putrefaction occasioned by moist Rheums and other indigested Moistures dedescending on them or Inflamations occasioned by Lumps Knots or Kernels under the Chaul proceeding from cold or immoderate labour and many times the Mourning of the Chine by a Horse's immoderate Leaping a Mare or over-straining himself in the action And this may likewise happen by his eating too much raw meat or drinking upon a suddain heat and many other ways which when I come to treat of Diseases I shall largely discourse on But first I shall proproceed to let you know how Horses ought to be used to prevent their contracting Diseases as much as in the superficial Schemes of Art the greatest Artists of this kind have allowed and the means are chiefly five as Cleansing Blood-letting Purging Sweating and Vomiting The first of these may be said to be twofold as outward and inward the first being by cleansing his external Parts by care and good dressing which ought the more diligently to be observed upon his being taken up from Grass and the time limited for that by the curious is Bartholomew-tide for then the heart of the Grass beginneth to decline And this may be done in the manner which I have often recited in what relates to Dressing nor is it at all inconsistent with Reason that the cleansing the Skin from dust and dirt and loosening it in every part by gentle rubbing should enliven the Horse and render him more sprightly so that Nature having her free course and progress without restraint may opperate in dispersing kind refreshment to every part and keep those gross humours from setling that are frequently the origiâ—al of Diseases and Grievances and if so it happen that your Horse be mirey and foul then may you use Fulling-earth Soap and other scowring Materials especially with warm Water but then having an especial care he catch not cold thereupon keeping him warm and well drying him till he be thorowly cold and in so doing you will prevent those moist Diseases wherewith he is otherwise afflicted And the better to effect this cut away all the superfluous hairs that any way anoy the body or other parts c. And so being shooed and neatly dressed I leave him to the Second Part which consists in the Internal cleansing and purging Directions for which in consideration of more immediate or particular Directions take in the following Chapter CHAP. XVII How a Horse ought to be used in general and particular as to his Physick Diet and Looking to for the preservation of him even to old Age. THough I have named what I intend to propose in the foregoing Pages yet let not the Reader considering the consequence and validity of what I shall here propose think it amiss that I select a Chapter for no other purpose and that the advantage may neither be delayed nor appear small in the Eyes of the Reader or Practitioner take a prospect of it in the following Directions As for inward Purging the measures ought to be taken from the temperature of the Horse's body and more especially in case of his retirement at such a time that no hard labour or immoderate exercise has been imposed on him And in this case if you find him costive or that in case of Evacuation nature help not as in usual cases let some one with a small Arm penetrate his Fundament and draw thence the Dung that obstructs or at least clogs the fluent or natural passage that so both the natural and artificial Motions and Causes proceeding from Drugs or composition of Purgation may opperate and perfect their intended design and may be best administred Clyster-wise But then consider the constitution of your Horse If he be fat and somewhat inclining to foulness it must be a strong potion that will effectually opperate but not so if the Horse be weak and melancholy But waving 'em here I shall speak more particularly of them in due place as also of Drinks which ought to be made and seasonably given for the preventing sickness and preservation of health and if you find the Blood coagulated which may be perceived by the trembling of the Veins and the working of it therein then it is requisite to let him Blood and give him a gentle Vomit to carry the foulness from off the stomach that may be the occasion of bad digestion and consequently of the naughtiness of the Blood Dieting him with Mashes and fine Provender from which may spring such wholsome nutriment as may create a thin and airy Blood rubbing and often anointing his Body with Hogs Lard or Ointment of Marshmallows And now to be satisfied what things mostly contribute to health take the following Opinions of the Learned viz. A good natural constitution good digestion good nourishment moderation in feeding and diet moderation in labour and sleeping moderation in leaping Mares Again wholsome Airs not laboured too soon after Grass to be kept from raw Meats not to drink nor eat being hot ever observing to walk him at the end of any Journey and not to Physick him unless you find occasion And these observances being the occasion of long life I shall endeavour for the better satisfaction of the Reader more fully to demonstrate them As for Nature good Digestion and sound Nutriment they ought to be consonant and indeed they are well proportioned when neither the moisture with its humidity is not so predominant as to quench and over-power the heat nor the extraordinary heat too suddainly consume the moisture though of necessity the latter must be of force above the former or else Digestion cannot be perfected as it ought and in that case seasonable nourishment must consequently fail Moderation in Eating is another main cause of long life as immoderate Eating is of a short one For as excess in Eating though the Provender be never so good and wholsome obstructs good digestion and contracts crudities with a bad habit of stomach so on the contrary spare Diet weakens