Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-08-30


TO relieve the pressure on the tender
flesh beneath, and he must level the hoof
so that the elephant can walk comfort
ably. Fortunately most elephants take
kindly TO this operation.
Tumors sometimes occur in wild ami
mails. These must be cut out. The sur
geon first injects cocaine into the healthy
flesh round the diseased part TO deaden
the pain, and after he has removed the
tumor he packs the wound with an
antseptic dressing.
Incised wounds are frequently caused
by ANIMALS picking up wire or nails in
their feet. A buffalo bull at Bronx Park
in New York thus injured himself, and
his ankle became badly swollen. The
beast was lassoed, thrown, tied by his
three we'll feet, and while six men sat on
the struggling brute, DR.. Blair opened
the swollen ankle, drained out the pus,
removedthe troublesome nail, and packed
the wound with antiseptic powder. In a
week the wound had healed.
Broken legs are common among captive
wild animals. Large animals thus injured
must be killed at once, but the smaller
ones can be saved.
An Indian gazelle snapped one OF its
ppestem legs off short. The leg was
put IN splints and then IN a plaster cast,
and bound firmly 10 the body. For weeks
the patient animal went on three legs,
and even slept on the side OF its body
opposite the injured leg. To-day ii is as
active as ever and does not even limp.
Equally fortunate was the outcome OF an
operation on guam, pheasant-like bird
from South America The bird stood
patiently on ore leg while IFS broken
limb was set and bandaged with gummy
material.
Incised wounds usually result from
fighting. An Altai wapiti doe had her
belly ripped open by an angry buck and
the intestines protruded through the
wound. They were washed with anti
septics, and the wound closed with four
teen stitches an inch apart. Then the doe
was tied so that she could not get her
head to her side 10 disturb the bandages.
She recovered perfectly.
The worst inclsed wounds that a vet
ernarian is called upon 10 treat are those
which alligators get in fighting. On one
occasion an alligator at Bronx Park had
its belly ripped open from snout 10 tail.
Mr.. Ditmars, The curator OF reptiles, took
the beast in hand, washed the protruding
organs, sewed the wound, and threw the
alligator back into its pool. II recovered
fully.
Handling an angry alligator, however,
is no child's play. Before a painful op-
Grafton can be performed the aligator's
head must be covered with a cloth in or
der to blind it. A plank eighteen inches
wide is then laid along IFS back. and the
creature is laShed TO it fore and aft, so
that il cannot move. Then the plank is
lifted and the reptile turned, over on its
back. After that the operation is easy.
Deep-sea fishes have so much air in
their bladders that when put IN shallow
water they turn bottom side up. Before
deep-sea fish can be put on exhi bition,
therefore, II must be relieved OF the su-
perfuous air in its bladder. This is done
by thrusting long, hollow needle into
the fish just beneath the pecloral fin.
The instant the needle enters the fish's
bladder the air whistles out like air es-
Gaping from a punctured bicycle tire.
When the needle is withdrawn, the open
ing closes, and the fish is able 10 swim
right side up again.
A cobra at the Bronx Park ZOO" had
been bitten in the jaw, and necrosis OF
the bone followed. The creatures head
was held down firmly under bamboo
rod, and IFS jaws forced open. while Mr.
Ditmars removed portion OF the bone
and applied antiSepticS. The necrosis
continued, however, and it was necessary
10 remove the entire jawbone. An Incis-
ion was mzde at the base OF The head,
the diseased bone was unhinged, liberated
from the muscular tissue, and pulled back
through the opening. Then the injected
centre was cauterized and the incision
closed with fine silk sutures. The opera
ton was entirely successful and the
snake, not at all disfigured, is on exhibi-
ton today.
Although not so difficult task as that,
the pulling OF monkeys tooth was per-
haps more interesting. The animal in
question is chimpanzee that was very
fond of DR.. Blair. When its cheek began
be painful in consequence ola decayed
tooth, the animal readily submitted 10 the
doctors examination OF IFS mouth.
A keeper held the apelH MS arms. Dr.
Blair quietly fixed his forceps on the all
ing tooth, and before the chimpanzee
knew what had happened the tooth was
out. But the monkey, like a petulant
child, resented the hurt. When it saw
the blood on IFS tongue, if cried like
baby. Then it became angry and tried
10 bite DR.. Blair And for a long time
| .Ln nnl,au rafained ifc resentment 70.