188 
YEW POISONING. 
substances, or when the distension occurs from gaseous 
compounds as a result of decomposition. In these cases 
death takes place from the mechanical obstruction offered 
to the expansion of the lungs by the distended stomach, 
causing imperfect aeration of the blood and sometimes 
rupture of the diaphragm; or by absorption by the blood¬ 
vessels of the gases produced by the fermentation. 
What is recognised in “ country parlance” as a “ stop¬ 
page,” I believe to be an affection of a different part of the 
alimentary track to that which is involved in overgorging. 
It is characterised generally by insidiousness of attack, and 
slowness of progress, and is usually amenable to treatment, or 
very rarely fatal. Both cases differ very materially in symptoms 
and appearances from yew poisoning. The death of the ewe 
reported by the Professor may be accounted for on the sup¬ 
position of some uterine disorder, causing sympathetic de¬ 
rangement of the stomach, the vitiated appetite being an 
effect of the disease. The overgorging of the stomach had 
little to do with the cause of death, unless the acorns had 
had time to develop their poisonous action. 
Such has been my experience of the disorders of the 
stomachs of ruminants, after some ten years of fair country 
practice. 
Regarding the poisonous effects of yew berries upon 
children, I can say nothing farther than that several well- 
marked cases are recorded by professors and practitioners of 
acknowledged ability, and referred to by all the forensic 
writers I have ever read, without one expression of dubiety. 
The time which I have supposed to be required for yew 
to produce its poisonous effects (twenty-four hours) is amply 
sufficient to allow of its digestion. In the cases referred to 
the plant was found in all the compartments of the stomach 
and in the duodenum, where the most important juices would 
act upon it, and, indeed, where the process of absorption is 
most active on certain substances, among which we may 
reckon the active principle of the yew, whatever it may be. 
Morrant Baker says, “ Various odorous and saline sub¬ 
stances taken with the food are soon found in the blood of 
the vena porta or other blood-vessels, or in the urine, but are 
not found in the chyle, or, if found there, not till they have 
passed into the lacteals. This is shown by numerous expe¬ 
riments, especially by those of Tiedemann and Gmelin, and 
Panizza. The substances used in the experiments were 
ferrocyanate of potash, sulphate of potash, several salts of 
lead and other metals, indigo, madder, rhubarb, camphor. 
