Disease in captive wild mammals and birds : $b incidence, description, comparisonFox, Herbert
Science
Disease in captive wild mammals and birds : $b incidence, description, comparison
Fox, Herbert
Veterinary medicine
HYRACES, of which we have a total of seven examples, present two mild
involvements of the intestine but none of the stomach. It would appear
from the records that the intestinal condition had little to do with the
death of the animals, and unfortunately no microscopic slides were made.
Because of the curious formation of the large gut, notes of both ceca
were made in one case, and can be condensed as follows: “The upper or
anterior cecum presented a shaggy pearl gray mucous covering, closely
attached to the mucosa. This cavity and the posterior ceca were packed
with dry crumbling feces. Small thin-walled cysts were seen in the tips
of the lower ceca. Duodenum was congested and mucosa swollen. Stomach
contained dry, poorly digested food. No parasites were found.”
The EDENTATA are represented by an Armadillo (_Tatu novemcinctus_) and
an Anteater (_Myrmecophaga tridactyla_.) The former had a prolapse of
the rectum accompanied by colitis but it is impossible to decide the
priority of the two conditions since the former is known to have existed
long enough to have permitted the latter to develop. The Anteater had a
distinct mucocatarrhal enteritis in which bacteria played a part since
involvement of the liver, spleen, kidney and lymph nodes also existed.
The beast was in good condition upon arrival, but did not become
accustomed to the proffered diet, and was distinctly anemic at death.
The UNGULATA, so-called for their hoofed and horned character, are also
associated anatomically by the construction of their gastrointestinal
tract. However, the order of the list as given on page 44 does not
represent their historical development nor does it accord with
anatomical arrangement of the tube under discussion. The last three
families of Artiodactyla are perhaps the simplest in the construction of
this tube, or at least take an equal place with the Perissodactyla,
while the remaining families of the former suborder have a complex tract
of generally similar architecture. This whole order has, however, an
alimentary tract anatomically suited for the consumption of bulky
vegetable stuffs and shows an attempt at adjustment between the food,
the methods of mastication, the area of digestive surface, and the bulk
necessary for nutrition. The number of factors opened up by the many
variations between this complex tract and that of the carnivorous simple
tract is so great that I shall attempt only to contrast the anatomy and
pathology of the simpler ungulate tracts and the complex ruminant
apparatus.
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