55 



tliis disorder may result from Inflammatiou of the lining mem- 

 brane of the sinuses, but the latter very much more frequently 

 results from the former. Treatment — consists in putting the 

 Mahout on short pay while his animal is incapacitated — fi-ee 

 fomentations, and ordinary wound dressings ; occasionally some- 

 what extensive suppuration takes place. After recovery (which 

 generally takes some time) the greatest care must be exercLsed 

 to protect the forehead Prom the sun, and to invariably use tho 

 forehead pad when the elephant is required for pushing, as this 

 disease is liable to recur. . > ■ ,< 



Peogressive MoRTtFiCATioN OP THE Tail is a somewhat frequent 

 disorder and occurs even in elephants in ' good condition. 

 Although it is attributed to the sun's heat we can hardly accept 

 this as a full explanation of its causation. It seems to resemble 

 the sloughinp; of the tail as seen in monkeys in temperate climates 

 and a disorder of the same nature is seen in tlie camel and tho 

 ox — probably from an impei-fect supply of nutritive fluid due to 

 weak circulation or some such physiological condition. Ulceration 

 of the skin of the tail occurs, after the hair has been shed, then 

 the organ shrivels and dies from its free end, and finally but a 

 stump remains. The auimal is disfigured but not seriously dam- 

 aged by this, which must be ti'eated by stimulant applications to 

 the organ aud to the wounds resulting from sloughing. . - 



THE EAR. — We have seen that the External Ear serves as a 

 guide to determination of the species and age of any individual ele- 

 phant. Its edges become fi-ayed and scarred and white in, colour 

 with age. Also the organ is liable to considerable reductions in 

 size aud loss of substance by & progressive ulceration and sloughing 

 similar to that which vve have just described as affecting the tail, 

 due to similar causes and requiring much the same treatment- 

 Another disease of the skin of the external ear resembles that . 

 which is so frequent in long eared dogs and is termed " Canker." 

 It is Inflammation op the skin lining the external auditory canal, 

 frotn which escapes a fetid pus, it is very liable to recur. Treat- 

 ment consists in nim leaves fomentations and syringing the canal 

 with alkaline solutions or the solution of acetate of lead. It 

 results from • dirt, exposure to cold when heated, injury, or 

 extension of inflammation from the outer ear into the canali - - 



