45 



of the neighbouring lymphatic glands or severe and extensive en- 

 largement of all the important structures of the throat, threaten- 

 ing the animal with suffocation and preventing the ingestion of 

 food which is specially required in such cases to sustain the 

 strength of the animal. Such extreme cases are not frequent, 

 but when they do occur requii-e promptitude in treatment. 

 Tracheotomy may even be necessary, and there is no mechanical 

 impediment to this operation, although we are not aware of its ever 

 having been performed on the elephant. The Trachea is small in 

 proportion to the size of the animal j the Larynx differs in one 

 essential point from that of the horse. Symptoms : In addition 

 to the local signs of Inflammation, there will be impediment to 

 swallowing, general fever, and rapidly increasing debility. Gil- 

 christ mentions that these cases are sometimes complicated by 

 mortification of the ffisophagus from impaction, a mischance to 

 which elephants are, as above mentioned, very liable. Causes ; 

 exposure, especially when the animal has been heated, is the 

 principal. Treatment, must be, mainly, local fomentations and 

 steaming through the mouth with nim leaf infusions ; when possi- 

 ble, tonics and stimulants may be administered internally. 



LuRZA is a common disease due to bad feeding, loss of condi- 

 tion, or excessive exposure to wet or damp. Ulceration of the 

 tliroat and mouth sets in, and the animal becomes unable to eat or 

 swallow and dies in consequence; it usually commences by 

 tremblings in the limbs and the rapid supervention of loss of 

 power. Another type of this disease is where an animal, apparently 

 healthy, is suddently seized with " staggers" and falls. The 

 natives consider this disease the same as cholera (Hood), 



Of the Thorax and Lungs : In horseman's parlance the 

 elephant is remarkably " well ribbed up," although i-ather flat 

 sided and " short in the rib," also he is short and narrow in the ' 

 loins and narrow chested. A horse with such points would be 

 Weak and " Washy" not adapted for riding purposes, and quite 

 unfit for cross -country work or draught ; the only use he could be 

 profitably put to would be carrying a pack. 



The elephant has long and very narrow air passages and a 

 diaphi-agm containing a large proportion of tendon and said to be 

 covered anteriorly by an elastic layer. Ilis ribs are nineteen in 

 number on each side : those in front and those behind being very 



