Taxus Baocata

Taxus baccata. Yew. N. O. Coniferae. Tincture of the fresh young shoots. (Tincture of the berries.) CQliiloaLCiliary neuralgia. Cystitis. Digestion, too nid. Djrsona. Ear, polypus of. Eruptions. Fainting. Gout Hair, falling out Headache, with photopsia. Heart, affections of. Kidneys, affections of. Knees, abscess of. Lachrymation. Nose, eruption on. Rheumatism. Purpura. Spermatorrhoea. Strangury. Vision, dim. Chanotari8tios.The poisonous properties of the Yew have been recognised and disputed from ancient times. Gerarde says that in his schooldays he and his companions ate their fill of the berries of the Yew and slept not only under its shade, but on its branches, without any ill effect. But there is plenty of evidence on the other side. Recently (Med. Press, May 29, 1901), a patient of Mullingar Asylum died suddenly from eating Yew leaves. Some years ago a correspondence in the Times brought to light instances of the lethal effects of Yew leaves on cattle. One correspondent, Mr. James Simmons, of Haslemere, mentions an observation made by himself and others, that Yew leaves are more poisonous some time after they have been cut than when fresh : "Yew cropped green from the tree has no fatal effect," and animals do not eat it fresh, they prefer grass ; but if Yew has been cut and allowed to wither cattle will eat it in large quantities, and in that state it is deadly poison." '' My people," says Mr. Simmons, '' once buried some Yew cuttings deep in the dung of a farmyard ; a number of large hogs dug it up, ate it, and all died." — The symptoms of the pathogenesis are made up of poisonings by leaves and berries, and also of provings by Gastier. Fainting is a very prominent feature with Tax,, and the fatal cases end in convulsions, collapse, and syncope. Death from Yew poisoning, says Cooper, is remarkably painless. '' Empty feeling " in the stomach was prominent; and it was noted that the digestion was very rapid. '' Must eat frequently " is a characteristic. Gastric catarrh is set up with vomiting of tenacious mucus. The saliva is increased, and it also is viscid ; and there is viscid sweat. An intense action on the skin was developed, and Tax. is indicated in pustular skin affections, the pustules being large, flat, and strongly itching. On the suggestion of Cooper, I once gave a single dose of Tax. in a case of aur polypus (bright red) with catarrh, in a youth, with the result that the polypus shrivelled up to one-third of its former size. The shooting pains in the toes suggest the use of Tax. in gout. The kidneys and bladder were much irritated ; arid the heart disturb). Tax. has been recommended as a substitute for Dig., being considered superior to the latter in having no cumulative effect. The symptoms were < by pressure. Rubbing > itching of eyelids. Coughing ss headache. Deep respiration ss cough. < Before and after each meal. < By application of liquids. < After coitus.

Relations

Antidoted by: Staph (prostration with oppression after an ' embrace). Compare : The Conif eras. Load at stomach, Ab. n. Rapid digestion, Sul. Podagra, Urt. ur.

Mind p. 1383

Impatience, which unfits the patient for mental application. — Deliriam. — Stupor.

Head p. 1383

Reeling sensation when at rest, on being seated, and when standing upright. — Headache above eyebrows, with brilliant and movable lines before the sight. — Pains in forehead, extending to face, with drawing pains in eyes, and lachrymation. — Heavy pain in region of r. temple and eyebrow, with a sensation of lachrymation, and < from slightest cough. — Squeezing in sides of head. — Aching, esp. in temporal bone. — Burning headache. — Lancinating pain in frontal region. — Heat in forehead.

Eyes p. 1383

In the eyes : drawing with lachrymation and pressure, and headache below the eyebrows. — Itching of external angle of l. eye. — Burning itching in eyelids, disappearing after scratching theuL— Abundant lachrymation when eyes are used, even but a little, esp. in females. — Lachrymation of l. eye. — Pupils widely dilated. — Vision dim.

Ears p. 1383

(Polypus of the ears.)

Nose p. 1383

Round spot of a reddish-brown colour, on the end of nose, with desquamation of skin.

Face p. 1383

Looks ill. — Face : pale ; livid ; convulsed. — Lips : purplish ; livid ; blackish brown, esp. upper. — Frothing at mouth.

Mouth p. 1383

Sensation of coldness in (upper incisor) teeth. — Burning pricking on tongue. — Tongue : excoriated ; moist ; tremulous. — Mouth dry. — Saliva : increased ; extremely viscid ; acrid. — Bitter taste, like that of Cinchona.

