BURSATIE. 
101 
discharged from diseased bone. The deeply-pitted cicatrices 
are pathognomonic characters of “ lupus.” I deny that this 
character exists in bursatie, for the latter cicatrices neither 
present loss nor increase of substances. 
The bursatic ulcer cicatrix is composed of a thin pellicle of 
delicate tissue, at first of a pinky-white colour, which is con¬ 
tinually desquamating scales of its own tissue; the cicatrix, 
after a variable period, becomes black ; the circumferent mar¬ 
gin is the first part to change colour, and this gradually goes 
on till the whole of the scar becomes black; this change of 
colour is more quickly effected on the cicatrices of the body 
than on the legs; the scars on the legs are somewhat thicker 
than those seen on the body, and those near the coronets are 
continually desquamating semi-hornv flakes, which are por¬ 
tions of the cicatrix. An old bursatic cicatrix is of a jet- 
black, shining colour, and is like the scar of a burnt wound. 
Mr. E. Wilson, in speaking of the annular disposition of 
(i lupus,” says there is often seen an island of unaffected skin 
in the centre—this is “ lupus” and not bursatie—and, further, 
that the tubercles are remarkable for their deficiency of sen¬ 
sibility ; you only need try once to see that bursatie tubercles 
are both highly sensible and very vascular. 
Bursatic ulceration is not a destructive act; the ulcerative 
process may remove the skin covering the tumour until it 
reaches the circumferent margin, and then its onward pro¬ 
gress becomes immediately arrested. The tendency of a 
bursatic ulcer is to heal, and not to extend; lupus, on the 
other hand, from its frightful nature, is closely allied to 
scrofulous caries of bone. The periodical character of bursatie 
is essentially peculiar to itself. 
The eye symptom of bursatie is opposed to any feature 
shown in “ lupus.” One of my infirmary cases of late is an 
aged bursatied country-bred mare; her body, face, and legs 
display innumerable bursatic cicatrices, the ulcers of which 
have been treated by me at one time or another, she having 
been under my observation for upwards of three years; at 
the present time she is free from ulceration. Wbat is the 
result? Why, she is nearly blind of both eyes, and will 
remain so until ulceration starts afresh. She is the picture 
of morbosity and quite infirm, but not from old age. 
In lupus I would ask. Where is a form like the circular 
papillated bursatic ulcer, or, indeed, the medium or phage- 
dsenic variety ? The greatest and only resemblance bursatie 
holds to lupus is the attempt at repair which is seen in one 
of the courses pursued by the medium ulcer; they are both 
tubercular diseases, but each in detail displays features pecu- 
