Protection of Horses against Flies

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In view of the miseries attending the best eared-fur horses at this season of the year, it behooves all who can in any manner alleviate them, or in an! manner add to the comfort of this noble animal, to take the largest possible field, and seize every opportunity for the spreading of his benign influence. We therefore lay before our readers an old method of protecting horses against flies, which has been again brought to mind by the Irish Farmer's Gazette, and which is, in substance, as follows : "Previousto taking the horse out of the stable, sponge him well with a decoction of laurel leaves about the head, loins, and other sensitive parts. The decoction is made by boiling the leaves iu water for a considerable time, and being poisonous, it should be kept carefully when not desired to be used." This is said- to be a preventive to his being stung and annoyed with horse-flies. A late statement in tho Moniteur d' Agriculture, of Paris, reminds its readers that M. de Serre, the famous French agriculturalist, ascertained that a decoction of the leaves of the walnut tree, applied to horses and other animals as a wash, will be found complete protection against the sting of all insects. These are simple remedies for a serious annoyance, and we would recommen,l their immediate trial.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 48This article was published with the title “Protection of Horses against Flies” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 48 (), p. 380
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican08071858-380

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