FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD
Posted on 06/14/2002 2:38:44 PM PDT by Shermy
An ACT woman who made soup using wild mushrooms growing in her backyard had died after suffering death cap mushroom poisoning, health authorities confirmed yesterday.
Canberra Hospital's director of clinical pharmacology and toxicology Nick Buckley believed it was only the second death cap mushroom related death in 10 years.
Two other local people were also treated for mushroom poisoning this year but had recovered, Associate Professor Buckley said.
Health Protection Service general manager John Woollard defended the health department's public education campaign in the wake of the 88-year-old woman's death about six weeks ago.
Public warnings were issued in February and March to coincide with the season and signs advising people not to pick mushrooms were placed in parks and other public places.
Mr Woollard said raising the alarm after the woman's death would not have had "any real value" because it was the end of death cap mushroom season.
"We were also mindful of [adding to] the victim's family suffering."
Professor Buckley said the woman collected mushrooms from her backyard in early May, made soup and died three days later from liver failure.
The woman believed peeling and cooking the wild mushrooms would remove any toxins.
It was not clear how many mushrooms the woman consumed but Professor Buckley said just one death cap mushroom could prove fatal.
The death cap or amanita phalloides is the world's most lethal mushroom, responsible for more than 90 per cent of all deaths related to eating mushrooms.
Professor Buckley said deaths were common in countries such as Germany, where wild mushroom collecting was popular, but were rare in Australia.
Professor Buckley said the fungi, which had distinct white gills under its cap, grew in ACT backyards and parks from autumn until the first frosts.
People who were poisoned experienced symptoms similar to gastroenteritis - vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea - for up to 12 hours but would feel better before their liver failed about three days later.
California Couple Recovering After Eating “Death Cap’ Mushrooms
No, at least not for the participants, anyway.
EAT EM!!! muahahahahaha!
I'm sorry for the loss of this woman's life, but "deadly mushrooms" have been known for thousands of years. Folklore?
Yes. But "folklore" comes from experience.
One pill makes you larger And one pill makes you small,.......
Nah, the lady was 88 -- long past her reproductive years.
My guess is she'd made her own mushroom soup for many, many decades.
No Darwin award here, just a sad story about an old lady whose time was up.
RIP
Shroom bump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.