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 ...

The medicines arising out of Horses.

THe Grecians have written nothing at all concerning wilde Horses, because in their Countrey there was none of them usually bred or gotten: yet notwithstanding the same we ought * 1.1 to think that all medicines or any other things, which do proceed from them, are more strong in operation, and have in them greater force and power then any common Horses have, as it falleth out in all sorts of other beasts.

The bloud of a Horse (as Pliny affirmeth) doth gnaw into dead flesh with a putrifactive force; the same vertue hath the blood of Mares, which have been covered by Horses: Also the bloud of a Horse (but especially of one which is a breeder) doth very much make and help against im∣postumes, and small bunches which do arise in the flesh. Moreover it is said that the bloud of a young Asse is very good against the Jaundies, and the over-flowing of the gall, as also the same force and effect is in the bloud of a young Horse. The Horse-leaches do use the bloud of Horses for divers diseases which are incident unto them, both by anointing or rubbing the outward parts, as also within their bodies.

Furthermore if one do cut the veins of the palat of a Horses mouth, and let it run down into his belly, it will presently destroy and consume the maw or belly-worms, which are within him. * 1.2 When a Horse is sick of the Pestilence, they draw bloud out of the veins in his spurring place, and mingling the same upon a stone with Salt, make him to lick it up. The bloud of a Horse is also mingled with other medicines, and being anointed upon the armes and shoulders of men or beasts, which are broken or out of joynt, doth very much help them. But a Horse which is weary or tyred, * 1.3 you must cure after this manner; First, draw some bloud out of his matrix or womb, and mingle it with Oyl and Wine, and then put it on the fire till it be luke-warm, and then rub the Horse all over against the hairs.

If the sinews of Horses do wax stiffe or shrink in together, it is very necessary that the sick parts should be anointed with the hot bloud which doth proceed from him, for Horses also which are fed * 1.4 in the field use their flesh and dung, against the biting and stinging of Serpents.

We do also finde that the flesh of Horses being well boiled is very medicinable for divers dis∣eases. Moreover it is very usuall and common with the women of Occitania to take the fat or grease * 1.5 of Horses to anoint their heads to make the hair of their heads multiply and increase; and certain later Physitians do mingle the marrow of a Horse with other Ointments for a remedy against the Cramp.

The marrow of a Horse is also very good to loosen the sinews which are knit and sastned toge∣ther, but first let it be boyled in Wine, and afterwards made cold, and then anointed warmly either by the fire or Sun. If a Horse do labor in that kinde of impostume which they vulgarly call the Worm, either any where as well as in the nose, they do open the skin with a searing iron, and do sprinkle Verdigrease within the Horses mouth being brent, and being added thereunto sometimes the seed of Henbane.

The teeth of a male Horse not gelded, or by any labour made feeble, being put under the * 1.6 head, or over the head of him that is troubled or starteth in his dream, doth withstand and resist all unquietness which in the time of his rest might happen unto him. Pliny also doth assent that flowre doth heal the soreness of a Horses teeth and gums, and the clefts and chinks of a Horses feet.

The teeth also of a Horse is very profitable for the curing of the Chilblanes which are rotten and * 1.7 full of corruption when they are swollen full ripe. Marcellus saith, that the tooth of a Horse being beaten and crushed into very small powder, and being sprinkled upon a Mans genital doth much profit and very effectually help him: but the teeth which were first ingendred in a Horse, have this virtue in them, that if they should touch the teeth of Man or Woman who are molested and grieved with the tooth-ach, they shall presently find a final end of their pain: if in the like manner a childe do kisse the nose or snowt of a Horse, he shall never feel pain in his teeth, neither at any * 1.8 time shall the childe be bitten by the Horse.

The teeth which do first of all fall from Horses, being bound or fastned upon children in their infancy, do very easily procure the breeding of the teeth, but with more speed and more effectually if they have never touched the ground, wherefore the Poet doth very well apply these Verses, saying;

Collo igitur molli dentes nectentur equini, Qui prima suerint pullo crescente cadu••i.

