The New York herald., 1879-03-29
CLIPPING A TIGER.
xa. ronEPAuoH's DELICATE SURGICAL OPERA
TIoN ON 'JrM.' THE BENGAL TIGER OF THE
PHILADELPHIA ZOO,


rIoS ON "JrM.' THE BENGAL TIGER OF TIE
PHILADELPHIA ZOO.
PHILADELPHIA. March %. 1879
The interesting feat OF clipping the ngrowing
claws of the royal Bengal tiger "Jim." inhnbant
OF "rhe zoo." accomplished to-day with great
deal of dfhculty. On account OF the lack of con-
slant attrition ON rough ground. such they would
have had If traversng their native jungle instead Of
the smooth floor of his cage. Jim's claws
had become heightened TO 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,
retained for the operation. and appeared carly
this morning at tho carnivora house pf the Zoo.
accompanied by DIR. Chapman. physician to the
garden; Arthur E. Brown. the superintendent and
four Keepers Mr.. Forcpsugh had provided himself
for the operation with strong three-quarter inch
rope looped at ono end. long pole and four short
half inch cords. also looped thick. knotty hickory
club and pair Of sharp wire nippsrs. and witL these
tools proceeded TO do the job as tollows:-
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 eapcd into the furthest with
terrific roar which startled the other animals and
tho lions tigers, leopards and hyenas all howlcd in
chorus. The loop however. run "Jim's"
ck,
struggles, to the front Of the cage. f
Mr.. Forepaugh now showed consummatc coolness
and Judgment, and quietly and quickly directed his
cage. Nov his feet" and the fore feet were
in the loops with the aid Of iron scraper and the
tiger. hcwdered at the tactics Of his supposed
mics, shook his head, roared and for few seconds
struggled iercely to get loose but instead Of get
ting loose opportunity taken to get the loops OF
the other ropes on the hind feot and he was thrown
OH his side and drawn up to the front of the cage
with his hind feet sticking clear through aud tho
In this position he was secured and safety cords
attached to the ends each one of the latter being
operation completed all the feet could be oosed
at As aoon as the feet were thus secured the
head was free. One of the keepers then
stationed the head, that in he bit at the
ropes binding the feot or at the operator he could
thrust the hard wood knotted club into his mouth
for him to bite This became necessary SO often
that the hard club was chewed into pulpy brush.
"ill ready, said Mr.. Forepaugh, and taking in his
right hand large. sharp wire clip had each ngrow-
ing claw in turn pryed from the flesh and
Strengthened ont. and clipped OF to tho required
size. The right hind foot was the worst one of the
claws. having grown fully an inch into the flesh,
and by constant irritation caused the wound to in-
flame and tester. Az soon this. with part of the
outer she'll which had been shod into the wound
had been removed. the tiger appeared to quiet down
same foot clipped without making much Struggling
The right front paw also badly lacerated and in
famed The claws were clipped in every very
quickly and successfully. Az soon rs the claws OF
each foot were clipped the operator rubbed burnt
alum into the festercd 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 been clipped Mr.. Fore
paugh, stepping back. cautioned his assistants to be
ready to pull the safety cords at the word SO the
animal, freed from all the cords at once sprang to
his legs like fash and jumped to the rear of the
cage. where he first licked his bloody chaps, and
squatting. soothingly licked his paws, apparently
satisfied that they were still in his possession,
lnenced pacing his cage. showing evident signs Of
performed him. The whole operation occupied only
twenty minutes and very satisfactory to all par
ties. In few days the paws will be examined again
for proud hoeh.