LEECHES 295 
tively rare. Thin-skinned animals are more susceptible than thick- 
skinned ones. Neal states that Cuban and Texan ponies are as a 
rule exempt. Anderson found that it is the coarsely bred and hard- 
worked horses that are the most susceptible. The well-bred ones, 
having the advantage of good hygienic surroundings, rarely contract 
it. 
Geographical distribution. Bursattee has been reported from 
Burmah and Hindoostan. It is thought that the prevalence of the 
disease is associated with the principal river systems of India. In the 
hilly, rocky, and consequently drier districts there is a very noticeable 
diminution or absence of it. 
Outside of India there seem to have been no cases of this malady 
reported except in the United States, unless upon further investiga- 
tion certain mycotic diseases which have been described in Europe 
should prove to be identical with it. 
Lyford reported it in Minnesota, Anderson in Kansas and Alabama, 
and Neal and Bitting in Florida. The latter writer states, that it is 
“now known all over the United States except in that region lying 
east of the Alleghany mountains and north of the Potomac river.” 
A few cases of summer sore have been presented for treatment in 
the clinic of the New York State Veterinary College. It is not 
definitely determined whether or not this is identical in its etiology 
with the “Summer Sores” found in various parts of the country. 
Etiology. A summary of the literature shows that among the old 
theories “‘leeches’’ was believed to be a blood disease in many ways 
not unlike syphilis, scrofula and farcy. The “fly theory”’ of the causa- 
tion and dissemination of bursattee was entertained by the natives 
of India as early as 1820. Jackson, in 1842, seems to have been the 
first to believe that there was any connection between the disease 
and a fungus. 
He suggested, in 1842, that the disease might be caused by a 
fungus or a vegetable parasite. Collins, in 1874, expressed a similar 
belief. F. Smith, in 1879 and 1884, seems to have been the first 
to have worked along this line. He was able to find fungi in every 
fresh specimen of the sores that he examined. Steel, in 1881, also 
found fungal elements in these sores. T. Smith, in 1893, examined 
some alcoholic material and gave expression to the belief that the 
disease was caused by a fungus. Fish, in 1896, found a fungus 
embedded in the lesions. He did not name it neither did he obtain 
