The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-06-18
A wonderful Surgical Operation.
AN ELEPHANT THE PATIENT.

recently performed in that city on the Ele-
phant Romeo N
"Romeo is getting old; his flesh is slow
treat elephant sores, coupled with many
misapplied remedies, soon placed the old
hero in sad plight. The wounds festered,
inflammation increased, bad became worse,
until now his legs resemble the catacombs
of Rome, being mere receptacles Of corrup-
ton. When the managerie reached the
city, it became painfully evident that Ro-
meo could not well go any farther unless
some relief was afforded, and as Chicago is
famous for the quality just now, it was de-
termined to take advantage of the respite
afforded from travel during a nearly two
weeks stay, and place the great hulk on
the stocks. gHa-
After full hour spent in slashing, goug-
ing and scraping during which the poor
beast was rid of fifteen or twenty pounds of
purified matter and flesh, and pound or
two of bone, the surgeons concluded that
sufficient for day might be the evil there
of, and desisted from that part of the oper-
alton, to enter upon another ten-fold more
painful and narrowing.
While these excavations had been pro-
crossing, men were busy at the furnace
heating huge soldering irons, several inches
in diameter, to white heat. These were
now brought into requisition to remove the
proud flesh. When DR.. Withers approach
ed the animal with the first glowing iron a
shiver ran through his frame, and he was
disposed to resent any further aggression,
but being convinced by the pointed argu-
ments of his keeper that it was all for his
good, he issued another low thunder, which
was echoed from every cage, and straight
ened his trunk, and braced himself for
further martyrdom.
The red hot iron was now run into tun-
mel No. the length of about a foot, and
kissing sound, followed by dense volumes
of fumes and an intolerable stencil, issued
from the opening. The poor brute shook
like an aspen, made slight effort or twoat
resistance, but soon settled into quietness
again. Another red hot iron was introdu-
ced, again there was quiver Of the whole
frame, but this time he only drew up his
back and changed his position trife.
The blood now began to flow from the
caverns in copious supply, sight that
made all the animals Of the cat species des-
perate, and lions, tigers, leopards, hyenas,
panthers, wolves and others of the innumer-
able horde whose cages formed a circle
about the martyr, joined in low growls,
which were intensified to roars and shrieks
as the fumes Of the burning flesh filed
their nostrils.
When the din and noise were somewhat
quieted, the operation was proceeded with,
and during the two following hours above
thirty red hot irons was thrust into the poor
brute's carcass. When the surgeons finally
desisted it was not because they believed
their task completed but because the cav
erns had assumed such dimensions that the
two-inch irons proved too small to be fur
ther effective. Besides, Romeo was evident
ly weakening and getting little "groggy"
from loss of blood. t.,.
The openings were then thoroughly
washed with lotions, and afterwards care
fully bound up, it...t... ,..r .-..f
The old fellow has always displayed a
strong prediction for candy and other
sweet things. After the operation, nice,
big stick was proffered to him, but he re-
fused it with solemn shake of his head.
When the animals naturally vicious tenn
per is taken into consideration, his noble
behavior during the painful operations can
only be accounted for on the hypothesis
that, with an elephants proverbial sagacity
and fine instinct, he was convinced that it
would rebound to his good. Otherwise he
would have strewed his tormentors about
like "the leaves on the strand, " and might,
controlled by pious inspiration, have
knelt on one or two" .ttl.f.,. o.r., si.,t
The gentleman who operated upon him
expressed strong hopes for his recovery, but
Romeo subsequently died from the effects
of his disease and its treatment. -.r.-g,
The body has been donated by Mr. Fore
paugh to the Chicago Medical College,
where the mounted skeleton and stuffed
skin win be placed in the anatomical mu-
scum. Scarcely had "Romeo' breathed
his last when, Mr.. Forepaugh, with char
acteristic energy, sent telegram to his
agent in New York, authorizing him to
draw upon Jay Cooke & Co., to the amount
of $4,000 and directing him to proceed at
once by the first steamer to London, and
purchase the wild and ferocious elephant