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CHATTER XII : THERAPEUTICS. 

 We have shown very clearly that much good may be doue by 

 the scientific treatment of elephant diseases. We wish now to 

 show that it is economical to so treat them, and, as the intrinsic 

 and pecuniary value of elephants is great, it would be worth the 

 while of Government to encourage the study of the Pathology of 

 the Elephant. Apart from the value to medical science and to 

 the art of war of this study, it is not hard to prove, viewing the 

 matter from a narrower staudpoint, that there is at present great 

 waste of medicines used in the compounding of elephant mussanls, 

 due to the ignorance (not culpable however) of Europeans in 

 charge, and to the ignorance and cupidity of natives. The facts 

 which I wish to bring strongly into relief are — 



1. That now usually when an elephant requires treatment 

 either one of Gilchrist or of Hawkes' mussalahs is inden- 

 ted for. Those given by the former officer are very com- 

 plex. Col. Hawkes' formulas are much less objectionable. 

 In other cases the mahout is supplied with what he con- 

 siders necessary. Thus there is no skilled opinion as to 

 the disease to be treated nor as to the remedy to be 

 used. Upon this system much medicine must unnece.'j- 

 sarily be expended. 



2. The formulte generally include a number of bazaar medi- 



cines — of which the mineral are very impure and their 

 action cannot be relied upon — nor is their dose certain, 

 for they constantly vary in composition. 



3. They also include substances known to have no action of 



importance on the animal system. 



4. They generally contain a number of substances so closely 



similar in action as to be interchangeable and the use 

 of only one of these similar'ingredients necessary. 



5. They generally contain iucompatiblos — agents which by 



chemical, mechanical, or medicinal properties render 



each other inert. 

 C. They probably often contain curry stuffs and other such 



ingredients looked upon by the native attendants as 



perquisites. 

 Although, whenever possible, I liavc drawn on my own experience 

 on the treatment of elephants, I have not neglected the informa- 



