Action on genito-urinary and alimentary tracts. Dysphagia, congestion,
retching, diarrhœa, with mucus and blood, diuresis, enuresis,
albuminuria, retracted testicles, prostration. Lesions: urinary and
gastro-intestinal congestion, ecchymosis. Treatment: emesis with
ipecacuan, demulcents, avoidance of oils, alcohol and chloroform.
Other vesicant beetles and larva.
Spanish flies have a primary physiological action on the genito-urinary
organs, but when introduced by the stomach they prove direct and violent
irritants to the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane. They cause redness
of the buccal mucous membrane, difficulty of swallowing, retching,
emesis in vomiting animals, diarrhœa with mucus and bloody fæces,
diuresis or enuresis with albuminous urine, retraction of the testicles,
prostration, perspiration, paresis and death.
_Lesions._ Active gastro-intestinal congestion with ecchymosis, marked
congestion of the genito-urinary mucosa especially that of the bladder.
_Treatment._ Emesis with ipecacuan and tepid water, followed by abundant
mucilaginous or albuminous liquids. Flaxseed tea, gum arabic, and white
of eggs are useful. Avoid oils, alcohol and chloroform which dissolve
the cantharides.
Among other insects which act as vesicants may be named the =cockroach=
(blatta orientalis) and the =potato beetle= (cantharis vitatta), also
the _cantharis cinerea_, _cantharis marginata_, _cantharis atrata_, and
_cantharis nuttalli_. The larvæ of various lepidoptera, thus =army
worm=, =Cnethocampa primivora=, =Cnethocampa processionea=, =liparis
auriflua=, =lithosia crinola=, and the =larvæ= of the =artica cassus
ligniperda=, and =pieris brassica= are covered with stinging hairs
charged with formic acid and perhaps an enzyme, which are shed with the
skin in passing into the state of chrysalis, and getting mixed with
fodders produce violent stomatitis, hemorrhagic gastro-enteritis and
nephritis.