226 ON CANTHARIDIN AND ITS PBEPARATIONS. 
33 per cent, (or in some cases with 50 per cent.) of another 
fixed oil, dissolved by its own volume of alcohol. — Phar- 
maceutical Journal, May, 1850. 
ART. LIII. — ON CANTHARIDIN, AND ITS PHARMACEU- 
TICAL PREPARATIONS. 
By Dr. Oettinger. 
In 1841 I expressed my opinion that cantharidin is the 
only constituent contained in the cantharides which pos- 
sesses blistering power, that the cantharides in substance 
are, therefore, not all required for blistering, and that a 
cantharidin taffeta not only fully supplies the place of the 
Spanish flies, but is even preferable to them. — (Jahrb. d, 
arztl. Ver. in Munchen III. Jahrg. 1841.) At that time I 
published a method of preparing a vesicating taffeta, which 
answered all the technical and dynamical purposes of a 
blister, and which has been practically substantiated in 
thousands of cases. The usefulness of this remedy soon 
manifested itself in Germany by its universal application, 
but still more by the attempts of apparently improving upon 
my method of preparation. The proposal of spreading the 
mass upon paper instead of taffetas, was considered by 
many not only an essential improvement, but even as a 
sufficient claim for obtaining a patent. ; ' 
In the year 1847 I was induced to read to the Medical 
Society in Munich {vide Med. Corresp. Bl. bayer, Aerzte, 
1847, p. 813,) and a year after to publish, an account of 
my experience of this preparation during nine years, and to 
show that it is perfectly indifferent with regard to the effect, 
whether the cantharadin be employed in a pure state, or 
mixed with the green and waxy resin; and whether it be 
spread on taffetas, linen, or paper. At the same time I also 
