202 STOMACH BOTS. 



believe they are far more rare north than in the south. In 

 purchasing horses in the plains of Italy, it is a matter of cer- 

 tainty that their stomachs are lined with these parasites. I 

 have therefore been under the most favourable circumstances 

 to examine their influence on the condition of the animals 

 purchased by myself annually in considerable numbers. 



" I could not rely on the condition of one of the Italian 

 horses taken up from grass at the end of summer in less than 

 nine months or a year such condition, I mean, as would fit 

 them for any severe work The young English horses have 

 nourished themselves and become more muscular in far less 

 time, and it must be remembered that the Italian horses 

 were really good substantial nags, with no defect in their 

 constitution. I do not, however, forget also that the English 

 colts are reared under very different circumstances to the 

 half- wild ones in the Maremme of Tuscany and Campagna of 

 Rome, and elsewhere. The English farmer feeds with corn and 

 hay, besides allowing his young stock plenty of good grass, 

 whereas in Italy horses shift more for themselves, are not 

 handled and fed, and have even an imperfect supply of grass 

 on ill-cultivated pasture, and are exposed to the cold winds 

 of winter or parching sun of July and August. There are, 

 however, horses bred and managed in England in a manner 

 as little calculated to promote their growth and condition or 

 their owner's interests, as those of Southern Europe. 



" There are, therefore, some circumstances which militate 

 against the accuracy of the conclusions I may arrive at, not- 

 withstanding extensive observation; but still I can furnish 

 very strong proof in favour of the view that the bots in the 

 stomach are not natural healthy stimuli, but prove detrimen- 

 tal to health. I gained valuable experience from one parti- 

 cular source, viz., in purchasing young horses every year 

 from the late Count Gherardesca of Florence, who bred ex- 



