52 



tlie darker'colour of tlio tame elephants is due .to tlie caro taken 

 of their skins, and often to tlieir being prevented throwing dust 

 and mud over themselves as a protective from the sun; also to 

 the oil dressings applied and to grooming with a lump of clay or 

 a piece of stone of a peculiar kind ( Janwa) . When ill-cared for the 

 skin of the domesticated elephant becomes harsh, dry, unpliable, 

 and loses its hair. This condition is familiar to us as occurring in 

 diseased menagerie elephants at home and resembles the disease 

 PiTYEiAsis of other animals. It requires not only careful attention 

 to the Hygiene of the skin in the way of frequent washings, ap- 

 plications of oil, &c., but the internal administration of tonics and 

 carminatives similar to the Kharisk mussauls given to camels. 



EczEMATous EKUPTiONS occur On thosc parts which are exposed 

 to the action of the sun, due to the want of proper precau- 

 tionary measures in the way of clothing or anointing the surface, 

 prior to work during the heat of the day; sometimes, however,, 

 they depend upon disorder of the digestive apparatus. Simple, 

 Eczema must not be mistaken for disorder of the skin as seen in 

 forms of epizootic disease. The eruption is generally first 

 apparent on the poll and quarters, on which parts vesicles break 

 out and burst to form small ulcers. The parts are tender and the 

 discharge cakes on the surface. When neglected these ulcers are 

 apt to run together and form nasty cracks in the flexures of the 

 skin, difficult to heal and liable to be aggravated by friction. 

 Lotion of acetate of lead proves useful in the earliest stages, 

 afterwards dressings with carbolic ointment will be required. 

 Laxatives must be given to remove any irritant or indigestible 

 substance from the bowels. Then febi-ifuges and refrigerents, 

 such as nitre and sal ammoniac 



The slightest prick of the skin generally causes a sharp shriek 

 of pain, showing the extreme sensitiveness of the integument of 

 the elephant, which on the march frequently bleeds from the bites 

 of gnats and mosquitoes. Flies of various kinds prove a great 

 nuisance to the elephant and often cause very serious detriment.- 

 Fleming in his "Animal Plagues" gives the following quotation :— 

 " A.D. 260 : When Saphor King of Persia was besieging Nisibus, 

 his elephants and beasts of burden were so suddenly and furiously 

 attacked by swarms of gnats, as to kill or disable them, thus 

 causing the siege to be raised, and subsequently leading to the 



