"GROUSE DISEASE "- STRONGYLOSIS 219 



Having ascertained that a relation exists between the 

 numbers of Strongyles and the presence of B. coli in the organs it 

 became necessary to discover whether a similar relation exists 

 between B. coli and the other intestinal parasites commonly 

 found in the Grouse. The tables of results are given in the 

 original Report, but it is only necessary here to state (1) That 

 the presence of the tapeworm Davainea urogalli in the intestine 

 is not related to the presence of Bacillus coli in the liver and 

 other organs ; (2) That the presence of the tapeworm Hymeno- 

 lepis microps in the duodenum is occasionally related to the 

 presence of Bacillus coli in the liver and other organs. 1 



It has been shown that Bacillus coli is constantly present 

 in the organs of birds whose caeca contain large numbers of 

 Strongyles, and that the latter are present in far larger numbers 

 in diseased than in healthy birds. It may therefore be assumed 

 that Bacillus coli, while not invariably absent from the organs 

 of the apparently healthy bird, is constantly present in those 

 of diseased birds. The small number of colonies of Bacillus coli 

 cultivated from the tissues of diseased Grouse indicates that 

 these bacteria do not multiply in the tissues. We therefore 

 do not suggest that " Grouse Disease " is essentially an infection 

 with these bacteria. 



It is very doubtful whether the bacilli which find their way 

 into the organs do much harm. Some harm no doubt they do, 

 but how much cannot be said. Microscopic examination has 

 not revealed any profound changes in the livers of Grouse. The 

 numbers of these bacteria which penetrate into the organs is 

 difficult to estimate because, doubtless, they soon get killed in 

 the living tissues, so that the numbers of colonies cultivated must 

 bear only a small proportion to the total number o( bacteria which 

 have entered the fragment of tissue examined. The number of 

 living bacilli in the organs of these Grouse is undoubtedly small 

 from which it is evident that they do not multiply in the organs. 

 " Grouse Disease " is therefore not an infection with these 

 bacteria. Is it a form of blood poisoning (toxaemia) caused 



1 Vide, p. 200. 



