390 
ON PARALYSIS OF THE RECTUM. 
the termination of the eighth hour the pulse was 60, the breathing 
was deeper, but the number of respirations the same as at first. 
The pupils were dilated, and the conj unctival membrane pale ; the 
powers of life were depressed, and a seeming unconsciousness pre- 
vailed. Before the administration of the yew-seeds the animal 
was very lively and even vicious ; hardly allowing any one to ap- 
proach him. Now it was evident that a marked change had come 
over him : he was altogether indifferent to persons and to things ; 
and for food or water he evinced hardly any desire, a little of the 
latter only being partaken of by him. 
When ten hours had passed, these symptoms had undergone but 
little alteration; and as this was 10 P.M., the animal was left for the 
night. 
On the following morning these effects of the yew-seeds had passed 
away, and their sedative influence on the heart, the pulse being only 
46. The animal was much more lively, although he did not mani- 
fest his kicking propensity ; his appetite was returning, and the 
mucous tissues were regaining their healthy tint. The excretions 
were natural. 
On the next day the animal’s general health had returned. 
The seeds of the yew are small oviform bodies, covered with a 
brownish-green epidermis. The endocarp, which is woody, contains 
a kernel that has a slightly bitter but not a disagreeable taste, im- 
parting a sense of astringency to the palate. By expression they 
yield a fixed oil. When bruised, and macerated in water for some 
hours, and then subjected to distillation, the fluid which passes over 
into the receiver gives no indications of the existence of hydro- 
cyanic acid by the ordinary tests. I state this, because it has been 
suggested that this acid may be the cause of the deleterious action 
of the yew. The leaves having been macerated for many weeks, 
and the infusion in like manner distilled until one-fourth of the con- 
tents of the retort had become condensed in the receiver, was found 
to be equally free from the presence of hydrocyanic acid. It is, 
however, sufficiently clear that some powerful narcotic principle is 
present, which future investigations may develop. 
ON PARALYSIS OF THE RECTUM. 
By Harry Daws, Esq., London . 
A BAY gelding seven years old was received into the infirmary. 
Symptoms . — No constitutional disturbance, but a reeling gait of 
the hind extremities peculiar to broken-backed horses ; able, how- 
ever, to kick spitefully if touched upon the rump. Great tenderness 
