120 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



early stages of the disease. These spasms would follow each 

 other in rapid succession. Tonic spasms affected the muscles of 

 the neck, causing the head to be turned rigidly- to one side. In 

 the nervous form, death usually took place on the second or 

 third day after the first symptoms were noted. 



In several of the cases in which the appetite was not entirely 

 lacking, and in which we succeeded in administering medicines, 

 recovery took place in about three weeks. A South American 

 wild dog, two coati mundis, two opossums and a raccoon dog 

 have entirely recovered, but have not yet been returned from the 

 hospital cages. 



The skin eruptions which are observed in such a large propor- 

 tion of the cases of distemper seen among domestic animals have 

 rarely been observed by me among our wild animals. 



Gastro-Entcritis. — This disease, which has always been an im- 

 portant factor in the death rate of former years, especially among 

 our native American hoofed animals, has been much less trouble- 

 some than formerly. More cases have occurred among the 

 animals on Mountain Sheep Hill than elsewhere. A number of 

 animals which have suffered repeated attacks of gastro-enteritis 

 while occupying that installation are now enjoying good health 

 in the Small-Deer House or in small macadamized corrals else- 

 where. Notable cases are the chamois, markhor and arcal sheep. 



There were a number of cases of acute gastro-enteritis among 

 the smaller carnivores in the Small-Mammal collection. The 

 symptoms in these cases were : refusal of all food, vomiting and 

 diarrhea. The fecal discharges contained much blood-streaked 

 mucus. In fatal cases death usually took place on the second or 

 third day, the autopsy showing acute inflammation of the mucosa 

 of the stomach and small intestines. Usually there was a small 

 amount of partially digested food in the stomach. In those cases 

 medication was of no avail, as the animals refused all food or 

 drink so persistently that no medicines could be introduced. 



Tuberculosis. — No cases of tuberculosis have occurred outside 

 the primates collection. 



Exclusive of the cases which died or were destroyed while in 

 quarantine, there were eight cases of tuberculosis among the 

 primates. Unfortunately, of this number the disease claimed 

 two of the oldest inmates of the collection. The orang "Dohong" 

 was found to be hopelessly infected, and was consequently chloro- 

 formed. The chimpanzee "Polly" died of generalized tuberculosis 

 a few months later. The other cases of tuberculosis were prin- 

 cipally among the lemurs. 



