142 Yew-Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



ence of opinion as to the poisonous qualities of the 

 leaves. Evelyn's ^ assertion that the dried leaves 

 produced no harmful result is perhaps the only- 

 exception, but even he shows that the fresh leaves, 

 which have been given to children for the cure of 

 worms, have caused a fatal result, and he quotes 

 the following case in proof: — 



' Dr. Percival of Manchester, in his Medical and 

 Philosophical Essays, has recorded a melancholy 

 proof of the poisonous quality of yew-leaves. " On 

 Friday, March 25th, 1774, three children of a 

 labouring man, near Manchester, were killed by 

 taking a small quantity of the fresh leaves on the 

 recommendation of an ignorant person, for the 

 cure of worms. A spoonful of dried leaves was 

 first given, followed by a drink of sour buttermilk. 

 This produced no ill effect, and two days afterwards 

 the same dose of fresh leaves was administered, 

 causing the death of all three children. Two hours 

 after the leaves were given they began to be un- 

 easy ; were chilly and listless ; yawned much, and 

 frequently stretched out their limbs. The eldest 

 vomited a little, and complained of abdominal 

 pains. The others expressed no signs of pains. 

 No agonies accompanied their dissolution ; no 

 swelling of the abdomen ensued ; and after death 

 they had the appearance of being in a placid 

 sleep." ' 



^ Sylva, p. 268. 



