1910„] ON POST-MORTEM PHENOMENA IN A LEMUR. 535 



Post-mortem Phenomena in a Lemur. 



The Secretary read the following account, by E. W. Shann, 

 B.Sc, of the Gatty Marine Laboratory, St. Andrews, of some 

 post-mortem phenomena observed in a Lemur. 



Early in the morning of February 23rd, 1910, a specimen of 

 Lemur fulvus rufifrons was found apparently dead in its cage in 

 the Zoological Gardens at Giza, Egypt. The specimen had been 

 kept in the Gardens for upwards of nine years. At 9 a.m. the 

 animal was examined by Mr. M. J. Nicoll, Assistant Director. It 

 was lying limp on the sand,. for the limbs had not stiffened. At 

 irregular intervals the mouth opened slightly, and an almost 

 imperceptible motion- passed through the thoracic region. 

 Mr. Nicoll says that lemurs and some monkeys not infrequently 

 undergo a more or less protracted moribund condition before death 

 actually occurs. This is particularly the case with old specimens, 

 and no case is known in which the animal has recovered from 

 this condition. 



At 11 a.m. Capt. S. S. Flower, Director, gave the lemur to the 

 present writer for the purpose of dissection. By this time there 

 was no movement of the jaws, but the limbs were still limp. 

 After a few minutes the gasping recommenced. This may have 

 been due to the warmth of the hand. Dissection was postponed, 

 and Mr. ISTicoll tried the effects of artificial respiration. The 

 gasping became more frequent, and at fairly regular intervals of 

 40-50 seconds. No heart action could be detected. The spas- 

 modic movements again died away. The eyes had a glazed 

 appearance, but as the animal had been blind for a considerable 

 period, this was no clue to its condition. 



At 2 p.m. the eyelids were found to be closed, and there was no 

 movement of the jaws. Dissection was commenced. It was 

 observed that the blood flowed slowly from a slit in the jugular 

 vein ; that is to say, the blood was not congealed. The limbs 

 were still limp. On opening the costal region a muscular con- 

 traction of the heart was noticed. After touching the heart with 

 the handle of a scalpel further contractions took place, and 

 continued for more than a minute. At 4 p.m. this heart action was 

 observed by Gapt. Flower. The dissected lemur was then left, 

 covered with a damp cloth, till 6.30 p.m. when it was again 

 examined by Capt. Flower, Mr. Nicoll, and the writer. The 

 muscular contractions of the heart were very evident, though the 

 limbs were rigid by this time. Further observations were made 

 at 9 p.m., 10.15 p.m., 11.15 p.m., and 1 a.m., the following clay. 

 The contractions could be easily induced, but later the response 

 became feebler. At 8.30 a.m. — a whole day after the apparent 

 death of the animal — a slight muscular action could still be 

 induced in the auricles, but no longer in the ventricles. By 2 p.m. 

 all motion had ceased. No means were at hand for testing the 

 effect of electricity upon the organ in question. 



That this is a case of reflex action seems to be the probable 



