Nomenclature
Spanish fly; blistering fly; blistering beetle. Description and references
Preparation of dried blister beetles, Lytta vesicatoria, also known as Cantharis vesicatoria, Meloidae; traditionally used as a vesicant, rubifacient,
and aphrodisiac. Habit. Southern and Central Europe,
mainly on plants of the family Oleaceae and Caprifoliaceae.
Constit. 0.6-1% cantharidin, q.v., 10-15% fat, resinous substances, acetic and uric
acids. Review: Ude, Heeger, Pharm.
Zentralhalle 82, 193 (1941); A. Kar, Pharmacognosy and Pharmacobiotechnology (New
Age Intl., New Delhi, 2003) pp 199-200.
Caution
Extreme irritant and vesicant.
Direct contact with skin may cause intense blister formation. Potential
symptoms of overexposure are burning sensation of oral cavity and
throat; diarrhea, hemorrhagic necrosis in upper GI tract, abdominal
pain; urinary urgency, strangury, hematuria, priapism, oliguria, tubular
necrosis, renal failure. See Clinical
Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984)
Section II, p 270.