CHAPTER IX 



" GROUSE DISEASE " 



History of "Grouse Disease" with an account of the woyJc of the "Grouse 

 Disease" Inqimy, in resj^ect of 2)^'ei'ious tvorh done hi/ Professor Klein, 

 Dr Cohbold, and others. 



By Edward A. Wilson and A. S. Leslie 



"Grouse Disease" in its epidemic^ form has become a serious matter only 

 since the Grouse has come to be of importance in the economic management 

 of estates in England and Scotland. 



Careful protection, improved conditions of food caused by heather-burning 

 and drainage, and the removal, as far as practicable, of all animals that 

 seriously affect the increase of the birds, are some of the artificial i,.. Grouse 

 means by which moors have become more heavily stocked with Red dueTopro 

 Grouse than was the case under more natural conditions. To this ^^^ct'O"' 

 heavy stocking, combined sometimes with unfortunate natural conditions, but 

 oftener with injudicious management, have been attributed the outbreaks of 

 epidemic disease which have periodically visited the majority of Grouse moors. 

 In other words "Grouse Disease" has always been considered to be intensified 

 by artificial conditions. 



It is doubtful whether this view is correct ; as early as the end of the 

 eighteenth century we have records of serious mortality amongst Disease 

 the Grouse in certain districts, and "Grouse Disease" undoubtedly eighTe'euth 

 occurred in the earlier part of the last century, long before the artificial '^"^"^"''y- 

 conditions had become established. 



It is therefore probably not correct to say that the first predisposing cause of 

 " Grouse Disease" was protection leading to overstocking. The question is really 



' The familiar word " epidemic " is used tliroughout tliese volumes to signify outbreaks of specific diseases 

 among Grouse in place of the more correct term " epizootic." 



185 



