The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-10 00:00:00

TRIMMING A TIGER'S TOES.

The difficult operation of trimming a tiger's toes
was lately performed by a noted lion tamer at the
Zoological Gardens in Philadelphia on a Royal Bengal
tiger, which had been suffering long from in.growing
claws, and was in danger of lockjaw. The tiger was
rather celebrated for its intractability and had one
day caused the death of the female in the next cage
by crunching one of her legs which had slipped through
the, bars.
From a graphic account of the trimming operation
in one of the Philadelphia papers it is gathered that
five stout manilla ropes were arranged on the rail in
front of the cage, each having a slip knot and a safety
string (a stout card, which, when pulled, releases or
opens the knot). The operator, Mr. Forepaugh, went
about his work very coolly. Having coaxed the animal
over near the bars, he placed the loop of one rope (larger
than the others) on a pole, and tried to pass it over the
tiger's neck. But " Jim " suspiciously avoided the man-
ceuvro. He was soon cornered, however, and the loop
thrown over his neck and pulled tight. To his intense
surprise and rage he was drawn close to the bars. He
then lay down and quietly awaited developments.
The loop of one of the smaller lines was next laid in
front of his front right paw. Mr. Forepaugh, then,
with a small iron scraper, pushed the rope under the
paw. The assistant drew the loop tight and pulled
the paw also close to the bars. "Jim" now seemed
to be awake to the situation and made frantic struggles
to free himself, growling fiercely. Disregarding these
demonstrations, Mr. Forepaugh went on to secure the
other paw in the same way. To secure the hind
legs, he now entered the cage and caught both legs in
thhpeisntaohotas pullg
e: "side, and drew his four paws close to the cage bars in
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he sprang up
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front, securing them there. The rope round the neck
get loose,
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rotande.
was now removed, and a man was stationed near the
head with a stout oaken stick, with instructions t,) put
it in the tiger's mouth every time he raised himself
and attempted to bite his fastenings. Mr. Forepaugh
now commenced with the rear right foot, the worst,
and trimmed the claws of this and the others in succes-
sion. Burnt alum was rubbed into the wounds and bal-
sam of fir was then poured in—the former to remove
the corruption and the latter to heal the wound.
The operation with the forepaws was rather more
dangerous, as the lion-tamer was forced to place his
hands within reach of the tiger's formidable teeth.
Each time however, that "Jim" started up the stick
was presented to him to chew, and when all was over
the end of it was found splintered. When all the paws
had been treated, the attendants, at a word from Mr.
Forepaugh, pulled on the safety ropes, and thertiger
sprang to his feet and was free. The relief was im-
mediate, judging from the manner in which the great
beast walked about his cage. The whole operation did
not exceed twenty minutes.
It is anticipated that the cut claws will probably
grow in once again and have to be clipped, but that
this will be the last operation necessary.