DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 31 



CHAPTER II. 



STOMACH OF THE HORSE. 



The stomach of the horse is very small for the 

 size of its body, and usually empties itself in from 

 four to five hours. After this, if the horse is not 

 fed, it weakens very fast. The stomach is divided 

 into two parts : the left half, which is lined with a 

 prolongation of the lining of the gullet, and which 

 does not secrete any gastric juice; the right half, 

 which is lined with a velvety coat, which secretes 

 the solvent juice. The former part is where the 

 bots inhabit, as the exudation of the gastric juice, 

 in the right half, would interfere with their com- 

 fort. 



Life History of the Bot. — The bot fly deposits its 

 nits or eggs on the horse's legs, sides, flanks and 

 under the chin. In a few days ithe eggs are 

 hatched and the larva makes its way down the hair 

 to the skin, which it irritates, causing the horse 

 to bite or lick the part. In this way the young crea- 

 ture gets into the horse's mouth and down to the 

 stomach, and when they reach the left portion, ad- 

 here to it by two small hooks; they have no mouth, 

 and are fed by some of the digested food being ab- 

 sorbed through their skin. In this way they grow 

 until the following spring, when they release their 



