Rumination - 6

HORSE SENSE”: A PATH FINDER FOR A PROFESSIONAL*

*AN EXPERIENCE WITH A PACHYDERM*
Horse-sense, a robust and plain thinking resulting in fruitful action in the face of adversaries to achieve the purpose, is perhaps a special endowment of human brain. A professional should rise up to an occasion against odds by stretching his imagination, judicious application of wisdom and common- sense. A cool head and warm feet are the essential pre requisites. A wise person will learn from other’s experience, but becomes wiser from his own:
Nostalgia and nostalgic memories either of happy note or otherwise prepares the mind to face any challenge of current concern.
Horse-sense should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Nostalgia is a mine of information, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. To be wise apply it, to be safe believe it and to be successful practise it. As a veterinarian with five decades of experience, I had faced many a situations of horse sense and wish to share with you all one such incident.

I was called to examine and treat a temple male baby elephant a few years ago , as it was reported to be sick since 3 weeks. The anamnestic data at the time of physical examination revealed that he had not passed faeces and also anorectic since 3 days.

A thorough physical and clinical examination of the case was made, and I decided to administer liquid paraffin orally. But the animal was not inclined to drink the liquid paraffin when offered. The animal, however, evinced interest in drinking water. Unfortunately the mahout was reluctant and non-cooperative in providing drinking water to the elephant for some personal reasons. It immediately struck to my mind, that water was deliberately withheld by mahout and hence I kept the mahout out of the sight of the animal with the help of temple authorities. Then I asked to bring two identical metal pots, one with full of water and another with liquid paraffin.


I requested the mahout’s wife to order the elephant to drink. I knew very well that the elephant would obey her orders since she was assisting her husband daily in the management of the elephant. I asked her to keep the water pot a few yards away from the elephant but with in its sight and then to order to drink the water. When the water pot was sighted the animal made all efforts to drink the water. Since its hind limbs were tied to the temple pillar it could not succeed in its attempt. After a few attempts, the water pot was kept within the reach of the animal and was suddenly withdrawn when the animal attempted to reach it. By this act its eager to drink the water got heightened, but not allowed to drink. This set in a bad temper in the pachyderm.
Taking advantage of this psychic crave, I asked the mahout’s wife to keep the other identical pot with liquid paraffin within the reach of the elephant. When she obeyed my instruction with all its eagerness; the elephant drank off the liquid paraffin fully in one attempt. However, moments later realizing that he had been tricked he trampled the pot out of the shape.
When he settled down, water was provided ad libitum to drink. The animal quenched its thirst. He passed faeces a few hours later. He was coaxed to eat sugarcane, banana fruits, and coconut kernels with jaggery. This helped me in proceeding further with my treatment.


Prevalence of horse sense on the part of a professional, in winning over the confidence of the Pachyderm, I, opine is a pathfinder for further professional assistance.