tho' they continue to piss after the same manner during their Sickness Another no less fatal Sign is when the Hair of his Tail and on his Skull may be easily pluck'd off 'T is a dangerous Sign when a sick Horse either never lies down or starts up again immediately not being able to breathe freely in a lying Posture whereas if in the Declination of his Sickness he lie down and continue long in that Posture 't is a very good Sign When a sick Horse turns up the Whites of his Eyes above you may conclude that he is in Pain and that his Disease will be of long continuance From these Signs you may conjecture in the general that your Horse is sick and afterwards you must endeavour to discover his particular Distemper that you may be able to apply suitable Remedies A Disease that is known is half cur'd Morbum nôsse curationis principium I shall consider in Order the Diseases of all the Parts of the Body beginning with those of the Head not omitting the least Distemper And in particular I shall observe this Method In the first place I shall propose a short Definition of the Disease with an Account of its Causes and then having describ'd it as clearly and plainly as 't is possible to do on Paper I shall proceed to prescribe the proper Remedies CHAP. III. Of the Lampas THE Lampas is a Lump or Excrescency of Flesh about the Bigness of a Nut in the Roof of the Mouth which rises above the Teeth sometimes more and sometimes less The Horse endeavouring to eat his Oats feels a Pain in this Part so that he is forc'd to leave off Feeding Young Horses are usually troubl'd with this Distemper Assoon as you open their Mouth you may perceive the Roof of their Mouth to be higher than their Teeth which we call the Lampas It is cur'd by taking it away with an Instrument of Iron made for that Purpose and heated red hot The least Farrier's Prentice knows how to perform this Operation but you must beware lest an aukward Operator having made his Iron too hot after he has cut thro' the Thickness of the Excrescency shou'd by touching it over several times burn the Bone for then the Bone will scale and several dangerous Consequences may follow which must be avoided by taking off the Lampas at one stroak without coming over the Place again after it is cut off The Farriers at Paris make a Scruple to burn the Lampas in young Horses so long as they have any of their Colt's Teeth and 't is my Opinion that this Excrescency ought not to be taken away till they have put forth all their Teeth if it does not very much trouble 'em and hinder 'em from ' eating Of the Barbs These are small and inconsiderable Excrescences of Flesh under the Tongue like those that we see in Barbels They hinder the Horse from Drinking and may be seen by drawing the Tongue aside They are cur'd by cutting 'em off as close as may be with a pair of Cizzars and rubbing the place with Salt which heals of it self without further trouble Of the Tick. You may find a particular description of that which is called the Tick in the Five and Twentieth Chapter of the Second Part. The Remedies that are us'd against it do not always succeed Some tie a Leathern Thong of the breadth of three Fingers about the Horses Neck near his Head yet so as not to obstruct his Breath which makes him either leave off this Custom or use it very little Others cover the Brims of the Manger with Plates of Brass or Copper on which the Horse is afraid to lean his Teeth and abstains from his usual sport for some time but there are some so addicted to that Recreation that they will not be thus frighted from it At the beginning it will be sufficient to rub the brims of the Manger with some very bitter Herb or with Cow's or Dog's Dung Some cover them with a Sheep's Skin the woolly side outwards which makes the Horse desist for some time from this Custom But the surest way is to make him eat in a place where there is no Manger but only a Rack and tying him with a Buckle to the Wall to give him his Oats in a Haver-Sack or Bag which hangs at his Head by a String such as Troopers use in the Army I have seen Horses perfectly cur'd of this ill Custom by one of these means even after they were eight Years old and consequently habituated to it CHAP. IV. Of Wolve's Teeth IN this Distemper the Grinders grow either outwards or inwards so that when the Horse feeds the points of those Teeth that are higher than the rest hurt him by pricking his Flesh or Tongue and make him give over Eating This Inconvenience is of no great consequence yet it puzzles several Persons when they see a Horse forsake his Meat without any manifest cause and pine away when there is no apparent defect either in his Eyes or Hair and even when he is otherwise brisk and lively You must handle his Grinders and if you feel the points of 'em thro' his Lips take a sort of Upset of Iron which Farriers commonly use and setting his Mouth open these points will appear which you may break off with a Googe an Instrument with which every Farrier is furnish'd but you must beware lest by striking heedlesly on the Googe a good Tooth or even the whole Jaw be loosen'd To prevent this Inconvenience which may easily happen instead of using the Googe you may make the Horse champ on a great File us'd by Lock-smiths which will break off the overgrown points if they are not too big But he must chaw the File a quarter of an hour on both sides I had once a Mule one of whose Nether-Grinders grew to a prodigious length It happen'd that the upper Tooth directly opposite to it fell out and that below grew up into the void space and by degrees pierc'd the Roof of his Mouth about the thickness of ones Finger which tormented him exceedingly when he drunk I have related this Example as an extraordinary case to show that when once the Teeth exceed their due measure and are not daily worn by chewing they may grow to an extraordinary length and even cut the Roof of the Mouth I saw an old Horse one of whose great Teeth below was a whole Finger's breadth longer than the rest of his Grinders we were forc'd to cast him with a great deal of trouble before we could break it off with a Googe and his Jaw was so loosen'd by the violence of the Operation that he could not eat without much pain for fifteen days after But at length he recover'd and fed heartily which he could not do before that monstrous Tooth was broken Young Horses are as rarely subject to this Distemper as they are frequently troubled with the Lampas For the Roof of the Mouth grows lank and dry as
