THE DISEASES OF ELEPHANTS. 181 
open parts with small tacks driven into the adjoining horny 
sole, or tied on if there is no place for the tacks. 
“ Sajhan, or cracked heels, cannot be remedied unless the 
feet are kept dry. This alone will suffice to cure moderate 
cases. The following lotion was recommended me by the 
experienced friend above alluded to; but I never had occa¬ 
sion to use it myself. Take Jib. of dry tobacco, and boil it 
down in a quart of water till it becomes a pint. Then mix 
with it 2 lbs. of quicklime, with 4 ounces of bluestone, and 
apply at intervals to the cracks. 
“For dimness in the cornea of the eye caused by heating 
food, change the diet, particularly avoiding peepul leaves. 
Give the elephant grass, if in season. In the earlier stage 
of the disease this treatment and bathing the eye with a weak 
solution of nitrate of silver (five grains to the ounce of water) 
will usually effect a cure. If a film has been formed it may 
generally be removed by blowing a pinch of very finely 
powdered glass into the eye once or twice a day. 
“ Sore backs are the most troublesome of all elephant affec¬ 
tions to cure effectually. They must not on any account be 
allowed to heal up superficially, and should sinuses or a sac 
have formed, they must be cut and kept open until they 
heal up from the bottom. A downward orifice should, if 
possible, be secured to permit the escape of the matter. 
Cutting open a sore back is generally a terrible business, as 
the elephant, not realising the utility of the operation, fights 
against it with all his might. He must be well secured and 
held down, and a sharp razor is the best weapon to use. The 
wounds should then be thoroughly washed out with a solu¬ 
tion of alum, and then filled with a stuffing composed of two 
parts of Nim leaves and one part of common salt well pounded 
together. If they should slough or throw up proud flesh, they 
must be touched with bluestone at intervals. This cleaning 
and dressing will have to be repeated at least twice a day, and 
the practitioner will have his hands full while it lasts in 
keeping the lazy elephant attendants up to their work. They 
will always, if allowed, let a sore back heal up superficially 
only to break out again on the first pressure. They rather 
like their elephant to have a sore back, as it saves them the 
trouble of loading it and going out to cut fodder. I have 
known them cause a sore back on purpose by inserting a 
stone below the pad; and I knew one case in which an ele¬ 
phant was destroyed by these ruffians, by the continued 
application of quicklime to a sore near the spine. 
“ Elephants are very liable to intestinal worms. They 
generally cure themselves, when they get very troublesome, by 
