396 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



paralyzed for a considerable time. Swelling and heat pro 

 ceed from the region of the wound, with the accompani- 

 ments of nausea and giddiness. In the human being, these 

 symptoms sometimes terminate fatally, but to what precise 

 degree the sting affects the horse is not so well known. 

 That it is j)oisonou8 and exceedingly painful to horses and 

 cattle is undoubted ; but as stock runs at large in that country 

 of universal grass, opportunities to trace the effects of the 

 sting in their cases have not been very favorable. 



In Texas, w^hisky is the antidote for all ills. When stung 

 by the scorpion, the people have recourse to the beverage at 

 once, using it bountifully both internally and externally, and 

 thus obtain relief in a short time. The treatment in the 

 case of the horse will be of the same character. 



Hornets^ Wasps, etc. — These do not often sting the horse, 

 and are never very hurtful, so that a simple prescription to 

 relieve the pain will be all that is necessary. The first thing 

 to be done is to press the large end of a thimble around the 

 sting, so as to make a deep indentation in the skin, and then 

 to w^ash.the place with onion-juice, or with hartshorn and 

 oil, mixed in the proportions of three parts of hartshorn to 

 one of oil. Hot salt and water is equal to any thing ever 

 used as a wash after the sting of bees or wasps. 



In a few instances, the potato- fly or bug has poisoned the 

 horse. For this, grease the surface aftected, dnd in two hours 

 wash off with soap-suds, and when dry apply the decoction 

 of yellow-root or golden seal. Continue alternating with 

 these applications until the horse is quite well. 



Gadflies, Gnats, etc. — This will be the proper connection 

 in which to consider the ravages of certain insects not really 

 poisonous, but more dreaded by the stock-raisers of the 

 South-west than the reptiles, etc., that are. 



Tobacco- smoke will keep away gnats, gadflies, and mos- 

 quitoes. Green pennyroyal placed on the. head, under the 

 top of the bridle, will also drive them away; or they may 



