306                   A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS.

The parasite.—On the examination of a stained specimen we
find it composed of a body which is usually described as eel-like in
form, and inside the body two other bodies or nuclei, one of large
size and usually situated about the middle of the organism, the
other smaller and situated about the posterior extremity. Along
one edge of the body runs the flagellum which arises from the small
nucleus and is prolonged beyond the anterior end as the free portion.
Connecting this flagellum to the body we have a very fine membrane,
the undulating membrane. When examining a fresh specimen of
blood, the trypanosomes can be seen wriggling rapidly from place to
place and knocking the red corpuscles about with their flagella.
There may be many parasites in a field or only very few.

Prevalence.—The disease occurs practically throughout India,
Burma, Persia, Siam, the Straits Settlements, Philippines, etc.

Symptoms.—The disease " is characterised by an intermittent,
remittent, and sometimes a relapsing type of fever which continues
for varying periods, from a few days to months, according to the
species and the constitutions of the animals attacked."—(Lingard.)
In elephants it is very rarely that Europeans observe the early
symptoms of any ailment—at least such as may be detected by an
attendant who has had an animal under his charge for some time, such
as slight dulness and fever, perhaps temporary loss of appetite,
the animal doing his work but tiring rather quickly, gradual but
scarcely perceptible loss of condition, alteration in character of the
excretions.

Admitting a mahout to have noticed that his charge is not as
well as usual, he might not report the matter, as many of them
remember the old custom which prevailed, viz., that while an elephant
was out of work through sickness his driver was without pay.

Elephants become dull, listless and sleepy-looking, they are
disinclined to move about and, if made to, the movements are sluggish,
the eyes appear dull and dim, and there is in some cases a frothy
discharge from the eyes. The mucous membranes are as a rule very
pale and later may take on a yellowish tinge ; there may be mulberry-
coloured spots on them, but these are not constant. The bowels are
generally normal, but there may be constipation and the dung covered
with mucus. The urine is scanty, gradually becomes viscid, and is
often markedly greenish in colour. Gradual but progressive loss of
condition is usually present, but is not appreciable in these immense
animals, at least to a casual observer, until pronounced.

During paroxysms the pulse is faster, and during the intermis-
sions is about normal ; as the strength fails it becomes feeble.
The respiration is not much altered. Even though the tempera-
ture be high the appetite remains good—a remarkable feature