Treatment of the Bots. 151 



doubt. But it is not possible to point out any one single 

 symptom which positively proves their presence. 



They lead at times to colic, indigestion, irritation of the 

 anus, and also to staggers, fits or convulsions, which, if they 

 occur in winter without other assignable reason, in a horse 

 somewhat out of conditio n, miy fairly be laid to the charge 

 of the bots. But probably in most instances, these parasites 

 do no harm. 



Treatment. — The preventive treatment is by cutting the 

 hair close in those parts of the body which the gad-fly 

 selects, and keeping it smeared in the late summer and early 

 autumn with a tar or turpentine ointment. Internally, give 

 a handful of fresh unbleached wood ashes once or twice a 

 week in the feed. 



To remove the bots when once lodged in the intestines, 



the following should be given on an empty stomach every 



morning, for three or four days :— 



No. 153. Powdered aloes, 



Powdered assafoetida, of each J ox. 



Mix in hot water, and when cold add 



Oil of turpentine. 



Sulphuric ether, of each 1 oz. 



Give in gruel and linseed tea as a drench. 



This same is also a useful prescription for destroying tape- 

 worm and other worms in horses. 



Prof. Gamgee's prescription for bots, is : — 



No. 154. Powdered assafoetida, 2 drachms. 



Powdered savin, 



Calomel, of each Ij drachms. 



Oil of male shield fern, 30 drops. 



Give as a ball, made up Avith molasses and linseed, at night, and fol- 

 low with an aloes purge the next morning. 



Still another plan is to give for three or four mornings a 

 quarter of an ounce of sulphate of copper, made into a ball, 

 and follow with a purgative dose of aloes, repeating this 

 medication after a week's interval. 



