CHAPTER X 



Poisonous properties of the yew — Classical notices — Wood — Leaves 

 — Fruit poisonous — Dangerous statements to the contrary- 

 Effects on man — Taxin in male and female plants — Medicinal 

 use — Valuable as a cardiac tonic — Poisonous effects on animals. 



It has been well known, from very early times, that 

 the yew possessed poisonous properties. Mention 

 is made of this fact by Dioscorides, Nicander, Galen, 

 and others. Caesar^ tells us that Cativolcus, king 

 of the Eburones, and uncle of Arminius, poisoned 

 himself with the juice of the yew. Its use as a 

 medicine was little known, though Suetonius tells 

 us that the Emperor Claudian caused an edict to 

 be published, to the effect that this tree had the 

 marvellous power of curing the bite of vipers. 

 Gleditsch,^ in later times, while asserting that the 

 tree is not poisonous, affirms that it is useful ' contre 

 la morsure des chiens enrages.' 



Plutarch makes the curious statement that it is 

 only poisonous when in flower, as it is then always 

 full of sap ; Dioscorides says that it is especially 

 poisonous in Italy and Gaul ; while Lucretius repre- 



^ ' Rex Calivolcus, Taxo, cujus magna in Gallia, Germania que copia est, 

 se examinavit.' — De Bello Gallko, Lib. vi. xxxi. 

 - Du Hamel du Monceau, Traiie des Ai-bres. 



