80 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Osteomalacia. — There were no cases of osteomalacia among 

 the Primates during the year. Of the cases of rickets en- 

 countered, they were all in recently acquired animals, invariably 

 received as gifts, and which in captivity had not received a 

 balanced diet. Often these cases showed an immediate improve- 

 ment when supplied with proper food and care, and later made 

 satisfactory exhibits. 



Distemper. — Several cases of distemper occurred among our 

 small carnivorous animals, such as foxes and coyotes, and was the 

 cause of death in a considerable number of cases. The infec- 

 tion was always introduced into our collections by new arrivals, 

 which had successfully passed quarantine and apparently were 

 free from the disease when placed on exhibition, but, neverthe- 

 less, were carriers of the infection. 



As the keepers now are familiar with the early symptoms 

 characteristic of distemper, and as they constantly are on the 

 lookout for these symptoms in the new arrivals, we fortunately 

 have been able to control and prevent the spread of this dreaded 

 disease among our animals. Many of the cases have been iso- 

 lated promptly in the early stages of the disease, and success- 

 fully treated with "distemper serum." "Distemper vaccine" also 

 has been used successfully as a prophylactic agent. This offers 

 a considerable degree of protection to susceptible animals, but 

 unfortunately does not eliminate them as carriers of the in- 

 fection. 



Mange. — Several cases of diseases of the skin affecting our 

 animals appeared during the year. These for the most part 

 were nonparasitic, although more cases of sarcoptic mange were 

 seen during the past year than before. While diseases of the 

 skin are not usually of themselves fatal, they may so undermine 

 an animal's constitution that it becomes the victim of some other 

 more serious disease. 



Sarcoptic mange affected a number of the small mammals, 

 such as opossums, raccoons, capybara, muskrats, and also two 

 African leopards. Fortunately, nearly all of the affected ani- 

 mals could be handled by the keepers, and after isolation, they 

 were successfully treated. Owing to the rapidity and ease with 

 which mange is spread among wild animals, its early diagnosis 

 is of great importance. 



