TOAD. 563 



cuation of saliva ; the mere effect of the slightly acrimonious fluid 

 which the toad, on irritation, exsudes from the skin, and which seems, 

 in this country at least, to produce no dangerous symptoms in such 

 animals as happen to taste or swallow it. The limpid fluid also, 

 which this animal discharges when disturbed, is a mere watery 

 liquor, perfectly free from any acrimonious or noxious qualities, 

 and appearing to be no other than the contents of a peculiar reser- 

 voir, common to this tribe, destined for some purpose in the eco- 

 nomy of the animals which does not yet appear to be clearly under- 

 stood. The common toad may therefore be pronounced innoxious, 

 or perfectly free from any poisonous properties, at least with respect 

 to any of the larger animals ; and the innumerable tales recited by 

 the older writers of its supposed venom, appear to be either gross 

 exaggerations, or else to have related to the effects of some other 

 species mistaken for the common toad ; it being certain that some 

 of this genus exsude from their skin a highly acrimonious fluid. 



It might seem unpardonable to conclude the history of this ani- 

 mal, without mentioning the very extraordinary circumstance of its 

 having been occasionally discovered enclosed or imbedded, without 

 any visible outlet, or even any passage for air, in the substance of 

 wood, and even in that of stone or blocks of marble. 



On this subject a curious experiment was made by Mons. Herris- 

 sant, of the French Academy, in consequence of an assertion, that 

 in the year 1771, on pulling down a wall at a seat belonging to the 

 Duke of Orleans, and which had been built forty years, a living 

 toad had been found in it $ its hind feet being confined or imbedded 

 in the mortar. M. Herrissant therefore, in the presence of the aca- 

 demy, inclosed three toads in as many boxes, which were imme- 

 diately covered with a thick coat of plaster or mortar, and kept in 

 the apartments of the academy. On opening these boxes eighteen 

 months afterwards, two of the toads were found still living : these 

 were immediately re-inclosed; but on being again opened some 

 months after, were found dead. These experiments are, perhaps, 

 not very conclusive ; and only appear to prove what was before well 

 known, viz. that the toad, like many other amphibia, can support a 

 long abstinence, and requires but a small quantity of air : but in the 

 accounts generally given of toads discovered in stones, wood, &c. 

 the animals are said to have been completely impacted or imbedded, 

 and without any space for air. 



[Herrissant. Mem. de VAcad* Royal. Sha& 

 202 



