Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1911 — PIGEON A HOSPITAL PATIENT [ARTICLE]

PIGEON A HOSPITAL PATIENT

Boston Surgeons Successfully Set Broken Leg for Bird That Had Applied for Admission. If the pigeon patient whose left leg has been in a plaster cast at the Relief hospital for 11 days were able to talk probably t£e first thing it would do after its “discharge” from the hospital would be to fly. to Pemberton square, the general meeting place of the plgfeons, and tell the others what a wonderful thing surgery is. The pigeon at the Relief hospital had the plaster taken from its leg by Dr. Shedd the other morning. There were many surgeons present and they manifested no little interest in the work of Dr. Shedd, who has taken considerable interest In the case of the helpless pigeon, which a few days previous tapped its bill repeatedly against a window of the hospital until an attendant came to itß assistance, i The pigeon was “admitted” and Dr. Shedd, after setting the injured leg, placed it In a cast, also placing the right leg in a cast The" bird has been given much attention and has been an ideal patient One morning the. bird was taken to a private room and Dr. Shedd and Mr. Hartlgan, the attendant, placed it on an “operating table” and removed the cast. When the cast was removed it was evident that the pigeon had forgotten all about flying. The bird flapped its wings once, but made no attempt to fly out of Mr. Shedd’s hand. The injured leg was mended well, and in another week the patient will be discharged." The injured pigeon has become a mascot at the Relief hospital. The attendants would like to keep the bird there. Several persons have promised to give the bird a home should the attaches of the hospital Wish to give it up. The managers of the poultry show made an effort to get the bird for exhibition purposes, but Dr. Shedd felt that the patient was not strong enough for show purposes. In the accident the pigeon lost its tail, some plumage and broke its leg. It was a wise old bird, the doctor said, when it fragged itself to. the window of the hospital. Dr. Shedd said that the pigeon seemed to take an interest in his operation and blinked its eyes approvingly when the cast was re moved. —Boston Globe.