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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1976)
ushrooms can be dangerous THE BATTALION Page 3 THURSDAY, APR. 29, 1976 ring inspires some people to er through verdant meadows [liidking flowers. Others slosh Migh muddy pastures scrutiniz- piles of cow manure usually in th of mushrooms containing isikcybim, an hallucinogenic drug, ■thrives in such conditions. I e health center on the Texas 1 University campus recently tted a male student who was Itened by his own hallucinations [drinking some mushroom tea. ■he only physical ailment he had ■phat we gave him, said Dr. Claude B. Goswick, director of the Trital, He was referring to a drug administered to induce nausea, tl e hope that the student would it any unabsorbed mushrooms s stomach. “1 don’t believe that people hal- ujnating are having fun,” Goswick |o|tended, “although they seem [ectly all right afterwards. ” Gos- said a “clean-cut” all-American male came to the hospital for last year after the mushrooms [had eaten caused his Playboy ter fold to appear three- ensional, and virtually come to ospital cases involving drugs are [ally reported to either the Uni- ity Police or Student Affairs. Possession of psilocybin is a grade misdemeanor punishable by fines rsit? ieu up to $2,000, one year in prison, or both. Sale of psilocybin is a 3rd de gree felony punishable by fines up to $5,000 and two to ten years in pris on. “I haven’t been confronted with a case yet,” said Bradley Smith, assis tant district attorney, when asked whether possession of mushrooms was considered possession of psilocybin. “It would depend on the circumstances, and whether the conduct was knowing and inten tional.” If proof existed that an indi vidual had deliberately picked only mushrooms growing in cow manure, Smith said charges would probably be filed. Symptoms associated with psilocybin intoxication are varied and include hallucinations, in creased blood pressure, sweating, dilation of the pupils, temperature froup opposes penal code bill increase, body hair standing on end, nausea and vomiting. Increased deep muscle tension, distortion of time sense, emotional disturbances such as extreme hilarity and diffi culty in concentration, as well as mental and physical depressiom are also experienced. Spanish conquerors of Mexico found the Indians using psilocybin mushrooms in religious ceremonies for worshiping deities. The ancient Aztecs referred to such mushrooms as the “flesh of the gods,” and in the Indian mind, Christianity offered nothing comparable. Psilocybe cubensis and Stropharia cubensis are the strains of hal lucinogenic mushrooms commonly found near A&M. They have a golden-orange nipple on top, are whitish near the edge (turning black with age), and have black gills un derneath. The stem is whitish at top, has a dark circle one-third of the way down and is yellowish with blue- green streaks toward the bottom. When pinched or broken, the stem turns blue. There are several varieties of poisonous mushrooms which re semble Psilocybe cubensis, and can result in illness and death if eaten. Even experts have difficulty iden tifying “safe” mushrooms. Dr. W. A. Taber and his wife Ruth are mycologists (specialists in fungal life) on the A&M campus, specializ- Associated Press lUSTIN — A group headed by [versify of Texas student body identjay Adkins delivered a pet- i yesterday to the office of Sen. [n Tower, R-Tex., asking him to iw his support for the con- ersial revision of the federal penal code. Adkins and about 10 other persons gave the 1,500-name petition to Tower aide Shrya Dair. Tower is a cosponsor of Senate Bill 1, but his aide said it was uncertain whether the senator supported all of its provisions. vggie dates studied [survey on dating among Aggies )eing conducted by the same [pie who ran the breast-petting key last semester. Question books and answer sheets be picked up at the following Itions: On campus: Hughes 324, Krueger 400, Law 2K, Legett 52 & 55, Moses 104, Mosher 317, Puryear 3A. 3A. Off campus: Barcelona 2406, Bed ford 207B, Doux Chene 290, Old College Main 341, Tree House 923. Come To Diamond Country Sankey Park Diamond Salon 21 3 s. MAIN DOWNTOWN BRYAN I Engagement Rings ^ Wedding Rings iamond.s d^.\( (u Urcfij “SAVE A BUNDLE” Remember the old, Cash and Carry, money saving trick? Buy a pizza at the Commons Snack Bar and eat it there or take it anywhere you wish. Prices are right, and the pizzas are great. Bicentennial Special Hamburger Pizza 1.29 Sausage Pizza 1.29 Pepperoni Pizza $1.29 OPEN Monday thru Friday 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 4:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. QUALITY FIRST” ReElect Tiger Teague as your Congressman in the 6th District He’s working for you on... AGRICULTURE Tiger Teague continues to work long and hard for American farmers and ranchers, and to encourage full production without interference from the State Department. “Our farmers and ranchers must be allowed to make a fair return on their production, and that means keeping the government out of the market place. ’’—Tiger Teague ECONOMY Tiger Teague believes the government must stop spending money it does not have and quit strangling private enterprise. He has consistently voted to reduce Federal spending and has supported this record by returning tens of thousands of dollars each year to the U.S. Treasurer from his Congressional staff and office allowances. “/ have introduced a Constitutional amendment to require the Federal government to balance its budget and will strongly support its passage. "—Tiger Teague UTILITIES Tiger Teague is working to lower outrageous utility bills through the development of new energy sources. As Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, he has recently passed legislation to develop America’s coal, solar and geothermal energy. “The best way to provide long-term relief from high utility costs is to become independent of foreign oil producers. ’’—Tiger Teague BUSING Tiger Teague opposes forced busing of school children. He believes that a constituional amendment is the only way to stop it and has worked five years to achieve that goal. “If bait the money spent on busing was spent on improving the quality of education, all children would be better off.''—Tiger Teague Vote for Tiger Teague in the May 1st Democratic Primary ing in the identification of all var ieties of mushrooms. They are often contacted by frightened mothers holding a half-eaten mushroom in one hand and a crying child in the other. The effect of psilocybin mus hrooms varies with dosage, indi vidual mental and physical health, environment, and contact with other people. “I’d advise people to avoid mus hrooms like the plague,” said Dr. Goswick. “Hallucinations are dangerous. You’re out of touch with reality, and may do things that are potentially harmful or fatal.” The ONLY Import Clothes Boutique in Town. 1403 University Above McLaughlin’s 301 PATRICIA 846-7401 North Gate Battalion Classified Call 845-2611 Austin, Texas • May 2,1976 Wolfman Jack as emcee A day of music and celebration on 130 acres of grassy fields at the intersection of Hwy 290 and 1-35 in Austin, easily accessible from Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, The Valley, and all points in-between • Free on-site parking • Excellent facilities Food and beverage service • 11:00 am until dark. Tickets on sale now! • $10 in advance • $12 at the gate • Austin: MG Tapes on the drag next to Texas Theatre, Armadillo World Headquarters, Oat Willie’s, Discovery Records and Inner Sanctum • Dallas: Preston Ticket Agency • Houston: All Foley’s stores • San Antonio: Record Hole #1 and #2 • Fort Worth: Amusement and Central Ticket Agency • Waco: Lake Air Records • Corpus Christi: Kaleidoscope, Inc. • For mail order tickets send cashiers check or money order to “The Sunday Break,” Box 15207, Austin, Texas, 78761. Presented by Mayday Productions No glass containers • Show will be presented rain or shine Charlie’s THURSDAY NIGHT “BEAT THE CLOCK” 60c BAR DRINKS STARTING AT 7:00 P.M. ON EACH SUCCESSIVE V2 HR. PRICES GO UP 5c UP TO 85c STARTING THE WEEKEND EARLY AT A copy of our report is filed with the Federal Election Commission and is available for purchase from the Federal Election Commission, Washington, D C. Teague for Congress Committee. Dr. James R. 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