and decays Nature and infeebles the natural powers and faculties of Life giving the heat by that means a power absolutely to subdue and conquer the Radical moisture and gives Diseases an opportunity to break in upon the infeebled body which prove many times too hard for the Farrier for in all Creatures observe that the weaker Nature is the stronger is the distemper Another cause of health and long life proceeds from moderate and kind labour for by indifferent motion digestion is much forwarded and the humours dispersed being by that means prevented from setling more than is requisite in any one place besides it is the cause that Excrements are sooner voided which by lying long in the body might occasion sickness And further observe that he be not laboured upon a full stomach so as by over-straining digestion may be hindred which should turn to nutriment and lay a foundation for Diseases by indigested Crudities being too suddainly drawn into the Veins and by that means dispersed into all parts of the Body
Another cause there is of the like nature that depends upon the moderateness of sleeping and waking for too much waking is an enemy to health by spending the vital spirits that should support and maintain life and a decaying that moisture that should refresh the several parts of the body causing thereby Leanness and Barrenness a dulling of the Brain and a defect in the Lungs and Liver whose offices it weakens by decaying the vigor in the performance and contrary to this excessive sleeping dozes the brain hinders digestion and obstructs nature in the performance of her offices contracting noxious vapours and a foulness of the stomach Another thing to be considered is that your Horse be not admitted to spend himself too much upon Mares because such immoderate exercise weakens the Brain Back and Eyes wastes the Vital Spirits and often shortens the days of many a brave Horse and therefore if you would have your Horse last long let him not cover above three or four Mares in a year at the most or if your conveniency will not at all times admit you to keep him from them then Geld him whilst young for it is ever observed that a Gelding lives longer naturally than a Stoned-horse and a Mule than them both because he is not subject to generation Wholsome Air above all things is to be chosen for that rarifies the blood helps digestion and comforteth the Vital spirits when-as gross Air or evil scents not only make the Horse loath his Provender but corrupt the Blood and subject the whole body to diseases Travelling after Grass too soon without purging and cleansing the Horse's body cause the bad humours to incorporate or by spreading themselves to afflict each part with pains and disorders reducing the Horse to a dullness of temper and disposition and so raw meats engender raw flegmatick humours afflicting the Stomach and Brain occasioning the Glaunders Coughs Catarrhs Stavers Yellows Anticors and Morfoundring not only disable the Horse but if neglected become incurable but by death Another cause there is and that not to be lightly regarded which is not to suffer your Horse to eat or drink when hot and to stand thereon for by so doing the Blood will corrupt and putrifie occasioning Surfeits Feavers Obstructions and many the like Maladies and Grievances frequently occasioning death But as soon as you bring him home in that condition put him into a warm Stable without washing Rub or cause him to be well rubbed down Cloath him well and let him have a sufficient quantity of warm Litter to stand on and if he be subject to eat it put on his Muzzle and so let him stand an hour or more till his grease be sufficiently cooled and you 'l find him in a fit condition to give him his Provender And lastly that he may be well breathed and sound winded thereby being enabled to hold out as occasion shall require you may at seasonable times mix with his Provender the Powder of these following Seeds and Drugs c. viz. Cummin and Anniseeds Powder of Licoris and Ellecampane-Roots Farberries Brimstone Flower and the Roots of white Lillies Hysop Horehound Savin Coltsfoot the Seeds of Marshmallows Rue and Polipodium of the Oak and any of the like quality that will occasion good Wind and prevent Infections purifie the Blood and help the Liver in the performance of its office that is to rarifie the nutriment by a good digestion but you must not mix over-much at a time especially when you first begin it least he take disgust at the scent or taste and so reject his Provender but increase the quantity by degrees not giving him any above twice a week and then let it be Morning and Evening CHAP. XVIII An exact Description of the Veins of a Horse how scituate in the Body as also of Blood-letting and how and upon what account of Sickness or other defect they are to be opened for the prevention of death or danger HAving thus far discoursed in Generals and Partiticulars of what relates to a good Horse or Mare of any sort or kind that thereby the Reader might instruct himself I shall proceed to what yet remains material to be known especially to Farriers and such who undertake the Cure of Horses which is to give an account of the several parts of the Body so as they may be distinguished as occasion shall require but especially of such parts as shall be found most usefull on immergent matters and the Veins being the pipes or conduits that carry off Blood and consequently nutriment to all parts of the Body I think it highly convenient to say something in the first place of them From the Liver note there ariseth one large Vein which like a conduit supplies the rest of the branches which are many in number and spread themselves throughout the Body like little Rivolets or streams And of these two material ones are found in the Palate of the Mouth above the first and