Markhams maister-peece, or, What doth a horse-man lacke containing all possible knowledge whatsoeuer which doth belong to any smith, farrier or horse-leech, touching the curing of all maner of diseases or sorrances in horses : drawne with great paine and most approued experience from the publique practise of all the forraine horse-marshals of Christendome and from the priuate practise of all the best farriers of this kingdome : being deuided into two bookes, the first containing all cures physicall, the second whatsoeuer belongeth to chirurgerie, with an addition of 130 most principall chapters and 340 most excellent medicines, receits and secrets worthy euery mans knowledge, neuer written of nor mentioned in any author before whatsoeuer : together with the true nature, vse, and qualitie of euerie simple spoken of through the whole worke : reade me, practise me, and admire me / written by Geruase Markham gentleman.

CHAP. 37. Of the generall Crampe, or conuulsion of sinewes.

THese generall crampes or conuulsions of sinewes are most forcible contractions or drawings toge∣ther of the sinewes and muscles; and they happen sometimes generally into many parts of the body, somtimes particularly, as but into one member and no more: when they are generally diperst in horses, they proceede commonly from some wound, where∣in a sinew is halfe cut and no more; and so there run∣neth a generall contraction ouer the whole body by degrees. When they are particular, as but in one member, then they proceede either from cold win∣dy

causes, or from the want of bloud. For the gene∣rall contraction which cometh by a wound, you shall reade the cure thereof in the booke of Surgery follo∣wing, where, the sinew being cut in two peeces, the contraction ceasseth. For the particular, where but one member is grieeued, you shall know it by these signes: the member will be starke and stiffe, inso∣much that neither the beast nor any man will be able to bow it: the sinewes will be hard like stickes, and the horse being downe, is not able to rise during the time of the contraction; he will also halt extreme∣ly whilst the fit is vpon him, and presently go well a∣gaine, as it were in one moment. The cure is, to chafe the member exceedingly, either with linseede oyle, sheeps foot oyle, or neats foot oyle; & during the time of his chafing, to hold vp the cōtrary foot that he may stand vpon the limbe which is most pained. There is also another crampe or conuulsion of sinewes, which doth extend into the necke, and reines of the horses backe, & so almost vniuersally ouer the horses whole body: it proceedeth euer either from some extreme cold, as by turning a horse suddainly out of a warme stable and warme clothes into the piercing rage of the cold winter; or by the losse of much bloud, where∣by great windinesse entreth into the veines, and so be∣numbeth the sinewes: or else by too much phisicking & drenching of a horse, whereby the naturall heate is much weakned or dried. The signs of this conuulsion is, his head and neck wil stand awry, his eares vpright, & his eyes hollow, his mouth will be clung vp that he cannot eate, and his backe will rise vp in the middest like the backe of a Cammell. The cure hereof is, with great store of warme wollen clothes, as blanckets,

and couerlids, some foulded double about his body, and some girded all ouer from his head to his taile, to force him into a sweate; but if the clothes will not force him to sweate; then you shall either fould all his body ouer with hot wet horse litter, or else bury him all saue the head in a dunghill or mixion; then when he hath sweat an howre or two, and is moderatly coo∣led, you shall annoynt him all ouer with this oynt∣ment (holding hot barres of yron ouer him, to make the oyntment sinke into his body:) Take of hogges grease one pound, of terpentine a quarter of a pound, of pepper beaten into powder halfe a dramme, of new waxe halfe a pound, of old oyle oliue one pound, boyle all these together, and vse it, being made warm. There be other Farriers which vse this oyntment: take of new waxe 1. pound, of terpentine 4. ounces, of oyle de bay as much, Opoponax two ounces, of Deeres suet, and of oyle of Storax, of each three ounces, melt all these together and vse it warme. There be others which vse after his sweate, nothing but oyle of Cy∣presse, and oyle de bay mixt together, and with it an∣noynt his body ouer. After this vnction thus applied, you shall take twenty graines of long pepper beaten into fine powder, of Ceder two ounces, of Nitre one ounce, of Lacerpitium as much as a beane, and mingle all these together with a gallond of white wine, and giue him a quart therof to drinke, euery morning for foure dayes▪ Now for his dyet and order, let his food be warme mashes and the finest hay, his stable exceeding warme, and his exercise gentle walking a∣broad in his cloathes, once euery day about high noone.