128 NEW YORK ZOOEOGICAE “SOCIEIny- 
Among the mountain sheep there have been a number of deaths 
from gastro-enteritis. The chief etiological factor in the causation 
of this disease has been the grass growing upon their ranges. 
During the summer, the ranges were thoroughly denuded of 
grass, and covered with ashes. Since then there have been fewer 
cases of the disease, and it has been possible to keep the animals 
on exhibition most of the time. 
At one time during the past summer there were as many as 
seven animals in the hospital suffering from gastro-enteritis, 
most of them from Mountain Sheep Hill. If the disease is taken 
in its earliest stages, the great majority of cases readily respond 
to treatment. 
Cage Paralysis.—Deaths from this troublesome disease have 
been fewer in number than during any previous year. Our treat- 
ment of the disorder in the early stages, as outlined in previous 
reports, continues to give satisfactory results. There are at the 
present time several cases of cage paralysis in the Primates 
collection, that have been under treatment for over two years, 
and all of them show a considerable improvement in condition. 
PARASITIC DISEASES. 
Intestinal Parasitis—But few deaths were directly due to 
intestinal parasitis, and those which took place were among ani- 
mals of no great value, generally the small mammals. It is an 
interesting fact that a large percentage of the small mammals 
which come to our collections, harbor some type of intestinal 
parasite, which, if not speedily relieved, will result in setting up a 
fatal enteritis. The occasional administration of vermifuges to 
these animals greatly reduces the number of deaths which we 
would naturally expect from this condition. 
Tape-Worm Cysts.—In the medical reports of past years, fre- 
quent mention has been made of the prevalence of tape-worm 
cysts in a large percentage of the animals dying in the Park. 
During the past two years there has been a great reduction in the 
number of cases met with, and especially in 1906, when the 
condition has been noted in only two or three instances. 
Verminous Broncho-Pneumona in Elk.—There have been no 
deaths from this disease during the past year; and the elk herd, 
generally, was never in such good condition as at the present 
time. The reasons for the improved condition of these animals 
were fully discussed in the last report of this department, and 
need no further comment at this time. 
