This is a true story which goes back quite a few years, and many times have I thought about it and laughed as a result.

On my way home from Egremont surgery one Wednesday afternoon I received a message in my car to proceed to a little circus in Maryport in order to see a lion and guanoco. I vaguely knew that the last animal was similar to a llama from South America , and I thought that the visit to see the lion was more than likely to be a joke from my secretary. However, on arrival at this very small circus, the gentleman in charge appeared out of a caravan and immediately asked me if I wanted to see the lion first or the guanoco! To get my breath back I decided to see the lion last and quickly diagnosed the guanoco to have a bad case of mange for which I could prescribe and dispense from my car an effective wash. I was then asked to go into the caravan, where on the bench seat of the sitting room there was a lion about the size of a large golden retriever dog laid out and fast asleep. I asked the owner what was the problem and he said that he wanted the fang teeth removed because it was growing up and it had started to be a little rough with its mouth play, and he didn't want anyone badly bitten. I stroked the animal which it was quite happy for me to do, and on lifting the lip I was aware of the primary fang teeth being about an inch long. Never having been asked to do dental work on a lion before I very courageously decided to have a go. I did have in my case an anaesthetic injection which I would normally use on cats and very quickly gave a large dose into the back leg of the animal. A little time was needed before the extractions were to be made so I excused myslf from the owner and proceeded to Mr Syke's Dental Surgery in town to borrow the largest pair of forceps he had. I quickly returned to the lion, which by this time was snoring its head off, and with the greatest of ease removed the four shallow rooted primary fang teeth. The owner was delighted with the result ( and I too with the performance!)

There is a bit of a sting in the tail, though, after I had asked for my fee, I only realised that I had forgotten to add on the charge for the anaesthetic in my car returning to Cockermouth. Laughingly I said to myself that I was willing to pay for my experience, and now thirty years on I am waiting for my next lion case.

Readers can contact Jack Sedgwick on 01946 820513.