THE HORSK. 106 



ou, and the hoi'se is lost by the verj^ means used for his 

 recoveiy. 



Sharp fits of the Gravel, are sometimes taken for the 

 Colic; but should this happen, the drink recommended 

 for the Colic, will also be proper for the Gravel. 



WORMS AND BOTS. 



Much has been said about Worms in horses, and but 

 little understood. I have often been astonished at grooms, 

 farmers, and farriers, not having a better knowledge of 

 them ; for there are more horses killed by these nauseous 

 vermin, than by any thing else ; and many are kept weakly 

 and low in flesh by them. 



Symptoms. The symptoms which indicate worms, are 

 various as the animals are different, and seated in diffe- 

 rent parts of the body. When the Bots are seated in the 

 straight gut, they are never dangerous, but are often thrust 

 out with the dung. They generally come in the months 

 of May and June, and scarcely ever continue in a horse 

 above a fortnight. But when they breed in the stomach, 

 they often cause convulsions, and even death. The Bots 

 that breed in the stomach, are about the size of a large 

 maggot, composed of circular rings, and have little, sharp, 

 prickly feet along the sides of their bellies, by means of 

 which they fasten themselves to the part from whence 

 they derive their nourishment, to prevent their being loosed 

 from such adhesion before they come to maturity ; and as 

 they drain the coats of the stomach like leeches, it is no 

 wonder that they often throw the horse into convulsions, 

 which terminate in death, unless the cause be removed. 

 The violent agonies of the creature are the only indications 

 of their existence. The other kinds of worms are more 

 troublesome than dangerous, and ^re discovered by the 

 following signs : There is a white fur on the end of the 

 straight gut ; the horse is lean and jaded ; his coat is rough 

 and staring ; and if you rub your hand backward on the 

 hair, a white scurf will rise, as if he had been surfeited ; 

 and though he eats with a remarkable appetite, he does not 

 thrive. He often strikes his hind-feet against his belly, and 

 is sometimes gi*iped, but without the violent pains that 

 attend the colic, or stranguary ; for he never rolls or turn- 



