17 
BURSATIE. 
By R. Spooner Hart, V.S., Calcutta. 
Bursatie is very peculiar in the fact of its periodicity 
and the development of the circular papillated ulcers; but so 
long as the disease continues to occur periodically, and to be 
characterised only by the formation of the circular papillated 
ulcers, the subjects are enabled to maintain their condition. 
As the disease advances, however, it increases in virulence, 
and the papillated ulcers are followed by the “medium,” which 
occur on the body and face. It is at this period also, when a 
visible defect in the health first appears, and phagedaenic 
or sloughing ulcers ensuing on the medium, soon reduce old 
bursatied subjects to mere cases of bones, as in them the 
ulcers are continually occurring, independently of season or 
circumstance. I repeat that the first onset of the malady is 
about the months of May and June. Should a simple sore 
or gall be in existence at the time mentioned, and particularly 
if neglected, it will be very liable to assume malignant or 
bursatie action. I described in the last communication the 
appearance of a sore having taken place on this action. 
After assuming the bursatie character it may be treated and 
healed, showing more or less obstinacy in closing. After 
this you will see no more of the disease until about the same 
period of the next year, and then you must not be surprised 
if the spot which had originally been the seat of the bursatie 
ulcer reopens, or, if any sore be present, for it to take on the 
same action. As to the length of time the disease may con¬ 
tinue to recur only periodically, I cannot speak positively, 
for that will depend upon certain external conditions, and 
predisposition on the part of the subject. In the first 
year of the malady there may be but one attack; in the 
second year the disease may recur once, twice, or three times 
during the rains, and so on, until at last the periodical 
feature of the malady is effaced by a continual existence of 
the ulceration. I have said that the disease first shows 
itself in the shape of circular papillated ulcers, which 
occur on the legs, and afterwards on the body and face. 
Now, although I have observed this in many subjects, I 
would intimate that there are exceptions. In some subjects 
the disease will appear from the first in the form of the 
XLVI. 2 
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