BURSATTEE. 303' 



present chapter to this work, we cannot lay claim to that prac- 

 tical acquaintance with the disease which is essential to treat- 

 ing of it in such positive terms or Avith that authority of 

 assertion Ave could have desired ; but the ever-increasinsf 

 demand for the profession in our Eastern possession is so 

 imminent as to induce us to lay before our readers so much 

 matter relating to the subject as has been afforded us by 

 careful attention to published facts, as well as from informa- 

 tion contributed to us personally by observers who have had 

 many opportunities of meeting the affection face to face. This 

 Ave do in hope that at least Ave may provide those Avho intend 

 practising their profession in India Avith some idea of a condi- 

 tion they may expect to meet Avith very commonly, and also 

 that united observation may before long solve many of those 

 difficulties Avhich noAv prevent the explanation of the phe- 

 nomena on Avhich the production of and alterations in the 

 disease may depend. 



The true nature of bursattee cannot yet be said to have 

 been indisputably established, and Ave shall hail Avith pleasure 

 every opportunity of increasing our knowledge on the sub- 

 ject ; and Ave feel assured that the scientific energy of many of 

 the members of the Army Veterinary Medical Department, 

 Avhich is frequently coming under the notice of the pro- 

 fession, Avill embrace every opportunity of elucidating the 

 pathology of the matter under discussion. 



Tlie condition may, however, be defined to he a disease yield- 

 ing to 2irevious experiment no jiroof of contagiousness or 

 inoculahility, characterized by the presence of certain struc- 

 tural changes in connection tvith external and visible luounds, 

 the subcutaneous tissue, in internal organs, or in each in 

 the same subject. These changes in structure are of sloiv 

 production. They have a tendency to recurrence at certain 

 seasons, and to the formation of a product called, in its later 

 stages, Kunhur; such sometimes by their extent causing the 

 animal and owner so much inconvenience that slaughter of 

 the sufferer is deemed expedient, otherwise the disease cannot 

 be considered of a fatal nature. 



Bursattee derives its name from the fact that those at Avhose 

 disposal Avas the nomenclature of Indian diseases had con- 

 nected its appearance with the season of rains — Bursat, rain. 



