134 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 



laboratory examination, and environmental changes that the need for 

 treatment and surgery is reduced to a minimum; to treat diseased and 

 injured animals as necessary ; and to carry on research looking toward 

 better remedies and better health for the animals in captivity. 



Changes in and additions to more than 92 of the diets have been 

 made, and benefits are beginning to be evident. Two second-genera- 

 tion hybrid bear cubs now 6 months old were raised on synthetic 

 bitches' milk and are developing normally. The two young gorillas 

 continue to thrive. Nikumba, the male, weighed 17 pounds on arrival 

 at 15 months of age, and Moka, the female, weighed 20 pounds. Their 

 combined weight is now 100 pounds, the male being the heavier. Dr. 

 Joseph Watson, a private physician, is consultant pediatrician for 

 both the gorillas and orangutans. 



A systematic parasite survey has been started, and treatment is 

 given where necessary. The new anthelmintic piprizine sulfate has 

 been used for roundworms with good results. It has the advantage 

 of being highly effective, relatively palatable and nontoxic. A satis- 

 factory method of treating reptiles for internal parasites is being 

 sought, and results so far are promising. 



During the year 20 minor surgical cases were treated. The three 

 major operations were the removal of a fibroma between the two 

 lower canine teeth of a 19-year-old Bengal tiger, the reduction of an 

 umbilical hernia on a young male chimpanzee, and the removal of a 

 large mass (y 2 pint) of tapeworm cysts from the hind leg of a 

 De Brazza's guenon. Lt. E. M. McCully, United States Air Force 

 (Veterinarian Corps), was the chief surgeon. Two unusual surgical 

 procedures were the removal of a marble-sized tumor from an African 

 lungfish and the extraction of an impacted tooth from an 18-foot 

 anaconda. 



Treatment of infectious conditions has been as successful as could be 

 expected considering the difficulty in handling some of the patients. 

 In all, 119 mammals, 17 reptiles, and 25 birds were under treatment. 



Every death that occurs at the Zoo is listed. When an animal dies 

 every effort is made to determine the cause of death, and to profit 

 from the findings. 



The three emperor penguins received May 1, 1956, arrived infected 

 with aspergillosis. Treatment with Mycostatin (Squibb) and Alivar 

 (Winthrop) by inhalation with a DeVilbis nebulizer was immediately 

 started. One penguin died within 12 hours ; the other two survived 5 

 days. The pathological reports on the two that died last showed 

 that the mold was not sporulating, indicating that an early treatment 

 against the disease would have been effective had there been oppor- 

 tunity. 



Assistance in post-mortem procedures and all histopathologic exam- 

 inations were given by Drs. Eyestone and Lombard, National In- 



