Deborah, Kirt,

> >I maintain that even if the mongoose was riddled with every
> >parasite known to man, if instincto is True then Zephyr should not have
> >been on his deathbed.
> I agree!

I don't.
Zephyr would have had to live Instincto in the first place.
Most of what I heard about his eating and living habits
leaves the impression that he just learned Instincto, became
euphemistic about it and lived a rather wild and impetuous
life. As other said before, his immune system was probably
down and in tolerance regarding meat. The parasites had an
easy game with him.
And: Most people (including myself) eat some food if it smells
at least somewhat pleasant, but that is not Instincto. An
wild animal would not be conceived by preconceptions and old
habits. It would be lead by its instinct alone, choosing
only totally pleasant food.

Karl