third Barrs which ought to be opened by a discreet Farrier when the Horse is afflicted with any Malignant pain or disease in the Head or Stomach Two more there are that descending which from the lower part of the Eyes descend to the Nostrils and are best opened when the Eyes are afflicted with any distemper or grievance Two others there are above his Eyes which are called Temple-Veins because they run cross the Temples and these are generally opened for cold diseases in the Head. Two great ones there are likewise that run along the Wind-pipe by the sides of it from the uppermost Joynt of his Chaps to the Breast commonly called Neck-Veins and these are opened for sundry diseases being the most usual Veins that are opened There are two other Veins that arise from between the fore-legs and are called Breast-Veins because they end on the top of the Breast and these are opened in case of Surfeits Feavers or Heart-sickness Two others there are which ascend from the fore-legs but rise not so high as those before mentioned and these rest upon the foremost bough of the fore-leg and are generally called Plat-Veins and are opened in case of Foundering or any other grief or grievance in the Legs or Limbs Other two there are that pass from the Elbow of the fore-shoulder down along the inside of the fore-legs being known by the name of Shank-Veins which are generally opened in case of Splents Spavins Mallenders or Sallenders c. Then are there four Veins which run along the Fetlocks of the Horse known by the name of Shackle-Veins and these although they are small are yet important ones and by bleeding cure the stiffness of the Joynts and prevent Foundering Then are there four more about the Corronets in his Hoofs called Corronet-Veins and are opened for the Ring-bone and Surbating In the Hoof are four more which circle his Toes called Toe-Veins and are opened for fretting and foundering Two great Veins there are that descending from his Stones pass along the inside
hoof the narrow heels the flat hoof the broad frush and the crooked hoof and to these shooes must be purposely made and fitted and the paring be shaped accordingly The Particulars of which being uncertain or at least too tedious for this discourse I refer them to the Skilfull Farrier whose proper business it is to order and reduce them so as they may become practicable and usefull If the hoof be damaged by reason of any Nail that lurks therein not easily to be found it must by all means be looked after and taken thence and the place of its aboad or lodgment may be found by sundry means and ways but chiefly by the heat of that place more than any other or by the Horse's shrinking up his foot or strike thereon or pinch it with your Pincers The place being found pull off the shooe and open the foot gently with a Buttress or Drawing-knife and if you can come at it pull it out if not apply the Plaster I have mentioned for drawing out Thorns Stubs or Splinters Or for your more readiness this Having in the best manner laid open the Wound Take of Stone-pitch Tar Turpentine and Bees-wax of each an ounce and half a quarter of a pint of Juyce of Garlick make them over a gentle fire into a Plaster and apply them as hot as may be endured And sometimes it so happens that by long continuance the Nail in working breaks out above the hoof and in such a case apply Honey Burgundy-pitch and Powder of burnt Allom or a Poultis of Mallows Cammomoil and Groundsel fryed in Hog's Lard and beaten up with the Whites of Eggs and Rye-meal and applying it as hot as may be endured and in so often doing it will break the Skin so that the cause of the grievance may be removed but by the addition of half an ounce of Verdegrease it will bring away the Corruption and heal the Wound Critical Days and the Observation thereon AND now since it may not be amiss to say something of the Critical Days observed by many as to Health and Sickness which relate not only to humane Constitutions but those of all Creatures I shall here incert them These days are accounted such wherein are manifested Alterations in relation to Sickness or Health Life or Death And as for the Critick-day it is ever principally to be observed after the beginning of the sickness as the 3.5.7.9.11.14.17.21.28 In which days so cursarily to be observed no strong Medicines or Purgations ought to be given Nor is it convenient to let Blood unless great necessity require it And other days there are in which many Learned Men hold If Man or Beast fall sick he shall hardly escape and that not without much difficulty which are noted to be these viz. January 1.7 February 3.4 March 1.4 April 8.10 May 2.7 June 10.15 July 11.13 August 3.2 September 3.10 November 3.5 December 7.10 And many add that if any dangerous disease happen on the 10th of August 1st of December or 6th of April it will go very near to terminate in Death Now there are on the contrary other days held to be good days and that if a disease happen on them there is great hopes of recovery nay there is great hopes of succeeding in taking a Journey or any Labour wherein Man or Beast is concerned and these are held to be the 3d and 13th of January The 5th and 28th of February The 3d 22d and 30th of March. The 5th 22d and 29th of April The 4th and 28th of May. The 3d and 8th of June The 12th 13th and 15th of July The 12th of August The 1st 7th 24th and 28th of September The 4th and 15th of October The 13th and 19th of November The 23d and 26th of December And these indeed by the Antients were held in wonderfull esteem they generally taking their measures thereby as to what I have said in relation to them nor are they to be neglected or slighted by Practitioners in Physical or Chyrurgical matters either in relation to Man or Beast no nor in their undertaking relating to Labour or the like but