The historie of foure-footed beastes Describing the true and liuely figure of euery beast, with a discourse of their seuerall names, conditions, kindes, vertues (both naturall and medicinall) countries of their breed, their loue and hate to mankinde, and the wonderfull worke of God in their creation, preseruation, and destruction. Necessary for all diuines and students, because the story of euery beast is amplified with narrations out of Scriptures, fathers, phylosophers, physitians, and poets: wherein are declared diuers hyerogliphicks, emblems, epigrams, and other good histories, collected out of all the volumes of Conradus Gesner, and all other writers to this present day. By Edward Topsell.

Of sicknesse what it is, and how many generall kinds there be, also with what order the diseases of Horsses are heerein declared. And finally, of the foure times, belonging to euery sicknesse.

SIcknes is an euill affect contrary to nature, hindring of it selfe, some action [ 40] of the body. Of sickenes there be three generall kindes, whereof the firste consisteth in the parts simyler; the second in the parts instrumental: and the third in both parts togither. The first kind, is called of the Latines In∣temper••es, that is to say, euill temperature, which is either simple or com∣pound. It is simple, when one quality onlie doth abound or exceed too much, as to be too hot or too cold; it is compound, as when manie qualities do exceed, as when the body is too hot and too drie, or too cold and too moist. The second kind is called Mala constitutio, that is to say, an euil state or composition, which is to be considered, eyther by the shape, number, quantity, or sight of the member, or part euell affected or diseased. The thirde [ 50] kind is called Vnitatis solutio, that is to saie, the loosening or diuision of the vnitie, which as it may chaunce diuerslie; so it hath diuers names accordinglie: for if such solution or diuision be in a bone, then it is called a fracture, if it be in anie fleshie part, then it is called a wounde or vlcer; in the vaines a rupture, in the sinnews a conuulsion or crampe, and in the skin an excoriation.

Againe, of diseases, some be called long, and some sharpe and short, called of the La∣tines, Morbi accuti, which be perillous, and do quickly kill the body. The long, do tarrye longer by it. Yet moreouer there is sicknes by it selfe, and sicknes by consent. Sicknesse by it selfe, is that which being in some member, hindereth the action thereof by it selfe. Sicknesse by consent, is deriued out of one member into another, through the neighbor∣hood and community that is betwixt them: as the pain of the head which commeth from the stomacke.

Thus the learned Physitians which write of mans body, do diuide sicknesse. But Absir∣tus writing of horsse-leach craft, saith of that sicknes or rather malady (for so he termeth [ 10] it, vsing that worde as a generall name to all manner of diseases that be in a horsse) there be foure kinds: that is to say, the moist malady, the dry malady, the malady of the ioynts, and the malady betwixt the flesh and the skin. The moist malady is that which we call the Glanders: the dry maladie is an incurable consumption, which some perhaps would call the mourning of the cheine, but not rightly, as shall well appeare vnto you heereafter: The malady of the ioynts comprehendeth al griefes and sorances that be in the ioyntes: And the malady betwixt the flesh and the skin, is that which we call the scab: vnto which foure kindes of maladies Vegetius addeth three others, that is, the Farcine, the paine of the Reynes or Kidneys, and the cankered Mangenesse, most commonly called of the old writers the Leprosie; and so maketh seauen kinds of maladies, vnder which all other par∣ticular [ 20] diseases are comprehended.

Againe, Laurentius Russius, vseth an other kind of diuision of sicknes. Of horsses disea∣ses (saith he) some be naturall, and some accidentall. The natural be those that do come either through the excesse, or lacke of engendring seed, or by error of nature, in missor∣ming the young, or else by some defect of the damme or sire, in that perhaps they be di∣seased within, and haue their seed corrupted.

The accidentall diseases be those that come by chaunce, as by surfetting of cold, heat, and such like thing. But forasmuch as none of these writers doe follow their owne diuisi∣ons, nor handle the partes thereof accordingly: to auoide their confusion, and to teach plainely: I thought good and profitable therefore to vse this my owne diuision and order [ 30] heere following.

First then, of diseases some be inward, and some be outward. The inward be those that breede within the horsses bodie, and are properly called maladies and diseases, whereof some do ocupy al the wholebodie, and some particular parts or members of the body.

Of those then that occupie all the body, and not be accident to any priuate mem∣ber, I do first treat, as of Agues, of the Pestilence, and such like, and then of those that be incident to euery particluar member, beginning at the head, and so proceede orderly throughout all the members, euen downe to the sole of the foot, obseruing therein so nie as I can, the selfe same order that Galen vseth in his booke, De locis male affectis, decla∣ring first, what manner of disease it is, and how it is called in English, and also in Italian, because the Kings stable is neuer without Italian riders, of whome our Ferrers haue bor∣rowed [ 40] many names, as you shal perceiue heerafter. Then the causes whereof it proceeds, and the signes how to know it, and finally, the cure and diet belonging to the same, and because I find not inward diseases enow to answeare euery part of the body, I doe not let to enterlace them with outward diseases, incident to those partes, yea rather, I leaue out no outwarde disease belonging to anie particular member, and to the en∣tent you maie the better know to what diseases or sorances euerie part or member of the horsses bodie is most commonly subiect. And note by the way, that I call those outward diseases that proceede not of any inwarde cause, but of some outwarde cause, as when a horsse is shouldered by meanes of some outward cause, or his backe galled with the sad∣dle, or his sides spurgalled, or his hooue cloid with a naile, and such like, which properly [ 50] may be called sorances or griefes.

Thirdly, I talke of those diseases as wel outward as inward, that maie indifferently chance in anie part of the bdie, as of Impostumes, cankerous Vlcers, Woundes, Fistules, Bur∣ninges, Brousinges, Breaking of bones, and such like. Fourthly, because most diseases are healed either by letting of blood, by taking vp of vains, by purgation, or els by caute∣risation,

that is to say, by giuing the fire: I talke of those foure necessary things seuerally by themselues; and finally, I shew you the true order of paring and shooing all man∣ner of hooues, according as the diuersity of hooues require: and to the intent you may the better vnderstand mee, you haue the perfect shapes of all necessary shooes, plainely set forth in figures before your eyes. Thus much touching mine order which I haue hitherto obserued.

Now it is necessary to know, that to euery disease or malady, belongeth foure seuerall times, that is to say, the beginning, the increasing, the state, and declination, which times are diligently to be obserued of the Ferrer, because they require diuers applying of me∣dicine: for that medicine which was meete to be vsed in the beginning of the disease, per∣haps [ 10] is not to be vsed in the declination thereof: and that which is requisite, and very needefull, to be applyed in the state or chiefest of the disease, may be very dangerous to be vsed in the beginning. And therefore the Ferrer ought to be a man of iudgement, and able to discerne one time from another, to the intent he may apply his medicines rightly. Hither of causes and sicknesse in generall. Now it is also meete, that we speake in generall of signes whereby sicknesse is knowne.