74 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



duced care should be taken to supply some artificial heat, and 

 this can be done when the animal is small by placing the cage 

 over or against a heater. 



The unfavorable signs of this disease are continual vomit- 

 ing, especially if the vomited material has a coffee-like or prune 

 juice appearance, or a putrid odor, and when the animal reaches 

 a comatose stage. If symptoms of pneumonia become manifest, 

 a fatal termination is to be expected. 



The favorable signs to be looked for are, the cessation of 

 vomiting, the animal beginning to notice its surroundings, the 

 desire for food and the inclination to move about its cage. 



The post-mortem appearances of infectious toxic gastro- 

 enteritis are fairly constant, and it is often only by such ex- 

 amination that a differential diagonsis is made. 



In many instances when death takes place early the lesions 

 indicate an acute hemorrhagic septicemia. The stomach and 

 small intestine often contain a more or less thick, dark red or 

 purple fluid, containing blood, mucus and bile, and resembling 

 in appearance tar or prune juice. On washing or scraping the 

 stomach, the purple color does not disappear. The mucous sur- 

 face of the stomach is thrown up in rugae or folds, which ap- 

 pear thick and swollen, often showing abrasions. In some in- 

 stances the gastric mucosa is soft, black in color, and appears 

 as a vast sheet of clotted blood. The lesions in the small intes- 

 tines are generally confined to the duodenum, the walls of which 

 are of an intense purplish color. 



With the exception of the lungs, spleen and kidneys, which 

 are generally more or less congested, the abdominal organs 

 rarely show any gross changes. 



Among the animals destroyed on account of general 

 debility as a result of old age were — three buffaloes, four elk, 

 lion Sultan, bearded gnu, and several antelopes. 



During the coming year, it is hoped that we shall be able 

 to replace some of our African antelopes, many of which will die 

 or will have to be destroyed on account of debility associated 

 with old age. 



When an animal is a rare specimen it is often difficult to 

 decide just when it has reached such a state of debility as to 

 justify its removal from exhibition, or merciful destruction. 



