Common Diseases of the Horse 221 



or bots of certain flies, and tapeworms, which are so rare as to 

 be unworthy of consideration. Each of these groups must now 

 receive some attention. 



Blood-sucking Flies 



These vary in size, colour, and structure from the smallest black 

 gnats, which irritate the ear flaps, to the " gad " or " breeze " flies, 

 which alight upon the thin-skinned parts of the body, such as 

 the inside of the arms and thighs, for the purpose of engorging 

 themselves with blood. Most of these flies know well the places 

 best suited for their mouth parts. Thus, those with long suckers 

 will pierce the skin anywhere, whilst the short-mouthed species 

 naturally prefer the thin-skinned parts. Although most of these 

 flies are found in the open in hot weather, one species very much 

 like the house fly is very common in stables, and it is consequently 

 called the stable fly. Animals usually show much uneasiness when 

 they hear the buzzing of these pests, and if in the fields they try 

 to escape by galloping. At work in the plough, or on army man- 

 oeuvres, stampedes may occur. Usually the bitten individual resorts 

 to kicking or stamping. 



Remedial measures consist in having plenty of shade in the 

 fields, and if needs be applying a little oil and tar to the backs 

 of the horses, to give off a smell unpleasant to the flies. At work 

 animals may wear shades, nets, and thin cloths, or leafy branches 

 may be fixed in their harness. Walnut trees have long been "re- 

 cognized as harbouring no flies, the peculiar smell they give off 

 is thus made use of by planting them near stables, or using the 

 leaves on animals' backs. The annoyance to sick horses in the 

 stable is prevented by a thin cloth and sponging with weak dis- 

 infectant. Quite a number of non-biting flies deposit their eggs 

 in wounds, so that the latter must be carefully treated in summer. 



Lice 



There are two or three different kinds of lice found on the horse, 

 but they must be classed as large and small. The latter live on the 

 dandruff and other products of the skin, and therefore do not cause 

 much trouble. They are usually found on young animals, or mares 

 and their foals, when they come up from grass. Affected animals 

 usually rub a little, and seem dirty in their coats. This filth is 

 not due to the lice, but is the reason why they are present. The 

 little creatures may be seen actually running about in the curl 

 of the flank and other parts of the body. 



