The parfait mareschal, or Compleat farrier. Which teacheth, I. To know the shapes and goodness, as well as faults and imperfections of horses. II. The signs and causes of their diseases, the means to prevent them, their cure, and the good or bad use of purging and bleeding. III. The way to order and preserve them, when upon travel, to feed, and to dress them. IV. The art of shoeing, according to a new design of shoes, which will recover bad feet, and preserve the good. Together with a treatise, how to raise and bring up a true and beautiful race of horses: as also instructions, whereby to fit all kinds of horses with proper bits, whereof the chief draughts are represented in copper-plates. / Written originally in French by the Sieur de Solleysel Escuyer, sometime one of the overseers of the French Kings Royal Academy of Riding, near to the Hostel de Conde in Paris. And translated from the last Paris impression, by Sir William Hope of Kirkliston Kt. Lieutenat Governour of the Castle of Edinburgh. By whom is also added as a supplement to the first part, a most compendious and excellent collection of horsemanship, taken from the best and most modern writers upon that subject, such as Mr. De la Brow, Pluvinel, and the Great Duke of Newcastle. Part I.

Unguentum Aegyptiacum.

Take a Pound of common Honey, and a Pint of Aqua-vitae, boil 'em over a gentle Fire in a glaz'd Pot or Bason, stirring 'em frequently with a Wooden Slice, till they be perfectly united, and the Aqua-vitae disappear. Then add two Ounces of Burnt-Allom, beaten small, and four Ounces of Powder of Verdigrease searc'd, stirring and incorporating 'em with the other Ingredients. At last put in an Ounce of Sublimate in fine Powder, stirring and boiling as before, till the whole be reduc'd to a due Consistency: After which remove the Pot from the Fire, and continue stirring till the Ointment be cold, which must be kept in a cover'd Pot for use.

I have already communicated a description of Schmit's Ointment, which I use in∣stead of Aegyptiacum, when I have none of the latter ready Prepar'd; for it cleanses and consolidates; and some Farriers, to whom I gave it, having try'd it on certain occasions, have wholly laid aside the use of Aegyptiacum.

The Doctor's Ointment, and the Ointment Apostolorum are also very good, and pro∣duce almost the same Effects; only the Doctor's Ointment is stronger than Aegypti∣acum.

When you have occasion for a more powerful Cleanser, especially when there are any signs of a Gangrene or Putrefaction, mix two Ounces of Aqua-fortis with the Aegyptiacum. If you desire a Caustic to eat away corrupt Flesh, exerting its Force only upon that, without hurting the Nerves or Muscles, you may safely apply that which I describ'd under the Name of the Liquid Caustic, putting it into the Sore with a little Cotton, and keeping it in till the Part grow white and mortifi'd. 'Tis to be observ'd, that the Liquid Caustic never produces any considerable Effect when 'tis simply apply'd to the Flesh, but it operates with at least a double efficacy, when 'tis prest on

with a Bandage: You may renew the Application till you perceive, that the Medi∣cine has sufficiently penetrated the Part, and after the falling off of the Scab, if it be not large enough, you may touch the Part again with the Caustic, to extirpate all the cor∣rupt Flesh, and make the Sore fair and clean. As often as you dress a Wound or Sore, the surest way is to wash it with the Second Water, or rather with the Lime or Yellow Water, or with Black-Soap mixt with unslak'd Lime, which cleanses very effectu∣ally. If you put in a Tent anointed with Aegyptiacum, to cleanse the bottom of a Sore, it will be of a green Colour when you take it out, which is not an effect of the Matter contain'd in the Sore, but of the Verdigrease that enters the Composition of the Medicine.

Sometimes after old and neglected Sores, especially in the Feet, the Bones remain bare, without any Flesh to cover 'em; in this case you must have recourse to Sarcotic Medicines, that is, such as are endu'd with a Power to make the Flesh grow, as Aloes, Sarcocolla, and Birthwort, which may be either apply'd in form of Powders, or mixt with Turpentine, Honey of Roses, or some other proper Ointment. Nothing con∣tributes more effectually to make Flesh grow upon a Bone than Monsieur Curtis's Oint∣ment, if it be melted and mixt with a like quantity of Oil-Olive. The following Pow∣der is also of excellent use in this case.

Take true Dragon's-Blood and fine Bole-Armenic, of each half an Ounce; Mastic, Olibanum, and Sarcocolla, of each three Drams; Aloes, Round-Birthwort, and Roots of Flower-de-Luce, of each a Dram and half, mix and make a Powder. It may be apply'd alone with very good Success, but the best way is to mix it with Syrup of Roses, Tur∣pentine, or Juice of Wormwood. It makes the Flesh grow beyond all expectation; and that which is mixt with Turpentine succeeds best, and is most proper for the Feet.

When a Wound appears fair and clean, the Cure may be easily compleated with the usual Drying Powders; but great care must be taken to keep the Lips clean and moist, and to clip away the Hair for two Finger's breadth round the Sore. But since the speediness of the Cure is of great Importance in an Army, where Gnats and other Insects are so troublesome, and the Sores so very apt to putresie: I know not a more effectual Remedy in those cases than the Powder of Sympathy, which produces such wonderful effects, that they who either have not try'd it, or are not capable of so nice an enquiry, cannot be perswaded that they proceed from natural causes.