Of the Crick in the neck.
BEcause a Crick is no other thing then a kinde of Convulsion, and for that we have spoken suffi∣ciently before of all kindes thereof in the Chapter of Convulsion, I purpose not here therefore to trouble you with many words, but only shew you Russius opinion, and also Martins experience therein. The Crick then called of the Italians, Scima, or Lucerdo according to Russius, and according to Martin is, when the Horse cannot turn his neck any manner of way, but hold it still right forth, insomuch as he cannot take his meat from the ground but by times, and that very slowly; Russius saith, it cometh by means of some great weight laid on the Horses shoulders, or else by overmuch drying up of the sinews of the neck. The cure whereof, according to Martin, is in this sort. Draw him with a hot iron from the root of the ear on both sides of the neck, through the midst of the same even down to the brest, a straw deep, so as both ends may meet upon the breast, then make a hole in his forehead, hard under the foretop, and thrust in a Cornet upward betwixt the skin and the flesh a handful deep, then put in a Goose feather, doubled in the midst and anointed with Hogs grease to keep the hole open, to the intent the matter may run out the space of ten dayes. But every day during that time, the hole must be cleansed once, and the feather also cleansed and fresh anointed, and so put in again. And once a day let him stand upon the bit one hour or two, or be ridden two or three miles abroad, by such a one as will bear his head, and make him to bring it in. But if the Crick be such as the Horse cannot hold his neck straight, but clean awry, as I have seen divers my self: then I think it not good that the Horse be drawn with a hot iron on both sides of the neck, but only on the contrary side. As for example, if he bend his head toward the right side, then to draw him as is aforesaid only on the left side, and to use the rest of the cure as is abovesaid, and if need be, you may splent him also with handsome staves meet for the purpose to make his neck stand right.