518 THE MANAGEMENT OF FARM HORSES 



cryptococcus that can be seen under the microscope without 

 employing a staining material." The mallein test is not 

 applicable to the disease, which is curable if treated early, and 

 is thus unlike all forms of glanders, The treatment is to 

 scrape out the abscesses, and to touch the spots with a hot 

 iron, and, in accordance with the discovery of Dr Tinjard in 

 India, where conditions make it possible, send the patient to 

 an altitude of 7500 feet above the sea. 



WORMS IN HORSES 



" Ascaris megalocephalus. The commonest nematode 

 worm of the horse, length 6 to 1 5 inches. The intestine is 

 their natural habitat, and in great numbers they are a 

 common cause of colic, but occasionally they make their way 

 to the stomach and then may cause mad staggers. 



" Treatment. A dose of aloes or a pint of linseed oil with 

 2 to 3 oz. of turpentine will remove them." 



" Bots are the larval form of the fly, Gastrophilus equi. 

 The flies lay their eggs on the hair of the mane, neck, 

 shoulders, and the fore legs ; the eggs hatch in about a week. 

 The horses lick themselves or their companions, and in this 

 way the larvae find their way into the stomach of the horse, 

 where they usually attach themselves to the cuticular portion, 

 there to remain during the autumn and winter, and pass out 

 with the faeces in spring. On the cuticle they do little 

 harm, but occasionally they extend to the villus portion, and, 

 interfering with digestion, cause colic and loss of condition, 

 and they have been known to perforate the wall of the 

 stomach and cause death. Bots are difficult to dislodge, as 

 they bury their mouths in the coat of the stomach. 



" Treatment. Carbolic acid I dram, glycerine \ oz., in a 

 pint of warm water, followed shortly by a pint of linseed oil 

 and 2 oz. of turpentine, may be successful. The solution of 

 iodine is sometimes effective. 



"Preventive measures are to smear horses turned to 

 grass in the summer months from July to September with a 

 dressing similar to that recommended to protect cattle 

 from the warble fly, viz., i gallon train oil, I pint spirits of 

 tar, and i Ib. flowers of sulphur." 



Oxyurus curvula, see Appendix Q, p. 739. 



Strongylus tetracanthus, see Appendix Q, p. 740. 



