NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
2l6
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
The situations in which they are most likely to be met with are
the head and neck, under the abdomen, about the root of the tail.
In some cases they may be noticed on all parts of the body. The
eggs (nits) are attached to the hairs.
Though lice may infest animals in the best condition they are
more common on those that are ill kept and badly nourished. Their
presence is usually an indication of neglect.
Symptoms.—Constant
itchiness and consequent rubbing, loss of
hair and shedding of the superficial layer of the skin.
Careful
inspection reveals the presence of lice and also their eggs.
Cobbold in his Treatise on the Entozoa of Man and Animals,
page 399, notes: " A species of mite has been described whose
generic position appears doubtful. I allude to Homopus elephantis
of Furstenberg, or Symbiotes elephantis of Gerlach. According to
Mignin it is Nymphe adventive or hypope of a variety of Tyro-
glyphus siro.
This acarus is abundant in old forage. Another
ectozoon is Hœmatomyzus
elephantis.
It differs from the lice
proper in many respects, but, according to Piaget, the reproductive
organs resemble those of hosmatopinus.
In ' Science Gossip ' for
June, 1871, Mr. H. C. Richter describes ' a new form of parasite '
which is called Idolocoris elephantis.
The insect, which was one line
in length, was found upon an elephant in Ceylon. According to
Walker it not only constituted the type of a new genus, but of an
altogether new family of the Hemiptera heteroptera, coming very
near to the bed bugs (Acanthidæ).
It is a huge sucking louse.
From the discussion which followed, it seems that the parasite had
several times been seen before, and was none other than E. Piaget's
Hœmatomyzus elephantis.
Excellent figures accompany Richter's
and Piaget's descriptions."
Treatment.—Immediate
segregation of the affected animal.
The body must be thoroughly washed, preferably with carbolic soft
soap and water, after which, from experience with other animals,
the following dressing recommended by Adams may be applied :—
" After drying, apply to every part of the skin a mixture of tobacco
water and sulphur ½ an ounce of each, to a pint of boiling water.
This must be applied for two consecutive days, and on the third day
the horse must be again washed as before. It will be seldom
found necessary to repeat this." This dressing he remarks " has
the advantage of being simple, ready at hand, not likely to do harm
if used with ordinary caution, inexpensive and effectual." The
lice are killed easily enough, but the eggs or " nits" are difficult
to destroy. Other dressings in which a little tar or turpentine is
mixed with oil act well, as also does plain decoction of tobacco
leaves ½ an ounce to a pint of boiling water ; the vessel should be
LEECHES.
217
covered and allowed to stand for half an hour or so, after which the
liquid may be strained through a piece of calico. If the elephant
has been standing in a shed, it is essential that all woodwork be
thoroughly washed with boiling water, to which crude carbolic acid
or phenyle has been added. All gear had better be destroyed by
fire, or at least be saturated with carbolized boiling water. This
should be repeated daily for two or three days.
Poultry, which are proverbially full of vermin, should not be
allowed in elephant sheds.
LEECHES (
).
Family Hirudinæ.
During the rains the large water and land
leeches may attach themselves and when fixed will suck blood
freely until they become distended to very many times their original
size. They should not be removed forcibly. The ordinary Burmese
method, namely to place the lighted end of a selaik (Burmese
cheroot) in close proximity to their bodies soon causes them to
relax their hold.
CHAPTER IX.
DISEASES OF THE FEET.
TENDER FEET OR "THULLEE."
This is a very common ailment.
Causes.—Continued
marching over hard or stony ground
during hot weather ; it also occurs amongst animals that are
marched first through swampy grounds and then over stony or
rocky country. In some cases, where animals have been kept on
dirty standings, the soles are quite soft.
Steel mentions that
elephants employed in heavy draught are liable to overwear at the
junction of the hoof-slipper with the skin.
Symptoms.—Short
action, at times lameness. If the feet be
examined, the tender parts will be at once seen ; they are quite
smooth and of a yellowish or pinkish colour, and if pressed the
animal shows evidence of tenderness.
Treatment.—Regular
inspection of the feet ; if a tender patch
be observed, the animal should be rested forthwith. The standing
should be of dry earth, not sand. Rest and keeping the feet dry
is the only treatment. Mahouts to prevent the occurrence use
astringent mixtures, called chobing, which have been found of
practical value. Hawkes recommends—
Aloes (mok) ... ...
Wax (hpa-young) ... ...
Dammer (pon-nyet) ... ...
Grease ... ...
