gall stone, which as it grew obstructed the duct mechanically and brought aboutjaundice. In the early stage, during the growth of the stone, clinical symptoms were apparently so slight as to escape notice during observations of the animal in the enclosure. Only recurrent spells of very strong, colic-like pains in the final stage of the disease resulted in the chical picture described in the first paragraph.

FALSE TEETH FOR A N OLD DONKEY

Equus asinus by Shiro Nakagawa

Veterinarian, Ueno and Tama Zoological Gardens, Tokyo, Japan

T H E oldest mammal at Ueno Zoo is a thirty- year-old donkey that has been in the zoo since January 1939 when it was presented to the zoo by the Japanese army.

At the beginning of 1961 we noticed that its appetite had gradually decreased and that it had difficulty chewing hard food and biting off green grass. In addition, it often had digestive trouble with severe diarrhoea. Its condition became very emaciated. Its teeth were examined and we discovered that it had lost a number of its incisor teeth on both jaws. We decided to provide it with false teeth.

There were a number of problems. In the first place, ths operation had never been per- formed in Japan before. We were worried as to how we could attach the new false teeth onto the donkey’s jaws without hurting the guns and without upsetting the donkey un- duly. However, we were very fortunate in obtaining the assistance ofDr Ishigami, a well- known Japanese dentist, who offered his services voluntarily.

The donkey’s jaws were X-rayed and it was discovered that its remaining incisors were in fairly good condition and that nearly all the molars remained. After two months experi- menting, Dr Ishganii made a set of false teeth and on 25th May 1963 they were attached to the donkey’s jaws. One end of the denture was firmly connected to the remaining incisors by a metal bridge, while the other end was fixed by a rubber band. During the operation the donkey was very quiet. Immediately after the

teeth had been attached the donkey tried to bite some green grass with its new teeth and succeeded. The donkey has been in good health ever since, there has been no re-occur- rence of the stomach disorders and its con- dition has improved.

The cost of the false teeth was about 700,000 yen (about $2,000).

DIABETES IN A HIPPOPOTAMUS Hippopotamus amphibius

Veterinarian, Ueno and Tama Zoological Gardens, Tokyo, Japan

THE condition of the oldest hppopotamus in our zoo, a female, deteriorated after the birth of her sixth and most recent calf (born 20th February 1963). Subsequently she gradually lost her appetite, was very inactive, remaining alone in the pool most of the day, and becames very emaciated. In addition, her skin was rough and easily punctured. Faecal and urine tests were made, the latter reveahg a high concentration of glucose ( 5 per cent) in the urine. Urine tests were also made on two other hippos, with negative results. Diabetes was therefore diagnosed as the result of the urine test and the general symptoms.

by Shiro Nakagawa

T R E A T M E N T

After much discussion, we decided to treat her with insulin. A dose of 700 I.U. of ins& was administered to her daily. Treatment was started 4th April 1964 and is still continuing. Her condition has greatly improved as the result of treatment. The insulin costs about 30,000 yen (about $8) a month. At the time of writing (May 1964) the hippo’s condition is good and she is gaining weight. However, we have to continue giving her insulin injections, as with human diabetics.

C A S E HISTORY 20th Feb. 1963 Gave birth to sixth baby

which died three days later. zIst Sept. 1963 Appetite very small and h i p

PO in emaciated condition with rough, easily punctured S k i l l .

24th Feb. 1964 Urine test revealed more than 5 per cent glucose in urine.

29th Feb. 1964 Urine of two other hippos, examined as a control, found to be negative for glucose. 700 I.U. insulin administered with CapChur gun; dose repeated daily thereafter.

7thMar. 1964 Glucose in urine had de- creased to 0.5 per cent.

19thMar. 1964 5 kg. green grass eaten for first time since onset of disease.

25th Mar. 1964 Appetite gradually increased. 5th Apr. 1964 Urine negative for glucose. 15th Apr. 1964 Started eating about 40 kg.

green grass a day. Skin be- came smooth and moist.

4th Mar. 1964

REMEDIAL HOOF-TRIMMING IN AN ADULT GIRAFFE

GiraJu camelopardufis by Hans 0. Ewert Veterinarian,

Toledo Zoological Garden, USA

O V E R a period of several years, an adult bull giraffe at Toledo Zoo developed very over- grown hooves. To correct this condition, the animal was restrained in a squeeze box and the hooves trimmed with an assortment of tools. Subsequently, annual trimming became neces- sary to maintain the animal’s feet in proper condition. This led to the development of a routine which has been used at Toledo Zoo over the last four years.

Overgrown hooves, in both captive wild and domesticated ungulates is a fairly common occurrence. The hoof horn grows continuous- ly and normally wears down at an equivalent rate. This creates no problem in the wild since the animal roams freely in search of pasture. In captivity, however, with abundant food available, the animal’s activity slows down as does the rate of wear of the hoof-horn. This also happens to domesticated animals confiied to a stable. It is m a d y in an unnatural en- vironment that hooves grow large and even- tually out ofproportion.

Hess and Wyssmann (193 1) describe the overgrowth of the hoof-horn in cattle. The

condition is generally called ‘barn toes’ and occurs as the result of neglect and lack of activity and is seen in ruminants confined to stalls or exhibited in parks. Pohly (1918) found barn toes in 70.6 per cent of all examined stall- confiied cattle; as the tip of the hoofis without a bony or skeletal foundation it can therefore grow in different directions. In the majority of cases (62 per cent) both front and rear toes were involved; in 28 per cent only the rear toes; and in 10 per cent only the front toes. Fowler and Kingrey (1956) list overgrowth of the hoof-wall and elongated toes as defor- mities of the hoof which are due to insufficent wear because of inadequate exercise and soft flooring underfoot. In elongated toes, they re- mind us, the weight of the animal is shifted back on to the heels and tendonitis and arthritis may result from the strain. The same authors mention that in many herds exposed to fluorine, the toes do not wear away properly. Greenough (1963) found abnormally long coffin bones (the skeletal foundation of the hoof) in cattle with corkscrew hooves. This inherent condition seems to lead to hoof de- formation regardless of the animal’s activity or environment.

In 1950 a ten-year-old bull giraffe at the Cincinatti Zoo had rear hooves that had grown to be about a foot in length and as the result the animal’s walk was impaired. Coarse gravel spread throughout the paddock had not pre- vented the development of this condition as the animal was very inactive. Underwood (1964) reports that several times during the following eight years the overgrown hooves were chop- ped off with a wood chisel. Restraint was un- necessary since the giraffe was docile and did not resist the operation. Hagenbeck (1960) describes the hoof treatment of an adult giraffe. At the age of twelve, a hoof deforma- tion occurred on the front feet of a bull giraffe, but it was not until four years later that an overgrowth of the toe had to be removed. The giraffe was restrained in a specially b d t box and the malformation successfully cor- rected by means ofa saw, chisel and hoof-rasp. Crandall(1964), discussing the proper flooring for giraffe stalls, states that the large hooves of giraffes are especially liable to overgrowth and unless the necessary attrition takes place, they may reach prodigious lengths. Thus, smooth