Why did the 5th Earl of Derby die?

Abstract

Ferdinando Stanley died after 4 days of hunting. When he died, his physicians concluded that witchcraft caused his death. Today, death by poisoning seems more likely. William Jeffcoate1Jeffcoate W Why did the 5th Earl of Derby die?.Lancet. 2001; 357: 1876-1879Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar makes reference to the possibility of poisoning with toxic fungi. Yet, since Ferdinando died in April, poisoning by ingestion of fresh wild mushrooms is excluded as cause of death.The true morel (Morchella esculenta) is an edible wild mushroom. True morels are found in spring and thought to be a delicacy.2Carluccio A A passion for mushrooms. Pavilion Books, London1989Google Scholar They are easily confused with the false morel (Gyromitra esculenta). Certain species of the false morel contain the protoplasmic poison gyromitrin (N-methyl-N-formyl-N-acetyl-hydrazone). Poisoning by this toxin superficiall resembles Amanita poisoning, but is less severe. There is generally a latent period of 6-10 h after ingestion, during which no symptoms are evident. This period is followed by sudden onset of abdominal discomfort (a feeling of fullness), severe headache, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhoea. The toxin mainly affects the liver, but there are additional disturbances to blood cells and the central nervous system. The mortality rate is fairly low (2-4%).3US Food and Drug AdministrationFoodborne pathogenic micro-organisms and natural toxins handbook.www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/badbug.zipGoogle ScholarDid Ferdinando die on purpose or by accident? Contrary to Jeffcoate's opinion, accidental poisoning by ingestion of fresh wild mushrooms cannot be excluded easily as cause of death in Ferdinando's case. Ferdinando Stanley died after 4 days of hunting. When he died, his physicians concluded that witchcraft caused his death. Today, death by poisoning seems more likely. William Jeffcoate1Jeffcoate W Why did the 5th Earl of Derby die?.Lancet. 2001; 357: 1876-1879Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar makes reference to the possibility of poisoning with toxic fungi. Yet, since Ferdinando died in April, poisoning by ingestion of fresh wild mushrooms is excluded as cause of death. The true morel (Morchella esculenta) is an edible wild mushroom. True morels are found in spring and thought to be a delicacy.2Carluccio A A passion for mushrooms. Pavilion Books, London1989Google Scholar They are easily confused with the false morel (Gyromitra esculenta). Certain species of the false morel contain the protoplasmic poison gyromitrin (N-methyl-N-formyl-N-acetyl-hydrazone). Poisoning by this toxin superficiall resembles Amanita poisoning, but is less severe. There is generally a latent period of 6-10 h after ingestion, during which no symptoms are evident. This period is followed by sudden onset of abdominal discomfort (a feeling of fullness), severe headache, vomiting, and sometimes diarrhoea. The toxin mainly affects the liver, but there are additional disturbances to blood cells and the central nervous system. The mortality rate is fairly low (2-4%).3US Food and Drug AdministrationFoodborne pathogenic micro-organisms and natural toxins handbook.www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/badbug.zipGoogle Scholar Did Ferdinando die on purpose or by accident? Contrary to Jeffcoate's opinion, accidental poisoning by ingestion of fresh wild mushrooms cannot be excluded easily as cause of death in Ferdinando's case.