, 1889-05-09
ANIMAL DENTISTRY.
METHODS OF KEEPERS WHO oPeR-
ATE ON MeNAeERIE TooTHAcHEs.

~ 20 4" ~ BAOA~ooAoA- ~ . INV
of animal dentistry. The increased value
of fine animals, as well as the growing
popularity of menageries, have called at
tention to the importance of preserving
the health of the more expensive mem
bers of the brute creation.
A man who owns a $4,000 horse, a
$1,000 dog, a $1,000 pig, or q 5000 bull,
is ready and glad to pay an animal dem
fist to cure some dental disorder which,
if left alone, might seriously injure, if
not kill, thesufferer. The case is equally
strong with the Snowman who pays far
up in the thousands for lions, tigers, ele-
plants, hippopotami and rhinoceri.
The treatment of domestic animals is
of course familiar to all. They are so
accustomed to look to man for the graft
fication of their wants that it is not sur
prising they undergo the pain of a dem
tai operation without any greater resist
ance than hat shown by a little child or
n very ignorant man. The most surpris-
ing thing is the conduct of the wild ami
mails undo similar circumstances.
A BIG THING IN DENTISTRY.
One very interesting instance was that
of the unwieldly hippopotamus in Bar
NUNS greatest show on earth" The
animal seemed sick for at least a week
and neglected its food to such an extent
rs to alarm its keeper, George Conklin.
1t groaned and showed deep distress day
and night. Whenever Conklin APP
preached the huge beast it opened its
mouth and movcd its tongue. At first
the keeper thought that it was begging
for an apple, n boiled onion or carrot.
When it rejected the d~elicacies he threw
into the distended jaws, he concluded
that it was sickness, and careless of the
risk examined the tusk like teeth.
Tho hippo never moved during the ex-
animation until the bad tooth was
touched by the keepers hand. Then it
g%roaned and licked the ivory with its
tongue. Conklin, satisfied with his study,
procured some aconite and ~sulphuric
ether and n pair of powerful p~incers,
attached to a steel chain and tackle.
He arranged the latter SO that the rope
passed over a heavy beam in the cage
and then rubbed the gums of the giant
brute around tho painful spot with the
anpsthetic until nearly all the sensation
was destroyed. He then applied the
pinccrs and screwed them down until
they would lift a ton. The hippo scarcely
moved during the operation. The only
sign of emotion it displayed seemed more
of satisfaction and relief than anything
else. Conklin gave n signal and the rope
was violently pulled by the menagerie
attendants. There was a sudden strain,
a pause and then the great fang sprung
out of the jaw and danglcd in the air
overhead. The hippo gave n thunderous
grunt, plunged into the tank and washed
its mouth until the bleeding ceased.
An hour afterwards it was eating ma
turally. When ConklIng approached it
showed every symptom of gratitude
from endeavoring to rub its Shiny head
against his body and weighing its funny
little tail. The tooth was eight and a
half inches long and. was liberated near
ly all the way from the bottom of the
roots to the edge of the gum.
A SILVER IN HIS JAW.
Another case which moro strongly il
Illustrates the mastery of man over the
animal world was afforded by q fierce
and very dangerous hyena- He was so
ferocious that he attacked his mate In
the same cage upon the smallest provo
cation, and On one occasion tore off the
end of the latter's nose. His keeper,
though n veteran in the business, seldom
ventured into the cage, and then did 70
only when armed and accompanied by
his fellow employees. One day In gnaw-
ing q very large and hard bone, the
hyena in crushing it, split 1t into splin-
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 in and within forty
eight hours he was almost crazy with
agony. The keeper in the meantime, at
tracted 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, II using the same sounds they
employ toward each other can 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, a rough and fearless man,
procured n pair of very strong forceps
and, calling his associates to stand around
the cage in case he was attacked, opened
thed 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 1t from the in
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 a warm friend
ship for the valorous keeper.
Lions and tigers are subject to two
troubles. One is the breaking of a small
piece off from n tooth and the formation
of a sharp point or edge. Another.
which is far less frequent, is the abnor-
NAL growth of a tooth, especially a ca
nine one, from not having enough bones
to crunch and gnaw upon. The treat
ment In both cases Is the same. The
great cat is Thrown down" and bound
so that 1t can neither move nor inhict