Spanish Fly, Or

BLISTERING BEETLE, (Cantharis vesica to ria.) varieties at the same time emit a thick yellowish fluid, with a disagreeable smell, from the articulatories of the legs, . Many species of the genus Cantharis po e ing medicinal properties, are natives of Europe, India, and America. The Cantharis vesica to ria is the common blister-fly of the shops. The striped Cantharis, C. vittata , called Potato-fly, is a native of N. America and very destructive to potato-fields. The genus Mylabris contains several species, which have properties similar to those po e ed by the Cantharis; and the genus Meloe has also various species which have all the properties of the blister-fly. (Med.) The Cantharides, and especially C. vesica to ria, po e stimulating properties of a special order, acting, when powdered and applied externally, as a rubefacient and blister; and when taken internally, on one set of organs only, that of the kidneys and bladder, or urinary system. So important is this latter action, that in ordering a blister, or prescribing the drug in any form, this action ought never be forgotten, as a most painful retention of the water, or strangury, will frequently follow the application of even a small blister, or a trifling dose of the tincture of the flies. On this account, and to obviate any such symptoms, frequent draughts of barley water or linseed tea should be given while under the influence of C. In many affections of the kidneys, bladder, uterus, and urethra, C. judiciously employed is a medicine of singular efficacy, in which cases it is used in the form of tincture, Tinctura lytta , the dose being from 5 to 15 drops every four or eight hours, in some appropriate combination. In certain forms of dropsy and diseases of the skin, it is also employed with benefit, given in the same dose. As an external application, the tincture, combined with castor-oil, rosemary, and e ential oil of bitter almonds, makes an excellent application to the head for the growth of the hair; and as a stimulant in certain conditions of chronic rheumatism, the compound C. liniment is highly beneficial. The most important preparation is the plaster, Emplastrum lyttæ , made of suet, rosin, yellow wax, and powdered C. In an over-dose, the C. act as an irritant poison, producing very serious consequences. See POISON, (ANIMAL POISONS.) Can'thar is, n.; pl. CANTHAR'IDES. [Lat.] A genus of beetles, fam. CAN THAR IDE, q. v.