200 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
pain, loss of power, excessive mobility, inability to bear weight. 
In a limb there may be shortening. Fractures may be complicated 
by injuries to surrounding structures such as blood vessels, nerves 
or other important organs. 
Treatment. — If in a limb the animal may be given a chance if 
a simple fracture, as he may recover with a slightly shortened limb 
and be able to work in yards, etc. If after three months he shows 
no signs of being useful, he had better be destroyed. 
A dislocation is the forcible separation of the articular end of 
the bone from the part with w^hich it is naturally in contact. This 
accident is also uncommon. 
Causes. — External violence, falls, etc. 
Symptoms. — The general symptoms are alteration in the shape 
of the joint, inability to move the part and if in a limb alteration in 
the axis of the limb. A dislocation is distinguished from a fracture 
by the following : — 
The swelling in a dislocation occurs at a joint, the pain is 
often not very acute and there is no grating sound to be heard. 
Treatment. — In some cases there is only a. partial dislocation. 
It is however hopeless trying to reduce a dislocation in an animal 
over which one has so little control and whose strength is 
immense. 
Cramp. 
Cramp is a spasm of muscle of variable extent, many 
muscles may be attacked or only a few. 
Causes. — Cold, especially entering water in an exhausted or 
heated condition. 
Symptoms. — The animal suddenly is incapable of using his 
limbs, which become painful and stiff owing to muscular contraction. 
In deep water when he discovers his helplessness he loses his head 
and is drowned. It is a common accident. In these cases of 
drowning, Burmans attribute cause of death to the bite of a mythical 
fish, yesin (gg[Oo6) or natsin (^c8oo8). 
Rheumatism. 
Throughout the muscular system of the elephant there runs a 
considerable amount of fibrous tissue, and this no doubt has largely 
to do with the comparative frequency of this malady in these 
animals. It is a painful affection and owing to its liability to 
