MUSHROOM, in botany. See AGARICUS and FUNGUS.—Physicians have disputed much about the qualities of mushrooms; some considering them as a rich nourishment, and perfectly innocent, when properly chosen; and others asserting them to be extremely deleterious. Most of the fungi are indeed of a hurtful quality; and, with respect to the whole tribe, the esculent are very few. Esculent mushrooms are very nutritive, very readily alkaliescent, and more so without intermediate acceffency than any other vegetable: they are therefore a rich nourishment, and much akin to animal-food; on which account they may be indulged in considerable quantity to strong persons. It requires, however, skill to distinguish this esculent kind; and very few, especially of those who are commonly employed to gather them, viz. the servants, have studied Clusius, or other authors who have been at the pains to distinguish them. Perhaps our esculent mushrooms, if old, acquire a dangerous acrimony; and for these reasons Dr Cullen is of opinion that it is for the most part prudent to avoid them. In the warmer climates they may be used as light food; but here it is preposterous to use them along with animal-food, as they do not correct its alkaline tendency.