CHARACTERIZATION 219 



grows in size till in a few weeks there is a raw surface from 4 

 inches to a foot square. This oozes blood and serum, but no 

 pus. An examination will show usually a mass of yellow, gritty 

 growth, coral like in shape, embedded in a mass of bruised, 

 bloody tissue, dark in color and the edges roughened, elevated 

 above the skin, and the .skin decaying at the outside of the ulcer. 

 The leech invades most any tissue, but seems most common 

 on the legs, abdomen, and sides. Occasionally it is found in 

 the head. The invaded tissues decay slowly and apparently 

 without pain. I have seen hoofs cut off, the abdomen opened, 

 the eyes eaten out and the teeth destroyed." 



In this country the disease has not attracted very much 

 attention, nor has it been considered of much economic 

 importance. An explanation for this may be offered on account 

 of its seemingly noncontagious character and that it has been 

 thought to be confined to comparatively limited areas, and that 

 the animals, although infected, may yet be utilized for some 

 purposes. On account of the chronic course of the disease 

 the affected animals from a sentiment of mercy are often killed 

 before the disease can terminate fatally. 



Although this affection presents many points of similarity 

 to the one found in India, the question of their complete 

 identity ought to be held in abeyance until a more thorough 

 investigation can be made. 



In a recent publication, Dawson, of the Florida Experi- 

 ment Station, states "that 'leeches' or bursattee is a common 

 disease in Florida, which manife.sts itself in the formation of 

 tumor-growths which have some of the characters of actinomy- 

 cotic tumors. Its structure is fibrous, and contains many sin- 

 uses, which discharge a bloody, honey-like fluid. It is a 

 fatal, infectious disease, which has its origin in the skin and 

 finally penetrates all the tissues. Here and there in the 

 tumor tissue yellow bodies with root like projections may be 

 found. These bodies are called ' leeches ' by the natives. 

 They consi.st of the mycelia of the fungus which causes the 

 disease. The only remedy is the complete removal of the 

 tumor and adjacent tissue at once. The application of caus- 

 tics and disinfectants make matters infinitely worse, as they 



