95 Pheasants. 



Under the elastic term " cramp," two, if not three, 

 quite distinct diseases are usually denominated by numbers 

 of gamekeepers, one disease being regarded as an advanced 

 stage of the other, and the whole being lumped together as 

 similarly caused, and remedies applied accordingly. 



There is one form of cramp in pheasants of which very 

 little is known, and is usually fatal, but not always so. 

 It is mainly local, and at times more prevalent in the 

 North of England than anywhere else; but I have known it 

 both in Essex and in the West of England. It is much 

 akin in its symptoms to the main form of cramp presently 

 to be described but a good many birds recover at times, 

 though it leaves them crippled and weaklings. It appears 

 to occur during long periods of cold north-east winds 

 and dry weather, and attacks the early-hatched birds 

 almost solely. There would appear to be no recognised 

 cure for it, but I have known many birds recover when 

 given a few grains of rice soaked in spirits of turpentine. 

 It is only possible to get the birds to take one or two 

 grains at a time by throwing them down casually, but 

 they certainly improve upon the treatment. Fortunately 

 or unfortunately, I had not very many cases to deal with, 

 but the information is given for what it may prove to be 

 worth. 



True pheasant cramp is a clearly-defined disease, due 

 to a bacillus emanating from a damp-ridden soil, or the 

 moisture present in it, notably that covered with old 

 pasture, and overshadowed by trees oak, elm, or ash 

 indiscriminately. To prevent it, it is only necessary to 

 avoid trying to rear birds upon ground thus characterised ; 

 but, of course, all old pastures with overspreading trees 

 do not contain the bacillus, and, consequently, may prove 

 quite harmless until the particular one is found to provide 

 the trouble. There is no cure for it, and the onlv wav to 



