WARBLE FLY. 
93 
application were successful, but the grease mixed with sulphur did the 
best. The cart-grease was hog’s lard of the roughest sort, without 
salt.”—F. Ravenscroft, Calveley, Tarporley, Cheshire.* 
“ Have tried a number of experiments for the killing of the warble- 
maggot in the hide. I think the best application is mercurial 
ointment, as this seems to putrify the maggot, and healing takes place 
in about a week. I also tried a remedy of my own, rancid 
butter and paraffin, well-mixed, and put on the warble ; it answered 
very well.”—A. C. C. Martyn, Agricultural School, Aspatria. 
“ I have given a fair trial to the following methods of destroying 
the grub in the warble, when it is established and the orifice is open. 
My experiments began in March, and continued until the 1st May :— 
Carbolic acid (one part of acid to three of oil), paraffin, lard, and 
mercurial ointment. Of these remedies I consider the two former 
sure destroyers of warbles, and, if applied properly, not in any way 
dangerous. Paraffin especially, for, if licked off by an animal once, I 
have not known it to be a second time, but I am unable to say this of 
carbolic acid; but even this licking may be got over by giving the 
animal a handful of hay after applying the remedy. Lard acts as well 
as anything, if applied moderately early (say March 15th), but on 
using it later in the season I found it not to be so effective.”—F. W. 
Horsfall, Newland House, Leamington. 
Mr. Horsfall suggests that the lesser effect of the lard, when 
applied late in the season, is from the tail-end of the maggot being 
nearer the opening of the warble, and the grease apt to run over 
instead of taking full effect within the opening. 
During the past summer a communication was sent me by Mr. P. 
M‘Hale Greer, Ballycastle, to the effect that in Co. Mayo, Ireland, 
when the cattle were severely affected by warbles, it was a common 
practice to take them to the “ charmers,” who in some way or other 
killed the maggots. Such being the result, I asked for the details of 
the incantation, as it was plain there must be some very sure and 
simple remedy at the bottom of the matter ; and on investigation, 
which Mr. Greer was good enough to undertake for me, and which 
has since been confirmed as quite trustworthy, it turns out that the 
basis of the cure is butter or lard. Mr. Greer’s report, given on next 
page, also shows the prevalence of attack in exposed situations. 
* Under the superintendence of Mr. W. Bailey, Head Master of the Aldersey 
Grammar School, Bunbury, Tarporley, Cheshire, the attention of the pupils living 
in that essentially agricultural and dairy-farming district has been particularly 
directed to warble-attack, and large numbers of the maggots have been destroyed 
by them, up to 230 maggots being killed by one of the pupils. Besides cart-grease 
and cart-grease and sulphur, mentioned above, mercurial ointment and McDougall’s 
Smear have been successfully applied.— Ed. 
