Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-11
HOSPITAL At THE zoo
Latest Scheme for Comfort OF
Sick Jungle Folk.
TO HAVE ALL ACCESSORIES
Accommodations for All From Ele-
plant to Monkey.
SURGEONS IN ATTENDANCE
Ambulance Will Be Provided to Hurry
Emergency Cases to New In
stitution for Treatment.
SURGEONS IN ATTENDANCE

A hospital for animals, birds, snakes and
the other creatures on exhibition at the
National Zoo will be the latest addition to
Uncle Sans aggregation Of public institu-
tons in Washington. Steps for the erection
of such hospital In the Geological Park
are now being taken by the authorities, 1t
was learned today.
Should the big elephant, Dunk. or even
the "hellbender'' from the marshes of Flor
ida, be seized with sudden attack of acute
indigestion in the near future, or should the
polar bear be overcome by the heat of this
latitude, or the bewhiske1ed ring-tailed
monkey from the tropics become the victim
of the grip, they will find themselves paced
in the emergency ambulance of the Zoo, for
it is not mete and proper that any we'll
regulated hospital should be without
"hurry-up wagon" and whisked off to the
combination al-bird-snake hospital for
treatment. Heretofore when any of these
have been seized with illness injured it
became necessary for the attendants to give
such amateur treatment they could to
the patients.
Staff of Zoo Physicians.
Hereafter when the hospital is completed
there will be staff of geological physicians
and surgeons at the institution to give i'm
mediate attention TO the sick OR hurt ones,
be they animals, birds or reptiles. In this
manner the authorities of the Zoo believe
they will be enabled to save many rare
living exhibits that otherwise might pass
in their checks" because of the lack of ex-
pert treatment.
1t is realized that when the denizens of
the jungle. the air of the marshes and
waters become i'll it is necessary to re-
move them from the cages or cases in
which their fellows are confined. in order
to give them quiet and rest. as well as
medicine and the proper nourishment. That
n 10 NO
mails become involved in battle royal and
are injured, it is requisite that they re-
ceive prompt emergency treatment away
from the company of their antagonists.
pital is said to have been considered and
brought to fruition.
Al Important Improvement.
The authorities of the Zoo stated today
that the most important Improvement to
be made in the National Geological Park
this year is the erection of the building for
a hospital and laboratory.
The building was officially described to-
day as "a place where sick animals and
those which have met with accidents and
require surgical treatment can be cared for
under favorable conditions. place is also
needed where certain kinds of animals can
be kept for a while after they are received
at the park until it can be ascertained
whether they have any disease that might
be communicated to other and healthy ami
mails II they were put Immediately into ex-
hibition cages or yards. In the case of
some animals. and especially those from
certain countries, the regulations of the
Agricultural Department require quarantine
| before they can be put with others.
''All of this calls for d building which Is
contributed with reference to sanitary re-
qNrements and convenience for medical
and surgical work.
"A building is now being planned to meet
these requirements, and ii is expected that
the work of construction will be begun be-
fore the end of the summer 1t Is intended
to provide a hospital room for herblvora
one for carniVorous animals and another
for monkeys, and another for small ami
mails Provision will also be made for
birds. There will be surgical and labora-
| tory room, where injuries can be treated
and animals that die can be examined to
ascertain the cause of death. A place will
| also be provided where meteorological ex-
am:nations can be made"
On an Isolated Site.
1t was further explained that a building
for these purposes needs to be somewhat
isolated from other animal buildings and
away from the places most frequented by
visitors.
The site on which the building will be
placed is high and well drained, and there
Will be room for dry, sunny outdoor
yards, The Rock creek intercepting sewer
which is near by, will take the sewerage
and 1t is proposed to make the whole equip
ment as completely sanitary as possible.
1t is expected that in connection with the
work here pathological and bacterioog cal
Investigations will be carried on as COM
paratiVely little is known regarding the
diseases of wild animals.