366 APPENDIX 



an elephant attacked with it immediately after changing from wheat 

 to rice, on entering a district where the former was not procurable. 

 Generally, an elephant that has been two or three years in captivity 

 is considered pretty safe from it. SWia Zerbdd is usually developed 

 out of the other, but sometimes comes on at once. It is a sort of 

 general atrophy, or falling away; and is characterised by a shrivelled, 

 cracky skin, much emaciation, and weakness. It is apt to become 

 compHcated with troublesome sores in various parts of the body. In 

 purchasing an elephant it is not likely that the actual presence of 

 Zerbad would be overlooked; but without care it is easy to buy an 

 animal so recently caught as to be stiU likely to develop it. Such 

 an animal should be got for much less money than one longer 

 domesticated. The state of training the animal has reached will 

 generally indicate the period of his capture. If thoroughly obedient 

 to its driver, lying down patiently to let you examine its feet, etc., 

 it will probably have been sufficiently long in hand to be pretty 

 safe. 



This brings me to unsound feet — ^the most common failing in an 

 elephant. It is of two kinds, called by natives Kdndi and Sdjhan. 

 The former is a sort of canker, that begins on the sole and gradually 

 eats deep into the structure of the foot, until at length it breaks out 

 above the toe-naila. In its earlier stages it is easily concealed by 

 plugging the holes ; and many of the elephants brought to the great 

 fairs, Hke that of Sonpur, are in fact afEected with Kandi, though to 

 outward appearance perfectly sound. It can generally be discovered 

 by making the elephant lie down, and administering a series of sharp 

 raps with a stick all over the soles of the feet, when, if Kandi be present, 

 the animal will be sure to show it by shrinking. 



Sajhan is what would be called " cracked heels " in a horse. Its 

 deep cracks, discharging matter, situated about the junction of the 

 homy sole with the skin, can hardly be passed over in a bad case, 

 though a sUght one may escape observation. It is a serious unsound- 

 ness, being generally constitutional, and often rendering useless during 

 every rainy season elephants that are subject to it. 



The eyes of the elephant are extremely delicate, and appear to 

 possess in an unusual degree a sympathetic connection with the diges- 

 tive organs. Nearly every indisposition of the animal is accompanied 

 by a clouding or sufEusion of the eyes. Few elephants that have been 

 long caught, especially if in the hands of natives, have perfect eyes. 

 Heating food, or imdue exposure to bright sun, is often followed by the 

 appearance of a film over one or both eyes, which, if not attended to, 

 and its cause remains in operation, increases till the cornea becomes 

 quite opaque, and the animal loses its sight. The leaves of the peepul 

 fig-tree, which form excellent fodder in the cold season, are almost 

 sure to produce this afiection if given for any considerable time in the 

 hot season. I would not reject an elephant, otherwise suitable, merely 

 because it had a slight film over the eye ; for it is easily removed when 

 attended to in time. But its presence would of course lessen the value 

 the animal would otherwise bear. 



