204                       A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.

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
applied to all diseases of the skin, abrasions, ulcers, abscesses,
wounds, including sprains and lameness from any cause. The prac-
tice as usually observed is to put animals into work as soon as
ever the diseased condition has been repaired ; this is a serious
malpractice. The tender new skin which has recovered an ulcerated
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,
depending on the severity of the injury after he appears to be
thoroughly convalescent. If attention is paid to this matter it will
be found more economical in the long run.

                              PITYRIASIS OR SCURF.

Causes.—Elephants that are badly cared for, and whose general
health suffers in consequence, are specially liable to this disease ; it
however may also occur amongst animals that are irregularly
worked but in other respects well cared for.

Symptoms.—A general unthriftiness of the skin which may be
hot and very tender. Irritation may or may not be present. If
the skin be carefully examined, it may be observed that the scales
which resemble dry bran are being cast off on all parts of the body.
The hair on the body and tail is easily removed. In some cases
the skin may be noticed to be rather harsh, in others it remains
soft and pliable.

Treatment.—A change of food and jungle-grazing is usually
beneficial in these cases. If the patient has been over-fed, the
quantity should be reduced. In cases where debility is present, a
liberal allowance is to be made, and the fodder should be clean and
fresh. Attention must be paid to the state of the digestion, and also
to the action of the bowels. Regular exercise, regulated in accord-
ance with the strength of the patient, is essential. The body
should be lightly groomed daily with a soft brush or cocoanut fibre
glove and afterwards washed with carbolized soft soap and water,
and occasionally with a weak solution of washing soda. Internally,
a course of tonics, of which the best results are obtained from the
administration of iron or arsenic, or both.