NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
166
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
In recently captured elephants, thongs and ropes must be tied if
necessary in a new situation or discarded, and extra fetters and
tethering chains put on for security.
In these cases, owing to the danger of approaching the animal,
the sores are neglected and maggots gain access; they must be
treated as laid down under wounds.
On service it is sometimes necessary to work animals with slight
galls. In such cases the injured parts may be relieved by removal
of stuffing from the guddee to form a hollow large enough to take
in and protect the part from further injury.
NOTE.—Timely warning here must be offered, which must be ap-
plied to all diseases of the skin, abrasions, ulcers, abscesses, wounds,
including sprains and lameness from any cause. The practice,
as I have frequently observed, is to put animals into work as soon
as ever the diseased condition has been repaired ; this is a serious
maplractice. The tender new skin which has re-covered an ulcerat-
ed surface, requires several days, if not weeks to acquire sufficient
durability to tolerate conditions which may be applied to a healthy
skin in the way of friction and pressure. The same applies to all
tissues which have newly replaced diseased ones. An animal
therefore should be kept out of work from a week to a month, de-
pending on the severity of the injury after he appears to be thorough-
ly convalescent. I am convinced, if attention is paid to this matter
it will be found more economical in the long run.
Wounds.
Definition.—A wound is a solution of continuity of soft struc-
tures, generally induced by violence from without, but at times from
within, as is the case when a broken bone pierces the tissues.
Causes.—In elephants, fighting is one of the chief causes of
serious wounds. Severe falls and other accidents may similarly
occasion them.
Varieties of wounds.—For convenience of description, they
have been divided into several classes. It is, however, only necessary
to describe those most likely to be met with, namely,—
(1) Incised wounds such as are inflicted with clean cut-
ting instruments, knife (da). These wounds bleed
freely from their whole surface, and generally heal
rapidly.
(2) Punctured, in which the depth is much greater than
its superficial extent. Example: stabs, wounds from
spikes, bamboos. These wounds are generally
WOUNDS.
167
dangerous owing to the possibility of important or-
gans being injured and the difficulty in thoroughly
cleansing them. Any poison which may have gained
entry lurk in the wound and may set up various serious
diseases.
(3) Lacerated wounds, in which the tissues are torn;
they do not bleed so freely as incised and punctured
wounds, for the simple reason that the coats of torn
vessels contract more readily than is the case when
they are cut clean across.
(4) Contused-lacerated, in which, in addition to a wound,
there is much bruising of the surrounding parts.
Such injuries do not heal very rapidly owing to the
mechanical injury the tissues may have suffered, which
may be so severe as to lead to their death (Slough).
There is a tendency to formation of matter. Exam-
pie : After a fight, as the defeated animal retires, he
is often followed up by his opponent, who freely butts
his hinder part; should he happen to be in possession
of blunt, short tusks, a contused-lacerated wound is
likely to be the result.
(5) Poisoned wounds.—Bites of venomous snakes, stings
of insects.
Treatment of wounds in general.—(a) Arrest the bleeding.
(b) Search for, and remove foreign bodies, such as pieces of
glass, thorns, splinters, and cleanse wound.
(c) If possible secure edges of wound in apposition.
(d) Apply dressings with a view to exclusion of air, flies, dust,
also to ensure cleanliness and promote healing.
(a) Arrest of bleeding.—Bleeding may arise from an artery, a
vein, or minute vessels called capillaries. The methods employed
are—
(a) Torsion : seize the end of the vessel when seen with for-
ceps, twist three or four times, and let go; only ap-
plied to small vessels about the calibre of a packing
needle or less.
(b) Pressure, as with-pad and firm bandage, only employed
for- slowly oozing blood.
(c) Application of cold, such as ice ; only applied for trifling
oozing.
(d) Application of heat, such as hot iron, or. water at a
temperature which the hand will barely bear, about
110° F.
(e) Drugs: perchloride of iron, gallic, and tannic acids.
168
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
(f) Ligature, tying the vessel. The end of the vessel is
seized with forceps and a piece of silk, catgut, or
fishing gut (previously disinfected) tied round it and
secured. The thread is then cut off, leaving ends
from ½ to ¾ of an inch in length. If the vessel be
a vein, both ends must be secured. This is the me-
thod most certain and can be applied to vessels of
any size.
Blood from an artery may be recognized by its red colour, rapid
flow, and the blood spurting out in jets ; while that from a vein is
darker and the flow continuous. In capillary bleeding there is a
general oozing over the wounded surface. Capillary bleeding is
the least serious.
