TENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 141 



treating wild animals, and it is mere speculation to say from 

 what diseases they might or might not die. 



The value of our quarantine system has been especially evident 

 during the past year in the Primates collection. Of the 3 cases 

 of tuberculosis occurring in our collection during this period, 

 2 of them died while under quarantine control, thus well sup- 

 porting our contention that the average case of tuberculosis is 

 contracted before the animal reaches the Park, either under the 

 unfavorable conditions often found in quarters of animal dealers 

 or under the still more unhygienic surroundings prevailing in 

 transit. 



Since 1902 tubercular diseases among our animals have played 

 a very unimportant part in the death-rate. This is due to ( i ) 

 the careful selection of the animals purchased; (2) the hygienic 

 buildings in which they are quartered; (3) the rigorous exclu- 

 sion of all animals known or suspected to be tubercular from 

 the cages of the uninfected; and (4) at the first signs of the dis- 

 ease in any of the animals separating them from the healthy, the 

 cages washed and thoroughly disinfected after the removal of 

 such animals, and before healthy ones are placed in these com- 

 partments. 



When we consider the high percentage of tubercular diseases 

 prevalent among domestic ruminants throughout the country, we 

 have good reason to feel proud of our record of so few cases of 

 tuberculosis among the hoofed animals generally. The only case 

 of this disease occurring in our animals, other than the Primates, 

 during the past two years was that of a sambar deer, which was 

 found to be infected while still in quarantine, and was conse- 

 quently destroyed. 



BroiicJio-pneujiwnia in Sea Lions. — Of all the conditions met 

 with among the Park animals this one, at the present time, seems 

 the most difficult of solution. Considering the number of sea 

 lions lost each year, especially during the winter and early spring 

 months, it would seem advisable to provide a heated structure for 

 them during these months. 



That case after case of broncho-pneumonia can exist without 

 the individual showing any evidences whatever of illness up to 

 within a few hours of death is truly remarkable. In fact, in most 

 cases the animal feeds as usual up to the day of its death, and 

 otherwise shows no indications of ill health. 



While we have found embryonic filaria in the circulating blood 

 of many of the cases, still we do not feel sure that there are not 

 other infective agents in the causation of this disease. 



