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. CLXXVIII Of the Curb.

THE Curb is a large and hard Tumour, generated of Flegmatic Matter, seated on the inside of the Hough, higher than the Spavin, on the substance of the Tendon that strengthens the Part: 'Tis a long Swelling, resembling a Pear, cleft thro' the middle, into two Pieces, higher above than below, and sometimes makes the Horse halt.

It appears most commonly in the Legs of those Horses that are employ'd in draw∣ing of Carts, Coaches, &c. For the Hough is apt to be strain'd by that kind of La∣bour, and the great Sinew being afterwards weaken'd, all the Humours flow thither, and are fed by the Master-Vein of the Thigh, that runs very near this place. It may be also occasion'd by backing a Horse too soon, and sometimes proceeds from the weakness and smallness of the Hough, and from the other causes I have already men∣tion'd in healing of the other Diseases of the Hough.

The Cure may be attempted by the same Remedies that are prescrib'd for the Spavin, but with little Success; for our only hope in this case must be in giving the Fire, which nevertheless does frequently disappoint us; for it only prevents the encrease of the Curb, but does not effectually dissolve it.

Since the giving of the Fire is so general and so useful a Remedy for Horses, I shall take this occasion to explain the way of performing the Operation.