ABSTRACT
A few non-toxic mushrooms are highly appreciated by gourmets because of their delicate and
inimitable flavor. However, other mushrooms yielding in the same geographical areas, Amanita
in particular, are well known to be highly toxic to humans as well as animals, even when
ingested in small amounts. Since Amanita can be easily distinguished from non-toxic mush-
rooms on the basis of their general aspect and, according to the testimony of survivors from
intoxication the taste of this toxic mushroom is rather disgusting, it is a paradox that cases of
fatal intoxication with acute liver failure continue to be reported worldwide. Unfortunately,
greediness and heedless curiosity frequently prevail on cautiousness.
