THE 
VETERINAR1A 
VOL. LII. 
No. 619. 
JULY, 1879.' 
Fourth Series, 
No. 295. 
Communications and Cases. 
ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE LARVAE OF 
BLAPS MORTISAGA IN THE HORSE. 
By T. Spencer Cobbold, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., Professor of 
Helminthology, Royal Veterinary College. 
Although it is very well known that the churchyard 
beetle, both in its larval and imago states, is liable to present 
itself as a parasite in the human body, yet, so far as I am 
aware, no instance of its occurrence in the horse has hitherto 
been placed on record. 
On the 27th of May I received by post from Mr. John W. 
Evans, V.S., Royal Horse Artillery, stationed at Aldershot, 
a pill-box containing a live maggot, which I was requested to 
identify; and, referring to the specimen as a parasite, 
Mr. Evans says:—“ The horse that it came from is a six- 
year old, by Speculum. The animal has fallen off in 
condition, is very irritable in the stable, and for about six 
months has been bothered with this class of worm. The 
administration of Spiritus Terebinthinae and Aloes Barba- 
densis affords temporary relief.” 
So singular a form of equine parasitism naturally excited 
my attention—especially on account of the well-known 
habits of this coleopterous insect—and, accordingly, I wrote 
to Mr. Evans informing him as to the character of his “ find,” 
and requesting a few additional particulars. Thus, I further 
learnt that only “ a very few of the parasites have been 
observed ;” these passing with the faeces “ before as well as 
after giving medicine.” 
LII. 
34 
