CHAPTER VI. 
sprains. fractures and dislocations. cramp. rheumatism. 
Sprains. 
The elephant though a sure-footed animal is liable to sprains, 
especially of the joints a little above the pad in the fore and middle 
of hind limbs. They occur when animals have to pass over rocky 
ground, getting a foot suddenly wedged between heavy logs, placing 
a foot on unsound ground (and it is surprising how frequently 
elephants will do this, though they are credited with being so very 
careful), working in heavy mud such as tidal creeks. Wild 
elephants do not appear to be more cautious than tame ones, as it is 
not unusual when following up a herd to find that a member of it 
has walked upon ground apparently sound, and on which one of 
his legs has gone through to a depth of a couple of feet or more, 
and I have on two or three occasions come on places where a bank 
has given way, and by the saplings and bushes knocked down, there 
was little doubt that the elephant went down also. I also witnessed 
an accident where a loaded elephant was walking along on a newly 
made road, when it suddenly gave way under him and he rolled 
down some 40 or 50 feet screaming and trumpeting. We had to 
get a couple of elephants down to assist him to rise after the load 
was removed. The camp was fortunately not far off, so he was 
walked in quietly without his load. He showed no symptoms that 
day beyond stiffness but next morning he could hardly move ; one 
of his legs, near hind, was much swollen from foot upwards for 
about a foot, and he was very tender and sore over the loins. He 
made a good recovery under treatment but it took two months. 
Fording streams with a rocky bottom, especially where there 
are a number of large loose stones, renders animals liable to sprain, 
as also does overloading, hurrying them especially in hilly country. 
Symptojns. — Enquire into the history of the case : Lameness, 
heat, swelling, tenderness and pain. There is often very great pain 
when the joint is involved, so much so as to induce fever and loss 
of appetite. 
Treatme7it. — Cold water continuously applied by standing 
the animal in a stream, cooling lotions may be used [see Formulae 
103 — 106). W^hen the inflammation has subsided stimulating 
