Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-03-31
farm anu Garnen.
Bots. and their Influence on the
Healthy Condition Of Horses.

Heallny C0nallleii Oh H0rSeS.
Several circumstances combine to
make much greater demand for the
services Of veterinary practitioners IN
Great B itain than in this country,
and, OF course, veterinary schools are
more abundant and more patron;zed,
and veterinary science and art cult
waited to a much greater extent and
more thoroughly. rs an instance OF
the extent Of the demand for knowl-
edge and instruction 10 this del art
ment. we may name the f.ct that
there has recently been published the
first member of a Quarterly Review,
devoted 10 vet, ripary science and
art. and TO comparative pathology the
"Edin5urgh Veterinary Review and
.4anaIs Of Comparative Pathology"
In style and general Appearance it is
said 10 equal any OF the British Quar-
terlies, and this initiatory number is
said to contain several articles Of
merit One of The articles-tbat on
bots-is certainly mastery pro-
duction, giving evidence of extensive
observation and investigation, and Of
great sagacity and soundness ofjnds-
ment. OF the more valuable of the
statements aud suggestions contained
in this article, We present our readers
With the following synopsis:
The opinion has long prevailed
that bots were injurious TO the health
of horses, and frequently the cause OIL
death. A collection OF bots in the
stomach has been, and is yet, very
commonly believed amply TO account
for death when met with in horses
not otherwise apparently diseased
This opinion naturally led to yarl.
Gus attempts for their destruction
and removal, for which purpose many
harsh aud injurious drugs and absurc
measures have been resor, ed to.
When ye'erinary science became al
object of study, and the habits of pa
rasitic animals became better knowF
it was quite natural that opinions s.
unfounded, or at least so exaggerated
and practices SO unsc;entific and alb
surd as well as injurious, should LEAF
toa reaction; and accordingly som,
Of the earliest writers on veterinary
medicine, such as Bracy Clark, PRO-
Coleman, &C., went 10 the OPPOSITE
extreme, and maintained that bot
in the stomach (''gastric aestri prob
ably tend to preserve health ant
counteract disease, by their gentl
stimulus to The stomach; that the il
iitation caused by them might prot
ably act somewhat after the maine
of Ieecbcs and eantharides. so as t
prevent or suhdue attacks of infam
nation in the eye OF lungs, or othe
organs, OF the existence Of spasms
splints, &c.
Prof Gamgee having Lad occa
sion for many years to import ho'
ses from Italy into England, in th
former of which countries bot flies ar
much more plentiful than in the la'
ter, has had opportunities OF obsers
ing these two facts first, that th
stomachs Of young horses from ItAl
that have been out at grass in tn
season ostress OF bot fly, are usua
ly lined with bots; and secondly. tina
these horses do not thrive for seyera
months, or until portion, at least
of this accumulation Of bots in th
stomach has been removed. Horse
in Italy are usually unfit fer work / 4
til they bave beena year or SO in th
stable, or out Of the reach Of bot bees
From these and similar facts. Pro
Gamgee has come to the conclusio
that summer grazing. at least durin
the season that bot flies are abuu
dant. is more likely to be source {
injury than benefit to horses; tia
yearliDg colts ara probably prevente
from thriving because they get th
eggs of the bot fly into their ston
achs, which thus become filed wit
bots; and that the attacks of the be
fly should in every way be guarde
against, because bots are certainl
very injurious to the health and goo
condition of horses.