THE HIPPOPOTAMUS 
he died from pure old age. It is quite consistent with 
these facts to suppose that the hippopotamus does not 
live to a great age, because the young animal born in 
the Gardens attained its full size in six years, although 
Obaysch,” as compared with this youngster, had not 
attained his full growth until he was ten years old. 
‘‘obaysch’" at the dentist’s. 
In 1873 I gave the late Mr. Frank Buckland the 
following particulars for his book, Curiosiiies of HaOtral 
History, of the successful attempt of extracting the tooth 
of the hippopotamus Obaysch ” living in the Gardens : — 
‘‘ You will be glad to know that I have succeeded in 
performing perhaps the largest dental operation on record. 
Our male hippopotamus ‘ Obaysch ’ has been suffering from 
a fractured tooth, and, fearing the consequences might be 
serious, I had a strong oak fence fixed between his pond 
and the iron railings, as I had determined to remove the 
tooth. This I accomplished, but not without a fearful 
struggle. I had had prepared a powerful pair of forceps 
more than 2 ft. long ; with these I grasped his fractured 
incisor, thinking that, with a firm and determined twist, 
I should gain possession of the fine piece of ivory. This, 
however, was not so easily done, for the brute, astonished 
at my impudence, rushed back, tearing the instrument 
from my hands, and, looking as wild as a hippopotamus 
can look, charged at me just as I had recovered my 
forceps. I made another attempt, and this time held 
on long enough to cause the loose tooth to shift its 
position, but was again obliged to relinquish my hold. 
I had, however, no occasion to say ‘ Open your mouth,’ 
for this he did to the fullest extent ; therefore I had no 
