TAXACEiE. 



slightly revolute, about an inch long ; dark green, smooth and shining 

 above ; paler, with a prominent midrib, beneath, terminating in a small 

 harmless point. Flowers axillary, solitary, each from a scaly imbricated 

 bud ; the barren ones light brown, white with abundant pollen : fertile 

 green, resembling, with their scaly bracteas. a little acorn. Fruit 

 drooping, consisting of a sweet, internally glutinous, scarlet berry, open 

 at the top, enclosing an oval brown seed, unconnected with the fleshy 

 part. Smith. — Leaves fetid, very poisonous, especially to horses and 

 cows. Berries are not dangerous. Seeds said to be unwholesome. 

 On the authority of an Italian physician it is stated that yew-leaves, 

 when administered in small doses to man have a power similar to that 

 of Digitalis, on the action of the heart and arteries, reducing the circu- 

 lation, and if persisted in too long, or given in too large doses, as 

 certainly fatal. Yew is however reported to have one decided advan- 

 tage over Digitalis by its effects not accumulating in the system ; so 

 that it is a much more manageable and more efficient remedy. Burnett. 



558 



