Cantharadin-long!

[Shannon Nelson]

Hi Munir,
Gibson says, in his section on Cantharis: "The Mother Tincture (of
cantharis) is prepared from the dried powdered insect. The main active
principle is cantharadin; uric, formic and acetic acids are also
present." So cantharadin is *one component* of the substance from
which cantharis is made.

There are a few separate entries under cantharadin (which I would guess
is the same remedy as cantharadinum; just as e.g. carcinosin is also
called carcinosinum):
of Cantharadin is irritability of the capillaries, rendering the
passage of nutritive fluids through them less difficult. This is most
marked in the capillaries of thekidneys. The increase of blood sugar
coincident with the glomular nephritis appears to be a valuable
observation."
I. Provings. -
1. a. May 6th, 7:30 AM, size young men took 1/4 gr. at nine AM and
11 AM 1/8 gr. In all the pulse immediately became slower by 4 to 22
beats per morning; the following morning the pulse was still somewhat
slower. All complained of great weakness and prostration, vertigo, and
trembling of limbs, with weight in muscles of thighs. They had frequent
desire to urinate and some smarting in urethra; all had copious
perspiration and loss of appetite. Some had stools, two had none but
ineffectual painful urging and tenesmus. Still some prostration the
following day.
b. One of the provers, B. C. -, aet, 23, medical student, took 5/8
gr. of C. as above. His pulse immediately fell from 63, to 57. He had
much urging to urinate from the first, but after 2nd dose he had a
sharp pain in right kidney, the urine stopped and he had slight
smarting in urethra. He felt very ill, his mind became affected, he had
vertigo and staggering. At noon he ate with repugnance. The prostration
increased, no urine passed, he felt a dull pain throughout his urinary
passages, so that he could point out the exact seat of his kidneys,
ureters, and bladder. 1 hour later his prostration was extreme. He was
incapable of moving, his complexion had become livid, his eyes lost
their brilliancy, all his features were discomposed, his limbs covered
with cold sweat, tendency to faint, vomiting of his food. P. 45. Some
Malaga wine revived him, but the amelioration was only transient. 1.1/2
hours afterwards the prostration returned with increased intensity,
also the paleness, the cold sweat, the pulse was only 30 and
intermittent, he vomited the wine he had drank 2 hours previously. He
got about 9 oz. of rum, which revived and improved him much. Although
not accustomed to take alcohol this large quantity of rum seemed to
have no intoxicating effect. He slept quietly and next morning only
complained of numbness of thighs. He did not recover his appetite for a
few days. (GIACOMIMI, Ioc. cit.)
2. a. ROHBIQUET thus describes effects of C.: - The 1/100th gr.,
placed on paper and applied to edge of lower lip, caused in about 1/4
hours small blisters. A little create being applied served only to
extend action over larger surface, and both lips were in consequence
covered with blisters. One of his pupils, who was watching its
crystallization, felt acute pain in conjunctiva, followed by
inflammation, accompanied with small phlyctaenae, and loss of sight for
several days.
b. From his experiments on animals SCHROFF thought that a
centigram would produce no injurious effect on a human being. The
results of this dose, however, were so serious as nearly to prove
fatal. It is probable that the action of pure C. is 50 times as
powerful as that of cantharis...10 dr. dr. of a freshly made tinct. of
cantharis produced erotic sensations. Nothing of the kind was observed
as a result of the action of C. Pain in loins was felt in both cases,
but more slowly with C.; and although there was violent inflammation of
bladder and ureter, no erotic symptom manifested itself. These results
rather lead to the presumption that the aphrodisiac properties of the
insects reside in a volatile principle and not in the more fixed C.
(PEREIRA, op. cit.) [We have been unable to obtain the original of
Schroff's experiments here referred to, but hope to do so in time for
the appendix to this volume. EDS.]
II. Experiments an animals. - I. C. produces both albuminuria and
haematuria. Shortly after its injection kidney appears congested and
swollen, and on microscopic examination it is found that the
alterations begin first in the glomeruli and convoluted tubules, and
gradually extend to the straight tubules. These changes consist in
intense congestion, especially of the glomeruli, with increased tension
of blood in the vessels. Then the liquid constituents of the blood pass
through she vascular walls, carrying along with them granules and red
and white corpuscles. This exudation then passes from the glomerulus
along the whole length of the tubules, the epithelium of which next
becomes changed, the cells which line them swelling up, multiplying,
and becoming modified in form, migration of leukocytes also occurring.
In short, we have the signs of inflammation beginning in the glomeruli
and passing along the tubules... The inflammation caused by C. begins
in the glomeruli and not in the straight tubes, as is often stated. The
first thing noticed is extravasation of leukocytes into the glomeruli
and an exudation of a fibrinous matrix; next, following in order, we
notice (1) the glomeruli and proximate tubules are filled with a
granular fluid; (2) the cells of the capsule become swollen; (3) cells
of collecting tubes are affected and become swollen; (4) cells of whole
urinary tubuli become swollen; (5) in straight collecting tubules cells
become multiplied, and are thrown off, so that the lumen becomes full
of exuded cells. (BRUNTON, op. cit.)
2. Dr. CANTIERI made numerous experiments with tinct. of C.,
