38 



such as considerable niiufall and high cold wind, it is generally 

 thought the invalid is being well and sufficiently nursed. Again 

 it is not observed that a camel is unwell, generally, until he is 

 " in extremis" which, of course, is a matter which seriously ham- 

 pers our curative measures and renders their effect unsatisfactory. 

 It is constautlv assumed that the camel has no power of resisting 

 disease but this is by no means well established. It is an assertion 

 made of evei'v animal until our knowledge suffices for diagnosis of 

 its diseases iu any but their latest stages ; however, it must be ad- 

 mitted that iu many cases of treatment when the disease has been 

 promptly and well handled, and if the patient had been a horse 

 we might reasonably have anticipated recovery, death ensues. 

 It is to be feared that such unsatisfactory result depends more 

 frequently on imjierfect and unskilful handling of remedial agents 

 tlian on specially fatal tendency of disease iu the species Camelus. 

 Treatmkn't must for the present be to a very great extent 

 experimental, is so far as the use of drugs is concerned. We 

 have as yet no accurate and carefully conducted therapeutic 

 observations made on the camel. Still the organism of this ani- 

 mal does not differ so radically from that of the ox as to prevent 

 our having some knowledge of the action of remedies, at any rate 

 as to which may be given with the possibility or probability of good 

 result and the certainty of doing no harm by their administra- 

 tion. Armed Avith this information and with the principles of 

 pharmacy and medical treatment, any Veterinary Surgeon is 

 more competent to prescribe for a camel than can bo an absolute- 

 ly ignorant individual told off to the care of camels in health, 

 and than the experienced Serwan who wields traditional nosti-ums 

 and shrouds his complete want of scientific knowledge in mystery. 



Chapter III.— CAMELINE THERAPEUTICS AND 

 MATERIA MEDICA. 



The details of the subject of this chapter will be dealt with 

 when we are writiug of individual diseases, and as regards 

 general principles there is but little to be said except that most 

 recent experience has amply proved the superiority of the stimulant 

 tonic method of treatment adopted by the natives, the outcome 

 of their experience, as compai-ed with the depletory methods 

 adopted by Gilchrist, who objects to the native remedies as "at 