Catechu (sha-se) ... ...
24 tolas.
24 tolas.
24 tolas.
24 tolas.
96 tolas.
Melt together and apply as an ointment to the feet.
One tola equals 3 drs.—Hawkes.
Steel, condensing one of Gilchrist's formulae for chobing, gives
the following prescription :—
Catechu, powdered (sha-se)
Galls, powdered (pyin-sa-ka-ne)
Wax, powdered (hpa-young)
Gingili oil (hnan-si) ...
12 ozs.
1 lb.
2 lbs.
4 lbs.
Melt together and apply to the soles of feet night and morning.
220
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
CRACKED SOLE.
This is a condition in which ulceration takes place in the natural
cracks or crevices of the sole. It is a most troublesome affection
and difficult to cure. In some cases proud flesh occurs.
Causes.—Generally affects animals that are constantly working
in water such as many timber animals have to do ; bad sanitation is
another and not infrequent cause.
Symptoms.—The
affected parts appear sore ; there is often a
nasty oozing discharge from the cracks, and in severe and neglected
cases there may be raw fungus-like growths. Some animals suffer so
much pain that they are disabled.
Treatment.—In
this affection cleanliness and keeping the feet
dry are all-important. While the animal is down, poultices may be
applied ; bran sprinkled with phenyle, or carbolic acid lotion,
or bran and powdered charcoal poultices are useful (see page 136).
When the feet are cleaned, they may be washed with some mild
disinfectant ; then dried and some dry dressing, as equal parts of
boracic acid, oxide of zinc and iodoform, should be employed. A
pad of tow should now be applied, then a bandage and over all a
gunny-bag to keep the tow in place.
The foot should then be
enveloped in a leather boot, or a boot with wooden sole and leather
upper. If there is any tendency to proud flesh, it should be kept
down with blue-stone or some other caustic.
An excellent ointment for use in this ailment, and also for nasty
ill-conditioned sores about the feet, etc., is made as follows :—
Powdered alum ... ...
Subacetate of copper ... ...
Strong acetic acid ... ...
Vaseline ... .. ...
1 dr.
1 dr.
½ dr.
1 oz.
Melt the vaseline, then add the alum and copper and stir well ;
when almost cold, stir in the acid.
The following dressing may also be tried :—
Sulphate of copper ... ...
Tar ... ... ...
1 part.
8 parts.
Mix and heat together over a slow fire.
Dry calomel may be introduced into the cracks, or a small
quantity of burnt alum. The following recommended by Tuson also
makes a convenient dressing :—
Tar.........
Soft-soap.........
2 parts.
1 part.
Linseed meal sufficient to impart tenacity to the mixture.
22 0
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
CRACKED SOLE.
This is a condition in which ulceration takes place in the natural
cracks or crevices of the sole. It is a most troublesome affection
and difficult to cure. In some cases proud flesh occurs.
Causes.—Generally affects animals that are constantly working
in water such as many timber animals have to do ; bad sanitation is
another and not infrequent cause.
Symptoms.—The
affected parts appear sore ; there is often a
nasty oozing discharge from the cracks, and in severe and neglected
cases there may be raw fungus-like growths. Some animals suffer so
much pain that they are disabled.
Treatment.—In this affection cleanliness and keeping the feet
dry are all-important. While the animal is down, poultices may be
applied ; bran sprinkled with phenyle, or carbolic acid lotion,
or bran and powdered charcoal poultices are useful (see page 136).
When the feet are cleaned, they may be washed with some mild
disinfectant ; then dried and some dry dressing, as equal parts of
boracic acid, oxide of zinc and iodoform, should be employed. A
pad of tow should now be applied, then a bandage and over all a
gunny-bag to keep the tow in place.
The foot should then be
enveloped in a leather boot, or a boot with wooden sole and leather
upper. If there is any tendency to proud flesh, it should be kept
down with blue-stone or some other caustic.
An excellent ointment for use in this ailment, and also for nasty
ill-conditioned sores about the feet, etc., is made as follows :—
Powdered alum ... ...
Subacetate of copper ... ...
Strong acetic acid ... ...
Vaseline ... ... ...
1 dr.
1 dr.
½ dr.
1 oz.
Melt the vaseline, then add the alum and copper and stir well ;
when almost cold, stir in the acid.
The following dressing may also be tried :—
Sulphate of copper ... ...
Tar ... ... ...
1 part.
8 parts.
Mix and heat together over a slow fire.