well as prevents a Swelling I cur'd a Swelling in one of the hinder Legs which had continu'd a whole Winter by charging it seven or eight times with Cows Dungs mix'd with Spirit of Wine CHAP. LXII A Honey-Charge or Remolade for a Blow or to asswage a Swelling in the Legs THO' this Charge consists of few Ingredients 't is good not only for Blows or Stroaks with another Horse's Foot and Swellings of the fore and hinder Legs but for all sorts of Swellings Bruises and Hurts in any part of the Body Mix a Pound of Wheat-flower with White-Wine to the Consistence of Gruel and boil it over a gentle Fire stirring without Intermission till the whole be united then melt a Pound of Burgundy Pitch in a Skillet adding a Pound and a half of Honey and a Pound of common Turpentine and incorporating all together which must be mix'd with the Gruel moderately hot After you have remov'd the Vessel from the Fire add two Pounds of fine Bole in powder the Oriental is best and make a Charge which must be apply'd hot and repeated till the Swelling be asswag'd They who know but one Remedy are expos'd to frequent Disappointments by missing some of the Ingredients and therefore it will not be improper to subjoin some others Another Remedy for a Swelling in the Legs occasion'd by a Blow Bathe the Part with strong Aqua-Vitae chafing it hard and then charge the whole Leg with common Honey The next day chafe the Part again with Aqua-Vitae and apply a new Charge without taking away the old Renew the Application once every Day six or seven times then send your Horse to a River or wash him well in a Pond twice every Day and the Swelling will certainly disappear in a little time Swellings have been often asswag'd by this easie Remedy Take half a Pint of good Vinegar half a Pound of Tallow and an Ounce of Flower of Brimstone Mix and anoint the Swelling till it be dissolv'd You may take away a small Tumour by applying a Mixture of common Bole Honey and Water CHAP. LXIII The Duke 's Ointment for Swellings and Bruises accompany'd with Heat and for Inflammations in any Part of the Body TAke clear and pure Linseed-Oil one Pound Flowers of Brimstone four Ounces Put 'em into a Matrass or Glass Vial with a long Neck letting it stand in a moderate Sand-heat for the Space of an Hour after which augment the Heat and keep it up to the same degree till the Flowers be perfectly dissolv'd In the mean time before the Oil grow cold lest part of the Brimstone fall to the Bottom melt a Pound of Tallow or of Boar's Grease in another Vessel with two Ounces and a half of white Wax instead of which if you can procure Horse's Grease the Remedy will be more effectual but then you must take four Ounces of Wax because Horse's Grease is not so thick as Boar's Grease The Grease and Wax being wholly melted pour in the Linseed Oil and removing the Vessel from the Fire stir the Ointment with a Slice of Alkanet Root till it be cold It resembles Ointment of Roses for tho' you may discover the Brimstone by the Smell you will hardly be able to perceive it otherwise as being so perfectly dissolv'd This Ointment is apply'd cold 't is a good Resolvent and both eases Pain and asswages all sorts of Swellings in any part of the Body tho' they be accompany'd with Heat Swellings are frequently occasion'd in the Withers Hams and other parts of the Body by Bruises Blows and other Causes so that if the Inflammation be not remov'd the Humours will flow to the Part and make the Cure very difficult but this Ointment takes away the Inflammation and dissolves the Humours that are already lodg'd in the Part. And therefore assoon as the Withers are swell'd and like to come to a Head instead of applying astringent Remedies with Bole which do more Harm than Good rub the griev'd Part with this Ointment Morning and Evening and cover it with a Lamb's Skin the woolly side inwards The continu'd Application of this Remedy does oftentimes dissolve such Tumours without Suppuration but if the Inflamtion encrease you must open the Swelling in due time with a red-hot Iron in one or more parts And thus the Cure will be perform'd safely surely and pleasantly For the Swelling of the Sheath and Stones tho' the Tumour spread it self under the Belly about the Thickness of two Fingers Bleed your Horse and rub his Sheath and the Swelling under his Belly with the Duke's Ointment every Morning and Evening then walk him softly half an hour and after some time wash off the Ointment with warm Wine and Butter When the Part is dry apply the Ointment again and above all forget not to walk the Horse half an Hour or a whole Hour and tho' the Swelling reach between his Legs even to his Brisket fear not for it will certainly be asswag'd Sometimes notwithstanding of the Application of this Ointment the Tumour will suppurate and come to Matter and you may know whether it has a tendency that way by its Softness and by the lasting Impression that it keeps when you press it with your Finger as if it were Butter in which Case you must open it in several places with a red-hot Bodkin or sharp-pointed Iron to let out the red Water then chafe the Part with the Ointment and walk the Horse If only the Sheath be swell'd the Cure is not very difficult for it may be quickly perform'd in Summer by keeping the Horse an Hour every Day in the Water and in cold Weather by anointing with the Duke's Ointment and then walking him These Tumours are occasion'd by the Heat of the Stable and Want of Exercise The same Remedy may be apply'd to all hot Swellings for it will certainly take away the Inflammation and dissolve the Humour if it be not too hard and stubborn It wonderfully helps all Swellings of the Hams or Legs occasion'd by Blows with another Horse's Foot Falls and other Accidents which are usually accompany'd with Heat by Reason of the Pain caus'd by the Contusion in the Nervous and Sinewy Parts As for Blows or Kicks on the Muscle of the Thigh which are attended with such troublesome Symptoms this Ointment will certainly promote the Cure and at least allay the Heat and Inflammation CHAP. LXIV Of Old Swellings in the Legs occasion'd by an ill-cur'd Sinew-sprain SOmetimes Sinew-Sprains or Sinew-Sprungs are so unskilfully handl'd that tho' the Pain be so far remov'd that the Lameness ceases yet the Humours gather'd in the part not being dissolv'd there remains a Swelling which grows so hard that it seems impossible to cure it without Burning Nevertheless on such Occasions I have seen the cure perform'd by the following Remedy Take of Linseed-Flower and Bean-Flower of each one * A Measure containing somewhat above a Pint. Litron the strongest Aqua-Vitae a Pint and an half Mix and boil 'em over
