The English horsman and complete farrier directing all gentlemen and others how to breed, feed, ride, and diet all kind of horses whether for war, race, or other service : with a discovery of the causes, signs, and cures of all diseases, both internal and external, incident to horses : alphabetically digested : with The humours of a Smithfield jockey / by Robert Almond.

Surfeits of all sorts.

Though in the Title I seem to treat generally of Surfeits, yet I shall speak in particu∣lar; and first of that inward dry Surfeit which causeth the Cods to swell, either continually, or betwixt whiles; to the intent therefore that you may arrive at the Cure, mind these following Instructions.

You must first purge your Horse after this man∣ner: Take an ounce of fine Aloes, which glitters, for that is the best, then pulverize it or beat it to powder; then take three ounces of fresh Butter, mix these two well together, and add thereun∣to so much Wheat-bran as is sufficient to make it into a Paste, and make thereof five or six Balls; then convey one of them as far into his mouth as you may, that he may the better swallow it, giving him an hornful of strong Ale to wash it down; then give him a second, a third, a fourth and the fifth, still interlining them with an horn∣ful of Beer or Ale, to wash them down; after this, ride him out for an hour gently, then set him up warm: keep him fasting six hours after he hath taken his Pills, giving him some Hay at night, and not before, with warm water to drink; and the like the next day.

But the third day, after his purgation is over, give him cold water, and immediately after it two ounces of Honey, and half a pint of white Wine a little warmed, for that will make him stale, clearing his Bladder, and procuring an appetite; then air him gently for an hour and

an half, doing thus morning and evening till he be well.

But if what you have given him, do neither sharpen his stomach nor purge him; then take three pints of stale Beer, three ounces of course houshold bread, mixing them together, and setting them over the fire; being well boil'd take it off, and put therein a quarter of a pound of Honey, and three ounces of fresh Butter, give him these blood-warm, and ride him moderate∣ly a mile afterwards; then set him up warm, and let him stand upon the Trench about two hours after it: then give him a Mash of sodden Oats till they burst with warm water and Wheat-bran therein; this in twice or thrice giving will procure him a stomach, and render him la∣xative withal.

Now if his Cods be swell'd, occasioned by this Surfeit; as soon as his Purge hath done working, take the charge of Sope and Brandy, and with a stick dabb it on his Cods (or other swelling proceeding from the same cause) as it comes boiling from the fire; do this but once, and four days after ride him into a River, against the stream, so deep that he is ready to swim, for near a quarter of an hour, thus using him once or twice a day, till you find his swelling a∣bate.

If it be a dry Surfeit, give the Purge first, and afterwards the Cordial, made of white Wine and Honey; but if he run at Nostrils, give him a Drink made of Anniseeds, Turmerick, Bran∣dy, Vinegar and Beer, and three days after let him have the Purge: in like manner do if his Grease be melted.

This aforementioned Purge and Cordial are not only good against any dry Surfeit, but also for melted Grease, set and dried in the bo∣dy, and legs swelled, or when an Horse is Gaunt, Gut-foundred and costive.

There is another sort of Surfeit, which is moist, hot and running, that from the Body falls into either fore-legs, hind-legs, or sometimes in∣to all four.

It proceeds from colds and heats, occasioned several ways, and the distemper is very trouble∣some and loathsome, however not very diffi∣cult to be cured, if you will observe this Me∣thod.

First, let him blood in the Neck-veins, but be∣fore you do it, keep him fasting most part of the night before; having let him bleed freely, give him a drink made thus:

Take of Aristilochia one ounce, of Turmerick one ounce, of Anniseeds dry one ounce; beat the An∣niseeds and Turmerick small, and grate the roots of Aristolochia; put these together with one hand∣ful of Rew, and one handful of Wormwood, and one handful of red Sage, one handful of green Fennel, or two ounces of the seeds thereof; then let all these steep together in three pints of water all night.

Now before you give him hereof, ride him out a mile or two, to warm him a little, and then give him this water as it stood cold all night, then ride him a mile more, and after this let him stand six hours on the bit; then give him a little Hay, and after that warm water and Bran: he must not drink but once a day, riding him two or three miles after it.

At the expiration of three days, give him the same drink, using him as you did before in every circumstance; observing so to do every third day, till you have exsiccated or dried up those humours which are so offensive to him.