136 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
[b] Absorbent. 
(138) Liniment of iodine or liniment of double strength applied once every 
other day, painted on the swelling to be removed. Also see 135. 
Poultices. — These are external applications of a soft consistence 
and act chiefly by virtue of their v^armth or moisture. They are 
soothing, relieve pain and hasten the formation of matter, and are 
generally made of linseed meal, flour, or bran, and are rendered 
anodyne by adding a little laudanum, poppy-heads, etc. ; deodorizing 
by adding finely powdered charcoal, and antiseptic v^ith eucalyptus 
oil, carbolic acid, solution of thymol, creosote, phenyle, etc. 
Natives employ poultices of leaves of the dhatura (Datura alba 
or festuosa) and mudar (Calotropis gigantea) plants, and neem 
tree (Azadirachta Indica) to irritable painful sores, and also as a 
stopping for abscesses in elephants. 
Hawkes states that the following native application has been 
found efficacious in expediting the filling up of abscesses with 
healthy flesh : — 
Dhatura leaves ... ... ... 4.0 tolas. 
Neem leaves ... ... ... 40 tolas. 
Turmeric ... ... ... 5 tolas. 
Salt ... ... ... 10 tolas. 
Grind all together with a little water and introduce a portion of it into the opened 
abscess \ remove it every second day, wash the cavity out and apply any lotion 
that may be necessary, and re-stop with the mixture. Owing to the size usually 
required and the difficulty of retaining poultices in position, fomentations are 
generally used in preference ; they may however be used with advantage to many 
injuries about the limbs. 
Poulticing boots.- — These are most useful to keep an injured 
foot clean : the sole may be made of stout leather or wood, the 
uppers of ordinary leather ; they should be kept soft with soap or 
grease. 
Mussauls are composed chiefly of stimulant and digestive spices 
given in the form of a bolus ; other corrective medicines may be 
added. 
The following are some formulae for mussauls usually 
employed : — 
[a) Astringeyits and anodyne in diarrhoea^ colic, etc. 
(a) Cardamoms ... ... ... 2 tolas. 
Cinnamon ... ... ... 2 tolas. 
Opium ... ... ... I tola. 
Catechu ... ... ... 2 tolas. 
Chalk ... ... ... 4 tolas. 
Jaggery ... ... ... 10 tolas. 
Brandy ... ... ... i pt. 
Repeat every four hours till desired effect is produced. 
