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.

THE FIRST BOOKE containing all cures Physicall, or such infirmities as being inward, craue the administration of Physicke, and are called in Horse-leach-craft, Horses arrow_forward sicknesses. (Book 1)

CHAP. 1. Of the naturall composition of arrow_back horses arrow_forward bodies.

MAny, yea euen of those which are nearest to my studies, will not onely wonder, but in part condemne me for this worke when they shall but reade the title, without any excuse ima∣gining, that I hauing in my last booke done my vttermost en∣deuour, and spent my best skil in this subiect, that sure∣ly this reiteration, can be nothing but either meere Tautologie, or some surfaite of ostentation. But how much I hate the one & condemne the other, both my selfe and those with whom I hold any comercement, can iustly and truly witnesse: ••or beleeue it, I neuer stood affected either to Absalons pillars or to the mu∣sique of mine owne words. Truth it is, that at the publishing of my last booke, I intended to haue inser∣ted

this in the same forme and methode as now it is, but the ouer hastie greedinesse of a selfe-hurting Sta∣tioner, and the confusion of many Printers (one poore booke being mangled into diuers hands) did both so confound, and defeate all my better purposes, that I was compeld to giue way to their wils, and to suffer it to come forth with that mishapen and di∣stract face which now it beareth; euery page being loaded with the Printers faults, and no way to saue their reputation, but by most wilful neglecting to fixe to any Errata. Well, for euery part of that booke (ex∣cepting that of cures) the Printers faults excussed, I dare boldly defend it against either enuy, censure, or any preiudication; and though it be not the perfe∣ction or most perfect (for those fruites grow not on my tree,) yet it is such, and so sound as shall giue a ful satisfaction to euery indifferent and vpright iudge∣ment. As for that part, (the booke of cures I meane) which my selfe must needes confesse, giueth not that ample satisfaction which I intended, I haue in a∣mends thereof compiled this volume with such ear∣nest care, practise and diligence, that I dare engage euen my best fortunes, that simplicity and ignorance it selfe (I meane such as neuer intermedled with this art in the whole circuit of their liues) shall not onely with good iudgement performe as great and as in∣uincible cures as the best Smith-farriers of this king∣dome, but also shall giue such substantiall reasons and vncontrollable accounts for whatsoeuer they do, (which yet neuer Smith that I knew was able to do) that not the best artist shall be able with vndoubted truth to refute them. And with this protestation and full assurance to euery well practizing reader of this

worke, I will proceede to my purpose, according to euery branch and head in the title.

It is most necessary then for euery man who shall endeuour himselfe to haue knowledge in this art, first to learne whereof and how a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body is compounded, that according to the naturall compo∣sition thereof, and the vnnaturall workings in those compositions, he may compound his medicines, and make them agreeable with the effects of his infirmi∣ties; and not as our farriers do, many times vse one medicine for all inward diseases, and one salue for all sores.

Touching therefore the true composition of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, you shall vnderstand that it is as the bo∣dy of a man is, compounded of thirteene seuerall things, that is to say, seuen naturall and sixe not natu∣rall; the seuen naturall are, Elements, Temperaments, Humours, Members, Powers or Vertues, Actions or Ope∣rations, and Spirits; all which be called naturall, because the naturall profession and excellency of euery sensi∣ble body, doth wholly depend vpon them, and hath his mouing no longer then they haue power of wor∣king. The sixe which are not naturall, be the Aire, Meate and Drinke, Motion and Rest, Sleepe and VVatch, Emptinesse and Fulnes, and the Affects or motions of the minde; and these are called not naturall, because as (being rightly and in due order applyed) they pre∣serue, sustaine, and fortifie the body; so being misgo∣uerned, or vsed in any excesse or disorder, they are the onely corrupt destroyers of the whole body: and of these thirteene simples which compound the fabricke or whole frame of the body, I intend to speake seuerally.

CHAP. 2. Of the foure Elements, their vertues and operations.

FIrst, for the exposition of this word Element, you shall vnderstand that it is the primere or first be∣ginning of things, being of it selfe pure, vncorrupt and simple; all things being first made thereof, and all things at the last being resolued into the same againe. It is also in it owne nature so bright, cleare, and with∣out contraction or impurity, that it is not to be discer∣ned by any sensible eye whatsoeuer. Lastly, it is the least part or Atomie of that thing which is made, or proceedeth from it.

Now of these elements which are the vsuall first mouers or beginners of all mouing things, there are onely foure in number, that is to say: Fire, Aire, Water and Earth; meaning not that fire, aire, water and earth, which is visible here with vs beneath, and which through the grossenes thereof, is both palpable and to be discerned; but those which are mounted aloft, and through their purity inuisible, and concealed from vs, (for the other are compounded bodies and not simple) And of these perfect and distinct elements you shall know, that the fire is the highest, as being fixed or ioyned next vnto the Moone, being hot and drye, yet naturally exceeding or being most predo∣minant or ruling in heate.

The aire is placed next vnto the fire, and is natu∣rally light and hot, yet his predominant or chiefe quality is moist.

The water is adioyned vnto the ayre, the dispo∣sition thereof, being heauy and moist, but his predo∣minant

or chiefe quality onely cold.

Lastly, the earth adioyned to the water, is the low∣est, and it is most heauy and cold; but the predomi∣nant or chiefe quality thereof is onely drinesse.

Now for the vertues, properties, and operations of these foure elements, you shall vnderstand, that first the fire by meanes of his heate, moueth matter to ge∣neration, and stirreth vp warmth in all liuing things; it is that which the Philosophers call Heterogenia, which is in mixt bodies to separate things of diuers kindes, one from another, and also to ioyne things of like kindes together, which they likewise call Homogenia. For by vertue of the fire, the bones of arrow_back horses arrow_forward are sepa∣rated from the flesh, the flesh from the sinewes, the si∣newes from the veines, the veines from the arteries, the heart from the liuer, the liuer from the spleene, and so forth, in such sort as we see the diuers parts of the fuell we burne, by the vertue of the fire and heate to be separated and deuided one from another, as the vapour from the smoake, the smoake from the flame, and the flame from the ashes. And as in these things, so in many other things, as in the tryall of mettals and such like, where the fire by vertue of his heate, sepa∣rateth body from body, that is, mettall from mettall, and corruption from incorruption, gathering and knitting together euery thing of one and the selfe same kinde. Besides, the vertue of the fire is to ripen, order and digest things raw and vndigested, mingling the dry with the moist, and opening the powers that the aire being somewhat more solide and grosse, may enter into the body; and lastly, it breatheth and mode∣rateth the coldnesse of the water and the earth, so that it may not distemper or confound the body.

Touching the vertue and operation of the aire, you shall vnderstand that by the moistnesse thereof it ma∣keth the matter apt to receiue shape either naturall or accidentall, and by the helpe and assistance of the fire, bringeth the powers and influences of the hea∣uens and starres into the inferour bodies, making the mixt bodies, not onely subtile and penetrable, but al∣so light and mounting, to the end they may neither be too grosse nor too heauy. Secondly, the ayre through his moistnesse cooleth the burning heate of the heart, liuer and intrails, as we dayly see by the of∣fice of the lights and lungs, which like a paire of bel∣lowes draweth vncessantly fresh ayre vnto the heart and inward members. And albeit the ayre doth not seeme to the sence of our outward eyes, to bee any thing neare so moist as the water, yet according to the opinions both of our bookes and best Physitions, it it is by much the moister; which is well proued, say they, by the abundant fluxe it containeth, which fluxe spreadeth it selfe so farre abroad in the body, that it fil∣leth euery empty part and corner thereof with the speciall properties and characters of moistnesse; and by that reason is much harder to be kept within his owne bounds then the water is. Lastly, as the water was altered by God from his first naturall place, for the better profite both of man and beast, euen so the ayre, according to Schoole-mens opinions was not left altogether in his first naturall disposition, lest be∣ing ouermoist it should so confound and suffocate all sence, that neither man nor beast should be able to breathe or liue.

Now for the vertue and operation of the water, it is to be noted that through the coldnesse thereof, it

conglutinateth and bindeth in mixt bodies, both parts & members together, which be of diuers kinds, as bones with flesh and sinewes, flesh with sinewes & bones, and sinewes with bones and flesh. Euen as for a familiar example, we see in the time of any great frost, the strength of the cold how it bindeth things of diuers kinds together, bringing into one masse or sub∣stance both water, dirt, stones, strawes, stickes and leaues: the water also with its coldnesse, doth temper and coole the inflammation and heate of the fire, gathering together those thinges which otherwise the violent heate would disperse and scatter abroad.

Lastly, for the vertue and operation of the earth, it is through his drinesse in mixt bodies, so to harden and fixe them together, that they may retaine their shapes, which otherwise by the power of the ayre and water, would be so soluble and loose, that they could not hold together; as we may see in paste, waxe, and such like, which whilest it is moist will receiue no print, but being once hardened it retaineth any forme that is prest into it. And here to be noted, that according to the opinion of Hippocrates, when any sensible body dyeth, not onely euery quality but e∣uery substance and part makes his returne to the ele∣ment from whence it came; as heate to the fire, moist∣nesse to the ayre, coldnesse to the water, & drinesse to the earth. And thus briefly you see, that of these foure common elements or common beginners of things, the fire being hot separateth, the aire being moist shapeth, the water being cold bindeth, and the earth being dry hardeneth and retaineth. The vse that you are to make of this knowledge, ouer and beside the composition of a naturall body, is, that when you

find any sicknesse or infirmity which proceedeth from the fire, as inflammations of the body, or such like; that then you apply simples of the nature of the aire or water, which may moisten and coole the violence of that heate. If the infirmity proceede from the aire, as fluxe of blood, or too much moisture; then you shall apply simples of the nature of the fire or earth, whose heate and drinesse may disperse and harden such moisture. If the disease spring from the water, as colds, rheumes, apoplexies and such like, then you shall seeke simples of the nature of the fire and aire; that through the heate of the one, and the moist light∣nesse of the other, all such cold, grosse and solide hu∣mors may be dispersed. But if the disease proceed from the earth, as manginesse, and leprosie, or their like that are dry & hardened infections, then you shal seeke sim∣ples of the nature of the fire onely, whose heate may dissolue & loosen those ill knit, dry, and hard humors. Thus you see too much heate is abated by coldnesse and moistnesse, too much moistnesse by heate and drinesse, too much coldnesse by heate and moistnesse, too much drinesse by heate onely.

Thus much of these foure common elements, which begin all things liuing and vnliuing, sensible and vnsensible; yet of sensible things which liue and haue bloud, there be other more neare elements or beginnings, which are called proper elements or generation, as the ingendring seede, and menstruall bloud, from whence euery beast taketh his first shape and beginning; and yet these proper beginnings haue their whole dependancy and hanging vpon the qualities of the first common beginnings already spoken of, which is moist, dry, hot and cold; for

without them they are nothing, nor can do any thing.

CHAP. 3. Of Temperaments and their seuerall kindes, and how farre euery way, they extend in arrow_back horses arrow_forward .

THese Temperaments or Temperatures, which are the second things in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward composition, do spring from the commixture of the foure elements, and are nine in number, whereof eight are vnequall, and the ninth is equall. Of the eight vnequall, foure are ••im∣ple, and those be hot, cold, moist, and dry, which Physitions call the first qualities; and of these, the first two be actiue, and the other two passiue: the other foure are compound, and they be hot & moist, hot & dry, cold and moist, cold and dry. Now the equall temperament is diuided into two, an vniuersall and a speciall. The equall Temperament vniuersall, is when the foure elements are in an equall proportion, gene∣nerally diuided through the whole body, nature en∣ioyning no more from the one then from the other. The equall Temperament special, is when the elements are proportioned according as euery kind doth most properly require, be it either plant or beast: in plants, when euery plant hath that commixture of elements which are proper to its kinde, the hot plant being hot, the cold being cold, and so forth: whereas contrari∣wise, to haue a hot plant cold, or a cold hot, to haue rue cold, or sorrell hot, were a false and vnequal com∣mixture of elements. So likewise of beasts, that horse, that dogge, that swine is said to haue his due Tempe∣rament, when hee is of such temperature as is most proper vnto his kinde; which onely is best discerned

by his actions or motions. As thus, the horse is known to be hot and m••••st by his l••g••tnesse, swiftnesse, vali∣antnesse and long life; and also to be of a temperate nature, in that he is easily tamed, docible, obedi∣ent and familiar with the man. And so long as either horse or any other thing, continueth in the mediocri∣ty and excellencie of his proper Temperament, so long we may truly iudge him of a good temper & dispositi∣on; but if there be any ouerflow of qualities, or ex∣cesse in his humors, as either in heate, coldnesse, moist∣nesse or drinesse, then we say, he is either a hot chole∣ricke horse, a cold dull horse, a dry mischieuous horse, or a moyst cowardly horse, according to the ouer∣flow of that quality which raigneth in him.

Againe, euery horse is sayd to haue his due Tem∣perament according to his age, and the country where∣in he is bred▪ and sometimes according to the time of the yeare wherein he liueth. And thus a horse in his foal••-age, which is till he be sixe yeares old, is natu∣rally hot and moist. In his middle age, which is till twelue, more hot and dry then moist; and in his old age, which is past eighteene, more cold and dry, then either hot or moist. So likewise the arrow_back horses arrow_forward which are bred in southerne parts, as either in Spaine, Barbary, or Greece are naturally more hot then those which are bred either in the seuenteene lands, Germany, or En∣gland; either is there any horse which is in good state of body, that is so hot in the spring time of the yeare, as in the summer, nor so cold in the summer as in the winter. All which obseruations are with most curi∣ous diligence to be obserued of euery horse-leach, when he goeth about to cure any sicknes: for vnlesse he consider their natures & temperatures, and euery

other circumstance already declared, he shall right soone be deceiued in the administration of his phy∣sicke. Therfore I earnestly aduise euery Farrier, before he giue any drench or potion, first to enquire the kinde, race, and disposition of the horse, next his age, then the country, and lastly the time of the yeare: and so according to the truth thereof, to mixe his re∣ceipts.

It is most expedient also for euery horse-leach to consider the second qualities, which are so called, be∣cause they take their beginnings from the first quali∣ties already declared; of which second qualities some be called palpable, or to be touched, as these, soft∣nesse, hardnesse, smoothnesse, roughnesse, toughnesse, brickelnesse, lightnesse, heauinesse, thinnesse, thick∣nesse, smalnesse, grosnesse, and such other like. Some againe are not palpable, as those which appertaine to hearing seeing and smelling, as noysses, colours, o∣dours and such like; and by obseruing well these se∣cond qualities, he shall with much ease, know whe∣ther the horse be disposed to any sicknes or not, as shall be more largely declared hereafter in euery par∣ticular chapter.

CHAP. 4. Of humours, and to what end they serue.

NOw concerning Humours, which are the third composers of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, and so likewise of e∣uery other beast also; you shall vnderstand that they are foure in number, that is to say, Bloud, Fleame, Cho∣ler and Melancholy. As touching bloud, it is in it owne nature vncorrupted, and therefore hot and moyst,

and sweet in taste, as participating of the elements, Fire and Aire. Fleame is cold and moist, and either sweet or wallowish without any taste at all, as partici∣pating of the elements water and aire. Choler is hot and dry, and bitter in taste, as participating of the ele∣ments fire and earth. Melancholy is cold and dry, and in taste ••ower and heauy, as participating of the ele∣ments water and earth: so that these foure humours by their qualities, are euery way allied vnto the ele∣ments. For to speake briefly, and according to the manner of Physitions, Bloud is of the nature of aire, it being most predominant therein; Fleame of the na∣ture of water, Choler of the nature of fire, and Melan∣choly of the nature of the earth. And albeit these hu∣mours are simbolized or mixt through euery part of the body; yet euery one of them, aboundeth more in one part then in another, and haue their places of re∣sidence absolute and peculiar to themselues, as Bloud about the heart, Fleame in the braine, Choler in the li∣uer, and Melancholy in the spleene. Now as these hu∣mors do more or lesse abound, or haue greater or les∣ser soueraignty in the body of the horse: so is the beast naturally better or worse coloured, qualified or dispo∣sed, as thus. That horse in whom bloud hath the grea∣test predominance, & may be called a horse sanguine, is bright bay of colour, and in disposition pleasant, nimble, and of temperate or moderate motion. That horse in whom fleame hath the greatest dominion, and may be called a flegmatike horse, is for the most part, of a milke white colour, and so consequently slow, dull and heauy. If choler beare the greatest rule in his constitution, then is his colour commonly a bright sorrell, and by that meanes of disposition hot, fiery,

and of little strength. Lastly, if the earth haue got∣ten power aboue the other elements, so that he may be called a melancholy horse, then is his colour com∣monly a mouse dunne, and his disposition cowardly, faint and slothfull. But because these particularities are properly appertaining to the complexions of arrow_back horses arrow_forward , of which we shall haue cause to speake more largely hereafter, I will not stand vpon any greater relation; onely I giue you thus much in conclusion: to vnderstand that euery one of these aforesaid hu∣mours hath his proper vse or end, whereunto it ser∣ueth, as thus. Bloud serueth most properly to nou∣rish the body. Fleame giueth motion to the ioynts. Choler prouoketh the auoydance of excrements, and Melancholy begetteth an appetite or longing to his meate. Now during the time that these humours do possesse their naturall qualities, so long they are wholesome, and bee called by their simple names, without glosse or addition; but if by any mischance they be disordered or corrupted, then they are vn∣wholesome, and are no longer called by their simple names, but haue other epithetons annexed vnto them, as Melancholy Bloud, Salt Fleame, Choler adust or Burnt Choler, and fretting Melancholy, whereof proceedeth many pestilent and dangerous diseases, as shall be at large declared hereafter. And thus much for the state of humours.

CHAP. 5. Of Members and their seuerall kinds.

TOuching Members, which are the fourth maine instruments in this great fabricke of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward bo∣dy,

they are by Schoolemen diuided into two parts. The first is called similaria, which is like, semblable or one and the same thing. The other is called instru∣mentall, and are contrary to the first.

Members alike are those which being separated or di∣st••••buted into parts, yet euery part thereof is alike in substance to the whole, neither altering in definition, appellation or nature; as flesh, bone, sinew, and such like: for flesh being cut or incised into many parts, yet is euery part still flesh, so reputed and so called, as well as when it was in combination altogether, and as of this so likewise may it be said of bones, sinewes, and their like.

Now for members instrumentall, they bee those which being made of parts semblable, and diuided into parts; yet the parts are not alike, neither haue all one name with the whole, as the head, legge, foote, and such like: for euery part of the head is not cal∣led the head, nor euery part of the legge, the legge; but haue other appellations, as the brow, the tem∣ples, the knee, the feetlocke, and so forth. Now these instrumentall members, in doing of their offices and duties are of much more perfection then the sembla∣ble members; wherefore Schoole-men haue made amongst these instrumentall members foure soue∣raignes or princes aboue the rest; that is, the Braine, the Heart, the Liuer, and the Stones; of which the first three are the preseruers of the singular body; and the fourth of the whole kinde: the first three giuing mo∣tion and agitation to the body, the fourth generati∣on and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to succ••eding ages.

Now from these principall members, like branches from a well growne tree, do spring other members

which do them seruice▪ as from the braine springeth ••inewes, whose office is feeling: from the heart arte∣ries, whose office is sprightinesse and liuely hood; from the liuer, veines, whose office is warmth and strength; and from the stones the seede vessels, whose office is procreation and increase. Now for as much as from those doth likewise proceede a world of other mem∣bers, as Tendants, Ligaments, Lungs, Spl••ene, Guts and such like; all which, in as much as the knowledge of them doth more properly belong to the office of the Chyrurgian then to the Physitian (though most ne∣cessary for both) I am her•• to aduertise euery studi∣ous reader, that when he shall haue occasion to med∣dle with any member about a horse, that he turne to the second booke in this volume, which treateth one∣ly of surgery; and there he shall not only find euery member and lineament in a horse, but also the true anatomies so liuely demonstrated, that there shall be nothing wanting to the perfecting of his vnderstan∣ding. And thus much in this place of members.

CHAP. 6. Of Powers and how a arrow_back Horses arrow_forward body is go∣uerned by them.

POwers which by some are called vertues or prin∣cipall faculties, and do gouerne and controll both the body of man or beast, and haue the fift place in this worke, are in number three, that is, the Power animall the Power vitall, and the Power naturall. The Power animall is a vertue incident to the braine, which through the sinewes coming like little conduit pipes from the braine, distributeth feeling and mouing to

all the parts of the body. The Power vitall is a vertue belonging to the heart, which doth giue life and spi∣rit to all the body by meanes of the arteries; which proceeding from the heart, which is the chiefe foun∣taine of naturall heate, carries in their little channels ouer the whole body, that aire and spirituall bloud which makes it full of lightnesse and alacrity. The Power naturall is a vertue belonging to the liuer which giues nourishment vnto all the body, and to eue∣ry part thereof, by meanes of the veines, which do likewise proceede from the liuer like greater con∣duites, carrying the bloud from the liuer which is the fountaine of bloud, into euery part of the body. Besides the Power naturall containeth foure other ver∣tues, that is, the vertue attractiue which draweth food meete to sustaine the body; the vertue retentiue, by which it retaineth and keepeth the foode receiued: the vertue disgestiue whereby it concocteth and dis∣gesteth the same. And lastly the vertue expulsiue, by which it expelleth excrements and superfluities. Thus these powers or vertues being of no lesse validity then you perceiue by this discourse. it is the part and duty of euery good Horse-leach, to haue a most carefull and vigilant respect vnto them: for if any of them faile, the horse cannot liue. Therefore whensoeuer you see that either your horse refuseth his foode, or that he doth not retaine and keepe his food••, but ca∣steth it vp againe, or that he doth not digest his food, but keeps it corruptly in his stomacke, or that he can not void his excrements in a naturall manner, but holds it burning in his body, take them for most cer∣taine signes of mortall sicknesse. And thus much of powers or vertues.

CHAP. 7. Of Actions or Operations, and whereto they belong.

AS touching Actions or operations, which are the sixt columne or pillar which doth vphold this na∣turall body of which we treate, they are not onely belonging, but euen deriued from the three powers immediatly spoken of in the former chapter, as thus. The action and operation of the Power animall, is to discerne, to moue, and to feele. arrow_back Horses arrow_forward discerne by meanes of the vertue Imaginatiue, Discoursatiue, and Memoratiue, whereof the first is placed in the fore∣head, the second in the middle of the braine, and the third in the hinder part of the head. All which are cō∣prehended vnder the Power animall. arrow_back Horses arrow_forward moue by meanes of the vertue Motiue, whose action & operati∣on is to straine or let slacke the sinewes, whereby eue∣ry member hath his mouing. And arrow_back horses arrow_forward feeling is by meanes of the vertue Sensitiue, whose action or opera∣tion is busied in the fiue sences, as to See, Heare, Smell, Tast, and Touch; and all these actions spring from the Power animall.

The action or operation of the Power vitall, is to restraine and loosen the heart, and the arteries, which proceede from the heart, which action whether it be hurt or disturbed in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body is easily knowne of euery good Farrier or horse Marshall by the vnequall beating of his pulse, that is to say of the arteries which cometh downe from the heart, to the insides of both his fore legges, a little below the knuckles of his shoulders, and likewise crosse both the temples of his head, a little higher then his eyes. And if any

man be so simple to imagine that the thicknesse of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward skinne shall be any impediment to the feeling of this motion, let him remember that as a arrow_back horses arrow_forward skin is thicker then a mans, so also are his arteries greater, and beate with more violence; and so consequently to be felt without any great difficulty.

The actions or operations of the Power naturall, are to ingender, to increase, to nourish, to desire with appetite, to attract, to change, to disgest, to retaine and to expell, and many others of like kinde. These actions there∣fore are carefully to be looked vnto by euery Farrier, to the intent that he may learne by them, not only the whole state of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, but also what particular member thereof is euill affected, as thus. If either in your horse you finde much forgetfulnesse, vnnimble∣nesse of his limbes, or dulnesse vpon correction, it is a signe of sicknesse in the braine, and that the Power ani∣mal is euillaffected. If you find that his pulses do beate extraordinarily flow, or much to fast, it is a signe that his heart is grieued, and his Power vitall euill affected; but if you finde that he doth consume, pine away, & loseth his stomacke, it is a signe that his liuer is per∣plexed, all his inward parts out of frame, and his Pow∣er naturall euill affected.

Now you shall againe vnderstand that of actions some be voluntary, some not voluntary.

The voluntary actions be those which a horse may either further or hinder, stay or let when themselues pleaseth, as the mouing of the legges: for they may go, stand, or lye downe, at their owne plea∣sure.

The actions not voluntary, are those which de∣pend not vpon the will of any beast, but be done of

their owne accord and naturally, as the mouing of the heart and of the arteries, and the passage of the bloud: the first whereof beateth sleeping and wa∣king; and the other hath his course euery minute. And thus much of actions and operations.

CHAP. 8. Of Spirits, and in what parts of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body they remaine.

SPirits, which is the seuenth naturall builder of this naturall worke, are to be vnderstood to be that fine, pure, cleare, and ayrie substance which is ingen∣dred of the finest part of the bloud, whereby the ver∣tue of euery principall member may visite all the o∣ther parts of the body, making them to do their du∣ties according to the rules of nature. Now of spi∣rits, according to the opinion of some Physitians, there are but two kinds, that is, the Spirit animall and the Spirit vitall. The Spirit animall is that which giueth power of feeling and mouing to a horse, and hath his resting place in the braine, from whence through the sinewes it is dispersed into all other parts of the body; and as it is ingendred of the vitall spirit, being more vehemently wrought and laboured, and partly of continuall breathing: euen so it is partly preserued by the Chaule of the braine, which doth howrely wa∣ter and nourish it.

The Spirit vitall is contained in the heart, from whence it floweth into euery part of the body, being the chiefe cause of all naturall heate; and it is preserued and nourished, both by breathing and bloud.

To these two spirits, there be some Farriers, both Italians and French, which adde a third spirit, and call it the Spirit naturall, saying, it hath its residence in the liuer & the veines; but the two former are of such power, and haue such superiority, that the body can∣not liue without them, nor haue any being at all; wherefore it is the office of the Farrier continually in all his medicines to haue euer some comfortable sim∣ple which may maintaine and keepe these spirits in their full strength, liuelyhood and vertue. And thus much touching spirits, & those seuen naturall things which compact a naturall body.

Chap. 9. Of the sixe thing not naturall, how they profit, and how they hurt.

HAuing spoken of the naturall things whereof a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body is compounded, it is needfull now that we speake something of the other sixe which be not naturall, so farre forth as they concerne the of∣fice of the Farrier and no further: for with other mat∣ters we haue not to do. The first thing then which is not naturall, yet preserueth a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body in good state, is the aire, which being pure, sharp, cleare and piercing, giueth great life and nourishment to a horse, but being contrary, that is, grosse, thicke, and full of putrifaction, it cannot chuse but alter the good ha∣bit of his body, and breede in him many infirmities. Therefore euery Farrier shall haue great respect to the aire wherein a horse either liueth or was bred in, as if a horse that was bred in a hot aire, come to liue in a cold, and through that exchange grow sicke,

the Farrier shall by warme dyet, close house, and mo∣derate cloathing, bring his nature to a stronger ac∣quaintance: also when a horse exceedeth in any of the foure qualities, that is, in heate, moystnesse, coldnesse, or drinesse, it is best for him to, liue in that aire which is contrary to that quality wherein hee exceedeth. Lastly, in many diseases, the change of the aire is most wholesome, as shall be shewed at large in the particular diseases.

For the meate and drinke of a horse which is the second thing not naturall in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward composition, it is not to be doubted but whilest it is sweete, cleane, & good, as bread well made and baked, dry oates, dry beanes, dry pease, sweet hay, sweet straw, or short grasse, so long it nourisheth and preserueth the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body; but if it bee fully, raw, corrupt and vncleane, or if he eate tares, fitches, rye, or barley, then must hee needes bee vnsound and full of infirmities. Therefore the Farrier shall be carefull to keepe him from all such foodes as breede naughty euill bloud; as for his water, the more pure it is, the better, and the more muddy, thicke and pleasant, so much the more vnhealthfull.

Now for his mouing and rest, that is either his tra∣uell or standing still, which is the third thing not na∣turall in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward composition, doubtlesse they be great preseruers of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward health: for as moderate exercise dissolueth grosse humours, ingendreth appetite, and addeth strength vnto the limbes, so likewise indiffe∣rent rest, causeth disgestion, comforteth the sinewes, & maketh the heart cheareful against ensuing labour. But on the contrary part, immoderate trauell or ex∣ercise, when a horse is ridden beyond his strength,

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breedeth many dangerous & mortall sicknesses, as the foundring in the body, the consumption of the lungs and liuer, molten grease and such like, besides the pis∣sing of bloud, manginesse, farrye, and such like; all which inward diseases craue strong purges, and the outward sharp and correding medicines▪ Immoderate rest, which is when a horse doth stand long still with∣out any exercise. Feeding foule and grosly is as great an enemy to a arrow_back horses arrow_forward health as the other: for it con∣gregateth & bindeth together all sorts of ill humours, breedes corruption in the bloud, rottennesse in the flesh, & generally as many diseases as any il dyet what∣soeuer.

The sleepe or watch of a horse (which is the fourth thing in our composition) is so necessary a comfort to a horse, that he cannot liue without it; it is the grea∣test mouer of disgestion: and so consequently giues comfort to the whole body. For whilest a horse slee∣peth, the Powers animall do take their rest, which o∣therwise would be ouer-wearied, and neither able to discharge their duties, nor to continue their actions and operations, which is the giuing of feeling and mouing only: & whilst a horse doth sleep the powers natural haue more liberty to do their work, in conco∣cting the meate, and comforting the bodie; in so much that I account sleepe to be the onely quieting of the sences, ordained by nature to ingender strength. Sleepe is begotten by sweet, fatty and grosse vapours, (& not by their contraries) which are raised from the heart to the braine; with the coldnesse of which braine those vapours being congealed and thickned together do stop the pipes of the sensitiue spirits, so as they can not resort to the instruments of the sences, to giue the

body feeling & mouing, wherby the body at that time is depriued of those motions. And according as those vapours do more or lesse fill the pipes, so is the arrow_back horses arrow_forward sleepe more or lesse found and vndisturbed; but when this sleepe shall at any time grow into excesse, and you shall perceiue a horse to sleepe beyond both na∣ture and custome, then you shall know that such sleep cometh from an euill habite of the body, and is a signe either of Lethargie, and a numbnesse of the spirits, or else that he hath some inward griefe and paine in his limbes when he standeth; which being eased by ly∣ing, makes him couet a continuall rest and sleeping. Now for the watch of a horse, because it is the meere contrary to sleepe, there needes little to be sayd more then this: that as the excesse of the one sheweth the want of the other, so the vnnaturall working of ei∣ther shewes the euill state of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, and giues the Farriers warning to expect ensuing sicknesse.

Now for emptinesse and fulnesse (which is the fift not naturall compositor) for as much as it is onely an adding to, and a taking away, some Farriers haue held opinion, that all Physicke belonging to a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, consisteth in them two onely; and truly I am of this minde, that whosoeuer can take away corruption, and adde perfection, shall without doubt, euer keepe an able and substantiall body. But to our purpose, of this fulnesse there are two sorts, the one fulnesse by excesse of humors, the other fulnesse by excesse of meate; either of which perturbing the spi∣rits are the grounds of sicknes. Againe, excesse of hu∣mours are of two kindes, the one an equall encrease of all maner of humours gathered together, and the other a particular excesse either of too much Melan∣choly,

Fleame, or other waterish humours whatsoeuer, the first being termed an aboundance of humours, the latter an excesse of euill iuice or nutriment: last∣ly, their fulnesse in quantity, and fulnesse in quality. Fulnesse in quantity is when a horse is full of bloud or any other simple humour. Fulnesse in quality is when any of those humors is too hot or too cold, too grosse or too thin. Now for emptinesse, as all diseases of fulnesse must be cured by it onely, so all diseases of emptinesse must be healed by fulnesse, as by taking of bloud, by purge, friction, scarification, boxing, swea∣ting, bathing, and a world of such like, as shal be very largely set forth hereafter.

Lastly, touching the affections of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward minde, you shall vnderstand that so farre forth as the sensitiue soule doth stretch, so farre they haue sence and feeling of affections, as namely to loue, to hate, to be angry, to reioyce, to be sorry, and to feare: for all which, there needs no great apologie, sith we haue it in dayly experience: as who seeth not the loue of some arrow_back horses arrow_forward to their keepers, their hate to strangers, their anger in their fights, their ioyes in their prides & wooings, their sorrowes in their sicknesses, and their feares vn∣to their riders? Now these affections sith many times they are the grounds of strange motions in the body; therefore they ought carefully to be looked vnto by the Fa••rier, and that the horse be not ouer-oppressed with any of them; especially feare and hatred, the first whereof compelleth the bloud and spirits to flye to the inward parts, and to leaue the outward without sence or feeling, and the latter makes him to be vnquiet, fierce and raging; both together breedes distemperature in a horse, and those distemperatures

ingender mortal sicknesses. And thus much for these sixe things, being held not naturall in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward com∣position.

CHAP. 10 Of arrow_back Horses arrow_forward complexions.

HAuing spoken of whose thirteene naturall and not natural things, wherof a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body is com∣pounded, we will now in a somewhat more particular manner speake of the complexions of arrow_back horses arrow_forward , which is one of the most necessary faces that a Farrier can be∣hold, both for the iudging of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward infirmities, and also for the true compounding of his medicines for euery disease: therefore you shal first vnderstand that by the color of the horse you shal euer iudge his com∣plexion: for looke which of the elements is most pre∣dominant in him, from that element we draw his complexion, as thus. If he participate more of the fire then of any of the other elements, then we hold him to be a cholericke horse, and his colour is either a bright sorrell, a cole blacke without any white, or an yron gray vnchangeable, that is, such a gray as nei∣ther will euer turne to a daple gray, to a white or to a flea-bitten; and these arrow_back horses arrow_forward are of nature light, hot, fiery, and seldome of any great strength: these arrow_back horses arrow_forward are much subiect to pestilent feuers, yellowes, and inflammations of the liuer. Therefore euery Farrier shall be carefull in the composing of any medicine for such a horse, to purge choler; yet very moderately, and not with any extraordinary strength in the potion or drench: because the horse being in his best strength not reputed strong, should you apply any violent

thing to him, that little strength being abated, there were great danger in the confounding of the whole body.

If the horse participate more of the aire then of the other elements, then is he of a sanguine complexion, and his colour is either bright bay, or darke bay; which hath neither skouling countenance, mealy nose, nor white flanke, or a white flea-bitten, white lyard like siluer, or a blacke with white starre, white rache or white foote; these arrow_back horses arrow_forward are of nature plea∣sant, nimble, free, and of a good strength. The diseases to them most incident, is consumption of the liuer, leprosie, glanders, or any disease that is infectious. They are of a good strong constitution, and may en∣dure strength in their medicines, especially any thing that cooleth the bloud.

