XVI 
THE LION 
an 
out of a temporary hospital built near a construction 
camp, close to the railway. In order to protect the 
hospital a strong boma was built around it, and two 
Englishmen decided to watch for the lion from the 
interior of a railway transport van. To enable them 
to watch the hospital they had the upper half of the 
door of the wagon open ; the lower half was closed for 
their own protection. In due course they saw the lion 
spring over the boma into the hospital compound ; but 
all the doors and windows had been secured. The two 
men watched closely with the hope of seeing the lion 
return from the boma and had their faces level with 
the top of the half door of the van, when they were 
suddenly startled by feeling the lion’s breath in their 
faces : the brute had attempted to seize them over the 
top of the half door. He failed because he was unable 
to obtain a secure grip on the narrow metal edge of 
the doors. In the morning the marks of the lion’s 
claws were obvious on the painted door. 
In contrast with a grim tale of this kind there are 
many like the following :— 
Lady Delamere was returning to her home after a 
dance : the native boy preceded her with a lamp. 
Suddenly a dark form rose between her and the 
lamp-boy with a savage growl and quickly disappeared. 
It was a lion. 
It is well known to surgeons who have had the care of 
patients badly mauled with lions or leopards that the 
wounds do not heal kindly. This is easily understood, 
for such wounds are made by septic teeth and claws that 
have been tearing animal tissues. Not only are the 
wounds slow in healing on account of the profuse sup¬ 
puration, the sequel of the septic poisoning, but even 
when healed Dr. F. L. Henderson, who has had charge 
of several hunters who had been mauled, tells me that 
the scars are often persistently painful. 
That scratches inflicted by feline animals are septic 
admits of ready demonstration. Terriers are very fond 
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