SOTS. 513 



or saline purges, it will destroy nearly all traces of worms or para- 

 sites in the stomach and intestines, even clearing out bots. The 

 best general treatment advised is santonine, areca nut, and male 

 fern. Of santonine, better known as worm-seed, the dose is from 

 one to four drachms, according to the size and temperament of 1 the 

 horse. For the small, nervous, well-bred horse, the smallest dose 

 would be sufficient ; while for a large, coarse-grained cart-horse the 

 larger dose of four drachms will be necessary. Of the same quanti- 1 

 ties of powdered areca nut and male fern, about one ounce is the 

 average dose. All vermifuge medicine should be taken while fast- 

 ing, as better results will thereby be obtained; let, the horse fast 



Fio. 833.— Stronjylus, Enlarged. '■'! y ?'.->■■ 



ten or twelve hours' before giving the medicine, and nearly as long 

 afterward. It is not necessary to give physic after either of these 

 medicines. Nearly all the parasites in horses can be expelled by 

 the judicious use of calomel. , 



BOTS. 



As* among most owners and horse-doctors, every obscure lame- 

 ness in the foot is supposed to be in the shoulder; so, when a horse 

 is taken sick, nine times out often it is supposed to be caused by 

 bots. If the horse turns up his upper- lip, looks at his side, shows 

 uneasiness, paws, and rolls, it is taken as a sure sign of bots. 



It is claimed that as a rule bots are harmless parasites, seldom 

 producing much mischief, and to be found in almost every horse that 

 dies, sometimes in great numbers, adhering to the coats of the 

 stomach ; but about this there is much difference of opinion. ' 



Prof. Law on the subjec^z — 

 " Bots are the larvae of the gadfly, which are noticed to be so common, pestering 

 .the horse during the summer and autumn, darting at him around his legs and sides, 

 and depositing their eggs on the hair of the parts. These eggs are caught by the 

 horse when he licks the parts in defending himself, and swallowed. In the stomach 

 they develop rapidly. By the aid of the hooks around their heads they attach 

 themselves to the mucous membrane, mainly of 'the left half of the stomach (see Fig. 

 33 a 



