The other morning a started to speak, but I needed to clear my throat. I said, “Pardon me, I have a frog in my throat.”
I wondered, “Why a frog in my throat? Why not a newt, a salamander or a toad?”
So I did a little research. Seems the term “frog in your throat” goes back to the 1800s when Taylor Brothers used it as the name of a propriety lozenges to cure sore throat and hoarseness.
Frogs and throats may go back even farther. There are writings from the 17th century claiming holding a frog in a child’s mouth until the frog died was a cure for thrush.
The “Wild West” medicine shows in America have a story about a travelling show coming to town and one of the “attendees” claimed he swallowed some spring water and chugged down a small frog.
He claimed he could feel it jumping inside him.
The “salesman” directed the man to lay on the stage in front of everyone and he said he would put a bit of his “magic elixir” in the victim’s mouth, and the smell would force the frog to jump out.
Of course this had to be done with the huckster’s high hat over the victim’s head. Sure enough, the victim coughed and gagged and, voila! The salesman produced a small frog.
Today we’d call these “urban myths” or “urban legends”.
For example:
- “Swimming after eating with give you serious cramps” and you had to wait at least 30 minutes before going back into the water. This was probably supported by adults who desired a break from having to keep an eye on squealing and splashing kids at the beach or in the pool.
- “Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years.” While your body can’t digest it, it normally passes through harmlessly.
- “Plucking a gray hair means 2 more will grow”. If this were true, a lot of bald men would have started plucking hairs years ago.
- “Sitting too close to the TV runs your eyes.” Temporary eye strain maybe.
- “Hair of the dog cures a hangover”. This first appeared in print way back in 1546. If you had your morning orange juice after a “night on the town”, a little vodka mixed in would chase the headache and nausea.
- “Cracking knuckles can cause arthritis”. This was probably encouraged by those who dislike the sound.
- “Eating carrots will give you better eyesight.” Ever see a rabbit wearing eyeglasses?
- “Being cold will give you one.” Well, when it’s chilly, we stay indoors more and we expose ourselves more frequently to the “bugs” from other folks.
- “Five second rule.” Nah. The moment the food or utensil hits the floor, bacteria are there, no matter how much you brush it off or blow on it.
My grandmother-in-law once told me that pine needles were poisonous. That’s why nothing ever grew under those big pine trees in the yard. Never mind it was due to the fact they were so deep that they limited moisture and sunlight from reaching any plant growth.
She also said if you didn’t pass gas, it would build up pressure and stop your heart. Hey! You can’t be too safe now, can you?
John Foster anchors “All-News-in-the-Morning” weekdays on 1010 WCSI-AM and 98.1 FM. You can read his weekly blog at johnnyonthespot1950.com and monthly in The Republic. Send comments to [email protected].