If the horse participate more of the water then of the other elements, then is he of a flegmaticke com∣plexion, and his colour is either a milke white, a yel∣low dun, a kiteglewd or a pyedball, in whom there is an equall mixture of colours, that is, as much white as of the other color: otherwise if the bay, the blacke, or the dunne exceed the white, he is sayd to be of that complexion of which the color is greatest. These hor∣ses are of nature slow, dull, and apt to leese flesh; the diseases which are most incident vnto them, is colds, head-atch, rheumes, staggers and such like. They are able to endure the reasonable strength of any medi∣cine; because the abundance of fleame which is in them, sufficeth both nature and the potion to worke vpon: all cold simples are to them exceeding hurtfull, so are also they which are violently hot in the third degree; the first because it bindeth too soone; the lat∣ter

because it disperseth too suddenly, therefore sim∣ples of a moderate meane are the best.

If the horse participate more of the earth then of the other elements, then is he of a melancholy com∣plexion, and his colour is mouse dunne, russet, ches∣nut, a sky gray, darke bay, with mayly nose, redde or white slanke, or a reddish bay, hauing long white haire, like goates haire growing on his legges. These arrow_back horses arrow_forward are of nature heauy, and saint hearted: the dis∣eases to them most incident, is inflammations in the Spleene, Frenzie, Dropsie and such like. They are com∣monly of better strength then they will suffer to ap∣peare by their actions, and are able to endure the strength of any reasonable medicine: all cicatrizing and dry simples are hurtfull vnto them; the cold and moist are the most profitable.

Hauing thus shewed you these foure complexions, Cholerike, Sanguine, Flegmatike and Melancholy, together with their qualities and strengths, you shall vnder∣stand now that amongst Farriers there is another com∣plexion, or fift constitution, which is called the com∣position or mixture of complexions, that is, when∣soeuer a horse doth participate of all the foure ele∣ments equally and in due proportion, none being greater or lesse then another; and this complexion of all other is the best and and most perfect; and the horse which is of this complexion, is euer of one of these colours, that is to say, either a faire browne bay, da∣pled or not dapled, a daple gray, a blacke, full of sil∣uer haires, or a faire roane redde or blacke. And those arrow_back horses arrow_forward are of nature most excellent, most temperate, strongest, gentlest, and most healthfull; though they may haue any disease, yet are they naturally inclined

to no disease; but what infirmity soeuer falleth vnto them is meerely accidentall, and not through any o∣uerflow of naturall distemperature. All medicines must be compounded for them according to the na∣ture of the sicknesse, and the time of their languish∣ment: for if their sicknesse be young and new bred, then are they able to receiue any well composed re∣ceipt; but if it be old, & the inward powers and facul∣ties feebled, then you must bee carefull to helpe na∣ture, by adding to euery medicine of what nature so∣euer, some simple of comfort, that as euill humours be clensed, so strength may still be repayred & main∣tained. And thus much for complexions.

CHAP. 11. Of inward sicknesse, the causes and seuerall kindes thereof.

SIth I haue already passed ouer al those things which haue a naturall and perfect working in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward bo∣dy, and do maintaine, vphold and preserue the same in good state and health, except accidentally they be encountred and crossed by some excesse, or in dyet, or in exercise: it shall now be meete that we begin to speake of the things which be contrary and against nature, which are all those things whereby at any time, the healthfull estate of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body is any way impeached; and they be three in number, that is, the causes, the sicknesse, and the accidents which fol∣low euery sicknesse.

Now the causes of sicknesse are all vnnaturall af∣fects, and euill dispositions, which going before, do as it were by violence, bring sicknesse after them:

and of these causes there be two sorts, some internall, some externall; the internall be those which breede within the body of the horse, as euill humours, euill obstructions and euill iuice. Externall are they which communicate with the outward parts of the body, as heate, cold, wounds and such like, of which I shall speake more in the second booke: and for so much as I intend at the beginning of euery particular dis∣ease, to shew the cause of that disease, I will at this time speake no more of that subiect.

Now for sicknesse it selfe which is any thing that is contrary to nature, it is diuided into three generall kindes: the first an euill temperature, the second an euil state or composition, and the third a loosening or diuiding of an vnity. Now of these two latter, I in∣tend not to speake in this place, because they apper∣taine to surgery, which I reserue for the second booke; but for the first kinde which is an euill temperature, it is taken two fold, that is, either simple or compound; simple, when one quality onely doth abound or ex∣ceede, as to be too moist or too dry: compound when mo qualities then one do grow into excesse, as for a horse to be too hot, and too dry, or too cold and too moist. Againe, sicknesses are sayd some to belong, as consumptions, glanders and such like, which lin∣ger and weare a horse away by small degrees. Some short, as the staggers, yellowes, anticor, and such like, which as soone as they be perceiued, so soone they be mortall.

Now of inward sicknesses, some do occupy all the whole body, some but particular parts; those which occupy the whole body are feuers, the pestilence, conuulsions and such like: those which occupy parts

or members, are colds which annoy the head, sur∣faits which perplexe the stomacke; and so likewise all outward infirmities proper to euery particular mem∣ber, as splents vpon the legs, spauens on the houghes, pearles in the eyes, and such like, as shall be amply shewed hereafter. And thus much for sicknesse and the seuerall kindes thereof.

CHAP. 12. Of the signes of sicknesse, and of what na∣ture it consisteth.

THe signes and faces by which sicknesse is discer∣ned, are many, and almost numberlesse; yet in the best sort that I may, I will shew you such and so many as shall amply serue for any mans vnderstan∣ding. Know then first that there be according to the rules in physicke, foure especiall wayes to iudge of inward and outward infirmities. First, by accidents, as by the shape, number, quantity, & place of the mem∣ber grieued: for if it carry not his true proportion, or be more or lesse in number or quantity, or out of his proper place, then questionlesse it is diseased. Second∣ly, by alteration of the quality, as when it is either too hot, too cold, too moist or too dry. Thirdly, when a∣ny member in the body is hindered from doing his office; as when the eye cannot see, or the foote can∣not treade: and fourthly, by excrements, as by his dung or his vrine. But for as much as in the specu∣lation of these qualities, many of the ignorant sort may be either amazed, distract or deceiued; and that my desire is to giue an absolute satisfaction to all sorts of people, I will briefly and plainly shew you the most

vndeceiueable signes of all sorts of inward sicknesses, as thus. If a horse be slower in labour, or duller in the spurre then he hath bene accustomed, if he be shor∣ter breathed, if his eares hang downe more then they were wont; if his haire be more staring, if his flankes be more then vsually hollow, if he burne betwixt his eares or about his pasternes, if in trauell his stomacke faile him; or his mouth that in labor was vsually wont to be foaming, become dry; all these are most ap∣parant signes of inward sicknesse.

When a horse holdeth downe his head which was wont to be of a chearefull countenance, it is a signe either of a feuer, head-ache, or else foundring in the body.

If a horse be dimme of sight that was cleare sigh∣ted, it is a signe either of head-ache, the staggers, or sore eyes.

When a horse turneth his head backward to the place grieued, if it be to the right side▪ it is a signe of obstructions in the liuer; but if he turne it downe to his belly, then it is a signe either of cholericke, bots or wormes.

When a horse hath water running from his mouth, it is a signe of the staggers or the wet cough.

If a arrow_back horses arrow_forward breath stincke, or foule matter issue from his nosthrels, it is a sign of an vlcer in the nose or head; but if the matter be white, then it is a signe of glaun∣ders: if the matter be blacke, then it is a signe of the mourning of the chine; but if the matter be yellow, then it betokens the consumption of the liuer; but if he cast little lumps out of his mouth, then it betokens the consumption or rottennesse of the lungs.

If a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body and breath be hot, it is a signe of

a feuer and heate of the stomacke, if therewithall he forsake his meate, it is a signe of inflammation in his liuer, and either of dry or moist yellowes.

If the temples of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward heade be very hollow, it is a signe either of the strangle or old age.

Shortnesse of breath, and a breathing flanke, is a signe either of a feuer or the strangle; but if the pas∣sage of the throate be stopped, it is a signe the filme of the lungs is broken, & the spleene troubled, or else broken winded.

If any thing lye on both sides the forehead, which may be felt beate, it is a signe of the staggers.

If there be any swelling betweene the eares, it is a signe of the polle euil; swelling vnder the eare, a signe of the viues; and swelling in the mouth, a signe either of canker, flaps or lampasse.

Swelling vnder the throat is a signe of the glaun∣ders; and swelling about the tongue rootes▪ a signe of the strangle; but if there be about the tongue rootes, nothing but little small knots like waxe kyrnels, then it is a signe but of cold onely.

Swelling on the left side is a signe of a sicke spleene. Swelling in the belly and legges, a signe of the drop∣sie; and swelling in the flanke, of the cholericke onely.

To cough, or to offer to cough, is a signe either of the glaunders, of the mourning of the chine, of a fea∣ther in the weasand, of the wet or dry cough, of the filme broken, of the dry malady, of a consumption, or of foundring in the body.

Staggering is a signe either of a feuer, of the staggers, or of swaying in the necke; but if he stag∣ger, or rolle behinde onely, then it is a signe either of foundring in the body, or of paine in the kidneyes.

Trembling is a signe of a feuer, or of foundring in the body: and here is to be noted, that a horse which trembleth after the drinking of cold water, hath during that time of trembling, a very certaine sit of an ague; and if any Farrier or other, will but ob∣serue it, he shall finde that the horse after he hath done trembling, will burne and glow in as great extremity at least an howre and an halfe after; and some arrow_back horses arrow_forward after their burning, will sweate also.

The hollownesse of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward backe is a signe of the dry malady or the dropsie.

Haire staring, is a signe either of a cold stomacke or of foundring in the body.

If a horse stale with much paine, it is a signe either of foundring in the body, the wind cholike, or the stone; and if the vrine which comes from him be yel∣low, it is a signe of the glaunder; but if it be blackish and thicke, it is a signe of paine in the kidneyes.

Leannesse and gauntnesse is a signe of hide-bound, or of the consumption, of the dry malady, of foun∣dring in the body, inflammation of the liuer, the yel∣lowes, cholicke or wormes.

Laxatiuenesse or loosnesse of the body, is a signe of a hot liuer.

Costiuenesse in the body is a signe of dry yellowes, or of diseases in the galle.

If a arrow_back horses arrow_forward dung stinke, it is a signe of a hot liuer; if it haue no smell, then of a cold liuer; but if it be vn∣disgested, then either of a consumption, or of a drye malady.

If a horse go stiffe, it is a signe either of wrinching, hipping, stifling or foundring either in body or legs; if he go crouching behinde and stiffe before, then the

griefe is in his forelegges; but if he go onely weake behinde, then is the griefe in his hinder legges onely.

If a horse desire extraordinarily to lye downe on his right side, it is a signe of heate in the liuer. If on the left side, then of a diseased spleene; if he be oft vp and downe, finding no rest, then it is a signe of bottes, wormes, chollicke, or griping in the belly; if when he is downe he spreade himselfe abroad, it shewes the dropsie; if he groane when he is downe, it shewes ei∣ther a sicke spleene, moist yellowes, chollicke, bots, or filme broken; if he be not able to rise when he is downe, then either mortall weaknesse, foundring in the body or legges.

To be troubled with much wind is a signe either of griefe in the spleene, or losse of much bloud.

If a horse forsake his meate, it is a signe either of a feuer, head-ache, strangle, staggers, consumption, or dry malady, anticor, foundring in the body, a hot and consumed liuer, moyst yellowes, cholicke, or the wormes; but if when he forsaketh his prouender he doth, as it were, chauell or chaw a little hay, and in his chawing doth make a certaine sharp noyse in his mouth, and if his tongue could not well part from the roofe without a kinde of chanking, it is then a cer∣taine signe that the horse is troubled with the falling of the palate of the mouth, a disease which only com∣meth by ouer much trauell, or too sore a burthen.

If a horse desire to eate much and drinke little, it is a signe of a cold liuer; but if he desire to drinke much and eate little, it is then a signe either of a feuer, rot∣ten lungs, heate in the stomacke, heate in the liuer, or the dry yellowes.

If a horse both eate and drinke with an extraordi∣nary

greedinesse, it is a signe of rotten lungs, or a dis∣eased spleene.

Lazie and heauy going contrary to true nature, is a signe either of a feuer, sicke spleene, yellowes, or else obstructions of the liuer.

If a horse strike with his foote at his belly, it is a signe of the chollike; but if when he striketh, he fiske with his taile also, then is it either bots or rough wormes.

If a horse be scabby and vlcerous all ouer his body, or but about his necke, it is a signe of the mangie; if it be an vlcer full of knots, creeping alongst a veine, it is the farcy; if spreading abroad onely in one place, it is a canker; if the vlcer be hollow and crooked, it is a fi∣stula, but if it be a spongie wart, full of bloud, it is then an Anburie.

If a arrow_back horses arrow_forward tongue hang out, and be swolne, it is a signe of the strangle.

To conclude, if a horse in health beate short, thicke, & fast in the flanke, it is a signe of sicknesse in the lungs & lights, which we call broken winded; with a world of other such like signes and tokens, as shall be more amply declared in euery particular chapter.

CHAP. 13. Generall obseruations in the Physicking of arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

AFter you can by these signes and characters iudge and approue either the health or sicknesse of a horse, it is then necessary that you learne some gene∣rall rules and obseruations which belong to the phy∣sicking of a horse; lest that either by your rashnesse,

vnskilfulnesse or vncleanlinesse in what you go about to do, you commit errours more grosse then the me∣dicine you administer hath power to do good. Know then first, that whensoeuer you go about to giue your horse any inward potion or drench, you must first take very carefull heede that your drinke be no more then milke warme: for there is nothing more mor∣tall to a horse then the scalding of his stomacke. Next you must be very carefull that you giue the drench easily and gently, lest in making too much haste, the drinke passe into his weasand or winde∣pipe, and so force him to an extreme coughing, and almost suffocate him; which if it do, you must then let his head loose, and walke him vp and downe, till the passion be past. Lastly you shall obserue in gi∣uing a drench, to draw out the arrow_back horses arrow_forward tongue before you put in the horne, and then presently let it loose againe: for that will compell him to swallow whe∣ther he will or no. And this is principally to be vsed when you giue your horse pils, as butter and garlike, bulter and Saunders, or butter and sauen. Also euery drench will worke the better, the longer you keepe the sicke horse fasting, both before and after his me∣dicine; wherein is likewise to be obserued, that mo∣derate exercise (as gently walking, or trotting vp and downe according to the arrow_back horses arrow_forward strength after his drench is receiued) is most wholesome, and maketh the medicine worke a great deale the better.

You shall likewise obserue if your arrow_back horses arrow_forward sicknesse be a feuer, to mixe alwayes your simples either with warme water, with hony, or with oyle; but if the dis∣ease be coughes, rheumes or any thing that procee∣deth of cold causes, then you shall mixe your simples

with good ale or wine; and if your horse be brought low & weake with sicknesse, then you shall mixe your simples with milke or egges.

You shall also obserue that in bloud letting, you must take but halfe so much from a yong colt as from an old horse; and but the fourth part from a year∣ling foale: also in letting bloud, you must carefully regard the age and strength of your horse, taking more or lesse according to his ability of body. Lastly, let∣ting of bloud is either to diuert sicknesse and pre∣serue health, or to refresh and coole the spirits, or to diminish bloud, or else to purge grosse and badde humours.

Obserue before you let your horse bloud, first mo∣derately to chafe or exercise him; then let him take rest a day before his letting bloud, and three dayes af∣ter; not forgetting that Aprill and October are the two principall seasons of the yeare for that purpose, except vrgent occsion be ministred.

Obserue whensoeuer you rake your horse with your hand (which is to draw his ordure out of his fundament when hee cannot dung) that then first you annoynt all your hand with sallet oyle; the like you must euer do when you put vp any suppositary; but when you administer any glister, you shall then but annoynt the glister pipe onely. Many other ob∣seruations there are which be more particular, and those you shall finde annexed to the seuerall cure of euery disease. Thus much then of these generall ob∣seruations.

CHAP. 14. Of the vrine and excrements of an horse.

AFter you haue made your memory acquainted with the signes and obseruations before specifi∣ed, and so in the end finde a horse which by the de∣monstration of some of these signes appeareth most certainly to be sicke and diseased; my aduice is then (if conueniently you may, and that the violence of the sicknesse do not vrge the contrary) that before you administer any thing vnto him, in any case you see his vrine, from which vrine you shall reape these knowledges.

First, if the vrine of a horse be of a pale, whitish, yel∣low colour, like vnto amber, & therewithall somewhat strong smelling, and not very cleare, then you shall be assured that the horse is in good state of body, strong and healthful; but if it be extraordinary white, and as it were, creamy, then it is a signe the horse hath weake reines and is subiect to the stone, and the stop∣ping in the kidneyes.

If the vrine of a horse be somewhat high coloured, bright and cleare like lamber and not like amber, or like a cup of strong march beere; then it sheweth the horse hath inflammation in his bloud, and that he hath either a feuer, or else some great surfaite; but if it be red like bloud, then is his inflammation more geat, and his surfaite is onely an ouer heate taken by ouer-riding; insomuch that if present remedy be not applyed, either by scouring or other healthfull phy∣sicke, the horse cannot chuse but fall into some mortal sicknesse.

If the vrine of a horse be of a pale greenish colour,

thicke and slimy, it is a signe of a weake backe, and consumption of the seede.

Lastly, if the arrow_back horses arrow_forward vrine be high colored, yet there∣withall cloudy and full of blacknesse, then it is a signe that the arrow_back horses arrow_forward sicknesse is mortall, and hardly to be preserued by any physicke; but if the blacknesse and cloudinesse of the vrine do not remaine, as it were, bound vp together in one body, but is broken & dis∣persed, shewing many cloudes in one water, then it is a signe that the violence of the sicknesse departeth away, and there is great hope, by good gouernement, that the horse will recouer his health, as at the begin∣ing.

Now for the excrements or dung of a horse, which is no lesse worthy of note then the vrine. You shall first vnderstand, that if his dung be euer of alliance with his foode, I meane either in part or whole co∣loured like vnto that he eateth; as thus for example: If your horse go at grasse, his dung wil euer be greene, and the brighter such greennesse is, and being in a meane betweene hardnesse and softnsse, the sounder and in more perfect estate the horse standeth; but if the greennesse be bright, yet the ordure so soluble and loose, that it cometh from the horse like water, then you shall vnderstand that either the horse hath eaten vp some feather, or else that he hath an inward coldnesse both in his stomacke and bowels.

If a arrow_back horses arrow_forward dung be of a reasonable thicknesse, nei∣ther too costiue nor too soluble, yet the greennesse inclined to some blacknesse, it is a signe that the horse hath a hot stomacke, and is easile subiect either to the yellowes or staggers.

If the arrow_back horses arrow_forward dunge be in round hard pellets, and of

a blackish greene colour, like the dung of a sheepe, or a Deere, then it is without faile that the horse hath had some great surfait, either by ouer-riding, or by ill food, or else is certainly possest either of the yellowes, or feuer, or foundred in the body.

Now if your horse be fed onely vpon straw, then his colour will be of a high coloured yellow, rather costiue then soluble, and the graine thereof long, and not well coutched together: and all these be good signes of great healthfulnesse; but if the colour be inclined to rednesse; or if it be exceeding dry with∣out moisture, or if it be thinne like the dung of an Oxe or a cow, they be all apparant signes of inward sicknesse; but if the rednesse turne to blacknesse, and that his ordure doth leese the strength of its smelling, then it is a great signe of death and mor∣tality.

If your horse be fed with hay and prouender, then your perfect and sound dung will be of a browne yellow colour, the graine somewhat long, yet moist and well fixt together; but if the brownnesse turne to rednesse, it is a signe of distemperature; and if it turne to blacknesse, then of death. Now for the smell of this dung, you must vndestand that the more prouender you giue, the greater will be the smell, and the lesse prouender, the lesse smell.

Lastly, if you feede your horse onely vpon prouen∣der, as bread, oates, and such like, then the dung which shewes a perfect and a sound body, will be of a pale yellow colour, like course hony, firme like a thicke salue, hauing within it when you tread vpon it, or break it, little white graines, like those which are in sope; or if the dung be harder, like the ordinary

ordure of a man, it is not amisse: for both be signes of health and strength; but if the dung looke redde, then it is a signe that the horse hath taken some in∣ward heate, and his stomacke and bowels do rest still inflamed.

If his dung be browne and slimy, or if it shine and looke greasie, it is a signe that he hath had some of his inward grease molten, and that it resteth and putrifi∣eth in his body; but if with his dung you see him void great clods and lumps of grease, then you may be assured that his grease was molten, but nature hath ouercome infirmity, and the worst danger is past already; but if his dung be matter vndigested, so that you may either perceiue therin whole corns or whole bits of bread, it is a signe the horse hath either taken a late surfaite, or is entring into a mortall consumpti∣on. Lastly, if his dung be blacke, or haue lost the smell, it is an apparant signe of death. And thus much for vrine and excrements, and the seueral know••ledges are attained by them.

CHAP. 15. Of Feuers in generall, and the diuers kindes thereof.

THat arrow_back horses arrow_forward haue feuers, and those feuers of diuers and sundry natures, there is nothing more cer∣taine, as by strict obseruation may daily be perceiued, especially when either we vse much trauell, or disor∣derly diet: for questionlesse from these two and none other heads do spring most feuers whatsoeuer. But first, that I may giue you an account what a arrow_back horses arrow_forward fe∣uer is, you shall know that it is an vnnaturall and

immoderate heate, which proceeding first from the heart, disperseth it selfe not onely through all the ar∣teries, but euen the veines of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, & there∣by hindereth all the actions and wholesome mouings of the same. Now of feuers, some Farriers make three forts: the first those which breede in the spirits, being inflamed and set on fire beyond the ordinary course of nature: the second those which breede in the humours, being likewise distempered by heate: and the third those which breed in the firme parts of the body, and are continually hot. Now I for your better memory, will diuide them onely into two parts, that is to say: Ordinary and extraordinary. The ordinary feuers are all those which are bred either in the spirits or in the humours, as namely: Quotidians, Tertians, Quartans, Feuers continuall, Feuers Hectique, Feuers in Autumne, Sommer, or Winter. And the feuers extraordinary are all those which are bred in the firme parts of the body, and are euer hot, as Pestilent Feuers, and the Plague, which euer are accompanied with vl∣cers; and the feuer accidentall, which proceedeth from the anguish and paine of some mortall wound.

Now for the causes from whence these feuers do proceede: you shall vnderstand that all these which I call ordinary feuers, do generally spring either from surfaite by extreme labour, or from surfaite by naugh∣ty meate, as raw pease, rawfitches, raw oates, mouldy and vnwholesome bread, and such like: sometimes they do proceede from the extreme violence and heate of the Sunnes beames, when trauelling with disorderly haste in the extremest heate of the day, those two heates mixing together, labor & the Sunne, there cannot chuse but be bredde in the horse some

mortall inflammation: and for mine owne part I haue seene arrow_back horses arrow_forward fall downe dead in the high way: for whose deaths I could find no reason more then their labour and the heate of the Sunne. Feuers sometimes spring from a contrary cause, as from extreme cold in this maner: when a horse in the Winter time hath bene trauelled sore all the day, and is brought into the house hot, if after his bloud and inward powers are setled and cooled, you then presently or the same night, giue him cold water as much as he will drinke, you shall see him out of hand fall into an extreme quaking, and from that quaking, into a violent burning, with all other distemperatures of a Fe∣uer.

Now for extraordinary feuers, they euer proceede either from corruption of bloud, or from infection of the aire; and albeit these feuers are not vsually knowne vnto our Farriers, yet they are as common as the for∣mer; onely the violence of them is so great, and the poison so strong, that they euer carry with them some other mortall sicknes, as namely, Staggers, Yellowes, Anticor, and such like, which neuer are, but a pesti∣lent feuer euer goeth before them. And they, like the markes of the plague, are seldome seene till the cure be desperate; and then the vnskilfull Farrier, neither noting, nor knowing if he did note, the effects of the feuer, doth euer mis-baptise the name of the hor∣ses infirmity, and taking the lesser for the greater, failes many times to do the good office & cure which he intendeth.

Now the signes to know a feuer be these: first he will euer hold downe his head, he will quake and tremble; but when his trembling is past, then will

his body burne, and his breath be hot, he wil breathe fast, and his flanke will beate; he will reele, he will forsake his meate, his eyes will be swolne and closed vp, yet therewithall much watring; his flesh will, as it were, fall from his bones, and his stones will hang downe low, he will oft lye downe, and oft rise vp a∣gaine; all his desire will be to drinke, yet at no time drinke much; neither will he at any time sleep. Now for the generall cure of these generall feuers, you shall vnderstand, that some Farriers vse to let the horse bloud in the face, temples and palate of the mouth, and the first day to giue him no meate, but warme drinke onely, by a little at a time, and after, the finest grasse or finest hay wet in water, keeping him warme, and often walking him vp and downe in a temperate aire, and giuing him good store of litter; then when he begins to mend, to feede him with barley sodden, huskt and beaten as you do wheate before you make furmity. And this cure is not amisse, for it agreeth with the ancient experience of the Italians; but in our English arrow_back horses arrow_forward (through the clyme as I suppose) it often faileth.

The best cure therfore that I haue found is, as soone as you perceiue him to begin to shake, to giue him the yolkes of three or foure egges, beaten with seuen or eight spoonefull of aqua-vitae to drinke; and then chase him vp and downe till his shaking be past, and then set him vp close and warme, and with many clothes make him sweate an howre: let his foode be oates very well dryed and sifted, and one day some washt in ale. If his shaking fit be past before you per∣ceiue his sicknesse, you shall onely giue him a pint of Muskadine, and an ounce of sugar-candy beaten to

powder, and brewd together, to drinke, and so let him rest, feeding him by little and little as aforesaid, and giuing him no water but such as is warme; and this order you shall obserue at the beginning of euery fit if you can note them, or else euery morning if his sicknesse haue no ceassing.

CHAP. 16. Of the Quotidian or one dayes feuer, and the cure.

THe Quotidian or one dayes feuer is that which ta∣keth a horse, and holdeth him with one fit once euery day; it will at first appeare somewat violent, but seldome or neuer endureth long, if the Farrier haue a∣ny discretion. It proceedeth most commonly from extreme riding, either after water or a full stomacke; and then suddenly after his heate, being thrust into a stable, & neither stopt nor rubbed, a suddaine coldnes to that suddaine heate begers a shaking, and so conse∣quently the effects of a feuer.

The signes to know it, are watrish and bloud-shot∣ten eyes, short and hot breathing, panting, loathing of his meate, and stiffnesse in his limbes; but aboue these, to know it is a Quotidian, you shall ob∣serue that these signes together with the sicknesse, will not last aboue sixe or eight howres in one day, and then he will be cheerefull and in health againe, till very neare the same howre of the next day, at what time his fit will begin againe. And here is to be noted, that the more it altereth the howres, the more hope there is of his health, as if it take him at se∣uen of the clocke of the one day, and at three of the

clocke of the other, and so forth. The cure is: You shall only during his fit, giue him nothing but a sweet mash made of malt and water being luke warme, and walke him gently vp and downe in a temperate aire; then as soone as his fit is past, you shall set him vp, and rub his body & legs exceedingly: then foure howres after, you shall giue him this drinke. Take of strong ale a quart, and boyle therin halfe a handfull of worm∣wood, of long pepper and graines two ounces, of the best treacle two ounces, and of the powder of dryed rue one ounce: now when a third part of the ale is consumed, take it from the fire and straine it; then put therein three ounces of sugar-candy, beaten to powder; then when it is luke warme giue it him with a horne to drinke. Do this twice at the least, or thrice if his fits continue, and there is no doubt but he will recouer.

CHAP. 17. Of the Tertian Feuer.

THe Tertian feuer is that which cometh euery o∣ther day, holding the horse with one sicke day, and one sound: it is not so violent as the Quotidian, but much longer lasting; it happeneth oftest in the spring time of the yeare, when bloud begins to en∣crease, and most commonly to colts and yong arrow_back horses arrow_forward : it proceeds of the same causes that the Quotidian doth and sometimes of ranknesse and ill bloud. The signes to know it, are all the signes formerly spoken of, and this as the chiefest, that the horse will be apparantly sicke, as it were, on the Munday, then apparantly well on the Tuesday, and sicke on the Wednes∣day

following. This feuer is neuer seene, but it begin∣neth with shaking. The cure therefore is, assoone as you perceiue the horse to begin to shake, you shall take a certaine hearbe, or rather weede, called stone-croppe, and bruising it in a stone morter, take some foure spoonefull of the iuice thereof, and in∣fuse it in a quart of strong alè, and giue it the horse to drinke; then walke him gently vp and downe in some temperate aire for an howre, then set him vp, & with the helpe of clothes put him into a sweate for an o∣ther howre, then coole him; and in any wise till his fits leaue him, let him drinke no cold water, and let his prouender be the oldest and dryest oates you can get, onely vpon his good dayes before his fits come, keepe him very long fasting and empty.

CHAP. 18. Of the Quartane Feuer.

THe Quartane feuer is that which some Farriers call a third daies sicknesse, as thus. If his fit begin on the Munday, he will be well on the Tuesday and Wednesday, and sicke againe one the Thursday. It proceedeth from the same causes that the Tertian fe∣uer doth, yet in his working is not so apparantly vio∣lent, but of much longer continuance: for if great care & helpe be not, these feuers will last some a quar∣ter of a yeare, some halfe a yeare, and some a whole yeare. There needes no other signe to know it, then the coming and going of the fits as hath bene decla∣red already. And for the cure, it is the selfe same which is described in the former chapter for the Ter∣tian feuer: onely if his fits do not leaue him at the first

taking of the medicine, you shall then giue it him a∣gaine the second time, but not aboue thrice at the most in any wise.

CHAP. 19. Of the Feuer Continuall.

THe feuer continuall is that which continueth without any intermission, and it is most dange∣rous and violent: for there is in it the effects of all the former feuers, euer one taking place as the other en∣deth; as a Quotidian beginning, is pursued by a Terti∣an, and a Tertian by a Quartane, and those two supply so many howers till the Quotidian doth begin againe. This kind of continuall feuer, most often springeth from some inflammation or violent heate ingendred in the pricipall members about the heart: and the signes thereof are want of rest, and falling away of the flesh, besides certaine inflammations or swellings, which will appeare about his withers and flanks. The cure is, first to purge his head by neesing, the manner whereof you shall finde in a particular chapter hereaf∣ter; which done, you shall giue him this drinke. Take of Iermander two ounces, of gumme dragant, and dryed roses, of each halfe an ounce, beate them into fine powder, and put them into a quart of ale, adding thereunto of oyle Oliue two ounces, and as much hony; and when it is luke warme, giue it the horse to drinke: then walke him a little space, and after set him vp close and warme, keepe him from cold water, and let his prouender be dry oates.

CHAP. 20 Of the Hectique Feuer.

THe Hectique feuer in arrow_back horses arrow_forward , is a dangerous and mortall feuer, being in a horse the first originall breeder of a consumption; it is a certaine hot and dry humour, which runneth betweene the skinne and the flesh, proceeding from a sicke stomacke, which ha∣uing bene scalded with hot drinks (as those ill dyeted running arrow_back horses arrow_forward be, which feede vpon much spice, or those which take hot drenches vpon euery foolish and sleight occasion) hath almost cleane lost the power of disgestion: it sometimes happens to those arrow_back horses arrow_forward which men too carefully teaching to drinke beere and wine, do so conti••ually apply them thereunto, that in the end they become subiect to this sicknesse. The signes to know it is: the horse will neuer eate with any appetite, and when you draw out his tongue you shall finde it rawe and almost scalded; his flesh wil be loose and flaggy, and his body will be subiect to a continual trembling. The cure is, first wash his tongue either with the sirrop of mulberries, or with allome, running water, sage, and woodbinde leaues boiled to∣gether; then giue him fasting in a morning, this drink. Take of aloes one ounce, of agarike halfe an ounce, of licoras and aniseseeds of each a dram, beaten to pow∣der, & let him drinke it with a quart of white wine, luke warme, & made sweet with sugarcandy or hony; let him drinke no drinke but warme mashes of malt & water, and let his meate be sweete bay, or greene corne blades; and euer after his medicine l••t him be chafed a little, kept fasting two or three howres, and stand warme and well clothed.

CHAP. 21. Of the Feuer taken in Autumne, or the fall of the leafe.

ALl these feuers before spoken of, do for the most part, commonly happen to arrow_back horses arrow_forward in the spring time of the yeare, by reason that the new bloud is euer aptest to be inflamed; yet notwithstanding we finde by experience, that feuers will somtimes come at the fall of the leafe, which we call Autumne, and they are of longer continuance then the other. The signes are none other but such as I haue already declared▪ for they are the same feuers, onely altering in the time of the yeare. If therefore your horse do chance to catch a feuer at the fall of the leafe, you shall let him bloud on his necke veine, and in the palate of his mouth, and you shall giue him to drinke the same drinke which is formerly set downe for the feuer continuall, and there is no doubt of his recouery.

CHAP. 22. Of the Feuer taken in the Summer season.

A Feuer taken in the Summer season is the worst of al ordinary feuers whatsoeuer, especially all such as are taken in the Dog daies; because according to the opinion of Farriers, al accidents are then most furious: the especial signes of this feuer are, that his arteries wil beate most palpably, & wheresoeuer he staleth, there you shall perceiue he sheddeth his seed also. The cure according to the ancients is▪ to let him bloud on the great veine which he hath on his hinder haunch, al∣most foure inches beneath his fundament; but for

mine own part, because that vein is not so easily found of euery ignorant Smith, & that many times by mista∣king, they may cut the artery in stead of the veine, I hold it fully as good to let him bloud vpon the necke veine; which done, giue him to drinke two howres and a halfe after, this drinke. Take the iuice of a hand∣ful of purslaine, and mixe it with gumdragant, anise seedes, and damaske rose leaues beaten to powder; then put them into a quart of strong ale made sweete either with sugarcandy or hony, and faile not to giue him this drinke three mornings together, keeping the horse warme during his sicknesse.

CHAP. 23. Of the Feuer taken in the winter season.