and hinder Parts To conclude This is a very dangerous Disease and even incurable if it be suffer'd to fix and take Root But the Danger may be prevented by a timely Application of Remedies CHAP. CLV Of Pains in the Feet after Foundering THE Pains that frequently remain after Foundering hinder the Horse from walking steadily and from setting his Foot flat upon the Ground for he treads only upon his Heel to ease the Toe The Humour that caus'd the Foundering falling down from the Leg slides between the Bone of the Foot and the Hoof and the natural Heat being as it were stifl'd by the sharp Humour the fore-part of the Foot is depriv'd of its appointed share of Nourishment and consequently is hardend dry'd and weaken'd The End of the Bone next the Toe falls down upon the Sole and shrinks so that it must necessarily be separated from the sound Part of the Bone This Separation is not the Work of one Day but notwithstanding the extreme Difficulty which attends it it may be at last happily perfected if Nature who is the best Judge of the Time and most skilful Performer of the Operation be assisted by a seasonable and regular Observance of the following Method If your Horse tread only on his Heels so that you have reason to conclude that that the fore-part of the Foot is wither'd or dry'd up and if you perceive its Hollowness by knocking upon the Hoof pluck off the Shooe and having par'd the Foot a little set on a Pantofle-Shooe such as you will find explain'd in the Chapter that treats of the Shooing of Horses that have Narrow Heels and apply the following Remedy Note That when you shooe a Horse in this Condition you must always leave the Sole as firm as may be for the Success of the Cure depends chiefly upon that and on the falling away of the dry part of the Bone which may be also promoted by the use of the following Decoction or Broth. If your Horse be troubl'd with Pains in his Feet without any Sign of the Dryness or Separation of the Bone you must only pare the Feet set on very easie Shooes and apply the following Broth. A Broth or Decoction for Pains in the Feet remaining after Foundering Take Brandy a Quart strong Vinegar a Pint and a half Oil of Bay a Pound Add a sufficient quantity of Bean-Flower and boil to the Consistency of a thick Broth stirring it perpetually over a gentle Fire Then pour it boiling hot into the Foot laying on Tow and Splints to keep it in and apply the same Broth assoon as you can endure to touch it with your Hand to the Cronet with Tow. Renew the Application thrice every twenty four Hours and if the Pain be not very inveterate the Horse will certainly recover If the fore-part of the Bone of the Foot be dry'd and fall down upon the Sole 't will be very convenient to take up the Pastern-Veins after the Application of the Broth that the Humour which is carry'd to the Foot with the Blood may be the sooner exhausted besides several other Reasons already intimated If the Foot be so extremely shrunk and dry'd up that the Horse cannot go nor almost stand you must take out the Sole and sear the End of the Bone of the Foot suffering it to fall quite away after which the Sole will grow again and the Horse may recover if you set on a Pantofle-Shooe and give the Foot time to gather strength but you must never expect that it will be good handsome or fit for Service CHAP. CLVI Of the Mange Itch or Running-Scab THis is a Disease of the Skin which makes the Hair peel and fall away and the Hide grow thick hard dry rough and even wrinkl'd in several Places Vegetius in the seventy first Chapter of the third Book of his Ars Veterinaria defines it in these Words The Scab or Mange is a loathsome and unseemly Distemper of Cattle But this is no true Definition since it explains not the Nature of the Thing defin'd Unwholsome Nourishment may occasion this Distemper which proceeds from a sharp burnt and salt Humour that is from an Acid full of sharp and corrosive Spirits and Salts The same Acid may be generated by Hunger and Fatigues and by keeping company with mangy Horses It may also be communicated to those Horses that are rubb'd with the same Curry-Combs and Brushes or Dusting-Cloths that were formerly made use of for Horses infected with this Distemper and to conclude The Mange may be an Effect of the Carelesness of the Groom in dressing his Horse or of the Neglect of seasonable Bleeding We may conclude that a Horse is troubl'd with the Mange when he rubs one part of his Body more than the rest as for Example his Joints Legs Tail and Mane in which Case you must feel the Part and if you perceive that the Hide is thicker than usually 't is a Sign that your Horse is Mangy Sometimes this Distemper is universal but for the most part it comes by degrees and appears sometimes in one Part and sometimes in another This Disease may be divided into two Kinds the dry and ulcerated Mange In the first there appears nothing upon the Skin but a sort of mealy Scales which make the Hair fall quite away The Cure is extremely difficult and usually the Cause is either Cold or Hunger The other Kind breaks out into little Swellings and Scurfs which being separated the Part remains sore and raw This is more easily cur'd than the former Kind unless when 't is seated in the Mane or Tail where it sticks very fast and can hardly be rooted out because the Hide in these Parts is so thick that the strongest Remedies can scarce force their Passage thro' it Both Kinds are cur'd with the same Remedies A Remedy for the Mange You must begin the Cure of this Distemper with the Preparation of the Humour that causes it For you must never proceed to anoint your Horse's Body till you have remov'd the internal Cause of the Humor that is driven outwards by Nature lest by inclosing and concentrating the corrupt Humour in the Body the Entrails be heated and the Noble Parts vitiated Bleeding is almost always necessary in this Case to allay the Heat of the Blood and promote its Circulation Vegetius has very prudently order'd the chusing of fit Places for letting of Blood according to the Variety of Cases and the different Parts of the Body where the Humour is lodg'd Thus for Example if the Mange appear in the Head or Neck you must let your Horse blood in the Head if in the Shoulders Breast or fore Legs bleed him in the Brisket if the Back be infected in the Flanks and if the hinder Legs or Hips be mangy you must open a Vein in the Thighs But I cannot approve the Purgation appointed by the same Author for the Roots of wild Cucumbers or Elaterium which he prescribes to be mixt with Oats leaves
Crupper slack the Tie or Breast-plate and put some fresh straw betwixt the Saddle and Horse's back to refresh and ease him Then shake down a good deal of fresh Litter beneath him to oblige him to Stale or Piss for the most part of good Horses do alwayes Piss when they are first put in the Stable and find the Litter beneath them I shall here by the way give you an advice that will seem some what extraordinary although very good which is that during your whole journey you suffer your horse to piss as often as you find him inclin'd to it and you should also excite and invite him to it the quite contrary of which is to be practised with Mares which you are to hinder as much as possible to piss in travelling betwixt meals because their strength and vigour is thereby diminished those who have Mares may make a tryal of this and will come to acknowledge it for a truth that horses should be allowed and even excited to piss as they are riding but Mares not because they will not be the worse but rather yield their Masters the more service by it I don't alledge and recommend this practice without certainly knowing it's effect You are next to take away the old hay from the Rack and clean the Stall before him from all filthiness of Earth Sand or Poultrey dung taking also care that the Manger be not full of holes which is very common in most Inns that so the Oats which fall through may serve to feed their