My dad just told me that he'd seen a program yesterday about frogs and warts. He said, "Your Grandma Etta knew a thing or two when she used to tie a frog onto your Mama's hand to get rid of a wart."

Mama piped in, "The frog had to die."

Daddy said, "You see, when the frog is scared, it emits some kind of subtance that has an antibiotic in it. That same antibiotic is used in medicines."

So, since I didn't see the program, does anybody know what it is that the scared frog gives off--and how do we harvest whatever this substance is? Do we chemically reproduce it?

'Twarn't frogs, 'twere toads. There are toads that if scared can kill you. A Harvard prof
told me of a journal article about scientist in New Mexico many years ago out exercising
his dogs, when the young one picked up a toad, tossed it in air, and caught it again. Winthin
a few minutes the young dog was dead, and the older dog died not long afterward. The owner
was extremely ill, but survived. That species of toad can secrete large amounts of a steroid
that is similar to digitalis, by immensely more potent. Now I'll have to go see if I can find out
the name of it on Internet. This is not some old wives' tale.

That's absolutely right, Bill! I failed to make the distinction.

Is it a steroid of some type, then, that caused that dying toad to act upon the wart? My mom said the remedy worked. Poor toad.

What's the adjective for toads and frogs? And are there two separate adjectives, one for toads and another for frogs? Not that we like words here or anything--bunch of word meleagrines that we are...

Here's a URL, but not the one I hoped to find. I'll try again.
http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/frogs/textonly/medieval_magic.html

"anurans" include both frogs and toads.

Here 'tis.:http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/bufo/b._alvarius$narrative.html

warts are caused by virus, and anything that "kicks off" your immuno system will effect them..
the latest cure is wrapping them in duct tape (thank the ozzies for that one)

many toads (and some frogs) excrete toxins through there skin... and that some of these toxins have an effect is not surprizing. most of the toxins need to be ingested to cause damage-- since the reason for the toxins is to teach animals higher up on the food chain that it is not a good idea to even try to eat them. but some toxins do pass through the shin, (so when a bird grabs with their feet, or even a racoon with paws) the toxin will go to work immediately, before the animal has a chance to chomp down.

there is a drug, (first found by south american indians, from a mucus covered a type of frog.. ) that is a powerful, fast acting toxin that causes paralysis. frogs are pretty good eating from lots of other animals.. they have evolved a host of poisons to discourage consumption.

Anurans! Ha! That's even better than ayleurs! We're a bunch of Anurans here on AWAD.

The frog should become our mascot!!

Best ribbet,
WordWarts

Anuran means no tail. And they don't get any. I remember as fiveyeqrold separating pairs
because the one on top was choking the one below. I thought I was doing thme a favor.

Here's a uRL about arrow poison frogs:
http://jajhs.kana.k12.wv.us/amazon/pafrog.htm

Anything's better than ayleurs