Selecting Large Object and TOAST

hi,

We are storing the Icons/IMages in the database as Large Objects using
lo_import functions.

(1) what would be the return type if i want to return a large object (
XYZ.gif) to the remote client (GUI) using stored procedure.
Can anyone give an example please?
Are there any size limitations i need to consider when returning Large
Object using procedures?

(2) A statement from documentation:
"PostgreSQL 7.1 introduced a mechanism (nicknamed "TOAST") that allows data
values to be much larger than single pages. This makes the large object
facility partially obsolete."
How do i TOAST my data stored as Large Object?

thanks,
vish