Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-25
Elephants Real Disposition
BY Frederic Y. Haskin

year. the lowest number always occur
ring in January of each year. New
York, because of its cold, damp win
tiers, Is very hard on the animals who
are particularly subject to lung and
bronchial troubles: and the cold win
ter rains, which last for days at
time, in which the cages become per-
meated with dampness. always take
their annual toll of animals life. These
rains are also responsible for great
deal Of animal rheumatism. A pygmy
elephant named Congo was mercifully
shot last year because he had become
lame and deformed with rheumatism,
resulting from the unusually severe
climate
Another dificulty in taking care OF
unacclimated species Is the change OF
food. which sometimes disagrees with
them. It is almost impossible. Tor
EXAMPLE, to maintain a gorilla in this
country An agent of the society
obtained a female gorilla in Africa
end brought her safelv all the wav to
tho ZOO only to have her die one wear
after her entrance. During this time
she was the subject Of medical experi-
mept, every known method being
employed to save her lite, She was
given the tuberculin test three times
each time registering negative. after
which doses of arsenic. strychnine and
iron were poured down her throat and
she was administered extracts Of
thyroid and thvmus glands. Every
kind of possible food was provided
her hut without temuting her to eat.
and finally she died OF exhaustion and
what an autopsy proved to be cage
pa r. lVss.
The animals are also subject 10 emf
denies OF toyic gastroenteritis, nm
intestinal disorder. in which the NOR
ta1ity Is as high as 95 per cent: the
sea lions are constantly having
ptomatne noisonino due to eatinp nut
rid fish which get into their food sun
NV undiscovered. and the larger ami
mails often have taDe-worms. narticu-
larlv the nolar hears and rhinoceroses
IN view Of these recurring Affections,
the utmost care nnst be evercised In
buying food for tho animals in order
to ascertain that IT Is fresh. and this
THE food bill for last year was S33 7S5.
which covered the cost Of eishtvfive
Different kinds Of food the food re-
ruired 10 feed one elephant costing
four dollars a dav
Newt TO Conev Island. the Bronx
Zoo Park is the most pOnular institu-
ton in New York for children. This
is not q natter Of accurate statistical
record. but a conclusion based upon
the observation Of tho Zonlogical So
icietv. Here comes the infant New
Worker in his habv carriage when his
fists are too small to hold peanuts
ACCOMPANIED by his mother or rnrse,
who sit ON the park benches and en-
hroider diligently. A few wears later
he is riding his velociDede mast, the
great walks cage. feedine noDccrn to
the hears and wadirr IN tho Bronx
)ako which winds through the park.
Although eevera1 miles from the down.
town section Of the citv. the East
Side is we'll represented by large
number of foreign children on non
nayment DAYS who throng the animal
houses and park benches. eating large
portions If neanuts and chattering In
a. OOHcu uIHSIStll ihuSudScS.
, Although hundreds dai1v vi"it the
mark. som etimes bringing their lun ches
almost ALWAYS buying packa ges of
neanuts- popcorn and candy. it is
interesting to note that there Ia no
waste naper or refnse left on the gra IS
or in the wods. This Is due to the
rigorous campaign waeed by the so
cietv with the cooperation OF the city
police apainst the throwing oe waste
paper. For many Years r. had been
against the law to distribute refuse
and cast waste DaDer on city proDertv.
but the law had never been enforced.
and when a policeman did make an
arrest on snch q charge. he was re-
proved by the court az being too con-
sciertious. Then the mayor evidenced
there occurred dozens Of arrests
fthrouahout the city OF park vanda1s,
caught in the act Of THROWING waste
paper. Followed period of fining
every guilty pedestrian. and as con.
sequence today no citv has any cleaner
or better kept parks than New York
But the proletariat are not the only
ones who enjoy the Bronx Park Here
also come men Of science to study one
of the best collections Of animal speci.
mems in America. as we'll as a private
collection Of horns, antlers and mount,
ed heads that is reported to be the
finest in the world. Geological re-
search work Is constantly going for
ward one Of the finest methods being
the taking Of moving pictures showing
the habits Of certain species. This
is done by the use Of mercury-vapor
lights at night. Some of the most
recent films showed several species
of tree toads. their throats distended
, in the effort of singing and five DIFF
ferent species Of snakes in the act of
emerSing from the eggs. as we'll as
the feeding habits of several small
reptiles and animals.
Thus perhaps science is the greatest
beneficiary OF the ZOO. In addition to
studyinp rare snectes IF animals tho