(b) Removal of foreign bodies.—Splinters of wood, pieces
of glass, and other bodies often remain in a wound ; search should
always be made for these and, if found, removal may be affected
by means of the fingers, or with the aid of forceps. Much hand-
ling and probing of a wound is not necessary. Dirt, gravel, can
best be removed by the free use of warm water. As a rule no
raw surface should be wiped or rubbed. To cleanse the wound,
small pieces of clean old linen should be employed. This may be
carried out by merely dipping clean cloths in boiled water (which
should be luke-warm when used), or in a weak solution of carbolic
acid (1 to 60), phenyle (1 to 60), or 2 grains of permanganate of
potash to the pint. Appendix Nos. 114 to 120, each cloth should
be gently squeezed above the wound so as to allow the water to
trickle over it, or a rubber tube may be attached to a funnel, or
a large tin-pot with a spout. The solution can then be directed all
over the wounded surface so as to thoroughly cleanse it. A large
syringe also answers the purpose. Great force is unnecessary.
As a precaution, when an elephant will permit the operation, in
cases where punctured wounds are found on the limbs, after- the
offending agent is withdrawn, I would strongly recommend that the
wound be enlarged with the knife, carefully inspected again for
foreign bodies, and then treated with carbolic acid (1 in 3), which
must be carefully rubbed into the deepest portions, but this method
must not be applied wherever there is any likelihood of any internal
organ being touched ; here it is best to cleanse the wound with car-
bolic lotion (1 in 40) and dress and await developments.
Generally speaking, the less wounds are handled and interfered
with the quicker they heal. Mahouts are fond of treasuring up
every piece of filthy rag for future use, and they are for ever rub-
bing, or wiping raw surfaces with them, and not infrequently use
WOUNDS.
169
them for plugging wounds of the back. There is only one way
of preventing this, namely, to make a point of burning all pieces of
cloth, dressings, after use ; and after all, this is not much trouble.
(c) Whenever a wound is found gaping, it is, where possible, de-
sirable to bring the edges into contact; and the handiest method I
can advise and one least calculated to be resented by the patient is
to apply strips of the best resin plaster; each strip must be passed
sharply backwards and forwards over hot embers to ensure perfect
adhesion. Hair should be removed.
To apply it cut two strips of plaster about 2 feet in length and
of width according to length of wound, say, from 1 inch to 3 inches,
shaped as Nos. 1 and 2 ; pass No. 1 through the window C of No. 2
and adjust before sticking down, so that the length of one piece
overlies the length of the other. Having done this, stick A end of
No. 1 on one side of the wound and the B end of No. 2 on the other,
leaving the B end of No. 1 and the A end of No. 2 free. Exert
traction on both these free ends, which will approximate the edges
of the wound. Having performed this, stick the ends down. In
case the above is not clearly expressed, cut strips out of paper and
practice the method. This plan answers well in some wounds.
Another method may be tried as follows : Suturing or sewing.
This is a less easy matter in the case of elephants, owing to the
thickness of the hide and the strength of the muscle beneath the
skin. It is certainly worth trying in recent incised wounds. Or-
dinary stitches do not as a rule hold well. I would therefore re-
commend the use of some new suture buttons suggested by Mr.
Pugh, and manufactured by Messrs. Arnold and Sons, West Smith-
field, London. The button is to be had in various sizes and in
two shapes, oval and round. It is made of aluminium and is there-
fore light; there is a hole in the centre for passage of the wire,
and on each side of the hole is a clip, around which the wire can
be twisted in a figure of eight. The advantages claimed are : its
simplicity and lightness, it prevents cutting or tearing of the
edges of the wound, and lastly it is easily rendered aseptic for
future use by boiling. Surgical needles, medium curve, with extra
sharp edges are required ; they should also be made in order to
carry stout silver or lead wire. A needle holder is also most neces-
sary to facilitate-the easy passage of the needle through the thick
skin.
In stitching elephant wounds, separate stitches are the best.
It is better to make the first stitch at the centre of the wound
To make a stitch, the needle is passed through the skin on one
side of the wound from without inwards ; then through the other
22
170
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS,
edge from within outwards; the ends of the wire are to be taken
and drawn in gently so as to bring the edges of the wound to-
gether ; when this has been effected, the ends of the wire are to be
twisted securely. The employment of buttons will be preferable.
