310 BURSATTEE. 



external wounds, in the subcutaneous tissue, or in internal 

 organs — in two of these situations, or in the whole simul- 

 taneously ; while kunkurs are frequently met with in internal 

 organs of animals which have given no indications of their 

 possession during life. The disease-products are chiefly found 

 in connection with the fibrous structures. The proportion of 

 these varies from a millet-seed to that of a filbert or bean. 

 In the earlier appreciable stage they are recognised as soft 

 tumours, and if examined histologically are found to be 

 made up of two kinds of cells — the one apparently having a 

 tendency to elongate and acquire the characters of stabilit}' ; 

 the other exhibits signs of vitality and reproductive power, 

 having abundant nuclei and nucleoli. In a stage farther ad- 

 vanced palpation detects greater firmness ; the section is of a 

 yellowish-white colour, and the microscope reveals varying 

 degrees of fibrillation of the stable cells ; and between these the 

 more vital cells are arranged in a variety of forms — according to 

 some observers in groups, as veritable nidi ; according to others, 

 they are evenly dispersed among the fibres, and are of a brown 

 colour. This is the condition generally spoken of as ' soft 

 kunkur.' In the last stage which we shall describe, and it will of 

 course be understood that no stage is clearly defined, the impres- 

 sion conveyed to the touch is one of extreme hardness. Section 

 now is not so easily performed ; and often we shall find, Avhen 

 attempting this, that cavities are apparent on its surface — these 

 are really those parts of the tumour which have not under- 

 gone the calcareous metamorphosis, for such is that involved 

 in production of the true kunkur, if we may depend on some 

 analyses which have been made, showing them to contain 10 

 per cent, of inorganic matter, principally the phosphates and 

 carbonate of lime, the cavity being that part of the growth 

 vacated by the kunkur on the act of section. ' Kunkur' is the 

 name applied by the natives to a stone used for economic 

 purposes in India. 



In the earlier stages there would seem to be no line of de- 

 marcation between the disease-product and the structure on 

 which it is found ; but that in the internal organs acquires, as 

 it were, a fibrous capsule. Microscopic examination of kunkur 

 has yielded to different observers widely different results, some 

 finding everything characteristic of cancer, others of crypto- 



