Chap. IV.] 
THE ELEPHANT. 
155 
So little was lie apparently inconvenienced by the presence 
of the strange body in his palate that he was accustomed with 
his finger partially to undo the screw, which but for its extreme 
length he might altogether have withdrawn. To enable this 
to be done, and possibly to assist by this means the extraction 
of the breech itself through the original orifice (which never 
entirely closed), an attempt was made in 1835 to take off a 
portion of the screw with a file ; but, after having cut it three 
parts through the operation was interrupted, chiefly owing to 
the carelessness and indifference of Capt. Fketz, whose death 
occurred before the attempt could be resumed. The piece of 
iron, on being removed after his decease, was found to measure 
2f inches in length, and weighed two scruples more than two 
ounces and three quarters. A cast of the breech and screw 
now forms No. 2790 amongst the deposits in the Medical 
Museum of Chatham. 
