CANTHARIS. 



the period for the recurrence of the paroxysm. On the principle of revul- 

 sion, they prove useful in a vast variety of complaints. ^ 



Perhaps the pain produced by blisters may be useful in some cases of 

 nervous excitement or derangement, in which it is desirable to withdraw 

 the attention of the patient from subjects of agitating reflection. — United 

 States Dispensatory, ist ed., 1833, p. 155. 



In order, however, that it be not accepted that all physicians and 

 authorities of former times were concerned in the use of this barbarous 

 treatment, we refer to the catttion given in Quincy's Compleat Bnglish 

 Dispensatory, 1749, as follows: 



It is not every one who must think himself qualified to meddle with 

 such remedies, which are sure to do good or hurt, according as they are 

 adapted. There are some ill persons who have learn'd to procure abortions 

 by these flies; and to play a great many other unwarrantable tricks with 

 them. — Compleat Bnglish Dispensatory, 12th ed., 1749, p. 155. 



Connected with this is the further caution in the same work, as 

 follows : 



The perpetual blister-plasters, which are so much advertised, are noth- 

 ing else but the common epispastic, drest with an unguent, in which the 

 cantharides are finely powdered and mixed; therefore those who value 

 themselves upon it as a secret, either abuse themselves or other people. — • 

 The Compleat Bnglish Dispensatory, 12th ed., 1749, p. 211. 



The fact that serious after-consequences followed the indiscreet 

 use of this vicious vesicant, is further illustrated in Motherby's Neiv 

 Medical Dictionary, 1775, as follows : 



However used, they are apt to produce a strangury, and inflammation 

 of the urinary passages; to prevent which, when blisters are applied, sonft 

 rub scruple i. or scruple ii. of camphor, in fine powder, on the surface of 

 the plaister; but this requires also the assistance of nitre, oily drinks, soap 

 pills, &c. Washing the blistered part when dressed, with warm milk, greatly 

 relieves these symptoms. 



Sometimes blisters laid to the thighs, or calves of the legs, have pro- 

 duced a gangrene, because a flux of humours is very easily invited to these 

 parts; therefore should not be applied to them when they are oedematous 

 but rather to the inside of the arms, wrists, nape of the neck or head — 

 Motherby, A New Medical Dictionary; or General Repository of Physic, 1775. 



Such as the foregoing led to the attempted antidotal treatment, 

 both of the ill effects of the Cantharides blister and of poisoning there- 

 from. Perhaps Eberle's Therapeutics, 1847, covers this phase of the 

 subject as satisfactorily and as briefly as any, in the face of the fact 

 that there is neither a chemical antidote nor a therapeutic antagonist 

 that will overcome the ill effects of either an excoriating blister or 

 of a destructive stomach disintegration : 



A "^hf strangury produced by cantharides is best obviated by copious 

 draughts of bland liquids, such as flaxseed tea, gum Arabic water decoc- 

 tions of barley, melon seeds, &c. uci-ui. 



In cases of poisoning from cantharides, it has been recommended tn 

 exhibit large doses of sweet oil; but the experiments of Dr Pallas and 



46 



