ON DEATHS IN THE GARDENS IN 1919. 85 



7. Report on the Deaths in the Gfardens in 1919. With 

 Notes on Avian Enteritis. By Nathaniel S. Lucas, 

 M.B., F.Z.S., Pathologist to the Society. 



[Received February 6, 1920 : Read February 24, 1920.] 



(With 4 Charts.) 



The total deaths in the Gardens for the year 1919 amount 

 to 926. 



The total is composed as follows : — 



Mammals 299 



Birds 368 



Reptiles, etc 209 



Fish 50 



In the following table are shown ; — • 



In column I. animals in Gardens at beginning of year ; 

 ,, II. ,, added during the year ; 



,, III. total of animals in Gardens ; 

 ,, IV. total of deaths ; 



,, V. percentage of deatJis. 



Mammals 



Birds 



Reptiles 279 



The large percentage of deaths among the mammals is to be 

 accounted for by the high mortality among the macaques. 



The usual table giving the deaths from various diseases is not 

 given, as no figures are available this year. 



The subject of Enteritis deserves special mention. 



The high rate of mortality from this disease is shown by the 

 charts for 1919. These emphasize the importance of an attempt 

 being made to deal with the disease. 



Enteritis is the name given to inflammation of the intestine. 

 It begins as congestion and a consequent catarrh. The mucous 

 membrane inside is pink, deepening to red, and the contents are 

 liquid due to an excess of mucus and usually milky. 



The congestion deepens and haemorrhages occur, so that the 

 whole gut becomes a deep red, and contents become blood-stained 

 and eventually black from altei'ed blood. 



The final stage shows sloughing of the mucous membrane 

 lining the intestines, so that the walls are thin and the contents 

 dark and thickened by the destroyed cells. 



It can be acute or chronic. The final stage of sloughing is 

 usually seen in this acute type. Often owing to the weakened 



