The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-17
SUGGESTIONS IN
REGARD TO TOADS.
''TOad-StOnes'-Ani Are Said to
he Able to Exist for "a Long Time
In the Interior of Rocks.

Observation-Disclosures Are said to
BE Able to Exist for Long Time
In the Interior of Rocks.
From the London Globe.
The unfortunate toad has from time
immemorial been an object of distrust
and aversion. especially among the
common people. A pleasing tale runs
that a gentleman. walking along "a
country lane, came suddenly upon a
village boy, belaboring the crushed
body of a toad with a heavy stick.
and exclaiming at each blow, "I'll larn
ZEE to be a toad! Whereat the indig-
nant newcomer, Selling the miscreant
by his collar, vigorously applied a
cane to his legs, remarking, "Ill larn
you how to be a boyi" The popular
hatred of the toad, indeed, is of such
antiquity and is still so general as to
seem ineradicable. That the creature
is not dangerously poisonous it is hope
less to attempt to convince the ordi-
nary rustic. Doubtless this belief has
it's origin in the acrid secretion which
the toad has the power of emitting
when disturbed or annoyed unduly
and which will cause a dog that has
incautiously picked a toad up to foam
pearance of the creature has had much
to do with the feeling of repulsion with
which it has always been regarded.
Squat like a toad is the phrase by
which Milton describes the evil one
essaying to reach the ear of Eve.
Superstition, in truth, has laid q firm
hold on the toad's misshapen figure.
The belief, not only in the existence of
"toad-stones," but in their efficacy as a
fcrea GNy For tot lie
which is still common in parts Of the
country, is of very ancient date.
There is to be found in the heads
of old and great toads," says Fen
ton, writing in 1862 "a stone they can
borax or stelon which being used as
rings give forewarning of venom" In
the Londesborough Collection is a sill
yer ring, of the fifteenth century, in
which one of these toad-stones is set.
They were supposed always to bear on
their surface a figure resembling
toad, being somewhat similar trinkcts,
one may imagine, to the "scarabaeus"
ornament of the Egyptians. Another
early writer remarks, "A toad-stone,
called 'crepandia,' touching any part
envenomed by the bite of rat, wasp,
spider, or other Venomous beast, ceases
the pain and swelling thereof" 1t
was believed that when brought near
10 DOlSDDs Tie GlOiit oWtdItQ anu
changed color, thus conveying to it's
wearer timely warning of his dan
ger 1t is to these peculiar amulets
that Shakespeare is supposed to refer
in LAS You Like 1t"
Sweet are the uses of adversely,
Which, like the toad, ugly and VEN
omous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
Is it not probable, however, that the
poet, being a poet, is here abiding
TO the eye of the toad, an object, as
all who are really familiar with the
appearance of this humble batrachian
will agree, than which there are few
more beautiful in nature?
Perhaps the most familiar superstl-
ton in regard to toads is that, still
rife, which supposes them capable of
existing for an indefinite period in the
interior of rocks, stones, or hermeti-
cally sealed cavities. Numberless |
authentic instances of this remark
able power have been brought for
ward from time to time. The follow
ing example, from an old book, is typ
ical. "In 1898. Mr.. George Wilson, a
mason, met with a toad, which he wan
tonly immured in a stone wall that
he was then building. In the middle
of the wall he made a close cell of lime
and stone, just fit for the magnitude
of it's body, and seemingly so plast
cred as to prevent the admission of
air. In 1909 (sixteen years afterward)
1t was found necessary to open a gap
In this wall, for a passage for carts,
when the poor creature was found alive
in it's stronghold. 1t seemed at first
in a very topid state, but it soon re-
covered animation and activity; and,
as If sensible of the blessings of free
dom, made its way to a collection Of !
stones and disappeared" 1t is known
that toads can exist for a long tune