PART II. THE GROUSE IN DISEASE 

 CHAPTER IV 



CAUSES OF MORTALITY IN THE RED GROUSE 



IN classifying all diseases it must be remembered that before 

 a disease can be scientifically named it is necessary to ascertain 

 whether the disease in question has an individuality which can 

 be specifically described and recognised by definite character- 

 istics and symptoms. 



It is an accepted rule of medical science that the primary 

 cause of a disease should be sought for as the first step 

 towards the discovery of a remedy. Yet this important rule 

 has been almost wholly ignored by the majority of writers upon 

 " Grouse Disease," with a few notable exceptions. 



Hardly a writer on the subject but dwells on vague gener- 

 alities, hopelessly mixing up observed facts with speculative 

 theories, and primary with predisposing causes ; for instance, 

 if the chief object of the writer of the following paragraphs 

 had been to confound an already almost hopeless confusion, 

 he could hardly have been more successful : 



" What I still maintain is that the unwholesome food which 

 Grouse have been compelled to eat has occasioned both the 

 worms with which they have been infested and at least one type 

 of the disease." 



" The disease appeared in all its virulence after the heather 

 had been damaged by hard frost ; but the crying evil is un- 

 doubtedly the overstocking of the moors with sheep." 



" Grouse have materially suffered from cold late springs 

 which have blighted the heather." 



113 H 



