MEROKT (OF WEE VELERINARIAN. 
By W. REID BLAIR, D.V.S. 
H&E general health of the animals during the past year has 
been well maintained, and the death-rate kept well within 
what we must consider the normal for our collections. There 
have been the usual number of interesting medical and surgical 
cases among the animals during the year ; and two cases of rheu- 
matism, owing to their severity, are worthy of special mention. 
Rheumatism.—The first case was that of the male African 
rhinoceros, which early in April was noticed to be in ill-health. 
He ceased to take any exercise and was found to be lying down 
a great deal of the time, and when urged to move would do so 
with slow, stiff and painful movements. The disease seemed to 
be localized in the joints; the knees and hocks being simultane- 
ously attacked, and the suffering of the animal was intense. After 
a few days’ illness he would lie constantly on his side, and when 
any attempt was made to disturb him he would groan with pain, 
and could gain his feet only with great effort. Under pressure, 
all the joints were very painful and much swollen. The skin 
over and surrounding the articulations was red, dry and hard; 
the mucous membranes of the nostrils and mouth congested, and 
the eyeballs greatly injected. 
This animal was given salol in one dram doses, twice daily, 
for about a week, but without marked benefit. This drug was 
then discontinued, and salicylate of sodium substituted, with the 
result that the animal showed almost immediate relief from the 
beginning. Improvement continued for three weeks, when entire 
recovery had taken place. 
While this was a very striking case, still we have had equally 
good results in other cases of rheumatism by the administration of 
this drug. 
The Altai wapiti has had several attacks of rheumatism, usualiy 
coming on in late fall or early winter. Two years ago salol 
relieved this animal very promptly, but in the two last attacks it 
was apparently of no benefit, while gradual relief was afforded by 
the administration of the salicylate compounds. From our expe- 
rience it appears that the secret of success with salicylate of 
sodium, and the salicylate compounds generally, lies in the speedy 
saturation of the system with the drug, rather than its moderate 
