133 



under this popular name "leeches." Hutyra and Marek (1913) 

 classify the condition as a malignant hyphomycosis, although 

 the evidence upon which the classification rests seems to be of 

 rather an insecure nature. No conclusive evidence has been 

 produced demonstrating the condition to be a mycosis. 



Fish (1897) came to the conclusion that the condition was 

 due to a fungus. His report deals with a histological investiga- 

 tion of two cases, and a historical account of a supposed 

 similar disease (Bursattee) occurring in India. 



He describes a granuloma containing characteristic hard 

 caseous areas with an irregular or bosselated surface. He 

 describes the nodules or caseous areas as being generally 

 irregularly cone-shaped and variable in size, revealing on 

 section a very dense structure the framework of which forms 

 a close reticulum. Within the meshes of the reticulum are 

 what appear to be leucocytes in various stages of disintegration, 

 and free nuclei. He says that it would appear, therefore, as 

 if the framework of the nodule were composed of a mycelial 

 net, which in the course of development has become more or 

 less calcined. He describes and figures the mycelium. The 

 tissue surrounding the nodule shows the presence of numerous 

 leucocytes. These he speaks of as being "spore-laden," but his 

 figures are more helpful than his interpretations, and leave 

 no doubt that he is describing nothing but an eosinophile 

 leucocyte. He also mentions the finding of giant cells in many 

 of the sections. 



The interpretations of Fish cannot be accepted without 

 considerable reservation. From his figures one has no difficulty 

 in recognizing his "spore-laden leucocyte" as an eosinophile 

 leucocyte, and likewise his "mycelial threads" appear to be 

 nothing but strands of fibrous tissue in varying stages of 

 degeneration. 



The granuloma Fish describes is similar in all essential 

 characteristics to "swamp cancer" and the more chronic 

 granuloma observed in Southern Australia. 



Lewis has already agreed that "leeches" and "swamp 

 cancer" are probably the same disease. 



It seems reasonable to conclude, therefore, that under the 

 term "leeches" is described a granuloma closely resembling 

 "swamp cancer" in its macroscopic and microscopic appear- 

 ances, and that it is probably a habronemic granuloma. 



il Bursattee" . — "Bursattee," or "Bursati," is the name 

 applied to a granulomatous condition affecting horses in India. 

 This condition is classified by Hutyra and Marek as a 

 hyphomycosis and described along with "leeches." 



• The morbid symptoms are said to consist in the appearance 

 of very firm nodules under the skin of the lips, the nasal alae, 



