ELEPHANTS 



have been very unfavourable and disastrous. It is only 

 those who have had experience in the management of an 

 elephant who are aware that unless the person in charge of 

 him is determined to be master and overpower him, that 

 person will lose all control over him and will be liable at 

 any moment to fall a victim to his enormous strength. It 

 was during his fits of temporary insanity that " Jumbo " 

 broke both his tusks by driving them through the iron- 

 work of his den ; the tusks were broken off within his 

 mouth, probably close to his upper jawbone. As the tusks 

 of elephants continue to grow throughout the whole of 

 the animal's life, " Jumbo's " tusks accordingly grew again, 

 pushing forward the broken jagged ends ; but instead of 

 protruding in the usual way from under the upper lip 

 they grew somewhat upwards in his mouth and in the 

 course of time it was observed that they were forcing their 

 way through the skin not far below his eyes. The result of 

 this was an abscess on each side of his face. It was evident 

 to every one that the painful irritation caused the beast 

 much suffering, and he fed but little and was losing flesh 

 He was getting so weak that he appeared afraid to lie 

 down, and had he done so it was doubtful if he would have 

 had strength to get up again. Upon my going to him he 

 would allow me to put my hand upon these swellings, and 

 appeared to me by the motion of his trunk to indicate the 

 seat or cause of his suffering. I therefore determined to 

 cut through the thick skin in order to discharge the ac- 

 cumulated pus and enable the tusks to grow out of this 

 opening. In order to accomplish this I had a steel rod 

 made about 18 in. in length, formed with a sharp 

 hook at the end, the hook being flattened on the inner 

 edge as sharp as a razor. With this instrument Scott, the 

 keeper, and I entered the den, having previously fastened 

 the doors of the house to prevent any one entering and 



47 



