BOT FLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 6

BOT FLY.

TO TIM EDITOB.

Sib,—ln the Otago Witness of the 17th Hare. I notice in Rural Notes, by " Colonus," ia quoting Youatt on "Tbn Horse," thai authority deprecates the id<sa of bot« being harmful thus: " They cannot be removed by medicine because they are not in that part of the stomach to which medicine is usually conveyed. They cannot be injurious to the horss for he enjoys the most perfect health when tho cuticnlar part of his stomach is filled with them." Acting on t'ao old adage that doctors differ, I send the following extracts from tha " Cyclopedia of Agriculture," » standard work of the highest authority, for your kind publication : —" Worms : Horses are Rubject to thesa pests in various forms. Th 6 moßt common is the bot, a Bhort, thick grub, which ia found sometimes in large numbers attached to the internal Burface of the stomach by a sort oi hook. Unleis they are very numerous or attached to the vellous portion of tha stomach, thay do not appear to be injurious." Again, from the same work: "It is the opinion of some experienced men that bot« may be a useful sfciHiuluut to a ccrtein extant, but when they exU't in excess thay must prove very detrimental to the health and strength of the animal, and ought to bo expelled by proper medicines." As to the authority who is most to be relied on, I will '■ leavo your numerous readers to decide. Personally, having «een a 6tomach here where th« bot vim very numerons and the whole surface or coating much inflamed, I shonld be inclined to think the,, were at least an undesirable tenant. I am, &c., Kelso, January 29. Feasbr Faeconbb,