178 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
the cavity without the subject being at all inconvenienced by 
themy 
An old number of the Medical Register (an extract of 
which is before me) treats of the “bot remedies,” which 
had become “quite extensively popularized through the 
use and recommendations of empirical pretenders to veter- 
inary skill,” and, repudiating them all, says : “In some 
instances the bot, even ivhen exposed to the most concentrat- 
ed and intensified action, remains wholly unaffected, or at 
most, only slightly injured^' 
Among other experiments, the following may be enu- 
merated to attest their extraordinary tenacity of life : “Of 
three of these insects (two of which were small and one of 
mature size) immersed in corrosive sublimate, the first two 
only were destroyed. Six hours after immersion the ma- 
ture, or full grown insect, vjas removed from the fluid 
without exhibiting even the slightest apparent dimi- 
nution of its normal activity or sprightliness and to 
all appearances, unharmed. Immersed in rum, they lived 
10 hours; in a decoction of Tobacco, 11 hours; strong 
elixir of vitriol, 2 hours and 18 minutes; essential oil of 
mint, 2 hours and 5 minutes, &c. The following articles 
•produced no effect : decoction of pink root, fish oil, brine, 
solution of indigo, linseed oil, elixir camphor, though im- 
mersed in each 10 hours.” 1 purposely enumerate the 
liquids used for 10 hours, because each, I think, has been 
published by some one in your paper as a “bot remedy.” 
Now, sirs, are not the above experiments and extracts suf- 
ficient to satisfy the most sceptical of the impracticability 
of killing the bot 2 or the necessity of “doctoring” for them 
at alll 
But further, I will conclude this array of authorities by 
extracting a few lines from the “History ofthe Horse,” an 
excellent work, published by the London Society for the 
Promotion of Useful Knowledge; at the head of which 
was the great savan, Lord Brougham, and composed, as 
Mr. Skinner says, “of men of the highest rejDUte in the 
various departments of learning and industry.” This 
work, after discussing the history and idiosyncrasy of the 
CEstrus equi, or bots, says: “Grooms are sometimes alarm- 
ed at the appearance of these insects. 'Flieir history is 
curious and^ vnll dispel every fear with regexd to themf 
and adds : “There are several (among other) conclusions 
from their histoi'y.” (Now, note them well, Messrs. Edi- 
tors, if you please ; as this subject is not an altogether 
unimportant one, to a large class of your subscribers) i 
“TAe bots eannot, while they inhabit the stomaxh of the 
horse, give the animal oAvy pain, for they are fastened to the 
cuticular and insensible coatl’’ 
“ They cannot be injurious to the horse, for he enjoys the 
most perfect health, when the cuticular part of the stomach 
is filled with them, and their presence is not even suspected 
until they appear al the anus:'' 
They cannot be removed by medicine, because they are 
’not in thatpaH ofthe stomach to which medicine is usually 
conveyed; and if they ivere, their mouth are too deeply im- 
bedded in the mucus for any medicine thal can safely be 
administered to reach them ; and lost of all, in due course of 
time, they detoxh themxelves and pass away. Therefore, the 
wise man vnll leave them to themselves, or content himself 
with having them removed u'hen they collect under the tail 
and annoy the animal.''' 
Here, sirs, I dismiss the subject, thinking that I have 
justified the “faith that is in me,” as indicated in this and 
my crudely-expressed views heretofore kindly published 
by you. If any one can give more orthodox, and uni- 
versally acknowledged authorities than Messrs. Bracy, 
Clark, Dadd, White, Blain, Youatt, Skinner, the 
work on Hippopathology, and the “History of the Horse,” 
and in fact, if there can be presented a single stomdard 
modem work to advocate a thesis antagonistic to that 
which I have endeavored to maintain, I should be glad to 
see or learn of it. 
So far as I am concerned, it is now left for your readers 
to determine the question, as you put it, (not I) of “Bots 
or no Bots,” and whether they will continue to kill or cure 
with all the ‘infallible bot remedies," which seem to be as 
common as blackberries, or thick as “leaves in Vallom- 
brosa.” Still wishing you success in your goodly pur- 
poses, Lam truly yours, W. P. W. 
Isle of Hope, Ga., 18.55. 
SANDY SOILS -SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
That sandy soil can be well and profitably cultivated 
has been long known ; witness the barren sand of Bel- 
gium and the estate of Coke and Hatherton in England/ 
or, nearer home, the blowing sarid near Albany, and some 
small portions of Long Island. Their adaptation, also,^ 
for sheep husbandry is well known ; and yet, within a 
few miles of this great city are thousands of acres every 
way capable of supporting immense flecks, with not a 
sheep on them. I have been led to make these observa- 
tions from a recent trip on the Long Island Railroad,, 
when, in the space of about fifty miles, I did not see that 
number of sheep; and, as a friend with me observed, on 
passing Hempstead plains, “here are the Downs, but where 
are the South Downs'?” Certainly not there. 
A great many sheep, I understand, are raised on the 
north side of the island, and the stock is generally im- 
proving; Mr. Becar, W. W. Mills and J. Smith "having, 
some fine flocks. Still they are the exception, not the 
rule, and it is the latter that we want. The growing taste 
for mutton and the high price a good article will always 
command, we think, should stimulate the farmers of Long 
Island to push forward in what I consider a profitable 
branch of husbandry ; and instead of being satisfied with 
raising from eight to ten bushels of rye to the acre, and 
then carrying the straw off the farm, consume it on the 
farm, and not rest satisfied till they can, from the same- 
land, raise from five to six hundred bushels of turnips. 
That this can be done, we will endeavor, at some future 
time to show. L., 
[in Plough, Loom and Anvil. 
COEN DODGER. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — A dodger — what a 
rich boon it is — what a luxury, a glorious commonalty. 
It is the foundation stone — the very bone and sinew of alh 
good living. Why don’t people have more dodger and 
less ginger bread fixins'? They’d be the better for it. 
There is plenty of corn meal, water and salt everywhere, 
and that’s all you want. Don’t fumble it and chuck it 
about, and daub it up with grease, salerestus, eggs, pump- 
kins, and other outlandish flummigations — that aint dodg- 
er. Just stir it up with clean water (and salt if you choose) 
and bake it brown and crispy, as big as whole bricks, and 
bring it along smoking, steaming hot — that’s a dodger^ 
And there’s nothing better. It’s good with anything — it’s 
good without anything — 
It’s good when it’s hot, and its good when its cold — 
It’s good for the young, and it’s good for the old. 
A dodger — O, it’s a glorious invention. It’s the most 
wholesome diet that ever went down the throat of man. 
It won’t give you the dyspepsia nor the rlieumatism. It 
won’t give you the “blooes and you don’t have to take 
pills and other “pizen stuff” to work it off. It’s the best 
vermifuge ever invented for children. It fattens “little 
niggers” — makes them grow — makes them strong and 
healthy — try it. There's nothing ahead of corn dodger. 
Omo. 
Toccopola, AIiss., April, 1855. 
