2,22 LEECHES 



bruised-like surface. This rapidly grows in size till in a few 

 weeks there is a raw surface from four inches to a foot square. 

 This oozes blood and serum and no pus. An examination 

 will usually show a mass of yellow, gritty growth, coral-like 

 in shape, embedded in a mass of bruised, bloody tissue, dark 

 in color with the edges roughened, elevated above the skin, and 

 the skin decaying at the outside of the ulcer. The leech 

 invades almost 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 import- 

 ance. An explanation for this may be offered on account of 

 its seemingly non-contagious character and because it has been 

 thought to be confined to comparatively limited areas, and 

 because the animals, although infected, may be utilized for 

 some purposes. On account of the chronic course of the dis- 

 ease the affected animals are often killed from a sentiment of 

 mercy 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 iden- 

 tity ought to be held in abeyance until a more thorough inves- 

 tigation 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 manifests itself in the formation of 

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

 cotic tumors. Its structure is fibrous, and contains many 

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

 fatal, infectious di.sease, 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 consist 

 of the mycelia of the fungus which causes the disease. The 

 only remedy is the complete removal of the tumor and adja- 



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