37 



presence of a Fluke (Fasciola Jacksoni) in the Biliary ducts 

 of the Liver causing disease of that organ to such a degree as to 

 seriously debilitate the " bearer," or cause death. Dr. Cobbold 

 says, " As causing disease, and zoologically speaking, this ento- 

 zoon is the most important of the whole group of pai-asites infest- 

 ing Elephants" but, we have already shown that it is of much less 

 import than the amphistomes. In one of the outbreaks described 

 by Dr. Cobbold as being " Rot" it seems that the evidence rather 

 shows it to have been Lungun, for although V. S. Adams who 

 made the post mortem examinations found many flukes in the 

 Livers he could not detect any of the disease to which they give 

 rise (such as must have been very familiar to him from the Livers 

 of " Rotten" sheep) and Colonel Hawkes, who has shown himself 

 a very competent authority on matters relating to the ele- 

 phant, strongly suspected the amphistomes of doing the 

 mischief. However the "Burmese outbreak" seems to have 

 been one of true " Rot." The " Liver Fluke" of the elephant 

 although closely allied to the familiar parasite of the same name 

 as found in the sheep is rounder in outline and differs otherwise 

 to an extent sufficient to mark it as a distinct species. The 

 manner in which it causes disorder is by collecting in sufficient 

 numbers in the liver to cause morbid changes in that important 

 digestive organ and by consuming the bile which should bo 

 utilized in digestion. Jaundice and progressive debility set in 

 but vrathout the purging seen in Lungun, finally death occurs 

 and postmortem examination shows the bile ducts blocked with 

 the flukes which are collected into groups, the walls of the ducts 

 thickened, and some few flukes free in the bowel cavity. 



Treatment, (preventive and curative) : stimulant, tonic, and, in 

 general, as for Lungun. Dr. Cobbold says " there is every 

 likelihood that the mollusk harbouring the Cercarian larva 

 of Fasciola Jacksoni is small and possessed of amphibious habits. 

 Not impossibly more than one mollusk is concerned in this 

 intermediate office. Be that as it may, we shall never settle 

 this question in connexion with the flukes of the elephant 

 unless our Indian Zoologists take up the study of parasites in 

 the same earnest spirit in which so many of them have advanced 

 other branches of Natui-al History." 



