69 
false skin remains for a while in the opening, and that there will 
always be more or less of a scar or injured condition of the spot, 
the work is complete. But it is not always possible to manage 
this squeezing out; the maggot may not be advanced enough to 
come away, and later on, where attack is bad, the back may be too 
sore to bear handling. 
For such conditions, dressings or applications to the entrance- 
hole of the warble are needed," and all that is wanted is something 
that will stifle the maggot by choking up the breathing-pores at the 
end of its tail, or that will poison it by running down into the 
warble-cell where the maggot is lying mouth-end downward, and, 
mixing with the fluid which it sucks in, thus poison it. 
Mercurial ointment is, I believe, the only really poisonous appli¬ 
cation amongst the very many of which we have notes of success 
on sound authority, and as it has been found to answer excellently 
when properly applied, I give some of the reports sent me (with 
names appended) from various cattle-owners and others who have 
used it up to the amount of application to 250 head in a herd of 
800 cattle. 
In these cases the ointment has been used in the manner I have 
always most carefully advised, namely, only as a small touch on the 
opening of the warble. By no means as a large dab, nor as a smear, 
nor (where warble were gradually appearing or were numerous) 
as an application to be made repeatedly over a large surface of 
warbled hide. 
The first communication on this subject was sent me from Mr. 
R. Stratton, of The Duffryn, Newport, Mon., on April lltli, 1884, 
with a few remarks on some other remedies :— 
“ 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 that 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 decom¬ 
posed ; 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 
* Special applications where cattle are suffering badly from warbles are 
poted at p. 71 under this heading. 
