77 



sotnetimes in giving draughts it is found necessary to make the 

 animal kneel down, secure him by fastening a chain under the 

 forearms andoverthe neck, hobbling tlio fore and hind legs, in- 

 serting a crowbar between the grinders and injecting the draught; 

 this certainly seems a formidable process and not likely to do a 

 sick animal good ! The natives suggest introduction of boli per 

 anum in cases of tetanus, they being carried up as far as the arm 

 can reach. Enemata are very useful in elephant practice, indeed 

 the only article for elephant treatment mentioned in Messrs. 

 Arnold's catalogue of veterinary instruments is an enema appara- 

 tus, which may be obtained at the formidable rate of three guineas! 

 To give an enema to an elephant place him in some position where 

 the forefeet rest much below the hind. If a Head's pump is not 

 available use a syriuge with a long nozzle. Let the tail be held 

 up by two men sitting on the back of the animal. Introduce the 

 nozzle, well lubriated, deeply and with an upward inclination. 

 Inject the fluid slowly and steadily. 



The method of administration of the future for the elephant 

 will probably be subcutaneous injection. Although the sensitiveness 

 of the skin is considerable this does not prove a very formidable 

 obstacle to introduction of the trochar of the, syringe, and the 

 elephant stands surgical infliction of pain well and is said to ex- 

 hibitja liking for the Surgeon who has afforded him relief. 



Concerning the use of remedial agents applied externally ; 

 Poulticing is a formidable opei-ation as requiring often a large bulk 

 of substance — thus V. S. Nunn speaks of using a wheat bag filled 

 with bran in a case of sore back. A very useful substance for 

 poultices is the prickly cactus freed from its thorns and well 

 bruised — or the common yellow thistle-like plant of waste places 

 (Satianassee) similarly treated. 



The method of application oi fomentation is given with useful 

 minuteness of detail by Gil chri st : — " Cow-dung is mi xed with water. 

 This, being heated in a large chatty, is applied to the body over as 

 much of the surface as is deemed necessary for the particular 

 malady under treatment. The application is continued uninter- 

 ruptedly until a coating of it has accumulated, the thickness of 

 which prevents the rapid dissipation of heat. When it is wished 

 to foment the back and sides of an elephant a flannel cloth (jhool) 

 ought to be first thrown over the back, and the ends tied together 



