TRIMMING A TIGER'S TOES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 335, 19 September 1879, Page 11

TRIMMING A TIGER'S TOES

Th« difficult operation of trimming a timer's toes was lately performed by a noted lion tamer at the Zoological Gardens in Philadelphia on a royal Bengal tiger, which had been suffering from inXT n ? ?? W \ ?n^ T aS of The tiger was rather celebrated for his intractibihty, and had one day canned the death of the female in the next cage by crunching one ot her legs which had slipped through the bars. From a graphic account of the trimming operation m one of the Philadelphia papers we gather that five stout mamlla ropes were aranged on the rail in frort of the ca»e each having a slip knot and a safety string (a stout cord, which" when pulled, releases or opens the knot). The operator, Mr. Forepaugh went about his work very coolly. Havingcoaxed the animal over near the bars, he placed the loop of one rope (larger than the others) on a pole, and tried to pass it over the tiger's neck. But "Jim" suspiciously avoided the manoeuvre. lie was soon cornered however, and the loop thrown over his neck and pulled tight to his intense surprise and rage he was drawn close to the bars He then lay down and quietly awaited developments. The loop of one of the smaller lines was next laid in front of his front right paw Mr forepaugh then, with a small iron scraper, pushed the rope under the paw. The assistant drew the loop tight, and pulled the paw also to the bars "Jim now seemed to be awake to the situation, and made frantic struggles to free himself, growling fiercely Disregarding these demonstrations, Mr. Forepaugh went on to secure the other paw in the same way. To secure the hind legs, he now entered the cage, and caught both legs in the noose. " Jim " sprang up to get loose, but the assistants pulling the ropes, threw him on ins broadside, and drew his four paws close to the cage bars in front securing them there. The rope round the neck was now removed' and a man was stationed near the head, with a stout oaken stick with instructions to put it in the tiger's mouth every time he raised himself and attempted to bite his fastenings. Mr. Forepaugh now commencedwith the rear right foot, the worst, and trimmed the claws of this and the others in succession. Burnt alum was rubbed into the wounds, and balsam of fir was then rubbed in— the former to remove the corruption, and the latter to heal the wounds The operation with the forepaws was rather more dangerous, as the lion tamer was forced to place his hands within reach of the tiger's formidable teeth. Each time, however, that "Jim" statted up the stick was presented to him to chew, and when all was over the end of it was found splintered. When all the paws had been treated, the attendants at a word from Mr. Forepaugh pulled on the safety ropes, and the tiger sprang to his feet and was free. The relief was immediate, judging fiom the manner in which the great beast walked about his cage. The whole operation did not exceed twenty minutes. It is anticipated that the cut claws will probably grow in once again, and have to be clipped, but that this will be the last operation necessary.