The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-13
From the Chicago Tlmes.l

gV., - =.
from the Chicago Tlmeal
The most colossal surgical operation ever
performed upon living creature was VIII
messed bv q select few In this city on Tuesday,
June 4. The elephant Romeo, OF Fo-epaugns
menagerie and circus, was the suoJect. ~
appears that at the opening OF the present
season Romeo was more than usually intracLa-
BILE, and was accordingly chained up. ne
tugged at the chains until they entered deeper
ana deeper into his flesh. and ina T"anas sha, as
could scarcely walk. Having two weeks TO
stay in Chicago. Mr.. Forepaugh determined 70
place Romeo In the hands Of surgeon. win
This purpose In view he called on DR.. d. w.
Boyd, professor of surgery and anatomy OF tne
Chicago Medical College. who has had some
experience In elephantine surgery, having
dissected to or three Of these monsters. at anu
who is now engaged In setting up; the great
carcass OF the famous Hannibal In the museum
Of the college. The professor consented, and,
accompanied by Mr. 3. J. Wilhers, Veteri-
nary surgeon, mace his appearance al tne
menagerIe.
THE SURG CONS BEGINNING THEIR WORK.
Having got Romeo In proper position. the
surgeons opened their tool chest, ana lgnt-
ing brisk tire In furnace secured ior Inc
occasion, ro3le6up their sleeves and literally
Hwent mn One OF the Forepaugh brothers,
self In front Of Romeo with pitchiork; q MIN.
bic darkey, assistant keeper, took charge OF
hIs trunk by attaching several handsp1kes 10
II: DR.. Whlthers knelG before his victim, and
In another moment several pounds Oh eie'
phant steak were severed from tne mass.
simultaneously low rIm?iing nke h.1n als,at asnG
every animal In the menagerie to the cnorIe,
and for a minute or two 1t seemed as u all the
elephants had broken loose In Pandemonium.
Koneo was the first to recover his presence,
being assisted In bis task by many well-di-
-rected and pointed arguments.
:, The next thrust brought only quiVes over
the huge carcass, and after tnat, during
three mortal hours of terrible pain, The animal
displayed only the noblest qualities OF forti-
tude. The surroundings OF the animal soon!
presented the appearance of an ill.ordered'
slaughter.house. Sa:'i's IL, ln.,i
SO TuNNELIINa a MOUNTAIN OF FLESH. -
Aeain and again, under the direction of Prof
Bond. Dr.. Withers cut, gouged, tunnelledl
and Ghiselled Into the poor beast, eacn lime,
cuttirg away or digging out pound or TWO OF!
TOOL was Withdrawn the blood flowed copions-i
" after 1t. Like q practiced miner, the doc.
Tor only prospected for while, feeling his
way to: the crevices. Soon he laid pare q
member, and then entered upon task that
siekened the stoutest saw bones present.. HaV-
ing exposed the seats Of corruption ne pagan
to scoop them out, bringing handful alter
handful to the surface. Tunnelllug his way
along by means of scrapers and chisels, bis
arm would enter the animals leg to the elbow.
until the sound flesh was reached. 1t was not
long before the explorer discovered that WHAT
sound bone or flesh there was in Romeos lore
legs wasn't worth speaking about, ana line tne
only wonder was tnat the animal was ahVe
and able to stand on his legs.
7 ,,orrr, r,HynrD TEE KNJIPE
/, After full hour spent In slashing, ,gongiDg,
and scrapng during which tne poor peas. Tas
matter and flesh, and a'pound or two OF bone,
the surgeons concluded that sufficient for Q
iay might be the evil thereof, and desisted
from that part of the operation to enter upon
another ten-fold more painful and narrowing:
Both legs had been thoroughly tunneleo, ana
In many cases, where the openings were
fractions of bones prevented meeting
While these excavations had beer progressing
men were busy at the furnace heating huge
soldering irons several Inches In diameter, 70
a.white neat These were now brought into
requisitlon TO remo7e The proud nesn.
BURNING OUT THE PROUD FLESH. ;s'zg !
When DR., Withers approached the animal
with the first OF these glowing irons, ahiVer
raIrthHongh his frame,eand ne was disposed
to reseue any IurCueEt dSSkeoniohi, 3puo os,uS
convinced by the, pointed arguments Of hls
Keeper that It was all Tor his good, he issued
another low thunder, which was echoed from
every cage, and Strengthened his trunk ana
braced himself ior. further martyrd0m.
The red hot iron was now run Into tunnel
No. to the length OF aboufI loot, ana. q ais;
sing e ,una,G followed by dense volumes OF
fumes and an anintolerable stencil; Issued from
ihe opening. The poor brute shook IKE an
sspen, made slight effort or Two at resls,
tance. but soon settled into quietness again:
Another red-hot iron was introduced, again
there was q. CULVER of the whole frame, Dut
this time he only drew up his back ana
changed his position s4rihe. 90 '1'5N'2s
A TuMuLT .ANcNG TIE AZ ANIMALS. DIAL -
The blood now began to flow from the caj
yerns in oop!ous supply, q sight that made az
the animals OF the cat species desperate, ana
lions Iigerscro le0pards, hyenas, pantaers;
3 syeolvas:. and others of the lnnumerahe norde
whose cages formed q circle about the mar
tyr. Joined In low growls, which were inien:
siied to roars and shrleks as the fumes OF tne
bnrning flesh filed their nostrlls. THIS tu:
mutt caused score or two OF keepers TO rasn
for,the dens of their pets in their respective
charge, and as these added their. not over
gentle voices to the volume, and the rage OF
Sho hoo -ta fnr the uonce was still furtner aS,