have Some further Considerations upon the Cause of Diseases and how to Remove them Physically discussed c. The cause of a Disease proceeds principally from an effect against Nature and happens either External or Internal the External is that which is outwardly visible and consists generally of what comes by Strokes Bruises Wrenches Scalds Shot or any manner of Wound Those Internal are occult or hid within the body and consequently the less discernable and are divided into an Antecedent and Conjunction The Conjunction is that which is nearest and immediately causes the Disease and is generally held to be the Blood which causes the Phlegm nor is it reckoned the Antecedent doth actually cause the disease but procures matter and stirs it up almost to the creating a disease but between it and the disease are some Causes placed viz. abundance of humours and ill digestion and therefore these things ought to be chiefly considered before any one absolutely attempts to dispell the disease by reason diseases are first cured by removing the Cause Antecedent and after that the Cause Conjunct And as for the External diseases they ought to be known because they breed diseases Internal and very much change the blood and with much diligence are therefore to be sought out that so the Practitioner may be brought to the perfect knowledge of Internal diseases and these External diseases are not either to be avoided or amended but necessarily penetrate the body as Air infected Meat Drink Labour Sleep Watching or Wakefulness Repletion and Evacuation and some disorders that frequently happen or to be avoided as unnecessary as Bruises Strains Slips Wounds Strangling or the like As for the true cause of a disease it sometimes proceeds from corrupt matter whereof they are generated or when either the Sire or Dam is infected with any disease the corrupt quality of which flowing into the Seminal-vessels and transmitting the like to the creature generated making it hereditary and at other times it proceeds from bad usage bad feeding heats colds and many more which I have named in the first Part. And again as I have here hinted Internal diseases may proceed from External strokes bruises or the like And thus much for Physical Observations of this kind From whence I proceed to give an accurate relation of the Spirits by which the frame of Life is supported which take as followeth The Spirits what they are with their Office c. The Spirit is the Aerious and subtil substance of a Body generated of the most pure and thin Blood and is the Original mover and supporter of the Members giving them power to perform their office and is seated chiefly in the Brain and Heart from whence it delates it self by the means of the Nerves and Arteries into all parts of the body and is divided into three parts viz. Animal Vital and Natural the
necessary to be observed in the Election and Choice of gooâ— Breeders how and at what time c. a Marâ— ought to be Covered how ordered being with Foal and after Foaling With many other things of the like nature Page 〈◊〉 CHAP. II. HOw to Manage a good Colt to bring him to be 〈◊〉 excellent Horse and what is to be observed in thâ—â— timely knowledge of what he will be when come to Mâ—turity with the season of Weaning Cutting and 〈◊〉 c. p. â—â— CHAP. III. WHen and how to Break a Colt and render him tame and gentle with the Art of Management on that occasion And many other things necessary and requisite to be known p. 8 CHAP. IV. THe Art of Dressing in General and may serve upon all occasions for bringing a Horse to perfection and render a Groom or Horse-keeper acceptable to Persons of Quality c. p. 10 CHAP. V. HOw to render any tollerable good Horse an excellent Racer And how Running-Horses ought to be managed in Diet Physick and Exercise in order to their being capable of Running a Match with success c. p. 12 CHAP. VI. A Continuation of what is to be done to the Running or Race-horse relating to his Election Dressing Feeding and other Vsage c. p. 14 CHAP. VII HEats what they are and how to be managed to the best advantage in Racing and â—all other Recreatory undertakings p. 17 CHAP. VIII How to make the Bread of the first Make and what ought to be observed in the distribution thereof With many other things p. 19 CHAP. IX OTher things to be taken notice of in regard to the Running-Horse in the second Fortnights Dyet and Ordering p. 22 CHAP. X. THe Running-horse's third and fourth Fortnight and what is to be observed therein as to Diet Vsage and bringing the Horse to the Weighing-Post p. 23 CHAP. XI WHat the Rider ought to be and what by him is to be considered in order to Backing and good Management as also the Office and Duty of a Groom c. p. 26 CHAP. XII INfallible Rules for Buying a good Horse and how so well by sundry marks and tokens to distinguish good from bad as well in case of soundness as diseases as thereby to prevent being imposed on or cheated c. p. 30. CHAP. XIII EXact and Infallible Rules to know the Age of a Horse by the perfections or imperfections of his Teeth in alâ— their particular and general Marks as also by the Tail when the Mark is out of the Mouth c. p. 39 CHAP. XIV HOw exactly to know the state or condition of a Horse's Body relating to Fatness or Leanness Health or Sickness with many other things worthy of note p. 34 CHAP. XV. OBservations to be taken as to the state of a Horse's Body from the Privy-parts Limbs Feeding and many other Matters and Discourses worthy to be taken notice of by the Curious c. p. 47 CHAP. XVI OF the Elementary parts of a Horse's Body and of the Agreement of the Humours therewith A discourse of Corruption and Generation in which is set forth all things of that kind relating to Goodness or Badness Health or Sickness c. p. 49 CHAP. XVII HOw a Horse ought to be used in general and