ON THE TOAD. 505 



in a word, all kind of evil passions have been 

 bestowed upon it: it is but justice, therefore, 

 to say something in behalf of an animal that has 

 of late had so many trials of its temper, from 

 experiments occasioned by the new discovery 

 of its cancer-sucking qualities. It has borne 

 all the handling, teizing, bagging, &c. &c. with- 

 out the least sign of a vindictive disposition ; 

 and has even made itself a sacrifice to the dis- 

 charge of its office : this I know from the result 

 of much inquiry. Would I could contradict 

 what is asserted, of the inefficacy of the trials 

 made of them in the most horrible of diseases ! 

 but at this time, I myself cannot bring one 

 proof of the success. Still I would not have 

 any one discouraged from the pursuit of the 

 remedy. Heaven opens to us gradually its 

 favors : the loadstone was for ages a mere matter 

 of ignorant amaze at its attractive qualities : 

 mercury was a supposed poison, and the terror 

 of physicians : we now wonder at the powers 

 of electricity, and are still but partially ac- 

 quainted with its uses : the toad, the object of 

 horror even in the most enlightened times, is 

 found to be perfectly innocent ; it has certainly 

 contributed to the ease (and as has been said 

 to the cure) of the unhappy cancered ; let the 

 following facts speak for themselves ; they come 



