, 1872-02-08
Anecdotes of Elephants.

/ r fASSS OA WILL tAiQWA
his reach for that purpose, with the fin
ger like nppendage at the extremity of
the trunk. On one occasion, sixpence
was thrown down. which happened to
roll little out of the reach of the ami
NAL, not far from the wall. and he, be-
ing desirous Of picking it up, stretched
out his probosois several times to
take it but it was even yet beyond his
reach little. He then stood motionless
for few seconds, evidently considering
how to act. He then stretched his pro-
boscis in straight line as far as he
could, little distance above the coin,
and blew with great force against the
wal. The angle produced by the oppo-
sition of the wall, made the current of
air act under the com. as he intended
d anticipated it would and it was cur
ious to observe the sispence travelling
by this means, toward the animal till it
came within his reach anil he picked it
up.
This complicated calculation of natur-
al means at his disposal, was an intellec-
tual effort beyond what vast number
of human beings would ever have tho't
of, and would be good thought and
clever expedient under similar circum-
stances in any man whatever.
The male elephant called Jack, which
was in the Geological Society Gardens.
London. in 1910, used to be made to fast
the whole of Sunday, like the carniver-
Gus animals, with the exception of a
light breakfast. But after enduring this
weekly privation for time, he came to
a resolution to submit to ii no longer
Accordingly be made such disturbance
on several successive Sunday nights that
the keeper had little repose. But as
this produced no relief to his hunger, he
at length proceeded further, and made
on one occasion such determined at
tack upon his door that the people were
glad to get up in the night aud feed him.
After this energetic demonstration he
was allowed his full meals on Sunday,
and continued quiet.
This elephant gave remarkable proof
Of ingenuity by certain operations on
the ceiling in front of his apartment
1t was ceiling formed of boards, and
considerably lower than that of the room
within, but thought to be sufficiently
high to prevent him from injuring 1t,
and its surface was made perfectly
smooth, so as to afford him no means of
effeoting a hold on it. But wanting
something to do in the monotony of his
confinement, he appears to have sound
ed it, and concluding it was hollow rails
ed his head suddenly, drove one of his
tusks through the board, then broke
away the edges of the hole so as to make
it large enough to admit his trunk when
he could tear down the boards.
DR.. Daniel Wilson, Bishop of Calcut-
to, says that an elephant belonging to
an engineer officer in his diocese, had
disease in his eyes, and had for three
days been completely blind. His owner
asked DR.. Webb, a physician intimate
with the Bishop, ifhe could do anything
for the relief # the animal. DR.. Webb
replied that he was willing to try on one of
the eyes the effect Of nitrate of silver,
which was remedy commonly used for
similar diseases of the human eye. The
animal was accordingly made to lie down
and, when the nitrate of silver was ap-
piled, uttered terrific scream at the
acute pain which it occasioned. But the
effect of the application was wonderful,
for the sight w.:s in great degree re-
stored, and the elephant could partially
see. The doctor was in consequence
ready to operate similarly on the other
eye on the following day. The animal,
when be was brought out and heard the
Doctors voice, lay down himself. placed
his head quietly on one side, curled up
his trunk, drew in his breath, like hu-
man being about to indure painful op-
Grafton, heaved sigh of relief when it
was over, and then, by motions of his
trunk, and other gestures, gave evident
signs of wishing to express his gratitude.
During one of the wars in India many
Frenchmen had an opportunity of OBJ
serving one of the elephants that had
received flesh wound from cannon
ball. After having been twice or thrice
conducted to the hospital, where he ex-
tended himself to be dressed, he after
wards used to go alone. The surgeon
did whatever he thought necessary, ap-
piled oven fire to the wound, and though
the pain often made the animal utter
the most plaintive groans. he never ex-
pressed any other token than that of
gratitude to this person, who, by mo-
mentary torments, endeavored to relieve
him, and in the end effected his cure.
In the late war in India, a young ele-
phant received a violent wonnd in his
head, the pain of which rendered it so
frantic and ungovernahle that it was
found impossible to persuade the ami
NAL to have the part dressed. Whenev-
er any one approached it, it ran off with
fury, and would suffer no person to come