Medical treatment of Elephants

As far as the medical treatment of elephants is concerned one also gets remedies for those who are injured in the process of cutting of tusks. As cutting of tusks was a regular affair and cutting off more than what is prescribed can also be fatal. Soon after the cutting of tusk texts mention the sue of beeswax, lac, powdered pulse, fine sand along with śala resin in equal quantities should be boiled with guḍa, and the ointment made with this stuffed in the cavity of the tusk.^[1] Yaṣṭhīmadhu, kalodhra and beeswax with ghee–all this mixed with oil and boiled properly, the wise anoint the elephant’s tusks when it is thick and lukewarm. It should be covered firmly with soft leather cover.^[2] The tusks of elephants of proper quality and worthy of respect should be decorated according to the śāstras with coral, gems, pearls, diamonds and cat’s eyes. If the elephant is of an affectionate nature, its tusk should not be cut in order to pacify it.^[3]

The text Gajaśāstra also provides detailed knowledge on methods of purgation 30 verses are dedicated to this particular issue.^[4]

It ends with verse 30 which mentions that (the physician) who can make the king follow these methods, is not chary in danger and can cause the medicines to be applied to the elephants is the greatest of physicians^[5]. This reflects that elephant physicians are required to be expert in every aspect related to cure and care of elephants. Even purgation was considered as a knowledge, practical experience of which was considered imperative to qualify as a superlative veterinary doctor–moving in a royal contingent with elephants definitely would have included a veterinary physician in the groups and he would have been include of keeping the herd in good humour.

The Gajaśāstra provides details of treating elephants diseases and in this text one finds details of methods of purgation and snuff. The latter is prescribed in diseases of the head, ears limbs, face and eyes, and in earache, paralysis of the vein on the back of the neck and goitre. Snuff is best taken in the morning when (the elephant) has hot eaten. Oil (half droṇa) boiled over a slow fire with medicines to cure the disease, is best for snuff. The elephant should remain with its face raised and its trunk stretched. A servant, seated should care the elephant on his lap. Then the good physician should carefully squeeze the genitals (of the elephant). The treatment of young elephants is mentioned separately as in case of paediatrics.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Shri Mantramurti K.S. Subrahmanyaśāstri. ed. &tr. (in Tamil), Gajaśāstra [Gaja-śāstram] of Pālakāpya muni with extracts from other works and Coloured Illustrations, (atha gajaśāstrānubandhaḥ: atha dantacchedabheṣajam), v. 1-2, p. 163.

[2]:

Ibid., v. 3-4.

[3]:

Ibid., v. 5-6.

[4]:

Ibid., (atha gajaśāstrānubandhaḥ: atha vastibidhiḥ), v. 1-30, pp. 207-211.

[5]:

Ibid., v.30, p. 211.