A Feuer taken in the winter, is not so dangerous touching the life of a horse, as the feuer before mentioned; yet is it a feuer which will continue long, and aske great circumspection in the cure: the causes thereof are the same which are formerly described; and the signes are no other then hath bene already de∣clared. Touching the cure it is thus: you shall first purge his head by making him neese, that done you shall let him bloud both in the necke, and the palate of the mouth, and then two howres and a halfe after, giue him this drinke. Take of treus three ounces, of round pepper halfe an ounce, of bay berries and the seede of smallage, of each halfe an ounce; boyle these in white wine, and giue it him to drinke luke warme. Other Farriers vse to take a pint of new milke, and to put therein two ounces of sallet oyle, of saffron one scruple, & of mirre two scruples, of the seede of smal∣lage

a spoonefull, and to make him drinke it luke warme; but the horse which taketh this drinke, must be in good strength, for it he be brought low, it is somewhat too strong.

The ancient Italians did vse for this feuer, to giue this drinke: Take of Aristolochia halfe an ounce, of Gentian, of Hysop, of wormwood, of Southerwoort, of each halfe an ounce, of dry fat figges three ounces, of the seede of smallage an ounce and an halfe, of rue halfe an handfull; boyle them all with running water in a cleane vessel, vntil almost halfe be consumed; then when it beginnes to thicken, take it from the fire, straine it, and giue it the horse luke warme. Now there are not any of these drinkes but are sufficient for the cure; but the first is best. Now for his dyet, be sure to keepe him fasting long before his fits come, and let his drinke be onely warme mashes of malt and water. Now if you perceiue that his fits continue, and bring the horse to any weaknesse, you shall then to comfort and quicken the natural heate of the horse, rubbe and chafe all his body ouer, either in the Sunne, or by some softe fire with some wholsome friction, of which frictions you shall finde choyce in a particular chap∣ter hereafter following, together with their seuerall natures and vses.

CHAP. 24. Of the Feuer which cometh by surfaite of meate onely.

THe Feuer which cometh by surfaite of meate one∣ly, without either disorder in trauell of corrupti∣on of bloud, is knowne by these signes: The horse

will heaue and beate vpon his backe, his breath will be short, hot, and dry, and his winde he will draw on∣ly at his nose with great violence. The cure therefore is, you shall let him bloud in his necke, vnder his eyes, and in the ••••late of his mouth, you shall also purge his head by making him nee••e; then keepe him with very thin dyet, that is, let him fast for more then halfe of the day, and let him not drinke aboue once 〈◊〉〈◊〉 foure and twenty houres, and that drinke to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••arme water: you shal also once or twice chafe his body with wholesome friction; and if during his cure he chance to grow costiue, you shall cause him to be raked, and afterward giue him either a suppositary, or a glister, of both which, and of their seuerall natures, you shall reade sufficiently in a chapter following.

CHAP. 25. Of Feuers extraordinary, and first of Pestilent Feuers.

WE find by many ancient Italian Writers, that both the Romans, and others their country¦men, haue by experience found many arrow_back horses arrow_forward subiect to this pestilent feuer, which is a most contagious and pestiferous disease, almost incurable; & for mine own part, I haue seene it in many colts and young arrow_back horses arrow_forward . Surely it proceedeth, as I iudge, either from great cor∣ruption of bloud, or from infection of the aire. The signes thereof is, the horse will hold downe his head, forsake his meate, shed much water at his eyes, and many times haue swellings or vlcers rising a little be∣low his eare rootes. The cure is, first you shall not faile to let him bloud in the necke veine: then two or

three howres after you shall giue him a glister: then make this plaister: Take of squilla fiue ounces, of el∣der, of castoreum, of mustard-seed, and of euforbium, of each two ounces; dissolue the same in the iuice of daffadill and sage, and lay it all about the temples of his head, and betweene his eares: then giue him to drinke for three or foure dayes together, euery mor∣ning, two ounces of the best treacle dissolued in a pint of good muskadine. The Italians vse to giue him diuers mornings, a pound of the iuice of elder roots, or in stead of his hay, a good quantity of that hearbe which is called Venus haire; but if the time of the yeare be such that they cannot haue it greene, then they boyle it in water, and straine it▪ and giue it him to drinke; but I hold the first drinke to be most suffici∣ent, his dyet being thin, and his keeping warme.

CHAP. 26. Of the Plague or pestilence in arrow_back Horses arrow_forward , of some cal∣led the gargill, or murraine.

THis pestilence, murraine, or gargill in arrow_back horses arrow_forward , is a contagious and most infectious disease, procee∣ding either from surfaite of heate, cold, labour, or hunger, or any other thing breeding corrupt hu∣mours in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, as the holding too long of his vrine, drinking when he is hot, or feeding vpon grosse foule & corrupt foods, as in low grounds after flouds, when the grasse is vnpurged, & such like. Somtimes it springs from som euil influence of the planets, corrup∣ting the plants and fruites of the earth, and cattell too somtimes also, & from diuers other such like causes; but howsoeuer, when the disease beginneth, certaine it is,

that it is most infectious, and if there be not care and preuention vsed, of multitudes it will not leaue one. Not any of the ancient Italian Farriers, nor any of our English Farriers that I haue met with, do or can yeeld me any signe or token to know this disease, more then that one or two must first dye, & then by their deaths I must adiudge & preuent what wil follow; but they are mistaken: for this disease is as easily known by outward ••ignes as any disease whatsoeuer, as namely the horse will first begin to lowre and hang downe his head; & within two or three dayes after such lowring, you shal see him begin to swell vnder his eare rootes, or vnder the rootes of his tongue, and that swelling will run vniuersally ouer all one side of his face, being very ex∣treme hard and great. Moreouer all his lips, mouth, & whites of his eyes, will be exceeding yellow, and his breath will be strong, and stinke exceedingly.

The cure of this disease, according to the maner of the Italians & French men, is first to separate the sound from the sicke, euen a farre distance from that aire where the sicke breatheth: then let them bloud in the necke veines, and giue euery one seuerally to drinke, two spoonefull of the powder of Diapente brewd in a pint of strong sacke; of the composition of which Di∣apente, and of the particular vertues thereof, you shall reade in a chapter following. If you cannot readily get this Diapente, you may then take a pint of Muska∣dine, and dissolue it in two ounces of the best treacle, and it will serue the turne. Questionlesse these medi∣cines are both exceeding good, for they are great pre∣seruatiues against all inward infections; yet that which I haue found, farre to exceede them, and to be most excellent not onely for this plague amongst arrow_back horses arrow_forward ,

but for the plague or murraine (of some called the mountaine euill) amongst beasts, is this. Take a good quantity of old vrine, and mixe therewithall a good quantity of hens dung, stirre them well together till the dung be dissolued: then with a horne giue to e∣uery horse of beast a pint thereof luke warme. This haue I seene helpe hundreds.

CHAP. 27. Of the Feuer accidentall, coming by some wound receiued.

IF a horse shal receiue any grieuous and sore wound, either by stroake or thrust, by which any of the vi∣tall powers are let or hindred: certaine it is that the paine and anguish of such wounds will bring a horse to a hot feuer, and then his life is in great danger: be∣sides, a horse being naturally subiect to moist distillati∣on in his throate, there will many times rise therein great swellings and vlcers, through the paine whereof a horse will fall into a burning ague. The signs where∣of are, that he will couet much to drinke, but cannot drinke, and his flesh will fall away in much extraor∣dinary fashion. The cure besides the remedies before mentioned, is, to let him bloud vnder his eares and in the mouth: and then to take a fine manchet, & cut∣ting it in slices, steep it in muskadine, and compel him to swallow them: it shall also be good if once in three ••ayes you steepe your manchet in sallet oyle, and make him eate it. As for his drinke let it be onely warme mashes of malt and water, which if he cannot drinke, you shall then giue it him with a horne. And thus much touching feuers both ordinary & extraor∣dinary.

CHAP. 28. Of the diseases in the head.

AS a arrow_back horses arrow_forward head is composed of many parts, so are those many parts subiect to many and sundry grieuances, as namely, the panicles or thin skins, which cleauing to the bones, do couer the whole braine, are subiect to headache, mygram, dizinesse, and ama∣zes; the whole braine it selfe, is properly subiect to breede the frenzie, madnesse, sleeping euill, the ta∣king, and forgetfulnesse. And here is to be noted, that many Farriers, and those of approued good skils, haue strongly held opinions, that arrow_back horses arrow_forward haue very little or no braines at all: and my selfe for mine owne part, being carried away with their censures, did at last vpon good considerations ••ut vp the heades of diuers arrow_back horses arrow_forward , some dead, some in dying, and I could neuer find any liquid or thin braine, as in other beasts, but onely a very thicke, strong, tough, and shining sub∣stance, solid and firme, like a tough ielly, which I e∣uer held to be onely a panycle, and so resolued with others that a horse had no braine; but after vpon fur∣ther discourse with men of better learning, I had this solution giuen me: That a horse being a beast of extra∣ordinary strength and ability, made euen to endure the worst of all extremities, either by sore labour or heauy burthen, that nature in his creation had en∣dowed him with members answerable to such vigor: as namely, that his braine was not liquid and moist, as subiect to fleet, or to be distempered with euery small disorder; but tough and hard, euen vnpen••trable, and not to be pierst by any reasonable motion. And for the panicles, they shewed me those thin skinnes ouer

and besides that great substance; so that by experi∣ence I saw, and now know, that a horse hath both brain and a panicle, and in them two are bred the dis∣eases before mentioned. Now in the ventricles, or cels of the braine, & in those conduits by which the liuely spirits giue feeling and motion to the body, there do breede the turne-sicke or sturdy, the staggers, the falling euill, the night mare, the apoplexie, the palsey, and conuulsion, or crampe, the catharre, or rheume, and lastly the glaunders. And thus much of the head in generall.

CHAP. 29. Of head-ache, or paine in the head.

THe head-ache is a paine that commeth either of some inward cause, or of some cholericke humor, gathered together in the panicles of the braine, or else of some extreame heate or cold, or of some suddaine blow, or of some noysome sauour. The signes are the hanging downe of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward head & eares, drop∣ping of his vrine, dimnesse of sight, swolne and wa∣trish eyes. The cure according to the opinion of some of our English Farriers, is to let him bloud in the eye veines, and to squirt warme water into his nosthrels, and for that day giue him no meate; the next morning fasting, giue him warm water and some grasse, at night giue him barley and fitches mixt toge∣ther, and so keepe him warme till he be sound; but this cure I do not fancy, the best help is first, to make him neese by fuming him, then let him bloud in the palate of the mouth, and keepe him fasting at least twelue howres after: then powre into his nosthrels

wine, wherein hath bene sodden euforbium, frankin∣sence, and after feede him, and keepe his heade warme.

CHAP. 30. Of the frenzie and madnesse of a horse.

THe madnesse of a horse by the most ancient and best approued Farriers, is diuided into foure pas∣sions: the first is when some naughty bloud doth strike the panicle of the braine but in one part onely, it presently makes the horse dull both of minde and sight: and you shall know it by this signe, the horse will turne round like a beast that is troubled with the sturdy; the reason being, because the outside of the head is grieued onely. The second is when the poyson of such bloud doth infect the middle part of the braine: then the horse becommeth franticke, leaping against walles or any thing. The third is when that bloud filleth the veines of the stomacke, and infecteth as well the heart as the braine, then is he said to be madde. But the fourth and last is when that bloud not onely infecteth the braine and heart, but euen the panicles also, and then he is said to be starke madde, which you shall know by his biting at euery man which comes neere him, by his gnawing of the man∣ger and walles about him. And lastly by tearing of his owne skin in peeces. Now for the cure, you shall cause him to be let bloud in all the lower parts of his body, to draw the bloud from his head, as namely, on the shackell veines, the spurre veines, the plat veines, and the thigh veines, and you shall let him bloud a∣boundantly, then giue him this drinke: Take the roote

of wild cowcumber, or where that cannot be gotten, take a handfull of rue and mints, and a handfull of blacke elleborus, and boyle them in strong red wine, and giue it luke warme to the horse in a horne. Some vse to giue mans dung with wine, three mornings to∣gether; and also to rubbe his body ouer with a fricti∣on at least twice a day, and not to faile to giue him moderate exercise. Other vse to pierce the skinne of his head with a hot yron, to let out the ill humours. Others as the most certaine of all medicines, vse to geld him of both, or one stone at the least; but I like it not for mine owne part: the cure I haue euer vsed for this griefe, was either to make him swallow down hard hens dung, or else to giue him to drinke the root of Virgapastoris st••mpt in water; and for his ordering during the cure, I would haue his stable quyet, but not close, and his foode onely warme mashes of malt and water, yet but a very little at one time, for the thinnest dyet is best.

CHAP. 31. Of the Sleeping euill, or Lethargie in arrow_back horses arrow_forward .

THe sleeping euill is an infirmity which maketh a horse to sleepe continually, depriuing him there∣by both of memory, appetite, and all alacrity of spirit. It is most incident to white and dunne horse, because it proceedeth only from flegme, cold & grosse, which moysturing the braine too much, causeth heauinesse and sleepe: There needes no other signe more then his sleeping onely. The cure is to keepe him waking whether he will or no, with great noises and affrights▪ then let him bloud in the necke, and the palate of the

mouth, and giue him to drinke water luke warme, wherein hath bene boyled camomill, mother woort, wheate, branne, salt and vinegar; you shall also per∣sume his head, and make him neese, and annoynt the palate of his mouth with hony and mustard mixt to∣gether: it shall not be amisse if with the ordinary wa∣ter which he drinketh, you mixe either parsley seede, or fennell seede, for that will prouoke vrine, you shall also bath his legges and stop his houes with bran, salt, and vinegar boyled together, and applyed as hot as may be, and his stable would be lightsome and full of noyse.

CHAP. 32. Of a Horse that is taken, or of shrow running.

THose arrow_back horses arrow_forward are supposed by Farriers to be taken, or as some call it, planet strooke, which are de∣priued of feeling or of mouing, not being able to stirre any member, but remaineth in the same forme as he was at his time of taking. Some hold it proceedeth from choler and fleame, when they are superaboun∣dantly mixt together, or of melancholy bloud, which being a cold dry humour, doth oppresse and sicken the hinder part of the braine. Other ancient Farriers hold, it cometh of some extreme cold, or extreme heate, or raw disgestion, striking into the empty veins suddainly; or else of extreme hunger caused by long fasting. The signes thereof are numbnesse, and want of motion before spoken of: as for the cure, it is di∣uers; for first you must note whether it come of cold, or heate; if it come of cold, you shall know it by the

stuffing and poze in the head, which euer is ioyned with the disease: if of heate, by the hotnesse of his breath, and cleare fetching of his winde. Now if it proceed from cold, you shall giue him to drinke one ounce of Lacerpitium mixt with sallet oyle and mus∣kadine luke warme: if it proceede of heate, you shall giue one ounce of Lacerpitium with water and hony luke warme; but if it proceede of crudity or raw dis∣gestion, then you shall helpe him by fasting; and if it proceede of fasting, then you shall heale him by fee∣ding him often with good meate, as with wholesome bread, and dry oates; yet but a little at a time, that he may euer eate with a good stomacke.

Now for the French Farriers, as Monsieur Horace and the rest, who call this disease Surprius, they hold it cometh onely from cold causes, following hot acci∣dents; and they vse for their cure to let him bloud on the breast veines, and then put him into a sweate, ei∣ther by exercise, or multiplicity of clothes, but many clothes is better, because the horse is not capable of labour: and sometimes they will bury him all saue the head in an old dunghill, till throuh the heate thereof his limbs receiue such feeling that he begins to strug∣gle out of the same. All which cures are not much a∣misse; yet in mine opinion, this is the best, easiest, and surest way: First to let him bloud in the necke and breast, then to annoynt all his body with oyle Petroli∣um, then giue him this drinke. Take of malmsey three pints, and mixe it with a quarterne of sugar, cynamon and cloues, and let him drinke it luke warme: then take old rotten wet litter, and for want thereof, wet hay, and with clothes, sursingles and cords, swaddle al his whole body ouer with the same of a good thick∣nesse,

and renew it once in three daies till he be whole, let his stable be warme, his exercise moderate, and if he grow costiue, let him first be raked, and after giue him either a glister, or a suppositary, according to his strength. There is also another kinde of taking, and that is when a horse is planet strooke, or stricken with thunder; but it is vtterly vncurable, and therefore I will omit to speake further of it. The last kinde of ta∣king is when a horse is shrow runne, that when a horse lieth sleeping, there is a certain venemous field mouse, called a shrow, whose head is extraordinary long, like a swines head, and her feete shorter of the one side then the other. This mouse if she happen to runne o∣uer any of the limbes of the horse, presently the horse leeseth the vse of that limbe she ranne ouer; and if she runne ouer his body, he commonly leeseth the vse of his hinder loynes; and these accidents hauing bene often found vnexpected, common Farriers haue held the horse to be taken, or planet strooke. As for the cure thereof, the best is to seeke out a bryer which groweth at both ends, and take the horse or beast that is thus vexed, and draw him vnder the same, and it is a present remedy. For mine owne part, I haue heard much, both of the infirmity, and of the cure, but I haue had no experience of it, but only in one yong foale, which being suddainly lame, was as suddainly helped to my much contentment.

CHAP. 33. Of the Staggers.

THe staggers is a dizzy madnesse of the braine, proceeding from corrupt bloud, or grosse, tough,

and heauy humours, which oppresse and make sicke the braine, and from whence proceedeth a vaporous spirit, dissolued by a weake heate which troubleth all the whole heade; it is almost of all diseases the most common, yet very mortall and dangerous: it cometh many times from surfaite of meate, surfaite of trauell, or from corruption of bloud. The signes to know it, is dimnesse of sight, swolne and watrish eyes, a moyst mouth, staggering and reeling of the horse, and bea∣ting of his head against the walles, or thrusting it into his litter. The cure is diuers, for almost euery Smith hath a seueral medicine, yet these which I shal rehearse are the most approued. The ancient Farriers, both Italians and Fren••h, vse to let the horse bloud in the temple veines, and then with a knife make a hole of an inch long, ouerthwart his forehead, vnderneath his foretop, and raising the skinne vp with a cornet some two or three inches about, stop the hollownesse with a taint dipt in turpentine and hogges grease molten together; but some of our Smiths finding this cure faile, except the disease be very young, vse to stoppe the hollownesse with a docke roote. Others with a cloue or two of garlicke. Others vse for this disease to take selladine, and stamping it, to stoppe it into his eares, and so tye vp his eares, or stitch the tippes of his eares together, that he may not shake the medicine out. Others vse to mixe salt and water together thicke, & to put it into his eares. Others vse to mixe ground∣fill and and aquauitae together, and to put that into his eares. Others vse to take garlicke, rue, and bay∣salt, and beate them grosly, then mixe vineger with them, and put it into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward eares, then wet wolle or tow in the medicine, and stoppe that in his eares

also: let the medicine rest so foure and twenty houres, and if he forsake his meate, wash his tongue with vi∣negar, and it wil recouer his stomacke. Others vse, first to perfume the arrow_back horses arrow_forward head to make him neese, then to take halfe a handfull of selladine, and as much hearb of grace, three or foure cloues of garlicke, and a little bay salt, and stampe them all together: then mixe therwith two or three spoonful of vinegar or verdges, and thrust it hard into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward eares: then tye vp his eares with a soft inckle string, that no aire may come in, and let this medicine remaine the space of a day and a night: then let him bloud in the neck veine, and giue him a comfortable drench, of which dren∣ches you shall find great plenty, together with their vses in a chapter following. There be some Smiths which onely take rue and selladine, of each like quan∣tity, and stamping them with white salt, thrust it into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward eare, and it helpeth. Others take an ounce and a halfe of the oyle of bitter almonds, two drams of an oxe gall, an halfe peny in blacke Ellaber stam∣ped, and fiue drams of the graines of Casterum, vinegar and verdges; seeth them all together till the vinegar be consumed, then straine them, and put it into the hor∣ses eares. All these medicines haue bene diuers times approued to be singular good, and for mine owne part I haue found great effect in them; yet that which I haue found at all times most excellent, is, if the dis∣ease be young and early taken (that is, before the horse be growne into any extremity of weaknesse) to take onely verdges and bay salt, and mixing them well to∣gether, to stoppe it into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward eares. But if the disease be old, and the horse brought to a desperate state of mortality, then you shall take Assafetida, and

hauing dissolued it in vinegar, warme it vpon a chaf∣fing dish and coales, and with round balles of towe, thrust it hard into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward eares, and so bind them vp for foure and twenty howres, after which time giue him a comfortable drink. Now whereas some Smiths do vse to stampe aqua-vitae and garlicke together, and stoppe that into his eares, I for my part, thinke it too strong, except the horse be in great lust, and full of flesh, which if he be, doubtlesse it may do well inough.

CHAP. 34. Of the Falling euill.

THis falling euil, or as the Italians call it, this Malea∣duco, is nothing else but that which we call in men the falling sicknesse, in beasts the falling euill: for it doth for a certaine season, depriue them of all sense whatsoeuer, it is a disease not commonly incident to our English races; but amongst the Italian, Spanish and French arrow_back horses arrow_forward , many times found. Now considering that the most of our best English stables are furnished euer with some arrow_back horses arrow_forward of these countries, I thinke it not amisse to write something touching the disease. It proceedeth from cold and grosse fleame gathered to∣gether in the forepart of the head, betwixt the pani∣cle and the braine, which being by any hot vapour disperst ouer the whole braine, it doth instantly cause this falling. There be others which suppose that it is gouerned by the Moone; and that by a certaine course thereof both arrow_back horses arrow_forward and other beasts do fall, and as it were, dye for a small time. The signes to know the disease is, the horse will fall suddainly, both through

the resolution of his members, and the dissention of his sinewes; all his body will quake and quiuer, and they will foame much at their mouthes; yet when you thinke them past all hope of life, they will start vp suddenly and fall to their meate. Now if you will know whether these fits will come often or but sel∣dome, you shall feele the gristle betwixt his nosthrels, and if it be cold he will fall oft, but if it be warme he will fall seldome. The cure is, you shall first let him bloud on the necke veine, taking good store of bloud away: then within foure or fiue dayes after, you shall let him bloud on his temple veines, and on his eye veines: then annoint all his body ouer with a comfor∣table friction, then bathe his head and eares with oyle de bay, liquid pitch and tarre mixt together, and of the same put some into his eares: then make him a cap or bgigin of canuasse quilted with wolle, to keep his head warme: then giue him a purgation or scouring, of which you shall find plenty in a chapter hereafter: you shall also force him to neese, but if the disease notwithstanding continue still, you shall then with a hot yron pierce the skin of his forehead in diuers pla∣ces, and after annoynt it with sweet butter, for there∣by you shall draw out the grosse humours which do oppresse the braine; and in any wise during the time that he remaineth in phisicke, let his stable be kept ex∣ceeding warme, and his dyet thin.

CHAP. 35. Of the Night-mare.

THis disease which we call the Night-mare, is an infirmity which onely troubleth the horse in the

night season, stopping the drawing of his breath, in such violent sort, that with the struggling and striuing he will be driuen into a great sweat and faintnesse: it proceedeth, according to the opinion of ancient Farriers, from a continuall crudity o•• raw disgestion of the stomacke, from whence grosse vapours ascen∣ding vp into the head, doe not onely oppresse the braine, but all the sensitiue parts also. Now for my part, I rather hold it an infirmity of the stomacke and inward bowels, which being cloyed with much glut and fat, doth in the night season so hinder the spirits and powers from doing their naturall office, that the beast hauing, as it were, his breath strangled, doth with an vnnaturall struggling in his sleepe, put his body into an extreme sweat, and with that passion is brought to much faintnesse; of which I haue had much and continuall experi••nce, onely in arrow_back horses arrow_forward ex∣ceeding fat and newly taken from the grasse, but espe∣cially from such arrow_back horses arrow_forward as are either fatted vpon eddish grasse, which in some countries is called after-maths; or such as are taken vp fat in the winter season. The signes to know this disease is, that in the morning when you come early to your horse, you shall finde him all of a great sweate, and his body something panting; or perhaps you shall but only find him sweat in his flankes, vpon his necke, and at the rootes of his eares: either of both are signes of this sicknesse, espe∣cially if at night when you litter him, you finde that he is dry of his body, and giueth no outward signe of inward sicknesse. Now there be some that will ob∣iect against me, and say: that this infirmity is not the night-mare, but an ordinary infirmity ingendred by superfluity of cold, grosse, and vnwholesome food,

got in the winter season: which nature, through the helpe of warme clothes, and a warme house, expels in this manner, in the night season. To this obiection I answer, that if they do disallow this sicknesse to be the night-mare, that then without all contradiction, there is no such disease as the night-mare at all, and that it is but only a name without any substance or consequence; but forasmuch as this sicknesse is not onely very vsuall, but also carrieth with it all the ef∣fects and attributes ascribed vnto the night-mare, and that it is as yet a disease vnnamed, I do not think I can giue it a more proper terme then to call it the night-mare. The cure whereof is, euery morning and eue∣ning, both before and after his water, to giue the horse some moderate exercise, as to make him go at least a mile and more for his water; and after he is watered, to gallop him gently on the hand a good space: then when he is brought into the house, and well rubbed, to giue him his prouender, being oates, and to mixe therewith a handfull or better of hempseede; onely in this cure you must be carefull, that your exercise do not enforce him to sweate, nor shall you haue need to vse it longer then you finde that he sweateth much in the night season. This exercise and medicine will not onely cure this infirmity, but also any cold that is newly gotten whatsoeuer.

CHAP. 36. Of the Apoplexie or Palsey.

THese palseyes or apoplexies which happen vnto arrow_back horses arrow_forward , are of two sorts: the one generall, the o∣ther particular. The generall palsey is when a horse is

depriued of all sense and mouing generally ouer his whole body, which is seldome or neuer found out by our Farriers; because the mortality and suddainnesse of death which pursues the disease, takes from them all notes & obseruations of the infirmity: and indeed for the generall palsey there is no cure, and therefore there needs no description of signe or cure. For the particu∣lar palsey, that is, when a horse is depriued but of some part or member of his body, and most commonly it is but the necke onely, as both my selfe and others haue found by dayly experience. The disease proce∣deth from foulnesse of foode, or from fenne feeding, which breedeth grosse, cold, and tough humours, which ioyning with crudities and raw disgestions, oppresse the braine violently altogether; it also cometh many times by meanes of some blow or wound gi∣uen vpon the temples of the head. The signes to know the disease, are the gathering together of his body, go∣ing crookedly, and not straight forward but seldome, and holding his necke awry without motion; yet ne∣uer forsaking his prouender or meate, but eating it with greedinesse and much slauering. The cure is to let him bloud on his necke veine, and temple veine, on the contrary side to that way he wryeth: then an∣noynt all his necke ouer with the oyle Petroleum, and with wet hay ropes swaddle all his necke ouer, euen from his breast to his eares, but hauing before splen∣ted his necke straight with splents of wood, made strong, smooth & flat for the purpose: then for 3 mor∣nings together, giue him a pint of old muskadine with two spoonefull of this powder to drinke. Take of Opoponax two ounces, of Storax three ounces, of Gentian three ounces, of Manna Su••carie three ounces,

of Mirre one scruple, and of long pepper two scruples; beate all these into fine powder. Now there be some Farriers, which for this disease vse to draw the arrow_back horses arrow_forward necke on the contrary side, with a hot yron, euen from the necke to the shoulder, and on the temple of his head, of that side also, a long strike, and on the other a little starre in this maner,

[illustration]

, and from his reines to his midde backe, small lines in this maner.

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But I that know this sicknesse proceedeth from the braine and sinewes, cannot conceiue how any helpe should come from burning of the skinne, because it is the sinewes themselues, and not the skinne, that is drawne vp and straightned: and therefore I would wish euery Farrier to forbeare this tormenting, vnlesse he apparantly see that the skinne it selfe, through dis∣like and weaknesse is shrunke also, and then the cure is not amisse.

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 arrow_back horses arrow_forward , 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 arrow_back horses arrow_forward backe, & so almost vniuersally ouer the arrow_back horses arrow_forward 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.

CHAP. 38. Of the cold or Poze in the head.

THe cold or poze in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward head is gotten by di∣uers suddaine and vnseene meanes, according to the temper and constitution of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, in so much that the best keeper whatsoeuer cannot some∣times warrant his horse from that infirmity. Now ac∣cording as this cold is old or new, great or small, and according to the aboundance of humours which a∣bound in the head, and as those humours are of thick∣nesse or thinnesse, so is the disease & the danger there∣of greater or lesser, stronger or weaker. For you shall vnderstand that if the horse haue but onely a cold that is newly taken, the signes are, he will haue many knots like waxe kyrnels betweene his chaules about the rootes of his tongue; his head will be somewhat heauy, and from his nosthrels will runne a certaine cleare water; but if about his tongue rootes be any great swelling, or inflammation like a mighty botch or bile, then it is the strangle; but if from his nosthrels do issue any thicke, stincking or corrupt matter, then it is the glanders, of both which we shall speake here∣after in their proper places. Now for this ordinary cold which is ordinarily taken (the signes whereof besides his much coughing are before declared,) you shall vnderstand that for the cure being very easie, it is helped sundry wayes: some cure it onely by purging his head with pils of butter and garlicke, the manner whereof you shall finde in the chapter of purgations. Other Farriers cure it with purging his head with fumes, and forcing him to neese, the manner whereof is in the chapter of neesing; which done, you shall ••••••••

because those kyrnels are called of the Italians, Glandu∣le, that thence we borrow this word glaunders; ad∣ding moreouer that a horse which is troubled with this disease, hath great kyrnels vnderneath his iawes, easie to be felt, paining him so that he cannot eate or swallow any thing. Others say, it is a swel∣ling vpon the iawe bones great and hard, which being inflamed doth putrifie and rot; but both these opini∣ons I hold erronious: for although our old Farriers might (according to the custome of our nation which loueth the imitation of strangers) borow this word glanders from the Italian Glandule; yet these inflamma∣tions vnder the chappes of the tongue rootes, is that disease which we call the strangle, and not the glaun∣ders; and whereas they would call the strangle the Quinzie, or Squinancie, there is no such matter, neither hath a horse any such disease, except they will call the Viues, by that name which is farre more fitter for the application.

Now for the glaunders, you shall vnderstand that it is a running impostume ingendred either by cold, or by famine, or by long thirst, or by eating corrupt and musty meate, or by being kept in vnsauery places, or is taken by standing with infected arrow_back horses arrow_forward . It is a ga∣thering together of moyst and corrupt humours, which runneth at the nose; or may be said to be a fluxe of rheume, which issueth sometimes at one, some∣times at both the nosthrels: the cause being the wide∣nesse of the passage, so that the cold liberally entring into the braine, bindeth and crusheth it in such man∣ner that it maketh the humours there to distill; which descending to the spirituall parts, and possessing them, in the end suffocates the horse either by their aboun∣dance,

or killeth him by corrupting the principall parts; or else by coniealing there by little and little, ouerrunneth the naturall heate. Now that distillati∣on that by cold cometh from the braine and breedeth this glanders, is of three sorts. The first is a cold which maketh indigest humours to passe from the braine, which cometh by taking off the saddle suddainly when the horse is hot, or by letting him drinke before he be inwardly cooled, or before his body be dryed: this distillation commonly is slimy matter that smels not, and is easie to be cured: for it is no inward vlcer, but only abundance of humor, the substance where∣of is grosse and white. The second is a greater cold, ingendred and coniealed, causing humors something thin and slimy, of the colour of marrow, or the white of an egge: this descendeth to the throate and lyeth there till it be discharged through the nosthrels. The third is by long continuance thicker and therfore har∣der to be cured: if the colour thereof be yellow, like a beane, then is the glaunders most desperate, and ly∣eth also in his throate; but if it be a browne or darkish yellow, then commonly a feuer will accompany the disease. To these three distillations there is common∣ly added a fourth, which is, when the matter which comes from his nose, is darke, thinne, and reddish, like little sparkes of bloud; but then is it not said to be the glaunders, but the mourning of the chine, which is a disease for the most part, held incurable. It is therefore most necessary for euery good Farrier, when he shall take this cure in hand, to consider well the matter which issueth from the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nose: for if the humour be cleare and transparent, so that it may be seene through, then it is not greatly hurtfull, or of

much moment. If it be white, it is worse, yet with much ease cured. If it be yellow, separate him from the sound arrow_back horses arrow_forward , for he is infectious, yet to be cured: if that yellow be mixt with bloud, it is with much difficulty helped; or if the matter be like vnto saffron, the horse is as hardly to be saued: he must also consider whether the matter stinke or haue lost the smell: the first is a signe of an vlcer, the latter of death: also whe∣ther he cougheth with straightnesse in his chest or no: for that also is a signe of an inward vlcer, and that the disease is past cure. Now for the cure of these three distillations, which are all that make vp a complete glaunders, you shall vnderstand that when the glaun∣ders is of the first sort, it is easily helped by moderate exercise, and by warme keeping; but if it be of the se∣cond sort, you shall giue him warme mashes of malt & water, and perfume his head well, and purge it by neesing: and into his mashes you shall put fennell seedes bruised. Others wil take a pint of white wine, a handfull of soote, a quart of milke and two heads of garlike bruised; brew them together, and giue it the horse to drinke. Others will take a pottell of vrine, a handfull of baysalt, and a good quantity of browne sugarcandy, boyle it to a quart: then adde licoras and anise seedes beaten to fine powder, and giue it luke warme to drinke. Others will take larde or swines grease, and boyle it in water: then take the fatte from the water, and mingle it with a little oile oliue, a good quantity of vrine, & halfe as much white wine; giue a quart of this luke warme to drinke. Others vse to giue of ale a quart, of grated bread an ounce and a halfe, the yolkes of two egges, of ginger, saffron, cloues, cy∣namon, nutmegs, cardimonium, spicknard or lauen∣der,

galingale and hony, of each a pretty quantity; mixe these together, and giue it to drinke. Now if the distillation be of the third sort, which is the worst of the three, you shall take halfe a pound of swines bloud, and melt it at the fire, adde to it a pound of the iuice of beets, with three ounces of Euforbium finely beaten; and when it hath boyled a little, take it from the fire, and adde an another ounce of Euforbium to it: keepe this oyntment, and annoynt therewith two ve∣ry long feathers, or little roddes, lapt with linnen a∣bout; and so annoynted, put them into his nostrhrels, and after rubbing them vp and downe, tye them to the nose-band of the bridle, and walke him abroad: do thus three dayes together, and it will either absolutely cure him, or at least take away the eye sore. Others vse to take a quart of ale, an halfe peny worth of long pepper, a little brimstone, and a penny worth of Ga∣lingal, two peniworth of spygnal of Spaine, two peny waight of saffron brayed, with two ounces of butter boyled in the ale; when it is luke warme, cast the horse and holding vp his head, powre it equally into his nosthrels: then hold his nosthrels close till his eyes stare, and that he sweate; which done, giue him bayes and ale to drinke: then let him rise, and set him vp warme, feeding him with warme graines and salt, or with sweet mashes; but the best is, if the weather be warme, to let him runne abroad at grasse. Other Far∣riers vse to dissolue in vinegar three drams of mustard-seede, and as much Euforbium: then to giue him one dram at his nosthrell euery day before he drinke. O∣thers vse to take of Mirre, Iris Illyrica, seedes of smal∣lage, Aristolochia, of each three ounces, Sal-niter, Brim∣ston, of each fiue ounces, bayes, two ounces, saffron

one ounce; make this into powder, and when you giue it, giue part in pils, made with paste and wine, and part by the nosthrels with strong ale: do this for the space of three dayes at the least. Others vse to take of malmsey a pint, of strong ale a pint, of aqua-vitae foure spoonefull, and brew them together with a pre∣ty quantity of anise seeds, licoras, ellocampane roots, long pepper, garlicke, and three or foure new layed egges, and a little buter; giue this luke warme to drink: then walke him abroad, and set him vp warme: do thus euery other day for a weeke together. Others vse to take stale vrine that hath stood three or foure daies, and ten garlicke heades, and seething them together, giue it the horse to drinke. Others vse to take swines grease well clarified, and as much oyle de bay as a wal∣nut, and giue it the horse to drinke with faire water luke warme. Others vse to take of ellocampane, anise seeds and licoras, of each one peny worth, boyle them in three pints of ale or beere til one pint be consumed; then adde vnto it a quarter of a pint of sallet oyle, and giue it him to drinke luke warme: then with a quill blow Euforbium vp into his nosthrels, and within three dayes after, take mustard foure spoonefull, vi∣negar a pint and an halfe, butter three ounces, boyle them together, then adde thereto halfe an ounce of pepper, and giue it the horse luke warme to drinke: vse this medicine a fortnight. Others vse to take a handfull of pild garlicke, and boyle it in a quart of milke till a pint be consumed: then adde thereto two ounces of sweet butter, and a pint of strong ale, stirre them well together, and giue it the horse fasting to drinke luke warme: which done, ride him a little vp and downe, and vse this the space of nine dayes.

