Bufo alvarius:

The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert



by Albert Most

Gila, Arizona

Summer 1983



To Pat and Quanah



Specialized multi-cellular glands concentrated on the neck and limbs of B. alvarius produce a viscous milky-white venom that contains large amounts of the potent hallucinogen, 5-MEO-DMT. When vaporized by heat and taken into the lungs in the form of smoke, this indole-based alkaloid produces an incredibly intense psychedelic experience of incredibly short duration. There is no hangover or harmful effect. On the contrary, a pleasant psychedelic afterglow appears quite regularly after smoking the venom of B. alvarius, the Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert.





Part One

You won't have any trouble identifying B. alvarius. It is the largest native North American species of toad. In terms of snout-to-vent length, B. alvarius requires a minimum of three inches for sexual maturity, although breeding adults continue to grow up to seven inches in length. This desert dweller is of stout build with a squat body and a flat broad head. The skin is smooth and leathery, sparsely covered with pale orange warts, and can change considerably from a dark brown to olive or grayish green. The belly is cream colored and usually unmarked. There are one to four prominent round white warts at the corner of the mouth. But, by far, the most identifying characteristic of B. alvarius is the presence of large granular glands on the neck and limbs.

The granular glands are specialized multi-cellular concentrations of tissue. The most prominent of these is the pair of large kidney-shaped parotoid glands located one on each side of the neck, over and behind the tympanum. Enlarged and elongated glands on the outside of each hind leg, between the knee and thigh, are called femorals. Similarly, the tibeals are long glands, or a line of shorter ones, that run the full length between the knee and ankle. An additional gland concentration can be found on each of the forearms.





Part Two

"A certain man had the good fortune to possess a goose that laid a golden egg every day. But dissatisfied with so slow an income, and thinking to seize the whole treasure at once, he killed the goose; and cutting her open, found her -- just what any other goose would be. " The Goose with the Golden Eggs, by Aesop





Important Considerations

Every psychedelic experience is chiefly a function of set and setting, of preparation and environment. The better prepared you are, the better the experience will be for you. Consider the following instructions:



Smoke the venom fairly early in the day on an empty but not starving stomach.





Do not drink any alcohol or take any drugs or medication prior to smoking the venom.





Provide a comfortable setting which is as free as possible from unforeseen distractions and intrusions. Make sure you will not be disturbed for at least thirty minutes.





Be comfortably seated or prone prior to inhaling the vapors.





Enjoy your trip!





Recommended Reading

The Handbook for the Serious Toad Collector, by Albert Most Everything you could possibly want to know about the "psychedelic toad" is covered in this illustrated guide to B. alvarius. Beginning with the mating call and mounting clasp, the author details the metamorphosis of B. alvarius through egg and tadpole stages up to the mature adult. A special section on induced ovulation and tadpole culturing describes how the serious toad collector can, at any time, induce spawning in pet toads and insure insemination of the 8000 eggs laid by the adult female.



Peganum harmala: The Hallucinogenic Herb of the American Southwest, by Albert Most The psychoactive alkaloids present in P. harmala have such extraordinary effects that they have earned the name "telepathines." The author presents an illustrated guide to the history, botany, chemistry, cultivation, preparation, use, and effects of this most unusual hallucinogenic plant.



Eros and the Pineal, by Albert Most This unusual do-it-yourself guide details the manipulation of normal biogenic amines in the human brain. The author presents a safe and effective procedure for increasing the concentration of pineal serotonin, blocking its normal enzymatic inactivation, and shifting pineal catabolism towards the production of endogenous hallucinogens. Fully illustrated and highly recommended.





NOTES:

The author is saying that 500mg of dried venom times 15% equals 75mg of 5-MeO-DMT per toad. However, the average yield of dried venom per toad, regardless of its size, is generally 250mg when all the glands are milked twice. Additionally, it's a good possibility that as much as 25% of the venom will contain 5-MeO-DMT which would equate to 62.5mg of 5-MeO-DMT per average toad. Please take additional note, however, that the amount of 5-MeO-DMT in any one toad varies quite considerably and could possibly be less than 25% or even 15%.





Unfortunately, everyone agrees that The Handbook for the Serious Toad Collector was never published, despite having been listed in a couple of places as available. However, the information it would have contained can be found here. For those interested in the induction of breeding activity by experimental means and under laboratory conditions, outside of the normal breeding season, please see the information here.

MAIL ORDER T-SHIRTS image courtesy of Thomas Lyttle.

At one time, "The author welcomes all correspondence. Write: Al Box 2863 Denton, Texas 76202" This address, and Venom Press no longer exist.

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