Ἰνδικά 38: Fragm. XXXVIII. Ælian, Hist. Anim. XIII. 7. Of the diseases of Elephants. (Cf. Fragm. XXXVI. 15 and XXXVII. 15.)

38

The Indians cure the wounds of the elephants which they catch, in the manner following:—
They treat them in the way in which, as good old Homer tells us, Patroklos treated the wound of Eurypylos, — they foment them with lukewarm water. After this they rub them over with butter, and if they are deep allay the inflammation by applying and inserting pieces of pork, hot but still retaining the blood. They cure ophthalmia with cows' milk, which is first used as a fomentation for the eye, and is then injected into it. The animals open their eyelids, and finding they can see better are delighted, and are sensible of the benefit like human beings. In proportion as their blindness diminishes their delight overflows, and this is a token that the disease has been cured. The remedy for other distempers to which they are liable is black wine; and if this potion fails to work a cure nothing else can save them.