72 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Toxic Gastro-Enteritis. — A form of infectious toxic gastro- 

 enteritis, occurring principally among the carnivores, particu- 

 larly the bears, and the smaller carnivores in the small mammal 

 collection, has been very troublesome for several years, and 

 especially so during the past year. The disease is infectious, 

 but not highly contagious. In some respects it resembles dis- 

 temper, but differs essentially from this disease in that it is 

 not readily conveyed by direct contact. The mortality is very 

 high, over 90 per cent. The disease is transmitted by direct 

 contact, or by the intermediation of excrement vomit, infected 

 bedding and various diseased food products. Since this disease 

 may be confounded with ptomaine or meat poisoning, uraemic 

 poisoning, distemper, or the presence of foreign bodies in the 

 stomach, I deem it wise to describe the affection somewhat in 

 detail. 



The disease generally appears in an acute form, the ma- 

 jority of cases running their course within from one to four 

 days. The affected animal is suddenly seized with an unac- 

 countable vomiting, or has passed blood by bowel, although 

 two or three hours before this, the animal was apparently nor- 

 mal and had partaken of food as usual. Many cases have 

 occurred, among ocelots and South American cats, where the 

 animal appeared perfectly well at night, but upon the keeper's 

 arrival in the morning it was found vomiting or passing bloody 

 stools, and in a dazed state, unwilling to move, and persistently 

 assuming, in an unconscious manner, the recumbent position. 

 The ears, mouth and limbs are very cold, and a dirty saliva 

 issues from the mouth. 



In some cases violent and repeated vomiting appears early. 

 This vomiting is generally the first symptom to attract the at- 

 tention of the keeper that something is wrong with the animal. 

 Thirst is intense, but as soon as water is taken it is almost im- 

 mediately rejected. The vomit at first contains particles of 

 food, or it may consist of the whole of the meal taken a short 

 time before. This is followed by the rejection of a glairy, mucoid 

 material containing air-bubbles and water. A short time after- 

 wards the vomited material becomes of a greenish tint, due to 

 the presence of bile; and, finally is followed by a fluid more or 

 less thick consistency, of a bloody chocolate or coffee colored 

 appearance, and having a characteristic and very nauseous odor. 

 In many cases these symptoms are accompanied by a profuse 

 diarrhea, which may be bloody in appearance, and very often 



