Ltca 133 



derma equi), on the skiii, iiito which the larva penetrates in a 

 manner that has not been ascertained up to the present, and forms 

 under it a warble similar to those frequently found on the hacks of 

 cattle. These attacks on horses are made only by female flies. 



In the tropics I have seen many instances of sores in ill-kept 

 horses becoming " fly-blown " (filled with maggots). Watble flies 

 rarely attack horses in England, but do so in various parts of 

 Europe and South America. The larva is about two-fifths of an 

 inch long, being a good deal smaller than that of the warble fly of 

 the ox, which it closely resembles in its method of development. 

 In Europe, the warble fly lays its eggs on the backs of the horse 

 generally in August. The larva forms a tumour under the skin, 

 becomes mature in June or July, leaves its temporary abode, and 

 after concealing itself for about a month in or on the surface of 

 the ground, bursts forth as a fly. While in the tumour on the 

 back of the, horse, the presence of the larva not only causes an 

 abscess to form ; but the parasite imbibes blood from its host. In 

 the treatment of these warbles it is well to remove them without 

 delay, by enlarging the orifice with a touch of the knife, and by 

 squeezing out the larvae with the fingers. The sac should then be 

 filled with some suitable antiseptic (p. 67), eucalyptus oil or 

 turpentine for choice. The larvse should be destroyed by some 

 effective means, such as fire or boiling water ; for if they be thrown 

 away, they will almost to a certainty be productive of flies which, 

 in the case of a female, will be capable of producing an immense 

 quantity of eggs. 



liice. 



Lice closely resembling those of man, are sometimes found on 

 ill-kept horses, or on animals which have been turned out to grass 

 and have come in contact with neglected horses. They prick the 

 skin so as to feed on the blood and discharge which issue from 

 the wounds they make. They may be observed, accompanied by 

 their nits and cast-off skins, on the skin of their favourite haunts, 

 namely, the roots of the tail and mane, the hair of which, when 

 affected, stands up and becomes matted. Horse lice are of three 

 kinds, and vary in length from one-seventh to one-fourteenth of an 

 inch. The animal suffers a great deal of itchiness, and avails him- 

 self of every convenient object against which to rub the affected 

 parts. Clipping and careful grooming are generally sufficient to 

 remove these parasites and their nits (eggs). As applications, 

 use stavesacre ointment ; -a decoction made by boiling an ounce 

 of tobacco in a pint of water ; or an ounce of carbolic acid or 

 creolin in a pint of water. These lice do not attack man. 



