The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-07-18
LIGA WAS DOCILE.
Relieving q Circus Elephant of the
Toothache.
The Big Brute Ate Candy while
his Tooth was Plugged.

A Partisan dentist has just filled
cave in an elephants tooth. Animal
surgery is n subject which has received
some attention In this country. A
lion was relieved of carbuncle in his
neck in Philadelphia recently, and the
tusks of the late Tip were abbreviated
on several occasions, but this last OPP
Grafton was, of course, attended with
no pain, otherwise that homicidal AN
imal would have protested in u very
emphatic manner.
In Europe, where there are many
more large public menageries than
here, the services of the surgeon are
frequently called in to save valuable
animals. Veterinary surgeons are ac-
customel to perform small operations
on horses and dogs, but the surgical
treatment of wild animals is n very
different matter. Ii is attended with
difficulty and danger.
Many savage animal has, however,
shown himself appreciative Of the Of
forts which nrc made TO relieve him
from pain. There is the old story of
the lion that unexpectedly confronted
traveller in the African forest, hold
ing one paw before him with an ex-
preston of anguish. The traveller
was not unnaturally perturbed by the
meeting, but the lion forced his paw
on his attention in such way that the
man could not but discover that the
king of beasts was suffering acute pain
from large thorn which was partially y
buried in the soft part of his paw.
The lion detained the traveller until he
had removed the thorn and dressed the
wound, and nfterward he explained
plainly that he desired to live with the
man as his devoted servant
The elephant operated on in Paris
bears the name of Liga. He is n gifted
animal, engaged in performing at the
Nouveau circus. He is nino years OF
age. For long time he had suffered
torture ofuntold extent from the tooth
ache. He endeavored to relieve the
disturbed condition of his nervous sys-
TEN by chewing wooden beams and
iron bars, and blew his trunk with
painful violence. The director of the
circus finally called in Professor Vala-
don of the Dental College, of Paris,
who diagonized Liga's case.
The elephant had scraped away the
ivory and dental pulp from a portion
of one of his molar teeth. Probably
he had bitten n stone wall in fit of
passing irritation. Carries or decay
had set in over n space the size of a
silver dollar.
The dentist made use of the largest
of his excavating instruments. He had
to cut a distance of three inches into
the diseased tooth. While he drilled
with all his might one of the keepers
fed Partisan confectionery to the
| gifted performer. He, was it is said,
evidently aware that the object of the
operation was to relieve him from
suffering, for he scarcely budgel dur
ing the tedious operation. When the
tooth had been prepared it was filled
with wad of cotton soaked in lodi
form. This was renewed every week
for two months, until the nerve was
dead. Then the cavity was filed with
composition covered with tin cylin.
der.
The director of the circus inquir ed
what the cost of filling tine elephants
tooth with gold would be. 1t was es-
timated that at least $500 worth OF
gold would be required, and the di-
rector decided that he could not af :
ford it.
1t need hardly be added that Liga
is very intelligent and docile animal
to have submitted patiently to this OPP
Grafton.