Yew Poisoning. 
705 
does not destroy the poisonous properties of yew, and M. 
Harmand de Mongai-ni long since gave an account of the poison- 
ing of a child to whom had been administered the dried leaves 
of yew in the form of powder. 
The toxic principle of yew is insoluble in water. Following 
other experimenters, M. Comevin treated yew leaves by 
pounding in cold water, by infusion, and by prolonged decoction. 
Injection under the skin, and the supply to the organs of 
digestion of the water employed in the processes, produced no 
derangement in the subjects of the experiments. But the 
death of a horse to which 1 lb. 7 oz. of cooked leaves was ad- 
ministered is proof that the poison remains in the vegetable 
substance, and that cooking does not destroy it. 
Alcohol does not appear to be a better dissolvent than water. 
Ether extracts the poisonous principle from the yew. Tha 
ethereated extract of powder from the leaves is a very active 
poison. 
The juice expressed from the green leaves, which is green at 
first and afterwards saftron-coloui’ed, of a sweetish llavour, and 
smelling like the crushed fruit, is as actively poisonous as the 
leaves. 
The Equidic — horses, asses, and mules — are the animals 
most frequently poisoned by yew, but the Ruminants, though 
having less sensibility to its influence, have furnished their con- 
tingent of victims. I’igs have also succumbed occasionally ; 
and, among the Rodents, rabbits are veiy sensitive to the eft'ects 
of the poison. 
In M. Cornevin’s experiments with autumnal and winter 
leaves, it was proved that the quantity necessary to be taken to 
kill various animals at the rate of so much yew for every two 
pounds of live weight was : — 
For the horse . 
. yi grains 
„ ass and mule 
. 25 „ 
„ sheep . 
. 156 „ 
„ goat . 
. 186 „ 
„ cow . 
. 156 „ 
» pig • 
. 46J „ 
„ dog . 
. 124 „ 
„ rabbit 
. 310 „ 
Poultry of all kinds are also poisoned by the leaves of yew, 
but death from this cause is rare among web-footed birds, as they 
quickly reject the yew by vomiting. 
M. Comevin remarks from his experiments that the poison 
of yew does not accumulate in the organism of animals. 
In Hesse the peasants formerly gave twigs of yew to their 
