1912] Blair: Diseases Among Primates. 185 



seen in almost any animal, but has been most frequently observed 

 among monkeys suffering from dysentery, or anything which will 

 cause the animal to unduly strain, as in chronic constipation or any 

 laxity or weakness of the external sphincters. Simple prolapsed 

 rectum is easily recognized as such. A typical protrusion presents 

 the appearance of a curved cylinder with the mucous membrane 

 considerably swollen. In the early stages the protruding tissue is 

 covered with mucus and prone to bleed on coming in contact with 

 the rough hay or straw of the bedding. 



Treatment of eversion of the rectum in some cases will be most 

 difficult; but in other cases very simple. When the everted rectum 

 has not become congested, it may be returned to its proper position 

 by a little lubricant. 



If any difficulty is experienced, the fore-finger should be well 

 oiled, and by a digital kneading process, commenced at the extremity 

 of the protrusion, the latter is gradually worked through the anus 

 into the proper position. 



Tannic acid, one part, and vaseline, five parts, should be 

 smeared over the rectal mucous membrane, and all food should be 

 withheld from the animal for at least twenty-four hours, and then 

 milk with twenty to thirty grains of sulphur given twice daily. 



Infective Ulcerative Dysentery in Apes. 



During 1901 there occurred an epidemic of dysentery among the 

 orangs, which also affected a chimpanzee, with the result that all of 

 these animals, five in number, died. 



From the coincidence of four or five cases occurring at the same 

 time, acute intestinal irritant was suspected, and as the apes had 

 been receiving small quantities of cod-liver oil, it was thought that 

 the irritant matter might have been introduced through this medicine. 



The cases proved obstinate and the disease progressed steadily 

 from the beginning, although one or two of the cases yielded 

 temporarily to treatment. 



Many of the best known intestinal antiseptics were administered 

 under the direction of Dr. Miller. These included salol, subnitrate 

 and sub-gallate of bismuth, xeroform, opium, etc., but all proved 

 equally ineffectual. Irrigation of the colon by enemas of sterilized 



