The history of four-footed beasts and serpents describing at large their true and lively figure, their several names, conditions, kinds, virtues ... countries of their breed, their love and hatred to mankind, and the wonderful work by Edward Topsell ; whereunto is now added, The theater of insects, or, Lesser living creatures ... by T. Muffet ...

Of the signes of sickness in general.

SIckness according to the learned Physitians, is known four manner of wayes. First, by insepa∣rable or substantial accidents, as by the shape, number, quality, and sight of the part or member diseased. For if it be otherwise formed, or more or lesse in number or quantity, or else otherwise placed then it ought to be, then it is not well. Secondly, sickness is known by alte∣ration of the quality, as, if it be too hot, or too cold, too moist, or too dry. Thirdly, when the action of any member is hurt or letted, as when the eye-sight is not perfect, it is a manifest sign that the eye is evill affected or sick. Likewise, when there breedeth no good bloud in the body, it is an evident token that the Liver is not well. Fourthly, sickness is known by the excrements that come from the Beast, as by dung or stale; for if his dung be too strong of sent, full of whole Corn••, or of Wormes, too hard, or too soft, or evill coloured, it is a token that he is not well in his body: so like∣wise if his stale be too thick, or too thin, too white, or too red, it betokeneth some surfet, raw dige∣stion, or else some grief in his reins, bladder or stones. But Vegetius saith, that it is best known, whe∣ther a Horse be sick or not, or toward sickness, by these signes here following; for if he be more slow and heavie in his trotting, or gallopping, harder of Spur then he was wont to be, or spreadeth his litter abroad with his feet, often tumbling in the night season, fetching his breath short and vio∣lently, loud snuffling in the Nose, and casting out vapors at his Nostrils, or lyeth down immediately

after his provender, or maketh long draughts in his drinking, or in the night season is now down, and now on foot, or if in the next morning he be very hot in his pasterns, or betwixt his ears, or that his ears hang more then they are wont to do: again, if his eye sight be dim, and his eyes hollow in his head, his hairs standing right up, and his flanks hollow and empty, whensoever two or three of these signes do concur together, then it is to be thought, saith Vegetius, that the Horse is not well, and therefore he would have him immediately to be separated from his companions that be whole, and to be placed by himself untill his disease be perfectly known and cured, and especially if it be any contagious disease.

I have seen divers Farriars here in England to use that for the trial of a Horses sickness, which I never read in any Author, that is, to feel his stones, whether they be hot or cold, and tosmell at his nostrils, and so by the savour thereof to judge what sickness the Horse hath. Truly I think that no evill way, if they can discern with their sense of smelling, the diversity of savours, that cometh out of his Nostrils, and then aptly apply the same to the humours whereof such savours be bred, and so orderly to seek out the originall cause of his sickness. But I fear me, that more Farriars smell with∣out judgement, then with such judgement, and no marvell why, sith that few or none be learned, or have been brought up with skilful Masters. But from henceforth I trust that my travail will cause such Farriars as can read, and have some understanding already, to be more diligent in seeking after knowledge then they have been heretofore, whereby they shall be the better able to serve their Countrey, and also to profit themselves, with good fame, whereas now for lack of knowledge they incur much slander.