Page:Treatise on poisons in relation to medical jurisprudence, physiology, and the practice of physic (IA treatiseonpoison00chriuoft).pdf/711

 The following is a good instance of pure narcotism. A man gathered in Hyde Park a considerable number of the Agaricus campanulatus by mistake for the A. campestris, stewed them, and proceeded to eat them; but before ending his repast, and not above ten minutes after he began it, he was suddenly attacked with dimness of vision, giddiness, debility, trembling, and loss of recollection. In a short time he recovered so far as to be able to go in search of assistance. But he had hardly walked 250 yards when his memory again failed him, and he lost his way. His countenance expressed anxiety, he reeled about, and could hardly articulate. The pulse was slow and feeble. He soon became so drowsy that he could be kept awake only by constant dragging. Vomiting was then produced by means of sulphate of zinc; the drowsiness gradually went off; and next day he complained merely of languor and weakness. —An equally remarkable set of cases of pure narcotism, which occurred a few years ago in this city, has been related by Dr. Peddie. Half an hour after eating the Agaricus procerus, an elderly man and a boy of thirteen were attacked with giddiness and staggering, as if they were intoxicated; and in an hour they became insensible, the man indeed so much so that for some time he could not be roused by any means. Emetics having little effect, the stomach was cleared out by the pump, and powerful stimulants were employed both inwardly and outwardly, by means of which sensibility was in some degree restored. Occasional convulsive spasms ensued, and afterwards furious delirium, attended with frantic cries and vehement resistance to remedies, and followed by a state like delirium tremens. The pupils were at first much contracted, afterwards considerably dilated as sensibility returned, and in the boy contracted while he lay torpid, but dilated when he was roused. In neither instance was there any pain felt at any time; nor were the bowels affected. Another boy who took a small quantity only had no other symptom but giddiness, drowsiness, and debility. —A singular form of the narcotic effects of the fungi occurred in the case of a boy of fourteen, who had eaten the Agaricus panterinus near Bologna. In the course of two hours he was seized with delirium, a maniacal disposition to rove, and some convulsive movements. Ere long these symptoms were succeeded by a state resembling coma in every way, except that he looked as if he understood what was going on: and in point of fact really did so. He recovered speedily under the use of emetics.

In the next set of cases the symptoms were those of almost pure irritation. Several French soldiers in Russia ate a large quantity of the Amanita muscaria, which they had mistaken for the ''Amanita cæsarea''. Some were not taken ill for six hours and upwards. Four of them, who were very powerful men, thought themselves safe, because while their companions were already suffering, they them-*