48 
WARBLE FLY. 
“ We put the mercurial ointment on to the swellings this year, 
and I was much pleased with the effect, as the cattle were certainly 
much smoother than last year.”—Colonel G. Coussmaker, Westwood, 
Guildford. 
“ I have used the mercurial ointment on several beasts, and in 
most instances the grub has been killed. I am going to dress again 
the lumps where there seems to be a grub alive.”—Hon. Cecil Parker, 
Eaton Estate Office, Eccleston, Chester. 
“After reading Miss Ormerod’s pamphlet on the subject, I sent for 
some mercurial ointment, both blue and yellow, and got the bailiff to 
apply it at once, as most of our cattle were infested with warbles. 
This he did by putting a small quantity sufficient to cover each hole, 
and slightly rubbing it in, and I believe in every case it had the 
desired effect. It either choked or poisoned the maggots, for on 
pressing the warbles a few days afterwards it was evident they were 
killed and decomposed, as nothing but a yellowish matter came from 
the sores. Both ointments appeared equally efficacious, and no harm 
resulted to the cattle from its use. I intend to renew the treatment 
next year.”—T. A. Sutton, Yew Tree Farm, Tarporley, Cheshire. 
To the above I venture to add some parts of a letter by Dr. G. 
Fleming, which he was good enough to write me on my laying the details 
of the case above alluded to before him, and also permitted me to give 
in the ‘Agricultural Gazette’ (see reference in note, p. 46). 
“ With regard to the cases of supposed poisoning of cattle in Corn¬ 
wall, I cannot understand how such an accident could happen, unless 
your instructions were ignored, and the animals were smeared and 
rubbed with a large quantity of the ointment.” . . . “ You recommend 
destroying the maggot of the Warble Ply by just touching it with a little 
mercurial ointment, such as is used for scab in sheep. . . .” 
Dr. Fleming went into all the points seriatim of the illness and 
death of the animal, which was ascribed to treatment with mercurial 
ointment, giving details as to amount and effects of action of mercurial 
ointment, all which will be found in ‘ Agricultural Gazette,’ as referred 
to ; and ended the long consideration he was so good as to place in my 
hands with this sentence:—“I am confident that no ill-effects can 
arise if your directions are followed with anything like ordinary care.” 
-—G. Fleming, LL.D., F.R.C.V.S. 
If used under proper superintendence, and according to direction, 
mercurial ointment is a safe and serviceable remedy; but, seeing the 
liability there is to carelessness and misunderstanding in the matter, in 
my later leaflets on AYarble Fly I have only slightly alluded to the 
application, thus:—“ Mercurial ointment answers, if carefully used— 
that is, in very small quantity, and only applied once as a small touch 
on the warble; but where there is any risk of careless application it 
should not be used.” 
