4)40 YEW. 



as the intelligent author of the following case suggests, that a few of the 

 nuts or seeds may he swallowed and pass through the intestinal canal 

 unaltered ; but when the shell is broken and the seed is exposed to the 

 gastric juice, it is liable to produce effects equally sudden and fatal as the 



The only case with which we are acquainted of poisoning by the seeds 

 is related by Mr. Hurt *, of Mansfield. This gentleman states that he was 

 sent for about half past one o'clock, p.m., to see a child three years and a 

 half old, who had eaten a quantity of yew-berries. He found, on enquiry, 

 that this child, with five others, had ieh home about half past ten o'clock, 

 a. m., and soon after they were observed under a yew-tree. A little after 

 twelve o'clock they returned home to dinner. Whilst at table, the father 

 remarked that during the time the child was eating it looked very ill, the 

 eyelids fell and turned of a very dark colour, and it seemed as if going to 

 sleep ; but he heard no complaint of pain. Vomiting, however, came on 

 and along with some pieces of potato the child had eaten were observed 

 some berries or portions of berries. The parents sent immediately for 

 Mr. H. ; he went and took a strong emetic mixture with him, but before 

 he arrived the child had been convulsed and was dead. He divided the 

 mixture among the other children, who vomited a quantity of the pulp of 

 the fruit and experienced no ill effects ; as they were older it is probable 

 they had not swallowed the seeds. The lips of the deceased were purplish 

 and the pupils very much dilated. On examination of the body, two 

 days subsequently, a number of purple spots or patches were observed 

 on the breast, abdomen, and anterior parts of the arms, legs, and thighs. 

 The pupils were much more contracted. On opening the stomach, some 

 berries (pulp and seed) which had been masticated were found, mixed 

 with a very large quantity of mucus and pieces of potato. After washing 

 the stomach several extensive patches, much redder than natural, were 

 observed, and the mucous membrane covering them was so much softened 

 as to be abraded with the slightest friction. The lungs were of a very 

 florid red colour anteriorly, but very dark posteriorly, where the blood had 

 gravitated. The veins and sinuses of the brain and its meninges were 

 full of a dark-coloured blood. 



It is evident that the treatment in cases of poisoning by 

 the Yew must be very prompt to be of service. The same 

 measures should be pursued as directed under Thorn-apple 

 and other narcotics. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The medicinal properties 

 of the Yew appear to have attracted scarcely any attention 

 from physicians, and the little that can be gathered respecting 

 it is vague and unsatisfactory. Dr. Loder, indeed, published an 



* In Lancet, for Dec. 10, 1836. 



