8 



human being is subject, known by the name of Beri-beri ; and it 

 is a singular fact tliat several of the horses, belonging to the 

 ofBcers of the Goomsoor Force (1837-38), died from an affection 

 the symptoms of which, were very similar to those detailed above 

 as obtaining in the affection of the elephant now under consider' 

 ation." Now it would not be at all remarkable if horses and men 

 showed signs of Asthenia so as to resemble simple Zerbdd so that 

 it is probable that Gilchrist here alludes to the blind boil foi-m as 

 resembling Beri-beri of man. We are not prepared to stats 

 whether the two diseases are pathologically equivalent. It seems to 

 be tbis latter form of Zerbd,d among wild animals of which " Young 

 Shikarry" writes from the Malay Peninsula ; he found erpelled 

 from the herd a sick animal which " had only one stumpy dis- 

 coloured tusk and from head to foot was covered -ivith enormous 

 boils as large as duck's eggs and as thickly spread over him as 

 small-pox covers its victims. Not a square inch of the animal 

 Avas free from disease, the ears and inside of the mouth, and tongue 

 were one mass of running ulcers. The trunk was percolated with 

 holes like a nutmeg grater, whilst the ear hung like dirty rags, 

 seemingly only held together by the dry matter with, which they 

 were covered." When he was alive the poor brute made a 

 wretched ci-acked sound like the yapping of a cur. Another, a large 

 cow, had a big boil on the temple and also one imder the fore- 

 legs : some natives attribute this to a guinea worm peculiar to 

 certain districts, others say that it periodically attacks whole 

 herds and causes death of numbers of those going to tbe coast 

 not of those returning from it : perhaps the sea salt cures any 

 tendency to it. Such extracts as the above effectually do away 

 with the idea that the wild elephant never suffers from disease. 



Treatment : The treatment for Zerbad is that recommended 

 for Asthenia ; Stimulants, Tonics, and (with judgment) Diure- 

 tics. Purgatives and Bleeding as recommended by several 

 authors can orily do hai-m and may accoxmt for the great fatality 

 which they set down to the disease. Hood advocates Quinine in 

 drachm doses with Sulphate of Iron in ounce doses, also avoidance 

 of succulent fodder but free use of stimulant Aromatic Cherrai, 

 sucb as Peepul, Burgot, Bamboo ; also a short bath twice a week 

 only, and to keep the animal under cover, but give exercise daily. 

 He omits the Quinine in the dry form of the disease. Sander- 



