452 APPENDIX. 



On looking over an elephant, the most inexperienced eye would at once 

 detect the presence of the disease called by natives Zerlad. There are two 

 varieties of it, called Asl and Sukhd. The former is a dropsical affection, in 

 which the neck, chest, and stomach fill up to an enormous size. It occurs 

 most frequently in newly caught animals, and is probably attributable to a 

 sudden change of food. I once had an elephant attacked with it immediately 

 after changing from wheat to rice, on entering a district where the former 

 was not procurable. Generally an elephant that has been two or three years 

 in captivity is considered pretty safe from it. Sukhd Zerbdd is usually de- 

 veloped out of the other, but sometimes comes on at once. It is a sort of 

 general atrophy, or falling away ; and is characterised by a shrivelled, cracky 

 skin, much emaciation, and weakness. It is apt to become complicated with 

 troublesome sores in various parts of the body. In purchasing an elephant it 

 is not likely that the actual presence of Zerbad would be overlooked; but 

 without care it is easy to buy an animal so recently caught as to be still likely 

 to develope it. Such an animal should be got for much less money than one 

 longer domesticated. The state of training the animal has reached will 

 generally indicate the period of his capture. If thoroughly obedient to its 

 driver, lying down patiently to let you examine its feet, &c, it will probably 

 have been sufficiently long in hand to be pretty safe. 



This brings me to unsound feet the most common failing in an elephant. 

 It is of two kinds, called by natives Kandi and Sajhan. The former is a sort of 

 canker, that begins on the sole and gradually eats deep into the structure of 

 the foot, until at length it breaks out above the toe nails. In its earlier stages 

 it is easily concealed by plugging the holes ; and many of the elephants 

 brought to the great fairs, like that of Sonpiir, are in fact affected with Kandi, 

 though to outward appearance perfectly sound. It can generally be discovered 

 by making the elephant lie down, and administering a series of smart raps with 

 a stick all over the soles of the feet, when, if Kandi be present, the animal will 

 be sure to show it by shrinking. 



Sajhan is what would be called " cracked heels " in a horse. Its deep cracks, 

 discharging matter, situated about the junction of the horny sole with the skin, 

 can hardly be passed over in a bad case, though a slight one may escape obser- 

 vation. It is a serious unsoundness, being generally constitutional, and often 

 rendering useless during every rainy season elephants that are subject to it. 



The eyes of the elephant are extremely delicate, and appear to possess in an 

 unusual degree a sympathetic connection with the digestive organs. Nearly 

 every indisposition of the animal is accompanied by a clouding or suffusion of 

 the eyes. Few elephants that have been long caught, especially if in the 

 hands of natives, have perfect eyes. Heating food, or undue exposure to bright 

 sun is often followed by the appearance of a film over one or both eyes, which, 

 if not attended to, and its cause remains in operation, increases till the cornea 

 becomes quite opaque, and the animal loses its sight. The leaves of the 

 peepul fig-tree, which form excellent fodder in the cold season, are almost sure 

 to produce this affection if given for any considerable time in the hot season. 

 I would not reject an elephant, otherwise suitable, merely because it had a 



