Modern curiosities of art & nature extracted out of the cabinets of the most eminent personages of the French court : together with the choicest secrets in mechanicks, communicated by the most approved artists of France / composed and experimented by the Sieur Lemery, apothecary to the French king ; made English from the original French.

Excellent Secrets in the Diseases of Horses, Dogs, and other Cattel. CHAP. XXIII.

For the Frewcie in Horses.

FIrst rowel him behind, then take half a Gallon of Morel, or Nightshade-water, which make the Horse drink, making him run two hundred Paces after it, going and coming a full Gallop, then leave him twenty four hours without stirring from the Stable, and six hours without eating; then purge him with Coloquintida, Sene, and Agarick, of each two ounces, which must be infused one Night in a pint of White-wine: then perfume him with Turbet and Hellebore, and rub him once a day with Oyl of Laurel; next take Rose Oyl and fresh Butter, which melt toge∣ther, and put into his Ears as hot as he can endure it, stopping them with Cotton, con∣tinuing it till he is cured, which will be in about a Month.

To bring them down when too fat.

Take Fig Leaves, which dry in the Shade, and beat to Powder, which lay upon him as you think fit, after having taken off the Hair.

For Gauling in Horses.

Take two pound of fresh Butter, one penny∣worth of Quick silver, and about the quanti∣ty of a pound of Butter of Cuttle-fish Bones; mix all together in a Pot, then rub the Hor∣ses with the said Ointment, every two days.

For the same.

You must make them drink Decoction of the Herb Scabious, or half a pint of White-wine, in which must be dissolved an ounce of Synoper, and a little Crust of bread toasted, an ounce of Sulphur fixed with the said De∣coction, and make them drink it four days.

For sick Horses, Oxen, and Cows.

When you see a Horse sad and drooping, and that he eats not as he used; take a Root of Hellebore, and cover the Skin from the Head down the Breast, or fall of the Neck, along the neer, or off Leg, and make two slits to stick the said Root, which must go through between the Skin of the said two cuts, as you would lard a Foul; leaving it there a little while, and the Distemper will all gather to that Place, and grow to a great Impostume; which must be lanced in two or three Places, and the matter will come out. You must make a Plaister of Bole Armoniack, Hogs Lard, Nicotian, or other good Plaister, and apply to the Place, which will soon heal.

To cure Horses of the Vives.

Take Hemlock and beat it, sprinkling course Salt amongst it; then squeeze out the juyce, which let drop into the Horses Ear, and lay the rest over it, and let him walk some time.

To make Horses Hoofs grow.

Take old Hogs grease, Goats or Mutton Suet, common Oyl, of each an ounce; some of the under Rind of Elder or Wall-wort, with new Wax, of which make an Oynt∣ment.

For Horses that are prickt.

Take Ointment of Villemaigne and put into the hole.

For the same.

Take the juyce of Elder-leaves, and lay the leaves over, and let him be shooed.

A Receipt for the same, of the deceased Mareschal de Biron.

Take Rosin, jucis navalis, cerae novae, un∣guent. Basiliconis, of each two ounces. facii hircini three ounces, Tereb Venet. Hoisici op∣timi, of each four ounces, omnibus liquefactis & permixtis, adde sacharum pulverisatum ut fiat Emplastrum.

The Nail or Splinter must be drawn, and a tent of the same length made, then have a hot Iron to melt and make it drop in, and lay Flocks over it, or Pitch in the turn, which is,

when a Nail is bent and sticks in the Foot, and which is more dangerous than the com∣mon nailing; for sometimes the Matter runs in between the Hoof and the Hair. It is dis∣covered in galloping.

For the second, you must pour Oyntment upon it, and grease about it twice a day; if you cannot take out the Splinter, it will make it fall in two days.

You need not stop your Journey for the nailing, nor make the Horses Shooe be taken off.

This Receipt came from the Mareschal de Biron, who kept it very secret, and gave his Friends the Oyntment.

Another for the same purpose, of Monsieur de Turenne.

Take Burgundy-pitch, Gum Elemi and Galbanum of each two ounces: melt all to∣gether with Rose Oyl; you need apply it but twice to the Horses foot.

How to use it.

You must mix with the said Plaister a lit∣tle Grease, and when you discover where the Foot is prickt, apply it scalding, and lay over it a little Hemp; this cures in a day.

