WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
elephant, had torn off part of her trunk. I went of course 
immediately and found the end of her trunk lying in the 
middle of the den. Scott and one of the other keepers 
handed it to me at my request. It was warm and the 
nerves and muscles were still quivering and in motion ; it 
gave me a most painful shock. The poor beast appeared 
in great distress and agony, whirling and elevating her 
trunk and screaming ; she would not allow any one near 
her. I ordered the tank in the house to be filled with 
cold water, and a tarpaulin to be hung up in front of the 
den. I was sadly afraid I should have to destroy the 
poor creature and made the necessary preparation for an 
emergency ; however, I found, after visiting her from time 
to time, that the bleeding had stopped and that she had 
availed herself of the cold water into which to thrust the 
ragged end of the torn trunk. 
When the painful excitement had partially worn off 
I weighed and measured the portion of the torn-off 
trunk. In weight it was 2 lbs. 2 ozs., and on the longest 
side measured 12 in.; it however shrank considerably 
when placed in a glass jar containing strong spirits of 
wine. 
The constant and kind attention to the poor creature 
by the keepers convinced me that she would not die for 
want of food, as she allowed the men to put biscuits into 
her mouth, and by placing the indiarubber hose to her 
mouth she could take water. 
As the jagged end of the trunk had ceased bleeding, 
and the animal had become quiet, I had great hopes of 
saving her life. Of course it was quite impossible to say 
what would happen. It might not heal, it might ulcerate 
and decay and rot off, and then it would be necessary to 
put an end to her sufferings. 
At all events, I considered that all the symptoms were 
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