156 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



All these quotations seem to point to the fact that in 1856 

 and 1865 there was an excessive mortality from Cobbold's 

 Strongylosis ; whereas in 1867 there was an epidemic of Klein's 

 acute infectious pneumonia. 



Again, in Adam's " Reminiscences " we find : " Disease 

 in this attack (Dalnawillan, 1882) was very different in its aspects 

 from former attacks. It came on very suddenly, sharp and 

 decisive." l The distinction is markedly contrasted by Adams 

 in his book, and the incidence in each case is well described. 



Tom Speedy in " Sport in the Highlands and Lowlands of 

 Scotland " writes : " The epidemic assumed two different forms. 

 In some cases the birds were draggled, wasted, and emaciated, 

 bare about the legs, and indicating ... a long continued or 

 fatal disease. At a more advanced period of the season they 

 were found dead in beautiful plumage, with fine feathery legs ; 

 and the red above their eyes unsullied and as bright as vermilion. 

 In many cases they were seen the one day seemingly in 

 perfect health, and the next day stiff and cold in excellent 

 condition." ; 



Enough has now been quoted to show that in the minds of 

 many observers there has been for years the suspicion that the 

 differences observed were not merely two phases of one form of 

 sickness, but two distinct diseases. And it was on this assump- 

 tion that the Committee at first commenced their investigation. 



On following up this provisional hypothesis, however, it 

 was found difficult to reconcile the opinions of former writers 

 with the facts observed. 



One thing was quite certain, that whereas the Committee 

 had seen during the first three years of the Inquiry extensive 

 mortality amongst Grouse caused by some agent which acted 

 slowly and produced " piners " only, they had not seen anything 

 at all like an epidemic of acute or infectious pneumonia. It 

 followed therefore that if the rapid death of birds in good con- 

 dition was typical of Klein's disease no case of Klein's disease 

 had yet been seen. 



1 Adam, " Reminiscences," p. 75. 2 Op. cit., p. 185. 



