82 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
The orifices between the auricles and ventricles are guarded by 
valves, as also is the entrance to the pulmonary artery and aorta. 
What happens is roughly as follows. The blood pours into the 
right and left auricles which when full contract, thus driving the 
blood into the ventricles, which on filling, the valves shut off their 
communication with the auricles ; the ventricles now contract, driving 
the blood on the right side through the pulmonary artery to the 
lungs for purification, and through the aorta on the left side for 
distribution of the blood over the system ; the valves close when the 
vessels are filled, preventing a reflux into the ventricles. 
The elephant's heart is peculiar, in that its apex presents two 
points instead of one like most mammals. This peculiarity is 
however shared by certain whales, dugong, etc. Another peculiarity 
is the fact that there are two large veins {^anterior vense cavse) enter- 
ing the right auricle instead of one as in most other mammals, in 
addition to the posterior vena cava. There is an absence of fat 
about the organ. The heart beats from 46 to 50 times a minute. 
Weight-average of three hearts, 24 lbs. 
Pulse. — The impulse or shock caused by the overfilling of the 
aorta during the ventricular systole (contraction of ventricles) is the 
cause of the pulse." — {Ashby.) 
In a healthy elephant when at rest, if the finger be applied to 
an artery, the vessel w^ill be found to expand between 46 and 50 
times a minute ; a short increase or decrease may be quite normal. 
Many things increase the frequency of the pulse rate — exercise, 
fever, fear, age. In young animals it is faster than in aged beasts. 
The pulse is a useful indication as to the state of the circulation ; 
the character also has to be noted as it varies ; for instance, in debility 
we often get a soft and frequent pulse ; in some heart affections an 
intermittent pulse, that is there is an occasional loss of a beat which 
may be regular, e.g.^ every fifth or sixth beat, or irregular. 
The most suitable place for taking the pulse is at the back and 
root of the ears, where will be distinctly seen a branch of an artery 
running over the cartilaginous root of the ear and subsequently 
ramifying on its surface. The pulsation wdll readily be felt by 
applying the finger. It is not however so easy a matter to deter- 
mine the exact number of pulsations, as the animal approached by 
a stranger, and especially if in the recumbent position, will not easily 
be made to remain sufliciently quiet for the required time. The 
better way is to cause an intelligent mahout to count aloud the 
pulsations while the animal is standing and when the circulatory 
system is not disturbed by fear or exertion on the part of the animal. 
In every establishment one or two mahouts should be taught to take 
the pulse accurately. 
