13 
Although the necessity of condemning at times a rare 
specimen is severely felt, the system has been in no way re- 
laxed, and there can be no doubt of its wisdom. 
Among wild animals accurate diagnosis is usually out of 
the question; the action of drugs is little known, and their 
harmless administration is often impossible. Indeed it is a 
safe deduction from the conditions revealed by autopsies, 
that in a majorit)^ of cases by the time disease has advanced 
to the point of becoming externally noticeable, it has gone 
beyond the reach of medical treatment. 
Preventive measures must, therefore, be the main defence 
against a high death rate in zoological gardens, and their 
study under exact methods is becoming one of the leading 
problems to be dealt with. In so far as they relate to com- 
municable diseases, so closely similar are they to like ques- 
tions affecting the human race, that some surprise must 
be felt at the small number of pathologists and hygienists who 
as yet take active interest in them. 
The death list has not been large, but included a bison 
cow bred in the Gardens in 1885, and a bull bred in 1899; 
two wild boars which had been in the collection fifteen years; 
a very large male dromedary, somewhat aged when it was 
received in 1897, and the exceptionally fine lioness "Trilby," 
whose loss is much regretted. 
The thanks of the Directors are due to all persons from 
whom gifts and courtesies have been received. 
By order of the Board, 
ARTHUR ERWIN BROWN, 
Secretanj. 
