174 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
removed with a fret or other fine saw ; the working of the saw is 
greatly facilitated by dripping water on it from a sponge or cloth. 
Small growths may be removed with a cold chisel. The diet of 
course should be as soft and nutritious as is procurable. 
Occasionally a tooth may be displaced from its normal position 
owing to the presence of some morbid growth about the root or 
fang, and thus interfere with mastication by its irregularity, or from 
the animal lacerating the mucous membrane during mastication ; 
loss of condition follows. The offending portion when possible 
should be removed with a saw. 
Owing to the peculiar manner in which the teeth are replaced, 
the front ones loosen and are shed. This is termed koochlie by 
the Indian mahouts. It is a natural process. 
Carious teeth, — Caries of the fang of a tooth does occasionally 
occur. In the case of a wild elephant I shot, observing a tumour 
on the lower jaw, I examined it and found that it proceeded 
from the fang of a molar tooth which was in a very diseased condi- 
tion. This elephant was given to roaming about alone and was 
not in very good condition. The tusk on the same side was also 
extensively diseased. 
While on the subject of teeth it will be convenient to consider 
the tusks. 
It is sometimes necessary to cut off a portion of one or both of 
the tusks ; for instance when they are badly split, or cross one 
another. The operation is simple an ordinary saw being used ; the 
saw is kept constantly wet with a stream of water. Hawkes gives the 
following directions for finding the proper place to cut the tusks : — 
Measure with a bit of twine the distance from the eye to the inser- 
tion of the tusk in the lip : this length measured from the latter point 
along the tusk will give the spot where it should be cut. Some- 
times, however, especially in young animals, this site is too near 
the root, as the pulp of the tusk may reach beyond the point 
thus fixed, in which case it bleeds after the operation and fre- 
quently causes the tusk to split and decay." The advice given by 
Colonel Hawkes is very sound ; the tendency with Indian mahouts 
is to suggest cutting off the tusk a bit too close. Care should 
therefore be taken to cut oif too little rather than too much. 
Should the whole tusk split up to the root as sometimes happens, 
the Indian mahouts recommend that it should be completely cut off 
at the point where it touches the gum and this has been done with 
great relief to the animal. — [Hawkes.) 
If a tusk shows any tendency to split, it should be capped with 
brass or iron, or an iron band applied ; this can be put on hot and 
shrunk on as a tyre is applied, but of course the teilnperature should 
