23 
Report of the Laboratory of Comparative 
Pathology. 
In the absence of the regularly appointed pathologist, 
Dr. Herbert Fox, who is on active service with the 
United States Government, I have the honor of sub- 
mitting the following report of the activities of the 
Laboratory for the year ending February 28th, 1918. 
In reporting its total of 453 autopsies this year the 
laboratory has to place on record its high water mark 
for number of deaths. This does not mean that the 
percentage mortality is the highest on record, because 
this year we have also had on exhibition our high water 
number of animals. 
The following table will express the situation better 
than words : 
Mortality From All Causes. 
For year ending. 
*Animals 
exhibited. 
Deaths. 
Per cent, 
mortality. 
February 28, 1906 
1439 
373 
25.9 
February 28, 1907 
1343 
350 
26.0 
February 28, 1908 
1439 
275 
19.1 
February 28, 1909 
1439 
269 
18.6 
February 28, 1910 
1412 
249 
17.6 
February 28, 1911 
1467 
316 
21.5 
February 28, 1912 
1513 
358 
23.6 
February 28, 1913 
1511 
309 
20.4 
February 28, 1914 
1543 
290 
18.7 
February 28, 1915 
1614 
347 
21.5 
February 28, 1916 
1630 
381 
23.3 
February 28, 1917 
1798 
337 
18.1 
February 28, 1918 
2019 
451 
22.8 
1918, pro rata 
1837 
392 
21.3 
* Since only a few of the reptiles and amphibians are autopsied they have been sub- 
tracted from the death list and the percent computed on basis of mammals and birds 
only. 
On the face of it this year's figures are not good; but 
they are reduced to the usual abscissa after taking into 
consideration a most important extenuating circum- 
