Of the Fever and divers kinds thereof in a Horse.
I Think it will seem strange unto some, to hear that a Horse should have an Ague or Fever, but it was not strange unto the men of old time, as to Absyrtus, Hierocles, Xenophon, Vegetius, and such like old Souldiers, throughly experimented in Horses griefs. A Fever, according to the learned Physitians, is an unnatural and immoderate heat, which proceeding first from the heart, spreadeth it self throughout all the arteries and veins of the body, and so letteth the actions thereof.
Of Fevers there be three general kinds, whereof the first, is that which breedeth in the spirits, being inflamed or heated more then their nature requireth. The second breedeth in the humors, being also distempered by heat. The third in the firm parts of the body, being con∣tinually hot. What spirits and humors be, hath been told you before in the keepers Office. Of these three general kinds do spring many other special kinds, as Quotidians, Tertians, Quartans, Fevers Hectick, and very many others, whereunto mans body is subject, whereof none of my Authors do treat, unless Vegetius, who speaketh somewhat of a Fever Quotidian, of a Fever continual, and also of a Fever accidental. He speaketh also of Sum∣mer, Autumn, and Winter Fevers, without making any great difference betwixt them, more then that one is worse then another, by reason of the time and season of the year, so that in effect all is but one Fever. Wherefore according unto Absyrtus opinion, I will briefly shew you first the causes whereof it proceeds, and then the signes how to know it, and finally how to cure the same.
The Fever chanceth sometime by surfetting of extreme labour or exercise, as of too much travel∣ling, and especially in hot weather, of too swift gallopping and running, and sometime by extreme heat of the Sun, and also by extreme cold of the aire, and sometime it breedeth of crudity or raw digestion, which many times happeneth by over greedy eating of sweet green corn, or of such pro∣vender as was not thoroughly dryed or cleansed: for after such greedy eating, and specially such meat, never followeth perfect digestion. The signes to know a Fever be these, The Horse doth con∣tinually hold down his head, and is not able to lift it up, his eyes are even blown so as he cannot easily open them: yea and many times they be watering, the flesh of his lips and of all his body is lush and feeble, his stones hang low, his body is hot, and his breath is very hot and strong, he stan∣deth weakly on his legs, and in his going draweth them lasiely after him, yea he cannot go but very softly, and that staggering here and there he will lie down on his side, and is not able to turn him∣self, or to wallow; he forsaketh his meat both hay and provender, and is desirous of nothing but of drink, which, as Absyrtus saith, is an assured token of a Fever: he also sleepeth but little. The cure and diet. Let him bloud in the face and temples, and also in the palat of his mouth, and the first day give him no meat, but only warm drink, and that by little and little. Afterward give him continually grasse, or else very sweet hay wet in water, and let him be kept warm, and sometime walke him up and down fair and softly in a temperate air, and then let him rest, and when you see that he begins to amend, give him by little and little at once Barley fair sifted and well sodden, and also mundified, that is to say, the huske pulled away, like as when you blanch Almonds.