SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 115 



mals which take kindly to that provided. I may mention as ani- 

 mals of this group especially the ruminants, and particularly if 

 these animals be allowed to feed at will on the natural foods of 

 their range in addition to receiving prepared fodder. In the nat- 

 ural state these animals do not feed as undisturbed as in the Park, 

 but nnist be constantly on the lookout, rendering constant feeding 

 impossible. Coupled with this natural method is a large amount 

 of exercise which the beasts must take in the securing of their 

 food. During inclement weather their rations are doubtless often 

 reduced to a minimum. 'J'hus we find in nature that the amount 

 of food is generally limited, and that the procuring of it requires 

 the expenditure of a considerable amount of energy. At the same 

 time the foods selected by the animals are naturally those de- 

 signed for them by nature, varying according to natural require- 

 ments. In captivity almost opposite conditions obtain. The 

 amount of food is generally too great, unless absolutely under 

 the control of keepers, as with the camivora or such omnivora 

 as the bears. The amount of exercise necessarily expended in 

 the securing of the food is reduced to a minimvnn, and finally the 

 inclosures of the animals are generally so limited in extent that 

 sufficient exercise is not encouraged. We may conclude more 

 or less confidently that animals are very much like man and are 

 not inclined to do more than the necessary amount of labor, suf- 

 ficient to provide them with food and comfort. It is well known 

 that the most healthy people are those who earn their food under 

 proper hygienic conditions by abundant physical exercise. In 

 captivity, in most cases, the foods cannot be selected w'ith the 

 strict adherence to the demands of each peculiar animal as in 

 the open. 



These factors, improper alimentation coupled wuth insufficient 

 physical exercise, throw on the excretory and absorbtive struct- 

 ures of the body increased w'ork, accompanied generally with a 

 diminished oxidation. Digestive and other metabolic disturb- 

 ances follow, and metabolic toxins are thrown into the circula- 

 tory fluids exciting parenchymatous and fatty degeneration of 

 the parenchyma cells, accompanied by the arterio-sclerosis and 

 interstitial hyperplasia. I believe that w^e may not inaptly com- 

 pare these conditions to those of high living men, and the results 

 on the body tissues are the same in both instances. 



Resulting from these lesions we have a general lowering of 

 the tone and resistance of the body. This condition predisposes 

 to many infective diseases, of which doubtless pneumonia is the 

 most frequent. The condition is well exemplified in the preva- 



