The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-05-16
Training Wild Animals

The training IS simple, persistent AMI
affective. The king Of beasts when cor
quered Is like lamb, and the Young
lions are tanned one at time. For sev-
eral days he IS well fed. He is tempted
to thrust bis fore paws out in frcnt Of the
den. Over them is slipped & Moose. ami
the feet are then firmly tied down The
hon at once begins to roar, anil thrash
his tail and hind legs about the cage.
After time be qaiets down and the
keeper enter the cage With dexter
Ous movement bag IS drawn dOTn over
the lions head. The keeper sometimes
bestrisles his back, and holds his seat by
tightening his legs around the body and
grasping the name Of the animal In the
head covering Is usually sponge. s;stuT.s-
ted with aboRt eight ounces Ofchlor0forn-
The lion win try TO ward off the keeper,
but : powerless when Eis front paws are
tied down. In a moment or two the
beast becomes unconscious Other train
ers then enter the den. Great attention
and care il exercised over the pulsatioas
ofthe lions heart. The pulse i felt un-
der The lower jaw the same as in hore.
Il Is dangerous 10 etherize or chlorOfcym
an animal Of the eat species too severely.
and the instant the pulsafiens become at
all feeble the dose has to be li-h;eRei
When the keeper becomes satisfied
that the animal i unconscious. they BE-
gin operations upon his teeth. The ca
nine, bicuspidS and incisors are sEt of
II requires great dexterify to know how
far in the crown cut without laying the
nerve bare. After The operations on the
teeth are finished, the keeper clips tile
claws, and in few moments the lion Is
bereft Of ais teeth and claws 4 heavy
collar and chain are fastened around his
neck, and when he comes to conscious
ness he Is very different beast from be
fore.
The keepers sill enter the cage at
short intervals after this, and should the .
lion attempt TO spring the cham retaris (
him, and the keeper at once administers
sharp rap with rIwhidc whip. The /
lion. deprived Of his teeth and claws,
soon becomes eowardIy. He Is kept well (
fed, and If too ferueious Is drus.ed until 1
he becomes used to his keepers presence
in the cage.
Tigers are more difficult 70 conquer.
Their teeth and claws are cut of in a 1
similar manner to those Of the Ion. /
Tigers are more treacherous, aud viii /
spring at a keeper unexpectedly aad with (
out any warming whatever. They are 4
drugged and kept chained fora long time,
and often fogged into submission
LeoPar,is and panthers are easily tamed 4
With the wolf and the hyena the keep 4
ers fear only teeth. They are "dag-foot-
ed, = and do not strike Ike cat animal I
Their teeth are cut, ansI good club vii I
do the rest
The operation upon the long tusks Of I
the baboon is 50 painful and aPparcnfly
inhuman as TO call for Henry Bergh's in /
reference The keepers wiz secure a
balloons paws and iegs and draw the /
creature close up to the bars Of his cage. |
The head viii be tied s'so. After he * 4
made fast his long tusks are sawed Off 4
The baboon il subject to ;Ooth-ache, and I
his teeth are extremely sensitive. When !
the -ayr c-rts fhrntfsyh In The nerve the I
poor beast will utter the most piercing
shrieks and howls- To allay the pain, 1
toothache drops of oil Of cloves. oil Of 4
csjuput and chloroform are poured in T
the teeth and tar rubbed on to keep out /
the air.
After the operation is over the keeper
retreats, the fastenings are removed, and .
the baboon allowed TO recover After .
such an operation the babeon selloui
shows a disposition to attack a man Il I
i, therefore, not so wonderful after all. (
that the man eaters and all sorts Of ear !
niyersus animals are paraded through I
the streets With keepers among them. /
Timid people should take heart and re-
member thatanimalseiipped ,drU-ged and 1
chained in cages are not possessed 0fsre!i .
fcrocious instincts as those Of their native +
wilJs-.S Losis D,.ss9craf