GASTROPHILVS—BOTS 149 



of the stomach and peritonitis. Once in a while bots induce 

 inflammation of the rectum or even prolapsus recti, and 

 still more rarely they may enter the brain, larynx and 

 other organs. 



Symptoms. — Bots affect principally colts and young horses 

 which have been running on pasture diu-ing the summer. 

 When stabled for the winter and placed on dry feed the 

 symptoms become manifest. The animals are unthrifty, 

 thin, show impaired appetite, pale mucous membranes and 

 intermittent attacks of colic. Due to the resulting anemia 

 the pulse becomes weak and palpitation of the heart appears 

 especially on exercise. A cold edematous swelling com- 

 monly appears between the jaws. Where the invasion has 

 been great the patient will eventually become emaciated, 

 cachectic and die in three or four months. When the Gas- 

 trophilus hemorrhoidalis is present in the rectum the irri- 

 tation induced leads to restlessness, the colt rubbing its tail, 

 frequent defecation, the formation of whitish, dried crusts 

 of mucus about the anus, and sometimes tenesmus. Iti 

 rare instances prolapsus recti may result. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis depends upon the history of 

 the case (occurring after a long run at pastm-e) and the 

 presence of the bot larvae in the feces or rectum. Round 

 worms may be excluded only by a microscopical examination 

 of the feces for their eggs. Differentiation from scleros- 

 tomiasis (larvae of the Sclerostomum edentatum) is often 

 very difficult. Not infrequently both parasites occur con- 

 comitantly. In important cases a necropsy may be neces- 

 sary for diagnosis. Infectious anemia affects horses of all 

 ages, is characterized by periodical attacks of fever and 

 rarely affects the appetite seriously. 



Treatment. — The only agent of any value to eliminate 

 the bot larvae is the disulphid of carbon. It should be 

 administered on an empty stomach in capsules in doses of 

 5ijss, foxir doses of which are given, with an hour between 

 each. After twelve to twenty hours administer a good 

 purgative. The larvae may be removed from the rectum 

 by injections of soap suds or oil. It is also recommended to 

 smear the rectal mucosa with borated vaselin. 



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