The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-14
ANIMAL DENTISTRY.
METHODS OF KEEPERS WHO opea.
ATE ON MsNAGERie rooTAAcHes.


and Tackie-Spongins Out the Mouth oa
Fer0cious Hyena--Gratitude Displayed
by the Wild beasts.
There is a new profession It Is that
of animal dentistry The increased value
OF tine animals as well as the growing
popularity of menageries. have called al.
tention to the importance OF preserving
the health of the more expensive mem
bers of the brute creation.
A maD who owns a $4,000 horse, 8
$1,000 dog. $1,000 pig. or a 5000 bull
is ready and glad to pay an animal den
fist TO cure some dental disorder which
II left alone, might seriously iniure. il
not kill. the sufferer The case isequalIy
strong with the Snowman who paws far
up IN the thousands for lions. tigers eie-
plants. hippopotami and rhinoceri
The treatment of domestic animals is
of course familiar to all They are 81
accustomed to look To man for the graft.
fication of their wants that it is aot sur.
prising they undergo the pain of a de,,-
tai operation without any greater resist
ance than that shown by little child or
very ignorant man The most surpris.
ing thing is the conduct of the wild ami.
mails under similar circumstances.
BIG THING IN DENTISTRY.
One very interesting instance was that
of the unwieldiy hippopotamus in Bar
NUNS greatest show ON earth" The
animal seemed sick for at least week
and neglected its food TO such an extent
as to alarm its keeper, George Conkhn
Ii groaned and showed deep distress day
and night Whenever Conklin ap-
preached the huge beast it opened its
mouth and moved its tongue AT first
the keeper thought that it was begging
for an apple, boiled onion or carrot
When it rejected the delicacies he threw
into the distended jaws. he concluded
that it was sickness. and careless of the
risk examined the tusk like teeth.
The hippo never moved during the ex-
animation until the bad tooth was
touched by the keepers hand. Then il
groaned and licked the ivory with its
tongue. COnklin. satisfied with his study.
procured some aconite and sulphuric
ether and pair OF powerful pincers
attached to a stee! chain and tackle
He arranged the latter SO that the rope
passed over heavy beam in the cage
and then rubbed the gums of the giant
brute around the painful spot with the
ana.sthetic until nearly all the sensation
was destroyed He then applied the
pincers and screwed them down until
they would lift ton. The hippo scarcely
moved during the operation. The only
sign OF emotion it displayed seemed more
of satisfaction and relief than anything
else. t;onkiin gave signal and the rope
was violently pulled by the menagerie
attendants. There was sudden strain.
a pause and then the great fang sprun:
out of the jaw and dangied in the ali
overhead The hippo gave thunderous
grunt. plunged into the tank and washed
its mouth until the bleeding ceased
An hour afterwards it was eating ma
turally. When ConkIing approached it
showed every symptom of gratitude
from endeavoring to rub its Shiny head
against his body and wiggling its funny
little tail The tooth was eight and
half inches long and was liberated near
~ all the way from the bottom of the
roots to the edge of the gum
A SILVER IN HIS JAW.
Another case which more strongly IL
illustrates the mastery of man over the
animal world was afforded by fierce
and very dangerous liyena. He was 81
ferocious that he attacked his mate ia
the same cage upon the smallest provo
cation, and on one occasion tore off the
end of the latter's nose. His keeper.
though veteran i'm the business. seldom
ventured into the cage. and then did so
only when armed and accompanied by
his fellow employees. One day in gnaw-
ing very large and hard bone, the
hyena in crushing it. split it into spin.
tiers. one of which pierced the jaw. So
great is the muscular power of the brute's
mouth that the splinter was driven down
at least four inches into the gum. The
hyena did his best to get it out, but TO
no avail
Inflammation set I'm and within forty
eight hours he was almost crazy with
agony. The keeper in the meantime, at
tractel by the animals constant roars
and groans. had passed nearly all his
time in front of the cage. On the third
day the hyena became very weak and
could hardly stand Suddenly he
crawled over to the bars and called the
keeper. if using the same sounds they
employ toward each other c.n be so
termed. The keeper rose from his cage
and went to the bars. As he neared
them the hideous carnivore opened his
mouth. revealing the terrible wound.
The keeper. rough and fearless man,
procured pair of very strong forceps
and. calling his associates to stand around
the cage in case he was attacked. opened
the door and sprang in. The hyena
turned without growing. wagged its
tail and again opened his mouth. The
keeper took hold of the splinter and with
a powerful pull extracted it from the i'm
famed and swollen flesh Then with
some lukewarm water he sponged out
the interior of the mouth. The hyena
recovered entirely from the accident.
but ever after displayed warm friend.
ship for the vaiorous keeper
Lions and tigers are subject to two
troubles One is the breaking of small
piece off from tooth and the formation
OF sharp point or edge. Another.
which is far less frequent. is the abnor-
NAL growth Of a tooth. especially Gu
nine one. from not having enough bones
to crunch and gnaw upon The treat
merit i'm both cases is the same. The
great cat is Thrown down" and bound