Thus I haue shewed you the opinions & practise of all the best Farriers both of this kingdome and of others, & they be all very good & effectual; yet for mine own part, that which I haue found euer the best in my pra∣ctise is, if the disease be of the first or second sort, to giue the horse to drinke fasting euery morning for a fort∣night together, a pint of strong ale, and fiue spoone∣full of the oyle of oates, the making of which oyle, you shall reade in a particular chapter following; but if the disease be of the third sort, which is most des∣perate, you shall then take of Tanners ouse a pint, and of new milke a pint, and of oyle oliue halfe a pint, and the quantity of a head of garlicke brui∣sed, and a little turmericke; mixe these well toge∣ther, and giue it the horse to drinke: do this thrice in one fortnight, and it will helpe if any helpe be to be had.

CHAP. 41. Of the mourning of the Chine.

THis disease which we call the mourning of the chine, or as some Farriers terme it, the moist mala∣dy, is that fourth sort of corrupt distillation from the braine, of which we haue spoken in the chapter be∣fore, shewing from whence it proceedes, and the signes thereof; to wit, that the corrupt matter which issueth from his nosthrels, will be darke, thinne, and reddish, with little streakes of bloud in it. It is suppo∣sed by some Farriers, that this disease is a foule con∣sumption of the liuer, and I do not dissent from that opinion: for I haue found the liuer wasted in those arrow_back horses arrow_forward which I haue opened vpon this disease; and

this consumption proceedes from a cold, which after growes to a poze, then to a glaunders, and lastly to this mourning of the chine.

The cure whereof, according to the opinion of the oldest Farriers, is to take cleare water, and that hony which is called Hydromel a quart, and put thereunto three ounces of sallet oyle, and powre it into his no∣strels each morning the space of three dayes; & if that helpe not, then giue him to drinke euery day, or once in two dayes at the least, a quart of old wine mingled with some of the soueraigne medicine called Tetra∣pharmacum, which is to be had almost of euery Apo∣thecary. Others vse to take garlicke, houslicke & cher∣uill; and stamping them together, to thrust it vp into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nostrels.

Others vse to let the horse fast all night; then take a pint and a halfe of milke, three heads of garlicke pild & stamped; boyle them to the halfe, and giue it to the horse, some at the mouth and some at the nose; then gallop him a quarter of a mile, then rest him; then gallop him halfe a mile, and rest him againe: thus do twice or thrice together; then set him vp warme, and giue him no water till it be high noone: then giue him a sweete mash: vse this cure at least three dayes together. Others vse to take halfe a pecke of oates, & boyle them in running water till halfe be consumed; then put them into a bagge, and lay them very hot vpon the nauell place of his backe, and there let it lye thirty howres, vsing thus to do three or foure times at the least. Others vse to take wormewood, Peu∣sedanum, and Centorie, of each like quantity: boyle them in wine; then straine them, and powre there∣of many times into his nosthrels, especially into

that which most runneth. Others vse to take hare∣hound, licoras, & anise seeds, beaten to powder: then with sweete butter to make pils thereof, and to giue them fasting to the horse Others vse to take wheate flower, anise seedes, and licoras, stamped in a mortar, fiue or sixe cloues of garlike bruised; mixe all these to∣gether & make a paste of them; then make it into pils as big as walnuts, & taking out the arrow_back horses arrow_forward tongue, cast the balles downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throate three or foure at a time, then giue him two new layed egges, shelles and all after them. Now after all these, the best and most approuedst medicine, is to take as much of the middle greene barke of an Elder tree growing on the water side, as will fill a reasonable vessell, putting thereunto as much running water as the vessell will hold, and let it boyle till halfe be consumed, and then fill vp the vessell againe with water, continuing so to do, three times one after another: and at the last time when the one halfe is consumed, take it from the fire, and straine it exceedingly through a linnen cloath; then to that decoction, adde at least a full third part of the oyle of oates, or for want of that, of oyle oliue, or of hogges grease, or sweete butter; and be∣ing warmed againe, take a quart thereof, and giue it the horse to drinke, one horne-ful at his mouth, and a∣nother at his nosthrels, especially that which casteth out the matter. And in any case let the horse be fa∣sting when he taketh this medicine: for it not onely cureth this, but any sicknesse proceeding from cold whatsoeuer: it shall be also good to vse to his body some wholesome friction, & to his head some whole∣some bathe, of which bathes you shall reade more hereafter in a chapter following. For his dyet, his food

would be sodden barley and sweete hay, and his drinke warme water or mashes; but if it be in the Summer season, then it is best to let him runne at grasse onely.

CHAP. 42. Of the Cough.

COughing is a motion of the lungs, raised natural∣ly from his expulsiue power, to cast out the hurt∣full cause, as neesing is the motion of the braine. Now of coughes, there be some outward, and some inward: those are sayd to be outward which proceed of outward causes, as when a horse doth eate or drinke too greedily, so that his meat goeth the wrong way; or when he licketh vp a feather: or eateth dusty or sharpe bearded straw, and such like, which tickling his throat, causeth him to cough: those which are sayd to be inward, are either wet or dry, of which we shall speake more hereafter. Now of these outward coughes, they may proceede from the corruption of the ayre, which if it do, you shall boyle in running water, figges and currants together; then straining the water, adde to a quart thereof, three spoonfull of Diapente, and it will helpe. It may also proceed from dust; and then you must wash it downe by powring into his nosthrels ale and oyle mingled together. It may come by eating sharpe and sowre things; and then you must put downe his throat, pils of sweete butter, whose softnesse will helpe him. It may pro∣ceede from some little or sleight taken cold; and then you shall take the whites & yolkes of two egges, three ounces of sallet oyle, two handfull of beane flowre,

one ounce of Fenugreeke; mixe them with a pint of old malmsey, and giue it the horse to drinke three daies together: or else take tarre and fresh butter; mixe them together, and giue pils thereof to the horse foure times in seuen dayes, that is, the first, the third, the fift, and the seuenth day. There be others which vse to take a gallon of faire water, and make it ready to seeth: then put thereto a pecke of ground malt, with two handfuls of boxe leaues chopt small, and a little groundsel; mixe them altogether, and giue him euery morning and euening a pint for a weeke together. If to the boxe leaues you adde oates and bettony, it is not amisse, so you keep the horse warme. Others vse to giue a horse a pint of swines bloud warme. Others vse to boyle in a gallon of water, one pound of Fenugreeke; then straining it, giue the water morning and euening by a pint at a time to drinke; then drying the Fenugreeke, giue it the horse with his prouender. Others vse for all maner of coughes, to take a quarterne of white currants, and as much clarified hony, two ounces of sweet marioram, with old fresh grease, and a head of garlicke; melt that which is to be molten, and punne that which is to be beaten; mixe them together, and giue the horse bet∣ter then a pint thereof three mornings together. O∣thers vse to giue a horse the guts of a young pullet dipt in hony and being warme; and certainly there is not any of these medicines but are most soueraigne and well approued. Now whereas some Farriers vse to thrust downe the throat of the horse, a willow wand, rolled about with a linnen cloath, and an∣noynted all ouer with hony, I for my part do not like it: for it both torments the horse more then there is

occasion; and doth but onely go about to take away that which is gone in the struggling before the medi∣cine can be vsed: for it is onely for a cough which cometh by a feather or some such like matter.

CHAP. 43. Of the inward and wet Cough.

TOuching all inward coughs which are gotten and ingendred by colds and rheumes of long conti∣nuance, being not onely dangerous, but sometimes mortall, you shall vnderstand that they are diuided in∣to two kindes, the one wet, the other dry: the wet cough proceedeth from cold causes taken after great heats; which heat dissoluing humours, those humors being againe congealed, do presently cause obstructi∣ons and stoppings of the lungs. Now the signes to know this wet cough is, the horse will euer after his coughing, cast out either water or matter out of his nosthrels, or champe and chaw with his teeth, the thicke matter which he casteth out of his throate, as you shall easily perceiue, if you heedfully note him: he will also cough often without intermission; and when he cougheth he will not much bow downe his head, nor abstaine from his meate: and when he drin∣keth, you shall see some of his water to issue out of his nosthrels. The cure is, first to keepe him exceeding warme; then for as much as it proceedeth of cold cau∣ses, you shall giue him hot drinkes and spices, as sacke, or strong ale brewd with cinamon, ginger, cloues, treacle, Long pepper, and either swines grease, sallet oyle, or sweete butter: for you shall know that all cold causes are cured with medicines that open and warme; and

the hot with such as cleanse and coole. Some vse to take a pretty quantity of Beniamine, and the yolke of an egge; which being well mixt together, and put in∣to an egge shell, cast all downe into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throat, and then moderatly ride him vp and downe for more then a quarter of an howre: and do this three or foure mornings together. Others vse to keepe him warme, and then to giue him this drinke. Take of barley one pecke, and boyle it in two or three gallons of running water, till the barley burst, together with bruised lico∣ras, anise seeds, and of raisins, of each a pound; then straine it, and to that liquor put of hony a pint, and a quarterne of sugarcandy, and keepe it close in a pot to serue the horse therewith foure seuerall mornings, and cast not away the barley nor the rest of the strai∣nings, but make it hot euery day to perfume the horse withall in a close bagge; & if he eate of it, it is so much the better: and after this you shall giue the horse some moderate exercise: and for his dyet let him drinke no cold water till his cough abate; and as it lessoneth, so let his water be the lesse warmed. Now for mine own part, though all these receits be exceeding good and very well approued; yet for mine owne part, in this case, thus hath bene my practise. If I found either by the heauinesse of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward head, or by the ratling of his nosthrels, that the cough proceeded most from the stopping of his head, I would only giue him foure or fiue mornings together, three or foure good round pils of butter and garlicke, well knoden together, in the morning fasting; and then ride him moderately an howre after; but if I found that the sicknesse re∣mained in the chest or brest of the horse, then I would giue him twice in foure dayes, a pint of sacke, halfe a

pint of sallet oyle, and two ounces of sugarcandy wel brewd together, and made luke warme; and then ride him halfe an howre after; and set him vp warme, suffe∣ring him to drinke no cold water till his cough began to abate or leaue him.

CHAP. 44. Of the dry Cough.

THis disease which we cal the dry cough, is a grosse and tough humour, cleauing hard to the hollow places of the lungs, which stoppeth the winde-pipes so that the horse can hardly draw his breath. It doth proceede by ill gouernment from the rheume, which distilling from the head, falleth downe to the breast, and there inforceth the horse to striue to cast it out. The especiall signes to know it is, by eating hot meates, as bread that is spiced, straw, dry hay, or such like, his extremity of coughing will encrease: by ea∣ting cold and moyst meates, as grasse, forrage, graines, and such like, it will abate and be the lesse: he cough∣eth seldome; yet when he cougheth, he cougheth vi∣olently, long time together, and dryly with a hollow sound from his chest: he also boweth his head downe to the ground, and forsaketh his meate whilest he cougheth; yet neuer casteth forth any thing either at his mouth or nosthrels. This cough is most dange∣rous, and not being taken in time, is incurable: for it will grow to the pursicke or broken winded altoge∣ther. The cure according to the opinion of the anci∣entest Farriers is, that for as much as it proceedeth from hot humours, therefore you shall perfume his head with cold simples, as Camomill, Mellilot, Licoras,

dryed red Roses and Camphire boyled in water, and the fume made to passe vp into his mouth and nosthrels. Others vse to take a close earthen pot, & to put therin three pints of the strongest vinegar, and foure egges shels & all vnbroken, and 4. heades of garlicke, cleane pild & bruised; & set the pot-being very close couered in a warme dunghill, or a horse mixion, & there let it stand foure and twenty howres; then take it forth and open it, and take out the egges which will be as soft as silke, and lay them by vntill you haue strained the vi∣negar and garlicke through a linnen cloath: then put to that liquor a quarterne of hony, and halfe a quar∣terne of sugarcandy, and two ounces of licoras, & two ounces of anise seedes, beaten all into fine powder; and then the horse hauing fasted all the night, early in the morning, as about seuen or eyght a clocke, o∣pen the arrow_back horses arrow_forward mouth with a drench staffe and a cord, and first cast downe his throate one of the egges, and then presently powre after it a horn-full of the afore∣sayd drinke being made luke warme; then cast in a∣nother egge and an other horn-full: and thus do till he haue swallowed vp all the egges, or three at the least; then bridle him, and couer him warmer then he was before, and set him vp in the stable, tying him to the bare racke for the space of two howres; then vn∣bridle him▪ and giue him either some oates, hay, or grasse, yet in any case giue him no hay, vntill it haue bene somewhat sprinkled with water: for there is no greater enemy to a dry cough then dry hay, dry straw, or chaffe; let him haue no cold water the space of 9. daies. Now if you chance the first morning to leaue an egge vntaken, you shall not faile to giue it him and the remainder of the drinke the morning following. If

you find by this practise that the cough weareth not away, you shal then purge his head with pils, of which you shall reade in the chapter of purgations: after his pils receiued, you shall let him fast 3. howres, standing warme clothed & littered in the stable: you shall also now and then giue him a warme mash, and once a day trot him moderatly abroad. There be other Farriers which for this dry cough take onely the hearbe called lions foot, or Ladies mantle, spurge & smallage, of each like quantity; seeth them either in a quart of old wine, or a quart of running water till some part be consu∣med, and giue it the horse to drinke; if in stead of the hearbs themselues, you giue the iuice of the hearbs in wine, it is good. There be others which take a good quantity of white currants, & as much hony, two oun∣ces of Marioram, one ounce of peniriall, with 5. pounds of fresh grease, and nine heades of garlicke; beate that which is to be beaten, & melt the rest; giue this in 4. or 5. dayes like pils dipt in hony. Others vse to take Myrre, Opoponax, Iris Illyrica, & Galbanum, of each two ounces, of red Storax three ounces, of turpentine foure oun∣ces, of henbane halfe an ounce, of opium halfe an ounce; beate them to a fine powder, and giue two or three spoonfull with a pint of old wine, or a quart of ale. Others vse to take forty graines of pepper, foure or fiue rootes of radddish, foure heades of garlicke, and sixe ounces of sweet butter; stampe them all well together, and giue euery day a ball of it to the horse for a weeke together, making him fast two howres after his taking it; and surely it is a most excellent approued medicine for any old grown cold or cough. Other Farriers vse to take of oyle de bay and of sweete butter, of each halfe a pound, of garlicke

one pound, beate it together vnpild; and being well beaten with a pestill of wood, adde your oyle and but∣ter vnto it: then hauing made it into balles, with a little wheat flowre, giue your horse euery morning for a weeke or more, three or foure balles as bigge as walnuts, keeping him fasting after from meate, three howres, and from drinke till it be night, prouided that still his drinke be warme, and his meate if it pos∣sible may be, grasse, or hay sprinkled with water; as for his prouender, it would be oates, and Fenugreeke sprinkled amongst it. Now if you perceiue that at a fortnights end, his cough doth nothing at all abate, you shall then for another weeke, giue him againe the same physicke and dyet; but truly for mine owne part, I haue neuer found it to faile in any horse what∣soeuer; yet I would wish all Farriers not to be too bu∣sie with these inward medicines, except they be well assured that the cold hath bene long, and that the cough is dangerous.

CHAP. 45. Of the frettized, broken, and rotten Lungs.

COughes do many times proceede from the cor∣ruption and putrifaction of the lungs, gotten ei∣ther by some extreme cold, running or leaping, or by ouer-greedy drinking after great thirst; because the lungs being inclosed in a very thinne filme, they are therefore the much sooner broken; and if such breach be made, without instant cure, they beginne to in∣flame and apostume, oppressing and sickning the whole lungs. Now the signes to know this disease

is, the arrow_back horses arrow_forward flankes will beate when he cougheth; and the slower they beate, the more old and dange∣rous is the disease: he will also draw his winde short, and by little at once: he will groane much, be feare∣full and loath to cough, and often turne his head to the place grieued: to conclude, he will neuer cough but he will bring vp something, which he will champ in his mouth after. The cure is, giue him two or three ounces of hogges grease, and two or three spoonfull of Diapente brewd in a quart of barley water, wherein currants hath bene sodden. Other Farriers vse to take a pound of licoras, and being scrapt, and flist, to steep it in a quart of water foure and twenty houres; then to straine it; then to boyle three or foure ounces of currants in it, and so giue it the horse to drinke, & keep him fasting 3. or 4. howres after. There be other Farri∣ers which vse to take of Fenugreeke, and of linseed, of each halfe a pound, of gum dragant, of masticke, of myrre, of sugar, of fitch flowre, of each one ounce; let all these be beaten into fine powder, and then infused one whole night in a good quantity of warme water, and the next day giue him a quart of this luke warme, putting thereunto two ounces of the oyle of roses; and this you must do many dayes together: and if the disease be new, it will certainly heale; if it be neuer so old, it will assuredly ease him; but in any case let him drinke no cold water: and for his food, grasse is the most excellent. Others vse to take of malmsey a pint, of hony three spoonful, mixe them together; then take of Myrre, of Saffron, of Cassia, & Cynamon, of each like quantity; beate them to a fine powder, and giue two spoonfull thereof in the wine to drinke; do this at least a fortnight together, and it is certaine it will helpe

these frettyzed and broken lungs, but for the putry∣fied and rotten lungs, we will speake more in this next chapter.

CHAP. 46. Of putrified and rotten Lungs.

THis disease of rotten and exulcerated lungs, you shall know by these signes: he will cough oft & vehemently, and euer in his coughing he will cast lit∣tle reddish lumps out of his mouth; he will decay much of his flesh, and yet eate his meate with more gredinesse then when he was sound; and when he cougheth he will cough with more ease and cleare∣nesse then if his lungs were but onely broken. The cure whereof, according to the practise of our ordi∣nary English Farriers is, to giue the horse diuers mor∣nings together a pint of strong vinegar warmed, or else as much of mans vrine, with halfe so much hogs grease brewd warme together▪ but the more ancient Farriers take a good quantity of the iuice of purslaine mixt with the oyle of roses, adding thereunto a little Tragaganthum which hath before bene layd to steep in goates milke, or for want thereof in barley or oaten milke strained from the corne; and giue him a pint thereof euery morning for seuen dayes together. This medicine is but onely to ripen and breake the impo∣stume, which you shall know if it haue done; because when the sore is broken, his breath will stinke excee∣dingly: then shall you giue him for other seuen dayes this drinke. Take of the roote called Costus two oun∣ces, and of Cassia or Cinamon three ounces beaten into fine powder, and a few raisins, and giue it him to

drinke with a pint of malmsey: Others vse to take of Frankinsence, and Aristolochia, of each two ounces beaten into fine powder, and giue the horse two or three spoonfull thereof with a pint of malmsey. O∣thers take of vnburnt brimstone, two ounces, of Ari∣stolochia one ounce and a halfe beaten to powder, and giue the horse that with a pint of malmsey.

CHAP. 47. Of shortnesse of breath or pursinesse.

THis disease of short breath or pursinesse, may come two seuerall wayes, that is naturally, or ac∣cidentally: naturally as by the straightnesse of his con∣duits which conuey his breath, when they want liber∣ty to carry his breath freely, or being cloyed vp with fat, force stoppings & obstructions in his windpipe, & thereby makes his lungs labour & worke painfully. Accidentally as by hasty running after drinking, or vpon a full stomacke, by which, humours are com∣pelled to descend downe into the throate and lungs, and there stoppeth the passage of the breath. The signes of this disease are a continuall panting and hea∣uing of his body without any coughing, great heate of breath at his nosthrels, and a squeesing or drawing in of his nose when he breatheth; besides, a coueting to hold out his head whilest he fetcheth his winde. The cure, according to the opinion of some of our best Farriers, is to giue him in his prouender the kyr∣nels of grapes, for they both fat and purge; and you must giue them plentifully. The warme bloud of a sucking pigge is excellent good also. Other Farriers vse to take Venus-haire, Ireos, Ash-keyes, Licoras, Fenu∣greeke,

and Raisins, of each a dram and an halfe, pepper, Almonds, Borage, Nettleseede, Aristolochia and Coloquin̄∣tida, of each two drammes, Algaritium, one dramme and an halfe, hony two pound, dissolue them with water wherein licoras hath bene sodden, and giue him one pint euery morning for three or foure mor∣nings. Others vse to take Molline or Longwort & make a powder thereof, and giue two spoonefull thereof with a pint of running water, or else powder of Gen∣tian in the foresayd manner, and do it for diuers mor∣nings. Others vse to take of nutmegs, cloues, Galin∣gale, graines of Paradise, of each three drammes, Care∣away seede and Fenugreeke, a little greater quantity, as much Saffron, and halfe an ounce of Licoras; beate them all into fine powder, then put two or three spoonefull thereof to a pint of white wine, and the yolkes of foure egges, and giue it the horse to drinke: then tye his head vp high to the racke for an houre after: that done, either ride him or walke him vp and downe gently, and keepe him fasting foure or fiue howres after at the least: the next day turne him to grasse and he will do well. There be other which vse to let the horse bloud in the necke veine, and then giue him this drinke. Take of wine and oyle of each a pint, of Frankinsence halfe an ounce, and of the iuice of Horebound halfe a pint; mixe them well toge∣ther, and giue them to drinke. Others vse to giue him onely somewhat more then a pint of hony, hogges grease and butter molten together, and let him drinke it luke warme. Egges made so••t in vinegar, as is shew∣ed in the chapter of the dry cough, is excellent for this shortnesse of breath, so you giue the egges encrea∣sing▪ that is, the first day one, the second three, and

the third fiue; and withall to powre a little oyle and wine into his nosthrels, is very good also. There be o∣ther Farriers which vse to take a Snake and cut off her head and taile, and then take out the guts and entrails, boyle the rest in water till the bone part from the flesh: then cast the bone away, and giue euery third day of this decoction more then a pint till you haue spent three snakes; and this is excellent good for the dry cough also. Now the last and best medicine for this shortnesse of breath (for indeede in this case I do not affect much physicking) is onely to take anise seeds, licoras, and sugarcandy, all beaten into very fine powder; and take foure spoonfull thereof and brew it well with a pint of white wine, and halfe a pint of sallet oyle: and vse this euer after your arrow_back horses arrow_forward trauell, and a day before he is trauelled.

CHAP. 48. Of the broken winded or Pursicke Horse.

THis disease of broken winded, I haue euer since I first began to know either horse or horse-leach∣craft, very much disputed with my selfe, and for many yeares did constantly hold (as still I do) that in truth there is no such disease; only this I found by dayly experience, that by ouer hasty or sudden run∣ning of a fat horse (or other) presently after his water, or by long standing in the stable with no exercise and foule foode, that thereby grosse and thicke humours may be drawne downe into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body so abun∣dantly, that cleauing hard to the hollow places of the lungs, and stopping vp the wind-pipes, the wind may be so kept in, that it may onely haue his resort back∣ward,

and not vpward, filling the guts, and taking from the body great part of its strength and liue∣lihood; which if from the corruption of our old inuen∣tions, we call broken winded, then I must needs con∣fesse, that I haue seene many broken winded arrow_back horses arrow_forward . The signes of which disease are these, much and vio∣lent beating of his flankes, especially drawing vp of his belly vpward; great opening and rising of his no∣sthrels, and a continuall swift going to and fro of his tuell; besides, it is euer accompanied with a dry and hollow cough. The cure, I must needes say in so great an extremity (for it is the worst of all the euils of the lungs which are before spoken of) is most desperate; but the preseruations and helpes, both to continue the arrow_back horses arrow_forward health and his dayly seruice, are very many, as namely (according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers) to purge your horse by giuing him this drinke. Take maiden haire, of Ireos, of Ashe, of Licoras, of Fenugreeke, of Basnis, of each halfe an ounce, of Cardanum, of pepper, of bitter almonds, of Baurach, of each two ounces, of nettle seed, and of Aristolochia, of each two ounces; boile them altogether in a sufficient quantity of water; and in that decocti∣on dissolue halfe an ounce of Agaricke, & 2. ounces of Coloquintida, together with 2. pound of hony, & giue him a pint & a halfe of this at a time for, at least, a week together; and if the medicine chance at any time to proue too thicke, you shall make it thin with water, wherein licoras hath bene sodden; and some Farriers also besides this medicine, will with a hot yron draw the flanks of the horse to restraine their beating, and slit the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels to giue the wind more liber∣ty; but I do not affect either the one or the other: the

best diet for a horse in this case, is grasse in Summer, & hay sprinkled with water in Winter. There be other Farriers which for this infirmity hold, that to giue the horse 3. or 4. daies together sodden wheat, and now & then a quart of new sweet wine, or other good wine, mixt with licoras water, is a certaine remedy. There be other Farriers which for this disease take the guts of a hedgehogge, and hang them in a warme ouen till they be dry, so that a may may make powder of them: then giue your horse 2. or 3. spoonfull thereof with a pint of wine or strong ale: then the rest mixe with a∣nise seeds, licoras, & sweet butter, & make round balles or pils thereof, & giue the horse 2. or 3. after his drink; and so let him fast at least 2 howres after. Now when at any time you giue him any prouender, be sure to wash it in ale or beere; then take Comin, Anise seeds, Li∣coras and Sentuarie of each like quantity; make them (being mixed together) into fine powder, & strew two spoonful therof vpon the prouender being being wet. This physicke must be vsed for a fortnight at the least. Others vse to take of cloues & nutmegs 3. drams of ga∣lingale & Cardomonum, 3. drams, of foot, of bay seeds, & comin, of each 3. drams, & make them into fine pow∣der, & put it into white wine, being tempered with a little saffron: then put to so many yolkes of egges as may coūteruaile the other quantity: then mixe them with water, wherin licoras hath bene sodden, making it so thin that the horse may drink it, and after he hath drunk the quantity of a pint & halfe of this drinke, tye vp his head to the racke, & let him so stand at least an howre after, that the drinke may descend into his guts: then walke him gently abroad, that the medi∣cine may worke, and in any case giue him no water

for foure and twenty houres after: the next morning giue him some grasse to eate, and the branches of willow or sallow, which will coole the heate of the po∣tion. Now there bee other Farriers which take of Paunces, Longwort, Mayden-haire, the crops of nettles, Carduus benedictus, hearbe Fluettin, the rootes of dra∣gons bruised, the roots of Elecampana bruised, of wa∣ter hempe, of peniriall, of light wort, of Angelica, of each of these a good handfull▪ or so many of these as you can conueniently get; bruise them, and lay them all night in two or three gallons of water, and giue it a boyle in the morning, and let the horse drinke there∣of as much luke warme as hee will; then after this drink, giue him a pretty quantity of sodden wheat: vse this dyet for a weeke or more at the least: and then if the season be fit, put him to grasse. This cure is of great reputation, and thought to helpe when all other fai∣leth: for mine owne part I wish euery man to iudge it by the practise.

There be others which onely for nine or ten dayes together, will giue their horse water, wherein licoras hath bene sodden, mixt with wine, and hold it a most soueraigne helpe. There be others which will onely giue new milke from the cow; but I despaire in that cure, because milke being onely flegmatike, flegme is the onely substance of this disease. Other Farriers vse to keep the horse fasting foure & twenty howres, then take a quart of ale, a quarter of an ounce of Fe∣nugreeke, halfe a quarter of bayes, of the greene barke of Elder trees, of sugarcandy, of water cresses▪ of redde mints, of redde fennell, of haw-tree leaues, and of prim-rose leaues, of each halfe an ounce, the whites of sixe egges; beate these in a mortar and seeth them

in the ale, giue it him to drinke: then let him fast af∣ter twelue howres: then giue him meate and prouen∣der inough, yet but little drinke. Others vse to giue him wet ••ay and moderate trauell: then take twenty egges, and steepe them in vinegar foure and twenty howres, giuing the horse two euery morning, and af∣ter the egges are spent, a pottell of new milke from the cow. Now there be other Farriers which one∣ly will dissolue in vinegar fifteene egges, and giue the horse the first day three, the second day fiue, and the third seuen, and hold it a good helpe. Others will take an ounce of frankinsence, two ounces of brimstone, & mixe it with a pint of wine, and halfe a pint of hony. Others will take Sal-niter, burnt with the powder of pitch, and giue it with the same quantity of wine and hony. Others will onely giue Sal-niter mingled with his meate, prouided alwayes, that in euery cure you keepe your horse from cold and labour; and dayly chafe his head with oyle and wine.

CHAP. 49. Of the dry Malady or Consumption.

THis disease of the dry malady, or as the ancient Farriers terme it, a generall consumption, is no∣thing but a meere exulceration of the lungs, procee∣ding from a cankerous, fretting and gnawing humour ingendred by cold and surfaite, which descending from the head, sickneth & corrodeth the lungs. Some of our ignorant Farriers will call it the mourning of the chine; but they are thus farre forth deceiued: that the mourning of the chine doth euer cast some filthy matter at the nose, and the dry malady neuer casteth

forth any thing. The signes to know this dry malady or consumption are these: his flesh and strong estate of body will consume and waste away, his belly will be gaunt, his backe bone hidde, and his skin so stret∣ched or shrunke vp, that if you strike on him with your hand, it will sound hollow like a tabor; his haire will hardly shed; and either he will vtterly forsake his meate, or the meate he eateth will not disgest, pros∣per, or breede any flesh on his backe; he will offer to cough but cannot, except in a weake maner, as though he had eaten small bones; & truly according to the o∣pinion of others, so I find by practise, that it is incu∣rable; yet that a horse may be long preserued to do much seruice, I haue found it by these helpes. First, to purge his head with such fumes and pils as are good for the glaunders, which you may finde in the chap∣ter of purgations▪ then to giue him cole-worts small chopt, with his prouender, & now & then the bloud of a sucking pigge warme. There be others that in stead of the bloud, will giue either the iuyce of leekes mixt with oyle and wine, or else wine and frankin∣sence, or sallet oyle and the iuice of rue mixt toge∣gether; but in my conceit, the best cure is to purge his body cleane with comfortable and gentle scou∣rings; and then to be suffred to runne to grasse, both for a Winter and a Summer, and there is no question but he must necessarily end or mend; for languish long he cannot.

CHAP. 50. Of the Consumption of the flesh.

THis disease which we cal the Consumption of the flesh, is an vnnaturall or generall dislike or falling away of the whole body, or, as we terme it, the wa∣sting of the flesh; which proceedeth from diuers grounds, as namely, from inward surfaits, either by naughty foode, or ill dyet, or from vncleane, moist and stinking lodging; but especially from disorderly labour, as by taking great and sudden colds after vio∣lent heate, or such like; all which procure the wasting or falling away of the flesh. The signes whereof are these: first, an vnnaturall and causlesse leannesse, a dry and hard skinne cleauing fast to his sides, want of sto∣macke, or appetite to his meate, a falling away of his fillets, and a generall consumption both of his but∣tockes and shoulders. The cure whereof, according to the ancients, is to take a sheeps head vnfleayed, and boyle it in a gallon and a halfe of ale, or running water, vntill the flesh be consumed from the bones; then straine it through a cloath, and put thereto of su∣gar halfe a pound, of cinamon one ounce, of conserue of roses, or barberies, & of cherries, of each one ounce; mingle them together, and giue the horse euery morning a quart thereof luke warme, till two sheeps heades bee spent; and after euery time he drin∣keth, let him be gently walked or ridden vp and downe according to his strength, that is, if the wea∣ther be warme, abroad; if it be cold and windy, then in the stable or some close house, suffring him neither to eate nor drinke, for two howres after his medicine;

and from cold water you shall keepe him the space of fifteene dayes. Now for his ordinary foode or pro∣uender, you shall repute that best which he eateth best whatsoever it be; and that you shall giue by little and little, and not any grosse, or great quantity at once, because the abundance and glut of food taketh away both the appetite and nutriment which should proceede from wholesome feeding.

CHAP. 51. How to make a leane Horse fat.

