212 DR. E. CRISP ON THE WART-HOG. [June 24, 
13. On tHe ProsasLie Cause oF DratH or A Wart-HoG 
(Puacocua@rus zTHIoPICcus). By Epwarps Crisp, M.D., 
F.Z.S., ETC. 
A male Wart-Hog, which had been twelve years in the Gardens, 
appeared to be in tolerable health on Sunday, June 22nd, 1862, 
but it was found dead on the following morning ; its death therefore 
must have been sudden. It was in excellent condition, and weighed- 
about two hundredweight. The stomach was greatly distended with 
food, so that it had eaten a hearty meal a short time before its death. 
The blood was fluid, and all the thoracic and abdominal viscera were © 
tolerably healthy. Upon the fundus of the bladder was a tumor the 
size of a large orange, the remains of an Hehinococcus in a state of 
chalky degeneration. The parietes of the cyst were covered with 
chalky layers, and a white thick creamy cretaceous fluid occupied 
the interior of the cyst. 
It is curious that in the sow of this species which I examined, in 
lian’s Wart-Hog (P. eliani), and in the Red River-Hog (Potamo- 
cherus penicillatus), these Echinococci (so called) were alike pre- 
sent; and I may add that in these and other Pigs in which I have 
found these parasites (and the same may be said of the Deer and 
Antelopes) I have never discovered tape-worms or any kind of en- 
tozoa in the intestines. 
On examining the teeth of this animal, I found a large cavity in 
the place of the molar tooth of the lower jaw on the right side, into 
which the upper molar (much elongated from want of pressure) 
passed; this cavity was lined with false membrane, except in two 
places, where the bone was denuded and of a dark colour. The en- 
larged tooth pressed upon this part ; and it is not unlikely that this 
irritation, combined with a very full stomach, produced cerebral 
congestion or extravasation, of which the animal probably died ; but 
as the skeleton was required, I was not permitted to examine the 
brain ; so that the exact cause of death must remain doubtful, 
As the animal died suddenly and in good condition, I had a small 
cutlet for my dinner. As might have been supposed from the age 
and sex of the animal, it was rather coarse and tough ; it had a porky 
flavour ; but I believe that the flesh of a young animal would be ex- 
ceedingly good. Mr. Bartlett informs me that Sir G. Grey has eaten 
this hog in Africa, and has stated that “its flesh was of excellent 
flavour.”? One of the peculiarities of this hog is the enormous thick- 
ness of the muscles over the ribs. I found the same in the sow; 
and I think that if a cross between this animal and our English Pig 
could be effected, it might be of great value; but of this matter I 
hope to speak in another communication, when comparing the ana- 
tomy of the Wart Hog with that of the other Hogs. 
I may mention one interesting fact respecting the renal veins of 
this animal: they are supplied with two pairs of valves, so as to 
prevent the blood from regurgitating from the renal capsules into 
the kidneys. This fact I first poimted out before the Physiological 
Society, in 1853, in the renal veins of other animals. 
