36 



because ho naturally ia very careful to free his food from dirt 

 adhering to roots, &c. It is certain that shortly after he has eaten 

 earth the purgation sets in and very possibly there is some guid- 

 ing instinct, but that the earth is not the whole and sole cause of 

 purgation was shown in the Sangar cases, they constantly searched 

 with the trunk, gathering small amounts of dust and feeling for 

 anything cold about the fittings of the stable, and they were not 

 supplied with earth yet succumbed to diarrhoea although treated 

 with enormous doses of astringents. There is some discrepancy 

 in the statements made as to the amount of earth taken, Forsyth 

 puts it at 10 or 12 lbs., Gilchrist at 1 or 2 seers. 



Causes : We are told that " this disease was not present while 

 the elephants were getting green food but showed itself after- 

 wards when they were put on dry fodder entirely." This looks 

 very much as if the pai-asites were conveyed to the elephant by the 

 green fodder (since the disease manifested itself after that article 

 of diet was used) — the larval form possibly inhabiting small mol- 

 lusks or other soft bodied animals on the forage stalks. Gil- 

 christ hints at the possibiUty of communication by contagion, . 

 ho having observed a number of animals in the same place 

 affected apparently in sequence. It is not probable that this 

 depended on contagion, but rather that the animals simulta- 

 neously invaded succumbed in turn as the loss of resisting power 

 together with the severity of invasion, proved suflScient to 

 cause sensible interference with the animals health : Treatment, 

 apart from that recommended for diarrhcBa in general, we 

 must stop the Ratib — experience has shown that if this be 

 not done severe flatulence and indigestion will ensue, a con- 

 dition known as " Moohutidha," Also it ia clear that the 

 animal should be allowed to freely indulge in the tendency to eat 

 earth, and liberally supplied with salt. As a preventive means 

 the last ration may be always increased when the animals are on 

 green fodder. The debility which results from Lungun, constitu- 

 ting its advanced stage, must be treated as heretofore recommend- 

 ed. The ejecta and parasites passed by elephants suffering from 

 Lungun as also those obtained post mortem should be destroyed 

 by means oifire. 



Fascioliasis or " Eot" of Elephants very closely resembles the 

 disease of the same name as seen in the sheep being due to the 



