486 Dr. T. S. Cobbold on the Anatumij of the Giraffe. 



syringe^ I subsequently washed out of the ducts nearly forty 

 specimens of this entozoon, many of which were thus fortunately 

 preserved entire, and having placed them in strong spirit, I have 

 succeeded in injecting their so-called vascular and digestive 

 systems. 



No gall-bladder could be discovered. 



On removing the abdominal viscera en masse, the connecting 

 fibro-cellular tissue surrounding the left kidney was found infil- 

 trated, soft and yielding; the renal organ in a semi-putrid con- 

 dition, with its substance broken up, pultaceous and intensely 

 foetid ; the capsule enclosing the right kidney was more firm, but 

 on being opened the contained gland presented the same far ad- 

 vanced state of decomposition. The bladder was small, con- 

 tracted and empty. 



The contents of the thorax were next examined. We found 

 the lungs collapsed, the one on the left side more completely so ; 

 both were very soft, of a dark brown colour externally, and ap- 

 peared small in proportion to the calibre of the thoracic cavity. 

 The left lung was much congested and gangrenous in places ; 

 softening and partial disintegration of some of the larger bronchi 

 had also commenced. The right lung was less congested and 

 more healthy throughout. 



In reference to the heart, no particular observations were 

 made at the time of its removal. I have compared it with that 

 of the Camel, in which ruminant the relative size of the auricles 

 and ventricles is less disproportionate ; the organ is also very 

 much larger than that of the Giraffe. The present example 

 weighed 4 pounds, measured 8 inches from base to apex, and 

 6 inches in breadth through its greatest transverse diameter. 



We have thus far considered the general characters and mor- 

 bid ajipearances presented by those viscera in which the vital 

 functions are principally performed. It is singular that so great 

 an amount of internal disease should have been going on while 

 the animal appeared in a healthy state. When the keepers were 

 informed of these results, much sui'])rise was expressed by one 

 of them, more especially at the statement made respecting the 

 almost entire absence of fat. In dissections of the Girafi'e, the 

 prevalence of this element has hitherto attracted particular atten- 

 tion, so that in this instance its non-occurrence afibrds strong 

 presumptive evidence, that the functions of nutrition and secre- 

 tion had for some time been impaired. 



Monostoma ; they are distinguished from the latter genus by the jiresence 

 of two ventral suckers (which were originally considered stomata), and 

 from each other by the digestive organs, whicli in Fasciola are ramified or 

 dendritic. See Blanchard's papers, Ann. des Sciences Nat. 1847, Zool. 

 p. 278 et seq. 



