262 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
that they give them their salt, flour or grain ration, that they are 
washed and groomed, and not tethered in the sun or overworked,, 
the elephants would keep in better health. 
In the human subject, the eyes are often affected in general bad 
health. In fact Nettleship remarks that Ulcers of the cornea are 
so often a sign of bad health that we ought never to neglect such 
means as may be called for to improve the general condition.'' 
Diseases of the Eye," page 82.) There are many ailments also 
in which changes of the eye occur as part of a general disease. 
From what has been said it will be admitted that the treatment 
of eye diseases should not at any rate be entrusted to mahouts. 
What I particularly desire to impress on those who have charge 
of elephants is the importance of not leaving the treatment of the 
animals in the hands of the attendants. Remember that affec- 
tions of the eye often depend on more than local causes ; endeavour 
to ascertain them and if found to be not purely local attention 
must be paid not only to treating the eyes, but to the general state 
of the health. So important is this subject, that Macnamara, writing, 
of ulceration of the cornea in the human subject, says : In most 
cases, instances of ulceration (excepting traumatic cases, or those 
depending on conjunctivitis), the patient's general health will be 
found at fault ; in no affection of the eye is it more necessary to 
attack the disease by improving the assimilative and nutritive func-: 
tions of the body, and as a general rule a tonic and supporting plan 
of treatment is demanded. Iron and quinine, good food, cleanliness 
and fresh air are the fundamental requisites for the cure of almost 
all instances of ulceration of the cornea, whether they be of the 
sthenic or asthenic type. One frequently sees cases of ulceration of 
the cornea which resist all treatment, but which rapidly improve if 
the patient is sent to the sea-side, or, still better, for a voyage 
to sea." — (''Diseases of the Eye," page 209.) I have quoted 
this at length, as it has such a practical bearing with regard to 
elephants, except perhaps the change to the sea-side, or a voyage ; 
but a change to their jungles and a free life for a time will 
prove as beneficial to them as a change to the sea-side for a human 
being. 
Certain precautions are necessary in the treatment of diseases of 
the eye. Nitrate of silver (lunar caustic) and sulphate of copper 
(blue-stone) should never be employed in the solid form, as irrepar- 
able damage may result from the application of such strong caustics. 
If it is desired to employ them, very weak solutions only should be 
used. Absolute cleanliness is imperative : attendants dressing eyes 
with filthy hands and with rags still more filthy should not be 
tolerated. For the purpose of wiping the eye, there is nothing. 
