SIMPLE AILMENTS 297 



Ketention of Ueine. 



Many animals have a difficulty in staling after a long 

 day's hunting, especially if they have never relieved them- 

 selves since they left the stable in the morning. A remedy 

 which almost never fails is to place part of an onion, freshly 

 cut and about the size of a walnut, inside the sheath of a 

 horse, or the vagina of a mare, and leave it there, when it is 

 seldom more than a few minutes before the desired result is 

 obtained. Should this not prove successful, give 10 drops 

 of tincture of aconite every 15 minutes for three or four 

 doses. 



Yew Poisoning. 



This, unfortunately, frequently occurs where animals can 

 gain unrestricted access to yew-trees, and though sometimes 

 they appear to eat it with impunity it far too often has a 

 fatal effect. It appears to be more dangerous in a half-dried 

 state, such as clippings left lying about for two or three 

 days, and also when the growing leaves are scorched by a 

 brilliant sun after a sharp frost the night before. This, 

 indeed, seems to be the most deadly time, whilst the late 

 autumn and the early spring appear the most fatal seasons. 

 At any time of the year, however, poisoning may occur from 

 the consumption of yew leaves, even when they are quite 

 fresh on the growing tree. 



The symptoms described by medical observers are giddi- 

 ness, sudden prostration, vomiting, coldness of the surface, 

 spasms, convulsions, diarrhoea, and irregular action of 

 the heart. Horses and cattle are almost invariably 

 greatly distended with wind, but though instant relief can 

 be given to the latter by puncturing the rumen with a 

 trocar, or even a sharp penknife, when the accumulated gas 

 rushes out, the operation is not so successful with horses 

 with whom the large gut must be penetrated, and is seldom 

 attempted. The spot where the puncture is made in cattle, 

 is about half-way between the last rib and the hip-bone, the 

 thrust being directed inwards and downwards. As great 

 prostration is present, a stimulant should be administered 