Fouls and if it should be very Dirty and Nastie you are then to cause wash it with warm Water Another method for horses which are full of fire and Mettal and which are worth the pains to be carefully lookt after is that after you have rid them hard and arrived at the Inn or that your horse be very warm you are immediatly at your alighting to cause unsaddle him and scrape off the sweat from his whole body with a Sweating knife or Scraper after which wipe his head and ears well with a Hair-cloath and rub his body all over with fresh straw put a covering or horse Cloath upon him and then set on the Saddle again after which cause gently lead him up and down in a mans hand for half an hour before you put him in the Stable This method is good to be practised by such as carry Grooms along with them and whose only business it is to loo◠after scrape off the sweat and dry and rub doun their horses because as for the Hostler Boyes they are very dextrous 't is true in asking drink-money but understand little thing else belonging to horses and therefore unless a man have a Groom of his own he had better make use of the former method If a man hath carried along with him any of the stinking Pills descrived in the 85 Chap Sect 3. of the second part he ma◠cause give his horse two of them with a little Claret Wine or for want of them give hi◠an English pint of Brandy if the horse hath been rid very hard and that he fear 〈◊〉 may be the worse of it for this will stop and prevent all accidents and other inconveniencies which may happen but I shall speak a little more of this hereafter If about a quarter or half a quarter of an hour before you arrive at the Inn yo◠meet with any water in which there is a good Foord or passage it will be very fit i◠cause your horse pass and repass it two or three times without either wetting his Belly or suffering him to drink when I say you should not wet his Belly I mean that you should not make him go so deep into it as that the water may come up to his Belly for to prevent and hinder his Legs to make the Water spurt and fly up about his belly and wet it is what cannot be expected neither is it of any consequence now besides that the washing him thus doth cleanse his legs of the Mud the water being cold doth bind up the humours and prevent that those which were stirred up by the whole days journey fall not down upon his Legs as being the lowest parts of his body and the most capable to receive them which will make them become stiff by causing obstructions in the Nerves which at last will quite ruine and spoil them CHAP XXX How a man should order Horses at dinner and supper while upon Travel IF it be in the summer time CHAP XXX How a man should order horses at dinner and supper while upon travel when the Waters are warm you are at your coming near to the Inn if your horse be not very warm and sweating to wash hi◠in some Water or Pond without either going so deep as his belly or suffering him to drink and it is also very good for some horses whose Legs are already a little Gourded or being fleshy are subject to Humors when a man hath not the conveniency of a Rivulet or pond upon the Road to alight about a quarter of an hour before he arrive at his Inn and lead his horse in his hand to cool him and so soon as he is come to the stable door to cause wash and bath his Legs with Well water just as it is taken from the Well which will prevent the descent of humors upon them this method is particularly excellent for such horses as have received some severe stroke upon their Legs or Hams and which never fail to swell in those parts by them they have at Dinner time or in the Evening I knew an Italian Escuyer or Riding-Master who after his Mannage whether his horses were warm or not made them swim over and again a River near by his Mannage as broad as the Seine is before the Louvre in Paris and afterwards caused dry them all over and cover them well in the stable not suffering them to eat for an hour after this he practised his whole life-time and none of his horses had ever either Collick or Vives but were alwayes the cleanest and nearest limbed could be I beleive this Example although very true won't perswade any man to do the like Your horse being tyed up to the Rack and partly dryed of his sweat or moisture which he had at first arriving although he be as yet bridled yet if he begin to draw his hay and beat no more in his Flanks you are to cause unbridle him and to wash his Bit in a pail of water that it may be carefully hung up after it is well cleaned and wipt and afterwards you may suffer him to eat his hay at pleasure Those who so soon as they arrive at the Inn suffer their horses to be unbridled by the Hostler boyes as is the common custom are deceived in so far as their horses eat only for the first quarter of an hour and then eat no more thereafter whereas if they were suffered to stand some time in the bridle
standing in such uneven stables where their hind feet were constantly ill placed have at length rendered their hind Quarters so mishapâ—t that they appeared maimed There are some people who when they see a horse that treadeth only upon his hinder Toes say that he is Roosted or Pearched in French Juché To shoe a horse which stumbleth you must shoe him quite contrary to those which tread only upon the Toes of their hind-feet for you must take down his Toe very much and also shorten it to the end he may not meet so easily with the clods and stones upon the High-wayes But if those horses which stumble have their sinews troubled their legs spoilt or if their shoulders be weak then you must have recourse to another cure than Shoeing which you will find in the 33 Chap. of the 2d part and others following where you have receipts that are all very good If your horse Over-reach you must shoe him so that the Spunge of the shoe may follow the turn of his foot as I ordered you before It is commonly a sign of Weakness when a horse is subject to Over-reach which is when with his hind-feet as he is riding he overtaketh the heels of his fore Other people after the Spanish fashion turn up their hind-feet shoes at the Toe as I told you they did the Pack or Sumpter horses Fore-feet shoes in Hilly Countreys which method is not bad for when horses over-reach they do not so easily with these pull off their fore-feet shoes it is certain that the rider is oftentimes the occasion of a horse's over-reaching because through his ignorance he knoweth not how with his Bridle-hand and by the fear of his Spurs to keep his horse Together and firm under him it 's true that an action which is constrained cannot endure long and far less the whole time of a long journey when wearyness seizeth a horse but a man should alwayes now and then Advertise his horse and if that prevent not his over-reaching you may then freely say that he wanteth Reins and Strength or that he is quite spoilt CHAP. XLV How to shoe horses which have been Foundered in the feet THere are few Horses that have been oftner foundered in the Body than once CHAP XLV How