Surgeons Save Life of Huge Python (Apr, 1923)

Surgeons Save Life of Huge Python

BY PERFORMING two operations within two weeks—probably the first attempt to apply surgery on such a scale to the treatment of reptiles— surgeons recently saved the life of a valuable python transported from India to Long Beach, Calif.

The python is 29-1/2 feet long, weighs 280 pounds, and is nearly 100 years old.

While being removed from the ship, the reptile’s neck was caught oh a spike and badly torn.

A veterinarian having been called in, a muzzle was placed over the snake’s head, and the 14-inch wound was sewed up with silk thread. When the wound did not heal satisfactorily after 10 days, it was resewed with silver wire.