412 
CHLOROFORMING A GRIZZLY BEAR. 
“ On the 5th of November, 1850, the first operation of the 
sort was performed on one of those grizzly bears, which was 
blind in both eyes. As this detracted materially from his value, 
it was decided to endeavour to restore him to sight; and Mr. 
White Cooper having consented to operate, the proceedings 
were as follow:—A strong leathern collar, to which a chain was 
attached, was firmly buckled round the patient’s neck, and the 
chain having been passed round one of the bars in front of the 
cage, two powerful men endeavoured to pull him up, in order 
that a sponge containing chloroform should be applied to his 
muzzle by Dr. Snow. The resistance offered by the bear was 
as surprising as unexpected. The utmost efforts of these men 
were unavailing; and, after a struggle of ten minutes, two 
others were called to their aid. By their united efforts, Master 
Bruin was at length brought up, and the sponge fairly tied 
round his muzzle. Meanwhile the cries and roarings of the 
patient were echoed in full chorus by his two brothers, who had 
been confined to the sleeping den, and who scratched and tore 
at the door to get to the assistance of their distressed relative. 
The large sloth bear in a cage on the other side joined heartilv 
in the chorus, and the Isabella bear just beyond, wrung her 
paws in an agony of woe. Leopolds snarled in sympathy, 
and laughing hyaenas swelled the chorus with their hysterical 
sobs. The octobasso growling of the polar bears, and roaring 
of the lions on the other side of the building, completed as 
remarkable a diapason as could well be heard. The first 
evidence of the action of the chloroform on the bear was a 
diminution in his struggles; first one paw dropped, then the 
other. The sponge was now removed from his face, the door 
of the den opened, and his head laid upon a plank outside. The 
cataracts were speedily broken up, and the bear was drawn 
into the cage again. For nearly five minutes he remained, as 
was remarked by a keeper, without knowledge, sense, or un¬ 
derstanding, till at length one leg gave a kick, then another, 
and presently he attempted to stand. The essay was a failure; 
but lie soon tried to make his way to his cage. At length he 
blundered into it, and was left quiet for a time. He soon 
revived, and in the afternoon ate heartily. The following 
morning, on the door being opened, he came out, staring about 
him, caring nothing for the light, and began humming, as he 
licked his paws, with much the air of a musical amateur sitting 
down to a sonata on his violoncello .”—Zoological Anecdotes. 
