Isaac Newton once proposed bizarre plague remedies, including powdered toad and toad vomit, inspired by 17th-century medical theories. The 1660s plague epidemic shaped Newton’s groundbreaking work, including the foundation for his gravitational laws. Combining powdered toad with the excretions and serum made into lozenges and worn about the affected area, drove away the contagion and drew out the poison.”Bonhams A closeup of Newton’s writings—in Latin—in which he describes using dried toad and toad vomit to concoct a plague treatment. As for Newton, the plague epidemic helped spur on his annus mirabilis, a Latin phrase meaning "wonderful year," in 1666. Newton was able to do this work because the ravaging plague forced Cambridge to close its doors, giving him time to work on his theories.