The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-05-05
Is the Toad XenOmOuS

The common toad (Bufo lentaignosus
Amer1canusl has, as perhaps some of
myreaders are aware, two protuberances
of about the size and shape of split
beans, one on each side of the body,
just behind the head. These are glands
-lhe parotid-which secrete thick,
white, acrid fluid, soluble in water, and
having slight acid reaction. If
toad be taken in the hand, and one of
these glands pressed upon with the
back of a scalpeI or similar instrument,
this liquid, which is the "poison " of
the toad, will exude in minute drops.
Packard says: 1.-The toads secrete in
the parotid glands bad smelling fluid,
which, applied to tender skins, produ-
ces erysipelas." Buckland gives an ac-
count of man who, having bitten off
the head of a toad for wager, was
taken dangerously i'll for some time, his
lips, tongue and throat swelling in
most frightful manner. Some years
ago an account appeared in a French
journal of a lad who, having captured
large toad in his naked hand, the skin
of which was abraded, was soon taken
with vertigo and vonitings, and died
in short time, the poison being alb
sorbed by the surface of the wound.
Led by these and other statements in
regard to the poisonous character of
the European toad, during the past
summer made number of experiments
to ascertain whether its American rep
resentative was equally venomous. My
plan OF operating was simply to press
upon one of the glands until drop of
fluid eXuded, collect this on the point
Of lancet, and then, with few Sharp
scratches, usually on one of the limbs.
innOculate the animal to be experiment.
ed upon. loads vaccinated with their
venom, or that of other toads, are-un-
like the venomous snakes, which quickly
die from the effects of their own poison
should it be introduced into the blood
not in any way affected. Upon rep
tiles, such as the tortoise, the fluid acts
as a powerful irritant. The wound
made by the lancet, widenS, sloughs and
finally leaves hard, round tumor, which
Is after time absorbed. To pigeons it
IS powerful poison. The part innoc-
lated becomes swollen, purple, very hot.
The pigeon, almost unable to stand.
squats in corners, with shut eyes and
rumpled feathers, refusing food, but
drinking much water In one upon which
/ operated the whole outer muscles of
the leg sloughed away; but it. like
all have experimental on, recovered
in few weeks. This secretion has in
my hands proved to be almost harm
less IN It's action upon mammals, such
as rats and rabbits; its effect being that
OF simple irritant, producing no more
inflammation than would the same
amount of acetic acid under the same
conditions. Lastly, upon my own skin
only a slight redness is produced by the
application of this fluid.
From these experiments, l think we
may justly conclude that this secretion,
which European naturalists call in the
B'g0 cutgafts Common toad of Europe)
the venom" is in the B. Anssracanus
incapable of producing in man. even
When brought IN contact with an abraded
surface, more than a very slight degree
of local inflammation
The use of this secretion is, evidently.
to protect the animal from the attacks
or carnIvorous animals. 1t is a we'll
known fact that dog will not take q
toad in his mouth. This is because his
tongue and lips are burnt by the, acid
Huid, and he has learned by experience
1t is best to leave toads alone.
But not only is the toad not venom
Gus, 1t is most useful little animal,
eating III single summer thousands of
injurious insects, thus Kidding the farm
er of one of his greatest enemies
hatph W. Setss, tn the N. Y. Independent.