blistering plaster, and cantharidin, on rabbits, dogs, and frogs, drug
being introduced in various modes. His conclusions are as follows:
a. C., when introduced into animal organism, produces changes in
blood, corrugating and destroying red corpuscles when brought into
direct contact with them, corrugating only when reaching them by
absorption.
b. It diminishes contractile force of heart and blood - vessels,
and thus reduces arterial tension; it increases rapidity of beats of
heart and temperature of body, and leads to wasting and general
debility - all phenomena indicating existence of a true and special
fever.
c. It induces hyperaemia and stasis in various organs, or, if
directly applied in substantial dosage, true inflammation. Hyperaemia
of cerebrum and cord was found; in former softening was slight, in
latter it reached an advanced stage, being greater in dorsal and lumbar
enlargements, especially the latter. Hence arose paralysis of posterior
limbs, and in frogs loss of reflex activity.
d. There was always pronounced hyperaemia of meninges at base of
skull in situation of medulla oblongata, whence probably - in rabbits
and dogs - increased frequency of respiration, and great rapidity of
circulation with occasional intermittence.
e. C. always induces hyperaemia or even true inflammation of the
uro - poietic and genital apparatus; giving rise to degenerative or
parenchymatous nephritis, sometimes with albuminuria. It stimulates the
sexual organs, and may produce abortion.
f. C. administered internally produces, besides the morbid
conditions already mentioned, a true gastro - enteritis with extreme
redness and ulceration of mucous membrane of stomach, and yellow mucous
diarrhea discharges. Occasionally, even when injected into veins, if it
do not produce ulceration, it occasions hyperaemia of gastro -
intestinal mucous membrane and frequent diarrhoea. (Lond. Med. Record.,
1874, p. 803.)
3. Rabbits were killed by subcutaneous injection of grm. 0.10 of
cantharidin, dissolved in acetic ether.
a. One of these, which died in 20 morning, had albumen and flakes
of fibrin in urine. Epithelial cells and nuclei of inside of capsule
were swollen, and some white corpuscles were found between glomeruli
and capsule.
b. In those dying 1 - 4 hours after injection, there was intense
congestive distension of vessels, and pyramids were blood - red. In
glomeruli vascular branch was separated from capsule by a zone of
liquid, more or less thick, containing white corpuscles and yellowish
granules. Capsular membrane presented sometimes swollen endothelial
cells containing some granules, sometimes only nuclei, as if cell walls
had been liquefied and destroyed. Epithelial cells of convoluted tubes
were filled with yellow granules and liquid.
c. After 2 hours, inflammation of tubuli recti and collecting
tubes appears, attended by modification of form of cells and migration
of leukocytes.
d. Bladder, after first emission of (considerable quantity of)
urine, which happened 15 to 20 morning after poisoning, remained empty.
Surface was red; it contained some drops of cloudy urine, within which
were minute leukocytes and large spherical, or long and flat, cells.
(CORNIL, Comptes rendus, XC, 537.)
4. Small does of cantharidin were given to a dog very second or
third day for the month. At each dose diarrhoea and vomiting occurred,
and urine contained red globules and hyaline casts. Kidneys presented,
post mortem, all the lesions which are observed in an acute or sub -
acute albuminous nephritis in man. (Journ de l'Anatomie de Robin,
1879.)
-
Appendix:
II. 1. A farmer, aet. 36, suffering from chronic suppurative
ostitis of the humerus, received from a charlatan for the supposed
gouty pains a powder, which he took at one dose, in beer, May 25th,
1875. During the day he was seized with nausea, vomiting, lumbar pains,
and afterwards with colic; towards evening there was considerable
looseness of the bowels, and during the night profuse sweats, with
exacerbation of the pains and vesical and rectal tenesmus. Weakness
rapidly became extreme, and death occurred early on the m. of the 26th.
At the autopsy was found greenish coloration of the abdomen, with post
- mortem ecchymoses on the back; upon the cheek and ear of the left
side were dusky spots as large as a pea, with the consistence of
leather to touch and on section. The genital organs were without morbid
appearance. The stomach was found dilated by gas, and contained 150
grms. of a greyish - brown, foetid liquid, in which were present small,
hard, yellow masses; in the pyloric cavity was bright inflammatory
redness; elsewhere the mucous membrane was unaffected, but the vessels
were greatly injected. There was redness and tumefaction of the
duodenum and of the neighbouring portion of the jejunum, but no
ulceration; vivid injection of the mesenteric vessels. Within the
peritoneum was an effusion of a sero - sanguinolent fluid amounting to
about 150 grm. The great venous trunks were found filled with dark but
liquid blood; the arteries were empty; kidneys congested; bladder empty
and normal, but the vessels of its neck were engorged with blood. In
the pleural cavities there were almost 100 grm. of sanguinolent
serosity, with some cretaceous deposits at the apices. Within the
pericardium was a brownish serosity to the amount of 90 grm. The
vessels of the brain were filled with a dark - coloured fluid blood; a
slight amount of serosity within the two ventricles. The small bodies
found in the stomach and on the coats of the intestines were made up in
great part of brilliant scales of a blue colour from the elytra of a
coleopterous insect of the genus Meloe, the species being very probably
M. proscarabeus. (Viert. f. gericht. Med., Oct., 1875.)
Best wishes,
Shannon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[MunirAhmed Mughal]

