The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-18
ILLS OF WILD ANIMALS.
How They Are DOsed when Sick
and Kept in Good Health.


al the Zoo is i'll and is being treated much
the same as a human being under similar
circumstances. but this would not be the
case if some Of the other animals should
suffer from some complaint. Ham caught
cod during a recent cod spell and has not
YET fully recovered from its effects. AT
present he is suffering from loss Of appe-
Tie and arrangement OF his stomach
functions. Fer several days he has not
been able to keep any food on his stom-
ach. although Capt. D'Osta and his wife,
who have the little animal in charge,
tempt him with all sorts OF tidbits. Ham
refuses them all and lies like sick baby
In his little bed.
Like any collection of animals, those at
the Zoo are subject to verous complaints,
but Director General Bostock is firm be-
lever In preventive medicines. he thinks
il is easier to look after the welfare Of
the animals and keep them in good condi-
tion than to doctor them hack TO health
when once they are of their feed SO
the attendants act upon this principle end
the result is shown in the general health
fulness OF the animals. only one animal
has died from disease since the Zoo was
opened and that was lion which caught
cold from the exposure incident 70 the
trip from Philadelphia.
Cold is the greatest enemy Of all the
animals, for the majority are accusto toned
10 warmer climates in their wild state and,
besides, are then abe 70 get more eNer-
else in the open air if they do become in
disposed. The Hons are affected by cold
just as human beings aTe-acquiring colds
in the head. Their eyes water, their noses
and hoy Of a
are the simpler symptoms and are gen
orally thrown off Frequently expert vet
erinarians are called in TO see the animals,
but their treatment is said to be little,
II any, better than that of the attendants
and trainers who have been with the ami
mails for years and know the peeuliari-
ties of each one. Alexander Day, the as
slstant superintendent has acquired a
stock of medical knowledge which serves
him well when any of the animals are
sick.
Mr. Day says that If med cation is TO be
attempted il must be done in the early
stages of the disease and generally by
means of the food. A powder or a pill
containing the dose is put in a small piece
of meat, which is fed the animal SO that it
will gulp ii down without tasting the med
ic.ne. Preferably a piece of liver is used.
In a day or two the animals viii lose appe-
tite and will refuse all food, including that
which is nedicated. In this case the at
tendent has to resort to other means. An
finals which have been in training are US
ually the easiest TO treat when sick, as
they are accustomed 40 having persons en-
ter their cages For these Mr.. Day has
resorted 10 the plan of taking the pill in
his own mouth and blowing it into the
animals throat when its mouth was open
ed. Lions are subject TO sore throat,
which usually ends in rheumatic condi-
aft o
In it's early stages il is sometimes posi-
BILE to squirt a strong medication into the
sore throat from a well-aimed syringe. but
usually there is not much help for animals
so affected. Lions are given milk when
sick
Castor oil is the great standby of Mr.
Day and if he can get good-sized pill of
the oil down the animals throat he is
pretty sure of bringing it around. Lions
have been brought into condition when run
down by smearing their meat with pure
cod liver oil for some time.
Baby lions suffer most with their teeth.
As coon as they are taken from their
mother and commence TO eat meat their
milk teeth are shed and their permanent
teeth commence to grow. Then the little
fellows suffer from teethiU g just as do other
babies, but they get over II sooner and are
quickly able to chew bones with relish.
The elephant is another animal that mas
toothache. 1t is supposed that the lack of
hare food to keep the teeth in coed condi-
ton is the cause of this trouble In their
wild state the elephants feed off of tree
boughs, but in captivity they get nothing
harder than hay to eat. Then il is proba-
bic that the sweetmeats they get from Wis
itors affect their teeth. The most that can
be done is TO rub their jaws with some
soothing lotion, as TO pull an elephant )
tooth is a job not often tried. AS thick as
tHas 81 nj IL and
the big animal is troubled with flies just
as much as is thick-skinned horse.
Applications chiefly Of coal oil are some
times rubbed on them to drive away the
troublesome insects. When the elephant
needs tonic, beer or whisky is given, in
which case quart of the latter is cons d.
cred a moderate drink for the animal
Wolves suffer with mango If they are fed
with too much fat meat and with raw
meat. so their food is all cooked and the
excess fat from Il goes to the bears. These
are the toughest of all the ANNA Is in cap
tivity and seldom suffer with anything
except falling sight This is a complaint
OF almost all the animals. 1t is supnosed
that being accustomed TO the use of their
eyes in darkness, the long hours of day
light. heightened by artificial lights al
night. during which they are active. is to-
much of strain on the nerves of the eye
which give way and blindness results.
All members of the monkey family are
extremely susceptible to cold. and pueumo
mia or consumption of the lungs are theil
chief complaints. They have TO be KEEP
warm and are grateful for warm food ant
drinks
AS soon as warmer weather begins nj
the animals will be given powdered sui
phur in their drinking water to get then
into condition for summer. The suplhu
is rubbed with little milk in the bottom
of the drinking vessel and The water add
ed. The strict vegetarians, such as ante
lopcs. kangaroos and camels, get Jumps o
salt 10 lick and so are kept in good health
MISCELLANEOUS.
TELEPHONE SPRINGFIELD DAIRY