CUTANEOUS FOLLICLES OF THE TOAD. 261 



results witli those recorded by Gratlolet and Cloez. I ap- 

 plied some of the fresh secretion to a recent wound on the ear 

 of a Kitten, but it produced no sensible effect. I also inocu- 

 lated Toads both Avith their own secretion, and that taken 

 from other toads, but it did not affect them. White mice 

 were inoculated with it in various ways, but they sustained no 

 apparent injury. In order to secure the perfect contact of the 

 secretion witli the wounded surface, I immersed a piece of 

 thread in the fresh fluid of a follicle, and passed it through 

 the skin of a Mouse in the manner of a seton, where it re- 

 mained for several days, but without producing any perceptible 

 harm to the little animal. It is remarkable that such differ- 

 ent results should be obtained from the same description of 

 experiments, and it is very difficult to reconcile these dis- 

 crepancies. It is true that the single example which Dr. 

 Davy has recorded, and those which I have mentioned, are 

 on the negative side of the question, and therefore cannot be 

 looked upon as so conclusive as those on the positive side. 

 However, I think these experiments are sufficient to throw 

 consideralile doubt upon the accuracy of the ; onclusions of the 

 French investigators, and to bring the question into the same 

 state of uncertainty that it was before their observations were 

 published, where it must remain until these authors shall be 

 able so to conduct their experiments, as at all times to pro- 

 duce the effects they have dfscribed, or, in case of failure, to 

 give a satisfactory explanation of its cause. There is one 

 consideration whicli, as mere circumstantial evidence, may be 

 mentioned in opposition to the view of the intensely -venomous 

 power of the secretion of tlie Toad's skin, and tliat is its gene- 

 ral diffusion over a large part of the body, whilst in all those 

 animals which are decidedly provided with a specific venom, 

 and not a mere irritant, the frightful apparatus which produces 

 and applies it, is well known to occupy only a very confined 

 locality. 



From what has been stated it appears, then, that though the' 

 specific character of the secretion in question, as a venom, is 

 very questionable, yet that it certainly does possess an irri- 

 tating quality, as was apparent from its action when applied 

 to tiie skin, and more especially to the tongue ; hence Dr. 

 Davy thinks that its principal use is to defend the reptile 

 against the attacks of carnivorous animals. The extremely 

 dense structure of its dermis, approaching in its composition 

 to that of bone, is, I think, somewhat in favour of this opi- 

 nion, as affording also, more or less, a means of protection 

 and defence. Dr. Davy also considers that, as the secretion 

 contains an inflammable substance, it may serve to carry off a 



