THE ROYAL TIGER OF BENGAL. 71 



The following have recently ooonrred : — 



Near Roorkee, an officer fired at and wounded the 

 tiger from a machkn, as it was seizing a buffalo. 

 He followed on foot, and came on the tiger in the 

 grass ; fired as it charged, and mortally wounded 

 the brute, which, however, had strength enough 

 left to rush in and seize him by the shoulder, 

 inflicting severe wounds. The tiger actually fell 

 over dead, with his jaws closed on the officer's 

 shoulder ; — the narrowest escape, with life, conceiv- 

 able. This officer was placed on the sick list on 

 the 4th April, 1874, having been injured on the 2nd 

 of that month. The wounds were washed and 

 ligatured in the jungle, prior to removal to Roorkee. 

 On examination the shbulder was found greatly 

 swollen, the ligatures so tense as to necessitate their 

 division ; in this condition it was found impossible 

 accurately to diagnose the nature and extent of the 

 injuries sustained. There were two extensive lace- 

 rated wounds on the front of the deltoid, and two 

 corresponding to them on the dorsum scapulae, pro- 

 duced doubtless by the fangs of the tiger. There 

 was also a deep penetrating wound at the acromion, 

 which extended deeper than the third joint of the 

 forefinger. On the inner aspect of this wound the 

 rough surface of the fractured acromion could be 

 detected, while the outer fragment was dragged deep 

 into the wound, and was only on one occasion 

 touched by the finger. The spine of the scapula 



