174 
THE DISEASES OF ELEPHANTS. 
pen of Lieutenant Ouchterlony, and which appeared in the 
Veterinarian for January. 
The information contained in this essay regarding this 
most useful and expensive creature is particularly valuable, 
and must he of great utility to young army veterinary sur¬ 
geons in, or about to proceed to, India, as it contains the 
only description of the management and ordinary diseases of 
the elephant which is to be found in the veterinary literature 
of this country, I fancy. 
From all I can gather, the treatment of elephants in India 
is generally left to their native keepers, who appear to know 
as much of their diseases and the remedies for them as the 
cow-leeches of this country did of those of the bovine species 
in the Middle Ages. Therefore it is that any contribution 
to an exact knowledge of these matters, even though it does 
not pretend to any great degree of scientific learning, must 
be particularly acceptable, since it is scarcely to be expected 
that Government will always allow such high-priced and 
valuable animals to be left to the tender mercies of the 
“ mahouts,” but may consign their medical treatment to 
those whose studies and intelligence have made them the 
proper persons to undertake this duty. 
As an appendix or supplement to Mr. Ouchterlony’s essay, 
it may be useful to add what another distinguished officer 
has written with regard to this animal, as his remarks are 
also appropriate and interesting, as well as full of instruction 
for those members of the profession who may in time be 
called upon to inspect elephants as to soundness, and to cure 
their maladies. The remarks are to be found in a work on 
the f Highlands of Central India, 5 published two years ago, 
and written by the late Captain Forsyth. I read them when 
they first appeared with the most lively interest, and feel 
certain that many readers of our professional Journal who 
have not had an opportunity of seeing the work will peruse 
them with much satisfaction. 
Under the heading of “ Selection and Treatment of Ele¬ 
phants, 55 the author comments on the amount of ignorance 
prevailing respecting the animals in the following terms: 
“ There are few subjects on which so little is generally 
known as that of the diseases and unsoundness, and the 
general management of tame elephants. Although there are 
many elephants under the charge of officers of different public 
departments in India, as well as a good number which belong 
to private persons, it always seems to be assumed that to 
attain to any acquaintance with the nature of the animal and 
