MAGGOT-WORKINGS. 
115 
These minute channels may he found 
as early as November 12th (giving this 
as the date of our own observation of 
them) ; they may be found straight 
down from the upper surface, or bend¬ 
ing, or with a turn at the top running 
under the outside cuticle, and their con¬ 
nection with the little sore below, in 
which the maggot then lies, may be proved by gently squeezing this, 
when the blood will be seen running up the channel, and standing 
in a little drop on the surface. 
Any safe dressings which could be applied to the hide of animals at 
the above date (that is, of course, of animals which there is reason to 
suppose are infested) would be very desirable to try, and to report on. 
At first the channel down through the hide, and the spot where the 
maggot lies below are merely sores or openings caused by the sharp 
mouth cutters of this then almost microscopic grub. These injuries 
then heal up readily, and early in the 
year also they will heal fairly well; but 
where the maggot has been allowed to 
remain for several months, working 
itself about in the hole, which, by its 
growth, it keeps pressing larger, then a 
kind of false skin or film forms over the 
surface of the cell (see fig.); and as this 
is not got rid of when the maggot is killed, it is very apt to make a 
kind of plug in the hole, which prevents it drawing completely together 
for a long time, and thus causes much depreciation of the value of the 
hide, though not always noticeable by the buyer. 
I am obliged by the following note on this subject from Mr. W. H. 
Hill, Vice-President of the Sheffield Butchers' Association :—“ In one 
of my letters you may possibly remember my reference to the loss to 
the tanner on finding the tanned hide to be spoiled for the purpose 
intended, by the ravages of Warbles, and to my explaining that traces 
of the Warble-holes are left on the hide when tanned, even after the 
holes are closed up by suppuration. I have no doubt it will interest 
you to know that a few weeks ago a local tanner brought for my 
inspection a tanned hide of as good quality as can be found, and for 
which, being off a polled Scotch beast, and weighing 98 lbs. in the 
raw state, he had paid us an extra price over ordinary hides of a similar 
weight. When purchased in the raw state, no distinct traces of 
Warbles could be seen, but on being tanned, the grain-side in the best 
part of the hide was speckled, ragged, and blistered, where formerly 
Warbles had been. The tanner, who is reliable, stated the difference 
Section of Warble-cell, after 
soaking in water. 
Section showing maggot-track 
through hide, magnified. 
