266 THE GROUSE IN HEALTH AND IN DISEASE 



the oocysts were shrunken and wrinkled, and some showed cracks. At the end of 

 three weeks, the cysts were more broken up and the contents largely disintegrating, 

 while after a lapse of two months there was a difficulty in finding spores at all. 

 Bacteria were not found after lime treatment, and there was only a slight faecal 

 odour noticed. 



Sodium salicylate added to faeces rapidly deliquesced, in fact the mixture was 

 quite liquid in less than three hours. After a fortnight's interval, the cysts appeared 

 to be slightly shrunken, while faecal odour was noticeable. A month later, the 

 oocysts were more shrunken and a few free sporocysts were found, while ten weeks 

 after treatment, a slight smell was still perceptible, and the oocysts present were 

 shrunken and showed oily contents. 



Ferrous sulphate (copperas) had much the same effect as sodium salicylate, but 

 did not deliquesce. Though its action at first seemed to be rather less effective, 

 it secured the same result ultimately. 



IX. CONCLUDING REMARKS. 



The ravages of Coccidiosis among Grouse chicks may be under-estimated on 

 the moors, since the tiny corpses of the birds lie hidden among the heather. 



While it is relatively easy to take preventive measures in the case of Coccidiosis 

 in fowls, it is most difficult to take active measures in the case of Grouse. The 

 remedy of heather burning is drastic, and coccidian spores, which are present in the 

 tract burned, are then destroyed. However, heather is rather slow-growing, and so 

 heather-burning, while efficacious, is somewhat restricted in its area of application. 

 Lime dressing is destructive to spores of Coccidia, and could probably be utilised in 

 the case of limited outbreaks of disease among Grouse chicks. The effect of lime 

 on the growth of heather should first be carefully investigated on a large scale (see 

 p. 265). Any condition tending to raise the general vitality of the birds also 

 makes them much more resistant to disease. An abundant supply of healthy young 

 heather, by raising the general standard of health of the birds, is probably one of 

 the best safeguards against the insidious disease, Coccidiosis. 



PART III. COCCIDIOSIS IN GAME BIRDS AND POULTRY: SOME PREVENTIVE 

 MEASURES, SUGGESTIONS, AND TREATMENT. 



It may be of interest and importance to collect notes on various preventive 

 measures which have come under my .own practice and observation, more 



