The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-03-29
TANNING SAVAGE ANIMALS.
How Cruelty, skni and Science Are Com
bined to Subduc wild Bcasts.


bined to subduc wild Bcasts.
The king Of beasts when conquered is
like lamb, and the young lions arc
trained one at time. For several dayR
the animal il we'll fed. He is tempted
To thrust his forepaws out In front of the
den. Over them is slipped moose, and
the feet are then firmly tied down. The
lion at once begins to roar and thrash his
tail aud hind legs about the cage. After
a time he quiets down and the keeper en-
tiers the den. With a dextcrous move.
ment the bag IL drawn over the lions
head. Tic keeper sometimes bestrides
his back and holds his scat by tightening
his legs around the body and grasping
the name Of the animal. In the head
covering IL usually sponge. saturated
with about eight ouncesof chloroform.
The lion will try 10 shake of the keeper.
but is powerless when lis fore paws nre
tied down. In n moment or two the
beast becomes unconscious. Other train
ers then enter the den. Great attention
and care are exercised over the pulsations
of tho lions heart. The pulse is felt
under the lower jaw the same as in Il
horse. Ii is dangerous 10 ctherize or
chloroform an animal Of the cat species
too severely and the instant the pulsa
tions become at all feeble the dose has to
be liChtcncd.
When the keeper becomes satisfied
that the animal is unconscious, they BE-.
gin operations OH his teeth Tho can.
ines, bicuspids and incisors are cut Off. 1t
requires great dcxterity To know how far
In the crown to cut without laying the
nerve bare. After tho operations on the
teeth are finished, the keeper clips the
claws, and in few moments the lion is
bcrcft Of his teeth and claws. a heavy
collar and Chain are fastened around his
neck, and when he comes to conscious
ness he is a very different beast than
before.
The keepers will enter the cage at
short intervals after this. and, should the
lion attempt 10 spring, the chain rctards
him, and the keeper ut once administers
n sharp rap with n rawhide whip. The
lion deprived Of his teeth and claws soon
becomes cowardly. He is kept well fed,
and, if too ferocious, is druggcd until he
becomes used TO his keepers presence in
the cage.
Tigers are more difficult to conquer
Their teeth and claws are cut off in a
similar manner to those of the lion.
Tigers are more trcICherous, and will
spring ut n keeper unexpectedly and
without any warning whatever. They
are drueged and kept chained for long
time and often tlogged into submission.
Lcopards and panthers are easily
tanned. With the wolf and the hycna
ths Al
are "dog footed and do not strike like
a cat animal. Their teeth are cut and
good club will do the rest.
The operation upon the long tusls Of
the baboon is so painful and apparently
so inhuman rs to call for Il humane So
ciety's interference The keepers will
secure n balloons paws and legs and
draw the creature close mp to the bars of
his cage. Tho head viii be tied also.
After he is made fast hls long tusks are
sawed oil. The balloon is subject TO
too,achc and his teeth extremely sensi-
tive. When the saw cuts through The
nerve the poor beast will utter tho most
piercing shricks and howls. TO allay tho
pain, toothachc drops of oil of cloves, oil
of caiuput and chloroform are poured in
the teeth and tar rubbed on to keep out
the air.
After the operation is over, tho keeper
retreats, the fastcnings are removed and
the baboon allowed IN recover. After
such an operation the balloon seldom
shows disposition 10 attack man. II
Is, therefore, not SO wonderful, after all,
that the man eaters and all sorts of car
nivorous animals are paraded through
tue streets with keepers among them.
Timid people should take heart and re-
member that animals clipped, drugged
and chained in cages are not possessed of
such ferocious instincts as those of their
native wilds.-Cor. Globe-Democrat.