146 On the Virtues and Principles 



well, since he neglected some of the most important ques- 

 tions necessary to be treated, and particularly those which 

 relate to the vesicant, diuretic_, and aphrodisiac, properties 

 of cantharides. 



To supply in some measure the silence he has observed 

 on these three points, Bcaupoil has thoueht proper to exa- 

 mine cantharides again. The dissertation in which he has 

 published his experiments having appeared to nie worthy 

 of being known, I shall give an extract from it. 



The author divides this dissertation into four parts. 



In the first he gives a cursory view of the specific cha- 

 racters of cantharides ; the processes employed to collect 

 them ; and the preparations to which thev are subjected be- 

 fore they are introduced into conmierce for medicinal pur- 

 poses. 



In the second he gives a short account of the use made 

 of these insects since the days of Ilippoerates to the present 

 period. 



The third contains a correct account of the attempts made 

 by chemists to analyse cantharides, as well as a view of his 

 own experiment-', and of the results he obtained. 



The fourth contains every thing that relates to the phy- 

 siological essays made with these animals ; to the effects 

 produced by the external application and internal admini- 

 stration of them ; and obsei vations on the pha?nomcna ob- 

 served on opening several dogs, which the author caused 

 to swallow either whole cantharides or their different im- 

 mediate principles, which he was enabled to separate by 

 meaRS of particular processes. 



As the first and second part contain nothing which may 

 not be found iu various authors, I shall proceed to the third 

 part, which is merely chrmical. 



It has already been observed that Thouvenel was the first 

 who examined cantharides in a maimer likely to prove use- 

 ful. \Va!.er and alcoholic fluids were, in particular, the 

 two agents which he thought proper to employ in prefe- 

 rence for separating from these insects the soluble parts, 

 which he expected to obtain. The results by m.eans of these 

 two fluids were : 



1st, A reddish yellow extractive matter of a pungent bit- 

 terness, similar, he says, to that of ants, except its being less 

 acid. 



2d, A yellow matter less dark than the former, and al- 

 inost insipid. 



3d, A tV.t matter of a green colour, of an acrid savour, 

 and having the smell peculiar to whole cantharides. 



5 ' 4th, A 



