THE USES OF FUNGI. 195
spark to blaze—is as tinder, and I am told that it takes the place of
fuzees even in Constantinople ; but it is also widely used to staunch
blood, especially in France, and among nursing Sisters. In England
it is now chiefly employed by dentists, to dry cavities in teeth and
to apply medicaments to the gums. An ounce of "Amadou, or
Spunk," as it is named in the catalogues, can be bought at any
of the dental depots for sixpence ; but, as you will see, it is far
inferior to the beautiful preparations of the same substance
exhibited by Mr. Golonga. Now that the Spongio-Lignine Com-
pany has patented a process for making amadou scientifically, a new
use of Fungi is likely to be widely and beneficially known.
I am unwilling to weary you with many more details of the uses of
fungi, but I must remind you of a few more of those which are less
important before I have done.
In medicine I have to mention Ergot, which is described in the
new British Pharmacopoeia as "the sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea,
Tulasne, produced between the pales, and replacing the grain of
Secale cereale," or common: Rye. Its value in obstetric practice,
under conditions well known to doctors, is very great. I have myself
saved several women's lives by the hypodermic administration of the
extract obtained from it, and inserted in the new British Pharma-
copoeia as "Ergotin."
The uncrystallizable alkaloid "Muscarin," obtained from Agaricus
(Amanita) muscarius, has not yet been made officinal, but it has been
the subject of many experiments, and is noticeable for its complete
antagonism to the poisonous action of Atropine (Belladonna), and it
is said to have been several times used with success as an antidote to
the poison of some dangerous fungi.
Russula emetica has been introduced to the Pharmacopoeia of the
homoeopaths, but they do not seem to know much about it, or, in this
country, ever to use it. They say it is curative in nausea, colic and
vomiting, with cold extremities, cyanosis and general spasms; but
they apparently only guess, according to their well-known faith, that it
will cure symptoms similar to those which a poisonous dose of it causes.
You all probably know that the green colour, which adds so great
a charm to some of the little bits of wood employed in the manufac-
ture of the inlaid Tunbridge-ware, is due to the stain caused by the
diffused mycelium of Helotium aeruginosum, Fries. A beautiful
little sample of wood so stained I am enabled to show you by the
kindness of my musical friend, Mr. Cedric Bucknall, of Clifton.
L 2