The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-08-09
BIG JOB OF DENTISTRY.
The Pulling of an Elephants Tooth
and the Hard Work In
vOlved.

! yOlved.
Pulling an elephants tooth is not
the easiest task in the world. This
was discovered at the Orrin Brothers
circus, when two well-known and ex-
perieneed surgeons and dentists
worked for two hours before they sue
ceeded in removing the huge molar.
The patient in the operation, says
Mexico correspondent of the Cincin-
natl Enquirer. was the big Asiatic ele-
phant Columbus, who for years has
been one of the leading attractions of
the 0rrins' circus. For over 20 years
Columbus has been with the show.
He figures in every parade, does his
little act in the ring, and being as
docile as lamb has carried hundreds
of thousands of children on his back.
In fact there are grown men and wom-
en- in Mexico and other parts of the
world who have been carried by Column
bus when they wore kits and pima
fores.
Several veterinaries were called in
and examined Columbus, but they
were unable to tell what allied him.
The elephant keeper, however, noticed
that when he watered Columbus the
latter would fill his trunk and blow
the contents into his mouth and permit
it to run out. This was reported to
DR.. Fabbi. the wellknown veterinary
surgeon, who made an examination
and found that Columbus gum was
swollen in a terrible manner and he
was confident that a huge tooth was
decaying at the root, and this was the
cause of the trouble. An operation was
decided upon and Dr.. Patchek was
| called in. 1t was a new operation for
| the surgeons. but it proved successful.
Pain was relieved by the frequent APP
| plication of cocaine. This was applied
by using a big syringe. As soon as it
began to ease the pain Columbus began
to grow quiet and he was then chained
down on his launches. His forelegs
were chained closely to a couple of
stakes, and being safely chained his
trunk was strapped up and held tight
by rope around his back. In this
| position he was at the mercy of the
surgeons. unless he should manage to
break loose. The doctors then went to
work.
The gum was soaked with cocaine
and then three-quarter-inch auge1
| was brought into use. A spot several
inches from the gum was selected and
a hole was started. Boring through
/ solid ivory is no easy work. and each
doctor took his turn at the instrument
Every now and then work would be
suspended, as Columbus would be get
ting nervous. More cocaine was in
jected around the spot, and the work
of drilling through the big tooth was
resumed. For nearly two hours the
surgeons worked. and finally the hole
was completed. This done, they rested
for awhile, and then the real work was
begun. A small iron rod was run
through the hole. the ends protrudins
about four inches on either end. Al
inch rope, heavily soaked and smearet
with tar. was then tied to each end o
the iron bar. The rope was then wount
or wrapped around the tusk, the tusl
preventing it from slipping. While al
this was going on the cocaine was be
ing applied. When all the prelimina
ries had been completed the tarred rop
was run through a pulley. 1t was thel
carried out and attached to the trace
of four big horses. When everything
was in readiness the doctors and at
PENDANTS retired to a safe distance.
The other attendants were armet
with elephant hooks, and not few hat
Winchesters. as there was no tellin.
how Columbus was going to take tn
real thing. Finally the word was give
and the driver whipped up his horses
AS soon as they began to pull the ele
plant began to below. He tried t.
release himself by bracing his from
feet against the stakes. This was jus
what was wanted. Another crack a
the horses, and. amid the terrible be-
: lowing. out came the big tooth. A pre-
fuse hemorrha9e and great deal O
. matter from the liberation followed
But the extraction was a relief, and &c
, lumbus, after few bellows, becam
quiet.
, cavity with a strong solution of cree
line. and then dressed it with solr
ton of perchloride of iron to stop tn
hemorrhage.
The tooth was 20 inches long an
n four inches in diameter at the root.
, had commenced to decay, and thi
q caused an abscess.
. In the operation there were used 81
a gallons of cocaine. one quart of cree
( line and two quarts of perchloride {
= iron. The doctors received $500 fo
= their work.
S How to shock the Chinese.
t No doubt well meaning but though
). less foreigners" ignorant of orienti
y prejudice, have done much to shoe
d Chinese ideas of prOpriety, albeit III
d Willingly. For instance, it is consit