DIARRHOEA IN ORANG-UTANS AT STATEN ISLAND ZOO, U.S.A. Two Orang-utans at the Staten Island Zoo suffering from sporadic attacks of diarrhoea in

spite of the fact that repeated foecal examinations were negative for intestinal parasites have responded well to treatment with Polymagna, a combination of Kaopectate and antibiotics. Recovery was prompt. Patricia O’Connor, D. V.M., Stafen Island Zoological Society Annual Report.

ANTHRAX AT GLASGOW ZOO, SCOTLAND During 1959 a seven year old male Puma died of anthrax at Glasgow Zoo, Scotland. An unusual

feature of the death was that no other animal fed from the same delivery of food (horseflesh and wood pigeon) was affected.

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“MOOSE DISEASE’ AT ASSINIBOlNE ZOO, CANADA

On September 4th, 1959, the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg received a Moose cow (Alces americana) from the southern part of the Whiteshell Forest Reserve, South East Manitoba. There was no particular problem in catching the Moose since it was said to be a young tame specimen. It had no fear of man and was in a rather weak condition. Breathing was laboured, there were hardly any synchronised movements of the legs which after a short while did not carry the rump any more. The neck was stiffly kept in a bent position towards one side. The day after arrival at the Zoo, the animal was dead. It was not a calf but a very old cow, judging from the teeth which were loose and worn and the coat which still contained patches of winter coat in it (in September). All these observations corresponded with what has been described as “Moose Disease” (THOMAS & CAHN, 1932, as cited in R. L. PETERSON: North American Moose, Toronto, 1955). The posf- mortem did not reveal any particular sickness of organs nor parasitic infections. However, It seemed to be desirable that in similar cases, microscopic slices of the brain tissue should be made and compared with similar slices from a healthy Moose.

This specimen of American Moose was the first one found with “Moose Disease” in the Province of Manitoba. Dr Cuenter Voss, Director of the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, Canada.

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MORPHOLOGY OF THE PITUITARY GLAND OF SNAKE EMBRYOS Charles Hackenbrock, senior reptile keeper at the Staten Island Zoo, New York, U.S.A., has

been studying the morphology of the pituitary gland of snake embryos at Wagner College. The subjects of his research have been the Corn Snake and the Timber Rattlesnake.

Embryos were carefully removed at various stages of development from a newly-laid clutch of Corn Snake eggs and histological sections of the head cut and stained. Study of embryonic development of the Timber Rattlesnake proved more difficult. However, two gravid females were caught near New York and each was subjected to four Caesarian sections and the embryos studied. Both females are alive and thriving. The paper containing the conclusions of Mr. Hackenbrock‘s research are to be published shortly. Staten Island Zoological Society Annual Report, 1959.

The journal “Parks and Recreation” mentioned in Section II of the Yearbook is published monthly by The American Institute of Park Executives, Inc. and its afiliated branch, The American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums. Membership and subscription details can be obtained from A.A.Z.P.A., Oglebay Park, Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.A.

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