132 PARASITIC SKIN DISEASES. 



of mosquitoes, and the indifference displayed by Egyptian children 

 to the presence of flies on their faces and even in the corners of 

 their eyes. 



Against these insect pests, the chief treatment is of course that 

 of prevention. With this object, we should allow a horse his utmost 

 length of tail, mane, and forelock, and should remember that the 

 chief function of the mane is to assist in driving away flies which 

 may settle on the neck. Eye fringes and ear nets are often indis- 

 pensable ; and a hood and light body clothing may be useful As 

 an application to render the skin obnoxious to these enemies of 

 the horse, we may employ a strong decoction, in vinegar, of walnut 

 leaves ; train oil ; a strong solution of salt in water ; a solution 

 of creolin in water, 1 to 20; or, as recommended by Miss E. A. 

 Omerod, a mixture of flowers of sulphur, 4 oz., spirits of tar, a 

 quarter of a pint, and train or whale oil, one quart. In India, 

 smoke obtained from burning dried cow dung or dried horse dung 

 is often used to keep flies out of stables, which, with the same object, 

 may be kept dark. If there be only one entrance through which 

 light enters the stall, a net spread across it will effectually prevent 

 flies from gaining admittance ; although, if light be allowed to come 

 in from another direction, the net will have no deterrent effect, 

 unless its meshes are sufficiently small to prevent entrance. The 

 cleaner the stall is kept, the less inviting will it be to flies, which 

 will also be warned off to some extent by the free use on the floor 

 and walls of a solution of creolin or carbolic acid in water (say, 1 to 

 20), or some other strongly-smelling disinfectant. 



Leeches. 



In many hot countries, and especially on damp ground, various 

 kinds of land leeches (see also p. 395) attach themselves to the 

 legs of horses which go through places infested by these blood- 

 suckers. They are best removed by sprinkling a little salt over 

 tliem, or they can be snipped off with a scissors. The legs of 

 the horse may be protected by bandages ; flannel or serge for 

 choice. 



Maggots. 



Under this vulgar though convenient term I wish to include the 

 larvae of various forms of flesh flies, and the larvae of the warble 

 fly. The former deposit their eggs on wounds; the latter {Hyiio- 

 derma equi), on the skin, into which the larva penetrates in a 

 manner that has not been ascertained up to the present, and forms 

 under it a warble similar to those very frequently found on the 



