28o 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Walk 

 round the 

 animal. 



Have the 

 camel 

 walked to 

 and fro 

 and subse- 

 quently 

 trotted. 



Make the 

 camel sit 

 down. 



rope should be held by the attendant {serwan) and a careful examination 

 in the sitting position can then be carried out with perfect safety. 



(i) Walk round the animal^ noting the general suitability for the 

 purpose required and, carefully, the condition of the skin for mange. A 

 baggager should be of a stouter build and more muscular appearance 

 generally than the riding camel. The latter is longer of leg, lighter of 

 bone and run up in the flank like a greyhound. The hump is a general 

 index to health and condition. It should be firm and plump, inclined 

 backwards rather than forwards, and upright or very nearly so. In riding 

 camels it is generally smaller than in baggagers. 



For whatever purpose the animal is required, the deep-chested 

 specimen is what is wanted ; those with shallow girth and narrow chest 

 having no stamina. During this stage of the examination, note the 

 condition of the chest pad, the strength and straightness of the limbs, 

 that the tendons are not enlarged from sprains, that the sides of the 

 chest are not scored by galls at the level of the elbow, and if a female 

 that she is not pregnant. If possible it is better to avoid purchasing 

 females at all. 



(2) Have the camel walked to and fro a?id subsequently trotted. 

 Stand first at each side and then end on to the animal. Note freedom 

 from lameness, straightness of action and freedom from elbow galling. 

 There should be no rolling or crossing of the limbs in movement. The 

 camel is liable to serious sprains from " slipping up " or " splitting," and 

 as a result is unable to carry weight, an inability which is sometimes to 

 be detected by the action. If the animal has slipped up badly, the hind 

 legs may be crossed, and the fore-legs " splayed,'' when he is going, and 

 any suspicious ones should be thoroughly tested under a load, 

 or otherwise rejected. Elbow brushing is also a serious fault, 

 resulting from the friction of the leg against the side, in animals which 

 have the elbow tied in. It is a constant trouble, and with animals in 

 hard work, impossible to prevent. Animals which show it should not 

 be bought for a campaign. 



(3) Make the camel sit down, age him, examine the nostrils, head, 

 eyes, hump, back, and loins ; pluck at the hair or brush off mud wherever 

 there may be a suspicion of a sore. Look carefully at the foot pads, 

 and specially examine the skin for signs of mange, at any places which 

 were noted during (i). 



As the animal sits down, it should be noted whether this is done 

 easily and without effort or trembling ; the condition of the chest pad 

 should also be observed, and whether the weight is rested on it without 

 hesitation. This pad, if not very thick, is liable to get wounded, or 



