Legends and Folklore

 
 
photo compliments of 
                                    Dr. Shin Sugiyama

Introduction

History

Toxin

Cellular
Mechanism

Medicinal
Applications

References

      Frogs, across many cultures, are extremely symbolic and often foretell approaching acts of nature.  Frogs have often been symbolic of rebirth to pestilence and in many traditions the presence of a frog is associated with the coming of rain.   Ancient folklore also states that the appearance of a frog in a dream signifies indiscretion. (Jobes, 1961)  Some folk legends claim that frogs are truly the reincarnation of dead children and others warn that touching a frog will make a person instantly infertile.   It is also important to note that few childen escape adolescence without hearing the tale of the frog prince.  Stranger, however, than these beliefs, are the folk remedies that utilize frogs in their cure.  Some sources claim that wart may be removed by rubbing the offending blemish with a live frog - as the frog dies, the wart will simultaneously disappear.  Other remedies include hanging a live frog, inside a bag, in the chimney until it dies - a supposed cure for whooping cough - and eating several baby frogs before breakfast - once a common cure for consumption and cancer. (Pickering, 1999)  One well-known myth -that touching frogs will cause warts- is outlined in The Dictionary of American Folklore (Pickering, 1999).  While this myth is not true in the literal sense, it does have some scientific basis.  Although warts are not literally caused by frogs themselves, they are caused by viruses prevalent in wet or damp environments.  Because frogs often inhabit these wet, damp environments it is very possible that a wart-causing virus could be present on a frog’s skin.  If present, the virus could be easily transferred to a human upon handling and lead to the formation of a wart. 
                                  Photo and animation by Karen Lyn Morse copyright 1997
Compliments of Bluemountain Arts
http://www.bluemountain.com/eng/karen/LOVfrog.html
 

 
 
 
 
This website was created for a biology course entitled "From Venoms and Toxins to Drugs" at  College in Davidson, North Carolina.  All questions and/or comments should be directed to Amy Johnston.