This is an article written in 1809 by Georg Heirich von Langsdorf on the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom. I found it very interesting. Divine Mushroom of Immortality by: Georg Heirich von Langsdorf The plant kingdom is of immeasurable influence and usefulness for mankind, since it supplies most of our clothing, food, drink, and shelter. The medical science of primitive people consists entirely in their knowledge of the more or less efficacious plants, and everyday experiance confirms the fact that even a number of plants native ot our own regions are known to many uneducated nations almost more thouroighly than they are to us. To demonstrate this assertion, I should like to say at this point something about the fly-agaric, which we regard as extremely poisionous but which is used by various inhabitants of northeastern Asia as an intoxicant just as wine, brandy, arrack, opium, kava, and the like are used by other nations. The Kamchacals gather them usually during the hottest mont...