142 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Owing to the unsatisfactory results obtained from medicinal 

 treatment of this disease among domestic ruminants, it is of ob- 

 vious importance to prevent the spread of the disease as much as 

 possible. Prophylactic measures then are the means by which we 

 must expect the best results. I am of the opinion that thorough 

 burning of the contaminated ranges, adequate drainage, and isola- 

 tion of infected animals, will bring such outbreaks to an end. 



Diagnosis is principally based on the occurrence of the disease 

 simultaneously in the majority of the herd, without apparent ex- 

 posure or meteorologic cause, on the knowledge of the existence 

 of the parasites in the ranges or locality, on the damp or otherwise 

 favorable condition of the ranges, and on the importation of new 

 animals from infected localities, and positively by the examina- 

 tion of the expectoration of muco-purulent matter containing 

 adult worms, embryos or eggs. 



Symptoms. — Symptoms are those of bronchial irritation. The 

 cough is at first hard, but after a time it becomes more frequent, 

 soft and mucous, or wheezing; the animal becomes hide-bound, 

 with rough coat, absence of subcutaneous fat, stunted growth of 

 antlers, progressive emaciation and weakness. The animal finally 

 isolates itself, dying by asphyxiation or marasmus. 



Lesions of Verminous Bronchitis in Elk. — The trachea and 

 bronchia contain an abundant frothy muco-purulent secretion con- 

 taining great numbers of wriggling filaria, which are often found 

 rolled up in bundles of sufficient size as to completely fill up the 

 lumen of the tube. The mucosa of the affected bronchi is usually 

 congested, reddened, thickened and softened, or even desquamat- 

 ing. The bronchia shows dilatations at intervals filled with the 

 verminous debris, ova, embryos, and mature worms. Lobular con- 

 gestion of the lungs is frequent. In advanced cases acute lobular 

 pneumonia is present, while at certain other points particular 

 lobules are collapsed as the result of blocking of their bronchia, 

 and expulsion of the air. The body shows a general atrophied 

 condition, blanched mucosa and anaemia, and loss of subcuta- 

 neous fat. 



SCLEROSTOMES. 



Several interesting Sclerostomies have been found among our 

 animals.- 



Spiroptera megastoma (Railliet). — Found in the small intestine 

 of a clouded leopard (Felis macrocelis) from Sumatra. This 

 parasite is described by Neumann as belonging almost exclusively 

 to the stomach of the Equidae, where they form round promi- 



