Of a Consumption.
A Consumption is none other thing but an exulceration of the lunges, proceeding of some fretting or gnawing humor, descending out of the head into the lungs. And I take it to be that disease which the old writers are wont to cal the dry Malady: which perhaps some wold rather interpret to be the mourning of the chine, with whom I intend not to striue. But thus much I must needes say, that euery Horsse hauing the mourning of the Chine, doth continually cast at the nose, but in the dry Malady it is contrary. For [ 20] all the Authors that write thereof affirme, that the Horsse auoideth nothing at the Nose. And the signs be to know the dry Malady, according to their doctrin, be these. His flesh doth cleane consume away, his belly is gaunt, and the skinne thereof so harde stretched, or rather shrunke vp, as if you strike on him with your hand it will sound like a Tabar, and he will be hollow backt, and forsake his meat, and though he eateth it, (as Absirtus saith) yet he doth not digest it, nor prospereth not withall, he would cough and cannot but hicking∣ly, as though he had eaten small bones. And this disease is iudged of all the Authors to be incurable. Notwithstanding, they say, that it is good to purge his head with such per∣fumes as haue beene shewed you before in the Chapter of the Glanders, and also to giue him alwaies Coleworts, chopt small with his prouender. Some would haue him to drinke [ 30] the warme blood of sucking pigs new slaine, and some the iuyce of Leekes, with oile and wine mingling together. Others praise wine and Frankincense, some oyle and Rue, some would haue his body to be purged and set to grasse.