WORMS. 393 



steadies itself by a very rapid flutter of its tiny wings ; then it 

 darts at the horse, generally touching his knee, and is away 

 again in a moment ; but in that brief space the little crea- 

 ture has found time enough to deposit an egg, and to glue 

 it to the animal's hair. The horse, either stung by the 

 parent fly, or annoyed by the fastening down of his hair, 

 licks the knee to ease the part, and thus conveys the egg 

 into the stomach. The greater number of the eggs swal- 

 lowed must be lost, but some are hatched by the heat of 

 the horse's stomach, and these become hots ; and are often 

 found, when making examinations after death, in vast num- 

 bers clinging to the stomach, from which, until their time 

 of change arrives, they have no power to release them- 

 selves. 



Symptoms of worms. — The most popular is a dry yellow 

 matter under the tail ; but it is not invariably present even 

 when worms are known to exist. When worms are hurt- 

 ful, there is unequal appetite, and an irregular state of 

 bowels ; at one time costive, and at another loose, with 

 glair or mucus around the dung-balls. When ascarides 

 prevail, the horse is much disposed to rub the tail, to ease 

 the itching of the fundament. The presence of bots is sel- 

 dom detected by any distinct signs, except in the spring, 

 when one or more may be detected half protruded through 

 the anus ; the reason of its appearance being, that the time 

 has arrived for it to quit the state of a grub for that of a 

 fly. The lumbrici, or round worm, is probably the most 

 generally hurtful ; but it is only when it exists in great 

 numbers, or itself becomes morbidly irritated, to seek a 

 change of situation ; this symptom applies to ascarides, in 

 which cases both may interfere with digestion and the regular 

 alvine discharges ; the provender of the horse, although he 

 eats heartily, does not digest healthily. The skin also, 

 sympathising with the stomach and intestines, occasions a 

 staring coat and harsh feel of the hair. There are frequent 

 attacks of slight gripes ; the horse stands with his legs wide 

 apart, and his belly hangs low. The breath is often hot 

 and foetid, and it is not unusual for a short dry cough to be 

 present. Worms, however, do exist without any of these 

 symptoms. Whoever will take the trouble to visit a 

 knacker's, and to turn over the dunghill in his yard, will 



