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Death Cap Mushroom Soup Kills Woman
The Canberra Times (Australia) ^ | June 14, 2002

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: australia; mushroom
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1 posted on 06/14/2002 2:38:44 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Lurker; Dighton; Polonius; martin fierro; Zon; Reply 491; Tennessee Bob; Don Joe...
Aminita phalloides strikes again!

California Couple Recovering After Eating “Death Cap’ Mushrooms

2 posted on 06/14/2002 2:39:30 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Shermy
Well, this is an annual event.
3 posted on 06/14/2002 2:40:04 PM PDT by .38sw
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To: .38sw
Well, this is an annual event.

No, at least not for the participants, anyway.

4 posted on 06/14/2002 2:47:15 PM PDT by Bob
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5 posted on 06/14/2002 2:47:58 PM PDT by Mo1
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To: Shermy
Darwin 1 Humans 0
6 posted on 06/14/2002 2:49:02 PM PDT by Saturnalia
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To: Saturnalia
If you see this.... don't eat it. It's a powerful sexual stimulant that only works on Islamic Terrorists. They end up able to handle 72 virgins. ;~))


7 posted on 06/14/2002 3:02:00 PM PDT by Ditto
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To: Ditto
If you see these:

EAT EM!!! muahahahahaha!

8 posted on 06/14/2002 3:14:27 PM PDT by Texaggie79
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To: Shermy
I repeat my previous opinion on the subject (thanks for the ping, tho).
9 posted on 06/14/2002 3:19:29 PM PDT by martin_fierro
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To: Texaggie79
Ugh. Don't even get me STARTED on those.
10 posted on 06/14/2002 3:19:59 PM PDT by martin_fierro
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To: Shermy
Usually, if one drinks a soup made from "death cap" mushrooms....One "could suspect" that one might die.

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.

11 posted on 06/14/2002 3:24:56 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE
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To: martin_fierro
Cue the music:

One pill makes you larger And one pill makes you small,.......

12 posted on 06/14/2002 3:26:50 PM PDT by Texaggie79
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To: Saturnalia
Darwin 1 Humans 0

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

13 posted on 06/14/2002 3:34:10 PM PDT by Willie Green
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To: Texaggie79
Hey, those are the real spicy mushrooms!

Shroom bump.

14 posted on 06/14/2002 3:39:33 PM PDT by headsonpikes
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To: Willie Green
Bah, that ruins it then.
15 posted on 06/14/2002 3:41:06 PM PDT by Saturnalia
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To: Shermy
Sounds like the woman mistook it for Aminita Muscaria (sp?) in which the toxins are concentrated on the outer skin -- the little white growths are toxic, similar to strychnine.
16 posted on 06/14/2002 3:45:53 PM PDT by Zon
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To: Shermy
I suppose that's why they call them "death cap mushrooms". Duh.
17 posted on 06/14/2002 3:47:06 PM PDT by monkeyshine
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To: Zon
Call my crazy, but I don't eat wild mushrooms, especuially thiose I knwo to have poisonous elements.
18 posted on 06/14/2002 3:53:56 PM PDT by rmlew
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To: rmlew
I don't know...but from your typing, maybe you been eatin' those "magic Mushrooms"??? Heheheh
19 posted on 06/14/2002 4:02:57 PM PDT by ghostkatz
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To: rmlew
I don't like mushrooms. Not even on pizza. But I did learn about the dangers of eating wild mushrooms. I grew up in the country.
20 posted on 06/14/2002 4:08:42 PM PDT by Zon
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