leaves contain a volatile oil, tannin, and a bitter
principle "taxina," which is also furnished by the seeds. An extract
of Yew has been pronounced a useful narcotic by more than one physician
of repute: and in some parts of Germany a decoction of the wood is
a well-known remedy against hydrophobia.

A jelly prepared from the berries has been given for chronic
bronchitis, and the leaves have been used for epilepsy; likewise they
have been taken by ignorant persons to induce abortion, but with
serious injury to the experimenter. In some rural districts the berries
[623] are known as "Snots"; whilst the wood and roots are "Wire
thorn."

By an old statute of Edward the First, trees were required to be
placed in churchyards to defend the church from high winds, the
clergy being allowed to cut them down for repairing the chancel
when necessary. Perhaps, partly for this reason, the Yew was
commonly planted by the side of a newly-built church. That its
wood was certainly employed for making bows, we learn from
Shakespeare:--

"Thy very beadsmen learn to bend their bows
Of double-fatal Yew against thy state."

It was "double-fatal," because the leaves and fruit seeds are
poisonous, and the bows made from its branches, as well as arrows
armed with its deadly juice, were instruments of death.

Against the maladies which have been specified as indicating the
tincture of Yew for their cure, from five to ten drops of the third
decimal tincture should be given, with a spoonful of water, every
two, three, or four hours, whilst required. In Switzerland the Yew is
known as William's tree, in memory of Tell. Formerly the name was
spelt "Eugh," "Yeugh," and "Ewgh."

Spenser says:--

"The Eugh--obedient to the bender's will."

In olden times the Olitory, or Herb-garden, formed an important
annex to all demesnes having any pretensions to completeness, and
was under "My Lady's" [624] special charge. In fact, the culture and
preparing of Simples formed a part of every lady's education. "My
Lord's" retainers and tenants, when out of sorts, were treated with
these wholesome remedies, and were directed to find in Simples the
cure for all ordinary ailments.

Good George Herbert, of Country Parson celebrity, taught, 1620:--
"In the knowledge of Simples, wherein the manifold wisdom of God
is wonderfully to be seen, one thing should be carefully observed,
which is, to know what herbs may be used instead of drugs of