Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-30
CUB FIGHTS HIS SURGEON.
Operation on Young Lion Is Finally
Successfully Performed.

Head Keeper Rill snyder. of the
Central park zoo, got ready yesterday
morning to take tumor cut Of the
neck of a !4-mounth- lion cub. lie
was born in tie zoo at about the time
of the Hudson Fulton celebration. and
so W.is named Henry Hudson.
Several Mcehs 4go a swelling began
to form in his neck just IN front OF
where his Adams apple would be II
lions had Adams apples. 1t grew To
be larger t,Ian Il croquet ball, and for
the last few DAYS the cub has been
unable to eat any kind OF food suitable
for growing lion. He was fed with :
spoon. which didn't do any good to
dignity and LETT him weak physically
Director Joha ". Smith decided that
tae swelling MAS simultaneous II.
brous tumor, and that ii it were not
cut out it would grow to be consider
ably larger. and the operation was de-
cided uToE us necessity
Yesterday morning Snyder placed "a
sui supply of antiseptics, sharp knives
and scissors. catgut, needles, and oth-
or surgical necessities in an empty
cage next to that occupied by Henry
Hudson. with which it is connected by
a door. standing in front OF the cage
vas q squad of helpers provided Wit
ropes, nets, and bags.
Tie cub suspected that all these do
ings concerned aim, and WAS SUSPECT
Gus of til, whole business. he re-
treated To a far corner, crouchinE
there. watching every movement of
the men. growing internationally and
making hi; eyes 20 green every time
his .,ne"r rose IL Il aish point.
Snyder stepped from the empty eak"
into trlt , 'cupied b. the cub and pre-
pared IL 81 rn,l a net over his head
The lion crouchcd down 1 little lower
and got ready or business. snyder
tArtea the net hdg at the cubs read.
With "A sn:ll he leap"d forward.
CAtcniuS ii in his teeth instead of let
ting ii slip over lis mead Then came
Il struggle between the cub ana Sny-
der, tne r;erpCr t. tear the bag out OF
the cubs teeth and pul, it forcibl%
over his i1eaG, the cub to tear it ill to
pieces. Ttfn k" p@rs outside became so
interested in II" contest Tat L
seemed TO escape them that at any
n omont tn clh might decide 70 turn
loose the bas and ,esin chewing on
Snyders lsg.
IN the end Snyder won his point and
the cub VS. bl;ndfnlded. That had
been accomplished at the cear OF the
cage. 1t vas now necessary to get
him over to the front, and tie him so
nrmly that the delicate operation
could be carried out without a strug-
gle Selling the cub Dv TIE tail he
dragged HIM over TO the front side
but on the WY the lion cheweG his
mead out OF the canvas bag. and was
noV making strong efforts to get
around 1T his captor. The keepers
outside Slipped ropes around his head
and feet ara nodN Snyder got anotl-
er bag over his head. and in two mih-
uteS the cub lay laSned 10 the outside
stcti bars. with has neck barred for the
operation.
Considerable cocaine was injected
INTO the neck in the region of the tn g.
MGR. ana then Snyder opened the skin
and rut ont the fhrous mass. Having
washed tie wound With antiseptic
nulS, he placed together the flaps OF
skin ana took seven stitches tn hold
them in place. The cub was then I'M
tied and allowed to rise. Snyder re-
manned in the cage for q few minutes
to watch hin. The cub didn't wan: t.
iGut any more. He walked YEARLY
York Times.