"388 APPENDIX. 



" itfelf, and had a difficulty of taking its food, 

 " miffing the mark for want of its eye : before 

 " that accident had all the appearance of perfect 

 " health." 



What Mr. Thficld communicated to me ferves 

 farther to evince the patient and pacific difpofition 

 of this poor animal. If I am thought to dwell too 

 long on the fubject, let it be confidered, that thofe 

 who have moft unprovoked enemies, and feweft 

 friends, clame the greateft pity, and warmeft vin- 

 dication. This reptile has undergone all forts of 

 fcandal $ one author makes it the companion of an 

 atheift*; and Milton f makes the devil itfelf its 

 inmate •, in a word, all kind of evil paffions have 

 been bellowed on it: It is but juftice therefore to 

 fay fomething in behalf of an animal that has of 

 late had fo many trials of its temper, from expe- 

 riments occafioned by the new difcovery of its 

 cancer-fucking qualities. It has born all the han- 

 dling, teizing, bagging, &c. &c. without the left 

 fign of a vindictive difpofition -, but has even made 

 itfelf a facrifice to the difcharge of its office : this 

 I know from the refult of much enquiry -, would I 

 could contradict what; is aflerted, of the inefficacy 

 of the tryals made of them in the mod horrible of 

 difeafes -, for at this time I myfelf cannot bring one 

 proof of the fuccefs. But I would not have any 



one 



* A great toad was faid to have been found in the 

 lodgings of Vanini^ at Touloufe % Vide John/oris Shakefpear, 

 f Faradife LoJ}. 