It is also said, that if the hair of a Horse be fastned unto the House of a mans enemy it will be a means that neither little flies or small gnats shall flie by his dwelling place or aboad. The tongue of a Horse being never accustomed unto wine, is a most present and expedient medicine to allay or cure * 1.9 the milt of a Man or Woman (as Caecillus Bion reporteth unto us, that he learned it of the Barbari∣ans.) But Marcellus saith, that the Horse tongue ought to be dryed and beaten into small powder, and put into any drink, except wine only, and forthwith it will shew the commodity which riseth thereupon, by easing either Man or Woman, of the pain of the Spleen or Milt divers also do think that a Horses tongue used after this manner, is a good means or preservative against the biting of Serpents or any other venemous creatures.

But for the curing of any sores or griefs in the inward parts, the genital of a Horse is most of all commended: for as Pliny supposeth, this genital of a Horse is very medicinable for the loosing of the * 1.10 belly, as also the bloud, marrow, or liver of a Goat, but these things do rather dry up and close the belly (as before we have taught) concerning the Goat.

In the heart of Horses there is found a bone, most like unto a Dogs tooth, it is said that this doth drive away all grief or sorrow from a mans heart, and that a tooth being pulled from the cheeks or jaw bones of a dead Horse doth shew the full and right number of the sorrowes of the party so grieved. The dust of a Horse hoof anointed with Oyl and Water, doth drive away im∣pollumes * 1.11 and little bunches which rise in the flesh, in what part of the body soever they be•• and the dust of the hoof of an Asse anointed with Oyl, Water and hot urine, doth utterly expell all Wens and kernels which do rise in the neck, arme-holes, or any other part of the body, of either man or woman.

The genital of a gelded Horse dryed in an Oven, beaten to powder, and given twice or thrice in a little hot broth to drink unto the party grieved, is by Pliny accounted an excellent and approved remedy for the seconds of a woman. The soam of a Horse, or the dust of a Horse hoof dryed, is very good to drive away shamefastness, being anointed with a certain titulation. The scrapings of the * 1.12 Horses hoofs being put in wine, and poured into the Horses nostris, do greatly provoke his urine The ashes also of an Horses hoof being mingled with wine and water, doth greatly ease and help the disease called the Colick or Stone: as also by a perfume which may be made by the hoofs of Horses being dryed, a childe which is still born is cast out.

The milk of Mares is of such an excellent virtue, that it doth quite expell the poison of the S••a∣hare, and all other poison whatsoever: drink also mingled with Mares milk doth make the body loose and laxable. It is also counted an excellent remedy against the falling sickness 〈◊〉〈◊〉 drink the stones of a Boar out of a Mares milk or water. If there be any filth or m〈…〉〈…〉ying in the matrice of a woman, * 1.13 let her take Mares milk boiled and througly strained, and presently the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and excrements will void clean away. If so he that a Woman be barren and cannot conceive, leb her then take Mares milk (not knowing what it is) and let her presently accompany with a man, and she will conceive. The milk of a Mare being drunk doth asswage the labor of the matrice, and doth cause a still childe to be cast forth. If the seed of Henbane be beaten small and mingled with Mares milk, and bound with a Harts skin, so that it may not touch the ground, and fastened or bound to a woman, they will hinder her conception.

The thinnest or latest part of the milk of a Mare, doth very easily, gently and without any da••ger purge the belly. Mares milk being dayly anointed with a little Hony doth without any pain or punishment take away the wounds of the eyes being new made Cheese made of Mares milk doth represse and take away all wringings or aches in the belly, whatsoever. If you ••••dint a co〈…〉〈…〉 w••th the foam of a Horse, wherewith 〈◊〉〈◊〉 young man or youth doth use to comb his head, it is of 〈…〉〈…〉 as it will cause the hair of his head heither to encrease, or any whit to appear. The 〈…〉〈…〉 a

