244              A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.

water be very cold, the chill should be taken off. The animal should
not be bathed till the effects of the physic have passed off. It often
takes from 16 to 24 hours for the physic to operate, and its action
continues for from 4 to 12 hours at intervals. If a purgative
" hangs fire," a little walking exercise, or a soap-and-water enema,
will hasten its action. Debilitated and otherwise delicate animals
should only receive mild purgatives. Diet should be restricted while
the animal is undergoing physic. Gruel in moderate quantity only
is to be allowed. The animal should be kept quiet and the body
clothed.

Curative—

                      No. 1.

      Every four hours till relieved.

                       No. 2.

Soaked in bread, mixed with boiled rice and given in straw packets.

                 OR

               No. 3.

           Twice daily.

(Also see Formulae 1 to 10 and 82 to 84.)

Alcoholic stimulants, such as brandy, rum, whisky, given in gruel.
Ordinary lime-water mixed with gruel often proves beneficial.

                                 DYSENTERY.

This condition is uncommon and is manifested by intermittent
griping pain accompanied by discharge of liquid dung mixed with
blood and slime.

* Ganja (Indian hemp) in doses of 3 to 4 drachms may be substituted for the
opium.