A. Exfoliation of skin of penis and scrotum, with strangury and hematuria (from application to the knee. No direct transfer possible),

B. Pain, redness, vesication. The 1/100 of a grain is sufficient to produce a blister, 1, 391.

C. Eczema and psoriasis, Tilesius (Theorie d. fle'chtenart. Aussch. Leipz.

1802), 32, 2: 411; 58, 109; 13, 78.

Psoriasis, 54, 1: 501; 58, 332; 65, 382; 67, p. L, 118; 75, 205; 81, 22; 86, 2: 123.

Psoriasis sometimes yields with surprising rapidity, 10, 1: 313.

The tincture of cantharides, commencing with a dose of three or four drops, gradually increased up to twenty, succeeds admirably in the treatment of psoriasis. Prudently administered and carefully watched, it is without danger. The remedy succeeds best and most promptly with women, 3, 1: 395.

Leprosy, 58, 377.

D. Psoriasis, lupus, 9, 544. Psoriasis and eczema, 7, 923.

Alopecia areata, 3, 1: 395; 13, 78. (H.G.P.) Infiltrations, 209.

Remarks

The officinal preparations are: Tinctura Cantharidis; Ceratum cantharidis; Ceratum Extracti Cantharidis; Charta Cantharidis; Unguentum Cantharidis; Collodium cum Cantharide; and Emplas-trum Picis cum Cantharide.

Cantharides is more frequently used internally in France and other parts of Continental Europe than in England or the United States. This is due in part, I fancy, to prejudice, or rather fear of giving rise to genitourinary or erotic complications. This fear is in great measure groundless when the drug is administered with care, and the patient warned to be on his guard against vesical irritation, and to suspend its use on the occurrence of the slightest unpleasant symptoms. It is undoubtedly efficacious in the treatment of psoriasis, and answers well during the suspension of an arsenical course. Nothing can be definitely stated concerning the dose, as the tincture of the shops varies greatly in activity, much being made from inferior qualities of the insect, and not a little, I believe, from the Chinese fly, which is not as active as the genuine article. The common potato-bug (Doryphora decemlineata) has been found to contain cantatridin, and a strong tincture prepared by maceration of the crushed insect might prove an efficient substitute for the foreign article.

Externally, cantharides is of the utmost value in alopecia areata, and, greatly diluted, is an ingredient of many of the hair-washes and "renew-ers" in the market.