92 NATURAL HISTORY 



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 I can discern, 

 the least appearance of any gills ; for want 



•V 



