MKRCURIAL OINTMENT. xlvil 



some with mercurial ointment ; I have not the slightest doubt but that 

 all will be effectual. I am satisfied there will be no difficulty in killing 

 the grub with any one of fifty simple remedies." 



About a week later Mr. Stratton added : — " I treated others Avith 

 mercurial ointment (such as is used for scab in sheep) ; the effect of 

 this is very remarkable, for in a couple of days after the application 

 the grub appears to be quite decomposed ; and I am persuaded that no 

 remedy can be more safe, simple, and effectual than this. It would 

 not cost twopence a head to treat all the cattle in the country in 

 this way. 



"It is quite easy to destroy the grub by a stab, but the cattle 

 object to it ; it appears to hurt them almost as much as a puncture 

 through the skin. The objection to the scalpel, &c., is that when you 

 treat an animal for this attack all the grubs are not in the same stage, 

 and some have no orifice developed, or only a small one, through 

 which it would be difficult to make an insertion ; whereas, whether 

 visible or not, a little of the ointment rubbed in would destroy the 

 grub effectually. 



" Tar had the desired effect in every case but one, and in that I 

 think the hair kept it from the opening. Acetic acid was perfectly effec- 

 tive." — E. Stratton, The Duflryn, Newport, Mon. 



Other notes of approval of the application were sent in, from which 

 I have chosen the following, as being from large cattle-owners, or, in 

 the first instance, from Professor Eiley, who has given special study, 

 practical as well as scientific, to warble-treatment : — 



" In America it has been found that a little mercurial ointment 

 applied to the swellings in autumn acts very well in killing the young 

 Hi/poderma larva, but the simpler and equally effectual way is to rub 

 the back and sides, and especially the back, with pure kerosine oil." — 

 Prof. C. V. Eiley, Consulting Entomologist, Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, U.S.A. 



" The smallest quantity of mercurial ointment (as much as a small 

 pea) placed on the hole in the skin carries death within twenty-four 

 hours. After applying the ointment to about forty-five cows, I cannot 

 tell exactly the numbers that were in the cows' backs, but my im- 

 pression is that there were seldom more than six in one beast." — E.E. 

 McBride, Glendonagh, Middleton, Co. Cork. 



" June 10th, 1885. Resulting from your advice, I have within 

 two months dressed about 250 head of cattle out of 800 with mercurial 

 ointment for warble-maggots with speedy and complete success, and 

 without any bad effect whatever. My herdsmen all now swear by your 

 remedy ; but I think at a very early period in spring, dressing down 

 the backbone with sulphur might be a great prevention also." — J. A. 

 Farrell, Esq., D.L., Moynalty, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland, 



