THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 139 
Either it is arched, with the dorsal vertebre prominent, or the 
back may be depressed, giving a hollow or saddle-back appear- 
ance to the animal. Growth is greatly retarded, and often the 
animal remains dwarfed. 
Rickets in monkeys is shown by great unthriftiness. The hair 
is dry, rough and faded, and the skin shows a predisposition to 
eczema. The back is arched and the bones prominent. There is 
swelling of the joints, particularly of the wrist, elbow and knee; 
the ends of the ribs are enlarged and the chest caved in. Bron- 
chitis, indigestion and skin irritations appear, and, if not relieved, 
the animal continues in a state of malnutrition, and soon dies. 
In the small mammals rickets is manifested by bony enlarge- 
ments at the joints, and by button-like thickenings at the union of 
the ribs and costal cartilages; and curvature of the extremities 
with the hind legs flexed tightly under the body. The animals lie 
huddled up a great deal of the time, and when made to move do 
so with slow, painful movements. 
Rickets may be mistaken for acute muscular rheumatism, but it 
must be remembered that rickets is a slow and gradually develop- 
ing disease, while rheumatism comes on suddenly. In rheumatism 
there is no bulging and bending of the bones, and unless in the 
chronic form there are no enlargements at the joints. 
In prevention and treatment alike, fresh air and dry quarters 
are absolutely necessary. Lime water, small doses of phosphate 
of soda or bone dust act beneficially as tonics as well as food 
material. For the carnivorous animals daily doses of cod-liver 
oil, given over a long period, is also of great value. Practically 
all cat animals will take this oil, smeared over meat, and in many 
cases will lap the clear oil from a pan with great relish. The 
other substances being practically tasteless no difficulty is ex- 
perienced in administering them to any animal with the food. 
Gastro-Enteritis—The number of deaths from gastro-enteritis 
diminish each year, and during the past year no important large 
mammal died from this disease. In the buffalo herd, which has 
heretofore been the greatest sufferer from this disease, the only 
death to be recorded is that of a very old cow which had been a 
chronic sufferer from gastro-enteritis for the past five years. 
Among the animals on Mountain Sheep Hill there has been but 
few cases of gastro-enteritis. A number of acute cases developed 
during the late summer and early autumn, but by their prompt 
removal to the hospital, or Small-Deer House, for treatment they 
have ail recovered. The male mouflon, which has had no less than 
five severe attacks of gastro-enteritis, has been kept in the Small- 
