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. CLXVII. Of Strains, Hurts, and Blows on the Houghs.

STrains in the Houghs are very dangerous, by reason of the extream Pain occasion'd by the contusion of the Nervous Parts: The Horse's Body grows dry, he becomes Lean, and is afterwards troubl'd with so many grievous Distempers, that he grows ugly and deform'd, if not irrecoverably Lame.

The Causes are the same with those that occasion Strains in the Hips, and there is no need of enumerating a multitude of Signs in so plain a case: For the Hoof is swoll'n, and when you touch it the Horse shrinks and complains.

Bleed your Horse in the Neck, and charge the whole Hoof with his own Blood mixt with Brandy: As soon as the Charge is dry, lay some of the Ointment of Montpelier above it, and about eight or ten Hours after chafe the Part with strong Brandy, without taking away the Ointment, washing it always with Brandy, at the same Intervals after every Application of the Ointment. You may afterwards endeavour to repel the Defluxion with Astringent Remedies, such as you will find describ'd in several Parts of this Book, especially the Astringent Baths mention'd in the preceding Chapter. If the Swelling continue, notwithstanding the use of these Remedies, apply the Duke's Oint∣ment with Brandy, and afterwards convenient Fomentations, renewing the Applica∣tions once a Day. If the Swelling ripen or turn to an Abscess, open it with a red∣hot Iron, and proceed as in the Cure of Simple Wounds. For a slight Strain 'twill be sufficient to anoint the Hoof with the Ointment of Montpelter and Brandy.

If the Swelling be occasion'd by a Blow from another Horse, bleed your Horse, Charge the griev'd place with his own Blood, and then chafe it with Spirit of Wine, or you may chuse some of the following Remedies at your pleasure.

For Blows on the Houghs, and other parts of the Body.

The Tumours that are occasion'd by these and such like Accidents, are not easily dissolv'd or asswag'd. If the Humour congeal in those Nervous Parts, it resists the Operation of the best Remedies, and the Swelling degenerates into a Curb, Spavin, &c. and therefore to prevent those Inconveniencies, as soon as the Pain is taken away, and only the Swelling remains, bathe the Part, and charge it with thick Lees of Red-Wine, mixt with a third part of good Vinegar; and besides, you will find severa•• Remedies for those Swellings in the Sixtieth and following Chapters.

If the Tumour be inveterate, and cannot be dissolv'd by these Applications, you may apply the following Remedy, which is very effectual.

A Remedy for a Swelling caus'd by a Blow.

Mix a Pound of Flower of Linseed, with a sufficient quantity of Wine till it be re∣duc'd to the thickness of Broth; boil it over a clear Fire, stirring it about without intermission: When it begins to thicken add four Ounces of common Turpentine, and when that is well incorporated with the Broth, put in six Ounces of melted Burgundy-Pitch. Then remove the Vessel from the Fire, continuing to stir the Composition till you can venture to put your Finger into it; after which you must immediately apply it to the place with Flax, and a Bandage, and repeat the Application once in twenty four Hours.

If the Swelling be accompany'd with a violent Pain, or if the Horse be very Lame, you must endeavour to allay the Pain by the Application of the Duke's Oint∣ment, or, for want of that, of the preceding Remedy prepar'd with Milk instead of Wine. For the Milk is Anodyne, and asswages Pain, but is not endu'd with the resolving Faculty of Wine; and therefore as soon as the Horse ceases to Halt, you must again prepare the Remedy with Wine, to take away the Swelling.

If these Remedies be not attended with the desir'd Success, you may have recourse to the Bath, mention'd in Chap. LXV. or to those that are describ'd in the pre∣ceding Chapter; to which last you may add some of the Herbs that enter'd the Com∣position of the former.

Sometimes these Tumours degenerate into Curbs, Spavins, or Hough-Boney's, which are sometimes cur'd by giving the Fire.

As soon as a Horse has receiv'd a Blow in his Body with another Horse's Foot, bleed him in the Neck, and bathe the place with Spirit of Wine, five or six times every Day; or (which is more effectual) anoint it with the Ointment of Montpelier, and eight Hours after chafe it with Brandy, repeating the Application once a Day.

In these cases I usually apply, with very good Success, the Crease of a Capon, Badger, or Bear, anointing the Part every Day till the Swelling be dissolv'd.

Another Remedy for a Swelling occasion'd by a Blow or Stroke with another Horse's Foot.

Beat the Whites of twelve or thirteen Eggs, with a large piece of Allom, till they be reduc'd to a thick Froth; then mix 'em with a Quart of strong Brandy, a Pint of Vinegar, and two Litrons of Flower, incorporating 'em well without Heat. Charge the place with this Mixture, renewing the Application every two Hours, till the Swelling be abated, which usually happens in twenty four Hours.

Another Remedy to asswage a Swelling caus'd by a Stroke.

Make a thin Paste of Potter's-Clay, mixt with a sufficient quantity of Vinegar; boil and stir it till it thicken: Then remove it from the Fire, and when 'tis only lukewarm, add as much Brandy as may suffice to make it as thin as it was before 'twas boil'd. Chafe the Part with Spirit of Wine, and then charge it with this Paste, renewing the Application every three Hours.

Twenty four Hours after wash off all the Earth or Clay, bathe the Part with Spirit of Wine, and Charge it as before.

The Remolade of Bohemia is of excellent use for these and all other sorts of Swellings.