22 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
and others. These mussauls are very useful in the hot season, 
being stimulant to the digestive organs thus promoting digestion. 
The ingredients are usually mixed with clarified butter [ghi^ oSgoos 
§§cooDGOODoc5), jaggery, or honey. Useful as these undoubtedly 
are where an indication exists, they should only be used sparingly. 
The long continued daily administration of these mussmils tends to 
blunt the sensitiveness of the digestive organs, creates new wants, 
and reduces the full natural reactive powers of the system. It is 
essential that they be given a liberal ration of salt, at least two to 
three ounces per diem. In fact a ratib may have to be given merely 
as a vehicle for the salt in order to establish the habit. Salt greatly 
assists the assimilative powers and, moreover, is most useful in 
helping to free the intestines from parasites to which elephants 
are very subject. Wild elephants in common with other wild 
animals are frequent visitors to salt-licks, where they eat the earth 
which is impregnated with natron. 
As noted further on, petty peculation and appropriation of a 
portion of the 7'atib allowed by owners is a crime common to most 
elephant attendants and is, when the ratib cannot be given in the 
presence of a trusted person, one of the great drawbacks to allowing 
such extra food. 
Times of Feeding. 
With regard to the time of feeding, elephants should be allowed 
to feed at all times except when at work. If ample fresh fodder 
be brought in morning and evening and the animal is left alone, 
then of the twenty-four hours all but four to six will be devoted to 
munching. When continuous exertion of any kind is demanded, 
before and after work are the most appropriate times for supplying 
fresh fodder. 
I have repeatedly observed yard elephants after work waiting 
for an hour or two for their food. This is a malpractice which 
cannot be known to employers, for they could not countenance 
a practice so cruel and one so likely to be damaging to their own 
interests. 
The Commissariat scale of rations for elephants in Bengal, 
Madras and Burma is given in Appendix 39, Volume 5, paragraph 
191 7, Commissariat Transport, and is as follows: — 
( I ) Elephants when not on the line of march will be allowed 
two ounces of salt and one ounce of oil each. The following 
are the scales of green or dry fodder, as the case may be, 
