616 AGENTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN 



cautery, followed by a cantharides blister, will cause sweil- 

 iug aod close the opening in tlie abdominal parietes of small 

 umbilical hernias of foals and caWes. 



Likewise, blisters are valuable in closing and sealing 

 punctured wounds into joints and synovial cavities. Can- 

 tharides is commonly employed in ointment (1 to 4-8) made 

 by melting and mixing the excipients in a double boiler ; 

 i.e., over a water bath, and stirring in thoroughly the 

 powdered drug. The following is a good preparation : 



9 



Pulv. Cantharidis. 



Cerae flav *. . aa§ii. 



Adipis I xiv. 



M. 



S. External use. 



More powerful ointments are made with powdered euphor- 

 biiim and cantharides, each 2 parts ; corrosive sublimate, 1 

 part ; vaseline, 8 parts ; cerate, 12 parts ; or, 



Tar and resin, each 4 parts ; yellow wax, 3 parts ; cotton- 

 seed oil, 10 parts ; powdered euphorbium, 2 parts ; canthar- 

 ides, 6 parts. 



The technique of blistering consists in cutting the hair 

 and washing the part to be blistered, and rubbing the 

 blister long and thoroughly into the skin. The animal should 

 be controlled by tying up the head, or using a cradle, or 

 side-bar attached to the halter and surcingle, to prevent 

 horses from biting the blistered area. The tail should be 

 tied up if the blister is applied within its reach. Dogs 

 should be muzzled, but are apt to rub the sore spot. The 

 serum discharged from the blister must be continually 

 sponged off with soap suds and water, to prevent excoriation 

 of the subadjacent skin, or the latter may be covered with a 

 solution of resin in alcohol, by means of a brush. 



The blister is washed off in 36 or 48 hours after its 

 application, and vaselinie should thereafter be kept on the 

 part. The use of cantharidal blisters is contraindicated in 

 weak or young animals ; on the flexures of joints ; or deli- 



