and his colour is either a bright sorrell a cole blacke without any white or an yron gray vnchangeable that is such a gray as neither will euer turne to a daple gray to a white or to a flea-bitten and these horses are of nature light hot fiery and seldome of any great strength these horses are much subiect to pestilent feuers yellowes and inflammations of the liuer Therefore euery Farrier shall be carefull in the composing of any medicine for such a horse to purge choler yet very moderately and not with any extraordinary strength in the potion or drench because the horse being in his best strength not reputed strong should you apply any violent thing to him that little strength being abated there were great danger in the confounding of the whole body If the horse participate more of the aire then of the other elements then is he of a sanguine complexion and his colour is either bright bay or darke bay which hath neither skouling countenance mealy nose nor white flanke or a white flea-bitten white lyard like siluer or a blacke with white starre white rache or white foote these horses are of nature pleasant nimble free and of a good strength The diseases to them most incident is consumption of the liuer leprosie glanders or any disease that is infectious They are of a good strong constitution and may endure strength in their medicines especially any thing that cooleth the bloud If the horse participate more of the water then of the other elements then is he of a flegmaticke complexion and his colour is either a milke white a yellow dun a kiteglewd or a pyedball in whom there is an equall mixture of colours that is as much white as of the other color otherwise if the bay the blacke or the dunne exceed the white he is sayd to be of that complexion of which the color is greatest These horses are of nature slow dull and apt to leese flesh the diseases which are most incident vnto them is colds head-atch rheumes staggers and such like They are able to endure the reasonable strength of any medicine because the abundance of fleame which is in them sufficeth both nature and the potion to worke vpon all cold simples are to them exceeding hurtfull so are also they which are violently hot in the third degree the first because it bindeth too soone the latter because it disperseth too suddenly therefore simples of a moderate meane are the best If the horse participate more of the earth then of the other elements then is he of a melancholy complexion and his colour is mouse dunne russet chesnut a sky gray darke bay with mayly nose redde or white slanke or a reddish bay hauing long white haire like goates haire growing on his legges These horses are of nature heauy and saint hearted the diseases to them most incident is inflammations in the Spleene Frenzie Dropsie and such like They are commonly of better strength then they will suffer to appeare by their actions and are able to endure the strength of any reasonable medicine all cicatrizing and dry simples are hurtfull vnto them the cold and moist are the most profitable Hauing thus shewed you these foure complexions Cholerike Sanguine Flegmatike and Melancholy together with their qualities and strengths you shall vnderstand now that amongst Farriers there is another complexion or fift constitution which is called the composition or mixture of complexions that is whensoeuer a horse doth participate of all the foure elements equally and in due proportion none being greater or lesse then another and this complexion of all other is the best and and most perfect and the horse which is of this complexion is euer of one of these colours that is to say either a faire browne bay dapled or not dapled a daple gray a blacke full of siluer haires or a faire roane redde or blacke And those horses are of nature most excellent most temperate strongest gentlest and most healthfull though they may haue any disease yet are they naturally inclined to no disease but what infirmity soeuer falleth vnto them is meerely accidentall and not through any ouerflow of naturall distemperature All medicines must be compounded for them according to the nature of the sicknesse and the time of their languishment for if their sicknesse be young and new bred then are they able to receiue any well composed receipt but if it be old the inward powers and faculties feebled then you must bee carefull to helpe nature by adding to euery medicine of what nature soeuer some simple of comfort that as euill humours be clensed so strength may still be repayred maintained And thus much for complexions CHAP. 11. Of inward sicknesse the causes and seuerall kindes thereof SIth I haue already passed ouer al those things which haue a naturall and perfect working in a horses body and do maintaine vphold and preserue the same in good state and health except accidentally they be encountred and crossed by some excesse or in dyet or in exercise it shall now be meete that we begin to speake of the things which be contrary and against nature which are all those things whereby at any time the healthfull estate of the horses body is any way impeached and they be three in number that is the causes the sicknesse and the accidents which follow euery sicknesse Now the causes of sicknesse are all vnnaturall affects and euill dispositions which going before do as it were by violence bring sicknesse after them and of these causes there be two sorts some internall some externall the internall be those which breede within the body of the horse as euill humours euill obstructions and euill iuice Externall are they which communicate with the outward parts of the body as heate cold wounds and such like of which I shall speake more in the second booke and for so much as I intend at the beginning of euery particular disease to shew the cause of that disease I will at this time speake no more of that subiect Now for sicknesse it selfe which is any thing that is contrary to nature it is diuided into three generall kindes the first an euill temperature the second an euil state or composition and the third a loosening or diuiding of an vnity Now of these two latter I intend not to speake in this place because they appertaine to surgery which I reserue for the second booke but for the first kinde which is an euill temperature it is taken two fold that is either simple or compound simple when one quality onely doth abound or exceede as to be too moist or too dry compound when mo qualities then one do grow into excesse as for a horse to be too hot and too dry or too cold and too moist Againe sicknesses are sayd some to belong as consumptions glanders and such like which linger and weare a horse away by small degrees Some short as the staggers yellowes anticor and such like which
a chafing dish and coales mixt them together giue it the horse to drinke this will cleanse the horses stomacke and bring it to its strength againe But the ancient Farriers did vse first to let the horse bloud in the necke veine because euery surfait breedes distemperature in the bloud then trot the horse vp and downe an howre or more and if he cannot stale draw out his yard and wash it with white wine made luke warme and thrust into his yard either a cloue of garlicke or a little oyle of camomill with a peece of small waxe candle If he cannot dung first with your hand rake his fundament and then giue him a glister of which you shall read hereafter when his glister is receiued you shall walke him vp and downe till hee haue emptyed his belly then set him vp and keepe him hungry the space of two or three dayes obseruing euer to sprinkle the hay hee eateth with a little water and let his drinke be warme water and branne made mash-wise after he hath drunke the drinke let him eate the branne if he please but from other prouender keep him fasting at least tenne dayes There be other Farriers that in this case vse onely to take a quart of beere or ale and two peny worth of sallet oyle and as much dragon water a peny worth of treacle make all these warme vpon the coales then put in an ounce of cinamon anise seedes and cloues all beaten together and so giue it the horse luke warme to drinke All these receipts are exceeding good yet for mine owne part and many of the best Farriers confirme the same there is nothing better for this disease