The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-10-08
BOTS IN HORSES.
Things to BE Done to Prevent This Tor.
fible ScOufYe.

Things to BE Done to Prevent This Ter
rible Scourgc.
An English writer has had his atten-,
ton called to the loss of life this season
caused by bots, the Larvae of the gadfly.i
One instance came under his notice.
; where fine young four-year-old cart
gelding died from them. 1t had been
at work, apparently in good health. I'M
til the day before it's 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 at
once fetched drink, but on leading it
to the stable it fell dead. Examination
showed that it 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 othe: 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
uoAc SoupAC
of fingers could be 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 q
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 the
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 10
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 thin solutioa Of
paraflin or other obnoxious dressing
| were applied to the coat of the horse in
the autumn in all proba bility 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 ara
voided, any that are seen should be de-
stroyed; therefore 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 tho
evil seems 10 De 10 1eeu 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 co do this than stale or
moldy corn, especially if it is in TIT
form of meal fresh off the stones.
MOldy hay and freshly cut touch straw
chaff should also not be used.