116 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



It is of great importance to ascertain the origin of this infec- 

 tion, and the method of its introduction into the park. 



First, we must consider the possibility of this parasite being 

 a normal inhabitant of the colon of these animals, as in the pig 

 and dog. But in the numerous examinations of faeces of mon- 

 keys made at the Park, as yet we have not found the organism 

 except in the sick animals mentioned above. 



Undoubtedly the disease first declared itself in the chimpan- 

 zee, and it is possible that the food or drink of the orang became 

 contaminated by the faeces of this animal, or of some other ani- 

 mal in which the balantidium may occur normally. Very re- 

 cently Mr. Ditmars and Mr. Deaken have found the living para- 

 sites plentifully in the faeces of the large land-turtles. Probably 

 they are normal inhabitants of the intestine of these animals. 

 For a time the orangs were quartered in an outdoor inclosure 

 close to one tenanted by these turtles, and their infection may 

 have taken place through this avenue. If this has been the mode 

 of infection, I feel certain that it will not again happen after the 

 very strict precautions to prevent such contamination that are 

 now taken at the Park. 



DISEASES OF THE LUNGS : TUBERCULOSIS. 



Tuberculosis, which is usually the cause of a large per cent, 

 of the deaths in colonies of either men or animals, has played 

 a very unimportant part with us. A few minor animals have 

 died with this disease, but as soon as it was detected they were 

 either killed or otherwise placed beyond the possibility of infect- 

 ing others. We point with great pride to the fact that, among 

 the animals that have died from various other diseases, none 

 were found to be also infected with tuberculosis. 



This favorable state of affairs is undoubtedly due, first, to care- 

 ful selection of healthy animals ; second, to the thoroughly clean- 

 ly conditions under which the animals are kept, and the frequent 

 use of disinfectants ; third, the quarantining of sick animals, and 

 the early and thoroughly scientific treatment. If our records 

 are to show freedom of tuberculosis in the future, these same 

 wise provisions must be followed. In this particular the re- 

 cently established laboratory should greatly aid, since it pre- 

 sents the possibility of early and absolute diagnosis of this con- 

 dition. 