then moderate exercise much fasting and once in foure or fiue dayes a pint of sweete wine with two spoonefull of the powder Diapente CHAP. 58. Of foundring in the body being a surfaite got either by Meate Drinke or Labour THis disease of foundring in the body is of all surfaits the most vile most dangerous and most incident vnto horses that are dayly trauelled it proceedeth according to the opinion of some Farriers from eating of much prouender suddenly after labour the horse being then as it were panting hot as we may dayly see vnskilfull horsemen do at this day whereby the meate which the horse eateth not being disgâ—sted breedeth euill and grosse humours which by little little spreading themselues through the members do at the length oppresse almost confound the whole body absolutely taking away from him al his strength insomuch that he can neither go nor bow his ioynts nor being layd is able to rise againe besides it taketh away from him his instrumentall powers as the office both of vrine and excrements which cannot be performed but with extreme paine There be other Farriers and to their opinion I rather leane that suppose it proceedeth from suffering the horse to drinke too much in his trauell being very hot whereby the grease being suddenly cooled it doth clappe about and suffocate the inward parts with such a loathsome fulnesse that without speedy euacuation there can be no hope but of death onely Now whereas some Farriers do hold that this foundring in the body should be no other then the foundring in the legges because it is say they a melting and dissolution of humours which resort downeward they are much deceiued for it is not as they hold a dissolution of humours but rather a binding together of corporall and substantiall euils which by an vnnaturall accident doth torment the heart Now for the hold which they take of the name Foundring as if it were drawne from the French word Fundu signifying melting truly I thinke it was rather the ignorance of our old Farriers which knew not how to entitle the disease then any coherence it hath with the name it beareth For mine owne part I am of opinion that this disease which we cal foundring in the body doth not onely proceede from the causes aforesayd but also and most oftest by sudden washing horses in the winter season when they are extreme fat and hot with instant trauell where the cold vapour of the water striking into the body doth not onely astonish the inward and vitall parts but also freezeth vp the skin and maketh the bloud to leese his office Now the signes to know this disease are holding downe of his head staring vp of his haire coughing staggering behinde trembling after water dislike of his meate leannesse stiffe going disability to rise when he is downe and to conclude which is the chiefest signe of all other his belly will be clung vp to his backe and his backe rising vp like a Camell The cure according to the opinion of the Farriers is first to rake his fundament and then to giue him a glister which done and that the horses belly is emptyed then take of malmsey a quart of sugar halfe a quarterne of cinamon halfe an ounce of licoras and anise seedes of each two spoonefull beaten into fine powder which being put into the malmsey warme them together at the fire so that the hony may be molten then giue it the horse luke warme to drinke which done walke him vp and downe either in the warme stable or some warme roade the space of an howre then let him stand on the bit fasting two howres more onely let him be warme clothed stopt and littered when you giue him hay let it be sprinkled with water and let his prouender be very cleane sifted from dust and giuen by a little at once and let his drinke be warme mashes of malt and water Now when you see him recouer and get a little strength you shall then let him bloud in the necke veine and once a day perfume him with Frankinsence to make him neese and vse to giue him exercise abroad when the wether is warme and in the house when the weather is stormy Now there be other Farriers which vse for this disease to take a halfe peny worth of garlicke two peny worth of the powder of pepper two peny worth of the powder of ginger two peny worth of graines bruised and put all these into a pottell of strong ale and giue it the horse to drinke by a quart at a time dyetting and ordering him as is aforesayd and when he gâ—tteth strength either let him bloud in the necke veine or the spurre veines or on both to conclude there is no drinke nor dyet which is comfortable but is most soueraigne and good for this infirmity CHAP. 59. Of the greedy Worme or hungry Euill in Horses THIS hungry Euill is a disease more common then found out by our Farriers because the most of our horse-maisters out of great ignorance hold it a speciall vertue to see a horse eatâ— eagerly whereas indeeede this ouer-hasty and greedy eating is more rather an infirmity and sicknesse of the inward parts and this disease is none other then an insatiate and greedy eating contrary to nature and old custome
and for the most part it followeth some extreme great emptinesse or want of foode the beast being euen at the pinch and ready to bee chappe-falne There bee some Farriers which suppose that it proceedeth from some extreame cold outwardly taken by trauelling in cold and barraine places as in the frost and snow where the outward cold maketh the stomacke cold whereby all the inward powers are weakned The signes are onely an alteration or change in the horses feeding hauing lost all temperance and snatching and chopping at his meate as if he would deuoure the manger The cure according to the opinion of some Farriers is first to comfort his stomacke by giuing him great slices of white bread toasted at the fire and steeped in muskadine or else bread vntoasted steeped in wine then to let him drink wheat flowre and wine brewed together There be others which vse to knead stiffe cakes of wheate flowre and wine and to feede the horse therewith Others vse to make him bread of pine-tree nuts and wine knoden together or else common earth and wine mingled together but for mine owne part I hold nothing better then moderately feeding the horse many times in the day with wholesome beane bread well baked or oates well dryed and sifted CHAP. 60. Of the diseases of the Liuer in generall and first of the inflammation thereof THere is no question but the liuer of a horse is subiect to as many diseases as either the liuer of a man or any other creature onely through the ignorance of our common Farriers who make all inward diseases one sicknesse the true ground and causes not being looked into the infirmity is let passe and many times poysoned with false potions but truth it is that the liuer sometimes by the intemperatenesse thereof as being either too hot or too cold too moist or too dry or sometimes by meanes of euill humors as choler or fleame ouerflowing in the same heate ingendring choler and coldnesse fleame the liuer is subiect to many sicknesses and is diuersly payned as by inflammation apostumation or vlcer or by obstructions stoppings or hard knobs or lastly by the consumption of the whole substance thereof The signes to know if the disease proceede from hot causes is leannesse of body the loathing of meate voyding dung of a strong sent great thirst and loosnesse of belly The signes to know if the disease proceed from cold causes is good state of body appetite to meate dung not stincking no thirst and the belly neither loose nor costiue Now to proceede to the particular diseases of the liuer and first of the inflammation you shall vnderstand that it cometh by meanes that the bloud through the abundance thinnesse boyling heate of sharpnesse thereof or through the violence of some outward cause breaketh out of the veines floweth into the body or substance of the liuer and so being dispossest of his proper vessels doth immediately putrifie is inflamed corrupting so much of the fleshly substance of the liuer as is either touched or imbrewed with the same whence it cometh that for the most part the hollow side of the liuer is first consumed yet sometimes the full side also this inflammation by a naturall heate is sometimes turned to putrifaction then it is called an apostumation which when either by the strength