810 



Poisoning of Live Stock by Yew. 



[Dec, 



difficult as yet to overtake the strides made by the disease 

 during the suspension of the Order. The total number of 

 outbreaks in Great Britain during 1919 was 5,003 as compared 

 with 4,483, 2,614 and 2,147 respectively, in the years 1918, 

 1917 and 1916. There has thus been a marked increase in 

 the spread of the disease, which is very prevalent in large 

 towns. 



In 1919, although Parasitic Mange existed in all the 

 counties of England, there was a decrease in the number of 

 ^outbreaks in 21 counties, and no change in two counties, as 

 compared with the returns for 1918, in which year all counties 

 except four, and one free from disease, recorded increased 

 numbers of outbreaks in comparison with 1917. The success- 

 ful suppression of mange depends almost entirely on the effort 

 of horse owners, but it is to be feared that a good many of 

 them are not giving the matter the attention it deserves. 

 General administrative measures, however, of a more drastic 

 character, may have to be adopted if the individual efforts of 

 horse owners fail to improve the position. 



^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 



From time to time reports reach the Ministry of cases 



of animals that have been poisoned from eating yew. The 



. . » _ . details of one of the most recent reports 

 Poisoning of Live n - . - ^ r 



, 1 .-r raav therefore prove mterestme" to farmers 

 Stock by Yew. ^ • ^ j ^ r 



and others concerned with the care oi live 



stock. The case in question was reported in August last from 

 Surrey. It appears that at a farm in the Oxted Division one 

 cow died on the 8th August, another on the 14th, a third on 

 the 17th, a fourth on the 21st, a fifth on the 22nd, a sixth on 

 the 23rd and a seventh on the 26th. A few days before they 

 died all these seven cows went off their feed and appeared 

 to be suffering from cold. There were twenty-nine cows on the 

 farm, and the latest addition to the herd was made on 2nd 

 ' October, 1919. The' contents of the stomach of the cow that 

 died on 21st August were forwarded to the Veterinary College, 

 Camden Town, for analysis, and the Professor of Chemistry 

 at that College gave it as his opinion that death had been 

 caused by yew poisoning. It has been ascertained that yew 

 trees abound in the places where all the cattle grazed. Since 

 the Professor pronounced his opinion measures have been taken 

 to prevent the remaining cattle having access to the yew trees. 

 Yew (Taxus haccata, L.) is the only British conifer likely 



