40 MODEHN FAHRIEIt. 



The ascarides are usually found in the rectum. 

 They are generally white, but sometimes reddish, 

 and in form resemble the eel. They are extremely 

 troublesome, and expose horses to the gripes and 

 other irritating actions in the intestines. A horse 

 troubled with these insects looks dull and fatigued, 

 and will frequently go very sluggishly, which coach- 

 men sometimes mistake for laziness, and punish ac- 

 cordingly. The animal's hair stares as if he was 

 sickly, and he often strikes his belly with his hind- 

 feet, as if griped ; but he neither lies down nor rolls 

 as in the gripes. However, the most decisive sign 

 of worms is when they are voided. 



There is another kind of worms, called the teretes, 

 or earth-worms, which arc sometimes found in horses, 

 but are neither very troublesome nor dangerous. 

 They may be distinguished from the ascarides, as 

 being a little larger, and of a red colour. They are 

 commonly voided about the latter end of autumn. 



Mr. Gibson says, ' The signs of worms in horses 

 are various according to their different kinds. The 

 bots that many horses are troubled with are found 

 sticking to the rectum, and are often thrust out with 

 the dung, along with a yellowish coloured matter 

 like melted sulphur. 



* They are apt to make a horse restless and un- 

 easy, and to rub his breech against a post. The 

 season of their appearing is usually in the months of 

 May or June, after which they are seldom to be 

 seen, and rarely continue in any one horse above a 

 fortnight or three weeks. Those that take posses- 

 sion of the membranous parts of the stomach are 

 more irritating and dangerous in causing convul- 

 sions, and are seldom discovered by any previous 

 signs before they bring a horse into violent agony.' 



Causes. — Some have supposed that the bots are 

 frequently caused by confinement in stables and un- 

 wholesome diet. Horses which want energy in the 

 functions of the stomach and intestines^ or are fed 



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