forest, fish and game commissioner. 255 



Bender Hygienic Laboratory, 



Albany, N. Y., April 12, 1904. 



Hon. DeWitt C. Middleton, New York State Forest, Fish and Game Com- 

 missioner. Albany. X. Y.: 



Dear Sir. — I have the honor to submit, herewith, the report of an 

 investigation which had for its object the determination of the recent unusual 

 mortality among the Adirondack deer. The investigation was undertaken 

 at the suggestion of Col. Wm. F. Fox, Superintendent State Forests, and 

 with the co-operation of Dr. Samuel B. Ward. I have made my report in 

 the form of a detailed description of the findings in each deer, and have 

 appended a general summary. 



I may add that no method of bacteriologic or pathologic investigation 

 which might give information has been neglected. The report is as follows: 



Examination of Deer No. i. 



Young male received at Bender Laboratory, March 9th at 11:30 a. m., 

 mi frozen condition. Autopsy begun at 12 m. 



Superficial examination shows incisions in both fore legs just above 

 fourth joint; apparently made after death. No other marks of external 

 injury are visible. Inspection of hoofs, tongue, mouth, nares, negative. 



The carcass is greatly emaciated, subcutaneous fat being entirely absent. 

 Abdominal cavity contains very slight amount of clear fluid, which is of a 

 slightly reddish color. This color is apparently due to a solution of the 

 haemaglobin of the blood, as the result of freezing. Peritoneal fat has entirely 

 disappeared, the omentum and mesentery appearing as thin fat-free mem- 

 branes. 



Stomachs and Intestines. — Are greatly distended with parti)'' digested 



material. The entire amount of material in all stomachs is eight and one- 

 half pounds. This consists of partly digested light-greenish material, in 

 the midst of which may be found fragments of evergreen twigs. This 

 material is found in fair amount in the intestines. The large intestine 

 found filled with well-formed fasces. 



Heart. — Normal. 



Lungs. — Show some congestion of the dependent portions, but other- 

 wise normal. Left lung at apex shows slightly denser tissues than is found 

 elsewhere. 



Oesophagus and Trachea. — Normal. 



Abdominal Cavity. — All organs of the abdomen are normal except the 

 liver. 



