4256 Birds, $c. 



Suggestions for ascertaining the Causes of Death in Birds and 

 Animals. By W. E. C. Nourse, M.R.C.S. 



Excepting the peculiar subjects of veterinary surgery, systematic 

 attention has not hitherto been paid to the natural causes of death in 

 birds and animals. In the numerous and increasing zoological col- 

 lections of this country, deaths constantly occur, entailing both vexa- 

 tion and loss upon the owners. In the wild state, also, birds and 

 animals are often found dead without apparent cause, sometimes 

 singly, sometimes in great numbers together. But in neither case are 

 the causes of death much sought for, and if any examination is made, 

 it is conducted on no regular plan, nor are its results preserved for 

 comparison with other instances. Thus knowledge of a very interest- 

 ing and useful kind runs to waste, and is lost merely for want of being 

 gathered. I would suggest to all naturalists, owners of collections, 

 and others interested in the subject, to omit no opportunity of 

 examining the bodies of animals and birds that die, or that are 

 found recently dead, without obvious cause, and regularly to book 

 the results. I subjoin some notes on the mode of doing so, for 

 the benefit of those gentlemen who may not be conversant with 

 pathology. 



1. Observe the outward appearance avid condition; whether ema- 

 ciated or not ; any distortions, wounds, bruises, swellings, &c. ; the 

 nealthiness or otherwise of the skin; the condition of the fur, feathers, 

 or other outward covering ; and whether much infested with vermin. 



2. The heart is always the first thing to examine internally, as it 

 shows the immediate or physiological cause of death. Note the 

 quantity, colour, and consistence of the blood in each of the four 

 cavities of the heart, naming those cavities separately and succes- 

 sively. As to quantity, whether each cavity is quite full, half full, or 

 empty : as to colour, whether the blood is red or black ; and as 

 to consistence, whether it be fluid or coagulated. 



This examination, every item of which should be carefully noted 

 down, will determine the proximate cause of death, and point out 

 the immediate physiological condition which killed that creature. 

 For if the cavities^>f the heart be empty, death has been caused by 

 deficiency of blood, from external or internal haemorrhage, or from 

 some other direct and immediate drain upon the system. If the 

 cavities of the heart be full, the left auricle and ventricle with red 

 blood, some sudden shock or severe impression on the nervous system 



