Of a Retreat.
THis is the pricking of a nail, not well driven in the shooing, and therefore pulled out again by the Smith, and is called of the Italians, Tratta messa. The cause of the prick∣ing may be partly the rash driving of the Smith, and partly the weakness of the nail, or the hollowness of the nail in the shank. For if it be too weak, the point many times bendeth awry into the quick when it should go right forth. It flatteth and shivereth in the driving into two parts, whereof one part raleth the quick in pulling out, or else perhaps break∣eth clean asunder, and so remaineth still behinde, and this kinde of pricking is worse than the cloying, because it will ranckle worse, by reason of the flaw of Iron remaining in the flesh. The signes be these: If the Smith that driveth such a nail be so lewd, as he will not look unto it before the Horse depart, then there is no way to know it, but by the halting of the Horse, and searching the hoof first with a hammer by, knocking upon every clinging. For when you knock upon that nail, where the grief is, the Horse will shrink up his foot. And if that will not serve, then pinch or gripe the hoof with a pair of pinsons round about, until you have found the place grieved. The cure according to Martin is thus: First, pull off the shooe, and then open the place grieved with a Butter or Drawer, so as you may per∣ceive by feeling or seeing, whether there be any piece of nail or not; if there be, to pull it out, and to stop the hole with Turpentine, Wax, and Sheeps-sewet molten together, and so poured hot into the hole, and then lay a little Tow upon it, and clap on the shooe again renewing it thus every day, until it be whole, during which time, let not the Horse come in any wet, and it must be so stopped, though it be but prickt without any piece of nail re∣maining. And if for lack of looking to it in time, this retreat cause the hoof to break above, then cure it with the Plaister restrictive in such order as is mentioned in the last place saving one before this.