Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-10-22

worm. Trichnostrongylus sracIIis. Is
regarded by DR.. A. +. Shipley. +. II.
s.. who is the chief authority In the
present band of investigators. as the
real offender. and he has made valu-
able contributions to the knowledge
Of Its life history. Although great
caution is displayed by DIR. Shipley in
giving any statement as final, 1t seems
fairly well established that. owing TO
some earlier cause which reduces the
birds vitality and powers of resist
ance. these parasites are able to de-
velop to such an abnormal extent
that the bird succunibs to their at
tacks. In some instances the grouse
appear to recover. but as Mr.. +. A.
Wilson. the field naturalist. to the
early symptoms of grouse disease
might be confoundcd with those OF
moulting.
This brings us to the predisposing
causes which make grouse unable
to resist the chronic wasting form Of
illness. Is It possible that Prof Klein
was right and that form of pnc,-
monia exists among the birds. which,
even II II does not carry them on. pre-.
disposes them to injury from the
wasting form Of the disease? II can.
not be said that In the interim reports
Of the committee of inquiry any great
leaning to this view Is to be discov.
cred. During 1905. 1906 and 1907 the
very large number OF field observers.
amounting to several hundreds. asso
ciAted with the committee did not dc.
tect one instance Of the acute pncu
monic form OF the disease. and Mr.
Wilson has observed that some OF tho
symptoms relied on by Prof. Klein In
his published monograph are not con,
elusive evidence OF It's existence. II
seems. therefore, that the committee
are rather reluctant on the one hand
to admit Klein's grousc.pneumonia.
and yet are at n loss to explain why
otherwise II Is that the birds become
susceptible to the wasting sickness.
Within the last few days the Too
logical society of London has issued
a series Of papers by DIR. A. T.. Ship
ley on the parasitic organisms OF
which the grouse is host In these
papers the value to be attached to DIR
Cobbold's early observations is fully
apparent. The larvae of the thread
worms which prey upon the rcd
grouse exist In abundance in every
square foot OF heather. and no doubt
is felt that under certain condition.
at present undetermined-the lar.
vac reach the two important organ.
of the bird. the lungs and the liver
Referring to the extreme difficulty, In
consequence Of their microscopic di
mcnsions. of finding the ova upon the
heather. either on the stalks or In tn.
buds Thought they exist In countless
thousands). DIR. Shipley mentions a
new and peculiarly successful method
o: examination. which he hit upon In
the autumn of last year. whilst visit
ing at Beaufort castle. A handful of
heather placed In n bottle is soaked
in a little water for some hours: ulti.
mately the sediment after suitable
treatment is examined microscopical.
ly for larvae. and that with unvarying
wealth OF material. II is stated tha;
the exact relations of the grouse-fy
iOrnithomyia Iagopodis) to the grouse
is not known. II is. however. believed
to suck its blood. and 1t will certainly
bite human. beings. The fly is proyid-
ed with a pair OF great hooks on it's
feet. and altogether this insect has a
decidedly sinister aspect. It occurs
freely in larders where freshly killed
grouse have been placed.