106 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Mountain goats, musk-oxen and deer. A number of these cases 

 were traced to irritating substances in the clover hay and 

 alfalfa. There was a tendency in these cases to merge into 

 a chronic inflammation of the large bowel, resulting in a chronic 

 dysentery and finally death from malnutrition. 



Fungi Poisoning. — There have been a number of deaths 

 from feeding hay which had been improperly cured, or baled 

 while damp. Mouldy hay and grain have long been notorious 

 for producing urinary affections in ruminants, with excessive 

 elimination of phosphates, extreme emaciation and weakness. 

 The deer seem more susceptible to fungi or their products than 

 any other group of animals. The symptoms, in these animals, 

 in the early stages simulate rheumatic affections, but later pa- 

 ralysis of the hind quarters is one of the common manifesta- 

 tions, and this suggesting lesions of the spinal cord. In other 

 cases there is a general paresis, the animal lying in a helpless 

 condition for a number of days before death. In a few cases a 

 profuse diarrhoea sets in which quickly terminates in death. The 

 practical difficulties in the procuring of hay that is absolutely 

 sound are the greatest that are encountered in any food supply 

 with which we have to deal. 



Gastritis and enteritis among the primates, as well as 

 among the small mammals, caused fewer deaths than formerly, 

 and when these affections are the result of errors in diet, great 

 progress has been made in correcting these conditions. Several 

 of the smaller bears have been affected with chronic gastritis. 

 One Andes black bear died after suffering from this disease in- 

 termittently for several years. 



Pneumonia. — Pneumonia among the primates, as well as in 

 the small mammals, has been quite prevalent. Generally this 

 disease results as a complication of some other disease, such as 

 gastritis, or intestinal parasites. While more cases of pneu- 

 monia are seen during the spring and fall, it occurs, however, 

 throughout the year. 



PcD'cisitic Diseases. — While most of the animals respond 

 successfully to medication for the elimination of intestinal para- 

 sites, occasionally we lose a few from aggravated attacks. This 

 is more frequently the case with the smaller mammals, such as 

 raccoons, agoutis, armadillos and squirrels. 



Among the larger carnivores, where the administration of 

 vermicides have for a long period been a matter of regular 

 routine, no fatality from intestinal parasites has occurred. 