Dry calomel may be introduced into the cracks, or a small
quantity of burnt alum. The following recommended by Tuson also
makes a convenient dressing :—
Tar ... ...
Soft-soap ... ...
2
1
parts.
part.
Linseed meal sufficient to impart tenacity to the mixture.
CRACKED HEELS.
221
This dressing may be applied when the animal is convalescent,
at which period he may be sent out with an attendant, who should
take care that the animal does not enter water.
Slym recommends for this affection the following dressing :—
Bark of the jack tree
...
Substance of the palmyra palm trunk ...
A good quantity.
A good quantity.
Boil with water a good quantity, or so much that, after about four hours,
a gallon or more is left ; strain, and while hot add—
Catechu ... ... ...
Soda ... ... ...
Wax ... ... ...
Oil ... ... ...
6 ozs.
6 ozs.
8 ozs.
3 qts.
Make the elephant lie down and apply the above with a piece of cloth
after cleaning the crevices (Formulæ 133 and 134).
Arsenic may be given internally: either liquor
arsenicalis,
half an ounce morning and evening, or arsenic, 2 grains morning
and evening for ten days or so, after which it should be discontinued
for a few days during which time other tonics should be substituted.
CRACKED HEELS.
This condition is the sajhan of the natives of India.
Causes.—Bad management, as it is seen usually in animals kept
on filthy standings ; those allowed to stand for days together in slush,
and those that have to work timber daily in water. Forsyth attri-
butes it also to constitutional causes, and remarks that it is a serious
unsoundness owing to its liability to recur every rains.
Symptoms.—Consist
of a cracked condition of the foot, usually
about the junction of the horny sole and the skin, from which a
discharge may issue.
Treatment : Preventive.—Animals
that have to work in water
should be carefully inspected after work and, on the slightest
appearance of any cracking, the matter should be reported and the
animal rested or changed to other work.
Curative.— Clean and thoroughly dry standings if possible on
cement or boarded floors ; on no account should an animal be
allowed to enter slush or water ; he should be bathed away from a
stream. The affected parts are to be cleansed thoroughly daily
with phenyle (1—60), or carbolic acid (1—60), or Condy's fluid
1 ounce to the pint, and the parts dressed with carbolized vaseline or
oil, oxide of zinc ointment, or boracic acid ointment, or with pow-
dered boracic acid and iodoform, equal parts, or iodoform, oxide of
zinc and starch, equal parts. If discharge is profuse, acetate of lead,
222
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
1 drachm to 12 ounces, or sulphate of zinc or copper, 4 or 5 grains
to the ounce of water, should be applied once daily. An occasional
application of weak solution of chloride of zinc proves beneficial.
The affected parts must be covered with tow and the foot enveloped
in sacking ; on recovery the animal should not be worked in water
for two or three months.
ABSCESS OF THE FOOT.
Causes.—The sole of the foot is comparatively thin and nature
intended it for transit over soft ground ; it follows therefore that
when an animal is put to constant work on hard roads or rough
country, especially when the work is carried on for protracted
intervals, the slipper or sole becomes unduly worn and attenuated,
and in this condition may very easily be severely bruised or wounded
by blunt bodies, and abscess is very likely to arise.
Symptoms—Are
the same as already described, with no
swelling, or at least so slight as to easily escape notice ; intense pain
(especially when pressed with the fingers), to which lameness is
superadded, or the animal by his posture may arouse suspicion such
as constantly resting the affected foot. Inflammation as in other
parts is apt to extend, in which case heat and puffiness may be
observed around the hoof-slipper or even above the nails. Matter
frequently, owing to its being unable to find an exit at the sole,
burrows upwards and escapes above the nails at the junction of the
slipper with the skin sometimes leaving a passage or sinus.
The temperature should always be taken.
Treatment.—As
soon as an animal shows signs of lameness the
foot should be examined most carefully for wounds.
By gently
tapping the sole with a hammer, if any tenderness is evinced, or
if any undue heat can be noticed with the hand, the animal should
be rested, and if this is done early enough trouble may be
averted ; the sole must be thoroughly cleansed with brush and
carbolized soft-soap and water and a cold bran-poultice applied ; but
if this does not reduce the heat and tenderness in twenty-four hours
or thereabouts, hot fomentations should be substituted and the tem-
perature taken every four hours or so ; for if the inflammation is of
a severe character the thermometer is sure to show a rise, in which
case there should be no delay in opening the abscess.
In this
situation owing to the horny nature of the sole, it should be pared
over the seat of inflammation till quite thin before using the knife ;
this procedure should immediately be carried out in the case of
punctured wounds in anticipation of future mischief. After this,
DISEASE OF THE NAILS.
