90 
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
9 
rl 
a and &, the eggs of the gad-fly adhering to the hair of the horse ; c, the appearance of tho 
bots on the stomach, firmly adhering by their hooked mouths. The marks or depressions are 
seen which are left on the coat of the stomach when the bots are detached from their hold; a, 
tho bot detached; e, tho female of the gad-fly of tho horse, prepared to deposit her eggs;/, 
the gad-fly by which the red bots are produced ; g, the smaller, or red bot. 
Bots. — In the spring and early part of the summer, horses are much 
troubled by a grub or caterpillar, which crawls out of the anus, fastens 
itself under the tail, and seems to cause a great deal of itching or un- 
easiness. Grooms are sometimes alarmed at the appearance of these 
insects. Their history is curious, and will dispel every fear with regard 
to them. We are indebted to Mr. Bracy Clark for almost all we know 
of the bot. 
A species of gad-fly, e, the oetrus equi, is in the latter part of the 
summer exceedingly busy about the horse. It is observed to be dart- 
ing with great rapidity toward the knees and sides of the animal. The 
females are depositing their eggs on the hair, and which adhere to it by 
means of a glutinous fluid with which they are surrounded ( a and b). 
In a few days the eggs are ready to be hatched, and the slightest appli- 
cation of warmth and moisture will liberate the little animals which 
they contain. The horse in licking himself touches the egg ; it bursts, 
tinues after an external opening is made, and deep sinuses are formed in various 
directions, rendering it almost impossible to get a depending opening. 
Theabscess should not be opened till the matter is thoroughly formed, and then 
a depending opening should be made, through which a seton may be passed. Tho 
great error frequently made in the treatment of poll-evil is, that these openings are 
not made half large enough, so that much of the pus flows in another direction, and 
there forms sinuses. Now, the chief art in the treatment of this disease is (o use 
the bistoury freely, to lay all the sinuses open as much as possible, and to throw 
them together; then to make the lower opening extremely large, and as low down 
as possible — large euough, indeed, for two lingers to be inserted. If the bone is 
injured, it will be necessary to apply some caustic application, in order to cause a 
healthy slough. Ihessure is found very useful in keeping the sides of the wound 
together, and preserving the formation of sinuses. With this view, it has been re- 
commended to apply a tight compress, by means of bandages, round the part, but 
it is extremely inconvenient to apply them, in consequence of the windpipe inter- 
fering. — Spooner. 