to shoe horses which have been foundered in the feet which have not some of the humour which occasioned the foundering fallen down in their feet some more and others less therefore it is necessary to cause shoe them after some certain regular method which may help and recover their feet as much as possible I shall discourse to the full of Foundering in the body in the 86 Chap. of the second part of this Work where the cures for it shall be set down at large and therefore shall in this place only offer to you one single remedy for it which is as good as it is easie and all the vertue of this cure consisteth in the hair and skin of an Ermin which is a little four footed Creature all white except the tip of its tail which is black just shaped like a Weasel only their colours differ People take the skins of those 〈◊〉 Creatures which they dry without Tanning or dressing them and whenever a hâ—â— foundered they take about the bigness of a farthing at most of the skin and hair â—â—ther and cutting it in five or six pieces make the norse swallow it in Wine 〈◊〉 or other liquor afterwards they keep the horse bridled three or four hours often times the horse with one drench will be cured also when horses have been 〈◊〉 Fatigued and that People fear their foundering they must give them amongst 〈◊〉 wet Bran or Oats when they are unbridled a dozen of the haires of a dry'd 〈◊〉 skin and that will preserve them and prevent the disease But it is to be observed that the Ermins skins which are taken in France have much vertue you must therefore get of those Ermins skins which come 〈◊〉 Muscovy undressed they are easily known because of their length for 〈◊〉 are considerably longer than the French ones these in Germany are also better 〈◊〉 the French but not so good as those of Muscovie and the further North that tâ— Ermins are taken the more vertue have their skins to cure foundered horses Oâ—â— times also although people have good enough Receipts yet if they be not time 〈◊〉 applyed before that the foundering hath seized much upon a horse's body it seldâ—â— faileth but that the humour at least a part of it by a natural propensity falleth downâ— to the Feet more or less according to the time that the horse hath been foundered 〈◊〉 fore he was taken notice to sometimes also receipts not methodically given have 〈◊〉 had a successful effect so that the whole Foundering hath fallen down into tâ—â— Feet Now the Feet into which the Foundering humour is fallen are commonly missâ—â—â— and diffigured because the point or that part of the Coffin-bone or little Foot whâ—â— is most advanced falleth down and presseth the sole and the middle of the 〈◊〉 above the Toe shrinketh in and becometh flat because of the hollowness beneath it ocasioned by the falling down of the end of the Coffine-bone and when the boneâ— the Little-foot hath fallen down after this manner and presseth the sole out wards people then say that the horse hath Crescents although that those Crescents be really the bone of the little-foot which hath left its place and fallen downwards and the under part of the Foot to wit the sole at the toe appeareth round like tâ—â— segment of a Ball and the hoof above shrinks in neither can it be otherwayes 〈◊〉 it is empty and hollow therefore a part of the Coffine-bone or Little-foot hath 〈◊〉 said fallen down and left that space wherein it stayed empty and being empty hoof at that place is not supported by any thing and therefore must of necesâ— shrink or fall in The very same happeneth to horses which have had a great Numness in the Coâ—â— called in French Petonnement du sabâ—t which is when the same Coffin-bone or Liâ—â— foot I was just now discoursing of becometh loose at the Toe and quiteth its â—â—tural situation and place The flesh which surrounded it and joyned it to the Coâ—â— dryeth up and there remaineth a void and Empty place and seing the Little-foot loose and detatched at the end next the Toe it falleth down and forceth the 〈◊〉 which covered it downwards so that the fore part of the hoof appeareth like a Câ—â—â—cent and the sole as if there were another little bone grown below the Little 〈◊〉 which pressed it downwards where there is no such thing for that Crescent 〈◊〉 thing else but the bone of the Little-foot which hath quit its natural situation 〈◊〉 the Toe and having fallen down it goeth beyond its natural bounds and make the hoof at the Toe appear of the shape of a Crescent more or less according as 〈◊〉 bone of the
little water give it thus to the horse for this mixture of the Oats will cause him to eat his straw and so to become plumpand fat without stuffing his belly with hay There are several kinds of Inventions for cutting straw therefore every man may cause do it after his own method but that which is smallest cut is the best CHAP LIV. Of the Food and Entertainment of horse of Mannage BEsides what I have already said CHAP. LIV. Of the Food and Entertamment of horses of Mannage of the ordering and entertainment 〈◊〉 horses of value which are properly the horses of Maunage there are 〈◊〉 some other things to be observed while they are actually working and 〈◊〉 they dayly ride in the mannage The most part of Overseers or Masters of Academies give their horses no 〈◊〉 the morning before their mannage and only give it them two times a day at twelve a clock and at night this method they say is good because it both saves châ—â—gâ—â— and a horse is more gentle and goes better when his belly is not too full for 〈◊〉 think the contrary especially for those which are obliged to work till twelve a 〈◊〉 because during such a long Interval their natural heat so consumes them that thâ—â— cannot be so plump and lusty as they ought to be excellent and good therefore think it is very proper to give them some Oats in the Morning This method 〈◊〉 theirs of giving their Oats at two times a day only is supportable for horses which either ride little in the Mannage or which never go to a Campaign but for these which are obliged to travel or follow the Army they should be fed at three times because it is more profitable for them disgusting them less and digesting a greâ—â— deal better 'T is true that at last there is this inconveniency that having once got â— habit to eat their Oats at three times when they come again to ride in the mannâ—â— and to have none given them in the morning their whole thoughts and attention upon their Oats so that their imagination is otherwayes taken up than with whâ— man is teaching them besides that they are too empty for performing so violent 〈◊〉 exercise Those who give their horses no Oats in the Morning make a very 〈◊〉 husbandry according to the Horse-coursers Maxim that by seeding well a 〈◊〉 gains not much but by feeding too sparingly he loses all Therefore I think it most proper to give to all kinds of horses their Oaâ—s three times a day but then the first must be by four a clock in the Morning if a 〈◊〉 design to work them at six and by three if he have a mind to ride them at five 〈◊〉 so during those two hours of interval their