of nature or art it doth breake and runne then it is called an vlcer or filthy sore Now the signes of an inflammation on the hollow side of the liuer which is least hurtfull is loathing of meate great thirst loosnesse of belly and a continuall vnwillingnesse to lye on the left side but if the inflammation be on the full side of the liuer then the signes be short breathing a dry cough much paine when you handle the horse about the wind-pipe and an vnwillingnesse to lye on the right side The signes of apostumation is great heate long fetching of breath and a continuall looking to his side The signes of vlceration is continuall coldnesse staring vp of the haire and much feeblenesse faintting because the filthy matter casting euill vapours abroad doth many times corrupt the heart and occasion death Now for the cure of these inflammations some Farriers vse to take a quart of ale an ounce of myrre and an ounce of Frankinsence and brewing them well together giue it the horse diuers mornings to drinke Others vse to take three ounces of the seedes of smallage and three ounces of Hysop and as much Sutherwort and boyle them wel in oyle and wine mingled together and giue it the horse to drinke keepe the horse warme and let him neither drinke cold water nor eate dry dusty hay CHAP. 61. Of Obstructions stoppings or hard knobs on the Liuer THese obstructions or stoppings of a horses liuer do come most commonly by trauelling or labouring on a full stomacke whereby the meate not being perfectly disgested breedeth grosse and tough humours which humours by the extremity of trauell are violently driuen into the small veines through which the liuer ought to receiue good nutriment and so by that meanes breedeth obstructions stoppings Now from these obstructions when they haue continued any long time especially if the humours be cholericke breedeth many times hard knobs on the liuer which knobbes maketh the horse continually lye on his right side and neuer on the left because if he should lye on the left side the waight of the knob would oppresse the stomacke and euen sicken all the vitall parts in him The signes of these obstructions or stoppings are heauinesse of countenance distention or swelling great dulnesse and sloth in the horse when he beginneth his trauell and a continuall looking backe to his short ribbes where remaineth his greatest paine and torment Now the cure thereof is to seeth continually in the water which hee drinketh Agrimony Fumitory Camomill VVormewood Licoras Anise seedes Smallage Persley Spickenard Gentian Succory Endyue and Lupyns the vertues whereof are most comfortable to the liuer But for as much as the most part of our English Farriers are very simple Smithes whose capacities are vnable to diue into these seuerall distinctions and that this worke or maister peece is intended for the weakest braine whatsoeuer you shall vnderstand that there bee certaine generall signes to know when the liuer of a horse is grieued with any griefe of what nature or condition soeuer it be and so likewise generall receipts to cure all the grieues without distinguishing or knowing their natures you shall know then if a horse haue any griefe or paine in his liuer by these signes First by a loathing of his meate next by the wasting of his flesh drynesse of his mouth and roughnesse of his tongue and great swelling thereof and refusing to lye on the side grieued and lastly a continuall looking backeward Now the generall cures for the sicknesse of the liuer is according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers to giue the horse aloes dissolued in sweet
then either put a redde silke threed dipt in oyle or butter or else a small shoomakers threed vnderneath the veine also somewhat higher then the cornet which silke or threed must serue to knit the veine when time requires then the cornet standing still as before with your kinfe slit the toppe of the veine longwise the length of a barly corne that it may bleed then stopping the neather part of your veine with the silke or threed suffer it to bleed well from aboue then with your silke or threed remoued aboue knit it fast with a sure knot aboue the slit suffering it onely to bleed from beneath and hauing bleed there also sufficiently then knit vp the veine beneath the slit with a sute knot then fill the hole of the veine with salt and heale vp the wound of the skinne with turpentine and hogges grease molten together or else with a little fresh butter laid on with a little flaxe or tow Now the vertue which redounds from this taking vp of veines first it is very necessary and doth ease all grieues straines and stifnesse of the limbs for the taking vp of the plat veins easeth al paines in the breast and grieues in the chest the taking vp of the fore-thigh veines easeth farcies and swellings of the legges the taking vp of the shackle veines before helpeth gourding quitter bones and the swelling of the ioynts scabbes and scratches the taking vp of the hinder hough-veines helpeth spauens of both kinds most especially any farcy in those parts and generally all swellings or impostumes the taking vp of the pastorne veines behind helpeth swellings about the cronet or neather ioints Paines mules and all manner of kibed heeles besides sundry other such like diseases CHAP. 154. Of cauterizing or giuing the fire the kinds and vses THe giuing of fire which amongst the best Farriers is called cauterizing and amongst the simpler burning searing or blistering is according to the generall opinion of all the most ancientest Farriers the chiefest remedy and as it were the last refuge of all diseases incident to any horses body whether they be naturall or accidentall for the violence of fire separating and disgesting all manner of humors into a thinne aire and loose body cleanseth and auoydeth those grosnesses which are the materiall causes of all putrifaction and vlceration Now of cauterization there bee two kinds the one of them actuall which is that which is done by the hand and with the instrument that is to say of the hote yron of what fashion soeuer the other potentiall which is done by the applying of medicine whose nature is either corrosiue putrifactiue or caustique Now the first of these which is the cautery actuall is principally to be vsed when there is any appostumation in any sinewie part or member or amongst any of the most principall veines also when you shall dismember or cut away any ioynt or make any incision where there is feare of any fluxe of blood or where you shall finde either the skinne or muscles shrunke or straitned and in many such like cases The cauterising potentiall is to bee vsed in old cankered vlcers wennes or any spungy excresion either of flesh or bone whatsoeuer of whose natures and properties you shall reade more hereafter in a following chapter CHAP. 155. Of the cauterize actuall and the forme of Instruments AN actuall cautery according to the opinion of the most ancient Farriers being moderately vsed is a notable remedy to stop all corruption in members to keepe perfect the complexion of the same and also to staunch the bloud onely you must haue a carefull regard that in the handling of your yron you touch neither sinewes tendants cords nor ligaments lest you doe vtterly disable the member or breede crampes or conuultions except it bee when you dismember or cut away any ioynt as when you doe make curtals geld horses or such like and then your cautery is to bee vsed onely to feare the veines sinewes and ligamens till such time that you are perfectly assured that all fluxe of bloud is stopped whatsoeuer Now againe the actuall cautery bindeth together parts loosened it doth attenuate parts blowne and puffed vp it dryeth vp superfluous moysture it looseneth disperseth and diuideth euill matter gathered together into knots it asswageth old grieues it rectifieth those parts of the body that are corrupted by any manner of way reducing them to their first perfect estate and suffereth no aboundance of euill humours to grow or increase for the skinne being separated and opened with the hot Iron all putrifaction through the vertue of the fire is first digested and ripened and then so dissolued that the matter doth issue out aboundantly at the holes whereby the grieued or sickened member is now healed