BEsides this generall consumption of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward flesh, which for the most part, or altogether proceedeth from sicknesse, there is also another consumption or want of flesh which proceedeth from neshnesse, ten∣dernesse, freenesse of spirit, and the clymate vnder which the horse is bred; as namely when a horse that is bred in a warme clymate, comes to liue in a cold, or when a horse that is bred vpon a fruitfull & rich soile, comes to liue in a barren and dry place. In any of these cases the horse will be leane without any appa∣rant signe of griefe or disease, which to recouer there be many receits and medicines, as namely: the ancient Farriers did vse when a horse either grew leane without sicknesse or wound, or any knowne di∣stemperature, to take a quarter of a pecke of beanes, and boyle them in two gallons of water till they swell or burst, then to mixe with them a pecke of wheate branne, and so to giue it the horse in maner of a mash: or in stead of prouender: for it will fat suddenly. O∣thers, and especially the Italians, will take cole-worts, and hauing sodden them, mixe them with wheat bran

and salt, and giue them in stead of prouender. There be others which take the fatty decoction of three Tor∣toyse being well sodden, (their heades, tayles, bones, and feete, being reiected) and giuing it the horse, suppose it fatteth suddenly: or if you mixe the flesh of the Tortoyse so sodden with your arrow_back horses arrow_forward prouen∣der, that is good also; But as the simples are Italian, and not English, so for mine owne part, I referre the vse rather to them then to my country men. There be others which vse to fat vp their arrow_back horses arrow_forward by giuing them a certaine graine which we call bucke, in the same manner as we giue oates or pease. There be o∣thers which to fat a horse, will giue him onely par∣ched wheat, and a little wine mixed with his water, and amongst his ordinary prouender alwayes some wheate branne; and be exceeding carefull that the horse be cleane drest, well rubbed, & soft littered: for without such cleanly keeping there is no meate will enioy or do good vpon him; and also when he is fed, it must be by little at once and not surfaited. There be other Farriers which to feede vp a leane horse, will take Sage, Sauin, Bay-berries, Earth-nuts, Beares grease to drinke with a quart of wine. Others will giue the entrailes of a Barbel or a Tench with white wine. O∣thers will giue new hot draffe, and new branne, and twenty hard roasted egges, the shels being pulled off, then bruise them, and then put thereto a pretty quan∣tity of salt; then mixe all together, and giue a good quantity thereof to the horse at morne, noone, and euening for his prouender; and once a day, (which would be at high noone) giue him a quart or three pints of strong ale; and when the horse beginneth to be glutted vpon this meat, then giue him dryed oates:

if he be glutted vpon that, then giue him bread, if he leaue his bread, giue him malt or any graine that he will eate with a good appetite, obseruing euer to keepe the horse very warme; and with this dyet in foureteene dayes, the leanest horse will be made ex∣ceeding fat. There be other Farriers which to make a horse fat, wil take a quart of wine, and halfe an ounce of brimstone finely beaten with a raw egge, and a peny waight of the powder of Myrre; mixe all together and giue it the horse to drinke many mornings toge∣ther. Others will take three-leaued grasse, halfe greene and halfe dry, and giue it to the horse in stead of hay, by little at once; and it will fat suddenly, onely it will breed much ranke bloud. Other Farriers vse to take two peny worth of pepper, and as much saffron, anise seeds, and turmericke, a peny worth of long pepper, two peny worth of treacle, a peny worth of licoras, a good quantity of peniryall and archangell; giue the horse these with the yolks of egges in milke to drinke. Others take wheat made cleane, and sod with salt and lard dryed in the sunne, & giue it twice a day before each watering. Others giue a pint of good wine with a raw egge beaten, & a quantity of brimstone & Mirre beaten to powder. Others strong ale, Myrre, ••allet oyle and twenty graines of white pepper; and in stead of the ale, you may take the decoction, that is, the water wherein sage & rue hath bene sodden, & it will soone make the horse fat. Others take sodden beanes well bruised and sprinkled with salt, adding to the water foure times so much beane flowre or wheat bran, and giue that to the horse, and it will fat him suddenly. Wine mixt with the bloud of a sucking pigge, made luke warme, or wine with the iuyce of featherfeaw,

or an ounce of sulphur, and a peny waight of Myrre, well made into powder, together with a new layed egge, will raise vp a horse that languisheth. Barley dryed, or barley boyled till it burst, either will fat a horse. But the best way of fa••ting a horse (for most of the wayes before prescribed, are not to breede fat that will continue) is first to giue your horse three mornings together, a pint of sweete wine, and two spoonefull of Diapente brewed together: for that drinke will take away all infection and sicknesse from the inward parts▪ then to feed him well with prouen∣der at least foure times a day, that is, after his wa∣ter in the morning, after his water at noone, after his water in the euening, and after his water at nine of the clocke at night. Now you shall not let his prouender be all of one sort, but euery meale, if it may be, change, as thus: if in the morning you giue him oates, at noone you shall giue him bread, at euening beanes or pease mixt with wheat branne, and at night sodden barley, and so forth; and euer obserue of what food he eateth best, of that let him haue the greatest plenty, and there is no question but he will in very short space grow fat, sound, and full of spirit without either mislike or sicknesse.

CHAP. 52. Of the Breast-paine, or griefe in the breast.

THough most of our Farriers are not curious to vn∣derstand of this disease, because it is not so com∣mon as others; yet both my selfe and others find, it is a disease very apt to breed, and to indanger the horse with death. The Italians call it Granezza di petto;

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and it proceedeth from the superfluity of bloud, and other grosse humors, which being dissolued by some extreme and disorderly heate, resorteth downeward to the breast, and paineth the horse extremely that he can hardly go. The signes are a stiffe, staggering and weake going with his forelegges; and he can very hardly, or not at al, bow down his head to the ground, either to eate or to drink, and will groane much when he doth either the one or the other. The cure is first to bathe all his breast and foreboothes with the oyle of Peter; and if that do not help him, within three or foure dayes, then to let him bloud on both his breast veines in the ordinary place, and then put in a rowell either of haire, corke, horne, or leather, of all which, and the maner of rowelling, you shall reade in a more particular chapter hereafter in the booke of Surgery. Now there be other Farriers which for this sicknesse will first giue the horse an inward drench, as namely, a pint of sweet wine, and two spoonfull of diapente: then bathe all his breast and legges with wine and oyle mingled together, and in some tenne or twelue dayes it will take away the griefe.

CHAP. 53. Of the sicknesse of the heart, called the Anticor.

THis sicknesse of the heart, which by the ancient Farriers is called Anticor, as much as to say, a∣gainst or contrary to the heart, is a dangerous & mor∣tall sicknesse, proceeding from the great abundance of bloud which is bredde by too curious and proud keeping, where the horse hath much meate, and little

or no labor, as for the most part, your geldings of price haue, which running all the Summer at grasse, do no∣thing but gather their own food, and such like, where the maisters too much loue and tendernesse, is the meanes to bring the horse to his death, as we find day∣ly in our practise: for when such naughty and corrupt bloud is gathered, it resorteth to the inward parts, and so suffocateth the heart. The signes whereof are, the horse will many times haue a small swelling rise at the bottome of the breast, which swelling will en∣crease and rise vpward, euen to the top of the necke of the horse, and then most assuredly it kils the horse; he will also hang his head either downe to the manger, or downe to the ground, forsaking his food, and groa∣ning with much painfulnnesse. This disease is of ma∣ny ignorant Smiths, taken somtimes for the yellowes, and sometimes for the staggers; but you shall know that it is not so by these obseruations. First, neither about the whites of his eyes, not the inside of his lips, shall you perceiue any apparant yellowes, and so then it cannot be the yellowes; nor will he haue any great swelling about his eyes, nor dizzinesse in his head be∣fore he be at the poynt of death; and so consequent∣ly it cannot be the staggers. The cure thereof is two-fold: the first a preuention or preseruatiue before the disease come: the second a remedy after the disease is apparant. For the preuention or preseruatiue, you shall obserue that if your horse liue idly, either at grasse or in the stable, and withall grow very fat, which fat∣nesse is neuer vnaccompanied with corruptnesse, that then you fayle not to let him bloud in the necke veine before you turn him to grasse, or before you put him to feede in the stable; and likewise let him bloud

two or three moneths after, when you see he is fedde; and at each time of letting bloud, you must make your quantity according to the goodnesse of the bloud: for if the bloud be blacke and thicke, which is a signe of inflammation and corruption, you shal take the more; if it be pure, red, and thin, which is a signe of strength and healthfulnesse, you shall take little, or none at all There be others which vse for this pre∣uention, to giue the horse a scouring or purgation of malmsey, oyle, and sugarcandy, the making and vse whereof you shal reade in the chapter of purgation; & this would be giuen immediatly when you put your horse to feede, and as soone as you see his skin full swolne with fatnesse.

Now for the remedy, when this disease shall be apparant, you shall let him bloud on both his plat veines, or if the Smiths skill will not extend so farre, then you shall let the horse bloud on the necke veine, and that he bleede abundantly: then you shall giue him this drinke. Take a quart of malmsey, and put thereunto halfe a quarterne of sugar, and two ounces of cinamon beaten to powder, and being made luke warme, giue it the horse to drinke: then keepe him very warme in the stable, stuffing him round about with soft wisps very close, especially about the sto∣macke, least any winde do annoy him: and let his or∣dinary drinke be warme mashes of malt and water, & his foode only that, whatsoeuer it be, which he eateth with the best stomacke▪ Now if you see any swelling to appeare, whether it be soft or hard, then besides let∣ting him bloud, you shall strike the swelling in diuers places with a steame or launcet, that the corruption may issue forth; and then annoynt it with hogges

grease made warme: for that will either expell it, or bring it to a head, especially if the swelling be kept exceeding warme. There be other Farriers which for this disease, vse first to let the horse bloud as is aforesayd, and then to giue him a quart of malm∣sey, well brewed with three spoonfull of the pow∣der called Diapente; and if the swelling arise, to lay thereunto nothing but hay well sodden in old vrine; and then to keepe the same dyet as is aforesayd. Others vse after the letting of bloud, to giue the horse no drinke, but onely tenne or twelue spoone∣fuls of that water which is called Doctor Stephens wa∣ter, and is not vnknown to any Apothecary; and then for the rest of the cure to proceede in all things as is before specified, & questionlesse I haue seene strange effects of this practise.

CHAP. 54. Of tired arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

SInce wee are thus farre proceeded into the in∣ward and vitall parts of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, it is not amisse to speake something of the tiring of hor∣ses, and of the remedies for the same; because when a horse is truly tyred (as by ouer extreme la∣bour) it is questionlesse that all his vitall parts are made sicke and feebled. For to tell you in more plainesse what trying is, it is when a horse by extreme & vncessant labour, hath all his inward and vitall po∣wers which should accompany & reioyce the heart, expelled and driuen outward to the outward parts, & lesse deseruing members, leauing the heart forlorne and sicke, insomuch that a generall and cold faintnesse

spreadeth ouer the whole body and weakneth it, in such sort that it can endure no further trauell, till those liuely heates, faculties, and powers, be brought vnto their naturall and true places backe againe, and made to giue comfort to the heart whom their losse sickned. Now for the tiring of arrow_back horses arrow_forward , though in truth it pro∣ceedeth from no other cause but this before spoken; yet in as much as in our common and vulgar speech, we say euery horse that giueth ouer his labour is ty∣red, you shall vnderstand that such giuing ouer may proceede from foure causes: the first from inward sicknesse, the second from some wound receiued, ei∣ther of body or limbe; the third from dulnesse of spirit, cowardlinesse or restinesse; and the fourth from most extreme labour and trauell, which is true tired∣nesse. indeede. Now for the first, which is inward sicknesse, you shall looke into the generall signes of e∣uery disease, and if you finde any of those signes to be apparant, you shall straight conclude vpon that dis∣ease, & taking away the cause thereof, haue no doubt but the effects of his tiring will vanish with the ••ame. For the second, which is by some wound receiued, as by cutting or dismembring the sinewes, ligaments, or muscles, or by straining or stooming any bone or ioynt, or by pricking in shooing, or striking nayle, y∣ron, stub, or thorne into the sole of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward foote, and such like. Sith the first is apparant to the eye, by disioyning the skinne, the other by halting, you shall take a suruey of your horse, and finding any of them apparant, looke what the griefe is, repaire to the latter part of this booke, which intreateth of surgery; and finding it there, vse the meanes prescribed, and the ti∣ring will easily be cured. Now for the third, which

is dulnesse of spirit, cowardlinesse or restinesse, you shall finde them by these signes: if he haue no appa∣rant signe either of inward sicknes or outward griefe, neither sweateth much, nor sheweth any great altera∣tion of countenance; yet notwithstanding tireth and refuseth reasonable labour, then such tyring procee∣deth from dulnesse of spirite; but if after indifferent long trauell the horse tire, and then the man descen∣ding from his backe, the horse runne or trot away, as though he were not tired; the man then mounting a∣gaine, the horse vtterly refuse to go forward, such ty∣ring proceedeth from cowardlinesse; but if a horse within one, two, or three miles riding, being tempe∣rately vsed, and being neither put to any tryall of his strength, nor, as it were, scarcely warmed, if he in his best strength refuse labour, and tire, it proceedeth onely from restinesse and ill conditions. Then for the cure of any of all these, proceding from dulnesse, fearefulnesse, and vnwillingnesse, you shall take ordi∣nary window glasse, and beate it into fine powder: then take vp the skinne of each side the spurre veine betweene your finger and your thumbe, and with a fine naule or bodkin, make diuers small holes through the skinne, then rubbe glasse powder very hard into those holes; which done, mount his backe, and do but offer to touch his sides with your heeles, and be sure if he haue life in him, he will go forward, the greatest feare being that he will still but go too fast: but after your iourney is ended, and your allighted, you must not faile (because this powder of glasse will corrode and rot his sides) to annoynt both the sore places with the powder of Iet and turpentine mixt together: for that will draw out the venom, and heale

his sides againe. There be others which vse when a horse tireth thus through dull cowardlinesse or resti∣nesse, to thrust a burning brand or yron into his but∣tockes, or to bring bottels of blazing straw about his eares; there is neither of the cures but is exceeding good.

But for the true tired horse, which tireth through a naturall faintnesse, drawne from exceeding labour: the signes to know it being long trauel, much sweat, and willingnesse of courage during his strength: the cure thereof according to the opinion of some Farri∣ers, is to powre oyle and vinegar into his nosthrels, and to giue him the drinke of ••he••pes beades menti∣oned in the chapter of the consumption of the flesh, being the fiftieth chapter of this booke; and to bathe his legges with a comfortable bath, of which you shal finde choyce in the chapter of bathes: or else charge them with this charge. Take of bole armony, and of wheate flowre, of each halfe a pound, and a little ro∣sen beaten into fine powder, and a quart of strong vi∣negar; mingle them well together, and couer all his legs therwith; & then if it be in Summer, turne him to grasse, and he will recouer his wearinesse. Others vse to take a slice of fresh beefe, hauing steeped it in vinegar, lappe it about your bit or snafle, and hauing made it fast with a threed, ride your horse there∣with and he will hardly tire; yet after your iour∣ney is ended, be sure to giue your horse rest, much warmth and good feeding, that is, warme mashes and store of prouender, or else he will be the worse whilest he liueth.

Now if it be so that your horse tire in such a place as the necessity of your occasions are to be preferred

before the value of your horse, and that you must seeke vnnaturall meanes to controlle nature. In this case you shall take (where the powder of glasse be∣fore spoken of cannot be had) three or foure round pibble stones, and put them into one of his eares; and then knit the eare that the stones fall not out, and the noyse of those stones will make the horse go after he is vtterly tyred; but if that faile, you shal with a knife make a hole in the flappe of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward eare, and thrust a long rough sticke full of nickes through the same; and euer as the horse slackes his pace, so saw and fret the sticke vp and downe in the hole, and be sure whilest he hath any li••e he will not leaue going. Many other torments there are which be needlesse to rehearse, onely this is my most gene∣rall aduice, if at any time you tire your horse, to take of old vrine a quart, of salt peter three ounces, boile them well together, and bathe all the arrow_back horses arrow_forward foure legges in the same, and without question it will bring to the sinewes their naturall strength and nim∣blenesse; and for other defects warme and good kee∣ping will cure them. And although some of our Northerne Farriers do hold that oaten dough will preuent tiring, yet I haue not approued it so, be∣cause I neuer could g••t any horse that would eate it, the dough would so sticke and clambe in the hor∣ses mouth: therefore I hold the cures already reci∣ted to be fully sufficient.

CHAP. 55. Of the diseases of the stomacke, and first of the loathing of meate.

THis disease of the loathing of meate, is taken two wayes, the one a forsaking of meate, as when a arrow_back horses arrow_forward mouth either through the inflammation of his stomacke, doth break out into blisters, or such like ve∣nemous sores: or when he hath the lampas, gigges, woolfes teeth, and such like. The cure of all which you shall readily find in the second part of this booke which treateth of surgery: the other a dislike of his meate through the intemperature of his stomacke, be∣ing either too hot, as proceeding either from rank∣nesse of bloud, or extremity of trauell; as you may perceiue by dayly experience, when a horse is set vp in the stable very hot, and meate instantly giuen him, it is all thing to nothing but he wil loath and refuse it. Hence it comes, that I did euer hate the noone-tide bayting of arrow_back horses arrow_forward , because mens iourneys commonly crauing haste, the horse cannot take such an naturall cooling as he ought before his meate, and thereby breeds much sicknesse & disease: for meate giuen pre∣sently after trauell when a horse is hot, is the mother of all infirmity: or else it proceedeth from the intem∣perature of the stomacke being too cold, as being caused by some naturall defect. Now if it proceede from heate onely, which you shall know either by his sudden loathing of his meate, or the extreme heate of his mouth and breath: then to coole his stomacke a∣gaine, you shall either wash his tongue with vinegar, or giue him to drinke cold water mingled with oyle

and vinegar. There be other Farriers which vse to giue this drinke: take of milke and wine, of each one pint, & put therunto of Mel Rosatum 3. ounces, and ha∣uing washed his mouth with vinegar & salt, giue him the drink luke warme with a horne. But if the loathing of his meate proceede from the coldnesse of his sto∣macke, which onely is knowne by the standing vp and staring of his haire: then by the opinion of the ancient Farriers, you shall giue him wine & oyle mixt together diuers mornings to drinke; but others of our late Farriers giue wine, oyle, rue, and sage boyled to∣gether by a quart at a time to drinke. Others to the former compounds will adde white pepper & Myrre. Others vse to giue the horse onions pild and chopt, and Rocket seede bruised and boyled in wine. Others vse to mixe wine with the bloud of a sow pigge. Now to conclude, for the generall forsaking or loathing of meate, proceeding either from hot or cold causes in the stomacke, there is nothing better then the greene blades of corne (especially wheate) being giuen in a good quantity, and that the time of the yeare serue for the gathering thereof. Others in stead thereof, will giue the horse sweet wine and the seedes of Gith mixt together, or else sweet wine and garlike well pild and stampt, being a long time brewd together.

CHAP. 56. Of the casting out of a arrow_back Horses arrow_forward drinke.

THe ancient Farriers, especially the Italians, con∣stantly do affirme, that a horse may haue such a paulsey, proceeding from the coldnesse of his sto∣macke, and may make him vnable to retaine and

keepe his drinke, but that many times he will vomit and cast it vp againe: for mine owne part, from those causes I haue not seene such effects, yet from other causes, as from cold in the head, where the rheume binding about the roots and kirnels of the tongue, hath, as it were, strangled and made straight the pas∣sages to the stomacke; there I haue many times seene a horse cast his water that he drunke, in very abundant sort backe againe through his nosthrels, & sometimes striue with great earnestnesse to drinke, but could not at all. The signes of both (from which cause foe∣uer it proceede) is onely the casting vp of his drinke or water; and the cure thereof is onely to giue him cordiall and warme drinkes, as is malmsey, cinamon, anise seedes, and cloues, well brewd and mixt toge∣ther, and to annoynt his breast and vnder his shoul∣ders, with either the oyle of Cypresse, oyle of Spike, or the oyle of pepper; and to purge his head with fumes or pilles, such as will force him to neese, of which you may see store in a chapter following: for such fumigation ioyning with these hot oyles, will soone dissolue the tumors.

CHAP. 57. Of surfaiting with glut of prouender.

THere is not any disease more easily procured, nor more dangerous to the life of a horse, then this surfaite which is taken by the glut of prouender; it cometh most commonly by keeping the horse ex∣treme sharpe or hungry, as either by long trauell or long standing empty; & then in his height of greedi∣nesse, giuing him such superabundance of meate, that

his stomacke wanting strength to disgest it, all the whole body is driuen into an infinite great paine and extremity. The signes are great weaknesse and feeblenesse in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward limbes, so that he can hard∣ly stand, but lyeth downe oft, and being downe, walloweth and tumbleth vp and downe as if he had the bots.

The cure thereof according to the ordinary pra∣ctise of our common Farriers, is to take a halfe pe∣ny worth of blacke sope, and a quart of new milke, and as much sweete butter as sope; and hauing on a chafing dish and coales, mixt them together, giue it the horse to drinke: this will cleanse the arrow_back horses arrow_forward stomacke, and bring it to its strength a∣gaine.

But the ancient Farriers did vse first, to let the horse bloud in the necke veine, (because euery sur∣fait breedes distemperature in the bloud) then trot the horse vp and downe an howre or more; and if he cannot stale draw out his yard and wash it with white wine made luke warme, and thrust into his yard either a cloue of garlicke or a little oyle of camomill, with a peece of small waxe candle. If he cannot dung, first with your hand rake his fundament, and then giue him a glister, of which you shall read hereafter: when his glister is receiued you shall walke him vp and downe till hee haue emptyed his belly, then set him vp and keepe him hungry the space of two or three dayes, obseruing euer to sprinkle the hay hee eateth with a little water, and let his drinke be warme water and branne made mash-wise; after he hath drunke the drinke let him eate the branne if he please, but from other prouender keep him fasting

at least tenne dayes. There be other Farriers that in this case, vse onely to take a quart of beere or ale, and two peny worth of sallet oyle, and as much dra∣gon water, a peny worth of treacle; make all these warme vpon the coales, then put in an ounce of cina∣mon, anise seedes, and cloues, all beaten together, and so giue it the horse luke warme to drinke. All these re∣ceipts are exceeding good; yet for mine owne part, and many of the best Farriers confirme the same, there is nothing better for this disease, then moderate exer∣cise, much fasting, and once in foure or fiue dayes a pint of sweete wine, with two spoonefull of the powder Diapente.

CHAP. 58. Of foundring in the body, being a surfaite got either by Meate, Drinke, or Labour.

THis disease of foundring in the body, is of all sur∣faits the most vile, most dangerous, and most inci∣dent vnto arrow_back horses arrow_forward that are dayly trauelled, it procee∣deth according to the opinion of some Farriers, from eating of much prouender suddenly after labour, the horse being then, as it were, panting hot (as we may dayly see vnskilfull horsemen do at this day) whereby the meate which the horse eateth, not being disg••sted, breedeth euill and grosse humours, which by little & little spreading themselues through the members, do at the length oppresse, & almost confound the whole body, absolutely taking away from him al his strength, insomuch that he can neither go nor bow his ioynts, nor being layd, is able to rise againe: besides, it taketh

away from him his instrumentall powers, as the office both of vrine and excrements, which cannot be per∣formed but with extreme paine. There be other Farriers, and to their opinion I rather leane, that sup∣pose it proceedeth from suffering the horse to drinke too much in his trauell being very hot, whereby the grease being suddenly cooled, it doth clappe about, and suffocate the inward parts with such a loathsome fulnesse, that without speedy euacuation, there can be no hope but of death onely. Now whereas some Farriers do hold that this foundring in the body, should be no other then the foundring in the legges, because it is (say they) a melting and dissolution of humours which resort downeward, they are much deceiued: for it is not as they hold a dissolution of hu∣mours, but rather a binding together of corporall and substantiall euils, which by an vnnaturall accident doth torment the heart. Now for the hold which they take of the name Foundring, as if it were drawne from the French word Fundu, signifying melting, truly I thinke it was rather the ignorance of our old Farriers, which knew not how to entitle the disease, then any coherence it hath with the name it bea∣reth. For mine owne part, I am of opinion that this disease which we cal foundring in the body, doth not onely proceede from the causes aforesayd, but al∣so and most oftest by sudden washing arrow_back horses arrow_forward in the winter season, when they are extreme fat and hot with instant trauell, where the cold vapour of the water striking into the body, doth not onely astonish the inward and vitall parts, but also freezeth vp the skin, and maketh the bloud to leese his office. Now the signes to know this disease, are holding downe of

his head, staring vp of his haire, coughing, staggering behinde, trembling after water, dislike of his meate, leannesse, stiffe going, disability to rise when he is downe: and to conclude, which is the chiefest signe of all other, his belly will be clung vp to his backe, and his backe rising vp like a Camell. The cure accor∣ding to the opinion of the Farriers, is first to rake his fundament, and then to giue him a glister: which done, and that the arrow_back horses arrow_forward belly is emptyed, then take of malmsey a quart, of sugar halfe a quarterne, of ci∣namon halfe an ounce, of licoras and anise seedes, of each two spoonefull beaten into fine powder; which being put into the malmsey, warme them together at the fire so that the hony may be molten, then giue it the horse luke warme to drinke: which done, walke him vp and downe either in the warme stable or some warme roade the space of an howre; then let him stand on the bit fasting two howres more, onely let him be warme clothed, stopt, and littered; & when you giue him hay, let it be sprinkled with water, and let his prouender be very cleane sifted from dust, and giuen by a little at once; and let his drinke be warme mashes of malt and water. Now when you see him recouer and get a little strength, you shall then let him bloud in the necke veine, and once a day perfume him with Frankinsence to make him neese, and vse to giue him exercise abroad when the wether is warme, and in the house when the weather is stor∣my.

Now there be other Farriers which vse for this disease to take a halfe peny worth of garlicke, two peny worth of the powder of pepper, two peny worth of the powder of ginger, two peny worth of

graines bruised, and put all these into a pottell of strong ale, and giue it the horse to drinke by a quart at a time, dyetting and ordering him as is aforesayd; and when he g••tteth strength either let him bloud in the necke veine, or the spurre veines, or on both; to conclude, there is no drinke nor dy∣et which is comfortable, but is most soueraigne and good for this infirmity.

CHAP. 59. Of the greedy Worme or hungry Euill in arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

THIS hungry Euill is a disease more common then found out by our Farriers, because the most of our horse-maisters out of great ignorance, hold it a speciall vertue to see a horse eat•• eagerly, whereas indeeede this ouer-hasty and greedy ea∣ting, is more rather an infirmity and sicknesse of the inward parts; and this disease is none other then an insatiate and greedy eating, contrary to nature and old custome; and for the most part, it followeth some extreme great emptinesse or want of foode, the beast being euen at the pinch, and ready to bee chappe-falne. There bee some Farriers which suppose that it proceedeth from some extreame cold, outwardly taken by trauel∣ling in cold and barraine places, as in the frost and snow, where the outward cold maketh the stomacke cold, whereby all the inward powers are weakned. The signes are onely an alteration or change in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward feeding, hauing lost all temperance; and

snatching and chopping at his meate as if he would deuoure the manger. The cure, according to the opi∣nion of some Farriers, is first to comfort his stomacke by giuing him great slices of white bread toasted at the fire and steeped in muskadine, or else bread vntoa∣sted & steeped in wine, & then to let him drink wheat flowre and wine brewed together. There be others which vse to knead stiffe cakes of wheate flowre and wine, and to feede the horse therewith. Others vse to make him bread of pine-tree nuts and wine kno∣den together: or else common earth and wine min∣gled together; but for mine owne part, I hold no∣thing better then moderately feeding the horse many times in the day with wholesome beane bread, well baked, or oates well dryed and sifted.

CHAP. 60. Of the diseases of the Liuer in generall, and first of the inflammation thereof.

THere is no question but the liuer of a horse is sub∣iect to as many diseases as either the liuer of a man or any other creature, onely through the igno∣rance of our common Farriers (who make all inward diseases one sicknesse) the true ground, and causes not being looked into, the infirmity is let passe, and ma∣ny times poysoned with false potions; but truth it is, that the liuer sometimes by the intemperatenesse thereof, as being either too hot or too cold, too moist, or too dry, or sometimes by meanes of euill humors, as choler or fleame ouerflowing in the same, heate in∣gendring choler, and coldnesse fleame, the liuer is subiect to many sicknesses, and is diuersly payned, as

by inflammation, apostumation or vlcer, or by ob∣structions, stoppings, or hard knobs; or lastly, by the consumption of the whole substance thereof The signes to know if the disease proceede from hot cau∣ses, is leannesse of body, the loathing of meate, voy∣ding dung of a strong sent, great thirst, and loosnesse of belly. The signes to know if the disease proceed from cold causes, is good state of body, appetite to meate, dung not stincking, no thirst, and the belly neither loose nor costiue. Now to proceede to the particu∣lar diseases of the liuer, and first of the inflammation, you shall vnderstand that it cometh by meanes that the bloud through the abundance, thinnesse, boyling heate of sharpnesse thereof, or through the violence of some outward cause, breaketh out of the veines & floweth into the body or substance of the liuer; and so being dispossest of his proper vessels, doth im∣mediately putrifie & is inflamed, corrupting so much of the fleshly substance of the liuer, as is either tou∣ched or imbrewed with the same; whence it cometh, that for the most part, the hollow side of the liuer is first consumed, yet sometimes the full side also: this inflammation by a naturall heate, is sometimes tur∣ned to putrifaction, & then it is called an apostumati∣on, which when either by the strength of nature or art, it doth breake and runne, then it is called an vl∣cer or filthy sore. Now the signes of an inflammati∣on on the hollow side of the liuer (which is least hurt∣full) is loathing of meate, great thirst, loosnesse of bel∣ly, and a continuall vnwillingnesse to lye on the left side; but if the inflammation be on the full side of the liuer, then the signes be short breathing, a dry cough, much paine when you handle the horse about the

wind-pipe, and an vnwillingnesse to lye on the right side. The signes of apostumation is great heate, long fetching of breath, and a continuall looking to his side. The signes of vlceration, is continuall coldnesse, staring vp of the haire, and much feeblenesse & faint∣ting, because the filthy matter casting euill vapours abroad, doth many times corrupt the heart, and occa∣sion death. Now for the cure of these inflammations, some Farriers vse to take a quart of ale, an ounce of myrre, and an ounce of Frankinsence, and brewing them well together, giue it the horse diuers mor∣nings to drinke. Others vse to take three ounces of the seedes of smallage, and three ounces of Hysop, and as much Sutherwort, and boyle them wel in oyle and wine mingled together, and giue it the horse to drinke; keepe the horse warme, and let him neither drinke cold water, nor eate dry dusty hay.

CHAP. 61. Of Obstructions, stoppings, or hard knobs on the Liuer.

THese obstructions, or stoppings of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward liuer, do come most commonly by trauelling or labou∣ring on a full stomacke, whereby the meate not being perfectly disgested, breedeth grosse and tough hu∣mours, which humours by the extremity of trauell are violently driuen into the small veines, through which the liuer ought to receiue good nutriment, and so by that meanes breedeth obstructions & stoppings. Now from these obstructions (when they haue conti∣nued any long time) especially if the humours be cholericke, breedeth many times hard knobs on the

liuer, which knobbes maketh the horse continually lye on his right side, and neuer on the left; because if he should lye on the left side, the waight of the knob would oppresse the stomacke, and euen sicken all the vitall parts in him. The signes of these obstructions or stoppings, are heauinesse of countenance, distention or swelling, great dulnesse and sloth in the horse when he beginneth his trauell, and a continuall looking backe to his short ribbes, where remaineth his greatest paine and torment. Now the cure there∣of is to seeth continually in the water which hee drinketh, Agrimony, Fumitory, Camomill, VVorme∣wood, Licoras, Anise seedes, Smallage, Persley, Spicke∣nard, Gentian, Succory, Endyue, and Lupyns, the ver∣tues whereof are most comfortable to the liuer. But for as much as the most part of our English Farriers are very simple Smithes, whose capacities are vnable to diue into these seuerall distinctions; and that this worke (or maister peece) is inten∣ded for the weakest braine whatsoeuer, you shall vnderstand that there bee certaine generall signes to know when the liuer of a horse is grieued with any griefe, of what nature or condition soeuer it be; and so likewise generall receipts, to cure all the grieues without distinguishing or knowing their natures: you shall know then if a horse haue any griefe or paine in his liuer by these signes. First, by a loathing of his meate, next, by the wasting of his flesh, drynesse of his mouth, and roughnesse of his tongue, and great swelling thereof, and re∣fusing to lye on the side grieued; and lastly, a con∣tinuall looking backeward. Now the generall cures for the sicknesse of the liuer, is, according to the

opinion of the ancient Farriers, to giue the horse a∣loes dissolued in sweet wine: for it both purgeth and comforteth the liuer. Others vse to giue him to drink Ireos stampt and mixt with wine and water together, or in stead of Ireos, to giue him Calamint, called of the Latines Pollimonia. Others giue Sauery with oyle & wine mixt together. Others vse liuer-wort and agri∣mony with wine and oyle. Others vse comfortable frictions, and to steepe his prouender in warme wa∣ter, and to mixe with his prouender a little Nitrum, not forgetting to let him stand warme and lye soft; but that which is generally praised aboue all medi∣cines, is to giue the horse a Wolfes liuer, beaten to powder, and mixt either with wine, water, oyle, or a∣ny other medicine.

Now for a conclusion of this chapter, if the Farri∣ers skill be so good that he can distinguish the nature of each seueral infirmity about the liuer, then I would haue him to vnderstand that for inflammations (which are the first beginners of all diseases) would be vsed simples that mollifie and disperse humors, as be these, Linseed, Fenegreeke, Camomil, Anise seeds, Mellilot, and such like; to which mollifying simples would be euer added some simples that are astringent or binding, as are these: red Rose leaues, Bramble leaues, Wormewod, Plantaine, Myrre, Masticke, Storax, and such like. Now for apostumes, they are to be ripened and voyded, & vlcers must be cleansed and scoured downeward ei∣ther by excrement or vrine; and therefore the vse of such simples as prouoke either the one or the other (of which you shall find plenty in other chapters) is most necessary.

CHAP. 62. Of the Consumption of the Liuer.

OF this consumption of the liuer, I haue spoken something in the chapter of the mourning of the chine; yet because amongst our best Farriers it is di∣uersly taken, I will shew you their diuers opinions. First, some hold it cometh onely from sudden cold after heate, taken either by drinking or standing still. Others hold it cometh of any humour, especially of cholericke matter, shead throughout the whole sub∣stance of the liuer, which rotting by leasurable de∣grees, doth in the end corrupt and confound all the substance of the liuer, proceeding as they thinke, from corrupt meates, and sweet drinkes: and the last thin∣keth it cometh by extreme heate gotten in trauell, which inflaming the bloud doth afterward putrifie, corrupt, and exulcerate the whole substance of the li∣uer: because the liuer is spongious like the lungs, therefore the cure of this disease is held desperate; yet it bringeth no speedy or suddaine death, but a wasting and lingring infirmity: for the liuer being corrupted, disgestion is taken away, and so the body for want of good nutriment, doth in time consume. The signes of this disease is a loathing of meate, and a stretching forth of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body at length as he standeth; hee will seldome or neuer lye downe, his breath will stink maruellously, and he will continually cast exceeding foule matter either at one nosthrell or at both, accor∣ding as one side or both sides of the liuer is con∣sumed: and on that side which hee casteth, hee will euer haue betwixt his nether iawes, about the midst of them, a hard knobbe or kirnell about the bignesse

of a wal-nut. Now the preseruatiue for this disease, (for in truth it is incurable) is, according to the opi∣nion of some Farriers, to take halfe a pint of malm∣sey, and as much of the bloud of a young pigge, and to giue it the horse luke warme to drinke. O∣ther Farriers vse to giue the horse no other food for the space of three dayes, then warme wort, and oates baked in an ouen, being sure that the horse be kept fasting the first night before he receiue his medicine. Others suppose that if into the wort which he drinketh, you do put euery morning two or three spoonfull of the powder made of Agrimony, red rose leaues, Sac••harum, Rosac••um, Diarchadon, Abbatis, Di∣santalon, Licoras, and of the liuer of a Wolfe, that is more excellent. Others hold that this powder gi∣uen with goates milke luke warme, is very good. Others hold that malmsey and the iuyce of feather•• few giuen to drinke is also good. Others vse (and I hold it equall with the best) to take an ounce of Sulphur vi••e, beaten into fine powder, and a peny waight of Myrre, beaten to very fine powder; mixe them together with a new layed egge, and giue them to drinke with halfe a pint of Malmsey: vse this diuers times, and keep the horse warme; yet sepa∣rate him from other arrow_back horses arrow_forward , for this disease is infecti∣ous.

