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. XLVII. Of the Fourth Kind of Colic.

THis Kind of Colic is occasion'd by Worms, which stick to the Stomach and great Guts, and cause such violent and intolerable Pains, that the tormented Horse is driven to the most desperate Actions, and sometimes lies stretch'd on the Ground as if he were dead.

The Worms or Truncheons, that cause those Gripings, are usually broad, thick, and short, like little Beans of a red Colour: there are others long and white, sharp at both Ends; but these are not so dangerous as the former, and seldom gripe the Horse. These little Worms gnaw and pierce the Guts, from whence proceed the intolerable Pains with which the Horse is tormented: I mean the first Kind of Worms, that occasion all these Disorders, and even somtimes eat Holes thro' the Maw, and kill the Horse.

You may conclude that the Pain proceeds from Worms, when you find 'em among the Horse's Dung: but the red Sort is not easily discern'd, being almost of the same Colour with the Excrements. You may also know that the Horse is troubl'd with 'em, when during the Violence of the Pain he bites his Flanks or Belly, and tears off part of his Skin, as if he were mad; afterwards he will turn his Head, and look upon his Belly, sweat all over the Body, throw himself upon the ground, start up again, and put himself into several unusual Postures.

Since I design afterwards to describe all the various Kinds of Worms that are generated in the Bodies of Horses, I shall here confine my self to the proper Subject of this Chapter.

When a Horse is troubl'd with the Worms, mix half an Ounce of Mercurius dulcis with an Ounce and a half of old Treacle, and make up the whole into three Pills, which must be given in a Pint of Claret. An hour after inject a Clyster of two Quarts of Milk, with the Yolks of six Eggs, and a quarter of a Pound of Sugar, which by its Sweetness will entice the Worms to the streight Gut. The best Mercurius dulcis may be had for fifteen Pence the Ounce. See the Hundred and fifty eighth Chapter, where you will find several ways to destroy Worms, by Purgation, Powders, Potions, &c.

A Gentleman of my Acquaintance having sent to a little Town for half an Ounce of Mercurius dulcis, the Apothecary sent him corrosive Sublimate, which he gave without scruple to his Horse, who dy'd of it; and after his Body was open'd the Disorders caus'd by the Poison appear'd in his Throat and Maw; for the Quid pro Quo was some∣what too strong on this occasion. To prevent such dangerous Cheats, you must make the Apothecary put some of the Mercury on the tip of his Tongue, for that which is truly prepar'd is so free from all manner of Sharpness, that it will not so much as prick the Tongue, and I my self usually taste it, without either Fear or Danger. But

if it be corrosive Sublimate, he will either refuse to taste it, or only touch it very slightly.

There are several other Powders prescrib'd for killing Worms, of which I shall treat in time and place convenient; but Mercurius dulcis is the most effectual; for the Vapour of it alone kills all manner of Worms: yet if this fail you may have recourse to other Remedies.

The Clysters that are given to Horses troubl'd with Worms, may be made of Tripe-Broth, or Barley-water, boil'd with Agrimony and Purslane, of each one handful. In this Liquor dissolve half a Pound of Honey, the Yolks of eight Eggs, half a Pound of Sugar, and inject it blood-warm; for by reason of its Sweetness it will draw those trouble∣some Insects to the streight Gut.