The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-05-09
From the Boston .qthenm,n.


AEECDoTE OF HYEEA. In the wear
1913, there was brought to the royal men
agerle OF the Schoenbrun male hyena, of
AFRICA. which had been taken by trap, in
" Whlch 1t lost the paw of the right hind leg.
II mad then on collar of iron, which, as It
appeared too tight, they used every means
III Ihelr power to loosen, but without ef:
Iect, II being found too dangerous to an.
proach closely to this ferocious animal. It
continued, therefore, to bear the collar fer
the space OF four years, suffering the great
est torture, as the iron was every day sink.
ing INTO the flesh. When M. Van AIKEN
brought his polar bear to the menagerie
ne saw Tor the first time the hyena. which
was then become so furious, that il was
dangerous to approach within four or five
YARDS OF the cage. He often retreated To
the bottom Of the cage, in order to spring
forward with more mpetuosity-emittine
the most hldeous cries, and endeayorin9 Ia
seize IN his claws everY&lTlhg which was
near the door. Van Az 6ffer some ex-
animation, promised the Keeper of the men.
agerie to free the animal from the collar
without the least danger. On the Goth Of
june, about nine o'clock, he. caused piect.
OF OAK wood to be thrown into the care.
when the hyena Immediately bounced on Il
with such fury as to drive its teeth half an
inch into the wood and, though having
greatly wounded his tongue, he was roluc3
taht or incapable Of extricatinp himself
from the wood. This was what Van Ake1,
expected. A rope was instantly thrown
around the animals body, to draw it TO the
door OF the cage; which being done. thew
tied It's legs, and, having got it out Of the,
cege, muzzled it. Notwithstanding the
danger OF this operation, no danger way
apprehended, it being performed with so
much address and expertness. OF twelve
persons who were present, not one express-
ed wish to Withdraw. AS soon as the
muzZie was put on, the Animal heceme
quite tranquil. But the most difficult par,,
was yet to be perforIned-to take of tha
collar and clean the wounds which had ez-
lsted flve years, and the filthy matter OF
when emitted most intolerullle smell
the collar was surrounded with a treat
quantity OF unsound and putrii flesh. The
hyena Became so tranquil durjnq this n,rf
OF the operation, that it seemed as If II
were sensible Of the service rendered ::
but when they were about to apply to the
wound mixture, composed Of the snirits
OF WINE, with vinegar and salt. the rrs;,,
which the animal felt caused al his fury IN
return; and, though his feet and head
were bound fast, by sudden centortion Of
the back and neck, he plunged two feel
above the ground. 1t required all the
strength of five men to hold him and rnb
the wounds. It was still very difficult. ec
ter he was carried to new care larger
i man fhe fffn1E.r Gf3d
take off the muzz,e. These operations
were executed with the same success a :
the preceding one--the precaution beina
first taken of holding the head and leqs hy
means OF cords, which were let loose at
once, when the animal, finding itself dis.
engaged. made desperate plunge in tho
cage, and threw off the muzzfe to 4 consid- :
cradle distance. All was done without
any person being wounded, or even slightly
scratched. When food was given to ths
hyena III front of the cage, they continued
to make injections of the above mixture IA
on the wound. 1t has been lately freed
from its fatal collar, which would certainly
have soon caused its desth. It's wounds
are vlsibly healed. 1t has become tranquiI
and ID. Van AIKEN has thus preserved 10
the menagerie very rare aud curious ami
imal.