By using RUS method, the temperature dependence of the elastic constants in the silver halide crystals has been measured above room temperature. The elastic constants decrease linearly with increasing temperature. Numerical calculations are presented for the contribution of the multipole polarization to the elastic constants in the silver halide crystals. The calculated values of the deviation from the Cauchy relation are about a quarter of the experimental values. The multipole polarization significantly affects the elastic constants and contributes to the violation of the Cauchy relation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.