| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 1,758,395,642 visitors served. |
|
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
cantharides |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
|
cantharis [kan′thäris] pl. cantharides Etymology: Gk, kantharis, beetle the dried insect Cantharis vesicatoria, which contains cantharidin, formerly used as a topical vesicant to remove warts. It is used as an aphrodisiac. Also called Spanish fly. cantharides (kan·thärˑ· n the dried body of Lytta vesicatoria, a blister beetle that belongs to genus Lytta; active principle in cantharides is cantharidin, used as an aphrodisiac, diuretic, and rubifacient. cantharides substance obtained from dried beetles (Cantharis vesicatoria) and used topically as a counterirritant. African cattle have been poisoned by drinking water contaminated by flies. They show excitement, diarrhea and nephritis. Called also blistering beetle, Spanish fly. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| ? Mentioned in | ? References in periodicals archive | |
|---|---|---|
Among his surviving holograph manuscripts is an essay on the relative efficacy of different aphrodisiacs: viper wine is "powerfull," cantharides (better known today as Spanish fly) "mighteleye provokes, butt is dangerous," and foods such as lamb's testicles, sparrow's brains, "All younge meates," chestnuts, and melons are effective provokers of lust. |
| Medical Dictionary |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|