TO DESTROY THE MAGGOT. 
103 
applications noticed that of mercurial ointment appears the simplest 
and surest. 
The first communication is from Mr. Stratton, of The Duffryn:— 
April 11th. “ I have treated some warbles with acetic acid, some 
with tar, and some with mercurial ointment; I have not the slightest 
doubt but that all will be effectual. I am satisfied there will be no 
difficulty in killing the grub with any one of fifty simple remedies.”— 
About a week later Mr. Stratton added:—“ I treated others with 
mercurial ointment (such as is used for scab in sheep) ; the effect of 
this is very remarkable, for in a couple of days after the application 
the grub appears to be quite decomposed; and I am persuaded that no 
remedy can be more safe, simple, and effectual than this. It would 
not cost twopence a head to treat all the cattle in the country in 
this way. 
“It is quite easy to destroy the grub by a stab, but the cattle 
object to it; it appears to hurt them almost as much as a puncture 
through the skin. The objection to the scalpel, &c., is that when you 
treat an animal for this attack all the grubs are not in the same stage, 
and some have no orifice developed, or only a small one, through 
which it would be difficult to make an insertion ; whereas, whether 
visible or not, a little of the ointment rubbed in would destroy the 
grub effectually. 
“ Tar had the desired effect in every case but one, and in that I 
think the hair kept it from the opening. Acetic acid was perfectly 
effective.”—E. Stratton, The Duffryn, Newport, Mon. 
“ I beg to state that I find the yellow mercurial ointment , TJng. 
Hydrarg. Nitralis, will destroy the maggot of the Bot Fly when in the 
hide of the animal. It must be rubbed in slightly.”— Joseph Addison, 
Mapledurwell, Basingstoke. 
“ In America it has been found that a little mercurial ointment 
applied to the swellings in autumn acts very well in killing the young 
Hypoderma larva, but the simpler and equally effectual way is to rub 
the back and sides, and especially the back, with pure kerosine oil.”— 
Prof. C. V. Biley, Consulting Entomologist, Department of Agriculture, 
Washington, U.S.A. 
“ The smallest quantity of mercurial ointment (as much as a small 
pea) placed on the hole in the skin carries death within twenty-four 
hours. After applying the ointment to about forty-five cows, I cannot 
tell exactly the numbers that were in the cows’ backs, but my 
impression is that there were seldom more than six in one beast.” — 
E. E. McBride, Glendonagh, Middleton, Co. Cork. 
May 4th. “ The larvae or bots of the Ox Bot Ely are now 
approaching maturity, and cutting their way through the hide of the 
animal, and forming the injury that fellmongers call ‘warbles.’ A 