CHAP. 63. Of the diseases in the Gall.

AS is the liuer, euen so the gall of a horse is sub∣iect to diuers and many infirmities, as to obstru∣ctions, from whence floweth the fulnesse and empti∣nesse of the bladder, and stone in the gall; and these

obstructions do chance two seuerall waies: first when the passage by which choler should passe from the li∣uer vnto the bladder of the gall, as vnto his proper receptacle is stopped, and so the bladder of the gall remaineth empty: for you are to vnderstand that the gall is none other thing then a long, slender, little greenish bladder fixed vnderneath the liuer, which doth receiue all the cholericke bitter moysture, which would otherwise offend not onely the liuer, but the whole body also. Now if the passage vnto this neces∣sary vessell be stopped, there cannot chuse but follow many infirmities, as either vomiting, the laxe, or the bloudy flixe.

Secondly, when the way whereby such choler should issue forth of the bladder of the gall downe into the guts and excrements, is closed vp, and so su∣peraboundeth with too much choler; from whence springeth dulnesse of spirit, suffocating, belching, heate, thirst, and disposition to rage and fury; and truly to any beast there is not a more dangerous dis∣ease then the ouerflowing of the gall. The signes of both these kindes of euils or obstructions, are yel∣lownesse of the skinne infected with yellow iaundise, and a continuall costiuenesse of the body: and the cure of them are, according to the most ancient Farriers, to giue the horse milke and great store of saf∣fron, boyled together, or in stead of milke to giue ale, saffron, and anise seedes mixed together. But there be other Farriers, with whom I much more do agree, which hold that selladine roots and leaues chopt and bruised, & boiled in beere, or for want of selladine, rue or hearbe of grace, and giuen the horse luke warme to drinke, is most soueraigne.

Now for the stone in the gall, which is of a blackish color, it cometh from the obstruction of the conduits of the bladder, whereby the choler being too long kept in, becommeth dry, and so conuerteth first into grauell, and after into a sollide and hard stone, of which both the signes and the cure, are those last be∣fore rehearsed.

CHAP. 64. Of all such diseases as are incident to the Spleene.

THe Spleene is a long, narrow, flat, spongy sub∣stance, of a pale fleshy colour, ioyning with the liuer & the gall; it is the receptacle of melancholy and the dregges of the bloud, and is as subiect to infirmi∣ty as any inward member whatsoeuer, as to inflamma∣tions, obstructions, knobbes and swellings; it through the sponginesse is apt to sucke in all manner of filth, and to dilate and spread the same ouer the whole bo∣dy: the appearance thereof, is on the left side vnder the short ribs, where you shall perceiue some small swelling, which swelling giues great griefe to the mid∣riffe, especially after a full stomacke, taking away much more of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward disgestion then his appe∣tite, and being suffered to continue, it makes faint the heart, and growes in the end to a hard knob, or stony substance.

This disease or diseases of the spleene, are incident to arrow_back horses arrow_forward most in the Summer, proceeding from the surfaite or greedy eating of greene meates. The signe of which diseases are these, heauinesse, dul∣nesse, paine on the left side, and hard swellings, short

breath, much groaning, and an ouer hasty desire to his meate. The cure according to the opinion of our best Farriers, is to make the horse sweate either by la∣bour or cloathes, then to giue him to drinke a quart of white wine, wherein hath bene boyled the leaues of Tamariske bruised, and a good quantity of comin seede beaten to powder, and giue it luke warme. O∣thers vse after the horse hath sweat, to powre into his left nosthrell euery day the iuyce of Mirobalans, mixt with wine and water to the quantity of a pint. Others take of comin seede and hony, of each sixe ounces, of Lacerpitium as much as a beane, of vinegar a pint, & put all these into three quarts of water, and let it stand so all night, and giue the horse a quart thereof next morning, hauing fasted all night. Others make the horse a drinke of garlicke, nitrum, hore-hound, and wormewood, sodden in sharpe wine, and to bathe all the arrow_back horses arrow_forward leftside with warme water, and to rubbe it hard. There be others which vse to cauterize or scarifie the arrow_back horses arrow_forward left side with a hot yron; but it is barbarous and vile, and carrieth no iudgement in the practise.

CHAP. 65. Of the Yellowes or Iaundise.

AS before I sayd, from the obstructions or ouer∣flowings of the gall and spleene doth spring this disease which our common Smiths call the yellowes, and our better Farriers the iaundise; and you shall vn∣derstand, that of this yellowes or iaundise there are two kinds, the first an ouerflowing of choler procee∣ding from the sicknesse of the gall, and it is called sim∣ply

the yellowes, or yellow iaundise; because the out∣ward parts of the body, as eyes, skinne, mouth, inside of the lips, and such like, are dryed, and coloured yel∣low: the other an ouerflowing of melancholy procee∣ding from the sicknesse of the spleene, & is called the blacke yellows or blacke iaundise, because all the out∣ward parts are blacke. Now both these iaundises or yellowes haue their beginnings from the euils of the liuer; the yellow iaundise when the liuer by inflam∣mation, hath all his bloud conuerted into choler, and so ouerwhelmes the body: and the blacke iaundise when some obstruction in the liuer veine, which go∣eth to the spleene, hindreth the spleene from doing his office, and receiuing the dregges of bloud from the liuer; or else when the spleene is surcharged with such dregges of the bloud, and so sheddeth them back againe into the veines. Now although this distinction of the blacke iaundise or blacke yellowes, will ap∣peare strange vnto our common Farriers; yet it is most certaine that whensoeuer a horse dyeth of the yellowes, he dyeth onely of the blacke yellowes: for when it cometh vnto the case of mortality, then are al the inward powers conuerted to blacknesse, and the yellow substance is cleane mastered; but whilest the matter is yellow, so long the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body is in good state of recouery. Besides, these yellowes do euer fol∣low one the other, and the lesser hath no sooner got preheminence, but the greater pursues him; of all the inward diseases in a horse body, this is most com∣mon, oftest in practise, and yet most mortal if it be not early preuented. The signes of this disease of yellow iaundise, are yellownesse of eyes, nosthrels, inside of lippes, the skinne, the yard and the vrine: his eares and

his flankes will sweate, and he will groane when he lyeth downe, and he will not onely be faint, but vt∣terly forsake his meate also. The cures which are at this day in practise for this disease, are infinite, and a world of them corrupt and poysonous: euery Smith almost making a medicine of his owne inuen∣tion, God knowes weake and to little purpose; but for the best receipts which at this day are vsed by a∣ny good Farrier whatsoeuer, I will deliuer you the whole catologue.

First, for the ancient Farriers, both Italian & French, they did vse to take of tyme and comin, of each like quantity, and stamping them together to mingle it with wine, hony, and water; and then to let him bloud in the pasternes.

But now the Farriers of latter dayes vse, first to let the horse bloud in the necke veine, suffering him to bleede till you perceiue the bloud to grow pure; then to giue him this drinke: Take of white wine or ale a quart, and put thereunto of saffron, of turmericke, of each halfe an ounce, and the iuyce that is wrong out of a great handfull of selladine, and being luke warme giue it the horse to drinke; then keepe him warme the space of three or foure dayes, giuing him warme water with a little branne in it. Others vse after the horse is let bloud in the necke veine: First to rake him then to gim him a sup∣positary made of Salt, Hony, and Marioram, and then giue him to drinke, halfe an ounce of myrre, dissolued in a quart of wine or ale. Others vse to giue after bloud letting, onely cold water and ni∣trum mixt together. There be others which after bloud letting, will onely stoppe his eares with

felladine, and then bind them fast vp, and let him haue no exercise for twelue howres after. Others vse after the letting him bloud to giue him a glister; then to take saffron and turmericke, and mixing them with a quart of milke to giue it him to drinke luke warme. Others vse to let the horse bloud in the third barre of the roofe of his mouth with a sharpe knife, and after he hath bled well, to take a halfe peny worth of En∣glish saffron, and a peny worth of turmericke, and a new layed egge, with the shell and all small broken, and mixe it in a quart of stale ale or beere; and so set him vp warme. Others vse to take after bloud let∣ting of turmericke and of saffron a like quantity, and two or three cloues, and sixe spoonefull of vinegar or verdges, and to put into each eare of the horse, three spoonefull thereof, and then stoppe his eares with black wolle, & so tye them vp for seuen or eight dayes after. Others take long pepper, graines, turmericke, and licoras, all beaten into fine powder; then brew them with a quart of strong beere or ale, and giue it the horse to drinke. Others vse after raking & bloud letting to take the iuyce of Iuy leaues, & mingling it with wine, to squirt it into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels; and to let him drinke only cold water mixt with vitrum, and let his foode be grasse, or new hay sprinkled with wa∣ter. Thus you haue seene, I dare well affirme, all the best practises which are at this day knowne for this disease; & where they all faile▪ there is no hope of cure; yet let me thus farre further informe you. This disease of the yellowes or iaundise, if the keeper or maister be not a great deale the more skilfull and carefull, will steale vpon you vnawares, and (as I haue often seene) when you are in the middest of your iourney, remote

and distant farre from any towne that can giue you succour, it may be your horse will fall downe vnder you, and if you should let him rest till you fetch him succour, questionlesse hee will bee dead. In this ex∣tremity you haue no helpe but to draw out a sharpe poynted knife, dagger, or rapier for a neede, and as neare as you can (opening the arrow_back horses arrow_forward mouth) strike him bloud about the third barre of the roofe of his mouth; and so letting him eate and swallow his owne blood a good while, then raise him vp, and be sure he will go as fresh as euer he did; but after you come to place of rest, then bee sure to bloud him and drench him as aforesayd, or else there will a worse fit come vpon him. Now to conclude for the blacke iaundise, which of some Farriers is called the dry yellow, though for mine owne part I hold it to be incurable, yet there be other Farriers which are of a contrary humour, and prescribe this physicke for the cure thereof: first, to giue the horse a glister made of oyle, water, and nitrum, after his fundament is raked; then to powre the decoction of mallowes, mingled with sweete wine, into his nosthrels, and let his meate be grasse, or hay sprinkled with water, and a little nitre, and his prouender dryed oates: hee must rest from labour, and be often rubbed. Now there be other Farriers, which for this disease would onely haue the horse drinke the decoction of wilde cole-worts sodden in wine; the effects of all which I onely referre to experience.

CHAP. 66. Of the Dropsie, or euill habit of the body.

WHereas we haue spoken before of the con∣sumption of the flesh, which proceedeth from surfaits, ill lodging, labour, colds, heates, and such like: you shall also now vnderstand, that there is another drinesse or consumption of the flesh, which hath no apparant cause or ground, and is called of Farriers a dropsie or euill habite of the body; which is most apparantly seene when the horse by dislike doth leese his true naturall colour, as when baynesse turnes to dunnesse, blackes to duskishnes, & whites to ashinesse; and when he leeseth his spirit, strength, and alacrity. Now this cometh not from the want of nutriment, but from the want of good nutriment, in that the bloud is corrupted either with fleame, choler, or melancholy, coming (according to the opinion of the best Farriers) either from the spleene, or the weaknes of the stomacke or liuer causing naugh∣ty disgestion. Others thinke it cometh from fowle fee∣ding, or much idlenesse; but for mine owne part, al∣beit I haue had as much tryall of this disease, as any one man; and that it becometh not me, to controll men of approued iudgements; yet this I dare auerre, that I neuer saw this disease of the euill habite or euill colour of the body, spring from any other groundes, then either disorderly and wilde riding: or from hunger, or barraine woody keeping. Be∣twixt it and the dropsie, there is small or no diffe∣rence: for the dropsie being diuided into three kindes, this is the first thereof, as namely an vniuer∣sall

swelling of the body, but especially the legges, through the aboundance of water lying betweene the skinne and the flesh. The second, a swelling in the couering or bottome of the belly, as if the horse were with foale; which is onely a whayish hu∣mour abiding betwixt the skinne and the rimme: and the third a swelling in the same place by the like humour, abiding betwixt the great bagge and the kell. The signes of this disease are shortnesse of breath, swelling of the body or legges, losse of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward na∣turall colour, no appetite vnto meate, and a continu∣all thirst; his backe, buttockes, and flankes, will be dry, and shrunke vp to their bones; his veines will be hidde that you cannot see them; and wheresoe∣uer you shall presse your finger hard against his body, there you shall leaue the print thereof behind you, and the flesh will not rise of a good space af∣ter: when he lyeth downe, he will spreade out his limbes, and not draw them round together, and his haire will shedde with the smallest rubbing. There be other Farriers which make but onely two drop∣sies, that is, a wet dropsie, and a windy dropsie; but being examined, they are all one with those recited, haue all the same signes and the same cure, which according to the ancient Farriers is in this sort. First, to let him be warme couered with many cloathes, and either by exercise or otherwise driue him into a sweate; then let his backe and body be rubbed against the haire, and let his foode be for the most part, cole-worts, smallage, and Elming bowes, or what else will keepe his body soluble, or prouoke vrine: when you want this foode, let him eate grasse, or hay sprinckled with water, and sometimes

you may giue him a kinde of pulse called Ciche, stee∣ped a day and a night in water, and then taken out and layed so as the water may drop away.

There be other Farriers which only would haue the horse to drinke parsley stampt and mixt with wine, or else the roote of the hearbe called Panax stampt and mixt with wine. Now whereas some Farriers aduise to slit the belly a handfull behinde the nauell, that the winde and water may leasurely issue forth, of mine owne knowledge I know the cure to be most vile; nor can it be done, but to the vtter spoyle and killing of the horse: for a horse is a beast, & wanting know∣ledge of his owne good, will neuer be drest but by violence, and that violence will bring downe his kell, so as it will neuer be recouered. Now for these dropsies in the belly, although I haue shewed you the signes and the cures, yet are they rare to be found, and more rare to be cured; but for the other dropsie, which is the swelling of the legges, and the losse of the colour of the haire, it is very ordinary and in howrely practise: the best cure wherof, that euer I found, is this. Take of strong ale a gallon, & set it on the fire, & skum off the white frothwhich riseth: then take a handfull of wormwood without stalke, and as much rue in like manner without stalkes, and put them into the ale, and let them boyle till it be come almost to a quart, then take it off, and straine it exceedingly: then dis∣solue into it three ounces of the best treacle, and put in also an ounce and a halfe of long pepper, and graines beaten to very fine powder: then brew them all together till it be no more but luke warme, and so giue it the horse to drinke; the next day let him bloud on the necke veine, and annoynt his fore∣legges

with traine ovle, and so turne him into good grasse, and feare not his recouery.

CHAP. 67. Of the diseases in the Guts of a horse, and first of the Cholicke.

THe guts of a horse are subiect to many and sundry infirmities, as namely, to the winde cholike, fretting of the belly, costiuenesse, laxe, bloudy flixe, and wormes of diuers kinds. Now for the cholicke, it is a grieuous and tormenting paine in the great gut or bagge, which because it is very large and spacious, and full of empty places, it is the more apt to receiue diuers offencied matters, which do breede diuers in∣firmities, especially winde, which finding no ready passage out, maketh the body, as it were, swell, and of∣fendeth both the stomacke & other inward members. This disease doth not so much appeare in the stable as abroad in trauell: and the signes are these: the horse will often offer to stale but cannot, he will strike at his belly with his hinder foote, and many times stampe, he will forsake his meate, and towards his flanke you shall see his belly appeare more ful then ordinary, and he will desire to lye downe and wallow. The cure thereof according to the most ancient Farriers, is one∣ly to giue him a glister made either of wild cowcum∣bers, or else of hens dung, nitrum, and strong vinegar, the manner whereof you shall see in the chapter of glisters; and after the glister labour him.

Others vse to giue the horse the vrine of a child to drinke, or a glister of sope and salt water. Others vse to giue him fiue drams of myrre in good wine, and then

gallop him gently thereupon. Others vse to giue him smallage and parsley with his prouender, & then to trauell him till he sweate; but for mine owne part, I hold it best to take a quart of malmsey, of cloues, pepper, cinamon, of each halfe an ounce; of sugar halfe a quarterne, & giue the horse luke warm, & then ride him at least an houre after; but before you ride him annoynt all his flankes with oyle de bay, or oyle of Spike. Now if whilest you ride him he will not dung, you shal then take him, and if neede be, enforce him to dung, by thrusting into his fundament a pild onion iagged crosse-wayes, that the tickling of the iuice may enforce ordure; and by no meanes for foure of fiue dayes let him drinke no cold water, nor eate any grasse or greene corne, but keepe him vpon wholesome dry meate in a warme stable.

CHAP. 68. Of Belly-ake, or fretting in the Belly.

Besides the cholike, there is also another grieuous paine in the belly, which Farriers cal the belly-ake, or fretting in the belly; and it proceedeth either from eating of greene pulse when it growes on the ground, or raw vndryed pease, beanes or oates: or else when sharpe fretting humours, inflammations, or aboun∣dance of grosse matter, is gotten betweene the great gut and the panicle. The signes are much wallow∣ing, great groaning, and often striking at his belly, and gnawing vpon the manger. The cure according to the opinion of some Farriers, is first, to anoynt your hand with sallet oile, or butter, or grease; & then thru∣sting it in at the arrow_back horses arrow_forward fundament, pull out as much

dung as you can reach, which is called raking a horse; then giue him a glister of water and salt mixt toge∣ther, or in stead thereof, giue him a suppositary of ho∣ny and salt, and then giue him to drinke the powder of centuary and wormwood brewd with a quart of malmsey. Others vse onely to giue the horse a suppo∣sitary of New-castle sope, and for mine owne part, I hold it onely the best.

CHAP. 69. Of Costiuenesse, or Belly-bound.

COstiuenesse or belly-bound is when a horse is so bound in his belly that he cannot dung; it is a dis∣ease of all other most incident to running arrow_back horses arrow_forward , which are kept in a dry and hot dyet. Now my mai∣sters, the great Farriers, affirme, that it proceedeth from glut of prouender, or ouer much feeding, and rest; or from winde, grosse humours, or cold, cau∣sing obstructions and stoppings in the guts; but I sup∣pose (& imagine that all the best keepers of hunting or running arrow_back horses arrow_forward , will consent with me) that it rather proceedeth from much fasting, whereby the gut wanting fresh substance to fill it, doth out of it owne great heate bake and dry vp that little which it con∣taineth: for it is a certaine rule that nothing can ouerflow before it be full. Or else it may proceede from eating too much hot and dry foode, which suc∣king vp the fleame and moysture of the body, leaues not sufficient whereby it may be disgested; how∣euer, it is a dangerous infirmity, and is the be∣ginning of many other euils. The signes are onely abstinence from the office of nature (I mean dunging)

which is most vsuall in all beasts. The cure whereof according to the opinion of the ancientest Farrier, is to take the water wherein mallowes haue bene long boyled to the quantity of a quart; and put thereto halfe a pint of oyle, or in stead thereof halfe a pint of butter very sweete, and one ounce of Benedicte Laxa∣tiue, and powre that into his fundament glister-wise: then with a string fasten his tayle hard to histuel, and then trot the horse vp and downe a pretty while, that the medicine may worke so much the better; then let his tayle loose, and suffer him to voyd all that is in his belly: then bring him into the stable, and hauing stood a while, giue him a little well clarified hony to drinke; then couer him and keepe him warme, and let his drinke for three or foure dayes, be nothing but sweete mashes of malt and water. Other Farriers vse to take eleuen leaues of Lorell, and stamping them in a morter, giue it the horse to drinke with one quart of strong ale. Others vse to take an ounce of brimstone finely beaten to powder, and mixing it with spurge, to giue it the horse in a mash to drinke. Now for mine owne part, I would wish you, if the disease he not ve∣ry extremely violent, onely but to rake the arrow_back horses arrow_forward fundament, and then to gallop him in his cloathes till he sweate, and then giue him a handfull or two of cleane rye, and a little brimstone mixt with it: for brimstone being giuen with prouender at any time, will scoure; but if the disease be raging and vio∣lent, take a quarter of a pound of white sope, and a handfull of spurge, bray them very well together, and giue it the horse to drinke with a quart of ale luke warme; then let him fast and exercise him more then halfe an howre after, and be sure to keepe him very

warme, and let his drinke be onely warme mashes. A world of other scouring receipts there be; but you shall finde them more at large in the chapter of purga∣tions, glisters and suppositaries.

CHAP. 70. Of the Laxe, or too much scouring of arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

THe laxe, or open fluxe of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, is a dan∣gerous disease, and quickly bringeth a horse to great weaknes and faintnes: it proceedeth sometimes from the aboundance of cholericke humors, descen∣ding from the liuer or gall down into the guts: some∣times by drinking ouermuch cold water immediately after prouender, sometimes by sodaine trauelling vp∣on a full stomacke before his meate be digested, somtimes by hasty running or galloping presently af∣ter water; & sometimes by licking vp a feather, or ea∣ting hens dung: there is no disease that taketh more sore vpon a horse in short time then this; and yet sith nature her selfe in this disease seemeth to be a Physiti∣on to the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, I would not wish any Farrier to go about too suddenly to stop it; but if you finde that by the continuance, nature both leeseth her owne strength, and the horse the good estate of his body, then you shall seeke remedy, and the cure thereof ac∣cording to the opinion of ancient Farriers, is this. Take of beane flowre and Bolarmony, of each a quarterne; mixe them together in a quart of redde wine, and giue it the horse luke warme to drinke, & let him be kept very warme and haue much rest: also let the water that he drinketh be luke warme, and mixt with beane flowre; yet by no meanes let him drinke aboue once in foure and twenty howres; and then

not to his full satisfaction. Others take a pint of redde wine, the powder of one nutmegge, halfe an ounce of cinamon, and as much of the rinde of a pomegranat, and mixing them together, giue it the horse luke warme to drinke; and let him not drinke any other drinke, except it be once in foure and twenty howres, halfe a arrow_back horses arrow_forward draught of warme water mixt with beane flowre. Others take a halfe peny worth of a∣lume beaten into fine powder, and Bole-armony bea∣ten small, and a quart of good milke; mingle them together till the milke be all on a curd, and then giue it the horse to drinke, obseruing the dyet before rehearsed; but if this disease shall happen to a suck∣ing foale, as commonly it will, and I my selfe haue seene many that for want of experience haue peri∣shed thereby, you shall then onely giue it a pint of strong verdges to drinke, and it is a present remedy: for the foale feeding only vpon milke, and that milke auoyding in as liquid forme as it was receiued, the verdges will curdell it, & so make it auoyd in a grosser and more tougher substance.

CHAP. 71. Of the Bloudy flixe in arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

IT is not to be doubted but that a horse may haue the bloudy flixe, for in my experience I haue seene it, besides the confirmation of all my maisters, the old Farriers. Now of the bloudy flixe they make diuers kindes: for somtimes the fat of the slimyfilth which is voyded, is sprinkled with a little bloud: sometimes the excrement is a watrish bloud like the water wherein bloudy flesh hath bene washed: sometimes

bloud mixed with melancholy, and sometimes pure bloud; but all these proceeding from one head, which is the exulceration of the gut, they may all very well be helped one cure. Yet that you may know whe∣ther the exulceration bee in the inward small guts, or in the outward great guts, you shall obserue i•• the matter and bloud be perfectly mixt together, then it is in the inner small guts; but if they be not mixed, but come out seuerally, the bloud most commonly follo∣wing the matter, then it is in the thicke outward guts. Now this bloudy flixe cometh most commonly of some sharp humors, ingendred either by naughty raw food, or vnreasonable trauell; which humours being violently driuen, and hauing to passe through many crooked & narrow wayes, do cleaue to the guts, and with their heate and sharpnesse fret them, & cause ex∣ulceration & grieuous paine. Sometimes this bloudy flixe may come from extreme cold, extreme heate, or extreme moistnesse, or through the violence of some extreme scouring formerly giuen, wherein some poysonous simple, as Scamony, Stibium, or such like, might be applyed in too great a quantity; or it may come from the weaknesse of the liuer, or the other members which serue for disgestion. The signes of this disease, is onely the auoyding bloud with his excrements, or bloud in stead of excrements: and the cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers, is to take saffron one ounce, of Myrre 2 ounces, of sou∣thernwood 3 ounces, of parsley 1 ounce, of rue 3 oun∣ces, of spittlewort & hyssop of each 2 ounces, of cassia which is like cinamon, one ounce; let all these be bea∣ten into fine powder, & mingled with chalk & strong vinegar, wrought into paste; of which paste make little

cakes, and dry them in the shadow, and being dry∣ed, dissolue some of them in a pint and a halfe of bar∣ley milke, or for want thereof, in that iuyce which is called Cremor ptisanae, and giue it the horse to drinke: for it not onely cureth the bloudy flixe, but being gi∣uen with a quart of warme water, it healeth all griefe and paine either in the belly or bladder, which cometh for want of staling. Now for mine owne part, I haue e∣uer vsed for the bloudy flixe but this medicine only. Take of red wine 3 pints, halfe a handful of the hearbe called Bursa Pastoris, or shepheards purse, and as much Tanners barke taken out of the fat and dryed; boyle them in the wine till somewhat more then a pint be consumed, and then straining it very hard, giue it the horse luke warme to drinke: if you do adde vnto it a little cinamon, it is not amisse. There be other Farriers which vse to dissolue in a pint of red wine foure ounces of the sirrop of slowes, and giue it the horse to drinke; but either of the other medicines are fully sufficient.

CHAP. 72. Of the falling downe of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward Fundament.

arrow_back HOrses arrow_forward sometimes by meanes of the disease for∣merly spoken of, which is the bloudy flixe, and sometimes by a naturall weaknesse in the inward bo∣wels, coming through the resolution of the muscles seruing to draw vp the fundament, will many times haue their fundaments fall downe in great length, both to the much paine of the horse, and great loath∣somenesse to the beholders. Now the resolution or falling downe, may come partly by ouermuch strai∣ning

to dung when a horse is costiue, and partly by o∣uer great moysture, as it happens in young children: for then a horse, no creature hath a moyster body. Now the signe is the apparant hanging downe of the fundament, and the cure is this. First, you shall looke whether the fundament be inflamed, that is, whether it be much sweld or no; if it be not inflamed, then you shall annoynt it with oyle of roses warmed on a cha∣fing dish and coales, or for want of such oyle, you shall wash it with warme red wine; but if it be infla∣med, then you shall bathe it well with a soft spunge dipt in the decoction of mallowes, camomill, linseed and fenegreeke, and also you shall annoynt it well with oyle of camomill and dill mingled together, to asswage the swelling; and then with a gentle hand & warme linnen cloathes, thrust it faire and softly vp in∣to his true place: that done, bathe all the tuell about with red wine, wherein hath beene sodden Acatium, galles, acorne cuppes, and the parings of quinces: then throw vpon it either the powder of Bolearmo∣nicke, or of frankinsence, or Sanguis Draconis, Myrre, A∣catium, or such like, & then giue him to drinke the dry pils of Pomegranats beaten to powder, either with wine or warme water; and be sure to keepe the horse very warme, and in his body neither too soluble or loose, nor too costiue or hard bound, but of a meane and a soft temper: for the extremity of either is most hurtfull.

CHAP. 73. Of the Bots, Truncheons and wormes in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body.

MY Maisters, the old Farriers, are of opinion that the guts of a horse do breede three sorts of

wormes, that is to say, little short wormes with great red heads, and long smal white tayles, which we call bots; short & thick worms all of a bignesse like a mans finger, which we call Truncheons; and great long wormes as bigge as a mans finger, and at least sixe inches in length, which we call by the simple name of wormes onely.

Now for mine part, I am of opinion, that the first which are bots, are not bred in the guts but in the sto∣macke onely; because hauing cut vp many arrow_back horses arrow_forward , I neuer could finde any one bot in the guts, yet great store of both the other wormes; nor euer cut vp the stomacke of a horse, but I found great aboundance of bots, and neither of the other wormes: whence I am confidently opiniated, that bots are euer bred in the stomacke, and both the other sorts of wormes in the guts: truth it is, that all three do proceede from one selfe cause, which is a raw, grosse, & flegmatike matter apt to putrifaction, and ingendred by foule & naugh∣ty feeding; and as they proceede from one selfe cause, so haue they all one signe and one cure. The signes then are, the horse will forsake his meate, and not stand vpon his legges, but wallow and tumble, and beate his belly with his feete; and sometimes the paine will be so extreme that he will beate his head a∣gainst the ground; and truly the violence of these wormes are wonderfull: for I haue seene arrow_back horses arrow_forward whose stomacks haue bene eaten quite through with them, so that the meate which they ate, could not a∣bide in their stomacke, but fell vpon the swallowing into the body, making the body swell like a tun, and so haue dyed with huge torment. Now the cure, ac∣cording to the ancientest Farriers, is to take a quart

of sweete milke, of hony a quarterne, and giue it him luke warme; then walke him vp and downe for the space of an houre after, and so let him rest for that day with as little meate and drinke as may be; and by no meanes suffer him to lye downe. The next day when the horse is fasting, take of rue a handfull, of Sauin as much, and being well stampt, put thereunto a lit∣tle brimstone, and a little foote of a chimney beaten into fine powder; put all these things together in a quart of wort or new ale, and there let them lye in steepe the space of an howre or two, then straine it hard through a faire cloath, and giue it the horse to drinke luke warme: then bridle him and walke him abroad the space of an howre, then set him vp, and let him stand on the bit, two or three howres after, and then giue him a little hay. Other Farriers vse on∣ly to giue the horse for this disease, the warme guts of a new slaine henne or chicken, being thrust downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throate; and sure it is passing good, espe∣cially if a little salt be mixed with them: and this must be done three mornings together fasting, kee∣ping the horse from drinking three or foure howres after. Others vse to take three ounces of the rootes of Caphers beaten with halfe so much vinegar, and put it downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throate: or else a pint of milke, & a spoonfull of sope giuen the horse to drinke, or brimstone and milke giuen to drinke, all be very so∣ueraigne. Others vse to binde about the snafle or bit mans dung new made, and so ride him therewith. O∣thers take of Gentian, Aloes, and Sauin, of each halfe an ounce, and brew them together with hony and strong ale. Others vse to take onely a quart of cold sweete wort. Others take Sauin & Southerwort, or else

wormewood, and the tops of broome small chopt, and mixe it with the arrow_back horses arrow_forward prouender. Others vse to giue the horse to drinke luke warme, elder berries sodden in milke. Others vse to giue the horse with his prouender, his owne haire chopt small, and mixt with bay salt. Others put hot embers in water, and presently straine it and giue it the horse to drinke. O∣thers make little round balles of honey, and the fine powder of chalke, and putting them into ale make the horse swallow them. Others vse to take, especial∣ly for the long wormes, a halfe peny worth of Fene∣greeke, of anise seedes, a quarter of a pound, a halfe∣peny worth of bay berries, as much licoras, and as much turmericke, and a little quantity of brimstone; beate them into powder, put them into a quart of ale, and giue it the horse fasting luke warme to drinke; then ride him an howre after, then set him vp warme foure and twenty howres after. Others vse, especially for the Truncheons, to take two spoonefull of the powder of wormewood, finely fearst, and put it in a pint of good malmsey, and after it is brewd a while, let it stand and soake all night; then giue it the horse in the morning fasting, then keepe him without meate or drinke foure houres after. Others vse to giue the horse to drinke, two spoonefull of wormeseede, & as much brimstone or powder of Sauin, with a quart of malmsey, ale, or beere. Others vse to take as much blacke sope as a wal nut, and as much brimstone bea∣ten to powder, and a heade or two of garlicke pild & bruised, and put into a quart of good ale, and giue it the horse luke warme to drinke. This medicine also may be administred to a Mare great with foale if she be troubled with the bots or other wormes, so that

the blacke sope be left out; for it is a violent purger, and may kill the foale in the mares belly; yet for mine owne part, I neuer giue any inward physicall medi∣cine to a mare great with foale; but if I finde her to be troubled with wormes, as is easie to be done by the stinking of her breath, by the sliminesse of her mouth, and by the greatnesse of the worme veines vnder her lips: then presently I do nothing but let her bloud in the roofe or palat of her mouth, and make her eate her owne bloud: for that I know, will both kill worms, and help most inward maladyes. But leauing mares with foale, let vs returne againe vnto arrow_back horses arrow_forward . There be other Farriers which vse to take a handfull of new hens dung, & a quart of stale ale, and braying them well together, then take a handfull of bay∣salt, and put two egges to it, and hauing mixt them all well together, giue it the horse to drinke, Others vse to take a halfe peny worth of saffron, and as much allum, and mixe them with a pint of milke, and giue it the horse to drinke: or else giue him greene willow and greene reede to eate. Others vse (and thinke it the best of all other medicines) to take the guttes of a young hen, or pidgeon, and rolle it first in a little blacke sope, then in baysaylt, and so force it downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throate. Others vse (especially for the Truncheons) to let the horse drinke hennes dung, mints, sage, and rue, with beere or ale, and to let him bloud in the nosthrels. To conclude, except you see the horse very much pained, you shall need to giue him nothing but rosen and brimstone mixt together, and blended with his prouender, hauing care that e∣uer you giue it fasting, and long before the horse do drinke.

CHAP. 74. Of paine in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward Kiddneyes.

