I thinke it good heere briefely to shew you their experience therein, that is to say, how to know it, and also how to cure it. But sith none of them do shew the cause whereof it pro∣ceedes, I thinke it meete first therefore to declare vnto you the causes therof, according to the doctrin of the learned Physitians, which in mans body do make three kinds of drop∣sies, calling the first Anasarca, the second Ascites, and the third Timpanias. Anasarca, is an vniuersall swelling of the body through the aboundance of water, lying betwixt the skin and the flesh, and differeth not from the disease last mentioned, called Cachexia, that is to say, euill habit of the bloode, sauing that the body is more swoln in this then in Cachexia, albeit they proceede both of like causes as of coldnesse and weakenesse of the liuer, or by [ 10] meanes that the hart, spleene, stomack, and other members seruing to digestion, by grie∣ued or diseased. Ascites is a swelling in the couering of the belly, called of the Physitians, Abdomen comprehending both the skin, the fat, eight muscles, and the filme or panicle cal∣led Peritoneum, through the aboundance of some whayish humor entred into the same, which besides the causes before alledged, proceedeth most chiefely by means that some of the vessels within be broken or rather cracked, out of the which, though the blood be∣ing somewhat grosse cannot yssue forth▪ yet the whayish humor being subtil, may run out into the belly, like water distilling through a cracked pot.
Timpanias called of vs commonly the Timpany, is a swelling of the aforesaid couering of the belly, through the aboundance of wind entred into the same, which wind is ingende∣red of crudity and euill digestion, and whilest it aboundeth in the stomach, or other intrals [ 20] finding no yssue out, it breaketh in violently through the smal cundits among the panicles of the aforesaid couering, not without great paine to the patient, and so by tossing to and fro, windeth at length into the space of the couering it selfe. But surely such wind cannot be altogether void of moisture.
Notwithstanding, the body swelleth not so much with this kinde of dropsie as with the o∣ther kind called Ascites. The signs of the dropsie is shortnes of breath, swelling of the bo∣dy, euil colour, lothing of meat, and great desire to drinke, especially in the dropsie called Ascites, in which also the belly wil sound like a bottle halfe ful of water: but in the Timpanie it wil sound like a Tabar. But now though mine authors make not so many kinds of drop∣sies, [ 30] yet they say al generally, that a horse is much subiect to the dropsie. The signs accor∣ding to Absirtus and Hierocles, be these. His belly, legs, and stones, wil be swollen, but his back, buttocks, and flanks, wil be dryed and shrunke vp to the very bones.
Moreouer, the vaines of his face and temples, and also the vaines vnder his tong wil be so hidden, as you cannot see them, and if you thrust your finger hard against his body, you shal leaue the print therof behind, for the flesh lacking natural heat wil not returne again to his place, and when the horselyeth down he spreadeth himselfe abroad, not being able to he round together on his belly, and the haire of his back by rubbing wil fal away. Pela∣gonius in shewing the signs of the dropsie, not much differing from the Physitians first re∣cited, seemeth to make two kinds therof, calling the one the Timpany, which for difference sake may be called in English the wind dropsie, and the other the water dropsie. Notwith∣standing [ 40] both haue one cure, so farre as I can perceiue, which is in this sort. Let him bee warme couered, and walked a good while together in the sun to prouoke sweat, and let all his body be wel and often rubbed alongst the haire, & let him seed vpon Colworts, smal∣l••ge, and Elming boughs, and of al other thinges that may loosen the belly, or prouoke vrin, and let his common meat be grasse if it may be gotten, if not, then hay sprinkled with water and Nytrum. It is good also to giue him a kinde of pulse called Cich, steeped a day and a night in water, and then taken out, and laid so as the water may drop away from it. Pelagonius would haue him to drink Parsly stampt with wine, or the root of the herb called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Latin Panax, with wine. But if the swelling of the belly wil not decrease for al this, then slit a litle hole vnder his belly a handful behind the nauil, & put into that hole a hollow reed [ 50] or ••ome other pipe, that the water or wind may go out, not al at once, but by litle and little at diuers times, and beware that you make not the hole ouer wide, least the caule of the bel∣ly fal downe thereunto, and when al the water is cleane run out, then heale vp the wound as you do al other wounds, and let the horse drinke as little as is possible.