120 BUFO VULGARIS. 



Qpwos- Arist. Hist. An. lib. ix. c. 1, 40. Rubeta; Ptinii, Hist. lib. viii. c. 31. 

 Bufo sive Rubeta ; Rati, St/n. Quadr.2b2. Bufo terrestris ; Rvsel, Hist. Ran. 

 85, t. 20. Bufo vulgaris ; Laurent. Ampk. 28. Rana Bufo ; Syst. Nat. Gmc-l. 

 1047. Le Crapaud cendre a pustules rouses; Daudin, viii. p. 139. 



The common Toad is an animal too well known to require any 

 particular description of its form and habits. It is found through- 

 out Europe in obscure moist situations, feeding on slu^s, worms, 

 and insects. When irritated or terrified it exudes from the pores of 

 the skin an acrid liquid, which, though not venomous, as was formerly 

 supposed, is sufficiently irritating to affect delicate parts of the 

 skin of an animal that it touches. The flesh of the toad, so far 

 from being poisonous, is said to afford as wholesome nutriment as 

 that of the frog ; and at Paris the thighs of these animals are con- 

 stantly sold for the thighs of frogs. In Africa and America, the 

 larger species are habitually eaten by the negroes, and the flesh 

 has been compared to that of veal or chicken. 



This disgusting reptile formerly obtained a place in our dispen- 

 satories. The old physicians employed it in a variety of phar- 

 maceutical preparations. It is said to have been first introduced 

 into medicine in consequence of a cure performed upon a dropsical 

 person, to whom powdered toads were given in order to dispatch 

 him, but he voided a large quantity of urine after taking them, 

 and soon afterwards recovered. Hence the flesh dried and pow- 

 dered was considered diuretic and diaphoretic. This preparation 

 was likewise applied externally to the navel, to restrain haemor- 

 rhages, particularly those from the uterus. It was prescribed living 

 as a topical application to cancerous ulcers, and in cases of cepha- 

 lalgia and epigastralgia. " Etsi," says Schroeder, " animal sit 

 deterrimum, venenosum, ac abominabile, attamen non effugit 

 usum medicum. Interne pulvere ejus hydropicorum aquas per 

 unnam educi, desperatus quidam expertus est hydropicus, qui 

 preter spem attentatse necis sanitatem illo acquisivit. Extrinsecus 

 impositur, parte qua venter est, anthracibus ad eliciendum venenum. 

 Ingreditur itidem amuleta, aeri contagioso arcendo dicata ; heemor- 

 rhagiam narium, certo experimento sistit. Idem et pulvis 

 cmis prestare perhibetur. Renibus impositus aquam inter cutem 



