Cantharis vesicator. Lytta vesicator. Spanish fly. *N. O. Insecta, Coleoptera. Tincture or trituration of living insects.
Clinical
*Bladder *affections. *Burns. Chordee. Diphtheria. Dysentery. Eczema. *Emissions. *Erotomania. Erysipelas. Eyes, inflammation of. *Gastritis. *Gonorrhoea. *Herpes *zoster. Hydrophobia. *Kidneys, *affections *of. Mania. Neuralgia. Nymphomania. *Ovaries, *affection *of. *Peritonitis. *Pleurisy. *Pregnancy, *disorders *of. Retained placenta. Satyriasis. *Scarlatina. *Spermatorrhea. *Strangury. *Thirst. *Throat, *sore. *Tongue, *inflammation *of. *Urine, *abnormal. Vesication of skin.
Characteristics
*Cantharis belongs to the animal kingdom and finds its most prominent sphere of action in exciting the animal passions. There is anger in a very acute degree amounting to paroxysms of rage, and a corresponding condition of the bodily tissues. The word “*irritation” best expresses the totality of the *Cantharis effects. The pains are burning, and sharp, lancinating along the course of a nerve. Neuralgia of head and face from taking cold, with loud screams and jerking of muscles. The slightest touch or approach aggravates the mental symptoms. Violent spasms reproduced by touching larynx. There is also worse from dazzling objects and by water-completing the hydrophobia picture. It may be well to remember in this connection the violent erotic action of *Cantharis, for many have maintained that rabies only arises among domesticated animals where sexual functions are under more or less abnormal conditions. Guernsey gives as the special indications in hydrophobia: “Moaning and violent cries, interspersed with barking.” *Cantharis produces amorous frenzy, unbounded sexual desire, also sexual erethism and excitability. It acts on the brain, producing inflammation of the tissues. The eyes are bright, pupils widely dilated. Erysipelas commencing in nose. The face is generally pale or yellowish, with an expression of deep-seated suffering. There is diphtheritic inflammation of throat, severe burning, constriction, thirst, with aversion to drinking. The stomach is inflamed. Pain in abdomen colic-like, doubling the patient up, cutting, burning, lancinating. Dysenteric stools with tenesmus. In the genito-urinary region the most intense action is developed. There is extreme superficial sensitiveness in hypogastrium (especially when the bladder is full), attended with unbearable tenesmus vesicae. Cutting, burning pains from the kidney down to urethra. Strangury. Can pass only a few drops, like molten lead. Irritation of all grades. The sexual appetite is aroused to the point of mania. Coitus does not always reduce it. On the skin and serous membranes the irritating effects of the remedy are equally pronounced. Pleurisy with effusion has been cured by the remedy given internally. Burning, stitches, shooting pains and exudation are the indications. So the fly-blister treatment of olden days had more to say for itself than those who used it knew. Vesication is the note of its effects on the skin and indicates its use in burns of the first degree, erysipelas, blisters. In burns the part may be treated with a lotion containing a few drops of the tincture to the ounce of water, a dilution being given internally. An ointment made with the 3X is a good application for herpes zoster. H. N. Guernsey observed that *Cantharis is almost always the remedy for whatever other sufferings there may be, when there is as well frequent micturition with burning, cutting pain, or if cutting burning pain attends the flow, even when micturition is not very frequent. Guernsey also pointed out that Cantharis should be studied in treating affections of the air-passages when the mucus is tenacious. Nash records a case in which this observation led him to make a pretty cure. *Kali *bich. had completely failed to relieve a lady who had suffered long from bronchitis. The mucus was profuse, tenacious, and ropy. One day the patient mentioned that she had great cutting and burning on urinating, which she was obliged to do very frequently. *Cantharis made a rapid cure. *Cantharis has cured a case of malarial cachexia in which the symptoms were always worse when the urine was scanty. “Burning” runs through the Cantharis Pathogenesis in a very striking way. Another marked feature of the remedy is its effect in increasing the secretions of membranes. *Cantharis “expels moles, dead fetus, placentae, promotes fecundity” (Guernsey). The worse is: from drinking, from coffee, from drinking cold water, while urinating, after urinating, from touch. better From rubbing, from warm applications.
