In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 233 



tion, and the stomach, upon opening it, was found 

 covered with these parasites, So thick were they that 

 you could not see one particle of the mucous membrane 

 of the stomach, they forming a complete lining. Upon 

 removing the parasites the mucous membrane was 

 eaten into holes, in some places nearly through the 

 substance of the stomach. They were also found 

 through the entire intestines so numerous as to leave no 

 doubt that they were the primary cause of the animal's 

 death, and although they were so numerous in the animal 

 no one suspected their existence, as none had been seen 

 in the evacuations. The progress of this disease generally 

 manifests itself slowly ; the horse becomes hide-bound, 

 its coat becomes rough and unhealthy, it loses flesh and 

 strength, although it feeds with its usual appetite, and 

 frequently it has a short tickling cough. The bot, as I 

 have said before, is a species of the gadfly, which may be 

 observed in the months of July flying actively about the 

 legs of horses in the fields, or sticking fast to their ribs 

 when ridden along a road. These are the females de- 

 positing their eggs in the hair of the horse, to which they 

 adhere by a glutinous substance with which they are 

 surrounded, and in a few days the eggs are hatched, and 

 the minute grubs are set at liberty. This is done by the 

 horse licking itself, and the little grubs adhering to the 

 tongue of the horse are carried into its stomach with its 

 food. These small caterpillars are provided with a small 

 hook on each side of the mouth, by means of which they 

 cling pertinaciously to the cuticular portion of the 

 stomach, and so tenaciously do they adhere that the 

 hook will break before they leave their hold. These pests 



