Diseases of the Digestive Organs. 265 



diarrhoea, and of the most variable intensity. If occurriag 

 after a period of abstinence when the worms are presum- 

 ably hungry, or if in spring or early summer, if the bots 

 are found passing with the dung, if the horse turns up his 

 hp as if nauseated, and if the margins of the tongue are red 

 and fiery there will be so much more corroborative evi- 

 dence. 



Treatment. In cases of irritation following abstinence 

 give potato juice, gruels, etc., to feed and quiet the bots, 

 adding some anodyne (opium, hyocyamus,) or mucilagin- 

 ous agents (gum Arabic, boiled linseed, maUow, sHppery 

 elm,) if it appears necessary. 



"We cannot certainly kill the bots in the stomach, as they 

 will resist the strongest acids and alkalies, the most irrespir- 

 able and poisonous gases, the most potent narcotics and 

 mineral poisons, empyreumatic oils, etc. Oil of turpentine, 

 carbolic acid, bryony, ether and benzine have been relied on 

 by different practitioners but none of them are quite sat- 

 isfactory. It seems probable that these like other vermi- 

 fuges will act best in autumn or early winter before the 

 larva has acquired his hard, horny coat of maU, and at 

 this time accordingly they may be given with more con- 

 fidence. The azedarach (pride of China) grown around 

 stables in the South to protect from bots, probably acts in 

 this way, if at all, being cropped and swallowed by the an- 

 imals while the bots are still white, soft and permeable to 

 liquids. 



The cohcs are to be treated by anti-spasinodics (tobac- 

 co, stramonium, laudanum, etc.,) and mild laxatives, and 

 tlie animal must be well fed to support him vmder the 

 drain and to keep the parasite gorged, lazy and non-irri- 

 tating. In summer when the bots are coming away their 

 exit may be precipitated by a good dose of physic. 



Prevention. Trim off the long hairs of the jaws, breast, 

 shoulder and fore hmbs and apply a little oil daily to pre- 

 vent the eggs fi"om adhering. Or brush off the eggs with 

 Boap-suds daily before they have had time to hatch in the 



