Cantharidal collodion is a medication used to treat various skin conditions, such as warts and corns. The word "cantharidal" is pronounced /kænθərədaɪl/ and refers to the use of the blister beetle extract cantharidin in the medication. "Collodion" is pronounced /kəˈloʊdiən/ and refers to a syrup-like substance used as a coating or adhesive. Therefore, "cantharidal collodion" is pronounced /kænθərədaɪl kəˈloʊdiən/ and describes a medication that combines cantharidin and collodion for external use on the skin.
Cantharidal collodion is a specialized medication that combines the properties of cantharidin, a natural substance found in blister beetles, with collodion, a solution of pyroxylin (an explosive substance) in a mixture of ether and alcohol.
Cantharidal collodion is commonly used in medicine as a topical treatment for various conditions, primarily for its blistering effect. When applied to the skin, it causes the formation of blisters by inducing irritation and inflammation. This can be beneficial in certain medical procedures, such as the removal of warts, as it helps to destroy the abnormal tissue. Additionally, cantharidal collodion can be used as a counterirritant to relieve pain or reduce inflammation in conditions like arthritis.
The collodion component of cantharidal collodion acts as a vehicle or carrier for cantharidin, allowing it to be evenly spread and adhered to the skin. This helps in maintaining contact between the medication and the affected area, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy.
Care should be taken when using cantharidal collodion, as it is a potent irritant. It should be applied only on intact skin and in carefully controlled doses, as excessive use or getting it in contact with broken skin can cause severe pain, burns, or ulceration.
Overall, cantharidal collodion is a specialized medication used in dermatology and other medical fields for its blistering and counterirritant properties, primarily employed to treat specific conditions that require blistering or inflammation-inducing effects.
Collodium flexile.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "cantharidal collodion" consists of two components: "cantharidal" and "collodion".
1. Cantharidal: The word "cantharidal" refers to the substance derived from the Spanish fly beetle, also known as the cantharis beetle or blister beetle. The Spanish fly beetles belong to the family Meloidae and produce a chemical called cantharidin, which has long been used for its vesicant or blistering properties in traditional medicine.
The term "cantharidal" is derived from the Latin word "cantharis", meaning "beetle", which can be traced back to the ancient Greek word "kantharis". This eventually led to the modern term "cantharidin", used to describe the chemical compound derived from the beetle.