THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 349 



knuckles is most drum-like, plunge in a trochar and allow the gas to 

 escape through the canula. Give the following according to circumstances : 



No. 91. >i to 1 Ounce laudanum, 



2 to 4 Ounces tincture asaafoetida. 



Mix in a pint of gruel. 



If the colic is the result of disease and exhaustion, with much swelling 

 of the belly, try the following : I 



No. 92. yi Ounce chlorate of potash, 



>i Ounce sulphuric ether, 

 ^ Pint water. 



To be given in a half pint of gruel. i 



Later in this disease when it is required to act moderately on the 

 bowels the following will be found useful ; 



No. 93. yi Ounce chlorinated soda, 



2 to 3 Drachms aloes. 



Powder the aloes and dissolve the whole in a pint of warm water, and 

 give when cool. During recovery, the health of the animal must be 

 attended to. Give easily digested food ; avoid large draughts of water, 

 and over feeding. Give good grooming ; blanket if necessary, and keep 

 the circulation active by hand rubbing of the body and limbs. 



ni. The Bot. 



The female bot fly, ^strus-equi^ is too well known to need description. 

 They lay their eggs on the legs, flanks, and other portions of the horse's 

 body easily reached. The animal in licking its body takes the e^g into 

 its mouth and being swallowed they hatch, and the young fasten them- 

 selves by means of their hooks to the mucous membrane of the stomach. 

 Here they live and grow and the next season become mature and are 

 passed from the animal, and undergo their transformation to the perfect 

 fly in the earth. So long as the animal is in perfect health they do little 

 if any harm. But in case of disease or insuflScient food they become 

 troublesome. Or if they exist in great numbers when nearly or full 

 grown and they are passing from the animal, they sometimes cause severe 

 injury by attaching themselves to the sensitive lining of the bowels. 

 This irritation is not easily distinguished from other forms of indigestion 

 or colic. 



In the Spring when the animal is hungry, and there is indication of in- 

 testinal diflBculty, they may be suspected. If the horse turns up his 

 upper lip, and if the edges of the tongue are red and fiery looking, it 



