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. CXLIX. Of the Ebullition of the Blood, or Blood∣running Itch.

MAny Persons take this Distemper for the Farcin, and put themselves to needless Trouble and Charge for the Cure of it. 'Tis occasion'd by a Redundancy of Blood, over-heated by several Accidents and other Causes, already mention'd. For the thinnest and most subtil part of the Blood penetrating the Substance of the Flesh, causes external Tumours resembling the Farcin: And long Rest and want of Exercise are usually the occasional Causes of this Distemper, by hindering the Dissipation of superfluous Humours.

You may easily cure this Distemper, by Bleeding your Horse plentifully once or twice in the Neck-Veins.

These Tumours are distinguish'd from the Farcin, both by the suddenness of their Appearance, and of the Cure; for sometimes they overspread the Body in one Night: And besides, they are neither hard, nor fasten'd to the Flesh.

These Swellings are oftentimes repell'd and driven inwards by unseasonable Bleed∣ing, and the Horse is seiz'd with a Fever; in which Case you must immediately give him a Clyster, and an Hour after an Ounce or two of Treacle, or Diatessaron in Wine; which by driving out the Humour, will give Ease to the Horse, and at last cure him.

Some Horses are troubl'd from time to time with little Knots or Bunches in several parts of their Body, occasion'd by the Boiling, or rather excessive Heat of their Blood; for the most subtle and choleric Particles being driven outwards to the external Parts of the Body form these little Tumours, part of which break and disappear, and the rest are dissolv'd by insensible Transpiration.

The general and most effectual way to cure all these Ebullitions, is to mix with your Horse's Bread those Remedies that are endu'd with a Virtue to cool and purifie the Blood. Thus Liver of Antimony given to the quantity of an Ounce and a half every Day, will safely and quickly dissolve all those Knots, and sweeten your Hor∣se's Blood. Three or four Doses of the Cinnabar-Pills are also very effectual in this Case.

You may prevent this Distemper, by giving your Horse Sal Prunellae in his Bran, which will expel those Bilious Serosities that usually cause these Symptoms, and per∣haps drive 'em out by the Urinary Passages. The same Remedy allays the Heat of the Blood and Intrails, and prevents the Farcin, and other Distempers occasion'd by the Heat of the Blood.

For the Satisfaction of the Curious, I shall insert the Preparation of Sal Prunellae, which is a very useful Medicine both for Men and Horses.