Stitches should not be too close: a space of at least 1¼ inches
to 1½ inches should be allowed. The most dependent part of the
wound must be left open in order to permit free escape of all dis-
charges. The lips of large gaping wounds must not be forcibly
dragged together as the stiches will cause much pain and are
almost certain to give way. Again, stitches should not be made
too near the edges; they should be placed far enough from them
and of sufficient depth to ensure a good hold.
(d) Dress the wound.—The object of dressing is to keep the
wound clean, to prevent exposure to the air, prevent entrance of
dust, flies, and to provide a means of applying certain medica-
ments (see Appendix 121, 125 to 129 and 64 to 69).
Poisoned wounds.—These include snake-bite, stings of insects,
and wounds inflicted by tigers.
In the case of hornet stings, apply dilute ammonia.
Snake-bite.—I have heard of three cases of elephants said to have
been bitten by cobras ; no case proved fatal, though one was report-
ed to have been in a precarious condition for twenty-four hours.
When elephants die suddenly Burman mahouts invariably report
the cause of death as due to snake-bite. I think I am correct in
stating that quite one half of the deaths amongst elephants in this
province is attributed to snake-bite. I have never seen a case proved
nor have I met anyone who has. I would therefore warn owners
against believing such reports without ample proof. The poisonous
snakes likely to be met with in heavy jungle are—
(1) Hamadryad (
), rare.
(2) Cobra (
), rare.
(3) Green pit viper ( ), a common tree viper, the bite
of which, however, is very rarely fatal even to human
beings.
In open country—
(4) Russell's viper ( ), common.
(5) Cobra (
), common.
(6) Banded krait (
), common.
(7) Indian krait, rare.
Tiger-wounds.—Elephants are occasionally attacked and mauled,
and the wounds inflicted are peculiarly poisonous, but such wounds
must be treated on principles already laid down, that is, thorough
cleansing, and application of some caustic such as carbolic acid 1-3.
ULCERS OR SORES.
171
In any wound where much pain is evinced the following may be
employed to allay this—
Acetate of lead ... ... ...
Acetate of morphia ... ... ...
Water ... ... ...
4 grains.
2 grains.
2 ounces.
Owing to the neglect and improper treatment of wounds, ele-
phants are constantly incapacitated for work for months, which is
absurd. I know from experience that with care and attention
wounds in elephants, though certainly not disposed to heal as
rapidly as in most other creatures, will heal in about one-fourth the
time it takes a mahout to cure them.
Owners of elephants, and especially firms who have European
Assistants, should insist that elephants placed in their charge shall
not be treated (except under their personal direction) by mahouts.
Ulcers or sores.
An ulcer is the sore or wound left after the loss by decay or de-
struction of some superficial part of the body, whether skin or mu-
cous membrane—(Mansell-Moullin).
Causes.—Neglected abrasions or wounds and eruptions, such as
eczema.
Characters.—When a sore is healthy it presents a reddish (florid)
colour and in a day or two small points (about the size of millet
seeds), called granulations, beset the floor; these should not bleed
very readily on being touched and the wound should yield a thick-
ish yellow inoffensive discharge ; the edges should be soft, not raised
nor undermined.
Treatment.—(1) Such a sore requires any of the following:—
dusting with powdered boracic acid, or equal parts of boracic acid
and iodoform, or equal parts of oxide of zinc and starch (Appendix
64 to 69), and at each time of dressing the sore must be cleansed with
some such lotion as carbolic acid or phenyle (1 in 60), perchloride of
mercury 5 grains to the pint (1 in 2,000), or permanganate of potash
2—4 grains to the pint, or thymol 10 grains to the pint of hot water,
(1—1,000).
(2) When the surface is dark red and the parts hot and swollen
and there are large projecting engorged granulations (proud flesh),
bleeding on the slightest touch, and the discharge thin or bloody, the
following is the treatment:—Apply lead lotion (see Appendix 105 and
106), or equal parts of powdered alum and starch, or acetate of lead
and starch, or solutions of sulphate of copper 10—12 grains to the
ounce. Sulphate of zinc 10 grains to the ounce, once or twice daily
till the surface assumes the appearances in a healthy sore (also see
Appendix 61 to 63).
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A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
(3) If the sore has no granulations, but shows a smooth shrunken
surface and is pale, and discharges a thin watery fluid, apply the
following treatment:—Resin ointment (Appendix No. 131) or nitrate
of mercury ointment, Friar's balsam, or one of the following lotions
(see Appendix Nos. 109 to 113). Care must be taken to improve the
quality and quantity of the food. This class of wound is most often
met with in aged or debilitated animals.
