CANTHARIDES 453 



medicine. It may be used as a quickly acting diuretic, or to stop pul- 

 monary hemorrhage. In some cases of rapid heart (tachycardia) pitui- 

 trin has proved serviceable. In shock it should be given intravenously; 

 in other conditions subcutaneously or intramuscularly. 



The anterior lobe has been given with success in human medicine to 

 stimulate growth and sexual functions in infantilism and dwarfism; and 

 in a condition where there is great obesity, poor development of the sexual 

 organs and general lassitude. The human dose of the powdered anterior 

 lobe is 2 to 3 grains ; of the posterior lobe, gr.ss. 



Canthakis. Cantharides. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Spanish flies, blister beetles, muscae hlspanicse, E.; cantharides, 

 Fr.; spanische fliegen, canthariden, G. ; cantharides, P. G. 



Cantharis is the beetle, Canthoris vesicatoria De Geer (Fam. Meloideae, order 

 Coleoptera), and yielding not less than 0.6 per cent, of cantharidin. 



Habitat. — Southern Europe, Germany and Russia; living chiefly on Oleaceae 

 and Capfifoliacese. 



Description^ — From 15 to 25 mm. in length, 6 to 8 mm. in hreadth, oblong, 

 somewhat compressed above; of a brilliant green or bluish-green, metallic luster, 

 changing in diiferent parts, especially beneath, to a golden-green; head triangular, 

 separated into two lateral lobes by a faint median line; mandibles stout and 

 partly concealed; antennae' filiform, of 11 conical joints, the upper ones being 

 black; eyes comparatively small; prothorax angulate; legs with five tarsal joints; 

 wings membranous and brownish; elytra or wing sheaths each with two parallel 

 lines and finely wrinkled; odor strong, disagreeable; taste slight, afterwards 

 acrid. Cantharides with an ammoniacal odor must not be used. 



Constituents.- — 1, the active principle is cantharidin, CioHuO, (0.6 to 2 per 

 cent.), in colorless scales, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, 

 oils, acetic acid and acetic ether; it is found chiefly in the generative organs, 

 eggs, and blood of the beetles; 2, a volatile oil; 3, a bland, green oil; 4, acetic 

 and uric acids, extractives and salts; cantharides deteriorates with age and 

 should be kept unpowdered in tightly stoppered bottles. 



Dose.—H. & C, gr.v-xx, (.3-1.3); Sh. & Sw., gr.iv-viii, (.25-.5) ; D., gr.i-ii, 

 (.06-.12). 



PBEPAEATIOXa. 



Tinctwra Oantharidis. Tincture of Cantharides. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Made by maceration with heat for 24 hours and percolation of cantharides, 

 100; with alcohol to make 1000. (U. S: P.) 



Dose.—H. & C, 3ii-iv, (8-16); D., niii-xv, (.12-1). 



Oeratwm Cantharidis. (U. S. P.) 

 Cantharides powdered, 350; glacial acetic acid, 25; oil of turpentine, ISO; yel- 

 low wax, 175; rosin, 175; and benzoinated lard to make 1000. 

 Unguentvmk Cantharidis. (B. P.) 



Action External. — Cantharides, by virtue of cantharidin, is an in- 

 tense irritant. When applied to the skin in ointment it produces no effect 

 for several hours, but after that time causes dilatation of the cutaneous 

 vessels, hyperemia, and blisters, which appear in from 3 to 12 hours. 

 The blisters soon break, discharge their serous contents, and then dry 

 and crust the surface. If the action of cantharides is maintained con- 

 tinuously; if the application is repeated or covered with a bandage; or if 

 the skin was previously inflamed, then inflammation of the deeper-seated 

 parts ensues, followed by suppuration, sloughing, loss of tissue, destruc- 

 tion of hair follicles, and scars. The drug is therapeutically a rubefacient 

 and vesicant, and counter-irritant, in occasioning dilatation of the super- 

 ficial vessels, and reflexly, contraction of those in the remote underlying 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



