A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
necessary to tempt the patient with some favourite fodder, smalti 
quantities of which should be presented frequently, such as leaves 
and boughs of favourite trees well-known to attendants, plantain 
stems, bamboos, maize or millet stalks in or out of ear, sugarcane 
or fruits such as pineapples, plantains, bael, green cocoanuts, 
etc., — in fact anything that he can be enticed to eat. 
(4) Drink.- — -Unless the water-supply is in the immediate vicinity, 
elephants should not be taken long distances to drink or bathe, but 
arrangements must be made to carry this out near the standings. 
It is always desirable to have a tubful of fresh clean water at the 
standing as well. As much freshly made cold gruel as they will take 
should be offered in bucketsful. Gruel rapidly turns sour in this 
country, hence it should not be made a long time before offering, 
also every care should be taken that it is presented in clean vessels.. 
(5) Excretions.- — The dung must always be carefully examined 
daily and especial attention paid to the early detection of farasites 
which are often so small as to be easily overlooked. Many animals die 
every year from want of attention to this important matter, parasites 
often not being detected until the animal is passing them in thou- 
sands, has serious diarrhoea, and has become so enfeebled as to render 
treatment futile. The urine too must be daily examined and depar- 
tures from health as mentioned under "Urinary system" reported. 
(6) Standings. — Important as it is under ordinary circumstances 
to keep standings and surroundings in a thoroughly clean state, it 
is still more necessary to do so during any sickness. Offensive 
gases emanate from collections of dung and litter, which are them- 
selves unwholesome and these in addition attract flies, causing 
annoyance to the sick creature as well as materially aiding in 
the spread of infection. When disinfectants can be procured — ^and 
there are many inexpensive ones on the market — they should be 
freely used to purify standings. Once a week the sick animal 
should be removed to a fresh standing if it is only 30 or 40 yards 
distant. It is also a wise precaution to isolate all sick animals. 
All animals suffering from wounds and abscesses should as much as 
possible be kept on standings free from sand and dust, owing to the 
habit elephants have of taking up dust and dirt in their trunks and 
blowing it over abraded surfaces. 
(7) Convalesce?2ce. — When once an animal has regained a 
certain amount of strength so that he is able to roam about, he should 
be taken to suitable jungle, sufficiently fettered to prevent his being 
lost and let loose. By this means an animal has the opportunity of 
satisfying his own inclinations with regard to the nature, quality and 
quantity of his food, and there is no method of treatment that will 
advance and restore his usual health and vigour with the same rapidity. 
