456 APPENDIX. 



apparently with good effect. This is also their great remedy in the more 

 advanced stage of the disease called Sukha Zerbdd. It should be accompanied, 

 however, by abundance of food, including green fodder and sugar-cane, plenty 

 of bathing, and regular exercise. 



For Kandi in the foot, the horny sole must be pared down till the sinuses can 

 be got at, and well washed out with warm water. The holes should then be 

 filled with an ingredient, composed of 



Tar 1 part. 



Leaves of the Nim tree (Melia Azidirachta) . . . . 1 part. 

 Gum of the Salei tree (Boswellia thurifera) . . .2 parts. 



A piece of stout leather should then be fastened over the open parts with small 

 tacks driven into the adjoining horny sole, or tied on if there is no place for the 

 tacks. 



Sajhan, or cracked heels, cannot be remedied unless the feet are kept dry. 

 This alone will suffice to cure moderate cases. The following lotion was recom- 

 mended me by the experienced friend above alluded to ; but I never had 

 occasion to use it myself. Take \ lb. of dry tobacco and boil it down in a quart 

 of water till it becomes a pint. Then mix with it 21bs. of quicklime, with 4 

 ounces of bluestone, and apply at intervals to the cracks. 



For dimness in the cornea of the eye caused by heating food, change the diet, 

 particularly avoiding peepul leaves. Give the elephant grass if in season. In 

 the earlier stage of the disease this treatment, and bathing the eye with a weak 

 solution of nitrate of silver (5 grains to the ounce of water), will usually effect 

 a cure. If a film has been formed it may generally be removed by blowing a 

 pinch of very finely powdered glass into the eye once or twice a day. 



Sore backs are the most troublesome of all elephant affections to cure effec- 

 tually. They must not on any account be allowed to heal up superficially ; and 

 should sinuses or a sac have formed, they must be cut open and kept open until 

 they heal up from the bottom. A downward orifice should, if possible, be 

 secured to permit the escape of the matter. Cutting open a sore back is gener- 

 ally a terrible business, as the elephant, not realizing the utility of the opera- 

 tion, fights against it with all his might. He must be well secured and held 

 down, and a sharp razor is the best weapon to use. The wounds should then 

 be thoroughly washed out with a solution of alum ; and then filled with a stuff- 

 ing composed of two parts of Nim leaves and one part common salt well 

 pounded together. If they should slough or throw up proud flesh, they must be 

 touched with bluestone at intervals. This cleaning and dressing will have to be 

 repeated at least twice a day ; and the practitioner will have his hands full while 

 it lasts in keeping the lazy elephant attendants up to their work. They will 

 always, if allowed, let a sore back heal up superficially only to break out again 

 on the first pressure. They rather like their elephant to have a sore back, as it 

 saves them the trouble of loading it and going out to cut fodder. I have known 

 them cause a sore back on purpose by inserting a stone below the pad ; and I 

 knew one case in which an elephant was destroyed by these ruffians, by the con- 

 tinued application of quicklime to a sore near the spine. 



