701 Yew Poisoninij. 
are poisonous, and the following is what is actually known con- 
cerning this point. 
Wood and bark of ihc yew . — It was formerly .believed 
that the wood of yew was poisonous, and that liquids kept 
in vessels of it were harmful. It would be well to imitate the 
prudence of the ancients. The bark was employed in the seven- 
teenth century as medicine. In an interesting memorandum 
Messrs. Chevalier, Duchesne, and Reynal deny that yew bark 
has any toxic quality, and this is commonly affirmed now. This, 
however, is wrong, as M. Cornevin’s own researches have proved 
that it is poisonous. 
Flowers of the yew . — These same authors, wishing to find 
out if the flowers were poisonous, administered yew pollen to a 
sparrow without any effect upon the bird. 
Fruit of the yew . — Contrary to that which is frequently 
found in many poisonous plants, the fleshy fruit of the yew 
contains a very small quantity of poison. The simple observa- 
tion of the decided taste of birds, notably thrushes, for yew 
berries makes this apparent. M. Clos, of Toulouse, in a work of 
remarkable erudition, has shown tliat the (piantity of poison in 
the fruit is incomparably smaller than in the leaves, and, except 
in individual cases of special susceptibility, it rarely causes 
accidents. Uncertainty prevailed as to whether the fruit was 
poisonous, and as to what part was poisonous, until 1819, when 
IMr. R. Modlen j^ublished a circumstantial account of the poison- 
ing of children at Oxford by yew berries. This showed that the 
soft part, or pulp, is not poisonous, but that the kernels contain 
a certain quantity of poison. 
Leaves of the yew . — There is here no difference of opinion. 
All observers agree that the leaves contain the most poison, and 
are therefore most dangerous. But a distinction must be made, 
]\I. Cornevin avers, which has not before been mentioned. 
Researches as to the changes in the amount of the toxic prin- 
ciple of poisonous plants, according to the seasons, have brought 
to light a curious fact in connection with the yew. Contrary to 
that which holds in many of the Phanei’Ogams in which the 
youngest shoots and tenderest leaves are most poisonous, the 
spring shoots of the yew are not very dangerous. As long as 
they retain the light green colour — their spring lively — animals 
can take them in large quantities without serious inconvenience. 
It is only when their colour has become dark green that the 
leaves are really dangerous. Not having proved this, M. Cor- 
nevin adds, the results presented by many writers must be 
accepted with reserve. 
Bry leaves andj tvnys, — Mr. Reynal affirms that desiccation 
