The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-09
Horse Talk.

BoTs IN HoRsEs-It is prevalent impress
sion that bots often cause the death of horses.
This conclusion is dIscredited by DR. Stewart, III
the American Farmers Horse Book. lis
opinion is that the true character OF the bot ana
its influence on the health Of the horse nave
been misunderstood very generally; that the DOS
Is hereditary with the horse, aud found attieheu
by the tail to the coating Oh the stomach oI the
colt in the shape OF suIa parasite. In TINS
normal condition the bot causes no INJURY u the
horse, has no relationship to the grub or worm,
the last being the offspring of the CAD lily, which
deposits Its eggs upon the hair OF the horse ana
are bitten oil and swallowed by the animal
These deyelope into worms IN time; pass on with
the excremeut, burrow In the ground, where
chrvsals is formed and in tine succession OF
CAD flies is the result. This grub, unlike the
bot, never attaches itself to the coating OF the
stomach but amid the food the same as worms
In the stomach of child. These worms may
cause much uneaslness to the horse but never
death
As to the bot and his operations, DR. Stewart
adds :-"Ihe cut.cuiar coating or the stomach
to which the bot iastens himself by means OF
two little bearded hooks, is nearly, if not wholly,
inscnsible, having more feeling apparently thah
the animals boots. When the noIse Is III health
it is hard, rigid, impenetrable, and the bot, Ii
ever SO much disposed to do SO, would attack it
in vain; but when death selzes him this Coating
becomes relaxed and soft, and begins rapidly to
decompose. Then only is 1t that the bot can or
ever does work his way through it. Another
fact still more strong corroboratlve OF the above
proposition, is this: that OF any number OF horses
killed while in perfect health, and opened an
hour or two ,afterward, there will be found not
one whose stomach is not 'riddled by the bot
Dissection has revealed the existence OF this con-
diton in hundreds of instances Of sudden death
from accident
This Kidding of the stomach is consequence
not the cause of the death of the horse, accord
ing to the theory here presented. When the
animal dies from the effects of disease or from
accidental causes the instinct of the bot teaches
it that decomposition of it's home, the stomach
of the horse, must readily take place, involving
its own death, hence its prompt efforts to escape
from its fostering prison. 1t is the same instinct
which induces rats to attempt escape from ascut
tied ship or from building treatened with des
truction by fire or submersion by water. Ii this
is true solution of the bot question, the care o
the horse will be considerably simpllfed ano
ailing animals relieved from many disagreeablt
drenchings designed to expeltrom their stomach:
what has been generally regarded morta
enemy. Those well posted in regard to the horse
his enemies and diseases, will doubtless give the
theory of DIR Stewart, in reference to the bot
proper consideration.
CURE FOR FoUNDER.-The Rural Worlt
proposes to cure founder in horses in this way
Take the horse into brook stream of water
deep enough to nearly reach his body, and taste1
him there with his head so high that he canno
drink. If the weather is warm keep him there
several hours. Then remove him and rub hl'
LEGS thoroughly to promote circulation Ii ST.!
lame repeat the process two three times and
cure will be affected In the winter twenty
minutes will be long enough to keep the hors>
in the water when he should be taken out anc
rubbed as in the other case repeating the op
Grafton Unnecessary. This Is said to cure all case
Of founder. when not Of long Standing.