BURSATEE. 145 



Bursatee 



appears in the form of unhealthy sores which break out on the 

 surface of various parts of the body. It is, as far as I know, peculiar 

 to India, although somewhat similar sores are found in horses of 

 other countries. Its name (bursat signifies rain in Persia) implies 

 that it has a connection with the rainy season. 



REASONS FOR CLASSING BURSATEE AS A PARASITIC 

 DISEASE. — x4.1though no specific disease germ has up to the present 

 been found in bursatee sores ; I have classed it as a parasitic 

 disease for the following reasons: — 



1. Influence of altitude on its occurrence. It is practically re- 

 stricted to " the plains " in India. Although it may be found in a 

 few rare instances at hill stations ; such cases are simply exceptions 

 to the general rule that it does not originate, nor does it continue 

 its course in horses which are kept at elevations of about 5,000 

 feet or upwards above the level of the sea. It is most frequently 

 met with in low lying districts. 



2. Influence of the water sujoj^ly, cind sanitation. The purer the 

 water supply, the fewer are the cases of bursatee ; and vice versa. 

 Surgeon-Colonel Branfoot, who has had an extensive experience of 

 horses in India, told me that, formerly, bursatee was very common 

 in Madras, at which time, the water for stable use being procured 

 from local sources, was much contaminated by low forms of life; 

 but that the disease has almost entirely disappeared from that city, 

 since the introduction of a pure water supply from neighbouring 

 hills. I can vouch for the same fact, as regards Calcutta and other 

 places in India. Although bursatee was very prevalent in Indian 

 stables, say, thirty years ago, it is now comparatively rare ; owing, 

 apparently, to improved sanitary arrangements, of which the supply 

 of purer water has uiudoubtedly been the most important factor in 

 the prevention of this disease. It is practically unknown among 

 horses whose stable management, feeding and w^atering are pro- 

 perly attended to. 



3. Efficacy of antisejJtic measures in ijrevention and treatment. 

 Antiseptic treatment (which has a destructive influence on para- 

 sites) of wounds appear to confer immunity from bursatee on them. 

 " In some of the late Bengal studs, every wound, even the smallest 

 scratch, was smeared daily with a thick mixture of sulphur and oil, 

 upon which no flies will settle. I have carried out this practice for 

 many years, and have never known a wound so treated to assume a 

 bursatic character" [MeyricJc). If a bursatee sore is destroyed by 

 the hot iron, or by caustics^ and then protected from the action of 



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