This toad is found all over America; it inhabits swamps and marshy regions. It is as big as two fists, though its size varies a good deal. It is readily known by its enormous rhomboïdal parotids, whence it sends forth a large quantity of poison. Its head is flat, triangular, more large than long; it shows a strong osseous edge, commencing at the tip of the muzzle, thence stretching towards the inner angle of the eye, round this organ, and finally terminating behind the lids. The eye and the tympanic wall are very large. The trunk, which is very large anteriorly, in consequence of the large development of the parotides, is covered, on each side of the dorsal spine, with two irregular rows of large elliptical or conical bladders; sometimes there are such bladders on the sides. The anterior extremities do not reach to the end of the trunk; the posterior extremities reach beyond the muzzle by the length of the fourth toe. The toes are rather flattened; the first toe is longer than the second. Its colors are various, consisting of a number of brown spots, which coalesce on the back, and are separated on the abdomen by yellowish dots.
The horrible croaking of these animals is well known, and might rouse the indignation of the most phlegmatic individual.
By exciting the animal, we caused it to spirt its saliva, which we collected on a little sugar of milk, and at once prepared, by trituration.
Prover: Bruno Vidal.
First day.—1. Extreme heaviness of the head, at 2. Aversion to work, with inability, the whole afternoon.
Second day.—Pain at the sacrum, worse when rising, stooping or sitting. Almost continual expansive pressure in the orbits, and sensation of internal itching; he is obliged to rub his eyes with the palm of his hand. 5. Itching at the pubis. Itching at the face. Violent itching at the lips.
Third day.—Pain at the inner part of the right knee. Easy stool. 10. Itching, almost all over. Not disposed to study. Less active than usual. Expansive pressure and itching in the orbits. The pain at the sacrum continues.
Fourth day.—15. The pain at the sacrum is less; the pain at the knee has ceased. Expansive pressure and itching in the orbits. Itching almost all over. Constant erections without desire; not disposed to intellectual labor, not very active.
Fifth to tenth day.—Laziness of mind as before. 20. Constant erections, but no desire. Itching and expansive sensation in the orbits.
Eleventh day.—No sleep.