186 
YEW-POISONING. 
have but two orders with only a few genera. The orders are 
distinguished as follows: 
1. Papayace^e. — Corolla monopetalous. 
2. Pangiace^e. — Corolla polypetalous. 
We shall illustrate this with a few remarks upon the 
Papaw (Carica Papaya ). In South America the tree is 
grown for its fruit, which is cooked and eaten by the 
negroes, but which, at best, must be doubtfully wholesome 
or pleasant. 
It is stated that the whole plant contains an animalised 
substance in its juices, which renders it, in decay, more 
disgusting than even putrid meat. 
Lindley says—“ The tree has the singular property of 
rendering the toughest animal substances tender by causing a 
separation of the muscular fibre; its very vapour even does this. 
Newly-killed meat, suspended among the leaves and fruit, 
and even old hogs and old poultry, when fed on the leaves 
and fruit, become tender in a few hours.” 
We have known the same effects to be attributed to our 
common stinging-nettle, a few sprigs of which, put on a hare 
or upon meat, is said to make it tender in a short time, 
and though we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the state¬ 
ment, we may yet state that we have enjoyed some very 
tender game that had been so treated. If it be so the cause 
must be different from that of the Papaw, as, if it be true 
that the juice of the latter contains fibrine analogous to 
that of the fungi, it is possible that these fleshy elements 
surrounding real meat may exert a chemical influence on its 
fibre; it is, however, a curious question, and one which 
deserves more attention from the physiologist and chemist 
than it has yet received. 
YEW-POISONING. 
By J. Gerhard, M.B.C.V.S., Market Deeping. 
Permit me space for a few remarks on Professor Buckman’s 
communication on Yew Poisoning published in your last 
number. He is still, he says, (t sceptical regarding the nar¬ 
cotic action of the plant,” and records some instances in young 
cattle of symptoms and appearances which simulated those 
usually found in so-called yew poisoning, but induced by par¬ 
taking too freely of “ straw, cavings, and grass,” articles of 
provender harmless of themselves in moderate quantities, but it 
