Corrosive Sublimate. — This, the chlo-
ride of mercury, is a deadly poison ; three
or four grains of it may kill a man. Symp-
toms of its action are, in a marked degree,
those of the irritant poisons; a metallic taste,
burning in the mouth, throat, and stomach,
pain in the abdomen, vomiting, purging,
with straining, nervous anxiety, extreme
prostration ; often convulsions, sometimes
stupor, before death. Commonly, death
does not result under one or more days ; but
examples are recorded of its- taking place
within an hour after the poison had been
swallowed. Treatment of corrosive subli-
mate poisoning requires (as for copper) free
administration of whites of eggs ; the more
the better, until relief is obtained ; or, if
eggs cannot be had, large and repeated
draughts of milk.
Fungi. — Mushrooms and Truffles belong
to this group of plants ; both being largely
eaten, and agreeing with most persons.
Botanists inform us that there are many
species of innocent and nourishing fungi ;
but there are some, also, that are danger-
ously poisonous. While, then, the general
rnle is, that those whose color is not dark,
nor taste harsh, nor odor disagreeable, are
harmless, experiments are not safe in such a
matter, when made by those ignorant of the
kind they have found. The true eatable
nucshroom, agaricns campestris, grows on
open ground, has />z;//j "gills" or frilled
arrangement underneath its crown, a small
'" ruffle " also on its stem, and a thin skin
on top, which can be peeled off easily. The
assertion made by some that even this plant
is unsafe until cooked does not asfree with
my experience ; as I have often eaten at
least a small handful of mushroom plants
raw, without any injury. Still, the}^ may
under some circumstances be less whole-
some, and cooking improves their flavor as
well as secures their innocency. Symptoms
of ' ' toadstool ' ' poisoning are those of irri-
tant poisoning ; vomiting, purging, and ab-
dominal pains ; with, also, dizziness, partial
blindness, delirium, perhaps convulsions
and stupor, at least in fatal cases. Gener-
ally, the symptoms do not show themselves
for a number of hours, if the irritant effects
are most prominent ; but stupefying effects
have sometimes appeared within an hour or
two.
No antidote for fungus-poisoning having
been ascertained to exist, the proper tixat-
ment for it is, the use of mustard, salt, or
ipecac, as an emetic, followed by charcoal
and magnesia-water, and then stimulants
(ammonia, whiskey, etc.), if required by
great debility ; lime-water and milk for
nourishment (later, beef- tea, etc.) ; and, if
irritation and pain without stupor be pres-
ent, careful use of moderate doses of some
opiate, as paregoric or laudanum, to assuage
distress and procure relief.
Page 229
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Corrosive Sublimate. — This, the chloride of mercury, is a deadly poison ; three or four grains of it may kill a man. Symptoms of its action are, in a marked degree, those of the irritant poisons; a metallic taste, burning in the mouth, throat, and stomach, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, purging, with straining, nervous anxiety, extreme prostration ; often convulsions, sometimes stupor, before death. Commonly, death does not result under one or more days ; but examples are recorded of its- taking place within an hour after the poison had been swallowed. Treatment of corrosive sublimate poisoning requires (as for copper) free administration of whites of eggs ; the more the better, until relief is obtained ; or, if eggs cannot be had, large and repeated draughts of milk.
Fungi. — Mushrooms and Truffles belong to this group of plants ; both being largely eaten, and agreeing with most persons. Botanists inform us that there are many species of innocent and nourishing fungi ; but there are some, also, that are dangerously poisonous. While, then, the general rule is, that those whose color is not dark, nor taste harsh, nor odor disagreeable, are harmless, experiments are not safe in such a matter, when made by those ignorant of the kind they have found. The true eatable nucshroom, agaricns campestris, grows on open ground, has pink "gills" or frilled arrangement underneath its crown, a small
'" ruffle " also on its stem, and a thin skin on top, which can be peeled off easily. The assertion made by some that even this plant is unsafe until cooked does not agree with my experience ; as I have often eaten at least a small handful of mushroom plants raw, without any injury. Still, the}^ may under some circumstances be less wholesome, and cooking improves their flavor as well as secures their innocency. Symptoms of ' ' toadstool ' ' poisoning are those of irritant poisoning ; vomiting, purging, and abdominal pains ; with, also, dizziness, partial blindness, delirium, perhaps convulsions and stupor, at least in fatal cases. Generally, the symptoms do not show themselves for a number of hours, if the irritant effects are most prominent ; but stupefying effects have sometimes appeared within an hour or two.
No antidote for fungus-poisoning having been ascertained to exist, the proper treatment for it is, the use of mustard, salt, or ipecac, as an emetic, followed by charcoal and magnesia-water, and then stimulants (ammonia, whiskey, etc.), if required by great debility ; lime-water and milk for nourishment (later, beef- tea, etc.) ; and, if irritation and pain without stupor be present, careful use of moderate doses of some opiate, as paregoric or laudanum, to assuage distress and procure relief.