There is no question but the same infirmities which do belong vnto the liuer or spleene of a horse, do also belong vnto the kidneyes, as inflammations, obstructions, apostumes and vlcers; and truly in o∣pening of arrow_back horses arrow_forward , I haue found the kidney sometimes wasted, which I imputed to some matter of inflam∣mation: I haue likewise found much grauell, which was onely through obstructions; and I haue seene the kidneyes as blacke as inke, which could not come without an vlcerous apostumation: But forasmuch as a horse is a beast, who cannot tell the manner of his paine, nor we so heedfull as we might haue bene, to obserue the Symptome of euery griefe, we are enforst to conclude all vnder one name, which is paine in the kidneyes, gotten either by some great straine in lea∣ding, or by some great burthen bearing. The signes are, the horse will go rolling and staggering behind, his vrine will bee blackish and thicke, and his stones, if he haue any, will be shrunke vp into his body; if he haue none, you shall perceiue the sheath of his yard to be drawne backeward, and the great veine which runneth vp the inside of his thigh, cal∣led the kidney veine, will flacke and beate continu∣ally. The cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers, is first, to bathe his backe and loynes, with oyle, wine and Nitrum, warmed together; and after he is bathed couer him with warme clothes, and let him stand in litter vp to the belly; then giue him to drinke water wherein hath ben sodden dill, fennell,

anise seedes, smallage, parsley, spicknard, myrre, and cassia, or as many as you can conueniently get of these simples. The next morning fasting giue him to drinke, a quart of ewes milke, or for want thereof, halfe so much sallet oyle, and Deeres suet molten together: or, if you can get it, the roote of daffadill boyled in wine, and let his prouender bee dryed oates; and in this dyet keepe him about tenne dayes, and he will recouer.

CHAP. 75. Of the diseases belonging to the Bladder or Vrine, and first of the Strangury

ACcording to the determinate opinion of all the best & ancientest Horse-leaches, the bladder of a horse is subiect to three dangerous diseases, as first, the Strangury or Strangullion; the second, the Paine∣pisse; & the third, the Stone, or Pissupprest. Now for the first, which is the strangury or strangullion, it is, when the horse is prouoked to stale often, and auoydeth nothing but a few droppes: it com∣meth questionlesse, either by the heate & sharpnesse of vrine, caused either by great traueil, or by sharpe and hot meates and drinkes, or else by the exulce∣ration of the bladder, or by meanes of some ap∣postume in the liuer and kidneyes, which apostume being broken, the matter resorteth downe into the bladder, & with the sharpnes thereof causeth a conti∣nuall prouocation of pissing. The signes are (as I sayd before) a continuall desire to pisse, yet auoiding no∣thing but a few drops, & those with such pain, that he will whiske, wry, and beate his taile as he pisseth.

The cure whereof, is to bathe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward hinder loines with warme water, and then take bread and bayes of Laurell, and temper them together with May butter, and giue him two or three balles thereof downe his throate three dayes together. Others vse) and I haue euer found it the best) to take a quart of new milke, & a quarterne of sugar, and brewing them well together, giue it the horse to drinke sixe mornings together, ob∣seruing to keepe the horse from all sharpe meates, as mow-burnt hay, bran, and such like.

CHAP. 76. Of the Paine-pisse or pissing with paine.

THis disease of Paine-pisse, is when a horse cannot pisse but with great paine and labour, and doth proceede sometimes from the weaknesse of the blad∣der, and the cold intemperature thereof; and some∣times through the aboundance of fleame and grosse humors stopping the necke of the bladder: the signes whereof are, the horse will stretch himselfe out as though he would stale, and thrust out his yard a little, and with the paine clap his taile betwixt his thighes to his belly, and hauing stood so a good while, in the end stale a good quantity. The cure whereof, accor∣ding to the opinion of some Farriers, is to take the iuyce of leekes, sweete wine and oyle, and mingling them together, to powre it into his right nosthrel, and walke him a little vp and downe vpon it: or else to giue him to drinke smallage seede, or else the roote of wilde fennell sodden with wine. Others vse to put fine sharpe onions cleane pild, and a little bruised into his fundament, and then to chafe him immediatly

vpon it, either by riding him, or running him in a mans hand; or else to take the scraping of the inward parts of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward owne houes, beaten into powder, and mingled with wine, and powre it into his right nosthrell, and then ride him vpon it. Others vse to leade the horse to a sheepe-coate, or sheepe-pen, where great store of sheepe are wonted: and ma∣king the horse to smell of the dung and pisse of the sheepe, it will prouoke him to stale presently. Others vse to giue the horse white dogges-dung, dryed and mingled with Amoniacum, salt, and wine, to drinke, or else hogges dung onely with wine, or the dregges of horse-pisse and wine.

CHAP. 77. Of the Stone or Pissupprest in a Horse

THe stone or pissupprest in a horse, is when a horse would faine stale, but cannot at all; and therefore may well be called the suppression of of the vrine: it proceedeth according to the opinions of my masters, the old Farriers, sometimes from the weaknesse of the bladder, when the water conduit is stopped with grosse humours, or with matter descending from the liuer; or from some inflammation or hard knobs gro∣wing at the mouth of the conduit; or for that the si∣newes of the bladder are numbed, so as the bladder is without feeling: or it may come by keeping a horse in long trauell, and not suffering him to stale; but most commonly and oftest it cometh from obstructi∣ons in the kidneyes, where, by the causes aforesayd, a certaine redde grauell being bred and falling downe into the conduits, by the mixture of fleame and other

grosse humours, is there brought to be a hard stone, and so stoppeth the passage of the vrine: for the signes there needeth no more but this, that he would faine pisse, but cannot. The cure accor∣ding to the opinion of the most ancientest Farriers, is first to draw out his yard and bethe it well with white wine, and pricke it and scoure it well, lest it be stopped with durt and filthinesse; then put a little oile of camomill into his yard with a waxe candle, and a bruised cloue of garlike; but if that will not force him to stale, then take of parsley two handfuls, of cori∣ander one handful: stamp them and straine them with a quart of white wine, & dissolue therein one ounce of cake sope, and giue it luke warme vnto the horse to drinke; and see that you keepe him as warme as may be, and let him drinke no cold water for the space of fiue or sixe dayes; and when you would haue him to stale, let it either bee vpon good plenty of straw, or vpon the grasse, or in a sheep-coate. Others (& those of the best esteeme for Horse-leach-craft at this day) vse onely to giue white wine, cake sope, and butter ve∣ry well mixt together, and let the horse drinke it warme. Others vse to annoynt the arrow_back horses arrow_forward belly first with warme water; then when it is dryed, to annoynt it againe with sallet oyle, horse-grease and tarre mixt together and made warme, and to hold a hot yron a∣gainst his belly whilest it is in annoynting, that the oyntment may the better enter the skin: but I hold this medicine to be much better for the strangury or any other paine in the belly then for the stone; yet it is approued good for all. Others vse to take a pint of white wine or ale, & mixe with it a little garlicke, and the whites of ten egges, & giue it the horse to drinke:

or else giue him the iuice of red cole-worts, mixt with white wine, or the roote of Alexanders, bruised & sod∣den in wine to drinke, & wash his yard with vinegar. Others vse to take either wormewood, southerne∣wood, or galingale, or mallowes, or pimpernell; some of these, or any one of these, stampt and strained, and giue it the horse with ale to drinke. Others vse to take a pint of white wine, halfe a pint of burre seede bea∣ten very small, two ounces of parsley seede, halfe a handfull of hyssop, halfe an ounce of blacke sope; mixe them all well together, and warme it, and giue it the horse to drinke: or else take vnset leekes, and stampe them small, and sope, milke and butter; and being mixt together, giue it the horse to drinke. O∣thers vse to take a nutmegge and a handfull of parsley seed, beate them to powder; then take as much but∣ter and mixe them altogether in a quart of strong ale, and giue it the horse luke warme to drinke: or else take the seede of smallage, parsley, Saxefrace, the roots of Philupendula, cherry-stone kirnels, grummell seeds, and broome seedes, of each a like quantity; beat them into fine powder, and giue it the horse with a pint or a quart of white wine. Now albeit all these medicines before rehearsed, are in dayly practise, and approued very soueraigne, yet for mine owne part, I haue found none more soueraigne then this. Take a quart of strong ale, and put it into a pottle pot: then take as many keene radish rootes, cleane washed, being slit through and bruised, as will fill vp the pot: then stop∣ping the pot very close that no ayre may come in, let it so stand foure and twenty howres; then straine the ale and the rootes very hard into a cleane vessell, and giue it the horse fasting in the morning to drinke:

then ride him a little vp and downe, and so set him vp warme, and watch him, and you shall see him stale. This you must do diuers mornings together.

CHAP. 78. Of a Horse that pisseth bloud.

THere is nothing more certaine then that a horse many times will pisse bloud in stead of vrine, the cause (as the most ancient Farriers suppose) procee∣ding from some one of these grounds: either ouer∣much labour, or too heauy a burthen▪ especially when the horse is fat: for by either of them the horse may come to breake some veine in his body, and then you shall see cleare bloud come out, & no vrine at all; but if the bloud be mixt with vrine, then they suppose it cometh from the kidneyes, hauing some ragged stone therein, which through great trauell doth fret the veines of the kidneyes, and makes them bleed, through which as the vrine passeth, it taketh the bloud away with it also; but for mine owne part, I haue not found any greater cause for the pissing of bloud then the taking vp of a horse from grasse in the strength of winter (as about Christmas) and present∣ly without a dayes rest in the stable, to thrust him vn∣to a long and weary iourney: from this cause I haue seene many arrow_back horses arrow_forward after two or three daies iourney to pisse bloud in most grieuous manner. The signes are needlesse. The cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers, is this: First, let the horse bloud in the palate of the mouth, to conuert the bloud the con∣trary way; then take of Tragagant which hath bene steeped in wine halfe an ounce, & of poppy seed, one

dramme, and one scruple, and of Storax as much, and twelue pine-apple kirnels; let all these things be bea∣ten and mingled well together, and giue the horse thereof euery morning the space of seuen dayes the quantity of a wal-nut, infused in a quart of sweete wine. Other latter Farriers vse to let the horse bloud in the necke, and boyle that bloud with wheate, and with the powder of dryed pomegranate pils; then straine it, and giue it him three or foure mornings to∣gether to drinke; and let him by no meanes trauell thereupon: or else giue him of husked beanes boyled with the huskes of acornes, beaten smal, and mixt to∣gether. Others vse to make him a drinke with the rootes of Daffadill mingled with wheate flowre, and Sumach sodden long in water, and so to be giuen to the horse with sweet wine: or else to make him a drink of goates milke and sallet oyle, straining thereunto a little frumenty: or else to giue him sodden beanes & Deeres suet in wine; each of these are of like force & goodnesse. Now there be others which for this dis∣ease do take barley, and seeth it in the iuyce of Gum∣folly, and giue him the barley to eate, and the iuyce to drinke: or else take the powder of licoras and anise seeds, rold vp in hony, and make round balles there∣of, and cast downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throat two or three of them: or else licoras, anise seeds and garlicke bruised together with a little sallet oyle and hony, and giuen in a quart of new milke to the horse to drinke, is very soueraigne also; and these two medicines last rehear∣sed, are exceeding good also for any cold or glanders.

CHAP. 79. Of the Colt euill.

THe colt euill by the most ancient Farriers, espe∣cially the Italians, whose hot country affoordeth the beasts of more hot and strong natures then ours doth, is thought to be a continuall standing together with an vnnaturall swelling of the yard, proceeding either from some winde filling the arteries and hol∣low sinew, or pipe of the yard; or else through the a∣boundance of seede prouoked by the naturall heate of the horse; but our Farriers, who haue not seene that experience, because our arrow_back horses arrow_forward are of colder temper, say it is onely a swelling of the sheath of the yard, and of that part of the belly about the yard, to∣gether with the codde also, proceeding from corrupt seede which commeth out of the yard, and remaining within the sheath, there putrifieth: and this iudge∣ment we finde by experience to be most true. Now you shall vnderstand that Geldings as well as arrow_back horses arrow_forward are subiect thereunto, because they want naturall heat to expell their seed any further. The signes are onely the outward swelling of the sheath and codde, and none other: and the best cure is first to wash the sheath cleane with luke warme vinegar; then draw out the yard and wash that also: which done, ride the horse twice euery day, that is, morning and euening, into some deepe running water vp to the belly, tos∣sing him to and fro, to allay the heate of members till the swelling be vanished; and if you swim him now & then, it will not do amisse. Others vse to bath his cods and yard with the iuice of houslicke, or with the wa∣ter wherein kinholme hath beene sod. Now this

colt euill will sometimes stoppe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward vrine that he cannot pisse: then you shall take new ale, and a little blacke sope, and giue it the horse to drinke. Others vse to wash the arrow_back horses arrow_forward coddes and sheath with butter and vinegar made warme. Others vse to wash his yard and coddes with the iuyce of hemlocke, or else take beane flowre, vinegar and Bolearmonicke, and mixing them together, lay it plaister-wise to his sheath and coddes. Others make him a plaister of wine-lees, houslicke and branne mixt together, and layd to his sheath and coddes; but if the first receipt will serue, I would not wish you to vse any other medicine.

CHAP. 80. Of the Mattering of the Yard.

THis disease of the mattering of the yard, is sel∣dome seene but amongst the hot races or breedes of arrow_back horses arrow_forward , as is the Ienet, the Barbary, and such like; and it happeneth euer at couering time, when the horse and mare both being too hot, do burne them∣selues, by which meanes there issueth forth of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward yard much filthy matter. The signes are the fal∣ling downe of the matter, and a swelling at the end of the yard; and the horse can by no meanes draw vp his yard, or couer it within his sheath. The cure is to take a pint of white wine, & boyle therein a quar••erne of roch allum; & with a large serring or squirt, squirt in three or foure squirtfull into his yard one after a∣nother; and be sure that your squirt go home vnto the bottome, that the liquor or lotion may scoure the bloudy matter away: this do fiue or sixe times euery day till the horse be whole.

CHAP. 81. Of the shedding of the Seede.

THe shedding of the seed, or the falling away of the sperme in arrow_back horses arrow_forward , is none other then that which we call in men, the running of the reines: it cometh as our old Farriers say, either by aboundance & rank∣nesse of seed, or by the weaknesse of the stones and seede vessels, not able to retaine the seede vntill it be disgested and thickned; but truly for mine owne part, I thinke it cometh oftner (especially amongst our En∣glish arrow_back horses arrow_forward ) by some great straine in leaping, or by teaching a horse to bound, and making him bound the compasse of his naturall strength. The signes are onely the shedding of his seede, which will be white, thinne, and waterish. The cure according to the ancient experiments, is first to ride the horse into some cold water vp to the belly, insomuch that his stones may be couered with water: which done, bathe his fundament with water and oyle; then couer him exceeding warme, and giue him euery day to drinke, red wine and hogges dung till the fluxe of his seede stay; but latter experience hath found this receipt better. Take of red wine a quart, and put therein a little Acatium, the iuyce of plantan, and a little ma∣sticke, and giue it him to drinke; and then bath all his backe with red wine, and oyle of roses mixt together; but other Farriers take Venice Turpentine, and being washt, beate it well with halfe so much sugar, & then make round balles as bigge as wal-nuts, and giue the horse fiue euery morning till the fluxe stay.

CHAP. 82. Of the falling downe of the yard.

THe falling downe of the yard is when a horse hath not strength to draw vp his yard within the sheath but lets it hang downe betweene his legges ill fauou∣redly: it cometh (as our best Farriers suppose) either through the weaknesse of the member, by meanes of some resolution in the muscles and sinewes seruing the same, caused by some great straine or stripe on the backe: or else through extreme wearinesse and tiring. The signe is only the apparant hanging downe of the member: and the cure is (according to some opinions) to wash the arrow_back horses arrow_forward yard in salt water from the sea, or for want thereof with water and salt; but if that do not preuaile, then pricke all the outmost skinne of the yard with a sharp needle, but yet as sleightly as may be, & not deep; and then wash all the pricks with strong vinegar, & this will not onely make him draw vp his yard againe, but also if at any time his funda∣ment chance to fall, this cure will put it vp againe.

There be other Farriers which for this disease, will put into the pipe of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward yard, hony and salt boyled together and made liquid, or else a quick flye, or a graine of Franckinsence, or a cloue of gar∣licke cleane pilled and bruised, and bathe his backe with oyle, wine, and Nitre, made warme, and min∣gled together. But the best cure according to our English practise, is first, to wash all the yard with white wine warmed, and then annoynt it with oyle of roses and hony mixt together, and so put it vp into the sheath, & with a little bolster of canuase keep it from falling downe; and dresse him thus once in

foure and twenty howres, vntill he be recouered, and in any case let his backe be kept as warme as is possi∣ble, both with cloth and a charge or plaister made of Bolearmonicke, egges, wheat-flower, Sanguis Dra∣conis, Turpentine and vinegar, or else lay next his backe a wet sacke, or wet hay, and a dry cloth ouer it, and that will keepe his backe exceeding warme.

CHAP. 83. Of diseases incident to Mares, and first of the barrennesse of the wombe.

THe onely disease incident to the wombe of a Mare (as farre fourth as our Farriers are experien∣ced) is barrennesse, which may proceed from diuers causes, as through the vntemperatnesse of the matrix, being either two hot and fierie, or two cold and moist, or too dry, or else too shorte, or too narrow, or ha∣uing the necke thereof turned awry, or by meanes of some obstruction, or stopping in the matrixe, or in that the Mare is too fat, or too leane, and diuers other such like causes. Now the cure thereof according to the old Farriers, is to take a good handfull of leeks, and stampe them in a morter, with foure or fiue spo••nefull of wine, then put thereunto twelue flies called Cantharides, then straine them altogether with a sufficient quantity of water to serue the Mare there∣with two daies together, by powring the same into her nature with a glister-pipe made for the purpose, and at the end of three daies next following, offer the horse vnto her that should couer her, and after she is couered, wash her nature twice together with cold water. There be others which vse to take of Nitrum,

of sparrowes dung, and of Turpentine, of each like quantity well wrought together, and made like a suppositary; and put that into her nature, and it will cause her both to desire the horse, and also to conceiue. There be some of opinion, that it is good to put a nettle into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward mouth that should couer her. Of all which let onely experience be your warrantise.

CHAP. 84. Of the pestilent Consumption in Mares.

THere is a certaine pestilent consumption incident to mares when they are with foale, proceeding from cold fleame, gathered by raw foggy food in the winter season, which descending from the kidneyes doth oppresse the matrixe, and makes the mare con∣sume & pine away, so that if she be not holpen, she will want strength to foale her foale. The signes are a sudden leannesse, and a drooping of spirit, with much dislike of meate, and a continuall desire to be layed. The cure is to powre into her nosthrels three pints of fish brine, called Garume, three or foure mor∣nings together, and if the griefe be very great, then to take fiue pints; and it will make her vent all fleame at her nosthrels.

CHAP. 85. Of the rage of Loue in Mares.

IT is reported by some of our English Farriers, that mares being proudly & high kept, will at the spring of the yeare, when their bloud begins to waxe warme,

if they chance when they go to the water, to see their own shadowes therin, that presently they will fall into an extreme loue therewith, and from that loue into such a hot rage, that they will forget either to eate or drinke, and neuer cease running about the pasture, gazing strangely, and looking oft both about and be∣hinde them. The cure of this folly is presently to leade the mare to the water againe, and there to let her see herselfe as before; and that second sight will vt∣rerly extinguish the memory of the first, and to take away her folly.

CHAP. 86. Of Mares which cast their Foales.

THe occasions why Mares cast their Foales, that is, to foale them either before their times, or dead, are very many, as straines, stroakes, intemperate ri∣dings, rushings, hard wintring, or too great fatnesse, and such like. Now you shall vnderstand that this a∣borsment, or vntimely casting of a foale, is most dan∣gerous to the life of the mare: for nature being, as it were, detained from her true and perfect custome, which is the preseruation of health, cannot chuse but giue way to the contrary, which is death and morta∣lity, and the body and pores being set open to the aire before it be able to defend the cold, cannot chuse but be suffocated with vnwholesome vapours. If there∣fore you haue a mare at any time which doth cast her foale, and withall falleth sicke vpon the same, you shall presently take her into the house, and set her vp very warme; then giue her two spoonful of the pow∣der Dyapente, well brewd in a pint of strong sacke, and

feede her with sweete hay and warme mashes for at least a weeke after.

CHAP. 87. Of Mares that are hard of foaling.

If it happen by any mischance, or otherwise, that the passages or other conduites, which leade from the matrix, be so straitned that the mare cannot foale, and so be in danger of her life: then it shall be good that you helpe her by holding and stopping her nosthrels with your hand in a gentle manner, that her breath may not haue passage; and she will foale with a great deale more ease, and much sooner: and sure the paine is nothing, because a mare alwaies foaleth stan∣ding. Now if at any time when your mare hath foa∣led, she cannot auoyd her secundine, which is the skinne wherein the foale is wrapped, in that naturall maner as she ought, you shall then take a good hand∣full or two of fennell, and boyle it in water: then take halfe a pint of that, and another halfe pint of old wine, and put thereto a fourth part of oyle, and min∣gle them altogether ouer the fire, and being but luke∣warme, powre it into the mares nosthrels, and hold her nosthrels close with your hand to keep it in a pre∣ty while after, and no question but she will voyd her secundine presently.

CHAP. 88. Of making a Mare to cast her Foale.

IF at any time you would haue your mare to cast her foale, as hauing present occasion to vse her, or

in that the foale is not worthily inought begot, you shall take a pottle of new milke, and two handfuls of sauin chopt and bruised, and putting them to∣gether, boyle them till one halfe bee consu∣med; then straine it very hard, and giue it the mare luke warme to drinke; then presently gallop her a good pace, then set her vp; do thus two mor∣nings, and before the third she will haue cast her foale. Other vse with their hand to kill the foale in the mares belly, but it is dangerous, and the former me∣dicine is more sufficient. And thus much of the in∣firmities of mares. Now let vs returne againe to hor∣ses and mares in generall.

CHAP. 89. Of the drinking of Horse-leaches by arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

IF a horse at any time drinke downe horse-leaches, they will sucke his bloud, and kill him. The signes are, the horse will hang downe his heade to the ground, and aboundance of filthy slauer will fall from his mouth, and sometimes some bloud also. The cure is presently to giue him a pint of sallet oyle to drinke, and that will make them fall away and kill them.

CHAP. 90. Of swallowing downe Hens dung, or eating any vene∣mous thing whatsoeuer.

IF a horse chance to swallow downe any hens dung with his hay, it will fret his guts, and make him to auoyd most filthy matter at his fundament. The

cure whereof is to take a pint of wine, halfe a pint of hony, and two spoonefuls of smallage seede brui∣sed, and mixing them well together, to giue it the horse to drinke; and then to walke him well vpon the same, that he may empty his belly. But if the horse chance to licke vp any other venemous thing, as neute, or such like, which you shall know by the instant swelling of his body, and the trembling of all his members; then the cure is first, to put him into a sweate, either by cloathes or exercise; then to let him bloud in the palate of the mouth, and looke how much hee bleedeth, so much let him swallow downe hot: or else giue him strong wine and salt mixt together: or else take the roote and leaues and fruite of bryony, which being burnt to ashes, giue the horse a good spoonefull thereof, with a pint of sweete wine to drinke. Now for mine owne part, I haue euer vsed to take a pint of sallet oyle, and two spoonefull of sugarcandy beaten to powder, and as much of the powder Diapente, and brewing them together, giue it the horse to drinke: or for want of Diapente, so much of the shauings ei∣ther of Iuory, or of an old Stagges horne, especially the tippes thereof.

CHAP. 91. Of Purging Medicines in generall, and first of the Suppositary.

PVrging is sayd of our most ancientest Farriers, to bee an emptying and discharging of all super∣flouous humours which distemper the body with their euill qualities: for such humours breede euill

nutriment, which when it will not be corrected nor holpen with good dyet, alteration, nor the benefite of nature and kindly heate, then must it of force ei∣ther be taken away by Purgation, Glister, or Supposi∣tary. Now forasmuch as a horse is troubled with ma∣ny diseases in the guts, and that nothing can purge the guts with that gentlenesse which a suppositary doth, I will here first begin to speake of suppositaries.

Vnderstand then that a horse being surfaited and full of euill humors, needing to be purged, it is best first to giue him a suppositary; lest if you should come to apply a glister, the great gut being stopped with dry, hard, and hot excrements, the me∣dicine not able to worke beyond it, leese both labour and vertue; so that I make account the suppositary is but onely a preparatiue to the glister, and but onely to cleanse and make loose the great gut, which com∣meth to the tuell. The gentlest suppositary then, and that which purgeth fleame in the best manner, is to take a square peece of cake sope, or white New-castle sope, about fiue or sixe inches long, and shauing it round till it be not aboue three inches about in the midst, & a little smaller at each end then in the midst; then annoynt it ouer with sallet oyle, & so with your hand thrust it vp more then a full spanne into his fun∣dament; then suddenly clappe his taile to his tuell, and hold it hard and close more then halfe an howre, in which space the most part of the supposita∣ry will be wasted; then gently take away your hand, and let him voyd the suppositary at his pleasure. The next suppositary to this, and which purgeth choler a∣boundantly, is to take Sauin stampt small, staues-aker and salt, and boyle them in hony till it be thicke; then

take and knead it, and rolle it of a pretty thicke long rolle, as before you were taught for the hard ••ope, and administer it at his tuell. The next to this, and that which purgeth melancholy, is to take a keene onion, and pilling off the skinne, iagge it a little crosse-wise with your knife; and so thrust it vp into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward fundament. There is besides these suppositaries, one o∣ther suppositary, which is to take a quart of hony, and boyle it vpon the fire till it come to be thicke like a salue, then powre it forth vpon a table and knead it like a peece of dough: then when it begins to harden or grow stiffe (as it will do when it begins to coole) then rolle it vp vnder your hand, and make it in the forme of a suppositary, as is before shewed, and ad∣minister it in the same maner. This suppositary is good to purge the gut off any foule humour, and therewith∣all is comfortable vnto the body.

Now you must also vnderstand, that as these suppo∣sitaries are preparatiues before glisters, so they are like∣wise to be vsed simply of themselues, where the sick∣nes of the horse carrieth no great danger: for vpon e∣uery sleight occasion, or small drynesse which is to be dissolued with the most gentle medicine, to admini∣ster a glister, were to bring the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body to such an intemperate loosnes as would proue much worse then the contrary drynesse. Therefore I wish euery careful Farrier (because the body of a horse would not be tampered withal with too much physicke) first, in the case of costiuenesse, or inflammation of the inward parts, to approue a suppositary; which if it worke effe∣ctually, and keepe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body soluble, then to proceede no further; but in case it do not, but that the offensiue matter still increaseth, then to admini∣ster

a glister; and where that faileth to take away the offence, to administer a purgation. Now by the way, you are to take with you this generall rule, and neuer to faile in the performance, which is, neuer to admi∣nister either suppositary or glister, but first immediatly before you giue it, to take your horse, which raking is in this maner. First, you shall annoynt all your hand and arme ouer either with sallet oyle, sweete butter, or fresh grease; and then thrust it into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward fun∣dament, and draw out all the dung, fleame, and filthy matter that you can feele, euen as high vp as the great bagge: which done, then administer either your suppositary or glister, which you please, at your plea∣sure; and in any case, whilest the horse is thus in phy∣sicke, keepe him exceeding warme.

CHAP. 92. Of Glisters and their vses.

THe natures and properties of glisters are diuers, and therefore it is necessary that euery carefull Farrier learne to know to what end they serue, and with what drugs or simples they ought to be com∣pounded: for euery glister is to be made according to the disease. Now of glisters, some are to ease griefes, and to allay the sharpnesse of the humours, some to binde, some to loosen, and some to purge, and some to heale vlcers. These glisters by cleansing the guts, refresh the vitall parts, and prepare the way before for euery inward and stronger purgation. Therefore whensoeuer a horse through the grosnesse of humors, corruption of bloud, or aboundance of fleame, cho∣ler, or melancholy, is brought vnto that euill habite

of body, that of necessity he must be purged, and that especially his paine is in his guts and body, you shall then as before I sayd (hauing made a probation of a suppositary) first of all administer a glister; lest by pur∣ging suddenly with any purgation or potion, you stirre vp a multitude of euill humours, which finding no passage downeward (because the guts be stopped with winde and dregges) do strike vpwards, and so perhaps put the horse into much greater danger.

Now for the composition of glisters, you shall vn∣derstand that they be made of foure things, that is, of decoctions, of drugges, of oyle, or such like vnctious matters, as butter, or soft grease; and fourthly of di∣uers salts, to prouoke the vertue expulsiue. A decocti∣on is the broth of certaine hearbs and simples boyled together in water vntill the third part be consumed. Now sometimes for want of such decoctions, you may if you please, vse some fat beefe broth, or the broth of a sheeps head, or such like, or milke or whay, or some such like liquor, mingled sometimes either with hony or with sugar, according to the quality of the disease; the glister being either lenitiue, that is to say, easing of paine; or glutinatiue, which is, ioyning of things together; or else abstersiue, which is, wiping away or cleansing of filthy matter. Now of this de∣coction or broth being cleane strained, you shall neuer take aboue three pints at the most, and many times but a quart, into which you shall put such drugges as are needfull, exceeding not at the most, aboue three or foure ounces, according as the simples be more or lesse violent: of oyle you shall neuer vse in a glister a∣boue halfe a pint, and of salt not aboue three or foure drams. You shall also continually administer your

glister luke warme, either with some long horne, or a large glister pipe made for the purpose, and fixed to the largest bladder you can get; and this glister pipe is of all the best, and doth least loose labour. When you do administer a glister, you shall set the arrow_back horses arrow_forward hinder parts somewhat higher then his foreparts, and then you shall put the glister pipe in at his tuell into his fundament vp to the head, and hauing the confecti∣on within the bladder, wring it with good strength into his body. A glister would be administred to a horse when he is rather empty then full paunched, whether it be in the forenoone or after noone. Now for the retaining or holding of the glister in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, three quarters of an howre is sufficient of what quality soeuer it be. Now you are to note by the way, that as soone as the glister is administred into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, you must draw out the pipe with all the gentlenesse that may be, and suddenly clappe his taile to his tuell, and so hold it with your hand, with∣out any mouing or stirring of the horse till the medi∣cine haue had his full time of working. Now to come vnto particular glisters, that you may know which gli∣ster is for which purpose, the first is: take of the pulpe of Coliquintida halfe an ounce, of Dragantium 3 quar∣ters of an ounce, of Centuary & of wormewod, of each halfe a handfull, of Castoreum a quarter of an ounce; boyle them in three pints of water, then being strai∣ned you shall dissolue therein of Gerologundinun three ounces, of salt three quarters of an ounce, and of oyle oliue halfe a pint, and so luke warme administer it gli∣ster wise, as hath bene before expressed: this glister is exceeding soueraigne for the pestilence in arrow_back horses arrow_forward , or for any feuer of what nature soeuer.

The next is to take the decoction of mallowes, and to mixe therewithall, either fresh butter, or sallet oyle, and so luke warme administer it: this is of all glisters the most gentlest, and as the former glister is abster∣siue or cleansing, so this is leuitiue and a great easer of paine; it is most soueraigne for a horse that is taken, or that hath any contraction or convultion, and gene∣rally for any costiuenesse in a horse whatsoeuer, pro∣ceeding from inward surfaite or sicknesse, as from the surfaite by prouender, foundring in the body, and such like. The next is to take of salt water, or cleane brine a quart, and dissolue therein a pretty quantity of sope, and then luke warme administer it: this gli∣ster is good for the cholicke or any s••cknesse of the guts or belly. And thus from these three glisters you may compound many glisters; but in mine opini∣on, if you vse no more but them onely, they will be fully sufficient.

CHAP. 93. Of Purgations and their vses.

THe purging of arrow_back horses arrow_forward is euer by one of these two wayes, either by pils or by potion: pils are any so∣lid and substantiall stuffe fixed together in one body, and being made into round balles, are cast downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throat; and potion, is when you giue the horse any liquid purging matter to drinke, whether it be purging powders dissolued in wine or ale: or that it be any other liquid stuffe. Now for pils they onely purge and make cleane the head and braine, bringing fleame and other grosse humours downe into the ex∣crements; and potions cleanse the stomacke, guts, and

euery other inward member. Now the art of the care∣full Farrier is in choosing the simples, whereof these pils or potions are to be compounded, and in aptly or artificially applying the same. First then, it is need∣full that euery Farrier (before he go about to purge his horse) know with what ill humour a horse is opprest, as whether it proceede from choler, fleame, or melan∣choly, and where the humours do most abound; and then what simples are best to purge those humors, and with what property, quality and temperament they bee indued; f••r some simples are most violent, and next cousins to strong p••ysons, as Scamony, or Coloquin∣tida: some againe are gentle, and rather nourishing then medicinall, as Manna, Cassia, whay, prunes, and such like: and some are neither too violent, nor too gentle, but of a meane, as Rewbarbe, Agaricke, Sene, & Aloes. Now the ancient Farriers did vse to purge their arrow_back horses arrow_forward with the pulpe of Coloquintida, somtimes with the rootes of wild cowcumbers, and sometimes with the broth of a sodden whelpe mixt with Nitrum, and such like; but at this day they are not of our practise, and therefore I wish him that for his experience will make a tryall of strong medicines, or know the wor∣kings of euery seuerall simple (which is a most praise-worthy ambition,) first, to make his proofes vpon iades whose losse he respecteth not, and so by that working to aduenture on better arrow_back horses arrow_forward . But to return to my purpose, the Farrier who goeth about to purge a horse by purgation, must consider the nature of the arrow_back horses arrow_forward disease, and the strength of the horse, and with them ioyne the nature, strength, and quantity of the medicine; he must also consider the climate vnder which the horse is bred, the time of the disease, the

time of the yeare, and the time of the day: for as the diseases, and the humours which cause the diseases, are sundry, so they must be auoyded by sundry medi∣cines, sundry wayes compounded, according as ex∣perience from a continuall practise shall instruct you; wherein you are to obserue, that weake, delicate, and tender arrow_back horses arrow_forward are not to be purged with that violence which strong, stubborne, and sturdy arrow_back horses arrow_forward are; and therefore in such cases, the quality and quantity is to be looked into of euery simple. The climate is to be respected, as whether it be hot or cold; and the time of the disease: for some diseases must be purged at the beginning, as feuers, pestilence, yellowes, staggers, & all violent inward diseases; and some not till the mat∣ter be throughly disgested, as colds, strangles, and a∣postumations. Now albeit the sicknesse proceed from cold humours, yet you must not administer as hot simples in summer as in winter, nor in the contrary case, so cold things in winter as in the summer; where∣by you see the season of the yeare is to be respected. Then touching respect of the day, you are to obserue that day to be best which is most temperate, sith too much heate maketh a horse faint, and too much cold doth hinder the medicine from working. A little re∣gard is to be had to the wind & weather: for a moyst day with a South winde, is to be preferred before a North winde with a dry day. Now the best howre of receiuing any potion, is euer in the morning after he hath fasted from meate and drinke all the night be∣fore. As soone as your horse hath receiued any pill or potion, let him be walked or gently ridden vp and downe one howre at the least; and then set vp, and suffered to stand on the bit two howres after, wel litte∣red,

cloathed and stopped; but if you perceiue that he beginneth to grow sicke (as most commonly arrow_back horses arrow_forward will) then you shall suffer him to lye downe, & assoone as his sicknesse is past, you shall offer him a mashe of malt and water luke warme: for any other meate keep him fasting till his medicine haue done working.

