TYMPANITES.                          279

heart could not be counted owing to the muscular spasms. Respi-
rations 36, laboured, the muscles of the chest being mainly employed
in the act. At times the animal groaned as if in pain. The abdo-
men was immensely distended and any pressure in that region caused
the animal to groan. The usual rumbling peristaltic motion of the
bowels was not heard. Examination per rectum showed that it
contained yellowish brown liquid faeces. Higher up the hand
encountered firm masses which appeared to be impacted.

" Treatment.—Enemas, massage of abdominal wall. One litre
of Camomile tea, well sugared, and half a litre of brandy was admi-
nistered. This soon produced a beneficial effect. Convalescence
was protracted. Three weeks after first attack, he had a bad relapse.
The animal could not rise, his breathing was difficult (stertorous)
and the heart action weak. Jacob injected 30 c.c.m. (about 8
drachms) of spirits of camphor into the cardiac region of the mori-
bund animal and examined, under the microscope, blood taken from
the ear. He found a very large increase in the leucocytes (white
blood cells), 1 to 67 red corpuscles.

" The animal died the same day of dyspnoea (suffocation).

" Post-mortem examination.—Chronic lymphatic leukaemia,
oedema of the lungs and degeneration of the heart muscle. In the
stomach were several Gastrophilus Bots, and in the intestines a very
large number of amphistomes and nematodes. The animal was also
suffering from Distomatosis (flukes). The illness of the animal is
interesting in that the owner of the elephant sold the animal as
sound shortly before the illness and was sued. Dr. Jacob as a
result of his examination gave it as his opinion that the elephant had
been suffering from lymphatic leukaemia which is sure to end fatally
That the parasitic invasion (Gastrophilus and Distomatosis) had
taken place before the purchase of the animal and that his capability
to undergo training was thus undermined.

" After the law case had run on for three years they called in
the Court of First Instance and the seller's claim was dismissed with
costs."