Oats may be half digested In fine all sorts of horses would have a regular method of feeding the 〈◊〉 those of greatest value as the most noble and delicate require the greatest 〈◊〉 There is nothing which makes a horse become so soon lean as to be long without â—â—â—ing for it diminishes his vigour and as the natural heat is never idle so whâ—◠〈◊〉 hath no subject to work upon it acts against the proper parts of the body 〈◊〉 drying them up destroying their just temperature and dissipating their 〈◊〉 substance This is an inconveniency to which these horses are subject which 〈◊〉 but one continued March of a dayes journey and which is commonly practiâ—â— by such as conduct a great Stable of horses or a considerable Equipage but that whâ—â— should be observed in this case is to be but only six or seven hours upon your jouâ—â—â—â— when you can so order it as to get it done After your horses of Mannage have ate their Oats in the Morning you are to 〈◊〉 dress them slightly by only removing the coursest dust which is upon their skin 〈◊〉 help of the brush and hair cloath if nevertheless your Groom have the time it is 〈◊〉 fit to cause dress them throughly after which he is to saddle them neatly taking 〈◊〉 that the points of the fore-bows be placed streight above the horse's 〈◊〉 which are placed near his belly opposite to the places where the girths are fastned 〈◊〉 marked in the Fig of the first plate with Numb 16. People should alwayes place great Saddles more forwards than hunting Saddles because if they are set too far back and as the Hunting Saddles commonly are their Bows which are ordinarly large and therefore troublesome to the horse will hinder the motion of his shoulders the horse being thus saddled is to have his Bridle put into his head care being alwayes taken not to pull out the hair of his fore-top as it is frequently the custom for Mal-adroit Grooms to do and after your horse hath done riding if he sweat much you are immediatly to cause lead him to the stable if you are near it and if it be at a distance then you are to take him into some shelter'd place for a short time until you have caused scrape the sweat from him But if you are near to the stable then immediatly when you have brought him to it put him upon the Snaffle or rather Masticadour and having taken off his saddle take a Sweating-knife or Scraper whereof you may see the figure in the 1. plate and holding it with both your hands and also taking care not to cut him with it scrape off all the sweat which is upon his whole body going alwayes with the hair as you scrape and make use of the knife Having scrap't off exactly his sweat rub and wipe his head very well both above and below with a good large hair-cloath because being suffered to remain moist it is many times the cause of defluxions wipe him also betwixt his fore and hind Legs and then with clean straw rub him carefully over all the body particularly beneath his belly after which cover him very well and so leave him until he be perfectly dry Those who delight extraordinarly in their horses cause rub them alwayes with straw until they be throughly dry and the method is good A horse which hath sweat much through excessive labour being exactly wipt down and covered if the Alley or walk of your stable be long enough cause lead him up and down in it for a quarter of an hour and if it be in the summer time you may cause lead him in ones hand without doors but if you have no place which is temperate and warm then suffer him to dry where he standeth Horses of mannage which have swet extremly should never be suffered to drink before they are throughly cooled and have ate some Oats for I have known many which for having drunk too soon have either dyed by it or become very sick The most part of Grooms fancy that their horses have the same impatience and inclination to drink that they themselves have which is the reason that they make alwayes so great haste to give it them
or four ounces of the Catholicoâ—â—â— horses Glysters described in the 76 Chap Sect. 5. of the second part and let it be given luke-warm to your horse Take an English Quart and an half An astringent orbinding Glyster of that Water wherein Smiths quench their hot Iron boyl in it two handfuls of Plantaine Knot Grass or Centinodia and white Mullain strain this decoction and mix amongst it an English quart and an half of Milk in which you shall have quenched small red hot White pebble stones for six or seven times then add to it fine Bole and Starch of each two ounces with half a dozen Yolks of Eggs you may also if you will make use of the seeds of Garden Sâ—â—â—â— White Poppy the Oyl of Roses the Oyl of Quinces and many others where with you may make a Glyster either stronger or weaker according to your intention Ane Anodyne Glyster An Anodyne Glyster is that which asswageth pain by the agreeable temper it 〈◊〉 with the nature of the parts To compose which Take three English pints of Milk and a quart of Water mix amongst it a poâ—â— of Linseed meal with the soft of a penny Loaf which must be well dissolved in it then take of the Flowrs of Camomil and Melilot and causing all boyl together 〈◊〉 or six Walmes pass it through a double linnen Cloath squeezing it very strongly afâ—â—â— which dissolve in it half a dozen Yolks of Eggs four ounces of the Oyl of Roses a Violets and half a pownd of Butter or if you have the marrow of a Hart or Deer thâ— fat of a Fox Goose or Hen they will be better than the Butter and therefore you 〈◊〉 make use of any of them in its place A man may also make an Anodyne Glyster of the broath of Tripes only adding to 〈◊〉 the herbs and dissolving therein the Anodyus before mentioned People call that Diuretick A Diuretick Glyster The five opening Roots which expells the watery humors and serosities contained in the body by Urine you shall then cause boyl the five aperient or opening 〈◊〉 Viz Smallage Fennel Asparagus Parsly and Radishes with Barley and the â—â—ent herbs and having strained the Decoction dissolve amongst it two ounces of â—â— prunella otherwayes called Chrystal Mineral or which is more proper an ounce as a half of Polychrest in powder with half a pound of common Turpentine in which yâ—â— are to dissolve three Yolks of Eggs then mixing with all some propper Electuaâ— such as the Catholicum for horses and Diaprunum solutivum or Electuary of pruns pâ—â—ing about three or four ounces together with an English pint of Emetick Wine whiâ—â— Clyster being given to your horse will cause him piss more then all the Galeâ— Diureticks A man may compose many other kinds of Glysters by the knowledge I have give him of the Simples and of the manner they are to be made use of for example whâ— you would purge Bile then you are to put in the Glysters those Electuaries whâ— purge it and so of the rest which purge the other humors as well Simples as Electuaries which are all ranked in their proper Classes You will find in the 22 Chap. Sect. 5. of the 2d part a Carminative and Purgagative Oyl to be put in Glysters which is excellent as