63 



cases and the Pad repaired as much as circumstances will admit 

 of, but not used again until thorough recovery has taken place. 

 Of course on service this is not generally permissible, nor can 

 the case be effectually treated by removal of the cause (Pad) 

 in the earliest stages, much may, however, be done, by ad- 

 justing the stuffing and the load, to enable au animal with a 

 sore back to do a fair share of work. The greatest care of the 

 pads is necessary on service to avoid exposure to wet and to 

 keep the stuffing in good order. According to a Bengal regu- 

 lation in the Commissariat Code (Para. 1 785) Elephants with galls 

 are not to be used on the march, three camels, or a three or four 

 bullock cart, to be substituted for each elephant to carry its load. 

 Hood reminds us that, when treating wounds of the elephant, we 

 ought to give the animal a sweatmeat after each dressing and 

 take care to have the wounds constantly covered to prevent the 

 access of dust and dirt such as these animals constantly throw 

 over their bodies especially any parts which are the seat of 

 irritation. The term Kheel is usually applied to small boils 

 which occur especially on the back and flanks. ■ " ' 



CHAPTER X.— ON THE LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM. 

 We may here simply recall to the mind of the reader certain 

 peculiarities of the skeleton heretofore alluded to. The large skull 

 with enormous weighty molars and correspondingly huge facial 

 sinuses; the resulting shortness of the cervical Vertebrse, and 

 great development of Ligamentum Nuchse and of the dorsal spines 

 to which it is attached; the unusually large numbers of] ribs 

 and dorsal vertebrae, and the caudal region varying much in 

 length and in the number of bones which it contains, even tending 

 to shorten morbidly by dry Gangrene. The bones of the fore limb 

 are remarkably like those of the hind, in each case the length is 

 constituted mainly of three bones. Humerus and the two bones 

 of the forearm (which cross one another like X) in the fore, femur, 

 and tibia with fibula behind ; and the complex knee and hock 

 joints are low down against the ground just above the hoof. 

 There is a rudimentary clavicle. The bones of support are 

 arranged almost perpendicularly on one another. The effects of 

 this are that the animal can stand upright without muscular 

 exertion and that he is not suited for rapid locomotion (as compared 

 with his size in relation to that of other animals). Also he may 



