Grouse. 



reason which can be given for its occurrence is that men- 

 tioned in connection with the same parasites in pheasants. 



The disease (or, rather, diseases) generally classed as the 

 grouse disease is, unfortunately, too well known, as far 

 as its effects are concerned, to warrant entering into any 

 lengthy descriptions. Under the general term " grouse 

 disease *' three obviously distinct maladies of epizootic 

 form are usually included or confounded. There is, in 

 the first instance, the same, or apparently the same, 

 enteritis, which was described when dealing with pheasants. 

 It is caused and spread by contaminated sources of drink- 

 ing-water, but is not infectious. Beyond this I do not 

 see that I can add anything to what appears upon this 

 subject under the head of " Pheasant Diseases." 



Then there is a form of tubercular disease quite akin to 

 phthisis in the human subject. It is a slow and wasting 

 disease amongst grouse as amongst men, but occasionally 

 exhibits a rapid course in otherwise weakly birds. Finally, 

 there is what constitutes probably the grouse disease, an 

 enteric-pneumonitic malady, which usually proves fatal 

 within twelve hours. It is probable that neither of these 

 two diseases is actually infectious, or more contagious 

 than typhoid in human beings, because when grouse pack 

 in winter-time they are, to all intents and purposes, free 

 from it. During the time when the roughest and wettest 

 weather prevails, the birds are freer from disease than at 

 any other j but as soon as the mild and dry weather of the 

 spring-time comes the trouble shows itself. 



This is practically all that is positively known concern- 

 ing ' ' grouse disease. ' ' A great deal has been done, and is 

 being done, to acquire positive and connected knowledge 

 upon the subject. The commission which has been investi- 

 gating the disease may be expected to do a great deal in 

 furthering the knowledge which Dr. Klein's pathological 



