DICOTYLEDONS 1 59 



ous ; but the scarlet succulent envelope of the seed 

 when ripe is innocuous. It is the leaves which are 

 most dangerous, and, contrary to the rule, it is the 

 older dark green, and not the bright green spring 

 foliage which is the most poisonous. 



Drying does not destroy the property, as a mis- 

 hap occurred in administering powdered Yew-leaves 

 to a child ; as well as fresh leaves as a vermifuge 

 which produced fatal results. 



Herbivorous animals alone are liable to be 

 injured by the Yew. Horses, asses, cows and 

 rabbits have been known to be poisoned ; not only 

 from browsing upon the trees, but from the cut 

 shoots where Yew hedges have been trimmed. 

 These should always be carefully removed and 

 burnt at once. 



A case has been recorded of three horses taken 

 to be sold at a country fair, that were tethered 

 to the churchyard railings over which some Yew- 

 boughs hung. The horses ate the leaves, and all 

 three died. 



Children have been not infrequently poisoned 

 by eating tJie green seeds together zvith the harmless 

 scarlet covering. The seeds are deadly poisonous. 



It has even been given as a remedy for a com- 

 plaint to some children ; but they all died within 

 a few hours of each other. 



Of thirty-two cases of poisoning by Yew, nine 

 were by the berries and the rest from the leaves. 



