370 APPENDIX 



this operation. The skin should be pierced about the middle of the 

 abdomen where the greatest quantity of Kquid is usually collected, 

 and a fleam of IJ inch blade will be required. The fluid which comes 

 out is said to be infectious to other elephants if they are allowed to 

 stand near it. The root of the Mudar plant {Calotropis gigantea) is 

 often given by the mahouts in this disease in doses of one drachm 

 twice a day, apparently with good efiect. This is also their great 

 remedy in the more advanced stage of the disease called Stikha 

 Zerbad. It should be accompanied, however, by abundance of food, 

 including green fodder and sugar-cane, plenty of bathing, and regular 

 exercise . 



For Kdndi in the foot, the horny sole must be pared down till the 

 sinuses can be got at, and well washed out with warm water. The 

 holes should then be filled with an ingredient composed of : — 



Tar 1 part 



Leaves of the Mm tree (Melia AzidiracMa) . . 1 part 

 Gum of the Salei tree (BoswelUa thurifera) . . 2 parts 



A piece of stout leather should then be fastened over the open parts 

 with small tacks driven into the adjoining homy sole, or tied on if 

 there is no place for the tacks. 



Sdjhan, or cracked heels, cannot be remedied unless the feet are 

 kept dry. This alone will suffice to cure moderate cases. The 

 following lotion was recommended me by the experienced friend 

 above alluded to; but I never had occasion to use it myself. Take 

 ^ lb. of dry tobacco and boil it down in a quart of water tiU it be- 

 comes a pint. Then mix with it 2 lb. of quickUme, with 4 ounces 

 of bluestone, and apply at intervals to the cracks. 



For dimness in the cornea of the eye caused by heating food, change 

 the diet, particularly avoiding peepiil leaves. Give the elephant grass 

 if in season. In the earlier stage of the disease this treatment, and 

 bathing the eye with a weak solution of nitrate of silver (5 grains to 

 the ounce of water), will usually efEect a cure. If a film has been 

 formed it may generally be removed by blowing a pinch of very finely 

 powdered glass into the eye once or twice a day. 



Sore backs are the most troublesome of all elephant affections to 

 cure effectually. They must not on any account be allowed to heal 

 up superficially ; and should sinuses or a sac have formed, they must 

 be cut open and kept open until they heal up from the bottom. A 

 downward orifice should, if possible, be secured to permit the escape 

 of the matter. Cutting open a sore back is generally a terrible business, 

 as the elephant, not realising the utility of the operation, fights against 

 it with all his might. He must be well secured and held down, and a 

 sharp razor is the best weapon to use. The wounds should then be 

 thoroughly washed out with a solution of alum; and then filled with 

 a stuffing composed of two parts of Mm leaves and one part common 

 salt, well pounded together. If they should slough or throw up proud 

 flesh, they must be touched with bluestone at intervals. This clean- 



