152 Yew- Trees of Great B7'itain and Ireland 



the yew-trees, and are then apt to pick the leaves 

 Other instances are reported in the Field, 1876, 

 1890-94. Mr. Tegetmeier gives a similar instance 

 recently.^ 



Taxin. — The definite alkaloid or active principle 

 of the yew was discovered in the leaves by Marme 

 in 1876. 



It is a white crystalline powder which melts at 

 80°. More of the alkaloid is contained in the 

 leaves than in the seed.- Two pounds of the 

 leaves yield, by treatment with alcohol and tartaric 

 acid, three grains of taxin. Strong sulphuric acid 

 dissolves it, with the production of a purple red 

 colour.^ 



In 1880 Amato and Capparelli obtained Taxin 

 from the leaves and seeds by exhausting them with 

 ether. They also obtained a non-nitrogenous crys- 

 talline compound milossin, and a volatile oil which 

 distils with steam, and has the odour of fennel. 

 ' It is odourless, but has a very bitter taste.' 



Schroff considers the ethereal extract and the 

 alcoholic the most suitable preparations for medi- 

 cinal purposes, the former in the dose of a quarter 

 of a grain, the latter in doses of one or two grains. 

 The pure alkaloid taxin yields more exact results, 

 though I am inclined to think that the tincture is 

 more efficacious. 



' Field, Nov. 2S, 1896. - Thorpe's Dtct. of Applied Chemistry, 1042^ 



^ Lucas, Arch. Pharnt. (2) lxxxv» 145. 



