. Observations on recent cases of mushroom poisoning in the District of Columbia. 19 It is well known that in some parts of Europe the fly amanita, after the removal of the poison by treatment with vinegar, is a common article of food. It was interesting to discover not long since that among some of our own people a similar practice prevails. Though most of the colored women of the markets look upon the species with horror, one of them recited in detail how she was in the habit of cook- ing it. She prepared the stem by scraping, the cap by removing the gills and peeling the upper surface. Thus
. Observations on recent cases of mushroom poisoning in the District of Columbia. 19 It is well known that in some parts of Europe the fly amanita, after the removal of the poison by treatment with vinegar, is a common article of food. It was interesting to discover not long since that among some of our own people a similar practice prevails. Though most of the colored women of the markets look upon the species with horror, one of them recited in detail how she was in the habit of cook- ing it. She prepared the stem by scraping, the cap by removing the gills and peeling the upper surface. Thus dressed the mushrooms were first boiled in salt and water, and afterwards steeped in vinegar. They were then washed in clear water, cooked in gravy like ordinary mushrooms, and served with beefsteak. This is an exceedingly inter- esting operation from the fact that although its author was wholly ignorant of the chemistry of mushroom poisons, she had nevertheless been employing a proc- ess for the removal of these poisons which was scientifically correct. The gills, according to various pharmacological researches, are the chief seat of the poisonous principles in this plant and their removal at once takes away a large part of the poison. The salt and water would remove phallin or any other tox- albumin the mushroom contained, and although the presence of phallin or any of this class of poisons has not been demonstrated in Amanita muscaria, there is a strong suspicion that it may occur in slight amount. The vin- egar, secondly, removes the alkaloid poison, muscarine, and the mush- room after the two treatments is free from poisons. This process is cited, not to recommend its wider use, but as a matter of general interest. The writer's recommendation is that a mushroom contain- ing such a deadly poison should not be used for food in any form, particularly at a season when excellent non-poisonous species may be had in abundance. It is surprising that cases of poisoning are not mor
Size: 1869px × 1336px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectmushroompoisoning
