THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 347 



its length. When first voided the body appears black, the 

 tail transparent. No sooner, however, are they taken out oi* 

 the dung than they vomit up their black contents, which 

 have the appearance of writing ink ; and then their bodies, 

 like their tails, become transparent. This ejectment seems 

 to be their last act of life, for they never move after- 

 wards, but gradually shrink and dry up to almost nothing. 

 Numbers of strongyli were voided by a young horse, under 

 the operation of physic, who had given no reason to believe 

 he harboured worms of any sort. 



Symptoms. — The best known symptom of worms in the 

 rectum, or csecum, is a dry yellow matter under the tail ; but 

 it is not invariably present even when worms are known to 

 exist. When worms are irritating, there is unequal appe- 

 tite 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 funda- 

 ment. The presence of bots is seldom 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 lumhincws, or 

 round worm, is probably the most generally found ; but it 

 is only when it exists in great numbers, or itself becomes 

 morbidly irritated to seek a change of situation, that it 

 seems to trouble the animal. This symptom also applies to 

 ascarides, in which cases both may interfere with digestion 

 and the regular bowel 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, 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 find it to be composed quite as much of worms 

 as of excrement. This dung is taken from the aged 

 horses sent to be slaughtered, and is sufficient proof 

 that worms are much more common than is generally 

 supposed. 



