CHAPTER XIV 



" CRAMPS " IN YOUNG PHEASANTS 



During my stay (June 1887) at Blairquhan, Mr. 

 Douglas, the head gamekeeper, then in the employ of 

 G. Bailey Worthington, Esq., called my attention to a 

 great mortality from " Cramps" existing amongst the 

 young pheasants then reared by him. He was in 

 great distress on account of the helplessness in which 

 he found himself in the matter. The utmost care, the 

 most scrupulous attention to all details necessary in 

 the rearing of pheasants exercised by him and those 

 serving under him, availed nothing to neutralise or 

 stem the progress of the disease ; daily new birds 

 showed signs of the disease, and daily, when he in the 

 morning went round the grounds and inspected the 

 coops, several new deaths had occurred amongst the 

 young birds. From what I have observed myself, the 

 first signs of illness manifest themselves in lameness 

 of one leg and in the unwillingness of the birds to 

 move ; next day both legs are lame, the birds are 

 sitting quietly, and when made to move are seen to 



