304 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



carried by the tongue towards the stomach, where they are 

 shortly hatched, and found adhering to the cuticular mem- 

 brane, by their peculiarly wonderful hooks. A lengthened 

 description of this interesting creature and its habits cannot be 

 entered into here. I shall confine myself to results. 



The larvae of the bot remains within the stomach all winter, 

 and are only detached during the genial weather of the following 

 spring or summer. It is now covered by a shell, and is known 

 by the name of chrysalis, which, about the nineteenth or 

 twentieth day, bursts its covering and escapes fully formed, 

 active, and powerful on wings, and legs covered with down, at 

 an early hour in the morning, varying with the time the sun 

 rises, from three to five, A.M., and capable of taking active part 

 in propagating its species at once. 



Horses suffer from the effects of these parasites. I have 

 witnessed instances where their presence in considerable num- 

 bers adhering to the stomach, has produced continued symp- 

 toms of indigestion, swelling of the legs, unthriftiness, in- 

 aptitude for work, impairment of appetite, and other functions, 

 and in more than one case I had no doubt in ascribing the cause 

 of death to their presence, all the symptoms of gastritis having 

 been set up — of a chronic form — with abrasion of the mucous 

 membrane. 



No known medicine will remove the larvae from the horse's 

 stomach — at least injury to the animal will ensue before their 

 removal is at all apparent. The only remedy for them is pre- 

 vention by not feeding horses on the pastures where evil con- 

 sequences are known to result from them. 



Intestinal Worms.— Intestinal parasites are frequently trouble- 

 some to the farm horse, giving rise to symptoms of indigestion, 

 unthriftiness, dullness, and even colic. The assimilation of food 

 is interfered with, the animal is hidebound, skin dull and scurfy, 

 and bowels irregular. To allow this state to proceed, is to lay 

 the foundation of a series of disorders. 



Treatment. — Administer a brisk dose of purgative medicine, 

 which may be all that is required. Some practitioners give 

 linseed oil and turpentine, others tartar emetic or a calomel 

 purge, all of which, with care, are efficient remedies. Half an 

 ounce of iron filings administered every morning in a ball for 10 

 or 12 days, and followed by a dose of purgative medicine, com- 

 monly effects a cure. Enemas of turpentine are useful for thread 

 worms. The various worms found are the lumbrices, or long- 

 round worm, chiefly inhabiting the small intestines but found 

 often in all parts of the canal, and frequently voided with the 

 excrement ; and the ascaris vermicularis, or thread worm of the 

 rectum, a violently irritating parasite. The causes being those 

 which induce an unthrifty state of the body generally, preven- 



