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.
Topsell, Edward, 1572-1625?

Of foundering behind.

THis happes most commonly when a horse is very fat, and hath his greace moulten within him, which is soone done with euery little heate. You shal perceiue it by his going, for he wil be afraide to set his hinder feet to the grounde, and he wil bee so weake behind, as he wil stand quiuering and shaking and couet alwaies to lie downe. The cure, according to Martin is thus. First garter him aboue the houghes, and then force [ 40] him to go awhile to put him in a heat, and being somewhat warme, let him bloode in the thigh vaines, reseruing of that blood a pottle, to make him a charge in this sort. Put vnto that blood, of Wheat-flower and of Beane-flower, of each a quarter of a pecke, of Bole Armony one pound, of Sanguis Draconis two ounces, six Egges, shels and al, of Turpen∣tine halfe a pound, of Vineger a quart. Mingle al these thinges togither, and therewith charge both his hinder Legges, his Reynes, and Flankes, al against the haire. And if the horse cannot dung, lette him be raked, and giue him this glister: take of Mallowes three handfuls, and boile them wel in faire Water from a pottle to a quart. Then straine it and put thereunto halfe a pounde of Butter, and of Sallet Oyle a quarter of a pinte, and ha∣uing emptied his belly, giue him also this drinke to comforte him; take of Malmesie a quart, and put thereunto a little Cinamon, Mace, and Pepper, beaten into fine powder [ 50] and of Oyle a quarter of a pinte, and giue the horse to drinke of that Luke-warme with a horne.

That don, let him be walked vp and downe a good while togither if he be able to go: if not, then tie him vp to the racke, and let him be hanged with Canuas and ropes, so as he Page  406 may stand vppon the ground with his feet: For the lesse he lieth the better, and pare his hinder feet thin, vntill the deaw come out, and tacking on the shooes againe, stoppe the hooues with bran and hogs greace boiled togither, and let both his feet hauing this geere in it, be wrapped vp in a cloath euen to his pasternes, and there tie the clout fast. Let his diet be thinne and let him drinke no colde water, and giue him in winter wet hay, and in Summer grasse.