CHAPTER V 



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

 " Grouse Disease " Inquiry, in respect of previous work 

 done by Professor Klein, Dr Cobbold, and others. 



" GROUSE Disease " in its epidemic * form has become a 

 serious matter only since the Grouse has come to be of import- 

 ance 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 threaten the lives 

 of the birds, are some of the artificial means by which moors 

 have become more heavily stocked with Red Grouse than was 

 the case under more natural conditions. To this heavy stocking, 

 combined sometimes with unfavourable 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 record^ of serious 

 mortality amongst the Grouse in certain districts, and 

 "Grouse Disease" undoubtedly occurred in the earlier part of 

 the last century, long before the artificial conditions had 

 become established. 



Amongst the earliest recorded outbreaks of disease about 



1 The familiar word "epidemic "is used throughout these volumes to signify out- 

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



151 



