25 
those which have only a small orifice, or none at all ; whereas 
mercurial ointment kills them all, and is quite painless. Mr. 
Stratton tried acetic acid on some warbles, tar on others, and 
mercurial ointment on others, and they were all effective in 
killing the maggot, except in one or two cases where he 
thought the tar did not get to the maggot by reason of the 
hair. Mr. Jos. Addison states that the yellow mercurial oint¬ 
ment destroys the maggot in the warble. It must be rubbed 
in slightly. Mr. E. E. McBride states that a piece of 
mercurial ointment the size of a pea carries death within 
twenty-four hours. Mr. D. Turvill testifies that thrusting a 
needle into the warble maggot kills it without seeming to 
cause the least pain to the animal; but the cattle would 
only stand when tied up. McDougall’s sheep-dip has been 
successfully applied by rubbing some in the holes, and no 
doubt the smear would be useful. Mr. Stratton states that in 
two days after applying the ointment, the grub appeared to 
be quite decomposed. The mercurial ointment must not be 
applied in broadscale fashion, but only a piece about the size 
of a pea to each warble. In June, 1885, in some beasts 
belonging to Mr. Trethewy, Cornwall, which beasts had a 
large quantity of maggots in their hides, and were treated 
twice with mercurial ointment, one was paralysed and had to 
be slaughtered, another was badly salivated, and several 
others were very ill. It is supposed the ointment was applied 
broadscale. Tar will kill young or small maggots well ; when 
older, the tar must be thick and adhesive, as the maggot is 
less sensitive. Hog’s lard and carbolic acid have been found 
serviceable. The point wanted is to choke the maggots by 
filling up the breathing pores at the black tip of the tail, and 
also to apply something which will ooze down to the bottom 
of the hole, and thus poison the maggot, which has no means 
of avoiding drawing it in along with the filthy matter on 
which it feeds. The application of strong brine has been 
reported as not answering to kill the maggot in the warble. 
Mr. Duckham, Ross, applied a mixture to warbles on calves’ 
backs, composed of one part carbolic acid to twenty of 
hog’s lard, with excellent effect. The grease stops the 
breathing passages, and the carbolic acid poisons it. N. E. 
White’s mange ointment is effectual in killing the maggot. 
