516 



"I was assisted in making the post-mortem examination by Pro- 

 fessor Ferguson and Mr. Connor ; there were also present Dr. Alexander 

 Carte, Dr. M 'Dowel, Dr. Bennett, Dr. Maealister, and several other ana- 

 tomists. 



"The rectum was protruded through a space of eighteen inches, 

 and in it were two post-mortem ruptures ; in the ilium, two feet from 

 the caecum, there was extensive softening, as also at the junction of the 

 duodenum and jejunum; the stomach was filled to distention with a 

 mixture of hay and whole Indian corn, both fermenting, and pervaded 

 with an aldehydic smell, which overcame even the intolerable odour of 

 the gases with which the abdomen was distended almost to the bursting 

 point ; the hay was somewhat masticated, but the corn had been bolted 

 whole ; numerous tapeworms were found in the upper part of the intes- 

 tines. 



"The decomposition set in with most unusual rapidity, parti- 

 cularly in the anterior extremity, and it was with the greatest difficulty 

 that a few precious fragments of the viscera of this rare animal could be 

 preserved ; many of the muscles also dissolved in the course of twenty 

 hours into a mass of putrid jelly. This phenomenon was most marked 

 in the left side of the thorax and left anterior limb. 



"cause op death. 

 " I believe that death was caused by the improper administration of 

 Indian corn, which fermented in the stomach and intestines, and deve- 

 loped gas to such an extent as to cause prolapsus of the rectum, and that 

 the pressure caused by this gas ultimately destroyed the action of the 

 diaphragm, and so caused death by asphyxia; and I am further of opinion 

 that it is the duty of the Council to institute the most searching inquiry 

 into the manner in which Indian corn was given to this animal, as such 

 food does not appear in the scale of dietary formally prescribed by the 

 Council's order to be used. 



(Signed) " Samuel Haughto^, Son. Sec. R. Z. S. 



" P. S. — The tapeworms were in all probability the cause of the 

 convulsions experienced by the Rhinoceros shortly after his arrival in 

 the Dublin Gardens. " S. H." 



A. — Muscles of the Hind Limb. 



Oz. Av. 



1. Sartorius, . 12-5 



Origin ; from the inner margin of the narrowest part of the ilium, 



near the insertion of the psoas parvus. 



Insertion ; by flat tendinous fascia into the inner side of the leg 

 below the knee. 



2. Psoas magnus, 4V 6 5 



Origin ; from the lumbar vertebrae, with one slip from the true pelvis, 



from the inner margin of the ilium. 



