What is a Spanish fly? remember those white crosses from Mexico that made your hair stand up?

Question

You young kids don't know what I'm talkin about but before meth there were white crosses that the truck driver used to haul in here from Mexico by the 55 gallon drum. They would make your skin itch...maybe effedrine...don't know but something I tried in Cali as a dumb kid. Does anyone know what that was?

Answer 1

Not sure but remember hearing about them, by the way, is that Nat Bedford Forrest I see there?

Answer 2

Spanish fly doesn't actually come from a fly. It is made from the cantharides beetle, also called the blister beetle. The name comes from an intense irritant they generate as a defense mechanism. The beetles are collected, killed, dried and powdered, and the result is called Spanish fly.
Cantharides, being a natural inflammatory agent, can burn the mouth and throat and cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and kidney damage even in small doses. It also strongly irritates the genito-urinary tract, and sex is one way to calm that itch. The stories regarding medical application of cantharides would be listed as "not to be believed," except that they are true. In 1752 a Frenchman was prescribed 2 drams of cantharides for a fever and in the next two months bedded his wife at least 87 times. Another man with a similar prescription "knew his wife", as the Bible puts it, 40 times in one night.
As little as one thousandth of an ounce of the active chemical in cantharides is sufficient to cause kidney failure and death, making it one of the most dangerous substances ever to be associated with sexuality. It is classified medically as a Class One poison and a blistering agent. Fortunately, it is also illegal nearly worldwide.

Answer 3

I'm not too sure what Spanish Fly was but the white crosses? My grandfather actually used to take them for his asthma. Don't know what they consisted of but they sure helped him. (grin)

Answer 4

spanish fly was a nickname for a drug used extensevly in jails and mental hospitals i will let you figure out the rest if you can.

Answer 5

Spanish fly is a powder that makes you really horny, epinephrine is a type of synthetic Adrenalin, i use it for allergies, or if i'm lucky i don't use it

Answer 6

i remember those and the Spanish fly crap did guys really believe those worked and what were they made out of lol

Answer 7

LMAO, what people used to do for fun! What does this have to do with immigration again?