Hi Shannon,
Do appreciate the input. It is long, but quite useful. I agree "Cantharidin" is also called 'Cantharidinum"
I gather no MM has it included as a remedy as yet.
I am considering it to treat 'Glomerular Nephritis'. And I could find very specific mention of 'Glomerular Nephritis' only with reference to this remedy in Boericke only.
I will appreciate any input towards that.
Thank you.

Robert & Shannon Nelson wrote:
Hi Munir,
Gibson says, in his section on Cantharis: "The Mother Tincture (of
cantharis) is prepared from the dried powdered insect. The main active
principle is cantharadin; uric, formic and acetic acids are also
present." So cantharadin is *one component* of the substance from
which cantharis is made.

There are a few separate entries under cantharadin (which I would guess
is the same remedy as cantharadinum; just as e.g. carcinosin is also
called carcinosinum):
Boericke: "Glumular hephritis. The immediate pharmacological action
of Cantharadin is irritability of the capillaries, rendering the
passage of nutritive fluids through them less difficult. This is most
marked in the capillaries of thekidneys. The increase of blood sugar
coincident with the glomular nephritis appears to be a valuable
observation."
And here's a pretty long chunk from Hughes 'Cyclopedia:
I. Provings. -
1. a. May 6th, 7:30 AM, size young men took 1/4 gr. at nine AM and
11 AM 1/8 gr. In all the pulse immediately became slower by 4 to 22
beats per morning; the following morning the pulse was still somewhat
slower. All complained of great weakness and prostration, vertigo, and
trembling of limbs, with weight in muscles of thighs. They had frequent
desire to urinate and some smarting in urethra; all had copious
perspiration and loss of appetite. Some had stools, two had none but
ineffectual painful urging and tenesmus. Still some prostration the
following day.
b. One of the provers, B. C. -, aet, 23, medical student, took 5/8
gr. of C. as above. His pulse immediately fell from 63, to 57. He had
much urging to urinate from the first, but after 2nd dose he had a
sharp pain in right kidney, the urine stopped and he had slight
smarting in urethra. He felt very ill, his mind became affected, he had
vertigo and staggering. At noon he ate with repugnance. The prostration
increased, no urine passed, he felt a dull pain throughout his urinary
passages, so that he could point out the exact seat of his kidneys,
ureters, and bladder. 1 hour later his prostration was extreme. He was
incapable of moving, his complexion had become livid, his eyes lost
their brilliancy, all his features were discomposed, his limbs covered
with cold sweat, tendency to faint, vomiting of his food. P. 45. Some
Malaga wine revived him, but the amelioration was only transient. 1.1/2
hours afterwards the prostration returned with increased intensity,
also the paleness, the cold sweat, the pulse was only 30 and
intermittent, he vomited the wine he had drank 2 hours previously. He
got about 9 oz. of rum, which revived and improved him much. Although
not accustomed to take alcohol this large quantity of rum seemed to
have no intoxicating effect. He slept quietly and next morning only
complained of numbness of thighs. He did not recover his appetite for a
few days. (GIACOMIMI, Ioc. cit.)
2. a. ROHBIQUET thus describes effects of C.: - The 1/100th gr.,
placed on paper and applied to edge of lower lip, caused in about 1/4
hours small blisters. A little create being applied served only to
extend action over larger surface, and both lips were in consequence
covered with blisters. One of his pupils, who was watching its
crystallization, felt acute pain in conjunctiva, followed by
inflammation, accompanied with small phlyctaenae, and loss of sight for
several days.
b. From his experiments on animals SCHROFF thought that a
centigram would produce no injurious effect on a human being. The
results of this dose, however, were so serious as nearly to prove
fatal. It is probable that the action of pure C. is 50 times as
powerful as that of cantharis...10 dr. dr. of a freshly made tinct. of
cantharis produced erotic sensations. Nothing of the kind was observed
as a result of the action of C. Pain in loins was felt in both cases,
