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 suftering, 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 