particular as to his Physick Diet and Looking to for the preservation of him even to old Age. p. 53 CHAP. XVIII AN exact Description of the Veins of a Horse how scituate in the Body as also of Blood-letting and how and upon what account of Sickness or other defect the Veins are to be opened for the prevention of death or danger p. 58 CHAP. XIX A Discourse of the Sinews and their Scituation together with their Vse and Office and what farther in that kind is to be observed as to the state of a horse's Body c. with the Description of the Bones c. p. 61 CHAP. XX. OF Blood-letting in general and how to know by sundry signs and tokens the state of a horse's Body when and where it is convenient to let him Blood for the preventing of sickness or recovery of health p. 64 CHAP. XXI A Description of Diseases Grievances or Sorrances incident to Horse's c. to foresee them by sundry signs and tekens and know whence they arise with the ways and methods of Preventing Redressing and Curing them by Approved Rules and Remedies according to the Practice of the best Farriers in all Ages c. p. 68 CHAP. XXII EXcellent Receipts for the Cure of Diseases c. in Horses or Mares according to the best Experience of skilfull Practitioners Many of which were never before made publick p. 70 The Glaunders from what it proceeds and how to Cure it p. 71 The Quinzey in a Horse c. what it is and how to Cure it ibid. A Horse's Bleeding at the Nose how to stay or prevent it p. 72 For Pains in the Teeth or Jaws ibid. The Canker in the Nose what it is and the Remedy p. 73 A Remedy for the Collick Belly-ach or Belly-binding ibid. The Lasks or Bloody-flux and its Remedy ibid. The Botts what they are and their Cure. p. 74 For the Shoulder-strain a good remedy ibid. Broken-wind what it is and to remedy it if not past Cure. p. 75 A Horse burnt by a Mare how to Cure. p. 76 For a dry Cough cold Pursiveness broken Wind or shortness of Breath an excellent Remedy ibid. To restore decayed and putrefied Lungs p. 77 A dry Consumption its Remedy c. ibid. The Breast-pain from whence it proceeds and how to Cure it p. 78 Heart-sickness or the Antecor whence it proceeds and how to remedy it p. 79 Foundering in the Body or Surfeiting how occasioned together with the Remedy ibid. The greedy Worm or hungry Evil what it is and how to be remedied or prevented p. 80 Yellow and Black Jaundice in a Horse the Cause and Cure c. p. 81 Constiveness from whence it proceeds amd its Remedy p. 82 The Cramp or Convulsion in the Nerves or Sinews how occasioned together with the Remedy c. p. 83 The Mourning of the Chine its Cause and the means to Cure it ibid. Irenzy or Madness its Original with the means to remedy it according to the Experienced way p. 84 The falling-Evil its Cause and Remedy p. 85 The sleeping-Evil what it is and the vvay to remedy it ibid. The Horse-Pestilence and its Cure. p. 86 For Chest-foundering the Remedy ibid. For an Obstruction in the Bladder or Windiness in the Bovvels c. p. 87 The Pole-Evil hovv to knovv and cure ibid. The Fistula hovv to discover and cure p. 88 Hard Kernels under the Throat hovv to remove p. 89 For the Navel-gall the Remedy ibid. For a Blovv Bruise or the like misfortune that causes a Svvelling or Tumour the Remedy ibid. The Scratches their Remedy p. 90 For Foot-foundering a Remedy ibid. For a Canker in the Head a Remedy p. 91 For the Mangey or dry Scurvey a Cure. p.
bathe therewith the Legs or Thighs from above the Knee and from the Cambrels downwards or for want of these Neats-foot Oyl after which chafe it in with your hands and in often so doing in all places where you see occasion you will wonderfully restore his Limbs rendring them supple and plyable There are many things to be observed from the Sweating of a Horse especially from that which proceeeds without External force occasioned by hard labour or the like for then is the Horse faint foul fed or wanteth Exercise to evaporate the abundance of watery humours which he hath contracted And especially this is to be noted when his Sweat is white and frothy like a Lather of Soap but in case of Heats and other considerable labour to create Sweat if it appear black and pearly like clear water then is the Horse in a good plight oâ— habit of Body especially if he be lively and brisk not in the least afflicted with any shaking or trembling for that infers the Sweat forced out by some Internal disorder rather than naturally evaporated And now seeing the Causes of Sickness are very material to be known that is from whence they arise that so the Skill in Curing may be the greater and the Remedies to be applied more powerfull and certain in their Operation as also the causes of health and long life Take for your better Experiment what you find in the subsequent Chapter CHAP. XVI Of the Elementary parts of a Horse's Body and of the Agreement of the Humours therewith A discourse of Corruption and Generation in which is set forth all things of that kind relating to Goodness or Badness Health or Sickness c. CErtain it is that no Man can truly pretend to Experience of this kind unless he duly weigh the Nature of Generation and Corruption for on them as on the Collumns of this Art stand what is material of this kind These two being ever consonant in the main though one Horse's body may differ in Constitution from the other for these being the Suparlative of Elementary subsistance or matter fail not to operate in their turns or as Nature disposes them in their places and degrees and therefore it will be highly convenient to discover them in their Parts and Particles As for the Body of a Horse it differs not in Elementary composition from that of a Man for of all the Elements it consists viz. Fire Air Earth and Water which are indeed the Generatives and Consumers of all Mortal things and beings And although