also in the 76 Chap. Sect 5. of the said part a Catholicum for the same purpose and which is particularly composed for horses CHAP. LXVI After what manner a Glyster is to be administred to a horse THe Common Farriers CHAP LXVI How to give a Horse a Glyster don't give to horses above an English quart or three pints of Decoction for a Glyster neither have they generally a great effect for besides that the liquor is given in too small a quantity they also spare the Drugs and commonly mix nothing with the Decoctions but salted water honey and Oyl however it is not but if People would pay them as they desire they would perhaps make them good My opinion is that there is required for a Glyster at least two or three English quarts of Decoction because being in a less quantity then that it but moistens and washes little for as a horse drinks ten times more then a man and that People give also twenty times more then the doze for a man to purge him it follows that the same proportion should be observed for his Glysters A Glyster being prepared after this manner should not be given till the horses great Gut be cleared of its dung which by Farriers is called Raiking and is performed by first anointing your hand well with a little Oyl or Butter and then thrusting it up into his Fundament taking care not to scratch the Gut with your Nailes and with it drawing forth all the dung you can conveniently bring away or otherwayes thrust up into it about the bigness of a large Hens Egg of Castile Soap anoynted with Oyl to make it enter with the more ease half an hour after which the horse will empty so that using this you need not thrust up your hand to Raik him because the Soap will do it sufficiently of it self having thus Raik't or caused your horses to empty you are next to place him with his fore-parts a little lower than his Croupe and thrusting in to his Fundament a horn made for that purpose open at the small end pour into it by degrees the Glyster which must be but Milk-warm and if it should stop in the born without passing down you are to make the horse move his Tongue and then strike him gently with the palm of your hand upon the Reins which will make it enter after which you are to put your horse in the stable again tyed up to the Rack without moving him afterwards contrary to the common practice for the Farriers ordinarly cause walk a horse while the Glyster is yet in his Guts It is also fit that your horse by tyed up to the Rack two hours before he take his Glyster and that he also eat none untill he hath rendered it or about an hour after he hath taken it People should also endeavour as much as possible to give horses their Glyster with a Seringe as they do men but then it must be made so large as to contain the whole Glyster and the hollow of its pipe which enters his Fundament should be so big as that a man may put his finger into it this method is better than that with a horn for it is both quicklier done and the horse receives it better without so much as needing to be taken out of the stable and therefore as he is less moved after receiving it so he will have the less cause to render it too soon this method is at present much in fashion and with a great deal of reason seeing it is the only one that is good 〈◊〉 may see the form of such a Seringe in the upper part of the 6 Plate Those who cause walk
cry out They had rather die than take such a nasty Powder With all my Heart Gentlemen you may follow your Humour but d' ye think it impossible you cou'd be cheated and have this Powder impos'd upon you instead of your dear Snuff And besides who can assure such a dainty Beau that his Apothecary has not made him swallow many a nastier Medicine to cure him of the fashionable Disease But out of pure Complaisance I shall subjoin another Remedy for Horses which their Riders may also use Take a Hare that is killâ—d in the Month of March flay her and without larding her prepare her for the Spit but do not put her upon it then dry her in an Oven so that the whole Flesh may be reduc'd to Powder which must be blown plentifully into the Horse's Nostrils for 't is very effectual to stanch the Blood that flows either out of the Nose or of a Wound Thus I have given you a very good and easie Remedy which does not smell of Ass-Turd That which follows is also very good and may be prepar'd at any time of the Year Take Bark of Pomegranates dry'd Roman Vitriol and Allom of each four Ounces reduce 'em to Powder and reserve 'em for Use This Powder stanches the Blood in any part of the Body and is excellent for all sorts of Wounds It may be kept very long without losing its Virtue CHAP. XXXVII Of the Stag's Evil or Palsie in the Jaw I Know not whether Stags are also troubl'd with this Disease as the Name seems to import but it proves oftentimes fatal to Horses 'T is a kind of Rheumatism which keeps their Neck and Jaws so stiff that they cannot move 'em not so much as to eat and besides they turn up the Whites of their Eyes from time to time as if they were just ready to expire They are also seiz'd at uncertain Intervals of time with such a violent Palpitation of the Heart and Heaving or Beating in the Flanks that you wou'd certainly conclude they cou'd not live two Hours and these Fits return sooner or later without any fix'd Order If you feel their Neck you will perceive it to be stiff and stretch'd out the Skin is dry and sometimes the whole Body is stiff and the hinder Parts as much affected by the Distemper as the fore Parts in which Case few or none escape especially if the Fever be continual as almost always it is This Disease is not absolutely Mortal when t is not an universal Rheumatism spread over all the Body or when the Horses have brought it upon themselves by violent striving and drawing against the Halter by which unruly Motions they strain and stretch the Muscles of the Neck so as to draw the Humours to ' em But that is not the usual Cause of this Distemper for 't is almost always occasion'd by the Horse's being unseasonably expos'd to Heat or Cold or by his being cool'd immediately after he has been over-heated which sudden Change stirs the redundant Humours and breeds many Obstructions that hinder the Motion of the affected Parts and cause a Pain not only in these but also in the neighbouring Parts or such as have a Communication with ' em Tho' the Beating of the Flank and Heart be very violent yet when it intermits for a considerable space of time the Horse recovers a sufficient measure of Strength to resist the Distemper but which is very dangerous the Defluxion on the Jaws is sometimes so strong that the poor starv'd Creature dies merely for want of necessary Sustenance and the natural Heat not finding any Aliments to employ its Force in their Digestion grows sometimes so violent that it inflames the Blood augments the Fever and at last kills the Horse to prevent which you must give him softening Clysters Morning and Evening let him Blood frequently and even once in two Days till you see some Signs of Amendment for upon this the Cure