578  Vesicating  Beetles  from  South  Africa.  {AmNov.r;if8h7arm' 
ration  of  the  true  ipecacuanha,  a  vinum  naregarnise  was  made  by  using 
sherry  containing  15*16  per  cent,  absolute  alcohol  by  weight,  2*4  per 
cent,  solids,  and  traces  of  tannin.  The  finished  product,  however, 
could  not  be  recommended  as  a  suitable  preparation,  for  the  following 
reasons:  1.  The  wine  deposited  after  standing  a, few  days,  2.  Large 
doses  were  taken,  much  in  excess  of  the  official  wine,  without  produc- 
ing an  emetic  effect.  3.  Naregamine  is  precipitated  by  tannin,  which 
is  frequently  found  in  sherries.  4.  Naregamine  was  detected  with 
facility  in  the  residual  marc.  If  a  liquid  preparation  is  required,  I 
should  suggest  a  tincture  made  with  the  powdered  drug  and  rectified 
spirit  of  the  strength  of  two  and  a-half  ounces  to  one  pint.  The  alco- 
hol dissolves  out  the  alkaloid  and  most  of  the  fatty  constituents,  and 
the  tincture  exhibits  the  activity  of  the  root.  Powdered  naregamia  is 
the  form  in  which  it  will  chiefly  be  used;  it  is  conveniently  carried 
about,  and  is  simple  in  its  administration. 
OOTACAMTOD,  INDIA. 
— Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  October  15,  1887,  p.  318. 
TWO  SPECIES  OF  VESICATING  BEETLES  FEOM 
SOUTH  AFRICA.1 
By  J.  Oldham  Braithwaite,  Pharmaceutical  Chemist. 
A  small  consignment  of  native  "  blistering  flies"  was  recently  sent 
from  Cape  Colony  to  Messrs. ,  Hale  &  Son,  the  well  known  drug 
brokers,  by  one  of  their  clients  there,  who  states  that  the  beetles  are 
much  used  by  -the  natives  and  by  local  medical  practitioners  for  pro- 
ducing vesication.  It  was  thought  possible  that  they  might  be  use- 
fully introduced  here  as  a  substitute  for  the  "  Spanish"  and  "  Chinese 
flies,"  or  as  a  profitable  source  of  cantharidin.  Having  casually  seen 
a  few  specimens,  I  applied  to  Messrs.  Hale,  who  were  good  enough  to 
request  me  to  examine  the  beetles,  and  to  furnish  me  with  a  sufficient 
quantity  for  a  preliminary  investigation. 
The  sample  was  composed  of  two  species  of  Mylabris,  neither  of 
which  could  I  find  described  in  such  pharmacological  or  entomological 
works  as  were  accessible  to  me.  For  the  identification  of  the  species 
I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Cahan,  of  the  Entomological  Department  ot  the 
Natural  History  Museum,  who  courteously  informs  me  that  they  are 
1  From  a  paper  read  before  the  Brit.  Pharmac.  Conference ;  reprinted  from 
Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  Sept.  17. 
