The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-03-07
ARE ToADs POISONOUS.


In answer to this query, propounded by
Mr. Herbert Brown in recent number OF
Knowledge, decided affirmative may be
returned. The toad is venomous, though
not in the way that is implied by the general
acceptation of that term, as is commonly
believed Nothing can be more harmless
than the bite of o common toad-ifi il can be
said to bite, for it has no teeth. But the
glands contained in the papllm and rngosi-
ty Of the skin covering the back, and es-
pecially those which can be plainly seen in
the form Of two bean-like eminences Just
behind the head, secrete milky, highly
acrid fluid, which is exuded profusely ON
irritation. Indeed, il it were not for this
poisonous secretion, the poor toad would fall
an easy victim to many enemies, having
neither the agility of the frog or lizard to
enable it to make its escape, nor the teeth
and claws of other reptiles wherewith to
defend itself. Cats, which are eager hunters
of frogs for food, spit and foam at the
mouth when they pick up the wrong ba-
trachian by mistake, and are often affected
In similar manner to Mr. Browns st.
Bernard; frog-eating snakes, too, detect
the difference, and win not take toads, as a
rule. When snake, greatly pressed by
hunger, swallows one, it usually rejects II
again Immediately afterward, and not un-
frequently dies Those frogs which prey
upon their own kind Gas most frogs do)
despise their ugly relative from an alimen-
tary point of view and, curiously enough,
certain toads which devour frogs share the
same antipathy to their race. Except with
very small animals, the poison appears to
act rather as local irritant than tox@mic
agent; 1t has no effect upon the sound skin,
but will cause any abraded surface to infiame
to extensive liberation, while great pain
results from its application to the con-
junctiya or internal mucous membranes
Any one who can overcome his repugnance
to the creature sufficiently to put his lips or
tongue against the skin of an angry toad
will experience an intensely acrid taste; he
should shut his eyes in making such an ex-
pertinent, as the post-occipital glands some-
times emit their secretion in Jet. Mr..
Frank auckland quotes case which occurred
In Oxfordshire, where n drunken brute bit a
toad's head off. Happily, his teeth went
right through these glands, and his mouth
and throat Immediately became swollen and
infamed to such an extent that his life was
in jeopardy for some hours. These char
acteristics are much more strongly marked
in many of the tropical Bufonide. My
giant toads (Bgto aqua used TO swelter
venom when they were taken in the hands
in such abundance that it would pour off
thoir backs and drip from them before they
became tame and l was thus enabled to
collect large amount. This species feeds
ON rats, and it is possible that this corious
emulation may serve to prevent their prey
from biting them when seized by the leg or
otherwise awkwardly caught once put
"cribo " snake (DroDlicus lighthouse into
box with three of these toads for a single
night, for lack of other accommodation; it
was fine, active specimen, five or six feet
long, and its movements during the night SO
disturbed them that in the morning I
found the floor of the box all awash with
fiuid. The snake was lying on its back,
apparently dead; and, though it recovered
somewhat on being plunged into bath, it
survived only few days.-Arthw Stand
ing, o. NJ. q. s., in KnoaOlodge.