60 
WARBLE FLY. 
What can be done to induce farmers to pay greater attention to 
warble extirpation is a problem very difficult to solve, but personally I 
put great confidence in the simple measure of dissemination of plain 
and true information. It has only been in the last few years that 
sound practical knowledge has been attainable for general agricultural 
use on warble matters, and now it is equally as certain that the 
information is doing good in many places as it is that the subject is 
by no means receiving the general attention it deserves. 
Whilst these observations were going to press I was favoured, in 
the course of communication with Mr. W. H. Hill, President of the 
Sheffield Butchers’ Association (and from whom I have received at 
various times valuable information), with the following remark, which 
unfortunately describes the state of things only too truly:— 
“I have often discussed the matter with farmers, but as a class, 
whilst admitting the evil, and further admitting it is inexpensive to 
cure and simple of treatment, yet it is ‘too much trouble,’ or ‘cattle 
always were so affected,’ or ‘they are too busy with other things’; 
with the result that, whilst agriculture is, in their opinion, going to 
the dogs, and the bulk of them, they say, on the verge of bankruptcy, 
yet they, taking farmers as a Avliole, are rich enough to throw away 
several million pounds yearly in the reduced value of their cattle due 
to this pest.”—W. H. H. 
The matter seems to stand somethiug in this way. On the farms 
this attack, unless in its fully-developed state, and to an unusual 
extent, is often what may be called a “ hidden evil.” From ignorance 
and idleness and utter carelessness, even when the beasts are sickened 
with it, the cause is often overlooked. But how this can be met by any 
outside influence is the difficulty. “ Inspection ” is sometimes spoken 
of, but it is not clear how this could be brought to bear on an attack 
of this sort, where the presence of the warbles may very likely indeed 
not be observable all at one time, even on one beast, much less on all 
through a district, but may show gradually, according to date of egg- 
laying and circumstances of treatment, as in- or out-of-doors feeding 
of the animal, &c. 
The point where it appeals to me (under correction of those who 
understand the bearings of the case far better than myself) is, with 
regard to badly-warbled beasts sold for slaughter, whether, so far as 
direct losses to butchers go from “licked beef,” i. e., state of carcase 
and coincident bad state of hide, something might not be done by 
inspection. It need not be “ governmental.” In this sense most of us, 
I believe, would quite endorse Mr. Hill’s remark now before me, “ I 
am afraid ‘inspectors’ would be a nuisance, for we have too much red 
tape as it is ” ; but if the butchers could be spirited up to inspect the 
animals thoroughly themselves before purchase, or to employ a man to 