but more slowly with C.; and although there was violent inflammation of
bladder and ureter, no erotic symptom manifested itself. These results
rather lead to the presumption that the aphrodisiac properties of the
insects reside in a volatile principle and not in the more fixed C.
(PEREIRA, op. cit.) [We have been unable to obtain the original of
Schroff's experiments here referred to, but hope to do so in time for
the appendix to this volume. EDS.]
II. Experiments an animals. - I. C. produces both albuminuria and
haematuria. Shortly after its injection kidney appears congested and
swollen, and on microscopic examination it is found that the
alterations begin first in the glomeruli and convoluted tubules, and
gradually extend to the straight tubules. These changes consist in
intense congestion, especially of the glomeruli, with increased tension
of blood in the vessels. Then the liquid constituents of the blood pass
through she vascular walls, carrying along with them granules and red
and white corpuscles. This exudation then passes from the glomerulus
along the whole length of the tubules, the epithelium of which next
becomes changed, the cells which line them swelling up, multiplying,
and becoming modified in form, migration of leukocytes also occurring.
In short, we have the signs of inflammation beginning in the glomeruli
and passing along the tubules... The inflammation caused by C. begins
in the glomeruli and not in the straight tubes, as is often stated. The
first thing noticed is extravasation of leukocytes into the glomeruli
and an exudation of a fibrinous matrix; next, following in order, we
notice (1) the glomeruli and proximate tubules are filled with a
granular fluid; (2) the cells of the capsule become swollen; (3) cells
of collecting tubes are affected and become swollen; (4) cells of whole
urinary tubuli become swollen; (5) in straight collecting tubules cells
become multiplied, and are thrown off, so that the lumen becomes full
of exuded cells. (BRUNTON, op. cit.)
2. Dr. CANTIERI made numerous experiments with tinct. of C.,
blistering plaster, and cantharidin, on rabbits, dogs, and frogs, drug
being introduced in various modes. His conclusions are as follows:
a. C., when introduced into animal organism, produces changes in
blood, corrugating and destroying red corpuscles when brought into
direct contact with them, corrugating only when reaching them by
absorption.
b. It diminishes contractile force of heart and blood - vessels,
and thus reduces arterial tension; it increases rapidity of beats of
heart and temperature of body, and leads to wasting and general
debility - all phenomena indicating existence of a true and special
fever.
c. It induces hyperaemia and stasis in various organs, or, if
directly applied in substantial dosage, true inflammation. Hyperaemia
of cerebrum and cord was found; in former softening was slight, in
latter it reached an advanced stage, being greater in dorsal and lumbar
enlargements, especially the latter. Hence arose paralysis of posterior
limbs, and in frogs loss of reflex activity.
d. There was always pronounced hyperaemia of meninges at base of
skull in situation of medulla oblongata, whence probably - in rabbits
and dogs - increased frequency of respiration, and great rapidity of
circulation with occasional intermittence.
e. C. always induces hyperaemia or even true inflammation of the
uro - poietic and genital apparatus; giving rise to degenerative or
parenchymatous nephritis, sometimes with albuminuria. It stimulates the
sexual organs, and may produce abortion.
f. C. administered internally produces, besides the morbid
conditions already mentioned, a true gastro - enteritis with extreme
redness and ulceration of mucous membrane of stomach, and yellow mucous
diarrhea discharges. Occasionally, even when injected into veins, if it
do not produce ulceration, it occasions hyperaemia of gastro -
intestinal mucous membrane and frequent diarrhoea. (Lond. Med. Record.,
1874, p. 803.)
3. Rabbits were killed by subcutaneous injection of grm. 0.10 of
cantharidin, dissolved in acetic ether.
a. One of these, which died in 20 morning, had albumen and flakes
of fibrin in urine. Epithelial cells and nuclei of inside of capsule
