92 NATURAL IIISTOIM 



manner in which she came by her skill. 

 She says of herself, " that, labouring under 

 *' a virulent cancer, she went to some church 

 *' where there was a vast crowd : on going 

 " into a pew, she was accosted by a strange 

 *' clergyman ; who, after expressing com- 

 ** passion for her situation, told her that if 

 ** she would make such an application of 

 ** living toads as is mentioned she would be 

 *' well." Now is it likely that this unknown 

 gentleman should express so much tender- 

 ness for this single sufferer, and not feel 

 any for the many thousands that daily lan- 

 guish under this terrible disorder ? Would 

 he not have made use of this invaluable 

 nostrum for his own emolument ; or, at 

 least, by some means of publication or 

 other, have found a method of making it 

 public for the good of mankind ? In short, 

 this woman (as it appears to me) having 

 set up for a cancer-doctress, finds it expe- 

 dient to amuse the country with this dark 

 and mysterious relation. 



The water-eft has not, that 1 can discern, 

 the least appearance of any gills ; for want 



