init unpleasant smell, and a taste slightly acrid. The active 
 wtiatter of this insect inflames and excoriates the skin, and is used as 
_ the basis of the common blistering plasters. ‘Taken internally they 
- often occasion a discharge of blood by urine, with exquisite pain: 
ifthe dose ‘be considerable they seem to inflame and exulcerate the 
le intestinal canal ; the stools become mucous and purulent; the _ 
breath foetid and cadaverous; intense pains are felt in the lower 
_ belly; the patient faints, grows giddy and dies. Applied to the skin 
__ they first inflame and afterwards excoriate the part, raising a more 
~ perfect blister than any of the vegetable acrids, occasioning a more 
plentiful discharge of serum. But even the external application of 
cantharidés is often followed by a stranguary, ‘accompanied with 
feverish heat. The inconveniencies arising from the use 
arides, whether taken internally or applied externally, are best 
ted by drinking plentifully of bland emmollient liquids, such as 
ecoctions of barley, linseed, soliitions of gum arabic, &c: or 
2 
WAT 7 C 2 
by pouring warm water from a bottle upon the lower part of the belly 
_ 48 the person lies in bed. Internally administered, it acts with much 
violence on the urinary passages, In dropsy, it has been given as 
a diuretic, in doses of one grain once or twice a day, or a few drops 
_of the tincture continued for some time; it has-been prescribed in 
a similar manner in obstinate gleet and fluor albus, and in retention 
_ of urine arising from debility of body, of the bladder ; or in the op- 
posite affection of the diabetes, incontinence of urine from debility of 
_ the constrictor.” ee " Nees Sh 
: agente cantharides are one of our best and most pow- 
oo edies. By proper management they may be regulated 
' -so as to fet ee pene & a a pe BET eT: oF as a blister. 
Blisters may be employed with advantage in almost all diseases ac- 
companied with typhus fever, especially if any important viscus, as~ 
_ the brain, lungs, or liver be at the same time particularly affected. 
Tn these cases the blisters are not applied to the diseased organs 
themselves, but as near them as may he convenient. When we 
_ wish to excite action in an organ, the blisters are, if possible, applied 
directly to the diseased organ. ee 
After a blister has been raised, it is often of advantage to convert 
serous into’ a purulent discharge, by exciting suppuration, 
. is done by applying to the blistering part any acrid stimula- 
‘ointment , one, for example containing a small proportion of 
cantharides, which answers the purpose by the irritation it keeps up. 
hk +O TS Ppiapagse big 1 iz Hit i : a 3 e: eae 
wor. The Beaver. ~ The substance collected in the follicles 
“= = near the anus, called castor. . 
=. ‘The beaver is an amphibious animal, which inhabits the northern 
parts of Europe, Asia, and America; in the banks of rivers, or lakes, 
=—— 