these Elements are different in themselves yet are frequently agreeable in the Composition for the Fire though hot and dry in it self yet compounded with the other Elements in a Mortal frame or bodily composition diffuses a gentle heat to nourish and support life Though the Air is hot and moist but more participating of the latter yet does it temperate the heat of the former and gives a kind respiration and gentle breathing to refresh and exhilerate each Part and Particle The Earth though it is in it self gross and ponderous yet in this composition is it rarified and by its substantial matter composes the frame wherein the rest of the Elements cohabit and being cold and dry serves to temperate the hot and moist The Water though cold and moist in it self serves in this case to moisten and render plyable the Sublunar works of Nature and enabling them to subsist And of these four Mothers of Creation participate more immediately the four humours of which the Bodies of Animal and Rational Creatures are composed as Choler Blood Melancholy and Phlegm the first of Fire the second of Air the third of Earth and the fourth to Water And as these more or less operate so according to their qualities is the Body moved and exposed to heat cold moisture or dryness and consequently to the effects they produce for these have their principal Dominion in the Seats of Life and from thence extend their power and force to every part and member As thus Phlegm possesses the Brain Choler and Blood the Liver and Heart and Melancholy the Spleen which is the Recepticle and Conveyancer of the Excrements of the Liver all of them having distinctly and conjunctly their proper office assigned As thus the Blood is the principal nourisher of the natural frame Phlegm or Moisture renders the Members flexible and complyant in motion and use Choler causeth digestion by its Operative heat and Melancholy disposes to an Appetite and attracteth the grosser parts of Nutrimental Elements and occasioneth the disburthening of Nature It is generally agreed on by the Learned That every Organical-body is supported by four principal instrumental Members and these are held to be the Brain Heart Liver and Genitors these performing their particular offices and functions Por as the Sinews are supported by the Brain the seat of Animal Spirits the Arteries from the Heart or seat of Vital Spirits the Veins which are natural parts from the Liver so the Seminal Vessels are supported by the Genital Parts or Instruments of Generation and these conjoyntly operating are the Elementary Substitutes as participating of their Nature and consequently the Materials of Generation Thus having briefly discoursed of the Elementary parts of the Bodies of Creatures I now proceed from the four Humours Elements and Instrumental Members to the Natural faculties which in this case are the next things to be considered which are Eating Retaining Concocting and Expelling and though all the Humours are Instrumental in promoting these yet principally Nature serves her self but of only one to work upon and that is a wheyish kind of Blood generated in the Liver or attracted thereby from the purest part of such nutriment as has been concocted in the stomach and from thence conveying it self to the Liver and through the great Vein conveying nutriment into all its branches and consequently into all the parts of the Body by dispersing the Rarified blood into every part which by the help of the other Humours supports the frame of Nature As for the watery part of nourishment and that of the grosser substance the one is carried into the Bladder and the other passing into the Bowels are in the end cast out of the Body to make room for more of the like nature But moreover there are two Veins that conduct part of the purest and rarified matter into the Seminal Vessels where by the operation and contractions of the Generative parts it is refined by a gentle heat to a more spirituous quality and so in the end becomes Seed which according to the goodness or badness mixed in the Womb proves effectual or ineffectual for note that if the thin and subtil Blood be wanting to support the Seed and enliven it with heat it frequently fails in performing its office and the Horse becomes frigid and uncapable of performance and is often subject to moist diseases as the Glaunders often proceeding from the Liver and Lungs when they are infected with
let a Horse Blood too often decays Nature and much weakens the Horse when on the other side too long to defer it gives corrupt Blood an opportunity to create Diseases that infect and afflict him if it be done for healths sake without any sign of apparent danger then is twice in a year sufficient The times best approved of for this office are the end of December and the beginning of May. Now some are of opinion that there is no need of letting a Stone-horse Blood if he be used to cover Mares unless some disease be apparent and the reason they give is that his spending does exhaust his Blood sufficiently But such a reason is very weak considering the Blood of which the Seed is made by the working and operation of the Genital Parts is the most spirited and and pure of all other and that which ought to be taken away by Blood-letting is commonly the most gross and offensive so that it will never turn to Seed but corrupt by continuing in the Body and create Diseases and therefore ought it to be drawn off that the Veins being emptied may fill with better Blood nay Blood-letting is coveted naturally by some Horses for the Horses of Poland often let themselves blood by often rubbing against a sharp Post or Rock And so does the River Horse in Niius from whose Example 't is held that Phlebotomy or Blood-letting came in use Others there are that will not have Geldings let Blood and the reason