326 
SUSPECTED CASES OF POISONING. 
straining ; pulse slightly accelerated ; breathing nearly 
natural. 
My impression on observing these symptoms was, that the 
calves had eaten some plants of a poisonous nature. I therefore 
asked whether they had been in any plantation, or had had 
access to any branches of the yew-tree? and was answered 
in the negative. My attention was next directed to the 
herbage of the field, but I could not discover anything to 
account for their illness. Being told that some of the 
vomited matter was still to be seen, I examined it, and found 
it to contain several leaves of the rhododendron, and, as I 
believed, laurel, but no yew. On inquiring as to where they 
had obtained the rhododendron, I was shown a heap of cut- 
tings which had been carried from the garden and placed in 
one corner of the field, and was further informed that the 
calves were seen eating of these the previous evening. On 
searching the heap I found it to consist chiefly of the leaves, 
&c., of the rhododendron, but it also contained some fir 
cuttings, and a very few sprigs of green yew . 
I had not yet discovered any traces of yew in the vomited 
mattery but on my expressing my conviction that the calves 
were poisoned by it, an attendant told me that he and 
another of the servants had seen some in other vomited 
matter in another portion of the field. On going to look at 
this, I found that the yew, if there had been any, had been 
taken away. I may here state, that it seemed to be with 
great reluctance that the servants gave me any information, 
and it was only on my going away that one of them showed 
me a large branch of yew which he said had been found in 
the heap before I searched it. This branch, however, did not 
appear to have been much browsed upon by the calves ; 
and I still remained in ignorance of the quantity of yew 
they had eaten, and, indeed, as to whether they had 
eaten any. 
Treatment . — Having had my patients placed in a loose 
box, I administered to each a saline purgative containing 
carbonate of ammonia. I then directed a sinapism to be 
applied to the loins of each ; the calves be well rubbed with 
wisps of straw, and have enemata of warm water thrown up 
hourly, with a plentiful allowance of thin gruel and warm 
water, but no solid food. 
At 6 p.m. I gave to each a dose of linseed oil, with 
Spt. Ether. Nit. et Spt. Ammon. Arom., 
and ordered the continuation of treatment as before directed. 
On the next day I found the calves much better ; the purga- 