and eased of all paine and griefe yea and insomuch that the holes being once closed and cleane shut vp the place is stronger and better knit together and couered with a tougher skinne then euer it was before onely the greatâ—st â—lemish that can any way be found in cautery is that it commonly leaueth a great scarre which is many times an eye-soare more then is tollerable and therefore the vse of cauterizing is onely to be preferred but in desperate cases of great extremity for albeit it worke foule yet it is most certaine it workes most sure Now as touching the instruments wherewith you must cauterize their substance and proportion you shall vnderstand that the most curious Farriers doe preferre either gold or siluer to be the best mettal to make them of in that few or no euill accidents doe follow where they burne But the wisest best and most skilfullest Farriers take copper to be sufficient inough and a mettal without any lawful exception yet where copper instruments cannot be had there you may with commendations inough vse such instruments as are made of iron and finde your worke no deale at all hindered Now for the fashion or proportion of your instruments or Irons they are to be referred to the soare or place grieued wherewith you are to meddle according to the diuersity whereof your instruments are to bee made of diuers fashions as some are to bee made knife-wise either with thinne edges or broad edges and they bee called drawing kniues or searing kniues because they are principally imployed in the drawing of strait lines shallow or deepe and sometimes in circular or diuers squares some are made like straite and some like crooked bodkins and they are imployed either in fleshy excresions to cause exulceration or else in impostumes to open small passages for the matter some are made like hookes or sickles and they are to bee vsed where the wound is crooked for the burning out of dead flesh or such like hidden euils which cannot bee reacht by any straite instrument others are made either with great buttons or little buttons at the end and they are vsed to open impostumes or else to burne into the sound flesh where you intend to
or pillar which doth vphold this naturall body of which we treate they are not onely belonging but euen deriued from the three powers immediatly spoken of in the former chapter as thus The action and operation of the Power animall is to discerne to moue and to feele Horses discerne by meanes of the vertue Imaginatiue Discoursatiue and Memoratiue whereof the first is placed in the forehead the second in the middle of the braine and the third in the hinder part of the head All which are cōprehended vnder the Power animall Horses moue by meanes of the vertue Motiue whose action operation is to straine or let slacke the sinewes whereby euery member hath his mouing And horses feeling is by meanes of the vertue Sensitiue whose action or operation is busied in the fiue sences as to See Heare Smell Tast and Touch and all these actions spring from the Power animall The action or operation of the Power vitall is to restraine and loosen the heart and the arteries which proceede from the heart which action whether it be hurt or disturbed in a horses body is easily knowne of euery good Farrier or horse Marshall by the vnequall beating of his pulse that is to say of the arteries which cometh downe from the heart to the insides of both his fore legges a little below the knuckles of his shoulders and likewise crosse both the temples of his head a little higher then his eyes And if any man be so simple to imagine that the thicknesse of the horses skinne shall be any impediment to the feeling of this motion let him remember that as a horses skin is thicker then a mans so also are his arteries greater and beate with more violence and so consequently to be felt without any great difficulty The actions or operations of the Power naturall are to ingender to increase to nourish to desire with appetite to attract to change to disgest to retaine and to expell and many others of like kinde These actions therefore are carefully to be looked vnto by euery Farrier to the intent that he may learne by them not only the whole state of a horses body but also what particular member thereof is euill affected as thus If either in your horse you finde much forgetfulnesse vnnimblenesse of his limbes or dulnesse vpon correction it is a signe of sicknesse in the braine and that the Power animal is euillaffected If you find that his pulses do beate extraordinarily flow or much to fast it is a signe that his heart is grieued and his Power vitall euill affected but if you finde that he doth consume pine away loseth his stomacke it is a signe that his liuer is perplexed all his inward parts out of frame and his Power naturall euill affected Now you shall againe vnderstand that of actions some be voluntary some not voluntary The voluntary actions be those which a horse may either further or hinder stay or let when themselues pleaseth as the mouing of the legges for they may go stand or lye downe at their owne pleasure The actions not voluntary are those which depend not vpon the will of any beast but be done of their owne accord and naturally as the mouing of the heart and of the arteries and the passage of the bloud the first whereof beateth sleeping and waking and the other hath his course euery minute And thus much of actions and operations CHAP. 8. Of Spirits and in what parts of the horses body they remaine SPirits which is the seuenth naturall builder of this naturall worke are to be vnderstood to be that fine pure cleare and ayrie substance which is ingendred of the finest part of the bloud whereby the vertue of euery principall member may visite all the other parts of the body making them to do their duties according to the rules of nature Now of spirits according to the opinion of some Physitians there are but two kinds that is the Spirit animall and the Spirit vitall The Spirit animall is that which giueth power of feeling and mouing to a horse and hath his resting place in the braine from whence through the sinewes it is dispersed into all other parts of the body and as it is ingendred of the vitall spirit being more vehemently wrought and laboured and partly of continuall breathing euen so it is partly preserued by the Chaule of the braine which doth howrely water and nourish it The Spirit vitall is contained in the heart from whence it floweth into euery part of the body being the chiefe cause of all naturall heate and it is preserued and nourished both by breathing and bloud To these two spirits there be some Farriers both Italians and French which adde a third spirit and call it the Spirit naturall saying it hath its residence in the liuer the veines but the two former are of such power and haue such superiority that the body cannot liue without them nor haue any being at all wherefore it is the office of the Farrier continually in all his medicines to haue euer some comfortable simple which may maintaine and keepe these spirits in their full strength liuelyhood and vertue And thus much touching spirits those seuen naturall things which compact a naturall body Chap. 9. Of the sixe thing not naturall how they profit and how they hurt HAuing spoken of the naturall things whereof a horses body is compounded it is needfull now that we speake something of the other sixe which be not naturall so farre forth as they concerne the office of the Farrier and no further for with other matters we haue not to do The first thing then which is not naturall yet preserueth a horses body in good state is the aire which being pure sharp cleare and piercing giueth great life and nourishment to a horse but being contrary that is grosse thicke and full of putrifaction it cannot chuse but alter the good habit of his body and breede in him many infirmities Therefore euery Farrier shall haue great respect to the aire wherein a horse either liueth or was bred in as if a horse that was bred in a hot aire come to liue in a cold and through that exchange grow sicke the Farrier shall by warme dyet close house and moderate cloathing bring his nature to a stronger acquaintance also when a horse exceedeth in any of the foure qualities that is in heate moystnesse coldnesse or drinesse it is best for him to liue in that aire which is contrary to that quality wherein hee exceedeth Lastly in many diseases the change of the aire is most wholesome as shall be shewed at large in the particular diseases For the meate and drinke of a horse which is the second thing not naturall in a horses composition it is not to be doubted but whilest it is sweete cleane good as bread well made and baked dry oates dry beanes dry pease sweet hay sweet straw or short grasse so long it nourisheth and preserueth the horses body
