7S 



Concerning /fte influence which i^eculiarities of constitution of 

 the elephant exercise over the action of remedies. " No 7nediciae, 

 whether animal, vegetable, or mineral is known to have an emetic 

 effect on the elephant. Tartar emetic has been given in two ounce 

 doses morning and evening, till half a pound was taken, but no 

 emetic or other obvious medicinal effect followed." In this the 

 elephant resembles the horse and diiiers remarkably from the dog, 

 man, &c. It is curious that the Mahouts " never prescribe purga- 

 tives, such having no place in their Materia Medica, The aloes, 

 indeed, is a common ingredient in their mussauls, but it is givea 

 with an alterative and tonic object" (Gilchrist). The list of altera- 

 tives for the elephant is Inrge but it must be remembered that 

 this class of agents simply includes those which do good "we can- 

 not tell how" ! Certain important classes of agents, such as sndo- 

 rifics, emetics, andantiperiodics, may, apparently be entirely omit- 

 ted from this Materia Medica. Others such as stimulants, tonics, 

 and vermifuges have a great importance. ' 



, As regards Doses ; here, too, we have no certain guide. It seems 

 that the great size of the patient too often suggests an excessively 

 large dose. Our authorities differ extremely even over the simplest 

 remedies and those most frequently in use. Much doubt must hang 

 over this branch of the subject until careful experiments with 

 simple pure remedies have been performed. We shall only indicate 

 the probable dose likely to be effectual and free from risk, we 

 have elsewhere stated that generally the "dcses given to the ele- 

 phant must he double those for the ox," but have noted that (as 

 Epsom salts for instance) there are many exceptions to this rule. 



Pharmacy: To every elephant establishment should bo attached 

 a well appointed dispensing room to be used as a pharmacy and 

 veterinary office. It is all very well to say that the Mahouts with 

 their chatties, cowdung luting, impromptu mortars, and other' 

 means can sufficiejitly prepare elephant medicines. It surely can- 

 not be denied that the European methods are the more exact, 

 cleanly, and supervisable, and there is no specific virtue in native 

 ways. It is most important to progress in elephant medicine that' 

 the exact European system replace the inexact and confused 

 method hitherto adopted. We make these remarks lest it be sug- 

 gested in opposition to our views that we have entirely neglected 

 the elaborate macerations in chatties, carefully ordei-ed mixture 



