TOAD. (Bufo, a toad.).
Introduction
First proved by Dr. Carl Hencke, of Germany, in 1832, who used what he called the tincture; many of our symptoms, however, are from other sources, such as the effects of a bite, of venom applied to the skin, or the effects of a toad jumping into the mouth and entering the stomach during sleep.
Hearing’s name, Bufones, toads, would seem to be the best, as he says: “The provers have used about half a dozen different preparation.” He also adds: “The cures are of the greatest importance and cannot be doubted in the least, not even by such who make profession of so-called skepticism.”
Allen says: “Our knowledge of this substance is too meagre and the symptomatology too indefinite to enable one to form conclusions concerning its properties.”.
Symptoms
It seems to have been used principally for epilepsy, associated with livid face and profuse sweat, Hering speaking of one case where “fifty paroxysms occurred during fifteen hours.”
The attacks come on at the menstrual periods (67) or are due to sexual excitement (66).