firme parts of the body and are euer hot as Pestilent Feuers and the Plague which euer are accompanied with vlcers and the feuer accidentall which proceedeth from the anguish and paine of some mortall wound Now for the causes from whence these feuers do proceede you shall vnderstand that all these which I call ordinary feuers do generally spring either from surfaite by extreme labour or from surfaite by naughty meate as raw pease rawfitches raw oates mouldy and vnwholesome bread and such like sometimes they do proceede from the extreme violence and heate of the Sunnes beames when trauelling with disorderly haste in the extremest heate of the day those two heates mixing together labor the Sunne there cannot chuse but be bredde in the horse some mortall inflammation and for mine owne part I haue seene horses fall downe dead in the high way for whose deaths I could find no reason more then their labour and the heate of the Sunne Feuers sometimes spring from a contrary cause as from extreme cold in this maner when a horse in the Winter time hath bene trauelled sore all the day and is brought into the house hot if after his bloud and inward powers are setled and cooled you then presently or the same night giue him cold water as much as he will drinke you shall see him out of hand fall into an extreme quaking and from that quaking into a violent burning with all other distemperatures of a Feuer Now for extraordinary feuers they euer proceede either from corruption of bloud or from infection of the aire and albeit these feuers are not vsually knowne vnto our Farriers yet they are as common as the former onely the violence of them is so great and the poison so strong that they euer carry with them some other mortall sicknes as namely Staggers Yellowes Anticor and such like which neuer are but a pestilent feuer euer goeth before them And they like the markes of the plague are seldome seene till the cure be desperate and then the vnskilfull Farrier neither noting nor knowing if he did note the effects of the feuer doth euer mis-baptise the name of the horses infirmity and taking the lesser for the greater failes many times to do the good office cure which he intendeth Now the signes to know a feuer be these first he will euer hold downe his head he will quake and tremble but when his trembling is past then will his body burne and his breath be hot he wil breathe fast and his flanke will beate he will reele he will forsake his meate his eyes will be swolne and closed vp yet therewithall much watring his flesh will as it were fall from his bones and his stones will hang downe low he will oft lye downe and oft rise vp againe all his desire will be to drinke yet at no time drinke much neither will he at any time sleep Now for the generall cure of these generall feuers you shall vnderstand that some Farriers vse to let the horse bloud in the face temples and palate of the mouth and the first day to giue him no meate but warme drinke onely by a little at a time and after the finest grasse or finest hay wet in water keeping him warme and often walking him vp and downe in a temperate aire and giuing him good store of litter then when he begins to mend to feede him with barley sodden huskt and beaten as you do wheate before you make furmity And this cure is not amisse for it agreeth with the ancient experience of the Italians but in our English horses through the clyme as I suppose it often faileth The best cure therfore that I haue found is as soone as you perceiue him to begin to shake to giue him the yolkes of three or foure egges beaten with seuen or eight spoonefull of aqua-vitae to drinke and then chase him vp and downe till his shaking be past and then set him vp close and warme and with many clothes make him sweate an howre let his foode be oates very well dryed and sifted and one day some washt in ale If his shaking fit be past before you perceiue his sicknesse you shall onely giue him a pint of Muskadine and an ounce of sugar-candy beaten to powder and brewd together to drinke and so let him rest feeding him by little and little as aforesaid and giuing him no water but such as is warme and this order you shall obserue at the beginning of euery fit if you can note them or else euery morning if his sicknesse haue no ceassing CHAP. 16. Of the Quotidian or one dayes feuer and the cure THe Quotidian or one dayes feuer is that which taketh a horse and holdeth him with one fit once euery day it will at first appeare somewat violent but seldome or neuer endureth long if the Farrier haue any discretion It proceedeth most commonly from extreme riding either after water or a full stomacke and then suddenly after his heate being thrust into a stable neither stopt nor rubbed a suddaine coldnes to that suddaine heate begers a shaking and so consequently the effects of a feuer The signes to know it are watrish and bloud-shotten eyes short and hot breathing panting loathing of his meate and stiffnesse in his limbes but aboue these to know it is a Quotidian you shall obserue that these signes together with the sicknesse will not last aboue sixe or eight howres in one day and then he will be cheerefull and in health againe till very neare the same howre of the next day at what time his fit will begin againe And here is to be noted that the more it altereth the howres the more hope there is of his health as if it take him at seuen of the clocke of the one day and at three of the clocke of the other and so forth The cure is You shall only during his fit giue him nothing but a sweet mash made of malt and water being luke warme and walke him gently vp and downe in a temperate aire then as soone as his fit is past you shall set him vp and rub his body legs exceedingly then foure howres after you shall giue him this drinke Take of strong ale a quart and boyle therin halfe a handfull of wormwood of long pepper and graines two ounces of the best treacle two ounces and of the powder of dryed rue one ounce now when a third part of the ale is consumed take it from the fire and straine it then put therein three ounces of sugar-candy beaten to powder then when it is luke warme giue it him with a horne to drinke Do this twice at the least or thrice if his fits continue and there is no doubt but he will recouer CHAP. 17. Of the Tertian Feuer THe Tertian feuer is that which cometh euery other day holding the horse with one sicke day and one sound it is not so violent as the Quotidian but much longer lasting it happeneth oftest in the
according to the opinion of ancient Farriers from a continuall crudity oâ— raw disgestion of the stomacke from whence grosse vapours ascending vp into the head doe not onely oppresse the braine but all the sensitiue parts also Now for my part I rather hold it an infirmity of the stomacke and inward bowels which being cloyed with much glut and fat doth in the night season so hinder the spirits and powers from doing their naturall office that the beast hauing as it were his breath strangled doth with an vnnaturall struggling in his sleepe put his body into an extreme sweat and with that passion is brought to much faintnesse of which I haue had much and continuall experiâ—nce onely in horses exceeding fat and newly taken from the grasse but especially from such horses as are either fatted vpon eddish grasse which in some countries is called after-maths or such as are taken vp fat in the winter season The signes to know this disease is that in the morning when you come early to your horse you shall finde him all of a great sweate and his body something panting or perhaps you shall but only find him sweat in his flankes vpon his necke and at the rootes of his eares either of both are signes of this sicknesse especially if at night when you litter him