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to another, and then run, generally sideways. Strangers will 
sometimes endeavour to knock it off, which is useless, and increases 
the irritation of the horse. The only method is to clap the hand or 
fingers flatly over the fly, and then remove it, and it is killed by 
pressing the thumb-nail in the thorax lengthways.”—(T. B. G.) 
In my own small experience, I have found moistening the 
fingers helped very much in securing the fly, as thus the wings 
were a little clogged, so that they were not at once serviceable 
again. Sometimes the fly may be secured and pinched in the fold 
of a handkerchief, or the following plan might answer :—Have a 
box, such as a wooden pill-box, in the pocket, and on the bottom 
of this have a little cotton-wool fixed, and on the cotton-wool some 
drops of benzine, and the lid fitted firmly on. When the fly is 
noticed on any accessible part, take off the box-lid, and quickly as 
possibly put box and wool over the fly. If this is done dexterously 
the fly will very shortly be stupefied, and if the lid is replaced directly 
the box is lifted the fumes within will last for several captures. 
With regard to methods of prevention, Mr. Goodall wrote me :— 
“ I really know of no specific for preventing attack, though wiping 
the horse over with a paraffin-rag renders him less inviting to the fly; 
but when we know that it may settle on any part of the body it will 
be readily seen how inconvenient it would be to do this often or daily, 
and, as I have already said, we here simply catch and kill the fly.” 
The paraffin application is the only one mentioned by most of 
my correspondents, but still other dressings (where circumstances 
allow of their application) sometimes are effective. The following 
note was given me by Mr. D. Dalziel Gibb, Ossemsley Manor Farm, 
Lymington, one of my constant contributors:— 
“ The common remedy adopted by those driving in the Forest 
with an unseasoned horse is to damp a cloth with paraffin and rub 
lightly over the animal, particularly the parts beneath, and under 
the tail, which are most subject to attack. For some years I have 
used with excellent results a carbolic sanitary fluid prepared by 
Mr. Johns (chemist), High Street, Southampton, which is clean 
and far from offensive in use, and effectual in keeping off Forest 
Flies. When added to hot water it mixes very readily, giving the 
water a milky appearance. For dressing or rubbing over with a 
wet cloth, two table-spoonfuls to a gallon of water would be 
sufficient. To wash animals over (if desired) one pint to twelve 
gallons of water would be the quantities. Doubtless McDougall’s 
or Jeyes’s preparations would serve the same purpose.” 
In continental publications extreme cleanliness and soap-waslies 
applied to the affected parts are particularly dwelt upon. 
