Cases of poisoning by fungi, with remarks / Alexander Peddie.

  • Peddie, Alexander, 1810-1907
Date:
[1838]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of poisoning by fungi, with remarks / Alexander Peddie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CASES OF POISONING BY FUNGI, WITH REMARKS. By Alexander Peddie, M. D. (From the Edin. Med. and Surg. Journal, No. 134. J Case I.—Donald M‘Bain, aged 57, accompanied by two of bis sons, wTent about five in the morning of the 13th August, to the back of Arthur Seat, for the purpose of gathering mush¬ rooms to fry. Quite ignorant of the difference between poison¬ ous and harmless species, he consumed nearly a dozen of them in the raw state before leaving the spot from which they were taken. In about half an hour afterwards, (eight a. m.) when at Saint Anthony’s Well, on his way home, he sqjd to the boys that he saw every thing of a blue colour and in motion ; and expressed apprehension as to the cause of his illness, and a desire to vomit. He accordingly tickled his throat with a straw, and succeeded in ejecting several mouthfuls of the fungi. He felt no pain in his stomach or bowels, nor any thing like cramps ; but the giddiness was great, and gradually increasing, so that by the time he reached Holyroodhouse he was staggering as if much intoxicated, and was unable to articulate distinctly. When brought to Campbell’s Close, at the foot of the Canongate, where he resided, (at half-past eight,) he was so lethargic as to require being carried into his house ; and almost immediately afterwards was so insensible, as not to be roused to consciousness by the loudest sounds, or the most violent shaking. An emetic was immediately procured for him at a neighbouring laboratory; but as it failed to operate, no¬ tice wTas sent to Minto House, and Mr Clerk, one of the Dispen¬ sary pupils, saw him about half-past nine. Mr Clerk found him quite insensible, affected with great muscular tremor, at times much convulsed, and groaning deeply. A. sinapism was applied to the nape of the neck and one to the epigastrium ; and an eme- A