you finde that he is dry of his body and giueth no outward signe of inward sicknesse Now there be some that will obiect against me and say that this infirmity is not the night-mare but an ordinary infirmity ingendred by superfluity of cold grosse and vnwholesome food got in the winter season which nature through the helpe of warme clothes and a warme house expels in this manner in the night season To this obiection I answer that if they do disallow this sicknesse to be the night-mare that then without all contradiction there is no such disease as the night-mare at all and that it is but only a name without any substance or consequence but forasmuch as this sicknesse is not onely very vsuall but also carrieth with it all the effects and attributes ascribed vnto the night-mare and that it is as yet a disease vnnamed I do not think I can giue it a more proper terme then to call it the night-mare The cure whereof is euery morning and euening both before and after his water to giue the horse some moderate exercise as to make him go at least a mile and more for his water and after he is watered to gallop him gently on the hand a good space then when he is brought into the house and well rubbed to giue him his prouender being oates and to mixe therewith a handfull or better of hempseede onely in this cure you must be carefull that your exercise do not enforce him to sweate nor shall you haue need to vse it longer then you finde that he sweateth much in the night season This exercise and medicine will not onely cure this infirmity but also any cold that is newly gotten whatsoeuer CHAP. 36. Of the Apoplexie or Palsey THese palseyes or apoplexies which happen vnto horses are of two sorts the one generall the other particular The generall palsey is when a horse is depriued of all sense and mouing generally ouer his whole body which is seldome or neuer found out by our Farriers because the mortality and suddainnesse of death which pursues the disease takes from them all notes obseruations of the infirmity and indeed for the generall palsey there is no cure and therefore there needs no description of signe or cure For the particular palsey that is when a horse is depriued but of some part or member of his body and most commonly it is but the necke onely as both my selfe and others haue found by dayly experience The disease procedeth from foulnesse of foode or from fenne feeding which breedeth grosse cold and tough humours which ioyning with crudities and raw disgestions oppresse the braine violently altogether it also cometh many times by meanes of some blow or wound giuen vpon the temples of the head The signes to know the disease are the gathering together of his body going crookedly and not straight forward but seldome and holding his necke awry without motion yet neuer forsaking his prouender or meate but eating it with greedinesse and much slauering The cure is to let him bloud on his necke veine and temple veine on the contrary side to that way he wryeth then annoynt all his necke ouer with the oyle Petroleum and with wet hay ropes swaddle all his necke ouer euen from his breast to his eares but hauing before splented his necke straight with splents of wood made strong smooth flat for the purpose then for 3 mornings together giue him a pint of old muskadine with two spoonefull of this powder to drinke Take of Opoponax two ounces of Storax three ounces of Gentian three ounces of Manna Suâ—carie three ounces of Mirre one scruple and of long pepper two scruples beate all these into fine powder Now there be some Farriers which for this disease vse to draw the horses necke on the contrary side with a hot yron euen from the necke to the shoulder and on the temple of his head of that side also a long strike and on the other a little starre in this maner and from his reines to his midde backe small lines in this maner But I that know this sicknesse proceedeth from the braine and sinewes cannot conceiue how any helpe should come from burning of the skinne because it is the sinewes themselues and not the skinne that is drawne vp and straightned and therefore I would wish euery Farrier to forbeare this tormenting vnlesse he apparantly see that the skinne it selfe through dislike and weaknesse is shrunke also and then the cure is not amisse CHAP. 37. Of the generall Crampe or conuulsion of sinewes THese generall crampes or conuulsions of sinewes are most forcible contractions or drawings together of the sinewes and muscles and they happen sometimes generally into many parts of the body somtimes particularly as but into one member and no more when they are generally diperst in horses they proceede commonly from some wound wherein a sinew is halfe cut and no more and so there runneth a generall contraction ouer the whole body by degrees When they are particular as but in one member then they proceede either from cold windy causes or from the want of bloud For the generall contraction which cometh by a wound you shall reade the cure thereof in the booke of Surgery following where the sinew being cut in two peeces the contraction ceasseth For the particular where but one member is grieeued you shall know it by these signes the member will be starke and stiffe insomuch that neither the beast nor any man will be able to bow it the sinewes will be hard like stickes and the horse being downe is not able to rise during the time of the contraction he will also halt
of strong beere or ale and giue it the horse to drinke Others vse after raking bloud letting to take the iuyce of Iuy leaues mingling it with wine to squirt it into the horses nosthrels and to let him drinke only cold water mixt with vitrum and let his foode be grasse or new hay sprinkled with water Thus you haue seene I dare well affirme all the best practises which are at this day knowne for this disease where they all faile there is no hope of cure yet let me thus farre further informe you This disease of the yellowes or iaundise if the keeper or maister be not a great deale the more skilfull and carefull will steale vpon you vnawares and as I haue often seene when you are in the middest of your iourney remote and distant farre from any towne that can giue you succour it may be your horse will fall downe vnder you and if you should let him rest till you fetch him succour questionlesse hee will bee dead In this extremity you haue no helpe but to draw out a sharpe poynted knife dagger or rapier for a neede and as neare as you can opening the horses mouth strike him bloud about the third barre of the roofe of his mouth and so letting him eate and swallow his owne blood a good while then raise him vp and be sure he will go as fresh as euer he did but after you come to place of rest then bee sure to bloud him and drench him as aforesayd or else there will a worse fit come vpon him Now to conclude for the blacke iaundise which of some Farriers is called the dry yellow though for mine owne part I hold it to be incurable yet there be other Farriers which are of a contrary humour and prescribe this physicke for the cure thereof first to giue the horse a glister made of oyle water and nitrum after his fundament is raked then to powre the decoction of mallowes mingled with sweete wine into his nosthrels and let his meate be grasse or hay sprinkled with water and a little nitre and his prouender dryed oates hee must rest from labour and be often rubbed Now there be other Farriers which for this disease would onely haue the horse drinke the decoction of wilde cole-worts sodden in wine the effects of all which I onely referre to experience CHAP. 66. Of the Dropsie or euill habit of the body WHereas we haue spoken before of the consumption of the flesh which proceedeth from surfaits ill lodging labour colds heates and such like you shall also now vnderstand that there is another drinesse or consumption of the flesh which hath no apparant cause or ground and is called of Farriers a dropsie or euill habite of the body which is most apparantly seene when the horse by dislike doth leese his true naturall colour as when baynesse turnes to dunnesse blackes to duskishnes whites to ashinesse and when he leeseth his spirit strength and alacrity Now this cometh not from the want of nutriment but from the want of good nutriment in that the