CANTHA.RIDES 615 



Uses External. — Cantharides is employed more frequently 

 than any other counter-irritant, to cause blistering, in veter- 

 inary practice. The reader is referred to the section on 

 counter-irritants (p. 665) for an account of their actions. 

 The action of cantharides is too tardy and irritating, and 

 there is too much danger of absorption and poisoning to 

 recommend it for the production of counter-irritation over 

 an extensive area (chest and abdomen) in acute pulmonary 

 congestion, pneumonia, bronchitis, colic, enteritis and 

 peritonitis. Mustard, turpentine, and external heat are 

 generally preferable in these disorders. 



A blister of cantharid*es is serviceable in pericarditis 

 and pleuritis with effusion, and, applied over the throat in 

 severe, acute laryngitis, may obviate the necessity of tracheo- 

 tomy. Again, blisters are useful on the poll in inflammation 

 of the brain and its membranes ; and over the spine in 

 myelitis and meningitis ; over the lumbar region in para- 

 plegia. 



A cantharidal application is often efficacious in muscular 

 or joint rheumatism when placed over the affected area, or 

 near by, in acute conditions. Furthermore, a cantharides 

 blister is of advantage in acute diseases of the ear, Vt?^hen 

 rubbed in above and behind this organ ; and will relieve 

 pain in the stomach, and vomiting when applied to the 

 epigastrium. 



Cantharides is the remedy usually employed in the 

 treatment of diseases of the bones, joints, bursae, ligaments, 

 and tendons. In exostoses, as spavin and ringbone, the 

 ointment is used most effectively after the actual cautery, to 

 secure absorption and resolution, or anchylosis. Cantharidal 

 ointment is often sufficient, together with complete rest, in 

 the treatment of synovitis, and strains of tendons and liga- 

 ments. A cantharides blister is sometimes beneficial in 

 hastening the formation of abscess, (" strangles "); or to aid 

 their resolution after paracentesis ; also to stimulate indolent 

 ulcers or wounds ; and to assist absorption of traumatic 

 indurations, when applied around these lesions. The actual 



