ULCERATION.                       195

and carelessness is to place the attendants on half pay during
the period their charge is incapacitated from work.

                      ULCERATION OF THE EAR.

This may be seen on the edges of the ear, on the flaps, or in the
canal which leads internally.

Causes.—Dirt, advanced debility and old age, or bathing the
animal when heated, neglected tears and wounds. The condition
is also met with sometimes in well-conditioned elephants, the tail
being affected at the same time, and this may be due to eating certain
grasses, or even grain food affected by a fungus such as "ergot."
Ergot is a fungus which grows on rye and other grasses and pro-
duces gangrene, or a destructive ulceration of the fingers, toes and
other extremities in human beings. It seems possible that this
identical fungus or something similar may account for this condition
which we see in these animals.

Symptoms.—That form, seen on the edges of the ear, has a
tendency to spread and the parts to become destroyed and thrown
off, considerably reducing the size of the flap.

That which is met with on the flap and sometimes extending into
the canal, discharges profusely. When the canal itself is attacked
there is a danger of the disease extending to the brain.

Treatment—Is difficult in this situation owing to the perpetual
motion of these appendages. The sore surfaces must be kept
thoroughly clean and dressed on the lines already mentioned for
ulcers.

When the canal is affected, a syringe will be required to keep the
parts clean ; no force should be employed and the canal must not be
plugged. To insure powders reaching the ulcerated surfaces, they
should be placed in a small bamboo, which when inserted into the
orifice may have its contents gently blown in.

                      ULCERATION OF THE TAIL.

Ulceration sometimes attacks the extremity of the tail.

Causes.—General debility or extreme age, though young and
well-conditioned animals may suffer. A similar condition may be
met with in monkeys, and I believe in the camel.

Symptoms.—The hair is shed and the skin ulcerates for a vari-
able distance up the tail. This destructive process is prone to extend
to the deeper tissues, all of which may die and considerable portions