The Washington herald., 1909-02-16
HOSPITALS FOR ANIMALS.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

elephant In Boston had fifteen strips of
skin. each half foot long and an inch
wide. cut from as many other elephants.
grafted over a wound on his shoulder.
Another elephant was treated BY the
Lorenz method OF bIoodless surgery for a
dislocated leg. Jewel. a big female ele-
phant. with her trunk pulled a three
inch nail from the sole OF her foot after
it had been uncovered Dy an animal doc
tor. Perhaps the most strenuous OF all
animal operations was the removal of a
tooth twelve inches long and four inches
wide from the mouth OK a giant elephant
in Mexico City After the animal had
been chained and cocaine administered
locally. a hole was bored through the
tooth. an iron bar inserted a stout rope
attached, and then four horses did the
pulling
A DAY at an animal hospital Is not
lacking In variety At one hospital re-
Gently within an hours time 4 cat was
placed in a straitjacket 70 keep it quiet
while wound healed, q pet monkey re-
eeived vibratory massage treatment for
atrophied muscles. and a prize dog. sick
unto death. was psinlessIy killed by ad-
ministering carbonic acid gas IN an air
tigh lethal chamber. Some animal hos
DiJals have laboratories attached where
important experiments are carried on
Investigators in these places have re-
Gently announced the discovery OF an
ant-tOxin treatment for animals in which
Injections Of serum into the blood OF cats.
rabbits. and monkeys have rendered
them immune 10 certain diseases II IS
predicted that new serums viii be dis
covered which viii result in eradicating
rabies and distemper. two Of the most
fatal canine diseases.
The life Of the animal doctor is not a
path Of roses. Some days he Is driven
distracted by q multiplicity Of calls upon
him: then again ne passes days in idle
ness. He is not ordinarily suprestitious
man. but he is q firm believer IN the Sc
quence OF cases. II one peculiar case is
brought TO his ATTENTION. he Immediately
prepares for another OF the same char
acter. He frequently feels that the
beasts he treats are 20 be envied By him,
and yet Is invariably an anti-vivisectiOn-
lst He poInts out that an animal suffers
little when compared to man. that do
nestle animals. except horses and mules.
dc not. as q rule have 70 work. that
Wild animals may worry In captivity.
but their domesticsted brethren-except
the '1ugger' horse. who takes the bit n
his teeth and runs until ne drops-do
not that no animals have 70 bother
about what they shall eat OF where
vithal they shall be clothed; that the ami
NAL can be put out OF his misery. while
man must suffer and. finally. thai the
former has no after life 20 think o.
The Importance OF veterinary surgery
is being generally recognized. The army
has a CORDS OF veterinarians 70 look after
It's cavalry horses and draft animals.
Large numbers OF animal doctors are
employed by the government in the quar-
antine service, in meat inspection, and
other branches OF the Department of AZ
riculture. States and cities are demand
ing them for milk inspection and other
work To supply the demand many vet
erinary colleges are turning out hundreds
OF graduates every year
Copyright Iss. bJ Frederic J. Hsskin-l
Tomorrow - Helping the Farm
Woman.