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. 127. Of fretting the belly with the fore-girths.

IF when you saddle and girde your horse, the girths bee either knotty, or crumpled, and therewithall drawne too straite, they will not onely gall and wound the horse vnder the belly very much, but they will also stoppe the blood, which is in the principall veines▪ called the plat veines, in such sorte that they will occasion most extreme and hard swellings. The cure whereof is, according to the generall opinion, to take of oyle de bay, and oyle of balme, two ounces, of pitch two ounces, of tarre two ounces, and one ounce of rosen; mingle them well together and

then annoynt the horses fore bowels therewith; then take either floxe, or chopt flaxe, and clappe vpon it, and so let it abide vntill it fall away of it selfe; and it will surely cure him. Other Farriers vse to take vine∣gar, and sope, and heate them well together: and stir it with a sticke or cloth, and then all to rubbe and wash the galled place therewith, and doe thus at least twice a day, and it will dry it vp in two or three daies at the most; but if the galling be about any parte of the horses necke, then you shall take the leaues of Briony (called the hedge vine) and stampe them, and mixe them with wine, and then plaister-wise lay it to the soare, and it will heale it.