ABSTRACT
Cantharidin, the most important active principle of Ccntharis vesicatoria, is used as a skin irritant or vesicant and has an undeserved reputation as an aphrodisiac. Cantharidin is an extremely potent irritant to all cells and tissues. Zinc acetate is used to reduce the absorption of copper in the treatment of Wilson’s disease. Volatile or essential oils are colorless liquids consisting of mixtures of saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons, ethers, alcohols, esters, and ketones. Symptoms from ingestion are abdominal burning, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dysuria, hematuria, unconsciousness, shallow respiration, and convulsions. Anuria, pulmonary edema, and bronchial pneumonia may complicate recovery after either type of exposure. An amount of volatile oil capable of inducing abortion is likely also to produce irreversible renal damage. Aconite consists of the dried tuberous root of Aconitum napellus. The most active principle, aconitine, is an alkaloid which stimulates and then depresses myocardium, smooth muscles, skeletal muscles, central nervous system, and peripheral nerves.
