Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-10-09
BOTS IN HORSES.
Things to BE Done to Prevent This Ter
ribIe Scourge.

J
/ ribIe scourge-
/ An English writer has had his atten-
ton called TO the loss of life this season
caused by bots, the Larvae of the gadfly-
/ One instance came under his notice
where a fine young four-year-old cart
/ relding died from them. 1t had been
al work, apparently in good health, I'M
/ IL the day before its death. The cir
I curnstances OF its death we've that the
/ horse-keeper found it in the yard first
/ thing in the morning apparently suffer
/ ing slightly from its water. so he at
+ once fetched drink, but on leading 1t
/ TO the stable it fell dead. Examination
/ showed that il contained about a pint
/ Of bots, and that they had eaten through
, the walls Of the stomach, thus allowing
some gallons Of water to escape. which
drowned the heart. The bladder and
all other organs were healthy. Another
instance happened within two miles Of
the former case when a valuable mare
suddenly fell down and died. Again
examination showed the same results.
About pint of bots We're found in the
paunch, q hole through which couple
Of fingers could ne placed had been
eaten through. and about two pailfuls
.
before.
1t Is no new thing that bots should
eat through the walls Of the stomach,
but as, unless death actually occurs,
the horses seem to suffer very little in
health they are not looked upon in a
very serious light. Frequently losses
do occur, however, Int as examinations
are not always made they are not al
4 n ..G md Try, I'D
upon in the serious light they perhaps
should be, and small means are taken
to prevent their spreading. When the
animals are infested with them it is
very hard To make them move. as ii is
difficult to ret At them, as their heads
are enveloped in the lining Of the stom-
ach. and the bodies are so hard that
medicine has Ettle effect on them. and
though pbysic IS occasionally given II
i doubtful whether much good IS done.
Fresh green food, such as rye and tares
Is popularity supposed 10 hasten their
expulsion. but 1t Is difficult TO prove
that 1t actually does II.
While the idea prevails the writer
says that they are harmless very
little endeavor viii be made 10 check
them, but means might certainly be
taken to do so with advantage. The
fly deposits the eggs on the lips. arms,
knees and body Of the horse. and they
are licked of by the animal ana find
their way TO the stomach. where they
are Matched.
The little yellow eggs are very easy
to detect, and if a thin solution Of
paraffin or other obnoxious dressing
were applied to the coat of the horse in
the autumn in all proba ability the fly
would be kept away, or the horses
would not lick themselves, on the parts
mentioned. The fly should be killed
whenever an opportunity occurs: and +
in June and July when the bots are
voided. any that are seen should be de- +
stroyed; therefore d lookout should be
kept with that view.
As they are so hard to move when /
once they are fixed in the stomach, and /
as they make perfora tions through the !
walls. tho only means of avoiding the |
evil seems TO be to feed the animals so |
that their stomachs are not unduIy dis |
tended for if they are they are much |
more likely to rupture Food which is |
liable to ferment on the stomach should |
therefore be avoided. and nothing is |
more likely co do this than stale or
moldy corn, especially If it is in the |
form Of meal fresh of the stones
Moldy hay and freshly cut tough straw
chat should also not be used.