86 
YEW POISONOUS TO CATTLE. 
Symptoms. —The animals first appeared dull and languid, the 
appetite lost, and rumination rarely performed. The pulse was 
much quickened; the animals had a peculiar melancholy appear¬ 
ance, once seen not easily forgotten. They drank a little water 
during the first two days. Upon being in the least excited either 
with the shake of my coat, or a sudden shuffle with my feet in the 
straw, &c., these cows would set up one of the most dreadful bel- 
lowings I ever heard. On removing Mr. Bonsall’s last cow from 
the cow-house into an open box, she instantly lay down; but she 
had not been down long before she sprang upon her feet again in 
the most astonishing manner, as if some one had thrust a dagger 
into her, when she made one of those dreadful noises above de¬ 
scribed. I began to make my way to the door, but was told she 
would not hurt me, as they had all been like this one, staggering 
about like a drunken man: this was succeeded by complete palsy 
on the second day, more particularly the hind parts or extremities. 
There was also present a violent and painful attempt to void the 
faeces and urine, so much so that the animals would bellow out 
during the effort in the most distressing manner. Those animals 
which were not destroyed died on the third day from the first 
attack. 
Post-mortem appearances. —The internal viscera of the cow 
which I examined were generally healthy. There were spots of 
ecchymosis upon the mucous lining membrane of the bladder, and a 
slight inflammatory blush upon the mucous surface of the urinary 
passage generally; there were also spots of ecchymosis upon the 
lining surface of the heart. The mesenteric veins were much con¬ 
gested with blood of a peculiar blue colour. The pia mater cover¬ 
ing the brain was of a darker colour than natural. 
Your’s most respectfully, 
W. Cox, M.R.C.V.S. 
Ashbourn, January 10, 1849. 
YEW POISONOUS TO CATTLE/ 
By Geo. Horsfield, V.S. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian." 
Sir,—I HAVE often heard it stated by farmers, and also by some 
veterinarians, that yew in a green state is not poisonous to cattle; 
but I beg to state that I have made a minute examination of two 
cases which prove the contrary to be the fact. 
