TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 79 



EEPORT OF THE VETERINARIAN. 

 W. REin Blair, B. V. S. 



There were 182 deaths among the mammals during- the year. 

 Of this number 102 occurred among the small mammals; 34 

 among hoofed animals, and 40 among the primates. 



Of the losses occurring among the hoofed animals, gastro- 

 enteritis was the principle cause of death. These occurred prin- 

 cipally among the American bison, mountain sheep and goats. 



Several cases of botulinus intoxication, due to B. hotulinus, 

 have occurred among the hoofed animals, affecting a Spanish 

 ibex, Rocky Mountain goat and an anoa. Such cases are in- 

 variably fatal, and simulate forage poisoning, both in sympto- 

 matology and pathological anatomy. 



A young camel was lost as a result of a bad infection of 

 parasitic dysentery, due to the true whipworm. Owing to the 

 position of the parasites and the extensive area of intestinal 

 canal in the camel, medicinal agents rarely reach these parasites 

 in sufficient strength to combat the infection. 



Chronic malnutrition and emaciation, incidental to old age, 

 carried off a number of our oldest exhibits. Among these were 

 a Malay sambar deer, Barasingha deer, horse-tailed gnu, and 

 American bison. 



As in previous years, a considerable number of aged, poorly 

 nourished or under-developed animals were destroyed as soon as 

 they reached a stage where they were no longer satisfactory 

 exhibits. Among these were an old lioness, a number of monkeys, 

 American elk and red deer. 



Pneumonia was the cause of death in a number of cases 

 among the carnivores; among these were a Siberian tiger and 

 Bengal tiger, both of which had been on exhibition about ten 

 years. 



For the most part the animals in the Primate collection 

 remained in good health throughout the year. The important 

 losses in this collection were a young orang, recently purchased, 

 and the baby chimpanzee born to ''Suzette," which lived but nine 

 days, death being due to neglect and improper maternal care of 

 the parent, as she evidently lacked the maternal instinct. 