were swollen, and some white corpuscles were found between glomeruli
and capsule.
b. In those dying 1 - 4 hours after injection, there was intense
congestive distension of vessels, and pyramids were blood - red. In
glomeruli vascular branch was separated from capsule by a zone of
liquid, more or less thick, containing white corpuscles and yellowish
granules. Capsular membrane presented sometimes swollen endothelial
cells containing some granules, sometimes only nuclei, as if cell walls
had been liquefied and destroyed. Epithelial cells of convoluted tubes
were filled with yellow granules and liquid.
c. After 2 hours, inflammation of tubuli recti and collecting
tubes appears, attended by modification of form of cells and migration
of leukocytes.
d. Bladder, after first emission of (considerable quantity of)
urine, which happened 15 to 20 morning after poisoning, remained empty.
Surface was red; it contained some drops of cloudy urine, within which
were minute leukocytes and large spherical, or long and flat, cells.
(CORNIL, Comptes rendus, XC, 537.)
4. Small does of cantharidin were given to a dog very second or
third day for the month. At each dose diarrhoea and vomiting occurred,
and urine contained red globules and hyaline casts. Kidneys presented,
post mortem, all the lesions which are observed in an acute or sub -
acute albuminous nephritis in man. (Journ de l'Anatomie de Robin,
1879.)
-
Appendix:
II. 1. A farmer, aet. 36, suffering from chronic suppurative
ostitis of the humerus, received from a charlatan for the supposed
gouty pains a powder, which he took at one dose, in beer, May 25th,
1875. During the day he was seized with nausea, vomiting, lumbar pains,
and afterwards with colic; towards evening there was considerable
looseness of the bowels, and during the night profuse sweats, with
exacerbation of the pains and vesical and rectal tenesmus. Weakness
rapidly became extreme, and death occurred early on the m. of the 26th.
At the autopsy was found greenish coloration of the abdomen, with post
- mortem ecchymoses on the back; upon the cheek and ear of the left
side were dusky spots as large as a pea, with the consistence of
leather to touch and on section. The genital organs were without morbid
appearance. The stomach was found dilated by gas, and contained 150
grms. of a greyish - brown, foetid liquid, in which were present small,
hard, yellow masses; in the pyloric cavity was bright inflammatory
redness; elsewhere the mucous membrane was unaffected, but the vessels
were greatly injected. There was redness and tumefaction of the
duodenum and of the neighbouring portion of the jejunum, but no
ulceration; vivid injection of the mesenteric vessels. Within the
peritoneum was an effusion of a sero - sanguinolent fluid amounting to
about 150 grm. The great venous trunks were found filled with dark but
liquid blood; the arteries were empty; kidneys congested; bladder empty
and normal, but the vessels of its neck were engorged with blood. In
the pleural cavities there were almost 100 grm. of sanguinolent
serosity, with some cretaceous deposits at the apices. Within the
pericardium was a brownish serosity to the amount of 90 grm. The
vessels of the brain were filled with a dark - coloured fluid blood; a
slight amount of serosity within the two ventricles. The small bodies
found in the stomach and on the coats of the intestines were made up in
great part of brilliant scales of a blue colour from the elytra of a
coleopterous insect of the genus Meloe, the species being very probably
M. proscarabeus. (Viert. f. gericht. Med., Oct., 1875.)
Best wishes,
Shannon
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[Shannon Nelson]

Hi Munir,
Well, I find "Kidneys, inflammation, glomeruli: achy, aran, canthin,
kres, lepro".

Then ReferenceWorks adds Aegle-f, Aran, Arg-n, Ars, Ars-h, Canth, Chel,
Cortico, Cortiso, Dig, Eberth, Germ, Iodof, Kali-bi, Kali-chl, Kres,
Lepro, Meli, Merc, Merc-c, Nat-m, Parathyr, Phos, Plb, Podo, Rad-br,
Ren, Strept, Stry, Ter, Tub, Tung, Zinc-gluc.

But--and especially in light of the huge difference between the rep and
RefWorks--I would not be too insistent on having the chosen remedy be
in the group...
Best wishes,
Shannon
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