The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-01-28
Important to (
Eradicate Bots
Effective and Economical
Treatment Outlined in Re-
cent Bulletin.

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Prepared by the United States Department
of Agriculture.)
Anyone who has had anything to do
with horses is more or less familiar
with BOTTLES and the annoyance they
cause. Until recently, however, when
a species known as the nose fly, new
to this country, began to spread over
the North Central states. but little
attention has been given to control Of
the pests. Investigations made few
years ago by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture clearly point
to a very effective and economical
treatment for the control or even Grad
ication of all three kinds of horse
bots. The results of these studies are
discussed in Farmers Bulletin No.
.1503-F, just issued.
Summer Annoyance Serious.
The annoyance of the flies during the
summer when they are laying their
eggs on the hairs of the horse is Sc
rious, especially that Of the nose fly,
which often makes the animals uncOn-
trollable. Although the nose botfly is
restricted to the North Central and
the northern Rocky mountain states,
1t is gradually spreading, and steps
should be taken to control it. The
eggs of the BOTTLES are taken into the
digestive tract of the horse where they
hatch into bots or maggots and be-
come attached to the stomach and in
testines. They require about year
for development before being passed
on, during which time they not only
interfere with digestion but may ac-
tually cause stoppage, resulting in
death.
Certain repellents, such as mix
ture Of pine tar 3A ounces, kerosene
IL ounces, laundry soap ounce, pow
dered resin l ounce, and hot water
to make IA ounces, have been found
to some extent effective in keeping the
flies away. A protective device to
cover the throat and chin Of the horse
will aid in reducing the annoyance
and egg laying on these parts when
horses are at work. The device con-
sists chiefly of piece of canvas sus-
pended under the jaws and extending
from the throat latch to the bit rings.
Poison Kills Pests.
Devices and repellents to reduce fly
annoyance do not necessarily reduce
or control the number Of bots. How
ever, it has been found that internal
treatment with carbon disulphide cap
sules, poison which kills the bots or
maggots in the digestive tract, is eff
fective and satisfactory. When all
horses, mules and colts in commu-
nifty are treated Systematically for two
or three years to insure that no living
bots drop to the ground, the number
Of BOTTLES in the area will be greatly
lessened. This treatment should be
given in winter, after the flies have
finished their egg laying. Suggestions
for control or eradication Of horse
bots by community effort are outlined
In this bulletin.
In certain sections where control
work against horse bots has been in
progress, many farmers declare that
the number of cases of collie and other
digestive disturbances has been great
~ reduced, and that horses are kept in
better flesh on the same feed than
was possible before control work be-
gan.
A copy of the bulletin may be OBJ
tanned, as long as the supply lasts, by
writing to the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture, Washington, D. G.