DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 61 



veterinary surgeon. If the obstruction is lodged between the 

 throat and breast, and can't be. dislodged with the probang, it 

 may be cut down upon and removed. This is a delicate opera- 

 tion, and seldom proves successful, except when performed by a 

 qualified veterinary surgeon. The hole in the gullet must be 

 tightly sewed up, also the muscles and skin, by separate stitches. 

 An fmimal should be fed on soft, wet food for several days after 

 a bad case of choking. 



RESULTS OF CHOKING. 



Choking may result in rupture, stricture, or dilatation of the 

 oesophagu? (gullet), but, as little can be done for these condi- 

 tions, we will not describe them. 



BOTS LAEVAE OF THE GAD-FLY. 



Bots are of two kinds: the stomach hot, which infests the 

 horse's stomach during development; and the fundament bot, 

 which is found in the rectum (last gut), anus, etc. 



It is surprising what erroneous ideas are entertained amongst 

 most horse owners, and even some "horse doctors," about bots. 

 As every obscure lameness in the foot is supposed to be in the 

 shoulder, so when a horse is taken sick with abdominal pain, 

 nine times out of ten it is laid to bots. If he turns up his upper 

 lip, looks at his side, paws and rolls, or shows any uneasiness, 

 it is taken as a sure sign of bots. 



Bots as a rule are harmless parasites, seldom if ever producing 

 any mischief, and they are found in the stomach of almost every 

 horse that dies, sometimes in great numbers, adhering to its 

 coats. 



One of the best authorities on the subject, is Cobbold, who 

 writes as follows: 



