OPERATION ON A LION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1885, 30 April 1889, Page 4

OPERATION ON A LION.

The fine lion Jupiter, at the Clifton Zoological Gardens, Bristol, which is nearly eleven years old, having been cubbed in tbe Gardens in the year 1878, was noticed recently to have a claw on the left fore-paw growing into the flesh of its foot, which was gradually laming the animal. The lion was evidently in nain, and it was deemed advisable to remove tbe claw. The novel operation was pierformed on a Saturday morning, when a closed travelling cage was introduced into the den, and placed against one of the eliding traps in the partition. The animal having been induced to enter the cage, it was removed to the floor of the building and another cage, but of different construction, composed solely of iron bars, placed endways to the door of the first cage, and the two firmly lashed together. After some little trouble the animal was got into the second cage, which was so narrow as not to admit of his turning round. Heavy inchand-a-half planks were inserted, and the lion firmly wedged in. Up to this point he had submitted quietly ; but on the introduction of the p'nnkH he splintered them up as easily as though they had been matchwood. At last he was firmly wedged in, and a little t me was given to him to cool down. A favorable opportunity for the operation occurred in a few minutes, his paw being partly through the bars. The head keeper, Blundesen, who was waiting with a powerful pair of nippers, seized the opportunity, and the offending claw was promptly removed. Tbe operation, which was conducted by Dr Harrison, treasurer of, the gardens, was absolutely necessary, as the claw had already grown more than half an inch into the foot, and would nrobably have killed the animal.