GROUSE DISEASE 215 



appeared in the Journal of Hygiene, say, " a 

 chronic inflammation leading to fibrosis." This 

 portion of the alimentary canal is, in Sydney 

 Smith's words, both " vext " and " agitated." 



It thus appears that the presence of these 

 Strongyli lead to a chronic inflammation of the 

 caeca and to fibrosis. The normal functions of 

 these very important organs, the caeca, are inter- 

 fered with and the tissues lining them are destroyed. 

 The bird wastes away and ultimately dies. But 

 there is another factor in the case. When the 

 degree of infection surpasses 1,000 Strongyli in 

 each caecum, there is no doubt a larger increase 

 in the Bacillus coli in the liver and in the lungs 

 and other organs. These bacilli do no harm 

 whilst free in the alimentary canal, but when 

 they pass the mucosa and reach the other tissues 

 of the body they undoubtedly serve to set up 

 various disorders. 



But the presence of these worms, and also, 

 I believe, to a minor extent the presence of the 

 transparent tape-worm in the duodenum, has a 

 further and indirect ill-effect on the grouse. 

 When hand-reared birds which were free from 

 T. pergracilis were investigated, practically no 

 bacilli were found in the liver or other tissues 