they give is that his Body through the loss of his Genitors being infeebled wants the Blood to support and corroborate it and that it consumes faster in him than in a Stone-horse But this bears no weight for the Blood will increase according to the constitution of the Horse and his feeding and according to the heat or coldness of the Country the Horse is bred in the less or more Blood is found in him The next Material matter to be regarded is the exact time when it ought to be performed and most hold it best in the Morning when the Horse is fasting an hour after he wakes or rouses up And then again have regard to the Moon it being in the encrease if possible but by no means in the Sign where the Vein is scituate that you open least thereby your Horse be weakned for then the Vital spirits will issue with the blood And another regard is to be had to his Age for if he be very old you must not bleed him unless upon some emergent occasion but suffer his Blood to nourish him that his Flesh may not wain or decrease And in all these cases you must have regard to a Horse's constitution for some are more capable of losing three pound of Blood than others are two or one or in case of a Disease according as more or less is required as the Blood is more or less infected and in such a case no time nor season is to be regarded but as necessity requires for many times Blood-letting in such cases is a means to save the Horse as deferring of it is to the destroying of him And in these or the like cases it ought to be known in what Diseases it is requisite and that it may in the general be discovered by these Signs Viz. If the Horse's Eyes look red and his Veins rise and swell beyond the ordinary bounds then is he oppressed with too much Blood or at least that which is not good If you perceive by his Itching scrubbing himself and uneasiness that there is a salt firey humour contracted in the Veins then let him Blood which is more immediately known by the extraordinary itching of the Mane and Tail by rubbing of which the Hair frequently sheds and the Skin peels off If his Urin be red and high-coloured and his Dung very hot black and hard If on his Back there appear little Bubles or Inflamations red and angry or if his Meat be not well digested then they denote the Horse to abound with Blood and stand in need of having it drawn off to a degree that his health may be preserved or restored If the Whites of his Eyes are tainted with yellowness or the like happen to his upper or neither Lip it is requisite to bleed him for upon the happening of any of these Signs the Blood is disordered super-abundant or corrupted and some fatal sickness is threatned To prevent or at least mittigate which there is no better way than bleeding And in the manner of letting Blood when you have corded your Horse conveniently that the Veins may appear full and fair you may strike your Fleam in the Neck-Veins four Inches on this side the setting-on of the Head but the other Veins being small you must open them with a Lancet for fear of cutting them through and so consequently injure the Nerves that support them And thus much for Blood-letting and the Signs of Bleeding c. From which I shall proceed to what relates to Cures of all kinds whether Internal Diseases or External Sorrances after the best and easiest manner and method according to the approved Rules and Directions of the ablest Farriers and Horsleeches that are and have been rendred famous for their Skill not only in this but in divers other Nations and withall let you plainly understand the cause of the most Chronical diseases as well as the means to Cure them rendring the method and manner easie to the Practitioner and advantageous to those that trade in Horses and keep them for their profit or pleasure But before I absolutely enter upon them there are a few things necessary to be considered and especially five Viz. 1. To inform ones self to what grief or distemper a Horse is inclinable 2. The cause from whence it proceeds whether External or Internal 3. The tokens and symptoms by which the distemper is known 4. By what means the Causes accrue that create the distemper 5. How to apply Remedies fitting to the distempers and disorders And these are so absolutely necessary that without such knowledge a perfect cure cannot be wrought by any Farrier And now as for the Diseases and Grievances incident to a Horse they are not a few those that reckon the least consent to sixty of different natures and to be plain there are many more which may be called dependants on these or indeed some of them no less dangerous But submitting to the Judgment of the Learned I now come to another Material Point which relates mostly to the Chyrurgical part or Methods to be taken and known in the curing Sorrances c. which indeed are the most difficult and then I shall proceed in order CHAP. XXI A Description of Diseases Grievances or Sorrances incident to Horses c. to foresee them by sundry signs and tokens and know whence they arise with the ways and methods of Preventing Redressing and Curing them by Approved Rules and Remedies according to the Practice of the best Farriers in all Ages