Horse is also very much commended for them which have either pain or difficulty of hearing in their ears, or else the dust of Horse dung being new made and dryed, and mingled with Oyl of Roses. The grief or soreness of a mans mouth or throat, being washed or anointed with the foam of a Horse which hath been sed with Oates or Barly, doth presently expell the pain of the foreness, if so be that it be two or three times washed over with the juyce of young or green Sea-crabs beaten small together; but if you cannot get the Sea-crabs which are green, sprinkle upon the grief the small powder which doth come from dryed Crabs which are baked in an Oven made of Brasse, and afterward wash the mouth where the pain is, and you shall finde present remedy. The foam of a Horse being three or four times taken in drink, doth quite expell and drive away the Cough. But Marcellus doth affirm that whosoever is troubled with the Cough, or consumption of the lungs, and doth drink the foam of a Horse by it self alone without any drink, shall finde present help and remedy: but as Sextus saith, the Horse will presently die after it. The same also * 1.14 being mingled with hot water, and given to one who is troubled with the ••ame diseases, being in manner past all cure, doth presently procure health, but the death of the Horse doth instantly ensue. * 1.15 The sweat of a Horse being mingled with Wine, and so drunk, doth cause a woman which it very big and in great labor, to cast a still childe. * 1.16

The sweat of any Beast, (but as Albertus saith only of a Horse) doth breed wind in a man or wo∣mans face, being put thereupon, and besides that, doth bring the Squince or Squincy, as also a * 1.17 filthy stinking sweat. If Swords, Knives, or the points of Spears when they are red fire hot, be a∣nointed with the sweat of a Horse, they will be so venemous and full of poyson, that if a man or woman be smitten or pricked therewith, they will never cease from bleeding as long as life doth last. If a Horse be wounded with an Arrow, and have the sweat of another Horse, and bread which hath * 1.18 been brent, being mingled in mans urine, given him to drink, and afterwards some of the same being mingled with Horse grease put into the wound, it will in short time procure him ease and help. There are some which will assure us, that if a man be troubled with the belly worms, or have a Serpent crept into his belly, if he take but the sweat of a Horse being mingled with his urine, and drink it, it will presently cause the Worms or the Serpent to issue forth.

The dung of a Horse or Asse which is fed with grasse, being dryed and afterward dipped in wine, and so drunk, is a very good remedy against the bitings and blowes of Scorpions. The same medi∣cines * 1.19 they do also use, being mingled with the genital of a Hare in Vinegar, both against the Scorpi∣on, and against the Shrew-mouse. The force is so great in the poyson of a mad Dog or Bitch, that his pargeted Urine doth much hurt, especially unto them that have a ••ore boil upon them; the chiefest remedy therefore against the same is the dung of a Horse mingled with Vinegar, and being warmed put into the scab or sore. The dung as well of Asses as of Horses, either raw, cold, or bur∣ned, is excellent good against the breaking forth or issues of the bloud. * 1.20

The dung of Horses or Asses being new made or warm, and so clapped and put to a green wound, doth very easily and speedily stanch the bleeding. If the vein of a Horse be cut, and the bloud do issue out in too much aboundance, apply the dung of the same Horse unto the place where the vein is cut, and the bleeding will presently cease, wherefore the Poet doth very well express it i•• these * 1.21 Verses following; * 1.22

Sive fimus manni cum testis uritur ovi, Et reprimit flu••dos miro 〈…〉〈…〉.

The same doth also very well drive away the corruption in mens body which doth cause the bloud to stinke if it be well and justly applyed unto the corrupt place. The same also being mingled with * 1.23 Oyl of Roses, and new made, and so applyed unto the ears, doth not only drive away the pain, but also doth very much help for hearing: There is another remedy also for the hearing, which is this, * 1.24 to take the dung of a Horse which is new made, and to make it hot in a furnace, and then to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it on the middle of the head against the Ʋv••••a, and afterward to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the aforesaid dung 〈…〉〈…〉 woollen cloth unto the top of the head in the night time. * 1.25

The dung of a young Asse when he is first foaled, given in Wine to the quantity or magnitude of a Bean, is a present remedy for either man or woman who is troubled with the Jaundice or the over-flowing * 1.26 of the gall: and the same property hath the dung of a young Horse or Cost when he is new foaled. But the dung of an old Horse, being boiled in fair w〈…〉〈…〉, and afterward strained and so given to the party to drink, who is troubled with Water in his belly or stomach, doth presently make vent for the ••ame. * 1.27

There is also an excellent remedy against the Colick and Stone, which is this, to ••ake a handfull of the dung of a Horse which hath been fed with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Barly, and not with grasse, and mingle * 1.28 very well it with half a pinte of Wine, all which I do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will amount unto the weight of eight〈…〉〈…〉 ounces, and then boyl them all together untill half of them be boyled or consumed away, and then drink the same by little and little until it be all drunk up, but it will be much better for the party that is troubled to drink it up all together if he be able.

