186 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



of academic interest, since the artificial conditions are now firmly established, 

 and it might be profitable to consider the other theories which have been put 

 forward as to the predisposing causes of disease. 



Predispos- Such theories are numerous, and every one of them has at one time 

 o"?< Grou S S e or another been promoted to the rank of "the real cause," the acting 

 and primary cause, that is to say, of so-called " Grouse Disease." 



Before discussing their relative importance, however, it will be well to 

 mention shortly what is known of the earliest appearance of the disease, and 

 of its distribution in time and space. 



Among the earliest recorded outbreaks of disease about the beginning of 

 Early last century, Macdonald, in "Grouse Disease," says : "It is now (1883) 



diseas d e S in f eighty 7 ears since tne alarm of ' Grouse Disease ' was sounded in this 

 Grouse. country." l 



Speedy says : "The first time ' Grouse Disease' attracted special attention was 

 in 1838. Prior to that date it was not unknown in Scotland ; but it had not 

 assumed the proportions of a malignant epidemic. 



"Even in 1838 and for several years afterwards, it was much milder in its 

 results than it has latterly become. In 1867 it seems to have developed a most 

 destructive form, attracting very general attention. Prior to that it was 

 comparatively local, decimating the birds in certain districts, and leaving other 

 districts untouched. " : 



Howard Saunders says : " As long ago as 1815 a severe outbreak in the Reay 

 country, Sutherland, was on record." 3 



Mr Woodruffe Peacock in a pamphlet on "Grouse Disease" writes: "Old 

 Moor Keepers have told me that their elders knew it as a slight and local trouble 

 quite 50 years before 1847," i.e., in 1797. 4 And finally, in the MS. Records of 

 Bolton Abbey, it is specifically mentioned as a "fatal disorder" in 1822 ; though 

 as early as 1809 and 1811 there are records of "no shooting" accountable in all 

 probability to disease. 



Of the distribution of "Grouse Disease" in space it is more difficult to speak 

 shortly, and the question deserves very close consideration. Not 

 ver y mucn na d been made of the subject up to the time of the 

 Disease." commencement of the present Inquiry. It may be of use, however, 

 to give an idea of the lines upon which the Committee has been working. 



1 Macdonald, "Grouse Disease," p. 112. 



2 "Sport in the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland," p. 184. 



3 "Zoologist", 1887, p. 302. 4 Rev. E. A. Woodruffe Peacock, "Grouse Disease," p. 12. 



