FRACTURES AND DISLOCATIONS. 
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liniments (Formulae 70 — 74) may be rubbed in, or a smart blister 
applied. As a means of gentle exercise when the acute symptoms 
have subsided, swimming a short distance will be found suitable. 
In certain sprains of the limbs elephants may be kept standing 
and resting the injured limb so long that the tendons may become 
contracted, with the result that the animal is rendered useless. Care 
should therefore be taken in all such cases that gentle exercise is 
begun as soon as the acute symptoms have subsided. Should there 
be a tendency this way it is necessary to make the animal extend 
his limb, and for this purpose a boot with a batten of wood of 
required size fixed on the sole should be applied. This treatment 
has proved beneficial in the two or three cases that I have met with. 
Injury to the loins. — In these cases the injury usually takes 
place when a loaded animal is going down a very steep place ; his 
fore-legs may suddenly slip ahead, and to stop himself he drops his 
hind-legs in the ordinary way, but in these circumstances he has 
not time to do it quietly, and the suddenness and consequent strain 
may hurt the muscles of the back. A history of the case will afford 
much assistance in these accidents. I have never seen an animal 
totally disabled. If an elephant after a slip shows any difficulty in 
rising, very often manifested by the animal trumpeting, the load must 
be removed forthwith and a couple of elephants brought to give a 
hand to enable him to rise. Once on his legs after he has finished 
trembling the mahouts should massage the back in the usual manner, 
and then take him quietly into camp if he can be moved. Several 
days' rest may be necessary. 
The treatment consists in warm applications to the back, 
massage (which operation is well carried out by Burman, Karen and 
Shan mahouts) and the application of strong liniments. When better 
gentle exercise is to be allowed. It is advisable for some time 
after such an accident that the animal be loaded lightly ; it is also 
as well not to put him to any heavy work such as ounging heavy 
timber. 
Fractures and Dislocations. 
A fracture is a sudden and forcible solution of continuity in a 
bone. It is quite a rare accident in elephants. 
Classification. — A fracture is simple when the skin over it is 
unbroken, compound when there is a wound extending through the 
skin and soft structures down to the bone, and comminuted when 
the bone is broken into fragments or splintered. 
Symptoms. — A grating sound which is heard when the broketi 
ends rub together, alteration in the shape of the part, swelling. 
