Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-04
Stories About the Elephant

The male elephant, called Jack, which
was in the biological Societys Gar
deus in 1910. used TO be made to fast
the whole of Sunday, like the c@rnivo-
rous animals, with the exception OF a
slight breakfast. But after enduring
this weekly privation for time he came
to IL resolution to submit t. it no longer.
Accordingly, he made such disturb
apces on several successive Sunday
nights that the keepers had little re-
pose. But as this procured no relief to
his hunger, he at length proceeded
further, and made on one occasion such
determined attack Oh his door that the
people were glad to get up III the night
and 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 opera
tons on the ceiling in front OF his
apartment. 1t VAS ceiling formed OF
boards, and col sderably lower than
that Of the room within, but thought
to be sufficiently high to prevent him
from iDjuring it, and its surface was
made perfectly smooth SO rs to atfJrd
him no means of effscting hold on it.
But wanting something to do IL the
monotony of Lis confinement, he ap-
pears to have sounded it,and concluding
it was hollow, raised his head suddenly,
drove one of his tnsks through the
board, then broke away the edges OF
the hole 80 as to make it large enough
to admit his trunk, when he could tear
down the boards.
DR.. Daniel Wilson, Bishop OF Cal.
cutta, 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, physician
intimate with the bishop, if he could
do anything for the relief Of 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 ac-
cordingly made to lie down, and when
the nitrate of silver was applied uttered
terrific scream at the acute pain which
it occasioned. But the effect of the
application WAS wonderful, for the
sight was in a great degree restored,
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
he was brought out and heard the doc
tors voice, lay down OF himself, placed
his head on one side, curiea up his
trunk, drew III his breath, like human
being about to endure painful opera
tons, beaved 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 graft
tude.
Here we plainly see in the elephant,
memory, understanding, and reasoning
FROM one time to another. The ami
NAL remembered the benefits that he
had felt from the application to one
eye, and when he was brought to the
same place on the following day and
heard the operators voice, he concluded
tina: like service was to be done to his
other eye. ....F 800. t...
Tie following is a story Of similar
character: D.. -..t.t o.
During one OF the wars in India many
Frenchmen had an opportunity OF 90.
serving one of the elephants that had
received q flesh wound from q caanon
ball. After having been twice or thrice
conducted to the hospital, where he
extended himself to be dressed, he
afterwards used to 60 alone. The sur
gson did whatever he thought neces-
sary, applying even fire to the wound,
and though the pain made the animal
often utter the most plaintive groans,
he never expressed any other token
than that of gratitude to this person,
who by momentary torments endeav-
ored to relieve him, and in the end
effected his cure. / a.. ...... ...E