320 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
Dammann and Stedefer* of one of two elephants which were sent to 
the surgical clinique of the Hanover Veterinary School in July 1908 
for the treatment of wounds about the feet. It is stated that the 
larger of these two elephants died in August 1908 as a result of 
blood poison (septicjemia) arising possibly from the wounds. The 
post-mortem examination revealed tuberculosis of the lungs and of 
the bodies of several vertabrae. 
The result of the bacteriological examination, according to Dam- 
mann and Stedefer, seemed to show that the dise;ase was of human 
origin, which is not surprising, seeing how fond people are of feeding 
animals in captivity. It does not require much demonstration to 
show that the consumption of food offered by tuberculous persons may 
lead to the animal being infected. From the report quoted it does 
not appear that the elephant in question showed any symptom of 
tubercular disease during life. In any case the disease is not likely 
to be diagnosed in the jungle. 
* Dammann and Stedefer, Deuts. Tierarztl, Wochens, June 12th, 1909, 
page 345. 
