SEVKNTF^ ANNUAL REPORT. 47 



SCIENTIFIC WORK AND I'LT.LICATIONS 



Of chief scientitic interest is the estabhshment on a permanent 

 basis, we trust, of our Medical Department. The object of this 

 service is by systematic observation and record, and by experi- 

 mental treatment, to extend our knowledge of the care and health 

 of wild animals in captivity, the causes of various diseases, and 

 the means which should be taken for their prevention. This is 

 both humane and part of an economic administration. An animal 

 properly housed and well cared for, as it may be by our admirable 

 curatorial service, also needs scientific medical attention, because 

 all animals in confinement are peculiarly liable to certain kinds of 

 diseases. We feel that very substantial progress has already been 

 made by our Medical Department. We are fortunate in having 

 enlisted the enthusiasm and interest of Dr. Harlow Brooks, a well- 

 known medical pathologist. Dr. Miller, a trained veterinarian, 

 has been in charge of the surgical and medicinal treatment of the 

 animals, while the laboratory for the microscopic investigation 

 and preparation of various pathological cultures has been ably 

 conducted by Dr. W. Reid Blair. The results of their work are 

 summarized in reports of the Medical Department in this volume. 



The Chairman has proposed to collect all the observations of 

 our curators and keepers, as well as the observations made by 

 the members of our medical staff, and to issue from time to time 

 papers on the care of certain kinds of animals in the Park. These 

 will be collected and finally published in book form, as a com- 

 prehensive work on the care and treatment of animals in captivity, 

 a work which is very much needed. The Society in doing this 

 will take the initiative, as in many other directions. It is a sur- 

 prising fact that no such work showing the experience gained 

 from zoological park management has ever been published. 



Publications. During the year 1902 the Sixth Annual Report 

 of the Society has been published ; also an official guide, chiefly 

 prepared by Director Hornaday, and Bulletin No. 7. Bulletin 

 No. 8 was published during January, 1903, and was widely dis- 

 tributed throughout the city, with the object of increasing interest 

 in the work of the Society and enlisting new members. A special 

 investigation has been made by Mr. Madison Grant of the geo- 

 graphical distribution of the various races and species of caribou 

 in different parts of the northern hemisphere. The results of this 

 investigation constitute the special scientific feature of our Annual 

 Report this year. Of the very valuable series of illustrations 

 appearing with this paper, many have been furnished by the 



