YEW rOTSOXING. 479 



partly dried or decayed state, whilst others state that cattle can 

 eat them with impunity, either dry or green. 



Numerous instances are, however, recorded which prove that 

 the yew is poisonous to cattle, sheep, pheasants, &c. ; and my 

 own experience enables me to agree with this opinion, namely, 

 that the yew, English and Irish, is poisonous, both in its 

 green and its dry state. 



Professor Tuson {Veterinarian, January 1877) says, "The 

 whole subject of poisoning by yew is so important, that I have 

 undertaken to investigate it, in the hope of being enabled to 

 determine the nature of the toxic principle of tlie plant, as well 

 as to explain away the many contradictory statements that have 

 from time to time been made relative to its fatal effects." 



It is to be hoped that Professor Tuson will be able to perform 

 his promise upon a matter so very important. By doing so 

 lie will confer a benefit on agriculturists and the veterinary 

 profession. 



The symptoms are rarely noticed, as the toxic action is very 

 rapidly fatal, destroying life without there being any very decided 

 manifestation of symptoms beyond loss of appetite, great pro- 

 stration, feeble pulse, coldness of the surface of the body, and 

 rapid sinking of the vital powers. 



The ^;os^ mortem apj)earances are equally unsatisfactory, and 

 but little can be detected beyond the presence of the leaves and 

 twigs in the stomach. 



In investigating into the cause of death of one lot of cattle 

 poisoned, several of which were found dead, it was discovered 

 that some clippings from yew trees had been thrown into the 

 park tlie previous evening, and in tliose which had died first 

 the poison was found in the greatest abundance ; others of the 

 cattle lingered for several hours, and in these the leaves were 

 less in quantity. 



Prom what I observed in making the examination, it would 

 appear that it is not essential that the yew leaves should pass 

 beyond the rumen to exert their toxic properties, as in some of 

 the cases no leaves were found beyond this viscus, whilst in others 

 a few were found in the reticulum ; in those that lived the 

 longest some of the leaves had reached the omasum. No doubt 

 some of the juice expressed during mastication would become 

 absorbed and cause death. 



