Ursicinus was a Roman general who served the empire in the mid-fourth century. In 351-352 CE, Gallus sent him to Palestine to subdue Jewish violence there. The severity of this outbreak is unclear. This text discusses a case that arose after a Torah scroll was damaged by this general. The sages prohibit reading this book in a liturgical setting. However, the Talmud notes that halakhah actually permit its usage but the sages forbade it because the condition of this scroll caused ongoing sadness to the community; therefore, they deemed it preferable for a replacement scroll to be acquired. See the discussion of this text in the commentary on Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 3:3, 21b (= Shevi’it 4:2, 35a).