APPENDIX. 4bb 



great cause of diseased feet. They do not. require any protection from the 

 weather but the shade of a tree, and a Jhool or Numda (cloth of string or felt) 

 thrown over them in cold nights. They should be bathed as often as possible 

 in tanks and rivers ; and a small quantity of clarified butter should afterwards 

 be rubbed over their foreheads, ears, chests, and such parts as are liable to 

 crack, or suffer from the rubbing of the accoutrements or from the sun. They 

 should be allowed to drink as much water as they like. They are often very 

 nice about it, and reject it when muddy or stagnant. The pad should be of 

 full size and well stuffed with grass. The felt cloth that goes under the pad 

 (Gadela) should always be in proper repair, or a sore back is the certain con- 

 sequence. Both these articles require to be renewed about once a year, if a 

 whole season's work has been done. The smaller felted cloth on which the 

 driver sits should be made large enough to project a little in front of the 

 elephant's forehead, and protect him from a vertical sun. It is not the nature 

 of the animal to remain out in the open in the heat of the day ; and I am sure 

 that he suffers from it if made to do so unprotected. If not allowed a tree to 

 stand under in the heat of the day, an elephant always heaps all the leafy 

 branches he can get on his head and back. 



After much marching on stony ground, the feet are apt to get tender from 

 undue wearing away of the horny soles. This is to be remedied by the process 

 called " Chobing," which consists in the application to the feet of a boiling hot 

 mixture of a good many ingredients, generally resembling coal tar. Its prin- 

 cipal component is the gum resin of the Sal tree ; but every mahout professes 

 to have a mixture of his own, which he keeps a profound secret, and which it 

 is as well to let him use, so long as the desired result ensues, and it does not 

 cost more than about five shillings. There is no doubt that the process is 

 beneficial, the most foot-sore elephant getting round under it in about a week. 

 It requires to be done about twice a year, if the animal is regularly worked on 

 hard ground. 



In dropsical ZerMd the food must be reduced to a minimum, about 4 lbs. of 

 wheat or 61bs. of rice; and if the latter be the diet it should be given boiled. 

 No green fodder should be allowed, only dry grass or " Kurbee." A purgative 

 should also be given ; and the following recipe, which I got from a very 

 experienced elephant doctor, is as good as any : 



Croton seed 1 ounce, 



Calomel 14 drachms, 



Aloes 6 drachms, 



made into a ball with rice flour and "goor" (crude sugar). Most elephants 

 take physic without any trouble. In a bad case the swellings will have to be 

 tapped. Many mahouts know how to perform this operation. The skin should 

 be pierced about the middle of the abdomen where the greatest quantity of 

 liquid is usually collected, and a fleam of 1 J inch blade will be required. Tho 

 fluid which comes out is said to be infectious to other elephants if they are 

 allowed to stand near it. The root of the Mudar plant (Calotropis gigantea), is 

 often given by the mahouts in this disease in doses of one drachm twice a day, 



