u 



acquired and handed down from many centuries of camel treat- 

 ment contains here and there the germ of a sound practical truth 

 but that the chaff so abounds as to obscure the grain and warrant 

 us in drawing information from native sources only after most 

 careful consideration. 



The habitat of the camel being as a rule dry hot countries of 

 a desert character he is considered peculiarly susceptible to 

 changes of temperature and the influences of climate, the various 

 effects of a " touch of the sun" certainly are seen in the camel ; 

 rheumatic disease, " cold-struck," and respii-atory disorders affect 

 him frequently and readily when exposed to damp. Accidents 

 of various kinds occur when the desert animal is removed to 

 hilly, stony, or slippery places, his high centre of gravity renders 

 him liable to falls but is counteracted in this respect considerably 

 by the amount of ground the animal covers, the stoutness of his 

 limbs and the considerable size of his footpads. These latter 

 are liable to injury as being much less of the nature of hoofs than 

 the horny pedal organs of other ruminants, resembling rather the 

 hoof slippers of the elephant. Thus it is very evident that the 

 iises to which the camel is put must be considered as the cause of 

 by far the larger portion of the disorders from which he suffers. If 

 sore backs, lacerated nostrils^ and foot injuries be removed from 

 his list of diseases the latter will be found to be very short. 



The surgical conditions of the camel have been known and treat- 

 ed from time immemorial, but with them were confounded certain 

 derangements with which we shall hereafter have to deal in 

 a more extended manner under the heading " disorders of 

 the blood." It may be claimed for Veterinary Science that it has 

 thrown light on the special diameter of some disorders hitherto 

 considered ordinary in their nature ; camel-pox, anthrax, surra, and 

 foot and mouth disease are additions made by scientific observers 

 to the list of camel diseases from cases which were previously 

 known as skin disease, colic, debility, and sore feet. Cameline 

 Pathology at present presents the interesting spectacle of a branch 



J,licrc is in iuldifcion a hot sun all the better ! Again cow's urine is a favor- 

 ite draught, indigo is rubbed over wounds, sinuses are filled with common 

 salt, a slit is made in the ear for colic, &c., &c. That real Serwans under- 

 stand the treatment, dieting, &c., of camels in healtli is of course undeni- 

 able, but we have now many Transport Officers and Subordinates who do 

 so just as Avcll." (Quarterly Journal of Veterinary Science, April, 1886). 



