3S8 APPENDIX. 



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

 " niilTing the mark for v/ant of its eye : before 

 " that accident had all the appearance of perfect 

 '*' health." 



What Mr. Pitfield 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 fubjeci, let it be confidered, that thofe 

 who have mofb unprovoked enemies, and fevveft 

 friends, clame the greateft pity, and warmed 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 pafTions have 

 been beftowed 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 vindidlive difpofition \ but has even made 

 itfelf a facrifice to the difcharge of its office : this 

 I know from the refult of much enquiry y would I 

 could contradict what is aflerted, of the inefficacy 

 of the tryals made of them in the moft horrible of 

 difeafes J 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 tli'c 

 lodgings of Fanini, at Taukufi^ Vidi johnfonh Shakefpcar* 