Stomach p. 1383

Violent hunger, soon after breakfast, with general uneasiness, and weakness in region of stomach. — Frequent want to eat, with activity of digestive functions. — Nausea with accumulation of saliva. — Sensation of emptiness, without hunger, in stomach. — Retching. — Vomiting ending in death. — Vomit : tenacious, containing bile ; Yew leaves embedded in mucus.— *Pain in pit of stomach, when touched. — Tension in epigastrium, which is painful to touch. — Aching, burning, and pinching in region of stomach.

Abdomen p. 1383

Tension in abdomen, as if the stomach were overloaded. — Squeezing and tension across abdomen. — Aching in umbilical region. — Borborygmi.

Stool and Anus p. 1383

Hard, difficult, dry evacuations. — Occasionally a stool which is soft, or of a natural consistence. — Diarrhoea, with insupportable tenesmus, and burning at every evacuation.

Urinary Organs p. 1383

Cutting pain at base of kidneys which allows him neither to sit still nor stand up, and even prevents turning in bed — Urinary tenesmus.— -Frequent want to .urinate, with difficult emission in a fine stream.— strangury, urine red.

Male Sexual Organs p. 1383

Flow of semen without erection or sexual pleasure for several successive nighlsOreat excitement during coition — After coition, weakness and great oppression.

Respiratory Organs p. 1384

Violent and fatiguing coogfa. — Short cough, after every meal, excited by full inspirations, with oppression.

Chest p. 1384

Oppression, esp. when stomach is either too full or too empty, or else with pain below xiphoid cartilage. — Lancinating pain in l. side. «*Lungs engorged.---Chest full and hot.

Heart p. 1384

Irregular action of heart.— Pulse ; rapid ; slow ; feeble ; small, wiry ; almost imperceptible.

Neck and Back p. 1384

Dnvmg pain in muscles of neck (L).— Sacral pains, which allow no rest either in a standing or sitting posture, and which compel the patient to remain in bed. — Incisive pain in sacrunL — Constant pain in back. — Pain in shoulder-blade, which subsequently removes to loins.

Limbs p. 1384

Numbness of limbs and paralysis ; esp. after several sweats. — Sharp, transient, wandering pains.

Upper Limbs p. 1384

Aching pain in elbow near humerus, affecting the bone, felt during motion and rest, but < by movement. — Violent itching in forearm, followed by an eruption of reef and hard pimples round wrist, which itch chiefly in evening, and at night, and afterwards occasion a tickling sensation. — Lancinations in hand. — Burning dryness of palms of hands. — Dull pain in joints of fingers. — Rheumatic pain in r. forefinger, renewed by least contact with even warm liquid.

Lower Limbs p. 1384

Pain in hip and knee, with tearing pain and coldness in thigh ; > at night. — Pain in l. hip, with internal heat. — In thighs, distressing coldness of skin, esp. of fore-part.— Tingling in L thigh. — Painful tingling round patella. — Lancinating pain in knee, with weakness of the joint — Abscess at r. knee. — Contusive and incisive pain, which hinders walking. — Incisive pain, esp. in l. knee, which awakens patient at night. — Violent pinching in l. calf, with itching in a small circumscribed place.— Large suggillation on sole of l. foot. — Tingling crawling sensation in whole l. foot.

Generalities p. 1384

Pains in the knees, elbows, and back. — Trembling. — Slight tremor over whole frame. — Convulsions. — Faintness. — Fainting and collapse. — Relaxation of muscles.

Skin p. 1384

All hairy parts became denuded (after a month). — Black jaundice. — Skin red. — Body covered with pustules. — On waking, body covered with miliary eruption ; disappeared on third day and abscess formed at right knee. — Large suggillation on l. sole followed by dark petechia over nearly whole body, great swelling of face and lips, esp. upper lip, exhaustion and death (boy 5, poisoned by berries). — Eruption of large pimples, slightly elevated, like red spots, on the upper part of both arms. — Dry tetter, red at the base ; and causing much itching, at external angle of l. eye.

Sleep p. 1384

Sleeplessness during whole night, yawning without indination to sleep.

Fever p. 1384

Commencing with general shivering at 2 a.m., followed by dry heat of hands and feet, and general uneasiness, dryness of mouth, without thirst, afterwards profuse perspiration on forehead ; shaking after breakfast, with general uneasiness, and dryness of mouth, wi&out thirst — Perspiration attends the least exertion, with great prostration of strength. Profuse night-

Ears p. 1385

Offensive Viscid sweats, with smart itching and redness in the glandular parts at the surface of the body. — Peculiarly offensive sweat with eruption of besides.