The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-07-28
BIG JOB OF DENTISTRY.
lhe F"lilng of I'm Elephants Tooth
and the Hard Work In
V0IVed

Failing an elephants tooth is not
'he easiest task in the world. This
was discovered at the Orrin BrothersI
circus, when two well-known and ex-I
perlenced surgeons and dentists|
worked Tor two hours before they sue
ceeded IN removing the huge molar.
Inc patient in the operation, says
Mexico correspondent of the Cincin-
natl Enquirer, was the big Asiatic ele-I
phant Columbus who for years has
oeeh one OF the leading attractions of
the orrlns' circus. For over 20 years.
Columbus has been with the show
he figures in every parade, does his
httle act in the ring, and being as
uocile as lamb has carried hundredsl
OF thousands of children on his back.
In TACT, there are grown men and WON
en- IN Mexico and other parts of theI
world who have been carried by Column
bus wnen they wore kits and pima
fores.
Several veterinaries were called inI
and examined Columbus, but they
were unable to tell what allied him.
The elephant keeper, however, noticed
that when he watered Columbus theI
latter would fill his trunk and blowI
the contents into his mouth and permit
1t to run out. This was reported to-
DIR. Fabbi, the well-known veterinary
surgeon, who made an examination
81
swollen in a terrible manner and heI
was confident that huge tooth wasI
decaying at the root, and this was the
cause of the trouble. An operation wasI
decided upon and DR.. Patchek wasI
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 big syringe. AS soon as it'll
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 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
break loose. The doctors then went to
work.
The gum was soaked with cocaine
and then a three-quarter-inch auger
was brought into use. A spot several
inches from the gum was selected and
IL, d., I, J.,
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 protruding
about four inches on either end. An
inch rope, heavily soaked and smeared
with tar, was then tied to each end of
the iron bar. The rope was then wound
or wrapped around the tusk, the tusk
preventing it from slipping. While all
this was going on the cocaine was be-
ing applied. When all the prelimina-
ries had been completed the tarred rope
was run through pulley. 1t was then
carried out and attached to the traces
of four big horses. When everything
7 Mt
tendants retired to a safe distance.
The other attendants were armed
with elephant hooks, and not few had
Winchesters, as there was no telling
how Columbus was going to take the
real thing. Finally the word was given
and the driver whipped up his horses.
As soon as they began to pull the ele-
plant began to below. He tried to
release himself by bracing his front
feet against the stakes. This was just
what was wanted. Another crack at
the horses, and, amid the terrible bel
lowing, out came the big tooth. A pro-
fuse hemorrhage and great deal of
matter from the liberation followed.
But the extraction was relief, and Co.
lumbus, after a few bellows, became
quiet.
The surgeons then washed out the
cavity with strong solution of creo-
line, and then dressed it with solu-
ton of perchloride of iron to stop the
hemorrhage.
The tooth was 20 inches long and
four inches in diameter at the root. 1t
had commenced to decay, and this
caused an abscess.
In the operation there were used six
gallons of cocaine, one quart of creo-
line and two quarts of perchloride of
iron. The doctors received $500 for
their work,