There is moreover a very good and easie way by Horse dung to cure the Ague or 〈…〉〈…〉, which is thus, to burn the foresaid dung, and to mingle the very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it self thereof in old wine, * 1.29 and then beat it unto small powder, and so give it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the party who is 〈…〉〈…〉bled therewith, to drink or suck without any water in it, and this will very speedily procure ease and help▪ ••f that a

woman supposeth her childe which is in her womb to be dead, let her drink the milt or spleen of a Horse in some sweet water, not to the smell, but to the taste, and she will presently cast the childe. The same virtue are in the persume which is made of a Horses hoof, as also in the dry dung of a * 1.30 Horse: There is some which do use this means against the falling sickness, or the sickness called Saint Johns evill, that is to mingle the water or urine which a Horse doth make with the water which cometh from the Smiths trough, and so to give it the party in a potion. There is a very good help * 1.31 for Cattel which do avoid bloud through their Nostrils or secret parts, which is this, to make a paste of Wheat flowre, and beat it and mingle it together with ••utter and Egges in the urine of a Horse which hath lately drunk, and afterward to give that paste or 〈…〉〈…〉tess baked even to ashes to the beast so grieved.

To provoke urine when a mans yard is stopt, there is nothing so excellent as the dung or filth which proceedeth from the urine which a Horse hath made, being mingled with wine, and then strained, and afterwards poured into the Nostrils of the party so vexed.

There are certain Tetters or Ring-wormes in the knees of Horses, and a little above the hoofs * 1.32 in the bending of these parts, there are indurate and hardned thick skins, which being beaten into small powder and mingled with Vinegar, and so drunk, are an exceeding good preservative against * 1.33 the Falling-sickness: the samé is also a very good remedy for them which are bitten with any wilde Beast whatsoever. By the Tetter or Ring-worm which groweth in a Horses knees or above the hoofs, beaten and mingled with Oyle, and so poured in the ears, the teeth of either man or woman which were weak and loose, will be made very strong and fast. The aforesaid Tetter, * 1.34 without any mingling with Oyl, doth also heal and cure the head-ache and Falling-sickness, in either man or woman. The same also being drunk out of Clarret Wine or Muscadel for forty dayes together, doth quite expell and drive away the Colick and Stone. If that any man do get and put up the shooe of a Horse being struck from his hoof as he travelleth in his pace (which doth many times happen) it will be an excellent remedy for him against the sobbing in the stomach cal∣led * 1.35 the Hicket.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pliny.
• * 1.2

  Theomnestus.
• * 1.3

  Vegetius.
• * 1.4

  Pliny.
• * 1.5

  Furnerius.
• * 1.6

  Albertus.
• * 1.7

  Marcellus.
• * 1.8

  Sextus.
• * 1.9

  Pliny.
• * 1.10

  Pliny.
• * 1.11

  Pliny.
• * 1.12

  Marcellus.
• * 1.13

  Hippocrates.
• * 1.14

  Marcellus.
• * 1.15

  Rasis.
• * 1.16

  Albertus.
• * 1.17

  Rasis.
• * 1.18

  Russius.
• * 1.19

  Dioscorides. Pliny.
• * 1.20

  Marcellus.
• * 1.21

  Russius.
• * 1.22

  Pelagonius.
• * 1.23

  Albertus.
• * 1.24

  Aesculapius.
• * 1.25

  Marcellus.
• * 1.26

  Pliny.
• * 1.27

  Sextus.
• * 1.28

  Empiricus.
• * 1.29

  Marcellus.
• * 1.30

  Pliny.
• * 1.31

  Empiricus.
• * 1.32

  Dioscorides.
• * 1.33

  Galen.
• * 1.34

  Pliny.
• * 1.35

  M••g••.