YEW
Yew, groundhemlock
Taxus canadensis, Taxus baccata—TAXACEAE
Description: The yew, also known as English, Irish, and American yew, is an evergreen tree or shrub often used as a hedge and found growing in many gardens or as a decorative plant around homes. Its fruits are bright red fleshy “berries” borne on the twigs and they frequently attract children. A large hole sometimes appearing in their ends gives an appearance of a deep red cup.
Poisonous Parts: All parts of the yew are poisonous. Fortunately the red fruits are the least harmful, although if large quantities are consumed these too can cause harm. Poisoning may result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, circulatory failure, and difficulty in breathing. The poisonous principle includes taxine, an alkaloid which depresses the heart function.
Antidote: Call your doctor. Have patient vomit. Physicians perform gastric lavage and treat for circulatory failure and alkaloid poisoning.
POISON CONTROL CENTERS
IN NEW ENGLAND
| City | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| CONNECTICUT | ||
| Bridgeport | Bridgeport Hospital, | EDison 4-0131. |
| 267 Grant Street. | ||
| St. Vincent’s Hospital, | FOrest 6-3601. | |
| 2820 Main Street. | ||
| Danbury | Danbury Hospital, | 744-2300. |
| 95 Locust Avenue. | ||
| Hartford | St. Francis Hospital, | 249-8281. |
| 114 Woodland Street. | ||
| State Department of Health,[1] | 527-6341, ext. 456. | |
| State Office Building. | ||
| Middletown | Middlesex Memorial Hospital, | DIamond 7-2531. |
| 28 Crescent Street. | ||
| New Britain | New Britain General Hospital, | BAldwin 3-2761. |
| 92 Grand Street. | ||
| New Haven | Hospital of St. Raphael, | SPruce 7-6581. |
| 1450 Chapel Street. | ||
| Norwalk | Norwalk Hospital, | 838-3611, ext. 294. |
| 24 Stevens Street. | ||
| Stamford | Stamford Hospital, | 327-1234. |
| 190 West Broad Street. | ||
| Waterbury | St. Mary’s Hospital, | 756-8351. |
| 56 Franklin Street. | ||
| MAINE | ||
| Togus | Veterans Administration Center[2] | MAyfair 3-8411. |
| MASSACHUSETTS | ||
| Boston | Children’s Medical Center,[3] | BEacon 2-2120. |
| 300 Longwood Avenue. | ||
| Fall River | Union Hospital, 300 Hanover Street. | OSborne 9-6405 or |
| OSborne 4-5789. | ||
| New Bedford | St. Luke’s Hospital, | WYman 6-6711, ext. 275. |
| 101 Page Street. | ||
| Springfield | Mercy Hospital, | STate 8-7321. |
| 233 Carew Street. | ||
| Springfield Hospital, | STate 8-4581. | |
| 759 Chestnut Street. | ||
| Wesson Memorial Hospital, | STate 5-1241. | |
| 140 High Street. | ||
| Worcester | Worcester City Hospital, | SWift 9-7094 |
| 71 Jacques Street. | (Center); | |
| PLeasant 6-1551 | ||
| (Hospital). | ||
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | ||
| Hanover | Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital,[4] | 643-4000. |
| 2 Maynard Street. | ||
| RHODE ISLAND | ||
| Kingston | College of Pharmacy,[5] | Day phone: |
| University of Rhode Island | Through Narragansett | |
| 789-9311 X 763, 775. | ||
| Night phone: | ||
| 789-6237 | ||
| 783-7152. | ||
| Pawtucket | Memorial Hospital, | PAwtucket 2-6000. |
| Prospect Street. | ||
| Providence | Rhode Island Hospital, | DExter 1-4174. |
| 593 Eddy Street. | ||