent pain in the stomach, great sickness and retching, ischuria, tenesmus, and general convulsions. In the morning all dangerous symptoms had subsided, except in the youngest boy, who had refused to take the emetic, and who was senseless, with general convulsions, trismus, tympanitis, and great dyspnoea; his eyes were staring, the countenance flushed, the extremities cold, and the pulse hard aud intermitting. Under these symptoms he died, apparently suffocated. The others complained of very violent colic, pains around the navel, and giddiness, and one of the girls was affected with hiccough

[HO.] Rigid and speechless

Patient extremely weak

Great restlessness, tossing about the bed ; convulsive movements of the extremities

Skin p. 280

Skin pale and cold

Skin cold