For a prick in a Horses Foot: the deceased Duke of Weimar's Receipt.

Take Archangel and pound it, adding some Salt and a little Pepper, squeeze out the

Juyce, and drop it into the hole, and apply the Herb over it, stopping it with Grease or Wax, and shooe him.

For the same.

Take yellow Wax, Venice Turpentine an ounce and half, Gum Elemi one pound, Ro∣sin, liquid Storax, Benjamin four ounces, Be∣tony and Plantain eight handfuls, tops of Hy∣pericum four handfuls, Oyl of Hypericum, as much as is requisite; of all this make an Oint∣ment, which when you would use, melt a lit∣tle in a silver Spoon, drop it into the hole, and shooe the Horse at the same time. This Receipt was given me as very certain.

For the Farcie in Horses.

Take Ash-tree Berries four ounces, Eglan∣tine Apples an ounce and half, Cummin-seed an ounce and half, of all these things make a Powder, or as follows.

First, you must dry the Ash-tree Berries, after taking off a little Skin that is upon them, putting it to this end upon a Brick into an Oven not too hot, do the same with the Cum∣min-seeds and Eglantine Apples, alwaies taking care none of them boil in their moisture: all being thus dry, you must pound it either to∣gether, or separately.

How to use it.

Bleed the Horse in the Morning, and at Noon begin to give him the Powder; three

days after bleed him again, and the eighth day repeat Bleeding: if he be very ill give him the said Powder Morning, Noon, and Night.

The Dose of the said Powder is what you can take up between your Finger and Thumb.

The way of giving it is in Bread, till he be cured.

For the same.

Take a little handful of ground Ivie, which squeeze in your hand, adding a little Salt, put it into his Ear on the side the Farcie is, stop∣ping the Ear close with Cotton, binding it up with a Cord; leave it there about thirty hours, in which time it will be cured.

For the same.

Take the Roots of round Sorrel, and Leaves of ground Ivie mixed together, which mix with the Horses Oats, and he will recover, provided the Farrier has not touched him.

For a swelling in the hollow of the Pastorn of a Horse.

Take the white heads of five or six Leeks, four ounces of old Lard, new Wax, common Oyl of each two ounces, two quarts of Vine∣gar, put all into a new earthen Pot, and let it boil up two or three times till the Vinegar be consumed; it is enough to make four Plaisters or more.

For short Wind, or Pursiness in Horses.

After the purging that follows, if they but draw their Wind hard, mix with their Oats for three daies Morning and Evening a pint of warm Milk, a handful of Hemp-seed beaten; this Seed is excellent for this use; Jockies use it much to give their Horses.

Pills to purge Horses.

Take Calafin Aloes an ounce and half, Agaricum half an ounce, prepared Coloquin∣tida a Dram, Treacle an ounce and half; mix all together, and incorporate it in a pound of Hogs Lard that has been steeped forty eight hours in fresh Water, which must be changed every three hours: make thereof Pills as big as a Nut, which cover with Powder of Liquo∣rice, or Bran, and make the Horse swallow them; the Horse must have stood bridled three hours before.

After taking them, make him swallow half a pound of common Oyl, mixed with a Pint of warm Wine, covering him warm, and walking him three hours; then put him in the Stable, and give him no Oats in three daies.

He must not be watered till next day at Noon, when you shall make him drink white Water in the Stable, with Flower and a little Bran; at the same time lead him to water, making him wet all his Belly to his Ribs, the space of half an hour, but let him not drink,

for it would give him the Gripes, carry him back to the Stable and give him Hay; it is commonly thirty hours before it works; begins when he comes out of the River, and some∣times lasts two days, they void and incredi∣ble Filth, and sometimes Gravel.

Whilst it works they are sad and droop∣ing; after the three daies, you must cleanse his Mouth with Leek, Salt and Vinegar, and give him a drench; after which he will have an incredible Stomack, and grow very fat in a little time; it is the best Receipt in the World to recover Horses that seem to be quite gone: some purge their Horses once a quar∣ter with these Pills, and that gives them a good meene.

A Drench for a Horse.

Take Rose-Honey, Cordial Powder, pow∣dered Aniseed, of each an ounce, five penny-worth of Scammony, Oyl two ounces, Saf∣fron one penny-worth, a pint of White-wine with Coloquintida and Rubarb.

