144 VETEEINAKY TOXICOLOGY 



or less of dark, tarry looking blood. Similar observations 

 are recorded by Gillam^ in the case of the pig. 



Treatment. — The prognosis of yew poisoning is grave. 

 Cases of recovery are few, but one is recorded by 

 M'Phail.^ An emulsion in sodium bicarbonate solution of 

 1 pint linseed oil, with 2 ounces each of chlorodyne and 

 nitrous ether, was given, followed after some hours by 

 whisky and linseed oil. Stimulants and chlorodyne were 

 repeated next day. After a purge and further dose of 

 opiate, recovery ensued after the fourth day. 



Another similar case is that recorded by Stanley,^ 

 in which the remedial measures were bleeding, sodium 

 carbonate, and turpentine, followed by drenches and stimu- 

 lants. 



When possible, purgatives and demulcents are indicated, 

 and stimulants, caffeine, alcohol, etc., to combat the 

 narcotic action of the taxine. But so long as much yew 

 remains in the rumen, medicinal treatment is of little use. 

 If the diagnosis is certain, rumenotomy offers the best 

 chance of success (Wallis Hoare). 



Chemical Diagnosis. — The alkaloid taxine is extracted, 

 though not without loss, in the general scheme of search 

 for vegetable poisons. Eisk of decomposition is minimised 

 by operating at a low temperature, as is done by evaporating 

 extracts in a partial vacuum. Taxine is not well defined 

 chemically, it being not absolutely established that it is 

 a single substance. But the substance extracted in the 

 usual way is characterised by giving a pure rose-pink colour 

 with strong sulphuric acid, which is fairly permanent and 

 withstands dilution. Laboratory experiments with the 

 rabbit have shown that taxine yielding the above test can 

 be easily recovered from the stomach contents. 



In practice, however, the finding of yew fragments offers 

 an amply sufficient proof of poisoning, taken along with 

 the clinical and post-mortem observations, and it is also to 

 be noted, as a caution, that many other substances give a 

 red colour with sulphuric acid] But of these many are not 

 basic, and can therefore be distinguished from taxine, which 