circle and at other times where he began shifting likewise as you see convenient your hand and mending your pace obliging him upon a full stop to retire a pace or two backward and so from a Trot you may fall to the Gallop ever observing that Galloping to the right he leads with his left foot and so consequently Galloping to the left that he leads to the right and in so doing he will perform it with ease and delight when on the contrary if he carrys both his feet even leading with neither he must do it with pain and be apt sometimes to strike and this is ever best in case of a full speed upon a straight Course and so in using convenient Bitts and Furniture and keeping a steady hand you may stop him upon a full career and oblige him suddenly to retire if any imminent danger be apparent or sometimes for your pleasure and by such-like management you may bring him to the Turnings and strait Turns with little difficulty and indeed perfect him for any considerable Exercise in the performance of which he ought likewise to be considered more than what I have formerly mentioned When you intend your Horse for Travel Sport or the like more than what I have already given directions as to Managing that he may well endure and answer your expectation Observe to dress him over-night in the same manner as has been directed for the Running-horse and having by you Dog's-grease or Neatsfoot-oyl anoint him therewith especially his Joynts suppling it in with your warm hands or a warm cloth and in so comforting the Nerves and Sinews you will oblige the Horse to hold out much the better and in the morning give him three quarts of well-sifted Oats sweet and good with a quart of Beans split and the husks taken off and after them a quart of Ale And so being Accoutered to your mind Ride him forth a Racking-pace till you find his Joynts very plyable which will be within a Mile or two Riding then mend his pace and by degrees put him to either Amble Trot or Gallop as best shall please you till you come to your Inn. Being come to the end of your Stage if the Horse sweat take off his cloaths by degrees and with a piece of broken Sword Scithe or edged Lath scrape him all over and after that rub him with dry wisps or woollen cloths then pass your hand over him cleanse his Pasterns and Fetlocks from dirt and gravel pick his feet and cast a cloth over him and give him his potion of meat which must be a third part more at least than what his usual allowance is when he stands still and if you find him very hot within you may give him Water and Ale a like quantity both being a little warmed especially in Winter-time and anoint his Limbs with the same materials and in the same manner I have before mentioned and if you find his breath short give him an ounce of Hemp-seed well bruised in a glass of Canary or warm Ale ever forbearing to wash your Horse when he is hot that is to Ride him into a Pond or the like but rather if he be exceeding dirty warm a Pail full of Water and with wisps rub him gently clean or having first rubbed off the dirt with dry wisps you may cleanse the rest with a Brush And thus much I thought fit to lay down as a supplement to what has been formerly spoken not much different in the cases of Ordering and Management and so proceed to Particulars and Generals of another nature though tending to the same center CHAP. II. How the Jockies make old Horses look young A lean Horse artificially and naturally how fatned by Jockies A Remedy for Restiffness Neighing and the vice of Lying down in the Water the Art of making Stars Snips Blazes setting on false Ears Tails Manes c. with a discovery of many other secrets To make a Horse that is really old seem young RUb his Teeth with a Pumice-stone and the Powder of burnt Allom which rendring them white take a small Iron which being crook'd for the purpose burn in the tops of the two foremost Teeth small holes so big that a Wheat-corn may enter on each side the neither Jaw and on the Tushes do the like fining them with a Bodkin till the black Scale come off and the Teeth in that place look brighter than in another which done if the pits above the Eyes be hollow with a sharp Pen-knife or Lancet slit the skin being before raised and hollowing it as much as you can by the working of your fingers put into the slit a Duck or Crow-quill and blow them up one after another that the hollowness may fill with wind which entring into the Cavities of the skin will after having been stopped up for a time with a Plaster of Diaculum or Bees-wax fix there till by sweat or extraordinary labour it works out If the Temples are crooked which is a sign of Age lay to either of them a Poultis of Hemlock and Cammomoil fryed in Linseed-oyl and it will so far contract the blood to fill them that for many days they will appear strait And then for the Hoof which in case of Age will bâ— seamed or rugged Take a Rasp or File and havinâ— well smoothed it anoint it well with Oyl of Turpentine for a day or two and it will look very comely But in this case the Horse must be disposed of withiâ— a week at the farthest or else the defects will return A Horse subject to lye down in the Water how to remedy it In this case you must consider the Horse to be of 〈◊〉 hot constitution begotten or produced under the fire Signs of Leo or Scorpio or else much overflowed with Choler and therefore ever desirous to cool himself and thereby rendred in a manner unserviceable which Vice to remedy Ride him into a water up to his Knees and suffer him to lye down then having three or four lusty fellows ready with Boots on let them seize his head and hold it under water whilst another beats and belabours him And this do till you find the Horse almost stifled and in repeating it three or four times the terror of it will so work that the Horse will fly from the water more than ever he coveted it and hardly suffer himself to be watered unless in a Pail or Trough This likewise may be remedied by Bleeding and Purging your Horse Spring and Fall whereby the Humours that occasion the extraordinary heat and disorder may not be wanting whereon to feed or contract having the power and force of inflaming his body c. A Tired or Restiff Horse to remedy For the first of these being subject to Tire without â—ny extraordinary cause stamp a handfull of Nettles and pour the Juyce into either of his Ears and then take a couple of small peble-stones and put in after â—t tying or sewing up the Ears as advantageously