128                A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.

Instructions for their use :—

Posture.—The animal must be made to assume the crouching
posture he does while being loaded, but if possible the fore-quarters
should be lower than the hind-quarters. A sloping ground will
answer this purpose. The tail must be held on one side or right
up by a man standing on the back.

(1) In order to evacuate the bowels, a large quantity (many
quarts) must be thrown up. The procedure is as follows : As much
dung as can be reached must be removed by the hand first of all,
then the pipe of the syringe, previously anointed with some lubri-
cant (vaseline or any sweet oil), must be passed gently a foot or
more into the bowel; this requires no force but gentle manipula-
tion. If force is used there is danger of injuring the bowel wall
and the creature is induced to strain down, which is just what is
not desired at this time. The pipe having been inserted, warm
water and soap or plain water is to be injected without force and
continued till the animal can contain no more, evinced by obvious
discomfort. For producing evacuation of the bowels, enemas are
most useful in elephant practice ; they are to be preferred in most
cases to internal remedies, producing the desired result in a much
shorter time, with less pain, and at all times where the possibility
of obstruction exists they are the only safe means to be employed.
Again, no constipation ensues which is almost an invariable sequel
to internal remedies.

(2)   In this instance it is not desired to bring about an evacua-
tion but merely to bring hot water into contact with the parts with
the object of allaying pain. Hence to do good this must be
retained and to effect this not more than four quarts must be
injected at a time. Should this be returned, a smaller bulk must
again be thrown up and this can be repeated every half-hour till
pain is relieved. For this purpose water alone must be used and
should be injected at a temperature of 105°F. as nearly as possible
(not higher). The hand will bear this without discomfort. If less,
the value of the enema is diminished.

(3)   Is administered like (2), that is, with the object of being
retained. Medicines are added to the enema to effect various
objects, e.g., relief of pain, killing parasites.

In procedure (1) the following may be added where ordinary
simple enemas are not effectual :—