Yew Trees and Poisoning 177 



some leaves have been found in the stomach with the fruit, 

 and it is, at best, very uncertain from what the poisoning 

 may arise, if indeed they be poisoned by yew at all. I 

 have seen Squirrels eating the berries, apparently without 

 ill effect, though in the case of wild animals it is difficult 

 to make positive assertions of this kind. That sheep, 

 cattle, and horses, are frequently poisoned by eating yew 

 branches, is well known ; but, on the other hand, it is 

 equally certain that leaves and branches are often eaten by 

 them with impunity, as witness the many trees, closely 

 cropped, to be seen in almost any district. 



Many theories have been advanced to account for these 

 discrepancies, but the truth seems to be that we are yet 

 as far as ever from an accurate understanding of the matter. 

 Taxin, the active poison of the yew, has been proved by 

 analysis to be present in every part of the tree (unless 

 perhaps in the pulp that incloses the seed), but at times, 

 or under certain conditions, it would appear to lose its 

 deleterious effect. What these conditions are we do not 

 know, and it is well, therefore, to treat the tree at all 

 times with respect ; but this much at least seems certain, 

 that the leaves and shoots are at times very poisonous, 

 at others less so, and sometimes, perhaps, not at all. The 

 pulp surrounding the fruit would appear to be harm- 

 less to birds and other animals. Whether the inclosed 

 seed may be regarded as equally innocuous is still open 

 to doubt. Those in search of further information will 

 find it in such works as Dr Lowe's Tew Trees of Great 

 Britain, Cornevin's Poisonous Plants, and Bentley and 

 Trimen's Medicinal Plants. Much has also appeared, 

 from time to time, on the subject, in the pages of The 

 Lancet, The British Medical Journal, and The Field; but 

 the gist of the matter is, I think, set forth above. Loudon 

 records that " in the mountains of Hanover and Hesse the 

 peasants feed their cattle in part with the branches of the 

 yew during the winter. They know its poisonous qualities, 

 and, though they reckon it good food, they are aware that 

 great precaution is necessary in using it, without which they 

 run the risk of losing their cattle ; consequently, they give 



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