452 Gastropliilus Larva? in the Stomach oi! t lie Horse. 



attendance, to prevent if possible ruptures and displacements 

 (see chapters on internal strangulation, torsion and volvulus). 

 An exception in this respect are torsion of the large intestine 

 when moderate rolling may be permitted. The indiscriminate 

 use of laxatives and similar drugs is absolutely worthless, fre- 

 quently even harmful. While such drugs may be advantageous 

 in some cases, they will do harm in others when their use is 

 contraindicated. 



Aside from the internal treatment of the underlying dis- 

 ease, operative interference will play an important role in the 

 future; this includes the introduction of the stomach tube, lav- 

 age of the stomach, the reduction of displacements, the removal 

 of obturating foreign bodies per rectum or by rolling, and 

 finally laparotomj^ and enterotomy. One must, however, al- 

 ways remember that laparotomy, and still more laparotomy 

 combined with enterotomy, are procedures that are quite dan- 

 gerous for the horse and they must still be perfected more be- 

 fore many animals can be saved by them. 



Literature. Klett, D. t. W., 1907, 209 (with literature concerning rectal exami- 

 nation).— Wall, Die Kolik des Pferdes, 1908. 



Colicky Affections in Other Animals. The same diseases that do 

 so in the horse, manifest themselves also with symptoms of colic in other 

 animals, but, for reasons already pointed out, the underlying conditions 

 are more rare. The other domestic animals usually react with less 

 marked manifestations to pain ; moderate pain usually causes no observ- 

 able symptoms. 



The same principles must guide us in differential diagnosis and 

 treatment. 



28. Animal Parasites in the Stomach, 



(a) Gastrophilus Larvae in the Stomach of the Horse. 



Occurrence. The larvae of bot-flies occur almost exclusively 

 in the stomach of horses after prolonged pasturing; they are, 

 however, seen occasionally also in horses which have been work- 

 ing along roads along which much brush growls. Foals from eight 

 months up to the age of three years are most commonly af- 

 fected, older horses more rarely. The bot-fly larvae disease is 

 seen most frequently after the stabling of horses in the fall. 

 The better breeds are particularly liable to be affected. 



Etiology. Fly larvae, which are parasitic in the stomach 

 of horses, develop from the ova of brachyceric flies (Diptera 

 brachycera) which include the bot-flies, (Gastrus, Gastrophilus). 

 Between June and October, particularly during the liot days in 

 July, August and September, these rest upon the body of horses 

 in the open air, especially on the anterior portion of the body 

 (neck, mane, neighborhood of nose and mouth, front legs) ; the 

 flies either rest upon the skin or float in the air a few centime- 

 ters above the animals. 



