29 
FATAL ENTERITIS IN A TIGER CAUSED BY 
PHYSALOPTERA PRAEPUTIALIS. 
By A. J. HARRISON, M.B. 
Consulting Physician to the Bristol General Hospital, 
and I. WALKER HALL, M.D., 
Professor of Pathology, University College, Bristol, and Pathologist 
to the Royal Infirmary, Bristol. 
A male Malay tiger was brought to the Clifton Zoological Gardens 
in July, 1908. He was then very thin and fed badly. After a time he 
settled down in his new quarters, and ate his food with greater relish. 
He appeared to be in good health and his coat was sleek and fine, but 
he never jumped or played in the usual way of his species. On 
February 4th he vomited, and had a severe attack of diarrhoea. His 
breathing became less abdominal and more thoracic in character, and 
death occurred two days later. 
The post-mortem examination showed that the animal had been well 
nourished and that death was due to enteritis caused by round worms. 
Owing to the kindness of Messrs A. E. Shipley and R. T. Leiper the 
causal parasite has been identified as Physaloptera praeputialis. This 
nematode has been fully described by von Linstow (1888). 
Autopsy. 
On opening the abdominal cavity, a round worm, measuring about 
U inches by 1/8-inch, was seen coiled up just under the serous capsule 
of the liver. Calcified areas, corresponding in size to that of the 
parasite mentioned, were present in the subcapsular tissues of the 
spleen. Under the serous coat of the stomach, intestine and colon, a 
number of well-marked swellings were seen; these were arranged 
irregularly and varied considerably in size and shape. Some of them 
