Yerr Poisoning. 707 
ftiore slow, and death resulted after convulsions in eight, ten, or 
twelve hours. 
With regard to horses, asses, mules and cattle, after feeding 
on yew it more frequently happens that there is no coma, the 
state of excitement is less pronounced, and sometimes is not 
noticed, so that death comes quickly, almost as if the animals 
had been struck, or poisoned by prussic acid. 
As yew acts so rapidly, it is nearly always possible at once 
to trace it in the digestive organs by a post-mortem examina- 
tion. The carcass of animals thus poisoned has spots, or 
pimples, upon it. The mucus of the mouth and pharynx is 
pale. The stomach is inflamed on the mucous membrane with 
ecchymosis of a dark-brown colour, and especially near the lower 
orifice. The mucous membrane of the rumen in cattle and 
sheep is exfoliated, and the other stomachs present similar ap- 
pearances, while the small intestine is always affected, its colour 
being abnormal, especially in cattle. The liver undergoes the 
most changes, being swollen and sometimes of a violet colour, 
more often yellow. In cattle this is a distinct symptom. There 
is a normal condition of the spleen. The kidneys are larger than 
in the habitual state, but the lungs ax’e only changed slightly. 
The heart is dilated, and the ventricles, particularly the left, are 
full of blood. It is often found that there is congestion of the ves- 
sels of the brain. Upon examining the contents of the stomach it 
is most easy to distinguish the leaves of the yew, which are still 
entire and even attached to the small twigs. If the post-mor- 
tem is made shortly after death the leaves are found to have 
I’etained their natural green colour, or yellowish-green after 
some time has elapsed. 
M. Cornevin holds that yew does not act as an irritant, and 
that the inflamed state of the stomach and intestines is a se- 
condary symptom, but that it is by its anaesthetic and narcotic 
influence at first, and later on by stopping the action of the heart 
and by affecting the respiratory system, that it shows its power. 
Judging by analogy, he thinks it acts upon the nerve centres. 
It is added that the physician or the veterinary surgeon is 
rarely summoned to combat the effects of yew poisoning, as these 
are so rapid that there is no time, and the only thing that can 
be done is to have a post-mortem examination to satisfy friends 
and the owners of the animals. It is only when the quantity of 
poison is small and the phase of coma is prolonged, that skilled 
aid can avail. 
According to Marm6 the active principle of yew is taxine, a 
substance soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and benzine, and 
hardly soluble in water. Upon letting its benzinic solution 
