The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-09-19
TANNING SAVAGE ANIMALS.
y Cruelty, Skill and Science Are Com

Cruelty, Skill and Science Are Com
bined TO subdue Wild Beasts.
The king of beasts when conquered is
'-e a lamb, and the young lions are
lined one at time. For Several days
tie animal is well fed. He is tempted
20 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 and hind legs about the cage. After
time he quiets down and the keeper en-
tiers the den. With dexterous move
ment the bag ie drawn over the lions
head The keeper sometimes bestrides
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, saturated
with about eight ounceso of chloroform.
The lion will try to shake off the keeper,
but is powerless when his fore paws are
tied down. In a moment or two the
beast becomes unconscious. Other train
ers then enter the den. Great attention
and care are exercised over the pulsations
Of the lions heart. The pulse is felt
under the lower jaw the same as in
horse. 1t is dangerous to etherize or
chloroform an animal of the cat species
90 severely, and the instant the pulsa-
tons become at all feeble the dose has to
be lightened.
When the keeper becomes satisfied
nat the animal is unconscious, they be-
gin operations on his teeth. The can
mes, bicuspids and incisors are cut off. It
ra1uires great dexterity to know how far
Iu the crown to cut without laying the
nerve bare. After the operations on the
teeth are finished, the keeper clips the
claws, and in few moments the lion is
bereft of his teeth and claws. A heavy
collar and chain are fastened around his
p ok, and when he comes to conscious
linss he is a very different beast than
lafore.
The keepers will enter the cage at
s-Ort intervals after this, and, should the
ion attempt to spring, the chain retards
I'M, and the keeper at once administers
a sharp rap with a rawhide whip. The
lion deprived of his teeth and claws soon
becomes cowardly. He is kept well fed,
and, if too ferocious, is drugged 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 treacherous, and will
spring at a keeper unexpectedly and
without any warning whatever. They
are drugged and kept chained for long
time and often logged into submission.
Leopards and panthers are easily
tanned. With the wolf and the hyena
the keepers fear only the teeth. They
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 tusks of
the baboon is so painful and apparently
so inhuman as to call for a humane So
ciety's interference. The keepers will
secure a baboon's paws and legs and
draw the creature close up to the bars of
his cage The head will be tied also.
After he is made fast his long tusks are
sawed off. The baboon is subject to
tootache and his teeth extremely sensi-
tive. When the saw cuts through the
nerve the poor beast will utter the most
piercing shrieks and bowls. To allay the
pain, toothache drops of oil of cloves, oil
of cajuput and chloroform are poured in
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 baboon seldom
shows a disposition to attack man. 1t
is, therefore, not SO wonderful, after all,
that the man eaters and all sorts of car
nivorous animals are paraded through
the 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.