bloud is corrupted either with fleame choler or melancholy coming according to the opinion of the best Farriers either from the spleene or the weaknes of the stomacke or liuer causing naughty disgestion Others thinke it cometh from fowle feeding or much idlenesse but for mine owne part albeit I haue had as much tryall of this disease as any one man and that it becometh not me to controll men of approued iudgements yet this I dare auerre that I neuer saw this disease of the euill habite or euill colour of the body spring from any other groundes then either disorderly and wilde riding or from hunger or barraine woody keeping Betwixt it and the dropsie there is small or no difference for the dropsie being diuided into three kindes this is the first thereof as namely an vniuersall swelling of the body but especially the legges through the aboundance of water lying betweene the skinne and the flesh The second a swelling in the couering or bottome of the belly as if the horse were with foale which is onely a whayish humour abiding betwixt the skinne and the rimme and the third a swelling in the same place by the like humour abiding betwixt the great bagge and the kell The signes of this disease are shortnesse of breath swelling of the body or legges losse of the horses naturall colour no appetite vnto meate and a continuall thirst his backe buttockes and flankes will be dry and shrunke vp to their bones his veines will be hidde that you cannot see them and wheresoeuer you shall presse your finger hard against his body there you shall leaue the print thereof behind you and the flesh will not rise of a good space after when he lyeth downe he will spreade out his limbes and not draw them round together and his haire will shedde with the smallest rubbing There be other Farriers which make but onely two dropsies that is a wet dropsie and a windy dropsie but being examined they are all one with those recited haue all the same signes and the same cure which according to the ancient Farriers is in this sort First to let him be warme couered with many cloathes and either by exercise or otherwise driue him into a sweate then let his backe and body be rubbed against the haire and let his foode be for the most part cole-worts smallage and Elming bowes or what else will keepe his body soluble or prouoke vrine when you want this foode let him eate grasse or hay sprinckled with water and sometimes you may giue him a kinde of pulse called Ciche steeped a day and a night in water and then taken out and layed so as the water may drop away There be other Farriers which only would haue the horse to drinke parsley stampt and mixt with wine or else the roote of the hearbe called Panax stampt and mixt with wine Now whereas some Farriers aduise to slit the belly a handfull behinde the nauell that the winde and water may leasurely issue forth of mine owne knowledge I know the cure to be most vile nor can it be done but to the vtter spoyle and killing of the horse for a horse is a beast wanting knowledge of his owne good will neuer be drest but by violence and that violence will bring downe his kell so as it will neuer be recouered Now for these dropsies in the belly although I haue shewed you the signes and the cures yet are they rare to be found and more rare to be cured but for the other dropsie which is the swelling of the legges and the losse of the colour of the haire it is very ordinary and in howrely practise the best cure wherof that euer I found is this Take of strong ale a gallon set it on the fire skum off the white frothwhich riseth then take a handfull of wormwood without stalke and as much rue in like manner
then hauing a mallet in your right hand strike vpon the head of the toole a good stroake wherewith you may loosen the tooth and make it bend inward then straining the midst of your toole vppon the horses neather iaw wrinch the tooth outward with the inside or hollow side of the toole and thrust it cleane out of his head which done serue the other woolfes tooth on the other side in like manner and then fill vp the empty holes with salt finely brayed Other Farriers vse and I haue in mine experience found it the better practise only when the horse is eirher tyed vp or cast and his mouth opened to take a very sharp file and to file the woolfes teeth so smooth as is possible and then wash his mouth with a little allome water Now if the vpper iaw teeth ouerhang the neather iaw teeth so cut the inside of the mouth as is aforesaid then you shall take your former toole or gouge and with your mallet strike and pare all those teeth shorter by little and little degrees running alongst them euen from the first vnto the last turning the hollow side of your toole towards the teeth by which meanes you shall not cut the insides of the horses cheekes then with your file file them all smooth without any raggednes and then wash the horses mouth with vinegar salt Lastly if the paine do proceede from the loosnesse of his teeth then the cure is according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers first to cast the horse and pricke all his gummes ouer with a lancet making them bleede well then rubbe them all ouer with sage and salt and it will fasten them againe Others vse to let the horse bloud in the veine vnder his taile next the rumpe and then to rubbe all his gums with sage and to giue him in his prouender the tender croppes of blacke bryars or else wash all his mouth with hony sage and salt beaten together and by no meanes let the horse eate any moist meate for cold moist and marrish feeding in the winter onely breedeth this disease of loosnesse in the teeth and it is of all other most proper to the Sorrell horses CHAP. 33. Of diseases in the Necke and VVithers and first of the Cricke in the necke THe Cricke in the necke of a horse is when he cannot turne his necke any way but holdes it still right forth in so much that he cannot bow downe his head to take vp his meate from the ground but with exceeding great paine and surely it is a kinde of convultion of sinewes which proceedeth from cold causes of which we haue spoken very sufficiently before it also proceedeth sometimes from ouerheauy burthens that be laid vpon a horses shoulders or by ouer-much drying vp of the sinewes of the necke The cure whereof according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers is first to thrust a sharp hot Iron through the flesh of the necke in fiue seueral places euery one distant from the otther three inches but in any case beware of touching any sinew then rowell all the aforesaid places either with horse haire flaxe or hempe for the space of fifteene daies and annoint the rowels with hogs grease and the necke will soone be restored Others vse if the cricke causeth the horse to hold his head straight forward which sheweth that both sides are equally perplexed to take a hot drawing Iron draw the horse from the root of the eare on both sides the necke through the midst of the same euen downe the breast a straw deepe so as both ends may meete on the breast then make a hole through the skin of the forehead hard vnder the foretop thrust in a cornet vpward betwixt the skin and the flesh a handfull deepe then either put in a goose feather doubled in the midst and annointed with hogs grease or else a rowell of either horne or leather with a hole in the midst any of which will keep the hole open to the intent the matter may issue forth and this you shall keepe open the space of ten daies but euery day during that time the hole must be◠cleansed once and the feather or rowell also cleansed and fresh annointed and put in againe and once a day let him stand vpon the bit an houre or two or else be ridden abroade two or three miles by such an one as will beare the horses head and make him bring it in but if the cricke be such that it maketh the horse to hold his head awry vpon the one side which sheweth that but one side of the neeke is troubled then you shall not drawe the horse with an hote Iron on both the sides of the necke but onely on the contrary side as thus If hee bend his head towardes the right side then to drawe him as is aforesaid onely on the left side and to vse the rest of the cure as is abouesaid and if necessity do require you may splent the horses necke also straight