Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-10-09
BOTS IN HORSES.
Things to BE Dome to Prevent This Ter
rible Scourge.

Things to BE Dome to Prevent This Ter
rible Scourge.
An English writer has had his atten-
ton called to the loss of life this season
caused by bots, the larvae of the gadfiy.
One instance came under his notice
where a fine young four-year-old cart
gelding died from them. 1t had been
at work. apparently in good health. un-
til the day before its death. The cir
cumstances of its death were that the
horse-keeper found it in the yard first
thing in the morning apparently suffer
ing slightly from its water, so he ct
once fetched drink, but on leading It
to the stable it fell dead. Examination
showed that it contained about 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 were found in the
paunch, hole through which a couple
of fingers could he placed had been
eaten through, and about two pailfuls
of water had escaped, causing death as
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, but as examinations
are not always made they are not al
ways detected, and they are not looked
upon in the serious light they perhaps
should be, and small means are taken
to prevent their spreading. When tine
animals are infested with them it is
very hard to make them move, as it is
difficult to get at them, as their heads
are enveloped in the lining of the stom-
ach, and the bodies are so hard that
medicine has little effect on them. and
though physic is occasionally given it
is doubtful whether much good is done.
Fresh green food, such as rye and tares.
is popularity supposed to hasten their
expulsion, but it is difficult to prove
that it actually does it.
While the idea prevails, the writer
says, that they are harmless very
little endeavor will be made to 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 off by the animal and 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 probability 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 a 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 perforations through the
walls, the only means of avoiding the
evil seems to be to feed the animals so
that their stomachs are not unduly 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 60 do this than stale or
moldy corn, especially if it is in the
form of meal fresh off the stones.
Moldy hay and freshly cut tough straw
chaff should also not be used.