In a neglected sore there may be maggots which may be actually
seen, or suspected by applying the nose close to the wound, when
there is usually a foetid odour, and a dirty offensive thin discharge.
When seen they must be removed with forceps ; if only a small open-
ing exists, it should be opened up and the maggots cleared out, and
subsequently the wound dressed with carbolic acid lotion (1 in 40).
Some elephants will not permit much handling, others insist on remov-
ing dressings, blowing in dirt, &c.; and when wounds exist in such ani-
mals, to avoid the entrance of flies, Dikamale ointment (the resin
from the Gardenia lucida), a common bazaar drug (Appendix No.
130), or powdered camphor dissolved in spirit and mixed with sweet-
oil, or equal parts of turpentine and sweet-oil, should be very frequently
applied. The abovenamed drugs will also remove maggots from
wounds.
When dressing wounds the soiled dressings when adherent must
be thoroughly soaked with solution of carbolic acid or phenyle (1 in
60), and gently withdrawn instead of being pulled off. Apart from
damaging granulations, the more pain occasioned the more timidity
will be aroused in the patient and greater will be the difficulty in
future applications.
Ulcers above the foot-pad.—A special form of ulcer is seen some-
times on the feet: timber elephants working much in water fre-
quently get nasty ill-conditioned sores, usually one or two above the
nails, and even behind the foot. The first thing observed is a swell-
ing, about the size of a pigeon's egg, hard to the touch, and not
painful, if disregarded the centres soften and break down, leaving
ugly ulcers, which are troublesome to heal.
Treatment.—If a lump such as described be observed, the animal
should not be allowed to work in water. The swelling should
be thoroughly painted with liniment of iodine, which, if used two or
three times, generally causes the swelling to disappear. If a sore
is present, the feet must be kept dry, the ulcer cleaned with carbolic
or other lotions; if indolent, the edges should be gently rubbed
with blue-stone, or lunar caustic, and dressed with the ordinary wound
dressings. In severe cases, in which there is much hardness around
the sore and which shows no tendency to heal, the application of a
hot iron may do much good, or a blister round the sore may stimu-
late it to heal.
ULCERS ON THE ELBOWS—CRACKED SOLE.
173
Ulcers on the elbows.
Causes.—Animals being frequently made to assume the recum-
bent posture on hard ground for loading, swelling may result at the
points of contact with the ground; if neglected, they may ulcerate,
causing nasty troublesome sores. They are not frequently met
with here, as generally speaking most people use the kah or basket,
and the animal is not necessarily required to assume the recumbent
posture the packages being handed up. Sanderson's pattern
gear is supplied to Government Officers. In an article in the
Veterinary Journal of November 1882, Nunn treats of these
troublesome sores.
Symptoms.—Local swellings in the position of capped elbow
in the horse ; the swellings are often very painful and tender.
Treatment.—Avoid the cause above mentioned and do not keep
an animal in the recumbent position longer than is absolutely neces-
sary. The elephant should be loaded as quickly as possible, and
this can be done if those around are made to work instead of talk
and argue with the mahout.
The animal should be tethered on soft ground so that he may lie
down ; fomentations and afterwards painting with liniment of iodine,
(Appendix 137), or applying a blister, may reduce the swellings. If
ulcerated, treat as laid down under that heading.
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 affec-
tion, and difficult to cure. In some cases proud flesh occurs.
Causes.—Generally affects animals that are always working in
water, such as many timber animals have to do ; bad sanitation is
another cause.
Symptoms.—The affected parts appear sore ; there is often a nasty
oozing discharge from the cracks. Some animals suffer so much
pain that they are disabled, in fact unable to stand.
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 a little carbolic acid lotion or
bran and powdered charcoal poultices are useful (see Appendix,
page 234). When the feet are cleaned, they may be washed with
some mild disinfectant, then dried, and some dry dressing such as
equal parts of boracic acid, oxide of zinc, and iodoform should be
174
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.
employed. A pad of tow should then be applied, and 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. 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.
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—
Cutch ... ... ... ...
Soda ... ... ... ...
Wax ... ... ... ...
Oil ... ... ... ...
6 ounces.
6 ounces.
8 ounces.
3 quarts.
Make the elephant lie down and apply the above with a piece of
cloth, after cleaning the crevices (Appendix No. 133 and 134).
Arsenic may be given internally: either Liquor arsenicalis ½ an
ounce morning and evening, or arsenic 2 grains morning and even-
ing, for a week 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.—Attributed to 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 attributes 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 dis-
charge may issue.