INTRODUCTION 21 
fectly self-evident, is more often speculation and 
conjecture than at all well grounded. It is not uncommon 
for animals to come to autopsy presenting a perfect 
galaxy of abnormalities, yet the closest antemortem 
observation failed to reveal unusual conduct or appear- 
ance. On the other hand specimens are frequently opened 
whose organs fail to contain any lesions discoverable 
even by careful study. Dr. Henry Chapman, sometime 
prosector to the Society, once made a remark in this con- 
nection — "Why do they die or how can they live so long." 
Space is given to this phase of the observation of wild 
animals in order to emphasize the difficulties of interpret- 
ing their conditions, but of course it should be understood 
that certain data of value may be gained by close atten- 
tion to the details of their normal behavior and to changes 
which occur indicating that something is wrong. 
The naturalist and the trained animal keeper are, in 
our opinion, better judges of a wild animal's condition 
than is the veterinarian, unless he be at the same time a 
zoologist and have long experience with a menagerie. 
My own observation of dogs and horses leads me to think 
that more acumen is needed to interpret the actions of 
wild animals since they seem to have greater natural 
reserve, and of course in regard to them there are many 
more variables since we see fewer specimens of each 
species than we know familiarly among domestic varie- 
ties. The principal objects for observation are, as in 
veterinary medicine, the eyes, the hair and skin, the 
mucous surfaces, the droppings, the condition of the 
abdomen, the appetite and the desire for water. Physical 
examination is limited to tractable beasts and those which 
can be caught and handled without danger to the per- 
sonnel or unusual fright and damage to themselves. In 
the interpretations of physical signs in tractable animals, 
such as many ungulates and some monkeys, the experi- 
ence of the trained veterinarian is of the greatest value, 
but this fails amongst carnivores and birds. It might be 
