180 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1959 
Lee O. Burris, who was appointed head gardener on March 1, 1954, 
retired on October 31, 1958. Michael Dubik, formerly assistant head 
gardener, became the supervisory gardener. 
During the year nine police officers completed a police course of- 
fered by the University of Maryland, and five keepers attended a 
course in supervision at the Department of Agriculture Night School. 
On March 17, at a luncheon in the Zoo Park Restaurant, six women 
were honored for their efforts in behalf of the National Zoological 
Park. Five were wives of Zoo officials or keepers; the sixth was the 
mother of a keeper, and all had taken baby animals into their homes 
to care for them, and had successfully raised them for the Zoo. The 
Director introduced the guests of honor, and Dr. Carmichael, Secre- 
tary of the Smithsonian Institution, presented each one with a certifi- 
cate of appreciation. Those receiving the certificates were Mrs. Lucile 
Q. Mann, Mrs. Esther S. Walker, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Reed, Mrs. Mar- 
garet A. Grimmer, Mrs. Louise E. Gallagher, and Mrs. Nettie L 
Stroman. 
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION 
The Zoo continues to handle a large correspondence with persons 
all over the world who write for information regarding animals. 
From every part of this country citizens write to the Zoo as a national 
institution. Telephone calls come in constantly, asking for identifica- 
tion of animals, proper diets, or treatment of disease. Visitors to the 
office as well as to the animal exhibits are constantly seeking informa- 
tion. 
The Director spoke before six civic groups and one school group 
and appeared on six television programs, displaying animals from 
the Zoo. 
A symposium on “Recognition and Treatment of Snake Bite” was 
given to the medical staff of Children’s Hospital by the Associate 
Director. 
Dr. James F. Wright, veterinarian, published two articles in Vet- 
erinary Medicine: “Necrotic Stomatitis in an American Elix” (October 
1958) and “Treatment of Captive Wild Animals Using an Automatic 
Projectile Type Syringe” (January 1959). 
Malcom Davis, associate headkeeper, continued to write his weekly 
nature column for the Herndon-Chantilly (Va.) Times and the Lou- 
doun Times Mirror as a public service. He published a monthly 
article in Adll-Pets Magazine and the American Cage-Bird Magazine, 
as well as biological notes for The Auk and notes for the Pheasant 
Breeders Gazette. He spoke on three television programs and broad- 
cast a nature script once a month from the Herndon, Va., radio station. 
He also spoke to four civic clubs and two high-school biology classes 
on Zoo animals. Mr. Davis, who is a charter member of the Inter- 
