The oldest existing veterinary text from India is a treatise entitled Asvâyurveda siddhânta (‘Complete Âyur vedic system for horses’) attributed to a certain Sâlihotra (20,24). A person of the same name was mentioned in the Mahâbhârata, the great Indian epic (apparently written between 300 BC and AD 300). However, the treatise is definitely more recent, although probably earlier than the 10th century AD. There also exists a Tibetan version written at the beginning of the 11th century, and the text was translated into Persian in the 14th century. The same author apparently wrote two books on horses: Asvalakshanasâstra (‘Treatise on the marks of horses’) and Asvaprasamsa (‘In praise of horses’). Subsequently, various treatises on horses and diseases of horses were composed. Among the best known works of this specialist literature are Asvacikitsita (‘Therapeutics of horses’), written by Nakula around the year 1000 (20, 21), and Asvavaidyaka (‘Medicine of horses’) by Jayadatta, probably originating in the 13th century (14). The principal surviving ancient text dealing with elephant medicine is a treatise which tradition ascribes to Pâlakâpya, a legendary person, also known as Dhanvantari, the father of Indian surgery (20, 23). The text, entitled Hastyâyurveda (‘The Âyurveda of elephants’) is divided into four parts. The first part is devoted to general diseases, the second to localised and minor ailments, the third to surgery and anatomy, and the last to the feeding of elephants and medicinal preparations. The text cannot be earlier than the Middle Ages, but it contains medical concepts and veterinary practices of long standing. The Greek Megasthenes, who lived in India for many years circa 300 BC as ambassador to Chandra Gupta (Sandrocottus), confirmed the existence of medical aid for elephants, and provided precise indications which agree with Indian sources. In particular, his evidence of care provided for elephants demonstrated that the state of veterinary medicine was already as advanced as in the Hastyâyurveda and other more recent texts, such as the Mâtangalîlâ (‘Elephant sport’) by Nîlakantha (11, 22). In Assam, at the beginning of the 18th century, the Hastividyârnava (‘Ocean of knowledge concerning elephants’) was written. This has survived as a single manuscript, rendered valuable mainly by its illustrations: unlike older manuscripts which have survived to our times, this text on elephants is adorned with numerous miniatures illustrating the different chapters on the varieties of elephants, their capture, habits, training procedures and care. The text also incorporates popular beliefs and magico-religious practices (7,10).