xlii WARBLE FLY. 



to in Mr. Eichards' letter), " which I had no room for and could not 

 then sell." 



It is worth remark, that where the cattle were from necessary 

 circumstances, as above mentioned, more exposed to attack, the fly was 

 so much more noticeable as to allow having several chases and two 

 captures, and it was also mentioned that the few cattle that were free 

 were so maddened by the fly as to leap a parapet wall for the purpose 

 of getting into water, and continued swimming about in a reservoir nine 

 feet deep, with their own good will, to avoid attack. 



Summer Attack. 



About Jour weeks after the mai/r/ots have been noticed leaving the backs of 

 the cattle the summer attack fro)ii ]Varble Fig )iiag be expected to begin, and 

 to be great or small in amount according to the number of maggots which 

 xcere alloived to live. 



In the following notes of applications or treatment of the animals, 

 which have been found to prevent attack, it will be seen that there are 

 a few special points acted on. These are — 1st, applging mixtures of 

 such a strong smell as may be obnoxious to the fig and overpower the 

 attraction of the smell of the animal ; 2nd, applications ivhich would stick 

 the fly fast or kill the egg ; 3rd, washes ivhich womld clear off the eggs or 

 destroy them if laid on the skin, or kill the grub whilst near the surface ; 

 4th, protection afforded to cattle by being housed at egg-laying time. 



" Respecting the application of anything to prevent the Warble Fly 

 depositing the eggs, there are a number of matters of a tarry nature 

 that might be applied, and nothing better than Stockholm or green 

 tar itself rubbed along the cows' backs before turning them out, which 

 would last all the summer season, or applied in May or June between 

 the top of the shoulder-blade and loins. This is the only part the cow 

 cannot lick, rub, or lash with the tail ; hence the only peaceable place 

 where the fly can leave its egg. Or sheep-salve (bad butter and tar 

 mixed with sulphur). About two applications would last a full season. 

 Or the application of brine and the mixture I have already given you. 

 Parafiiu, kerosiue, carbolic acid, phenyle, &c., are all too transient to 

 be of much service, and would have to be applied frequently." — H. 

 Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., Aspatria (1884). 



Mr. Thompson further noted that he had been told it was a common 

 practice to wash the cows' backs with pickling brine, the application 

 being used two or three times during the season. In this part large 

 farmers keep what is called the pickling-tub, wherein they put beef 

 and mutton ; the brine is made with salt and water, salt being added 

 till an egg will float. This is an old remedy, and I think a good one, 

 as I think the ova would be destroyed immediately it was placed in 

 the skin. 



