828 m>^^' TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



attaches hor eu'gs to his hair, tliey hatch, and the little grub is 

 linked oft' hy the horse and swallowed. Sometimes several 

 huiKlrod will thus be deposited in the stomach. They attach 

 »hein.<«el\'es to the uppoi- part of the stomach, where they spend 

 the winter an<l p.iss oft' in the following season to make room 

 for another company. They seldom do any harm. In raro» 

 1. .■.„....„ they obstruct the entrance of food. It was formerly 

 i that they injured, and sometimes killed the horse, 

 and there are still those ignorant enough to give powerful doses 

 of medicine **to kill the bots," or, "to drive out the bots." 



Now, if it were worth while to attempt to kill them, or drive 

 them out, it cannot be done. No medicine can be given strong 

 enough to kill them. They will live for months corked up in 

 (spirits or poison. But supposing the dose given would kill, it 

 can only reach a very small proportion of them. They are 

 : riily fastened where the dose goes over them like a shower 

 ;'.i' ;i, and has no eft'cet, except on a few stray ones who may be 

 wundering about oft" their guard. When examined under the 

 microscope, they are seen to have a little mouth no larger than 

 the point of a needle, wdiich they can close at their pleasure 

 and refuse all d/yses you may send them. It is said that they eat 

 through the stomach of the horse, and cause death ; this is not 

 w). They have no power to eat the stomach U7itil ft becomes so 

 i used that death must surely folloiv. The stomach of a horse 

 apparently sound, killed by accide will often be found eat 

 through. It is probable that they att 'c some weak or partially 

 ' ■•. Any one who will gamine them under the 

 • ill see that they have no means of penetrating the 

 :id stomach. When- bots are voided in the excre- 

 ment or , ^, found clinging to the anus, give the following 

 prescript! i : ^wdered fern, two ounci • ; powdered poplar bark, 

 * 'ir oun es; mustard seed, two o' ces; common salt, six 



