212 DR. E. CRISP ON THE WART-HOG. [Juue 24, 



13, On the Probable Cause of Death of a Wart-Hog 

 (Phacochosrus jETHiopicus). By Edwards Crisp, M,D., 



F.Z.S., ETC. 



A male Wart-Hog, which had been twelve years in the Gardens, 

 appeared to be in tolerable health on Sunday, June 22nd, 1862, 

 but it was found dead on the following morning ; its death therefore 

 must have been sudden. It was in excellent condition, and weighed 

 about two hundredweight. The stomach was greatly distended with 

 food, so that it had eaten a hearty meal a short time before its death. 

 The blood was fluid, and all the thoracic and abdominal viscera were 

 tolerably healthy. Upon the fundus of the bladder was a tumor the 

 size of a large orange, the remains of an Echinococcus in a state of 

 chalky degeneration. The parietes of the cyst were covered with 

 chalky layers, and a white thick creamy cretaceous fluid occupied 

 the interior of the cyst. 



It is curious that in the sow of this species which I examined, in 

 jElian's Wart-Hog (P. ceUani), and in the Red River-Hog {Potamo- 

 chosrus penicillatus), these Echinococci (so called) were alike pre- 

 sent ; and I may add that in these and other Pigs in which I have 

 found these parasites (and the same may be said of the Deer and 

 Antelopes) I have never discovered tape-worms or any kind of en- 

 tozoa in the intestines. 



On examining the teeth of this animal, I found a large cavity in 

 the place of the molar tooth of the lower jaw on the right side, into 

 which the upper molar (much elongated from want of pressure) 

 passed ; this cavity was lined with false membrane, except in two 

 places, where the bone was denuded and of a dark colour. The en- 

 larged tooth pressed upon this part ; and it is not unlikely that this 

 irritation, combined with a very full stomach, produced cerebral 

 congestion or extravasation, of which the animal probably died ; but 

 as the skeleton was required, I was not permitted to examine the 

 brain ; so that the exact cause of death must remain doubtful. 



As the animal died suddenly and in good condition, I had a small 

 cutlet for my dinner. As might have been supposed from the age 

 and sex of the animal, it was rather coarse and tough ; it had a porky 

 flavour ; but I believe that the flesh of a young animal would be ex- 

 ceedingly good. Mr. Bartlett informs me that Sir G. Grey has eaten 

 this hog in Africa, and has stated that " its flesh was of excellent 

 flavour." One of the pecuharities of this hog is the enormous thick- 

 ness of the muscles over the ribs. I found the same in the sow ; 

 and I think that if a cross between this animal and our English Pig 

 could be effected, it might be of great value ; but of this matter I 

 hope to speak in another communication, when comparing the ana- 

 tomy of the Wart Hog with that of the other Hogs. 



I may mention one interesting fact respecting the renal veins of 

 this animal : they are supplied with two pairs of valves, so as to 

 prevent the blood from regurgitating from the renal capsules into 

 the kidneys. This fact I first pointed out before the Physiological 

 Society, in 1853, in the renal veins of other animals. 



