106 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



cuted with the strictest regard to the prevention of animals suf- 

 fering. The anaesthetics selected for operation were chloroform, 

 sulphuric-ether, and cocaine according to the nature of the work 

 to be done and the class of animal to be treated. Among the 

 animals to undergo operations requiring general anaesthetics I 

 would report: 



I Alligator. i Wolf. 3 Antelopes. 



I Crocodile. 5 Bears. 7 Monkeys. 



Not only has the constant use of these agents been prompted 

 by reasons of humanity, but along with modern antiseptics, care- 

 fully selected to meet the peculiar idiosyncrasies of various spe- 

 cies, conditions have been easily and successfully treated which 

 would have been quite impossible without the aid of such agents. 



My frequent examinations of the food supplies for all animals 

 within the Park have, with one or two exceptions (which were 

 immediately corrected), showed them to be at all times highly 

 satisfactory in quality and state of preservation. 



It may not be inopportune at this time, in view of the nature 

 of my special charge, and the tendency of our Buffalo to easily 

 acquire digestive disturbances, to suggest that the permanent 

 improvements of the coming year include such measures as you 

 may think would insure a more perfect drainage of certain low- 

 lying parts of the Buffalo Range, to the end that a more perfect 

 grazing sward may be produced. 



I would also advise the consideration of methods to regulate 

 the manner of inflow and outflow of the various pools and ponds 

 made use of by the animals, in order that such currents may be 

 produced as would tend to materially check the rapid growth of 

 algae, etc., and render fouling less possible during the warmest 

 weather, when the vitality of our animals is necessarily at the 

 lowest point of the year. 



The detail work of your Veterinarian has been greatly facili- 

 tated by the employment of the laboratory attendant, whose ser- 

 vices I trust it may be your pleasure to continue. Not only have 

 his efforts in the laboratory been very gratifying, but the service 

 he has rendered in the capacity of dispensing and hospital stew- 

 ard has been highly satisfactory to me. 



In closing, I wish gratefully to acknowledge the kind consid- 

 eration I have at all times received at the hands of Director 



