Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-02
Had . Lion for a Patient.

Had I. Lion for Il Patient
1t is no Joke to set a lions leg. That.
what three surgeons said after going
through the experience on Friday. In
the first place it is blind sort ofjof, +,
as there are no data from similar case
to go by-and then there is the lion
himself to be considered. for if he be
comes feverish and gets loose, whole
sale homicide is likely to be the re-
suit.
Nero, who plays hypnotic" part
in Huber's museum, New York, is the
lion who was operated on. Some
weeks ago he quarrelled with Victoria,
lioness, and she bit him on the leg.
The wound seemed to heal all right,
and when Nero got well he became
frisky again, and acted in a WAY that
reused her ladyship to anger once
more.
This time she seized him by the thigh
of the right hind leg and Bit it in to the
bone. Nero went about on three legs
for as many days, getting more wretch
ed every day, and then the museum
people decided that something must be
done or he would become useless for
purposes other than TO act as an orna-
mental rug. SO they went To the Col
lege of Veterinary Surgeons at 22l
east Twenty-fourth street and stated
the case to DR.. Henry Aiming. He told
them TO bring the lion to him en- Friday
and he would examine the leg. He
! got DR. Oscar f. Busener and DIR. Nc
Kay as assistants, and thirty-seven
medical students, whom he armed with
weapons varying fro II barrel staves to
stove pokers, as body guard. Then he
was ready for his majesty.
Nero arrived in his cage on an cX-
press wagon at O'Clock in the after
noon. The cage was pushed out OF tic
wagon upon table drawn UP along
side of the operating table. The latter
is about I feet long by 6 broad, we'll
padded with cushions and furnished
with straps and chains.
Trainer Fred D'Osta made a little
speech, in which he said that il Nero
| should get loose every one was TO stand
still. and not hurt him with their
weapons unless absolutely necessary.
Then the door of the cage was opened
and rope thrown around his majesty 5
neck. He bit it in two promptly. An
other was thrown around him, and he
was dragged part way out, resisting
sloutly.
Then he changed his mind and came
with great suGdcnness, going clean
over the operating table TO thc ground
at the further end DR.. AmlinS grab
bed the lion by the neck, but Nero
shook him of and walked on three legs
down 10 the other end of the room.
Keep perfectly quiet, shouted
Trainer D'Osta. "Don't DO anything
to arou,c him. He won't hurt you.
DR.. Amling and the trainer walked
over toward Nero, and the students fol
lowed, carefully keeping their weapons
in front of them. Nero opened his
mouth and made few leonine remarks
in an undertonc. That was all that
was necessary.
One of the students said "Shoo. :"
and then nattened himself up against
the wall, followed by the others. For
five minutes the lion promcnaded, then
he submitted to the cajoleries of DOS
10, DR.. Amlinc and his assistants and
entered the cage.
y few moments later they succeeded
in strapping him upon the operating
table, alter he had chewed up the cush-
ions and spit them out disGantully. -Four
grains Of morphine were injected hypo-
dermically, and cocaine and was inject
ed to produce local anHthesia. When
Nero appeared to be under the inna-
ence of tie drugs, the doctors began 10
examine the wound. At the first touch
the lion cot his front paw free and
made slap at the head OF Or. Bowers,
who was standing al his shoulder, that
would have dccapicatcd him if it had
hit him. 1.-THE same time lie snapped
at the surgeons arm and just missed it,
After being pinned down again, Nero
Law quiet and groaned. The surgeons
found that there was . partial fracture
of the lower third of the thigh bone.
This was reduced, and four wounds
made by the loness's teeth We're dress
ed. The entire operation lasted about
two hours.
Then Nero was dragged back into
his cage and taken to the Museum. He
seemed little puzzled AT first by the
>plints and baudages on his leg, but
made 20 effort tc tear them oil, and
when seen by a Sai reporter sunday
night seemed to be comfortable.
The surgeons say that If ne leaves
the bandages alone he Will be about in
four or five weeks, but will walk with
y limp. Nero is fourteen months old
and weighs about 420 pounds.-N. !,
SIN.