Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-05
CLIPPING A TIGER.
Mr. FOrepaugh's Delicate Surgical
Operation on Him." the Bengal
Tiger Of the Philadelphia Zoo.
PHILADELPHIA Cor. New York Herald.l

Philadelphia Cor. New York Hsrald.l
The interesting feat of clipping the
ingrowing claws of the Royal Bengal
tiger Jim" an iuhabitant of The
Zoo" was accomplished to-day with a
great deal of difficulty. On account
of the lack of constant attrition on
rough ground, such as they would
have had if traversing their native
jungle instead of the smooth floor of
his cage, Jim's claws had become
heightened to an unnatural size, and
continuing to curve inward had grown
deeply into his paws, by which the
animal was exposed to an attack of
lOckjaw. Hence the clipping. The
well-known animal trainer. Mr.. A. j.
Forepaugh, was retained for the oper-
alton, and appeared early this morn
ing at the carnivOra house Of tho Zoo.
accompanied by DR.. Chapman. physi-
clan to the garden Arthur Il. Brown.
the superintendent, and four Keepers
Mr.. FOrepaugh had provided himself
for the operation with a strong three
quarter inch rope, loOped at oneend, a
long pole and four short half-inch
cords, also lOoped, a thick, knotty
hickory club and a pair of sharp nip-
pers, and with these tools proceeded TO
do the job as follows:
The loop of the larger rope was
placed on the end Of the long pole and
thrust into the cage. At the instant
the tiger leaped into the furtherest
corner with a terrific roar which star
tied the other animals, and the lions,
tigers, leopards and byonas all howlod
Ia a chorus, The loop, however, was
run over "Jim's" neck, and he was
gradually drawn, in spite Of his strug-
giles, to the front Of the cage.
Dir. FOrepaugh now showed con-
summate GOODNESS and Judgment, and
quietly and quickly directed his assist
ants to secure the animal to the front
OF the cage. Now his feet, and tho
fore feet were in the loops with the
add OF an iron scraper, and the tiger,
bewildered at the tactics of his sun
posed enemies, shook his head, roared.
and for a few seconds struggled fierce
y to get loose, but instead of getting
loose, opportunity was taken to get
the loops of the other ropes on tho
hind feet, and he was thrown ON his
side and drawn up TO the front of the
cage with his hind feet sticking clear
through and the fore feet to the edge.
In this position he was secured and
safety cords attached to the ends, each
one of the later being held by one of
the assistants, so that as soon as the
operation was completed all the feet
could be loosed at once. As soon as
the feet were thus secured the ron
around the neck was cast of, 10 that
the tigers head was free. One of the
keepers was then stationed near the
head, so that in case be bit at the
ropes binding the feet or at the operator
ne could thrust the hard, wood-knott-
ed club into his mouth for him to bite
on. This became necessary 40 often
that the hard club WAS chewed into q
Epulpy brush.
"All ready" said Mr.. Forepauph.
and taking in his right hand a large,
sharp wire clip, had each ingrowine
claw in turn pryed from the Aesh and
Strengthened out, and clipped off To
the required Size. The right hind
foot was the worst, one of the claws
having grown fully an inch into tho
flesh, and by constant irritation caused
the wound to inAame and foster. As
soon as this, with Q part Of the outer
shell, which had been shed into the
wound, had been removed, the tiger
appeared to quiet down, and sub.
mitted to have the rest of the claws
Of the same foot clipped without max.
ing much struggle. The right front
paw wa also badly lacerated and IN
famed. The claws were Clipped in
every case very quickly and success
fully. AS soon as the claws of each
foot were clipped the operator rubbed
burnt alum into the fsstered wounds
to burn away the proud flesh, and
then poured over the wounds balsam
of fir to heal the same.
After all the claws had boon clippcd
hir. Forepaugh, stepping back, cau.
toned his aSsistanta to DO ready 10
pull the safety cords at the word. So
the animal, freed from all the cords at
once, sprang to his legs like a flash
and jumped to the rear OF the cage.
where he first licked his bloody chaps,
and, squatting, s%oothiugly licked lis
paws, apparently satisfied that they
were still IA his possession, com
mcnced pacing his cage, showing evi-
dent signs Of having experienced great
relief from the operations performed
on him. The whole operation pcc9-
pied only twenty minutes, and was
very satisfactory 10 all parties. In a
few days tho paws will be examined
...... Il IL