6 



Skoion 1 : — Non-Specific Disorders of the Blood. 

 AsTiiKNJA (Debility). There are many causes whicli may 

 give rise to want of condition in the Elephant. Overwork, 

 underfeeding, the use of coarso indigestible fodder, disorder of 

 internal organs (such as the Liver), Internal parasites all tend 

 to give rise to gradually increasing emaciation, the face and trunk 

 hecomo diminished in size, the templehollows increase much and 

 the patient shows weakness, and listlessness. The skin becomes 

 dry, rusty (often whitish), harsh, rough, and scaly. The hairs fall 

 from those parts where they are found in health. The appetite 

 becomoa very capricious and, often, depraved, the animal eats 

 earth, likes to find something cold to play with in the end of his 

 trunk. The fa3ces are irregular in colour and consistency and 

 generally of an unpleasant odour. These signs of disorder 

 devclopo gradually and the case is usually chronic. At its 

 latter stages dropsy of different parts of the body sets in, 

 Gilchrist mentions a debility which follows abuse of mercurial 

 preparations. (Edema of the limbs is generally described as a 

 distinct affection but it is only one of the symptonis of 

 advanced debility and as such must be treated- In these cases 

 the blood is depraved and contains an excess of water with a 

 deficiency of red corpuscles. Treatment of ordinary debility 

 must be hy careful regulation of diet and work, and adminis- , 

 tration of iron and vegetable tonics also occasionally of tho 

 stomachic aromatic vegetable products. In cases of dropsy^ 

 Diuretics may be given with judgment and exercise whenever 

 possible is very essential. 



Zhakbad (Zaarbad, Zaarha'hd, Zerbad) is described as the 

 most formidable disease to which elephants are liable, so it is 

 very important that we should clearly determine what is meant 

 by this term which is one in general use among those who have 

 charge of elephants. It is certain that the terni is applied to 

 cases of debility vnth. dropsy. The Symptoms are either acute or 

 chronic. In the former case they commence as swelling around the 

 throat which extends down the neck and finally occupies the sub- 

 cutaneous tissue of the lower part of the chest and belly, the 

 swelling which results is very marked, and when it is tapped a quan- 

 tity of fluid of a serous nature flows generally wth freedom. One 

 or more of those symptoms may bo absent. The Asthenia is pro- 



