Yew Poisoning. 
181 
years, of the yields of between 80 and 100 cross-bred Shorthorn 
cows has given an average result equivalent to about 640 gallons of 
milk per cow per annum. 
Cecil T. Parker. 
YEW POISONING. 
In the discussion upon Yew Poisoning in the last number of the Journal 
(Yol. III., 3rd Series, Part IV., 1892) Mr. Whitehead had occasion 
to remark (page 702) that there appeared to be only one reference 
to the subject in our previous volumes. On the publication of the 
number referred to, the Salisbury and Winchester Journal, which 
circulates widely through the Chalk districts of Wilts and Hants, 
where the yew is particularly abundant, drew the attention of its 
readers to the discussion in this Journal. The result was to draw 
forth a series of communications, which are of sufficient interest to 
be reproduced in these pages, where they will be readily available 
for future reference when the subject again comes to the front, as 
it in all probability will do. 
Mr. W. Wyndham, of Dinton, Wilts, says (January 14, 1893) : — 
Some twenty years ago I lost two valuable young cart horses. The 
carter at the end of their day’s work stopped them opposite a yew tree for 
a minute or two, whilst he “ hitched off” from the harrows or plough they 
were harnessed to. He took them thence to their stable about one and a half 
miles oft', and each in the course of a few minutes reared on end in the stable 
and fell back dead. They were poisoned by yew. Consequently on this I 
made inquiries, and obtained these principal results : — 
(1) That yew is generally fatal to animals with an empty stomach, and 
seldom so otherwise. 
(2) That yew in a partly withered state or when dormant (i.e., when the 
sap is inactive) is more dangerous than when in an actively growing state. 
These results seem to be fully borne out by the instances quoted by Mr. 
Squarey [Journal, Yol. III., 3rd Series, Part IV., 1892, p. 699]. The soil 
probably makes but little difference. 
On January 21 the following communication appeared over the 
signature F. A. V. M., Salisbury : — 
Some years ago, when the furniture of a former Rector of West Knoyle, 
near Mere, was being removed from the Rectory, the horses attached to the 
van were allowed to stand some minutes in the drive previous to starting. 
The two leaders availed themselves of this delay by eating freely of an 
adjacent yew. Both those horses fell back dead within a few miles of the 
Rectory gate. The yew in this instance was eaten on an empty stomach. 
Can any of your readers inform me whether yew is poison to the human 
constitution also ? 
I remember two small children who in the course of a game put some 
yew in their mouths, doing nothing more than lick it. A few minutes 
afterwards both complained of headache, and were almost immediately 
seized with violent vomiting. 
