The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-20
HOW WILD ANIMALS DIE
WHILE IN CAPTIVITY
Wolves and Foxes Develop Rabies,
While tuberculosis and Pneumonia
Claim Many Victims.

Some interesting observations upon the
principal causes of death among wild
animals in captivity are made by DR..
d. E. Salmon. chief of the Bureau Of
Animal Industry of the Agricultural De-
partment, In a portion Of the report
which he made to the Secretary of Ag-
riculture last week. According to DR.
Salmon. the greatest danger 20 captive
animals lies IN gastro-intestinai disor-
ders. He gave special attention to the
beasts in the National Geological Park,
where autopsies were held by the bureau
experts upon all animals that died last
year.
The animals succumbing TO intestinal
disorders were five buffalo, three bear,
three lynx. and one monkey. DR.. Sal
mon attributes the prevalence of stOm-
ach trouble to the unnatural condition
under which the beasts have 10 live and
the manner in which they are fed
Regularity Of diet. even when based
upon the most scientific opirion and the
observation OF long experienced keepers.
does not suit the digestive organs of
the denizens Of field and forest They
thrive better on the uncertain products
of the chase or the herbs and grasses
eaten while seeking their food over un-
limited ranges
Tie chief interest in the appearance of
rabies among the foxes lies in the fact
that 10 them is attributed the begin
ming of the epidemics of the trouble in
this country and England. A wide
spread wave of rabies in England some
years ago was wiped out by causing
all dogs to be confined, especially fox
hounds. Hunting was stopped, and any
dog which was suspected of having been
bitten by a fox was killed. The result
of these drastic measures was that the
disease was wiped out and has not
prevailed TO any extent since in that
country. The presence of the disease
among the Washington foxes and
wolves without any known source of
contagion is taken as proof that the
English observers were right, and that
rabies does originate among wild ca
mines.
Pneumonia IS almost as hard to guard
against in zoos as tuberculosis, and the
National Geological Gardens presented
no exception to the rule last year. A
baboon. an antelope. a caribou and a
kangaroo died there of that disease.
The list of deaths shows that the ami
mails of the frozen North, such as the
caribou. are as apt to die of pneumonia
when in this climate as the natives of
the tropics. such as the baboon
Five Of the snakes in the garden died
last year and necropsies were held on
each Of them Three owed their death
to an abscess formation caused by the
entrance Of a bacillus which has not
yet been identified. The other two
10 a
resulting from the bacillus hydrophilus
fuscus Sanarelli. which should be
enough TO bring about the demise of an
elephant. If names count for anything.
DR.. Salmon says this horrible baciI-
lus produces a highly virulent septicemia
among frogs and other cold-blooded
animals, as well as among the smaller
domestic animals. The bacillus enters
the victim through LESSONS of the skin.
1t Is a water organism, and TO it is
thought to be attributable many OF the
deaths among the smaller animals In
captivity.
tuberculosis is as much a danger
among the Gagged objects of public Gu
riosity as It is among too closely housed
inhabitants of large cities. and no
means has yet been discovered of cur
ing or even modifying its ravages
among zoo animals. Last year one
agOuu, one monkey, and one peccary
died Of consumption IN the National
Geological Gardens according to the
diagnosis made by DR.. Salmon and his
veterinarians. Some of the animals
which have died at the Zoo of this dis
ease are supposed TO have. been af-
fected before they reached Washing
ton In any event, the germs were ac-
quired before they were taken from
their native haunts and removed to
Washington. Every means known to
science was tried TO prolong the lives OF
the victims OF consumption. and some
experiments were made upon
novel suggestions. but the creatures
siclSened and died without once giving
a sign that they were yielding to treat
ment or were permanently benefited
Rabies probably the most dreaded of
all diseases. has long been held by ex-
perts to originate among wild animals
OF the canine species and possibly among
the rodents, although the question has
never been definitely settled and inves-
tigators have watched with keenest in
terest all cases In ZOOS. An important
item Ia the history of the disease was
discovered by Or. Salmon last year at
the National Geological Gardens
II was found that the foxes in one
of the dens exhibited a peculiar tend
ency toward lighting and gnashing
everything that came I'm their way. The
most vicious was killed ind the au
topsy developed a clear case of rabies
All tbs a. her foxes were Immediately
killed Later on three wolves exhibited
symptoms Of rabies and We're killed Tbe
autopsy in each case proved that they
were affected with rabies.