3o6 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
The parasite.— "On the examination of a stained specimen we 
find it composed of a body which is usually described as eel-like in 
form, and inside the body two other bodies or nuclei, one of large 
size and usually situated about the middle of the organism, the 
other smaller and situated about' the posterior extremity. Along 
one edge of the body runs the flagellum which arises from the small 
nucleus and is prolonged beyond the anterior end as the free portion. 
Connecting this flagellum to the body we have a very fine membrane, 
the undulating membrane. When examining a fresh specimen of 
blood, the trypanosomes can be seen wriggling rapidly from place to 
place and knocking the red corpuscles about with their flagella. 
There may be many parasites in a field or only very few. 
Prevalence. — The disease occurs practically throughout India, 
Burma, Persia, Siam, the Straits Settlements, Philippines, etc. 
Symptoms. — The disease is characterised by an intermittent, 
remittent, and sometimes a relapsing type of fever which continues 
for varying periods, from a few days to months, according to the 
species and the constitutions of the animals attacked." — [Ltngard.) 
In elephants it is very rarely that Europeans observe the early 
symptoms of any ailment- — at least such as may be detected by an 
attendant who has had an animal under his charge for some time, such 
as slight dulness and fever, perhaps temporary loss of appetite, 
the animal doing his work but tiring rather quickly, gradual but 
scarcely perceptible loss of condition, alteration in character of the 
excretions. 
Admitting a mahout to have noticed that his charge is not as 
well as usual, he might not report the matter, as many of them 
remember the old custom which prevailed, viz., that while an elephant 
was out of work through sickness his driver was without pay. 
Elephants become dull, listless and sleepy-looking, they are 
disinclined to move about and, if made to, the movements are sluggish, 
the eyes appear dull and dim, and there is in some cases a frothy 
discharge from the eyes. The mucous membranes are as a rule very 
pale and later may take on a yellowish tinge ; there may be mulberry- 
coloured spots on them, but these are not constant. The bowels are 
generally normal, but there may be constipation and the dung covered 
with mucus. The urine is scanty, gradually becomes viscid, and is 
often markedly greenish in colour. Gradual but progressive loss of 
condition is usually present, but is not appreciable in these immense 
animals, at least to a casual observer, until pronounced. 
During paroxysms the pulse is faster, and during the intermis- 
sions is about normal ; as the strength fails it becomes feeble. 
The respiration is not much altered. Even though the tempera- 
ture be high the appetite remains good — a remarkable feature 
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