Now to come to particular receipts and medicines themselues, you shall vnderstand that although the ancient Farriers do make but two kindes, that is to say, pils and purgations, yet I diuide them into three, that is to say, scourings, pils, and purgations. Scou∣rings are those wholesome naturall and gentle pur∣ging medicines, which stirring vp no great fluxe of humours, do onely keepe the body cleane from such euils as would grow, being euery way as wholesome in health as in sicknesse, and may most properly be termed preparatiues or preparers of the body to en∣tertaine more stronger medicines. To speake then first of the most gentlest and naturall scouring, it is on∣ly grasse being giuen to a horse only fifteene dayes to∣gether, and no more; for after that it fatteth and not scoureth. Next vnto grasse is forrage, which is onely the blades of greene corne, as wheat, rye, barley, and such like, being giuen seuen dayes and no more. Next is greene thistles, being cut vp, and giuen the horse to eate the space of fiue daies and no more: and the last of this nature is the mash made in this manner: take a pecke of ground malt, and put it into a peale, then take a gallon and a halfe of water boyling hot from the fire, and put it to the malt: then with a staffe mash and stirre them together at least halfe an howre, till tasting the water you feele it as sweete as hony, then being luke warme, giue it the horse to drinke. All

these scourings do onely but cleanse the guts and coole the body, adding comfort to the spirits, and in∣gendring strength, onely the mash is to be vsed after labour, or in stead of drinke in the time of any great sicknesse. Scourings of a little stronger nature are these: first, when you giue your horse any prouender, to mixe with halfe a pecke of oates, a handfull or two of cleane drest hemp seede: or else to take a good quantity of boxe leaues, and put them into a pewter dish, then set them before the fire, and let them dry leasurely till they be so hard that you may crush them to powder; then take as much of the powder of brim∣stone as there is powder of boxe, and mixe them to∣gether, and amongst halfe a pecke of oates mixe a handfull of this powder, and giue it the horse to eate; both these scourings are to be vsed after labour, espe∣cially when the horse hath sweat much. These two scourings worke vpon no matter but what nature is willing to expell, they purge the stomacke, head, and intrailes, they kill all manner of wormes, and dry vp fleame. Scourings of the strongest nature, are to take of sallet oyle halfe a pint, and of new milke from the cow a pint, brew it together, and giue it the horse luke warme: or else take a pint of muskadine, and halfe a pint of sallet oyle, and being mixed together, giue it the horse to drinke: or else halfe a pint of oyle, and a pint of sacke mixt together, and giuen the horse to drinke luke warme. These scourings cleanse the head, body, and guts, of all fleame or molten grease, which any violent labour hath dissolued: they are exceeding good for any manner of cold or stoppings in the winde-pipes. Now for pils, you shall vnderstand that the first and easiest are these, either to take twenty

cloues of garlike cleane pild and bruised, then a quar∣ter of a pound of sweete butter; and so rolle vp the garlicke in foure or fiue balles or pellets, as big as two wal-nuts a peece: and so taking out the arrow_back horses arrow_forward tongue thrust them downe his throate one after another; or else to take a quarter of a pound of butter, and as much red saunders; beat them well together in a morter, & then make it into foure or fiue balles, and put them downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throat. Pils of a somewhat stronger nature, are to take a handfull of rosemary leaues, and chopping them small, mixe them with a quarter of a pound of sweet butter; and then making it into round bals, giue them vnto the horse: or else take round pee∣ces of raw mellons, and thrust them downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throate: or else to take fiue greene figges, and put them downe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward throate. The strongest pill is this: take of lard two pound, layd in water 2 howres, then take nothing but a quarter of a pound of the cleane fat thereof, and stampe it in a mortar, & there∣to put of licoras, of anise seedes, and of fenugreeke, of each beaten into powder, one ounce and a halfe; of a∣loes likewise in powder one ounce, of Agaricke halfe an ounce; knead all these together like paste, and make thereof foure or fiue balles, and giue it to the horse. This last recited pill is singular good for the dry cough, and all the other pils are most soueraigne for all infirmities of the head, which grow either from fleame, melancholy, or any other cold or moist cause whatsoever. Now for purgations which are the strongest cleansers of the body, they be these: Take two ounces of Myrre, and mixe it with a pint of wine, and it wil purge all sicknesse which proceedeth of cho∣ler: the signes whereof are, his belly will swell, be

very hot, and he can neither dung nor breake winde. Take a pint of wine, and beate a raw egge therein, and adde to it a quarter of an ounce of brimstone, & halfe an ounce of Myrre beaten to powder, and giue it the horse luke warme, and it will purge all inward diseases proceeding of melancholy. Two spoonefull of the powder Diapente, giuen with halfe a pint of swines grease, purgeth all diseases proceeding of fleame. Take as much blacke sope as a wal-nut, a quart of new milke, and a quarter of a pint of sallet oyle, and giue it the horse luke warme, and it purgeth all cold infirmities. Take the guts of a Tench or Barbell, being cut into little small peeces, and giue it the horse in a quart of white wine, and it will purge the horse from all co∣stiuenesse or paine in the guts. Rye being boyled, so that it burst not, then dryed againe, and giuen the horse in stead of prouender, purgeth and killeth all manner of wormes. Take of radish rootes one ounce, of the roote called Panax, and of Scamony, of each halfe an ounce; beate all these together, and boyle them in a quart of hony, then giue the horse two spoonefull of this in a quart of ale luke warme to drinke, and it will purge all grosse humours, from whence proceedeth either the falling euill or any dis∣ease of the braine. Take and boyle Elicampanam roots in milke till they be so soft that you may bruise them to pappe, and then adding thereto halfe a pint of sal∣let oyle, giue it the horse to drinke luke warme, and this will purge and cleanse any glaunders. Take of sweete sope a quarter of a pound, and make it into three balles, and giue them to the horse, & it wil purge all euill humors whatsoeuer, both violently and most aboundantly.

CHAP. 94. Of Neesing or Fumigation, and the vse thereof.

THere is also another maner of purging of a horse, and especially his head, and that is, by forcing him to neese or snurt violently at his nose, casting forth all filthy and grosse matter, which otherwise would offend and oppresse the braine; and this neesing is wrought sometimes by fumes or smoakes, sometimes by powders, and sometimes by oyles; the sharpnesse of which tickling the tender and quicke parts of the head, do compell this snurting and neesing: surely there is no purgation more wholesome, for as it clean∣seth and separateth grosse matter, so it comforteth and maketh strong the braine. Now to come vnto the par∣ticular medicines which do procure this neesing, they be these: Squirt into an arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels, either mans vrine which is old, or the vrine of an oxe which hath had much rest, and it will force a horse to neese, and is most wholesome for any quotidian feuer. Take the powder of gumdragant, Ensens, and damaske roses, well mixt together, and blow it with a quill into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels, and it is good either against the feuer in sommer or winter. Take warme vinegar and squirt it into his nosthrels, & it is comfortable against the feuer which cometh by raw disgestion. Take of garlick stalkes a handfull, being broke into little pee∣ces, and a good quantity of frankinsence, and being put vpon a chasing dish and coles, hold the chasing dish vnder the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels, so that the fume may ascend vp into his head; and this is most excellent a∣gainst

the head-ache. Take feathers and brimstone, & burne them on a chafing dish and coales vnder the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nose; or blow pepper and Perithre beaten to powder vp into his nosthrels; either of both these are most excellent against the sleeping euill. Take the powder of motherwort, and blow it vp into a arrow_back horses arrow_forward nostrels, and it is good against the falling euill. Take two goose feathers annoynted ouer with oyle de bay, and thrust them vp and downe in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward no∣sthrels: or else to take sage, penyriall, and wheate, long sodden together, and put into a bagge as hot as may be, which bagge would be so close fastned to the arrow_back horses arrow_forward head, that all the smoake and sauour thereof may ascend vp into his nosthrels: or take a clout an∣noynted with sope or oyle de bay, and rub it vp and downe his nosthrels as high as may be. Any of all these, or all these together, are most excellent against any cold, poze, or other obstruction in the head. Take orpiment and sulphure, and burn them on the coales, and hold it vnder the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nose: or take oyle de bay, Euforbium, and white Ellebore, and annointing two fea∣thers therewith, thrust them vp into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward no∣sthrels; both these are good against the glaunders. Take of the stalkes of bryony or wilde vine, two hand∣fuls, and bruise them betwixt two stones, and being so bruised, put them into a linnen bagge, and fasten the bagge so to the arrow_back horses arrow_forward head, that the sent may go vp into his nosthrels without touching the hearbe with his mouth: and this is excellent against the mourning of the chine, or any inward cough. Take of rosemary, of narde, and of sage, dryed and beaten in∣to fine powder, or each like waight, and with a quill blow them vp into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels: or take the

powder of white pepper, or of Sal-niter, or of Iris Ili∣rica, or blacke Eleboris, and blow them with a quill vp into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels: or take linnen cloth dipt in the dregs of oyle; & setting it on fire, then suddenly put it out againe, and let the smoake ascend vp into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels: or squirt into his nosthrels Ari∣stolochia mixt with wine: or Sal••niter mixt with wa∣ter: or salt and ro••he allum mixt with wine: or take ground Iuy beaten small, and thrust vp into his nose: or bay-berry beaten small, and burnt on the coales vn∣der the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nose: or a coale of fire put into a lump of wet hay, making a smoothering smoke, and held vnder the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nose. Any of all these are most ex∣cellent against any disease of the head, especially stag∣gers, colds, glaunders, strangle, and such like.

CHAP. 95. Of Frictions or Bathes, and of their seuerall vses.

FRictions or Bathes, are a certaine rubbing, annoin∣ting or bathing of a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body all ouer, especial∣ly against the haire, because the medicine may sinke in so much the better with comfortable and soue∣raigne vnguents, whose vertues do loosen the skinne, cheare vp the inward spirits, and spread a liuely heate and feeling ouer the whole body: and of frictions, both according to the opinion of the old Farriers, & also all the best of this present age, these are the most soueraigne. Take of damaske roses one pound, of old oyle a pint, of strong vinegar a pint and an halfe, of mints and rew, beaten into powder, of each one ounce and a halfe, together with one old dry nut; beate them, and mingle them well together: then

being strained and made luke warme, if it be in the sommertime, and that the Sunne shine hot, take the horse abroad; but if otherwise, keepe him in the stable, and heating a barre of yron exceeding hot, hold it ouer and on each side the horse, and with the oyntment, rubbe and chafe the horse all ouer a∣gainst the haire, vntill the horse beginne to sweate; then cloathe the horse very warme, and let him stand. This friction is excellent against all winter feuers, or any inward sicknesse that cometh of cold. Take of blacke Elleborus two or three handfuls, and boyle it in a sufficient quantity of strong vine∣gar; and with that rubbe and chafe all the arrow_back horses arrow_forward head and body quite ouer once or twice a day; and it is most excellent against frenzy, madnesse, or any drynesse or scallynesse of the skinne. Take oyle de bay, or Dialthea, and annoynt all the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body all ouer therewith, holding a panne of coales, or a hot panne of coales neare the oyntment to make it sinke in; or else make him a bathe of running water, wherein is boyled rew, wormewood, sage, Iuni∣per, bay leaues, and hyssope, and bathe all his body therewith: either of these are most soueraigne for the mourning of the chine, or any disease of the li∣uer, lungs, or spleene. Take wine and oyle, and ha∣uing mixt them together, chafe and rubbe the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body therewith, and it is most soueraigne for any in∣ward sicknesse especially of the liuer. To bathe a horse in salt water is very wholesome, both for the arrow_back horses arrow_forward skinne, and also for any disease of the sto∣macke. Lastly, take of mallowes, of sage, of each two or three handfuls, and a rose cake; boyle them together in water, then being boyled till the water

be all consumed, then adde a good quantity of but∣ter or ••allet oyle, and mixing them together, bathe all the arrow_back horses arrow_forward foure legges therewith, and all the parts of his body also; and there is nothing more soueraigne for a horse that hath bene tyred or ouer-trauelled. To let bloud, and with that bloud and oyle and vi∣negar, presently to annoynt his body, helpeth most sorts of infirmities.

CHAP. 96. Generall Drenches, or Medicines for all the inward diseases or surfaits in arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

THere is no medicine more soueraigne for all dis∣eases which breede in a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body, then to take two spoonefull of the powder called Diapente, and brew it with a pint either of sacke or muskadine, and so giue it the horse to drinke fasting in a morning; and do this at least three mornings together, especially when the horse beginneth first to droope. The next to this▪ is to take of selladine two handfuls, both root and leaues, choppe them and bruise them: then take of rew as much, of redde sage and of mints as much, and of aloes halfe an ounce; boyle these in a pottle of beare or ale till the one halfe be consumed; and then giue it the horse luke warme to drinke. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 foure ounces of Diapente, and mixe it with foure ounces of clarified hony, and keepe it in a close glasse, and giue halfe an ounce thereof with a pint of sweete wine to the horse to drinke, and it is an excellent drench. Take of licoras an ounce, of anise seedes, of comin seedes, of each halfe an ounce, of Elicampanam rootes as much; of turmericke and bayes, of each a quarter of

an ounce, of long pepper and fenugreeke of each two drammes; beate these small and searse them, and put fiue spoonefull thereof into a quart of ale warmed with a little butter or oyle, & it is very soueraigne for any disease coming of cold causes. Take a quart of good ale or wine, a raw egge beaten & mingled with twelue scruples of quicke sulphure, and foure scruples of Myrre made into powder, and giue it the horse to drinke; it is a good drench. The powder of brim∣stome mixt with sweete wine is a good drench also. The roote of the sea onion, the rootes of popler cal∣led in Greeke Rhammos, mingled with common salt, giuen in water, keepeth the horse long in health. Take fiue pound of fenegreeke and bruise it, seeth it in water till it waxe thicke, adde a pound of sweete but∣ter, an ounce of linseede oyle, and as much of the oyle of nuts; mingle them well together, and giue it the horse in three or foure dayes to drinke, by a pret∣ty quantity at a time. Selladine simply of it selfe, or rew simply of it selfe, boyled in beere or ale, and as much brimstone as a wal-nut, is an excellent drench for any long taken surfaite. Garlicke and housleeke beaten together in a mortar, and then boyled in beere or ale from a pottle to a quart; then mixt with lico∣ras, anise seedes, and sugarcandy, and a pretty quan∣tity of oyle, is an excellent drench for any inward sick∣nesse which doth proceede from hot causes, as is the Frenzy, the Anticor, and such like. And thus much of generall drenches and their vses.

CHAP. 97. How to make the powder called Diapente.

THis word Diapente is as much as to say, a compo∣sition of fiue simples: for the receipt is thus com∣pounded. Take of Gen••ian, of Aristolochia, of Bay ber∣ries, of Myrre, and of the shauings of Iuory, of each like quantity; beate them into very fine powder, and then searce it. This powder is praised to be a soue∣raigne preseruatiue or medicine against all inward diseases: and therefore I would wish euery Farrier, and all such as are the maisters of good arrow_back horses arrow_forward , neuer to be without it.

CHAP. 98. A most famous Receipt, which is both a singular Drench, and a singular Oyntment.

TAke of Euforbium halfe an ounce, of Castoreum one ounce, of Adarces halfe a quarter of a pound, of Bdelium halfe an ounce and halfe a quarter, of pep∣per a quarter of a pound, Foxe-greace halfe an ounce, Opoponax, one ounce, Lacerpitium three quarters of an ounce, Amoniacum halfe a quarter of a pound, pidgi∣ons dung as much, Galbanum halfe an ounce, Nitrum one ounce, one quarter, Spuma nitri three quarters of an ounce, Ladanum a quarter of a pound, Perethrum & bay berries, of each three quarters of an ounce, Car∣danun two ounces, seede of rew, halfe a quarter of a pound, seede of Agnus Castus one ounce, parsley halfe an ounce, dryed rootes of Trees or flower-deluce one ounce, one quarter; hyssop & Carpobalsamum a quarter

of a pound, oyle of flower-deluce a quarter of a pound and halfe a quarter, oyle de bay as much, oyle of Spikenard three quarters of a pound, Oleum Cypri∣num three quarters of a pound and halfe a quarter, the oldest oyle oliue one pound and a halfe, pitch a quarter of a pound and two ounces, Turpentine a quarter of a pound; melt euery one of these that will melt, seuerally by themselues, and then mingle them together with the rest of the sim∣ples beaten to fine powder; and after that they haue bene a little boyled on the fire take it off, and straine it into a faire vessell; and whensoeuer you will giue your horse any thereof, giue it him with wine, or foure or fiue spoonefull with a pint of sacke or muskadine: and if with long keeping it waxeth hard, then soften it with the oyle of Cy∣presse, so that it may bee good and thicke. This confection is both a medicine and an oyntment, if you put it in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nostrels, it will draw out all noysome humours, and discharge his head of all griefe: if you annoynt his body therewith, it healeth all convultions, colds, and drynesse, or wi∣thering of the body; and if you bathe his limbes therewith, it driueth away all wearinesse and tyring; and if you giue it him with wine to drinke, it cureth all kinde of inward maladies.

CHAP. 99. How to make the oyle of Oates.

TAke of milke two gallons, and warming it on the fire, put thereto a quarter of a pound of burnt allum, which will make it runne of curds; then take

out the curd, and cast it away; then straine the whay through a course cloath into a cleane vessell, then take a quarter of a pecke of cleane husked oates that were neuer dryed, and put them into the whay, and set them on the fire till the oates burst, and be soft; then take them off, and powre them into a collander that is full of holes, so that the whay may goe gently from them without any pressing (for you must keepe the oats as moist as may be:) this done put the oats into a frying pan, and set them ouer the fire; stirring them continually till you see the vapour or smoake of them not ascend vpwards, but as it were runne about the pan; then suddenly take them off, and putting them into a presse, presse them most exceedingly, and looke what cometh frō them, is only the oile of them, which you must saue in a close glasse. Now there are other more artificiall and curious waies, to distill and ex∣tract this oyle, but this of all is the most easiest, and su∣rest for euery meane capacity. This oyle of oates is of all medicins & simples whatsoeuer, the most excel∣lent and soueraigne for a arrow_back horses arrow_forward bodie, as being extra∣cted from the most naturall, wholsome and best food which doth belong vnto a arrow_back horses arrow_forward body. This oyle being giuen by foure or fiue spoonefull in a pinte of sweete wine, or a quarte of strong ale, and some of the whay powred into the arrow_back horses arrow_forward nosthrels, doth cure the glaunders before all other medicines. It is also (gi∣uen in the same manner) the best of all purgations; for it purgeth away all those venemous and filthy humors, which seedeth the most incurable farcy whatsoeuer. And for mine own part as long as I can conueniently come by this oyle of oates, so long I will neuer in any medicine whatsoeuer, vse any oyle or vnctious

matter then it onely; I hauing found by experience, that it is the soueraigne of al simples of that kind, what∣soeuer they be.

CHAP. 100. Certaine briefe Obseruations to be obserued at home and a∣broad whilst the horse is in health.

THese obseruations following are gathered from the most exact principles, and vnfallible grounds of all the best and surest approued horsemen, either of this kingdome, or of any other nation within Chri∣stendome. First then for the generall feeding of your horse, when he is in health you shall feed him with straw, hay, oates, fine little wheat, beanes, barly, bread made of beanes, pease, or fitches, or any other meate that swels not in the arrow_back horses arrow_forward body.

It is the opinion of Camerarius first to giue prouen∣der, then hay, and lastly water; but our English cu∣stome is, first hay, then water, and lastly prouender.

In your trauell feed your horse betimes for all night, that thereby the horse may sooner take his rest.

The quantity of prouender which you shall giue your horse at one time, shall be as much as you can hold in the palmes of both your hands at sixe times.

Horsebread which is made of cleane beanes, cleane pease, or cleane fitches feedeth exceedingly.

Let your arrow_back horses arrow_forward meate and drinke be exceeding sweete and cleane, yet his water by no meanes ex∣treme cold running water from the rocke; for it pear∣ceth to much.

To rubbe your arrow_back horses arrow_forward mouth with salte and wine, will make him both eate and drinke with a much bet∣ter

appetite.

Let your horse neither eate when he is hot, nor drinke when he is hot, neither presently after his tra∣uell.

Labour your horse moderately when the weather is either extreme hot or extreme cold, that so you may auoide extreme heats or suddaine colds.

Trauell not your horse too late, that your owne eye may see him well dried and well fed before you take your owne rest.

Neuer take the saddle from your arrow_back horses arrow_forward backe sud∣denly.

Lend not your horse, least your selfe walke on foot.

Let your horse lye cleane and dry, keepe your stable sweete, let no swine lye neere it, nor let any pullen come whithin it.

Let your horse euer be tyed with two reines.

Let the light of your stable be euer towards South and North, yet so as the North windowes may in the winter be shut vp close at pleasure, and opened in the sommer to giue fresh aire,

Ride your horse oft a little on stony waies, that he may the better feele his feete, and harden his houes.

Haue euer neere your stable some close plaine greene, that your horse being let loose, he may oft tumble himselfe thereon.

Let your arrow_back horses arrow_forward bed be of soft sweete straw some∣what aboue his knees, of which rie straw is the best; for though barley straw be the softest, yet a horse wil couet to eate it, and it is vnwholesome; and wheat straw though it be not vnwholsome to eate, yet it is hard to lye vpon: as for oate straw it is the best in the

superlatiue; for it is both wholsome to eate, and soft to lye vpon.

Curry or dresse your horse twise a day before water, and when he is curried, rubbe him with your hand and with a rubber; his head would be rubbed with a wet cloth, and his coddes made cleane with a dry cloth; his foretop, his maine, and his taile, would be oft wet with a wet maine combe, and euer where the arrow_back horses arrow_forward haire is thinnest there curry the gentlest.

Let the plaunchers of your stable lye euen and le∣uell, that your horse may stand at his ease, and not proue lame, by too much oppressing his hinder partes.

Let not any mud wal be within your arrow_back horses arrow_forward reach; for he will naturally couet to eate of it, and nothing is more vnwholesome.

Giue your horse plenty of garbadge (which is chopt wheat straw) both with his prouender, and without.

Let your hay bottles be very little, and tyed very hard: for so your horse shall eate with the best sto∣macke, and make least waste.

To sprinkle water vpon your hay, is most whole∣some, and to sprinkle fenugreeke vpon your prouen∣der, is as soueraigne; the first is good for the winde, the latter for wormes.

Giue your horse dayly exercise: for that gets the best stomacke to his meate.

Purge your horse once a yeare with grasse, or with greene blades of corne, called forrage, for fifteene daies together; yet before you so purge him, in any case let him bloud, and whilest he is in purging, by no meanes let him haue any prouender.

A horse after trauell hath euer more bloud then any beast whatsoeuer.

Greene grasse or forrage cleanseth the bloud, en∣creaseth strength, healeth diseases, auoydeth melan∣choly, helpeth the arrow_back horses arrow_forward growth, and maketh the skin smooth; whilest the horse is at soile, by no meanes let him take cold.

The Northerne man watereth two howres before he rideth at the least: then lets the horse eate a little hay, then giues prouender, but not much, and bridleth the horse vp a quarter of an howre before he rideth: at night he watereth two miles before he taketh his lodging, then rideth easily; he neither walketh his horse, nor stuffeth him, nor looseth any gyrth, but on∣ly rubbeth him very cleane, & so lets him bite vpon his bridle halfe an howre after, with good store of litter vnder him; then he giues the horse hay, and after pro∣uender; before he goeth to bed, he watereth againe, (yet but a little) then sees the horse throughly well drest and rubbed, well littered, and most sufficiently meated.

There be others which walke after labour, then rubbes well, littereth and vnbridleth; both which be good, so that the one haue not too much walking, nor the other too cold a stable. But howsoeuer, stuffe not your horse backward, but betwixt his forelegges, and formost gyrth: for backward stuffing is perillous, lest drawing his yard when he would stale, he draw backe into his sheath any of the lit∣ter that stoppes him. The Northerne mans vse agreeth with the French principles, which saith, Vse no other walking then yourselfe on your arrow_back horses arrow_forward back, by riding him gently till you come to your Inne;

and so make him cold; then shake litter vnder him, rub his legges, his belly, and euery parte of his body well till he be dry, then vnbridle him, rub his head wel, and giue him hay; slacke no girth till it be night that the windowes be shut, suffer the horse to drinke but a lit∣tle at once to auoyd suddaine cooling of the stomacke, or driuing the horse into a shaking feuer: at night rub and curry well, and feede according to the arrow_back horses arrow_forward sto∣macke.

Other good horsemen ride gently till the arrow_back horses arrow_forward sinewes be chafed, and neuer water in trauell till the horse haue staled, and forbeare to trauell him fast be∣fore he haue drunke, that he may not drinke in his great heat, and they hold the standing water the best; after water for a mile they ride softly till his water be warmed in his belly, and before they come to their Inne they do not water, nor of an howre after they haue vnbridled; then they clothe well, and giue pro∣uender, hauing a care that their arrow_back horses arrow_forward stand not in the wind, and that they haue ben rubbed dry and cleane. Now all these principles are exceeding good; yet I would wish euery traueller to learne how his horse hath beene vsed, and that custome (if it be not too much against reason) still to follow.

If you come late to your Inne, and that your iour∣ney be greate and hasty, so that your horse will not eate till he haue drunke, and yet is hote notwithstan∣ding, then let his drinke be milke giuen in the darke, lest the whitenesse make him refuse it; this is both cor∣diall and pleasant: if you cannot get milke enough, then mingle milke with water luke warme, for no drinke would be giuen to a horse hotter.

If your horse either by labour or surfaits be brought

low, leane, and weake, you shall giue him mates milke to drinke many daies together, and it will make him strong.

It is not good to wash your horse, if he be either very hot or very fat; otherwise you may wash his legges aboue the knees, so that in no case you wash his belly, and that you ride him a good round pace after his washing; then by no meanes walke him, but set him vp and dresse him: the purer the water is where∣in you wash your horse, the more wholesome it is, so that it be not too extreme cold.

The best howres to water your horse in (when he liues at rest) is betwixt seauen and eight in the mor∣ning, and foure and fiue in the euening.

When you trauell, at euery steepe hill light, both to refresh your horse and your selfe.

Let a fat or hot horse haue his water at foure times, and not as much as he will drinke at once; giue him prouender twise at night, & but once in the morning; let his cloth neither be too hot, nor with straw too much stuffed; when he eateh good hay, let him haue lesse prouender then when he eateth straw: giue his meate by a little at once to auoyd glutting of him, and let him stand two howers euery day without meate.

Rubbing much, hard, and well, doth profite, pre∣serue, and doth keepe both strength of body and legges: for in rubbing and combing, a horse doth take much delight, and it is better then much meate.

To feede with barley (according to the opinion of the ancient Italians) ingendreth good bloud, en∣creaseth strength and courage, and maintaineth health; but with vs here in England, we finde oates to be a much better feeding.

In the dogge daies it is not wholesome to ride your horse oft into the water, to allay his naturall heate.

The maisters eye to see his horse well curried, and with the hand well rubbed, and well meated, and the stable sweete and cleane kept, preserueth health, and wonderfully feedeth the horse.

Cleanse and picke the soales and bottoms of your arrow_back horses arrow_forward feet oft, and stuffe them with Oxe dung, and annoynt his houes with fresh grease, tarre, or Turpen∣tine.

Much rest is the mother of many diseases.

When you ride, looke often to your saddle & your arrow_back horses arrow_forward shooes, and you shall finde much more ease in your iourney.

CHAP. 101. Certaine speciall Principles in Foales and in arrow_back Horses arrow_forward .

THe Foales whose legges be long wil euer be talle: for of all beasts their legges in length euer grow the least, and by the bignesse of their legges, you shall gesse the strength and greatnesse of their bodies.

Let your colts if you can possible, neuer be housed till they be past three yeares old.

The Greeke horse (which we call the Turky horse) is a most excellent horse, swift, bold, well headed, tall and strong, many of them be white, some bay, some sorrell, and some blacke.

The Arabian horse is most swift, and most beauti∣full.

The horse of Affrica, which we call the Barbary horse, is of good courage, swift and nimble; & there∣fore both the Turky horse and he must be vsed with

all lenity and gentlenesse, and not with beating.

The Freesland horse is firy, yet the worst of any.

The Flemish horse is better then the Freesland.

The Spanish Ienet is good, swift, and light.

The Neapolitan courser for all vses is most excellent and beautifull.

And the English horse is best both for great bur∣then or long trauell.

Obserue euer to winne your horse by patience and gentlenesse, and neuer be angry or madde with your horse, if he be of great mettall, onely the dull horse must with much beating be quickned and inflamed.

Annoint your bit when you put it first into your arrow_back horses arrow_forward mouth, with hony, and the powder of licoras, or else with hony and salt; and at no time put any bit or snafle into your arrow_back horses mouth before you haue washt.

Neuer take your horse backes before you haue the bridle reynes fast in your hand; and when you walke downe any hill, by no meanes driue your horse loose before you.

If your horse haue a long backe, let him haue a large saddle, if he haue a low backe, let the saddle haue a high seate; and if his backe be short, let the sad∣dle boulsters stand the nearer and closer together.

If your horse be dull, you must spurre him soundly, and after such spurring, rub his sides with salt.

CHAP. 102. Certaine generall Obseruations concerning Mares.

IN length and height, a mare groweth till she be fiue yeares old, and a horse till he be sixe.

When a mare is past two yeares old she may be co∣uered, but the best time is after foure yeare old.

Common mares may bring foales euery yeare; but let your best mares bring but euery second yeare, e∣specially if they bring horse colts.

After couering by no meanes trauell your mares.

To get horse colts, couer before the full of the moone; and to get mare colts couer after the full.

To make a mare stand to her horsing, set her by the horse two or three dayes, that he may much desire & be acquainted before he couer her: after bring them out, and let him serue her, and haue ready a pale of water, which when the horse shrinketh from her, powre vpon the ridge of the mares backe; then set them so farre asunder as that the one may not heare the other: do this three mornings & three euenings together, then let her not come neare the horse after, till she be knit, lest the desire of him againe, make her to shoot out that which he kept before.

To know whether your mare be with foale about Christmas or no, powre a little water into her eare, and if she onely shake her head, she is then with foale, both if she shake both head and body also, she is not with foale.

When you weane your foales, take them from the mares foure dayes before the full of the moone; and after the foales haue so remained foure and twenty howres, let them againe sucke till they wax very full; then remoue them for altogether, and the next mor∣ning giue euery one three slippes of Sauin, and so af∣ter let them haue till they be three yeares old, all plen∣ty of meate abroad, rather then in the stable.

Let your stallion for trotters be either Neapolitan

courser, or Arabian, Turke, or Barbary; and for am∣blers, either the Spanish Ienet, or the Irish Hobby.

Put your mares to the horse from midde March till midde May or midde Iune, the moone hauing newly changed.

It is good to put the horse and the mare for three or foure nights together in some vast empty house, and in the morning take the horse away and feede him well; but feede your mare sparingly, especially giue her little water.

At the end of sixe moneths, by no meanes chafe your mares: for then they are in quickning, and may easily be made to cast their foales.

The walle eye either in mare or in horse, doth ne∣uer see perfectly, especially when there is any snow on the ground.

A mare goeth with foale, eleuen moneths and ten daies.

Let your mares be of a meane stature, large and broad, and of good shape; and the Stallion of like shape, but somewhat taller; and temper their na∣tures thus: Put vnto the hote horse the coole mare, and to the hote mare the coole horse; and let your grounds wherein you breede, be dry, hilly, and with running streames in it.

CHAP. 103. Certaine speciall Notes to be obserued in the buying of a horse.

FIrst, marke his colour and his shape, that is to say, a comely well proportioned head, with an out∣looking eye, good well raised shoulders, and a thicke

large breast, broad brawne, large and broad flatte legges, short pasternes, and little seete: for long pa∣sternes shew weaknesse, and broad feete shew dul∣nesse; feele if he haue no glaunders, betweene his chappes, no splents, curbe nor spauen; looke he be not pursicke or broken winded, put your hand be∣fore his eyes, to know if he see well: looke into his mouth for his age, if he be past eight yeares old; feele all downe the strunte of his taile with your hand, and if you feele that it be smooth, then the horse is not very old; but if it haue any rough knobs towards the end, buy him not, for his good dayes are past. Let him runne at the halters end: for if he be lame, (hauing that liberty) he will fauour that legge which is amisse, and leane vpon it. If he turne vp the white of his eye, or lay his eare to his necke when he is ridden, he is a sullen iade, and full of naughty qualities; if when you stirre him in the stable, he stare and looke backe vpon you with a stout countenance, it is a token of a good stomacke in him, and great aptnesse to be taught; if he stirre the end of his taile as he passeth out and is ridden, and yet doth not whiske it, it sheweth that his pace is vnperfect; be sure to see him turne as short as may be, that you may know whether he be swayed in the backe or no, the middle stature is the best, and the short knit horse is the strongest. The wall eye euer seeth the worst. The horse that is of nature gentle, swift, light, nimble, of easie pace, good co∣lour, strong feete, good loynes, speedy in eating, and good at his prouender, is euer the best for vse, and the readiest money in the market. See if the haire in the spurring place be white: for it argueth slownesse

and spur-galling. The horse that will paw and beate the ground with his foote when he is stayed from go∣ing forwards, is euer likely to be good and durable in trauell. Many other notes there are, which by the ob∣seruing of these, will easily come into your memo∣ry.

CHAP. 104. Generall Notes concerning some simples al∣ready spoken of.

ALL manner of marrowes or pitches, of what kinde soeuer they be, must be kept by them∣selues in a dry coole place, and preserued from all filth or vncleannesse, and from the annoyance ei∣ther of winde or fire, and so they will last fully out a whole yeare.

You shall keepe no Sirrops, nor sweete Electu∣aries, nor pilles, nor Powders, nor conserues of flowres, nor any oyntments, Sewets, or emplaster, aboue one whole yeare; onely bitter electuaries, or conserues of fruites or rootes will last fully out two yeares.

Of oyle some will last long, some must bee new made: oyles extract out of wood or mettals will last long.

Gather rootes in Autumne, but take the small sprigs from them and make them cleane and dry.

Dry small rootes in the shade and winde, and great rootes either in the winde and Sunne, or by the fire, lay them in a dry place towards the South, and they will keepe long, prouided that neither Sun nor mo••sture hurt them.

Gather all manner of hearbes when they do most

flourish, and dry them in the shade, except they be very moist and apt to putrifie; they last for the most part a whole yeare.

Gather seedes and fruites when they be fully ripe; they also last but one whole yeare.

Gather the rinde or barke of any simple when the hearbe is ripe; dry them and they will last many yeares.

The end of the first Booke.