2l6 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
The situations in which they are most likely to be met with are 
the head and neck, under the abdomen, about the root of the tail. 
In some cases they may be noticed on all parts of the body. The 
eggs (nits) are attached to the hairs. 
Though lice may infest animals in the best condition they are 
more common on those that are ill kept and badly nourished. Their 
presence is usually an indication of neglect. 
Symptoms. — Constant itchiness and consequent rubbing, loss of 
hair and shedding of the superficial layer of the skin. Careful 
inspection reveals the presence of lice and also their eggs. 
Cobbold in his Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals, 
page 399, notes : A species of mite has been described whose 
generic position appears doubtful. I allude to Homopus elephantis 
of Furstenberg, or Symbiotes elephantis of Gerlach. According to 
Mignin it is Nymphe adventive or hypope of a variety of Tyro- 
glyphus siro. This acarus is abundant in old forage. Another 
ectozoon is Hcematomyzus elephantis. It differs from the lice 
proper in many respects, but, according to Piaget, the reproductive 
organs resemble those of hcematopinus. In ' Science Gossip ' for 
June, 187 I, Mr. H. C. Richter describes ' a new form of parasite' 
which is called Idolocoris elephantis. The insect, which was one line 
in length, was found upon an elephant in Ceylon. According to 
Walker it not only constituted the type of a new genus, but of an 
altogether new family of the Hemiptera heteroptera, coming very 
near to the bed bugs {Acanthidde). It is a huge sucking louse. 
From the discussion which followed, it seems that the parasite had 
several times been seen before, and was none other than E. Piaget's 
Hcematomyzus elephantis. Excellent figures accompany Richter's 
and Piaget's descriptions." 
Treatment. — Immediate segregation of the affected animal. 
The body must be thoroughly washed, preferably with carbolic soft 
soap and water, after which, from experience with other animals, 
the following dressing recommended by Adams may be applied : — 
After drying, apply to every part of the skin a mixture of tobacco 
water and sulphur J an ounce of each, to a pint of boiling water. 
This must be applied for two consecutive days, and on the third day 
the horse must be again washed as before. It will be seldom 
found necessary to repeat this." This dressing he remarks has 
the advantage of being simple, ready at hand, not likely to do harm 
if used with ordinary caution, inexpensive and effectual." The 
lice are. killed easily enough, but the eggs or " nits" are difficult 
to destroy. Other dressings in which a little tar or turpentine is 
mixed with oil act well, as also does plain decoction of tobacco 
leaves \ an ounce to a pint of boiling water; the vessel should be 
