The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-03

called in and requested to make an ex-
animation of the lion and see II there
was any possibility OF his life being
saved. DR.. Carnes Thoroughly exam
ined the wounds, and found that his
skull had been badly indented and that
u was resting upon the brain. There
was but one way in which death could
De prevented. and that was by ire
phining his skull and lifting the de-
pressed bone and relieving the pres
sure. As a last resort the operation
was decided upon.
The lion was placed on the table ar
ranged for him. The animal was SUI
fering intensely and was In a danger
ously bad humor. Occasionally he
would growl savagely and open his
Jaws and snap at those who were
nearest him. A number OF giistening
instruments were taken from a leather
case and placed on a chair. A pan of
warm water was secured and sponges
We're al hand. A bottle of ether and
chloroform was poured into a wad OF
cotton and the cotton was placed I'M
der the nose OF the lion. His feet were
securely tied with ropes and he was
held firmly upon the table by several
strong men. When the first fumes OF
the ether were inhaled the lion made
strenuous efforts to tear himself away.
He reared and snorted and kicked with
all his might. but he was held down
upon the table For nearly 80 minutes
the ether was held under his nose. He
resisted the sleep-giving compound,
but gradually fell into an easy and
peaceful sleep. His pain was allayed,
and. like a cat. he purred and snored,
while the surgeons made ready.
As soon as the lion was thoroughly
under the influence of the chloroform,
which was administered by DIR. III. G..
Carnes, the opera ton was begun. IL
was necessary, however. that great
care be exercised in giving the anaes-
thetic. as the lion was in danger OF
dying from the effects of an overdose.
DR.. w. f. Carnes first made V in
cision. The hide and skin OF the lion
were very tough and II was difficult to
make the incisdon. Gradually the flesh
gave way under the knife and the
skull was laid bare. The fracture had
occurred on the left side OF the head.
and IL was just to the left OF the frac-
ture that the inc.sion was made. Az
ter the incision was completed the tre-
phine was inserted and a small OPEN
ing was bored into the skull This
was the most dangerous part OF the
operation. for. like an augur, the in
strument bores it's way through the
bone. II any parts OF the skull had
fallen Into the brain, which Is exposed
Just as soon as Inc instrument pierceS
entirely through the skull. II would
have meant certain death for the ami
NAL.
When the trephine had reached the
inside of the skull. the instrument was
given a quick turn which broke the
thin inside covering. and the small
particles were caught with a pair OF
strong forceps and pulled out In pieces.
The opening into the skull was made
an inch to the left of the depression.
When the opening had been finished a
small instrument was inserted. The
instrument Is of peculiar shape and Is
curved at the end. Down through the
skull the piece OF steel was pressed
and then turned directly under the de-
preston. After tbs was done Il was
an easy matter TO lift the bone from
the brain. The bone was restored to
Its former position and then the in
clsion was sewn up aid the place
dressed.
As soon as the lion recovered from
the effects OF the drug he bounded
loose from the ropes that held him and
leaped across the floor of the room.
He was at first a little dazed from the
effects Of the chloroform, but gradu-
ally regaiped his senses. DR.. Carnes
stated after the operation that the lion
would be perfectly well in a few days.
as there was now no danger from the
work The lion is about two years
old and was very valuable before ne
was injured.