165 



OX. 



Ox Warble. Hypoderma bovis, De Geer. 



2 1 3 



1, Ox Warble Fly ; 2, maggot ; 3, chrysalis. 



The life-history of the Warble Fly, and information regarding mea- 

 sures whicli have been found to be of reliable service in lessening the 

 heavy losses caused by uncared for presence of its maggots in the hides 

 of our cattle, have now been so repeatedly entered on in these Keports 

 since the year 1884, that we appear to have these parts of the matter 

 as thoroughly in hand as can be needed for practical purposes. 



1st. We have the history of the attack, and of methods of prevention 

 and remedy, from scientific as well as practical observations of veteri- 

 nary surgeons, farmers, and cattle-owners, to which relatively to the 

 attack itself I have added the minutest observations I could myself 

 make regarding the development of the maggot, and also of the Warble, 

 from what could be learnt from sections of the hide whilst the maggot 

 was still in what might be described as a microscopic stage, to the 

 conditions observable in the newly flayed hide, or on the carcase from 

 which the hide had been taken. 



2nd. With reganl to losses, we have the testimony of great numbers 

 of those most personally interested in the matter, accompanied by 

 their well-known names, regarding the mischief and losses occurring 

 in all stages of the attack, from the preliminary galloping to loss on 

 hides and carcases ; and in my Eeport for 1888, I give estimates or 

 calculations from many of our leading butchers, hide or cattle firms 

 and associations of England and Scotland, showing the severity of the 

 losses incurred, which, from accompanying trade tables, may be calcu- 

 lated minutely even down to numbers of hides in the special classes, 

 which were "outclassed" in one of our large markets in the year, 

 together with the depreciation in value per hide, and also depreciation 

 per pound. 



3rd. The pressing need of remedy of this state of things is not only 

 shown by the records of public and private loss, but borne witness to 

 authoritatively in various ways, as by the special arrangements made 

 for exhibition of warbled hides, and dissemination of instruction 



