November 14, 1848. 
William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Notes on THR ANATomyY oF THE Mate Avxocus (Bison europeus). 
By Pror. Owen, F.R.S., F.Z.S. etc. etc. 
It was with much concern that I received notice at the latter part 
of September last of the sudden failing of health of the male Aurochs ; 
the male of the pair munificently presented to the Zoological Society 
by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, at the instance of 
our distinguished scientific countryman Sir Roderick Impey Mur- 
chison, G.C.SS. The animal had refused its food ; it was prostrated 
by impeded and frequent respiration and a general oppressive feverish 
state, and died about a week after the first attack. 
The morbid appearances, on dissection, were simple and conclu- 
sive. The whole right lung had been the seat of active inflammation 
and congestion ; most of the air-cells were filled with a bloody serum, 
which was infiltrated throughout the connecting tissue. A mass of 
coagulable lymph had been exuded from the whole exterior surface 
of the organ, cementing its lobes to each other and to the surround- 
ing parts, especially the pericardium. The mucous lining of the 
bronchial tubes was of a deep livid red colour, and the same evidence 
of inflammation extended throughout the trachea, and a little way 
down the bronchi of the sound lung. Both the liver and spleen broke 
down more easily under pressure than in the healthy common Ox ; 
the texture of the kidney also was softer, and of a more fuscous 
colour. The vessels of the pia mater were unusually gorged; but 
these were probably the secondary consequences of the influence 
upon the circulation, and the quality of the blood induced by the 
primary and active disorganization of the respiratory system. The 
exciting cause of the disease I take to be the influence of the raw 
cold and heavy fogs, consequent on the undrained extent of clay- 
ground in which the menagerie of the Society is placed, and by which 
it is extensively surrounded. The effects of an atmosphere so loaded 
on the mucous tract of the respiratory organs to which it is applied, 
has long been manifested in various species of the exotic animals 
attempted to be preserved in the Zoological Gardens ; and the records 
of medicine bear testimony to similar ill effects upon those human 
inhabitants of the Regent’s Park, whose habits and strength of con- 
stitution do not enable them to control and overcome this pregnant 
but happily remediable source of ill-health. 
The male Aurochs, at the period of its death, was two years and 
five months old. The following was the state of its dentition :— 
5-5 
$3—3,cl—l,m —- = 28; of which 7 1 was permanent, 7 2, 7 3, 
ae 
