Evening star., 1932-02-28

TINE condition of N'gi the baby
gorilla at the Zoo, who is seri-
ously i'll of condition diagnosed
Il as bronchial pneumonia, con-
tinued to improve slightly yes
terday and last night, as he lay in the
special oxygen chamber brought here
from New York Friday.
A bottle of port wine for use in the
treatment of N'gi was received at the
Zoo yesterday, the gift of the German
embassy.
When Ngi gets strong again he's
going to have a lot of folks to thank,
particularly the doctors who have given
him constant attention, but if Ngi does
get well there's one woman in Wash
ington to whom he will be everlaStingly
indebted for her activities have been
the greatest single responsible factor in
the little gorilla's recovery, namely Mrs.
Eleanor Patterson, editor of the WASH
ington Herald. On Thursday night
Mrs. Patterson phoned DR.. Alvan
Barach of the faculty of the Presby-
terian Hospital, medical center. in New
York, and strongly urged that one OF
his special oxygen chambers be rushed
to Washington in order that the life
of the baby gorilla be saved. One hour
York, arrived in Washington, and were
taken to the home of Mrs. Patterson,
who is bearing all expenses of this life
saving enterprise. Late Friday morning
the oxygen was being administered and
WaShingtonS woman editor rejo1ced at
the quick response of the baby gorilla.
While his respiration was much bet
ter and he showed somewhat more in
terest in what was going on, according
to DR.. william M. Mann, Zoo director,
the physicians attending N'gi now are
chiefly worried over his heart, the beat
of which was quite irregular when ex-
amined yesterday. This was feared as
a symptom of growing weakness.
N'gi played for a few minutes with
his keeper yesterday afternoon, but
soon became exhausted. He also swal-
lowed one specially prepared egg-nog.
Little Change Noted.
DR.. Mann, accompanied by DR.. John
Eckhardt, pediatrician, and DR.. David
E, Buckingham, veterinarian, made their
last visit to N'gi atS9 o'clock last night,
and at that time his condition seemed
about the same.
Late yesterday afternoon all food
was removed from his cage. 1t was
feared that the continual sight of food
may be partly responsible for the
gorillas poor appetite. His interest
might be aroused by taking it away for
a time
While specialists Of all sorts have
been working over N'gi William H.
Blackburn, veteran head keeper at the
National Geological Park, who has an
uncanny understanding of wild animal
psychology, has remained the court of
last resort. Others may know all about
medicine, but he knows all about ami
mails. Especially about N'gi, Blackburn
knows more than anybody else, for he
has raised the little fellow from baby
hood.
Adored by Chimpanzee.
1t Is the same with the other ami
mails Take Soko, few cages down
the line. Soko is the big, crazy CHM
panzee. He is IT years old, probably
the oldest of his race in captivity, al
though he may be little more than a
boy as chimpanzees go in their native
habitat. Soko is subject to ungovern-
able RACES and sudden fits which have
led to the belief that he may be a
victim of something akin to epilepsy
Soko probably would tear to shreds
anybody he could get his hands on