Agaricus Albus
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Agaricus albus is a Polyporus fungus found on larch trees, used in medicine for its laxative and antihidrotic properties. Its active principle is agaricin, a white resinous substance.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
AGARICUS ALBUS (agaric), Polyporus officinalis, larch sponge, a fungus occurring on larch (in Siberia and the north of the European part of the USSR, in Tyrol), reaching a weight of several kilograms. In medicine, the internal (spongy and whitish) layer of the fungus is used, which represents a mass of interwoven hyphae that do not give a blue coloration with iodine. It is given in doses of 0.3–1.0 as a laxative and antihidrotic. The active principle is resin containing agaricin, a white substance soluble in alcohol and in alkaline solutions. Upon heating with an alcoholic alkaline solution, agaricin decomposes into acids: stearic and acetic. Agaricin is sometimes prescribed in doses of 0.01–0.05 several times a day against the sweat of phthisis.
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“Agaricus Albus.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/agaricus-albus/