223
treat the abscess as described. If a fistulous opening appears in
the parts abovementioned, injection of sulphate of zinc or copper,
2 to 5 grains to the ounce (see Formulae 98 to 102) should be tried,
and if necessary repeated and the parts dressed. In all injuries
of the feet the foot should be dressed, enveloped in gunny and
placed in a leather boot.
DISEASE OF THE NAILS.
Warty growths around the nails.—This
is not a very rare
affection amongst timber-working elephants, especially those that
constantly work in water ; these growths, which resemble warts
around the top of the nails, do not as a rule give trouble while
animals are working in dry places ; but when worked in water, they
often soften and ulcerate, sometimes causing nasty angry sores.
The animal is not ordinarily incapacitated from work, nor does he
go lame.
Treatment.—Keep
the animal out of water, the feet dry and
clean, and treat sores on general principles.
Ingrowing and overgrown nails.—Elephants
especially those
that work much in water are liable to ingrowing nails. Again
injuries to the feet, such as frequently happen while elephants are
walking about logs, may cause one or more nails to grow out in an
unnatural manner.
An ingrowing nail may cause much pain and lameness. Some-
times a little proud flesh is noticed about the position where the
nail is buried.
Treatment.—Remove
with a sharp knife. If the animal is kept
standing for some hours in water, the nail is softened and can be
cut ; moreover owing to the effects of the cold, the amount of pain
caused during operation is diminished.
When nails are overgrown, the offending portion may be
removed with a fret-saw ; but if the foot has been placed in water for
an hour or two, an ordinary strong sharp knife will be found to
answer the purpose.
MOISTURE AROUND AND UNDER THE NAILS.
Causes.—Usually bad sanitation or standing continually in wet
places.
Symptoms.—Itchiness
manifested by the animal rubbing one foot
against the other. If the nails are pressed, a nasty smelling
224
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
discharge may be observed issuing at the junction of the nails and
skin and also from beneath them. These cases are at times trouble-
some, especially when there is much discharge from under the nails.
Treatment.—Cleanliness
and keeping the feet dry is essential.
The affected parts should be thoroughly washed at least once daily
with some antiseptic lotion, and dressed with iodoform ointment,
dry calomel, carbolic acid ointment.
As the case improves tar
dressing may be applied.
Most affections of the feet are due to want of proper care and
management.
GUNRUSS AND CHOWRUNG.
These are terms applied by native mahouts to certain affections
of the feet. In the former, only the fore-feet are attacked ; in the
latter, the limbs and all the feet are involved.
Gilchrist and Hawkes state that the condition known as gunruss
supervenes in some animals that have been allowed to take their rice
during the time they were eating earth. It is manifested by stiffness
and a turning outwards of the feet, but except in severe cases
locomotion or efficiency of the affected animal is not impaired.
Chowrung—Is an aggravated form of the above. It may arise
from chills or from crossing rivers when the body is heated.
Treatment—Is
to avoid the causes such as mentioned. The
patient should be protected from cold, rain, and given stimulants.
and good food. Many of these cases are probably rheumatic.
CHAPTER X.
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY TRACT.
CATARRH OR COLD.
Symptoms.—Constant
dribbling of watery or opaque fluid from
the trunk ; watering from the eyes. The eyelids may be swollen
and half closed. The body may be cold or the surface temperature
uneven. The animal is listless ; there is loss of appetite and con-
siderable thirst. Constipation is usual. The causes which produced
the condition in this tract may affect other parts ; hence diarrhoea
may be present. If care is not taken, severe cases may run on to
more serious trouble such as inflammation of the lungs.
Treatment.—Keep
the animal in some sheltered place and if
very damp and cold throw a tarpaulin over the body. Allow plenty
of freshly-made gruel to which may be added salt or sugar. Tempt
the appetite with sugar-cane, fruits, young grass, etc.
Extract of belladonna
...
Chlorate of potash
...
...
Aniseed
...
...
Honey
...
...
1 dr.
2 drs.
3 drs.
A sufficiency.
Should be mixed into a thin paste and given three times a day.
OR
Camphor ... ... ...
Aniseed ... ... ...
Liquorice ... ... ...
2 drs.
½ oz.
½ oz.
Twice or thrice a day.
OR
Sweet spirits of nitre ... ...
Liquor ammonia acetatis (dilute) ...
2 ozs.
4 ozs.