Relations
*Antidotes: Camph. antidotes the strangury and retention of urine of Cantharis, Apis the cystitis, Kali-n. the renal symptoms. For its throat symptoms it is nearest to Capsicum.*Other
*antidotes: Aconite, Laur., PulsatillaCantharis is *antidote *to: Camph., Vinegar, Alcohol.*Compatible: Belladonna, Mercurius, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Sepia, Sulphur*Incompatible: Coffea. *Compare: Dor., Coccus. cact Coccionella., Apis, Belladonna, Bryonia, Cann-s. (more burning and smarting, Cantharis more tenesmus), Petros. (sudden urging), Caps, Pulsatilla (retained placenta), Arsenicum (delayed urination after parturition), Thuj (erections, those of Cantharis prevent urination, those of Thuj do not), Mercurius (semen mixed with blood), Sarsaparilla (urine burns like fire, shreddy particles and blood in it), Arum, Arnica, Rhus, Ran-s.Teste classes Cantharis with Senega and Ph-ac. in his Conium group.
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Dejected and lachrymose humour. Anxious inquietude, with agitation, which necessitates constant motion. Want of confidence in one’s self. Pusillanimity and timidity. Disposition to be angry, and to fly into a rage. Paroxysms of rage, with cries, blows, and barkings, renewed on feeling the gullet, and at the slight of water. Delirium. Insanity. Mania, with extravagant acts and gestures. Constantly attempting to do something, but accomplishing nothing.
Head
Vertigo, with loss of consciousness, and mist before the sight, chiefly in the open air. Headache, which interrupts sleep at night. Pressive lancinations in the head, which disappear on walking. Acute drawing pains in the head, with vertigo. Congestion in the head. Throbbing in the brain, and heat, which ascends to the head. Sensation of burning in the head, as if the interior were raw, with inflammation of the brain. Drawing, Jerking, and gnawing in the bones of the head. Headache, as if the hair were pulled. Hair standing on end. Headache, as if coming from the nape of the neck, and wishing to escape by the forehead. Burning in the sides of the head, ascending from the neck, with soreness and giddiness, worse in the morning and afternoon, when standing or sitting, better when walking or lying down.
Eyes
Pain in the eyes, with sensation as if the eyelids were excoriated, chiefly when they are opened. Inflammation of the eyes, with burning smarting. Yellowish color of the eyes. Prominence, and convulsive movements of the eyes, fiery, sparkling, staring look. Objects seemed to be tinged with a yellow hue.
Ears
Inflammation and burning heat of the ears.
Nose
Swelling of the nose, even in the interior, with redness and burning heat. Erysipelatous inflammation of the dorsum of the nose, extending to the cheeks (right) with hardness and subsequent desquamation. Fetid and sickly smell before the nose. Coryza of long duration, and catarrh, with copious flow of viscid mucus from the nose.
Face
Paleness of the face. Face hollow, hippocratic, with features which express anguish and despair. Yellowish color of the face. Erysipelatous inflammation and desquamation of the cheeks. Burning redness and swelling of the face. Swelling at one side of the face (right), with tension. Swelling and inflammation of the lips. Fissure and exfoliation of the lips. Trismus.
Teeth
Toothache, generally drawing, worse by eating. Fistula in the gums. Ulceration of the gums.
Mouth
Taste of cedar pitch in the mouth. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth. Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx. Inflammation and suppuration of the tonsils, with inability to swallow. Burning in the mouth, extending down the pharynx, oesophagus and stomach, worse from drinking cold water. Phlegmonous inflammation of the interior of the cheek. Aphthae in the mouth. Frothy salivation, with streaks of blood. Foam at the mouth. Coagulated blood coming from the mouth. Inflammatory swelling and suppuration of the tongue. Suppuration of the gums. Fistula dentalis (suppurating) (upper incisors). Weakness of the organs of speech, and languid diction.
Throat
Sore throat, on swallowing. Difficult deglutition, with strangulation in the throat, and nocturnal regurgitation of food. Impeded deglutition, especially in the case of liquids. Burning in the throat, on swallowing. Inflammation and ulceration of the tonsils and of the throat, with inability to swallow. Burning pains in the throat, worse by drinking water.
