1884.] DISEASES OF CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS. 187 



very uncommon. The larger Carnivora (Lions, Tigers, and Leopards) 

 are exceedingly vulnerable to attacks of pneumonia, and Bears fre- 

 quently die from this affection, due to the suppuration of the consoli- 

 dated portion of the lung. The Coati (Nasua) is very liable to suffer 

 from cavities in its lungs due to this breaking-down of inflammatory 

 products, and on three occasions pneumothorax has resulted from 

 the rupture of a vomica. Once I met with a Lion with such a 

 condition of things, and, in addition, by some means the air had 

 made its way into the cellular tissue at the root of the neck, so that 

 the creature was " blown up " like a calf in a butcher's shop. 



With ordinary care there need be little fear that parasites may be 

 mistaken for tubercle, but this does happen occasionally. By far 

 the most important cases of tuberculosis remain to be described. 



For a considerable time 1 have been investigating tuberculosis in 

 birds, in which the disease is exceedingly common. After a con- 

 siderable number of observations I came to the conclusion that the 

 disease had its origin in the food or at least in the alimentary 

 canal. From the splendid series of researches which enabled Koch to 

 announce to the world his discovery of the " bacillus of tuberculosis," 

 it would seem that the specific nature of this disease depends on the 

 presence of this minute rod-like organism. On submitting the 

 viscera of the diseased birds to Dr. Heneage Gibbes, who is an autho- 

 rity in this particular department of pathology, he found bacilli by 

 " thousands and tens of thousands." 



In December last we communicated these facts to the Pathological 

 Society, and at the same time adduced the following facts as evidence 

 that this disease of Fowls is in all probability infectious. I was aware 

 that certain of the Carnivorous animals, of which the viscera had been 

 examined, presented similar lesions to those observed in the diseased 

 Fowls. Two cases soon came to hand/one a Paradoxure, the other a 

 Felis eyra. These animals are fed on birds' heads and viscera, and 

 as their livers contained " bacilli" it was fair to infer that they had 

 accidentally contracted the disease by feeding on tuberculous birds. 



What the precise nature and origin of these organisms may even- 

 tually turn out to be, is of course very uncertain ; the matter is still 

 being investigated and must for the present remain subjudice. 



The facts recorded in the preceding pages are the outcome of the 

 post-mortem examination of a considerable number of the Carnivora. 

 From January 1882 to February 1884 one hundred and thirty of 

 these animals died, varying in size from a Lion to a Cynictis. Of 

 this number I have had the opportunity of examining the viscera of 

 nearly all, excepting now and then, when an animal of great rarity 

 was required for dissection, and its anatomical value far surpassed 

 its interest from a pathological standpoint. 



It behoves me in conclusion to offer my very best thanks to the 

 Society for the liberal use of so much valuable pathological material. 



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