322 ON DEATHS IN THE GARDENS DURTNG 1910. 



Notes on the foregoing Tables. 



The following Notes refer to some points of special interest 

 which it was not possible to include in the tables : — 



1. It will be noticed that there has been about the same 

 percentage of tubercle as last year amongst the Mammals and 

 Reptiles ; that is, it has been found in 10 per cent, of the 

 Mammals and 4"9 per cent, of the Reptiles examined. In the 

 Birds, however, there has been an increase of 107 cases; that is, 

 it has been found in 24'9 per cent, of those examined. This 

 increase amongst the Birds has been partly due to an epidemic 

 which occurred in the ISTew Bird House in the beginning of the 

 year. This was dealt with by entire disinfection of the house, 

 and some structural alterations Avhich have greatly improved it ; 

 a very definite improvement has taken place, but the arrange- 

 ment of the cages at the ends of the house, and overcrowding 

 generally amongst the Birds, is a constant source of danger. 



Amongst the Mammals 2 cases have been of bovine type, and 

 amongst the Birds there have been 7 cases of this type. 



The liver of a Tantalus showing this particular type has been 

 sent to the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. 



2. Mycosis (under which term several distinct mould-diseases 

 are grouped) has also increased among the Birds to a considerable 

 degree — 107 cases as against 48 last year. 



The Mammals dying from this disease have been principally 

 Wallabies and Gazelles. The disease (formerly grouped under the 

 Septicaemias) has been found to be caused by a mould which enters 

 through the mouth and produces abscesses about the jaws and in 

 the adjacent muscles, and eventually a septicaemia. 



It has also been found that a disease of the eye in Birds is due 

 to a mould. It commences as a keratitis, and then pus is 

 formecl in the ai^terior chamber, and secondary abscesses form, 

 from which the bird dies. Of the division headed Reptiles 

 3 were fishes with a mould -disease of the skin which invaded the 

 muscles. 



3. The increase of pneumonia amongst the Reptiles (87 cases as 

 against 64 last year) has been mainly due to the variable 

 temperatures in the Reptile House, owing to alterations in the 

 heating apparatus. Only 3 of these cases were due to the presence 

 of worm-eggs and embryos. There has been a decrease amongst 

 the mammals and birds. 



4. Five of these cases followed injuries : the remaining two 

 were in Wild Swine, where it was caused by an organism beloiig- 



' ing to the group producing HaBmorrhagic Septicaemia. 



5. The one Mammal was a Fox with suppuration in the middle 

 ear and destruction of the semicircular canals. 



6. In an Antelope the pericarditis was due to numbers of 

 worm-cysts on the visceral pericardium, which, so far as I know, 

 is unique. In the Birds it was mostly due to the deposition of 

 uric-acid crystals in the pericardium. 