Soaked in boiled rice with sugar or treacle. Twice daily.
A common native massaul is to take 9 drs. each of the following:—
HINDUSTANI.
Bdellium (Balsamodendron agglochia) (googul)
Mustard seed (Sinapis nigra)
(rye)
Turmeric (Curcuma aromatica)
(huldee)
Assafœtida (Ferula assafœtida)
(hing)
Borax (Biborate of soda)
(sowhaga)
Add a sufficiency of
wheat flour to make
into three boluses
and give one night
and morning.
Omum seed (Ptychotis ajwan)
(ajwan)... I oz., may be used in-
stead of the borax.
Stimulants of any kind may be given with advantage.
15
226
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
MUMPS OR SORE-THROAT.
Causes.—Sudden chills and exposure to cold winds when heated.
Symptoms.—Fever
with its attendant signs : swelling about the
throat and adjacent glands (parotids), difficulty in breathing and
swallowing. In extreme cases the throat may be so involved that
the animal may suffocate. Gilchrist states that in some cases food
becomes impacted in the gullet causing mortification of this organ.
Treatment:
General.—Only allow gruels, linseed tea, boiled
rice while there is any difficulty in swallowing ; protect the animal
from the weather ; if he will take it, allow nitrate of potash in
1-oz. doses in the drinking water. The following will be found
useful :—
Extract of belladonna
Powdered camphor
Powdered chlorate of potash
Powdered nitrate of potash
Powdered liquorice
...
... 4 drs. of each.
...
1 oz.
4 ozs.
To be mixed and well rubbed down with 8 ozs. each of honey and
jaggery. It should be made into a thin paste. A little of this should
be taken and rubbed in the mouth every hour or so.
Local.—Enemas to relieve the bowels, frequent hot fomentations
to the throat, and mustard or mustard and turpentine or other
embrocation (Formulae 70 to 73) rubbed in. Steel recommends
steaming through the mouth with infusions of nim leaves (COODQOS,
ta-ma-ywet—Melia
azedarach).
BRONCHITIS.
Definition.—Inflammation
of the mucous membrane lining the
air-tubes in the lung.
Causes.—As in pneumonia.
Symptoms.—If
acute, fever with its attendant signs : cough,
wheezing and laboured breathing.
When chronic, symptoms are very similar ; only fever is usually
absent.
Treatment.—In
acute cases as laid down for fever employing
enemas in lieu of purgatives, supplemented by the following :—
Ipecacuanha ... ...
Camphor ... ... ...
Squills (powder) ... ...
Liquorice (powder) ... ...
1 dr.
2 drs.
2 drs.
1 oz.
Twice or thrice daily.
PNEUMONIA.
227
OR
Myrrh ... ... ...
Assafœtida ... ... ...
Aniseed ... ... ...
3 drs.
3 drs.
1 oz.
Twice daily.
Embrocation should be rubbed into the chest.
Bamboo leaves are very often given to animals suffering from
cough.
PNEUMONIA.
Inflammation of the lungs.—Elephants
like other animals are
subject to this disease but it is not often diagnosed. In the elephant
the lungs are lightly lobulated ; there are only two large bronchial
tubes ; the substance of the lung is plentiful. When healthy, on
section they are soft under the knife. In elephants inflammation
may exist and not excite suspicion owing to the lack of the more
prominent symptoms seen in other animals, and death may result
without much warning.
Causes.—Chills from exposure to cold winds and wet ; over-
exertion.
Symptoms.—Temperature
generally high and lasting some few
days ; there may be shivering at the beginning. The pulse is
quickened, the breathing hurried and the chest is found to move
little or not at all during respiration, but the belly moves unusually
during the act. The animal rarely lies down, is very dull, dis-
inclined to move about though there is marked restlessness and
often prostration. Gilchrist states an animal "frequently opens its
mouth and coughs several times in an hour." Pneumonic cough is
generally short and painful, and there is usually a slight yellowish
discharge from the trunk ; yawning is a frequent symptom. The
mucous membranes are highly reddened. The appetite is almost
lost ; there may be considerable thirst. The bowels are constipated
and the surface temperature may vary. The disease reaches its
height in a few days and death may take place from suffocation.
If the animal survives, the lungs gradually recover their normal
condition and function. Recovery may be quite complete within
three weeks. In some cases, such as in old and feeble animals, the
condition may become chronic. In these cases the animals with
careful nursing recover, or death may occur in six or eight weeks.
At times the inflammation is so severe that the diseased parts
may mortify and death is the usual result. This untoward event