strong with splents of wood I haue cured this cricke in the neck only by bathing the horses neck in the oile of peeter very hot and then rolling it all vp in wet hay or rotten litter and keeping the horse exceeding warme without vsing any burning wounding or other violence CHAP. 34. Of Wennes in the necke A Wenne is a certaine bunch or kirnell vpon the skinne like a tumor or swelling the inside whereof is sometimes hard like a gristell and spongious like a skinne full of soft warts and sometimes yellow like vnto rusted bacon with some white graines among Now of wennes some are great and some be small also some are very painfull and some not painfull at all They proceede as some imagine of naughty grosse flegmaticke humours binding together in some sicke part of the body And others say they proceed from taking of cold or from drinking of waters that be most extreme cold but I say that albeit they may proceed from these causes yet most generally they proceed frō some pinching bruising biting ripping or galling either of girthes halter coller or any other thing whatsoeuer The cure thereof is this take of mallowes sage and redde nettles of each one handfull boile them in running water and put thereunto a little butter and hony and when the hearbes be soft take them out and all to bruise them and put thereunto of oyle de bay two ounces and of hogges grease two ounces and warme them together ouer the fire mixing them well together that done plaister it vpon a peece of leather so bigge as the wenne and lay it to so hot as the horse can endure it renewing it euery day in such sort the space of eight dayes and if you perceiue it will come to no head then lance it from the midst of the wenne downeward so deep that the matter in the bottome may be discouered let out which done heale it vp with this salue Take of Turpentine a quarterne
the swelling bee goe Other Farriers vse first to pricke the swelling with a fleame then take of wine lees a pinte as much wheate flowre as will thicken it and an ounce of comen boyle them together and lay this somewhat warme vnto it renewing it euery day once vntill the swelling either depart or else come to a head which if it doe not then launce it and heale it according to a wound Other Farriers take of rosen of turpentine and of hony of each halfe a pound dissolue them at the fire then straine them and adde of myrrhe Sarcocoll and the flowre of fenegreeke and of lin-seed oyle of each an ounce incorporate them altogether then make it thicke like a salue with the meale of lupins and lay it to the swelling and it will asswage it Other Farriers take of Galbanum and of Ceruse of each an ounce of oyle two ounces and of waxe three ounces mixe them together ouer a soft fire and when they are brought to a salue then lay it vnto the swelling and it will asswage If you take onely rotten litter or hay boyld in strong vrine and apply it dayly vnto any swelling it will take it away Now if the swelling be vpon the legs and come by any straine then you shall take of nerue-oyle one pound of blacke sope one pound of boaâ—s grease halfe a pound melt and boyle them al well together then straine it and let it coole then when occasion serueth annoynt and chafe your horses legs therewith holding a hote yron neare thereunto to make the oyntment enter in the better then rope vp his legges and keepe them cleane from dust or dirt but if the swelling be vpon any part of the backe or body then take of hony and tallow of each a like and boyle them together then spread it on a cloth and lay it on the swolne place and let it there sticke till it fall away of it selfe Now if the swelling proceede from any windy cause and so appeare onely in the horses belly then you shall take a sharpe pointed knife or bodkin arme it so with some stay that it go not to deepe for piercing his guts then strike him therewith through the skinne into his body before the hollow place of his haunch bone halfe a foote beneath the backe bone and the winde will come out thereat then if you put a hollow quill therin or some feather to keepe it open a while the winde will auoyd the better then heale it vp againe It is also very good to rake the horse and to annoynt all his belly with the oyle of sauen and to ride him vp downe a little but if the swelling be vnder the horses iawes or about any part of his head then you shall take his owne dung hot as soone as hee makes it and with a cloath binde it fast thereto renewing it twice a day till the swelling be gone CHAP. 122. Of Impostumes and first how to ripen them IMpostumes are a gathering or knitting together of many most corrupt humors in any part or member of the body making that part to swell extremely growing into such violent inflaÌ„mation that in the end they rot breake out into foule mattery and running soares they commonly proceed either from corruption of foode or corruption of bloud they are at the first appearance very hard very soare which hardnesse is the principall signe that they will rot And of these impostumes some be hot impostumes and some be cold yet forasmuch as euery impostume must first be ripened and brought to matter before it can bee healed we will first speake of the ripening of them If therefore you will ripen an impostume according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers you shall take of Sanguis draconis of gum Arabicke of new waxe of mastick of pitch of Greece of incense of turpeÌ„tine of each a like quaÌ„tity melting theÌ„ together straining them make a plaister thereof lay it to the impostume without remouing it and it will both ripen breake and heale any impostume Other Farriers take swines grease red waxe and the flowre of Euforbium and mixing them on the fire well together lay it to the impostume and it will do the like Other Farriers take of hony and of wheat meale of each a like quantity and either boyle it in the decoction of mallows or else mixe it with the yelke of an egge and it will ripen breake and heale yet it must bee renewed once a day Other Farriers take barley meale and boyle it with wine and pidgions dung and so lay it to the impostume plaister-wise and it will ripen exceedingly Other Farriers take a handfull or two of sorrell and lapping it in a docke leafe roast it in the hot embers as you would roast a warden and then lay it to the impostume as hot as may be renewing it once a day and it will ripen breake and heale A plaister of shooe-makers waxe will doe the like also Other Farriers take mallow roots and lilly rootes then bruise them and put thereto hogges grease linseed meale and plaisterwise lay it to the impostume and it will ripen it breake it and heale it perfectly Chap. 123. Of cold Impostumes IF the impostume do proceed from any cold causes as those which rise after cold taking or when a horse is at grasse in the winter season then you shall take the hearbe balme and stampe it and hogges grease well together and so plaister-wise apply it to the soare it will heale it or else when the impostume is ripe open it in the lowest part with a hot Iron then wash it with warme vrine after that annoynt it with tarre oyle well mixed together and if you make your incision in the manner of a halfe moone it is the better Other Farriers take white mints seeth them in wine oyle ale and butter and so lay it to hot and it will heale it Other Farriers take cuckoo-spit and stamp it with old grease and so apply it and it will heale it Other Farriers take a handfull of rew and stampe it well with the yelke of an egge and hony and then apply it plaister-wise and it will heale any cold impostume CHAP. 124. Of hot Impostumes IF the impostume proceed from any hot causes as from the extremity of trauell the parching of the Sun or the inflammation of the bloud then according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers you shall take liuer-wort and stampe it and mixe it with the grounds of ale hogs grease and bruised mallowes and then apply it to the soare and it will ripen breake and heale it but if you would not haue the swelling to breake then take the grounds of ale or beere and hauing boyled mallowes therein bathe the soare place therewith and it will driue the swelling away Other Farriers take either lettis seede or poppy seede and mixe it with the oyle of redde roses and lay