A Drench for a Horse that has caught cold.

Take Cloves, Nutmeg, Pepper of each half an ounce, Cummin-seed, Fromagy, of each an ounce and half, Ginger one Dram, common Oyl and Honey, of each four ounces, of the strongest White-wine half a pint; mix all to∣gether, and make the Horse drink it.

For Distempers in Horses Heads.

There is under their Tongue a thing like the Pip; to which with a little Spunge you must lay Treacle dissolved in Rose Vinegar, doing it often, and they will certainly recover.

For the same.

Take Wheat-flower, Turpentine, Dragons Blood, of each four ounces, Mastick in Pow∣der one ounce, four yolks of Eggs, mix all well together, and apply it to the Horses Fore∣head for three daies.

To make a Horse foam that has a moist Mouth.

Wrap up the nether part of his Jaw with Powder of Staphifegria.

A Horse that has a moist Mouth is esteem∣ed, because those that have it dry want taste, and are almost half an hour in the Stable be∣fore they eat.

To dye saddle Horses when they are old.

Take equal parts of unslacked Lime, and prepared Litharge of Gold, mix it like an Oint∣ment, with which rub the Hair against the grain, and lay over some green Leaves; at twice it is quite died, and dyes Bay, if you put to it a little Ink.

To make a Horse have good Hair in Winter.

Take Myrrh, Aristolochium, Gentian, An∣gelica, scrapings of Ivory, of each two ounces, Crocus one ounce, melt them, and give the Horse two or three spoonfuls of it in a pint of

White-wine every Morning for three days to∣gether, and keep him three hours without eat∣ing, then give him what is usual, this streng∣thens their Stomach and Appetite, and keeps their Hair together.

For gaul'd Horses.

Make them swallow Decoction of Scabious in half a pint of White-wine, in which must be dissolved an ounce of Synoper, in Powder, with a little crust of toasted Bread, make them drink three days together fixed Sulphur, with some of the Decoction: The Dose is an ounce a time, giving them the same Drench the fourth day.

For the hard sores in Horses Fundaments.

Take Spirit of Nitre, Spirit of Salt, of each an ounce, Mercury two ounces, with it rub the sore, and it will come to a head; when it is broke, cure the Ulcer with Oyntment of Pilosella.

For bruises or sores in Horses Legs.

The head and tall of Vipers when they are well beaten, with the blood that runs from them when they are killed, and the White-wine they are washed in, all put together into a Pot, with a little Puppy, covering it with common Oyl, and boyl'd till the Wine be consum'd, putting through it a thick Cloth, is excellent for the pains, and certainly cures the bruised, or sore Legs of Horses, rubbing them with it.

For Horses feet.

Take some of the herb Short-foot, and a quantity of Elder-leaves, two ounces of Coperis, the whites of four Eggs, one penny-worth of Honey, half a glass of Vinegar, put all into a new Pot, and boyl, it till it comes to an Oynt∣ment, and before you rub the Horses foot, cut off the Hair the closest you can, and wash it with Pork brine.

To make a Horses Tail and Main grow.

Take Cows-piss and White-wine, boil them together three or four hours, then wash his Tail and Main.

Another way.

Rub the Tail and Main with Lye made of Vine-ashes.

To hinder Horses from Neighing after a Mare, and carry her any where amongst Horses.

Take Oyl of Petroleum, and rub the Mares privities once a week with a Quill, or once a fortnight, and the Horses will not care for her.

To keep a Horse from Neighing.

Rub the Bitt when you bridle him with com∣mon Oyl and glass Oyl mixed together, and the Horse will not Neigh in three hours: or else put a stone under his Tail.

For a Horse that has been over-heated.

Take half a pint of Milk, which boyl with

four ounces of fresh Butter, Laurel-berries, Pep∣per, Sene, fine Sugar, of each an ounce, all in Powder well mixed together, must be put in∣to Wine, which make the Horse drink with∣out covering or walking him, and he will void at the Nostrils, and recover.

To fatten a Horse.

Take good White-wine two pound, juice of Sorrel one pound, common Oyl one pound, mixt together, and warm it, then make the Horse drink it, being bridled before; after which, cover him warm, walk him an hour, and put him into the Stable, continuing this fifteen days; and he will certainly grow fat.