ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PATHOLOGIST. 



By HARLOW BROOKS, M.D. 



THE space of time covered by this report extends from Jan- 

 uary ist, 1902, to January ist, 1903. The records of the 

 work done prior to April loth, 1902, were not, however, as thor- 

 oughly kept as at present. On this date a system of records was 

 adopted for the department which has since been closely followed. 

 These data have formed the chief basis of the report. Previous 

 to this time only the more important scientific observations were 

 recorded, and many of them have meanwhile been presented in 

 papers and studies before various scientific societies. 



Our work during the early part of the year was somewhat re- 

 tarded by the loss of Mr. Deaken, who had filled the position of 

 assistant to the veterinary and pathological departments. Mr. 

 Deaken left us to accept a similar position for the City Board 

 of Health. His work at the Park was very satisfactory, and fully 

 demonstrated the necessity for the position. We have since been 

 very fortunate in securing the services of Dr. Blair, a graduate 

 of the veterinary department of McGill University, and a gentle- 

 man of excellent attainments. I owe many of the data, the basis 

 of my report, to the records carefully collected by him. 



The more accurate observations and several brief researches 

 which our increased facilities have rendered possible this year 

 have, we believe, given us more valuable results than have here- 

 tofore been the case. We now feel that we are still better pre- 

 pared to enter on a new year's work, since we begin with a more 

 definite idea as to the lines which promise most for the future. 



DEATH RATE, 



It is impossible to give the percentage of deaths which have 

 occurred, since the records were not sufficiently carefully kept 

 with this end in view during the early months of the year. Even 

 if they had, the figure would be misleading, since it would nec- 

 essarily include many deaths which took place in animals but 

 recently introduced to the Park, animals whose illness had been 



