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.

CHAP. CXLVI. Of an inveterate Farcin.

YOU will sometimes meet with Farcins of so long a standing, and so deeply root∣ed, that the Cure is extremely difficult, and even sometimes impracticable, if the Substance of the Liver or Lungs be wasted, and corrupted. But since 'tis impossible to divine whether those Parts be infected; 'twou'd be a very unreasonable Inference from what I have said on this Subject, to pretend that when a Horse is troubl'd with an inveterate Farcin, he must be suffer'd to perish without Assistance. And besides these Parts are oftentimes only heated, dryed, or so slightly ulcerated, that they may be easily heal'd, and restor'd to their wonted Temperament, by the Use of convenient Remedies. But I shall never advise any Man, whatever Tryal he may have made of his Remedy, to promise the Cure of an inveterate Farcin, when the Knots send forth great Pieces of Flesh like large Mushrooms; especially after an unsuccessful Application of other Remedies. For such Attempts are oftentimes attended with Shame instead of Honour and Success; especially when the Farcin is accompany'd with a Running at the Nose, or seizes on the Kernels, as it happens frequently in inveterate Farcins, which degenerate into the Glanders, according to the Vulgar Saying, That the Farcin is Cousin-German to the Glanders.

Before you proceed to the Application of Remedies, you may try this easie Experi∣ment. Spread about two Ounces of Assa-foetida on a Stick, and wrapping a Cloth about it, put it into the Horse's Mouth, and make him champ upon it twenty four Hours together, without suffering him to eat or drink all the while. This will draw forth a prodigious Quantity of filthy Humours; and if the Lungs be not consum'd, or the Liver ulcerated, perhaps the Horse will recover. You must not be afraid of the seeming Violence of the Remedy, for a Horse may fast twenty four Hours without any Danger: Neither do I blame the Custom of those, who put a second Stick with fresh Assa-foetida into the Horse's Mouth, after twelve Hours.

The Decoctions of Guaiacum, Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, and China Roots, are very pro∣per on this Occasion; and may be given every Morning, for seven or eight Days be∣fore Purgation.

For Example; If the Horse's Body be full of raw, tough, and viscous Humours, to which Inconveniency fleshy Horses are very subject; the Decoction of Guaiacum will cut, attenuate, and prepare the Humours, to be expell'd by Nature, or evacuated by a Purging Remedy.

If the Horse be Lean and Dry, full of Hot and Choleric, or Melancholic Humours, the Decoction of China will prepare 'em, without augmenting their Heat; for it may be conveniently given in a Consumption, and ill Habit of Body. The Decoction of Sarsapa∣rilla is of a middle Nature between the other two.

The Decoction of Guaiacum is proper for those thick and bulky Dutch Horses, that are over-loaded with Flesh, and full of Moisture, and running or watery Sores.

The Decoction of Guaiacum.

Infuse ten Ounces of the Shavings of Guaiacum Wood, or for want of that, of Box Wood, in nine Pints of Water, and after they have stood twelve Hours in Infusion on hot Ashes; Boil 'em with a gentle Heat in a cover'd Vessel, to the Con∣sumption of the third Part of the Water: Then strain out the Liquor, and give your Horse a Quart every Day, for eight Days together, keeping him bridl'd three Hours before, and three Hours after every Dose. You may Purge him afterwards with one of the above-mention'd Remedies.

The Decoction of China.

Take four Ounces of the Roots of China cut very small, put 'em into a large Glass-Bottle well stopp'd, with nine Pints of Water; and after they have stood fifteen Hours in Infusion, boil 'em over a gentle Fire to the Consumption of one half, taking care to prevent the Evaporation of the thinner Parts of the Medicine: Then strain out the

Liquor, and give your Horse a third part of it every Morning, keeping him Bridl'd two Hours before, and as long after.

This Decoction must be drunk luke-warm, and prepar'd every three Days, because 'tis apt to turn sowre. After eight Doses 'twill be convenient to exhibit a Purging Remedy.

The Decoction of Sarsaparilla.

This Decoction is prepar'd like that of China, only the quantity must be larger, because 'tis adapted for the Preparation of thicker Humours: For Example, instead of four Ounces of China, you must take six of Sarsaparilla.

Continue the use of this Decoction six or eight Days, to prepare the Humours that cause and foment the Farcin, and to purifie the Blood.

After such a Preparation the Purging Remedy operates more effectually, and procures a more plentiful Evacuation: whereas the Purgatives that are given without any Pre∣paration, or consist of ill chosen Ingredients, increase the Distemper instead of abating it, and even augment its Malignity.

After Purgation repeat the Decoctions, to dry the habit of the Body, and to drain the source of those Malignant Humours that foment the Disease.

This Method is also very proper for Coach-Horses that are troubl'd with the Pains, or filthy Sores in their Legs; for otherwise 'tis hardly possible to stop the course of the Hu∣mours, and dry up the source of those noisome Ulcers, since they usually break forth again three Months after they are dry'd up, and at last are succeeded by hard Swel∣lings, like Warts, which render the Disease incurable. To prevent those dangerous Relapses, while your Horse is Young, after you have observ'd twice or thrice his Legs to be over-run with Sores, you must take two Pound of Blood from him, then give him the Decoctions of Guaiacum, or for want of that, of Box-Wood; and afterwards purge him, and dry up those watry Humours. If the Sores break forth again, make him drink the Decoction ten Days, then purge him, and after the Evacuation is ceas'd, and his Appetite perfectly restor'd, give him the Decoction for ten Days longer, which in all probability will put a final stop to the course of the Humours. Instead of the Decoctions of Guaiacum, China, and Sarsaparilla, you may exhibit two Ounces of the Powder of either of the three in a Quart of White-Wine, and observe the same Directions both as to the time and manner of giving it, that were prescrib'd for the use of the Decoctions: These Powders are not altogether so effectual as the Decoctions, especially that of China, for lean, dry, and choleric Horses: Yet they are not to be despis'd, since they also produce a considerable effect, especially the Sas∣safras.