principally depends tho' since it must be so often repeated it will be sufficient to take every time onely half the Quantity of Blood that is usually taken from Horses For his Food mix a little Bran with a great quantity of Water that it may be as thin as Broth and leave it before him the whole Day for he will stir it with his Lips and in his best Intervals endeavour to swallow a little of it but he can very hardly or not at all eat any Hay or Straw being unable to open his Jaws and you may give him luke-warm Water to drink After the Use of Clysters and Bleeding take equal parts of Spirit of Turpentine and Aqua-Vitae mix 'em in a glass Vial and shake 'em together till they be perfectly united With this Liquor anoint his whole Neck upon the Muscles and all about the Jaws chafing the Parts very hard with your Hand to make the Liquor penetrate which will heat the Muscles that are cool'd and stiffen'd by the Defluxion and two hours after rub the same Parts with the Ointment of Marsh-Mallows chasing 'em hard as before which will not only heat the Parts but help to loosen the Jaws and supple the Neck Afterwards rub the Parts affected every Morning with the Ointment of Marsh-Mallows and every Evening with Aqua-Vitae And besides If the Disease affect the whole Body rub the Horse's Reins with Ointment of Marsh-Mallows and Spirit of Wine and cover 'em with a Cloth dipp'd in Lees of Wine heated and put his usual Cloaths above all Repeat the Anointing and Fomentation every day and let him be put into a hot Stable for being thus carefully tended he may perhaps recover if his Fever intermit You must also give him three or four good softening Clysters every day and if the disease be very violent you may inject one in the Morning consisting of two Quarts of Milk eight Yolks of Eggs and two Ounces of Sugar to sustain and in some measure satiate the Animal Hunger of the Parts that have a Communication with the great Guts The rest of the Clysters must be compos'd of softening and cooling Ingredients Some thrust a red-hot Iron thro' the Neck near the Main in three or four several places and others cut the Nerves I look upon these Methods not only as unworthy to be recommended but I think my self oblig'd to dissuade you from the Use of 'em for the Horse endures so much misery already that we ought by no means to encrease his Torments without the least Prospect of future Relief If they cou'd be made to swallow any thing it would be convenient to give 'em some Doses of the Cordial-Powder or stinking Pills or some other proper Medicine but that is impossible and you can only administer external Remedies which are seldom able to save the Horse's Life If you perceive some encouraging Signs or if the Horse be in greater danger of dying of Hunger than of his Distemper because he is unable to take any Nourishment and if there be long and frequent
the Shooe and binding it on at the other end for 't is always safest and most convenient to dress an unsol'd Foot without taking off the Shooe But in some cases that method is impracticable and after you have taken out the Sole you must only tack on a Shooe with four Nails that you may examine the bottom of the Sore as often as you dress it It happen'd once as I was taking out a Sole that the Horse struggl'd so violently that the Ham-string or Sinew was strain'd and the Farrier concluded that his Thigh was broken This accident hinder'd me from removing the Dressing that was already apply'd to the Sole and from taking off the Shooe for fear of hurting the Hoof by lifting up the Foot to dress it and therefore I suffer'd it to remain without renewing the Application for the space of six Weeks after which we found the Sole so well grown that if I had not seen the Operation perform'd I should have concluded that the Sole had never been taken out and this good effect was produc'd by one application of a Remedy consisting of equal Parts of Turpentine Honey and Tarr This Example may undeceive those who imagine the Cure of an unsol'd Hoof to be very difficult for certainly if there be no other Distemper in the Part it may be perfectly heal'd with one Application But all the above-mention'd Directions are design'd for the Cure of those Distempers that occasion the taking out of the Sole CHAP. XC Of Figgs growing in a Horse's Foot AFigg is an excrescency of spongy and fibrous Flesh sometimes resembling a Wart which grows on strong high and hollow Feet that have large Heels and seldom or never on those that are weak slender and flat These Tumours are almost always seated on the top or at the side of the Frush and seldom appear in any other place if they be not occasion'd by the Farriers neglect for if they be suffer'd to grow old or dry'd with strong Ointments they take another course and spread to the corner of the Sole at the Heel the side Quarters or Toe The same Inconveniency happens when they are unskilfully dress'd in which case they stick to the Gristle or to the Bone of the Foot and afterwards rise to the Hair appearing on the Cronet and are always attended with rottenness and stink They are moisten'd and nourish'd by a Humour deriv'd from the Sinews which being destitute of the Spirits that preserv'd it in its natural Condition while it remain'd in the Sinews degenerates into a very noisome Putrefaction that can hardly be stopt for the most perfect Matter when it degenerates and is corrupted is infinitely more dangerous than another less perfect Matter and the Cure is so difficult that unless the fatal Consequences of its virulencies be prevented by well chosen and seasonably apply'd Remedies the Horse grows irrecoverably Lame The Figgs that appear on the Frush rarely occasion Lameness in the beginning but if they be either unskilfully drest dry'd or too long neglected they spread under the Sole and penetrate to the Hair sticking to the Gristle on the Bone of the Foot where they are attended with Pain tho' at the first they were free from that symptom The Cause of those Excrescencies as I intimated before is the Nervous Juice which also generates and nourishes Warts They appear either in the form of Warts when they grow on the Frush or are only distinguishable by that fibrous and spongy Flesh that appears under the Sole and corrupts part of it by the wise contrivance of Nature to discharge by that opening a part of the Matter that offends her The Figgs are usually the Sink that drains all the corrupt Humours in the Body which flowing thither in great abundance encrease the Malignitie of those Excrescencies tho' they are not the original cause of the Distemper The redundancy of those Humours is sometimes so excessive that 't is impossible either to exhaust the Source of them or to divert the Stream that flows from it so that the Figgs encrease to a prodigious bigness infecting and corrupting the whole Part and even sometimes spoiling the Bone of the Foot I have seen Gourdy Legs full of Watry Swellings and Warts which being dried were immediately succeeded by Figgs in the Foot and as soon as these were extirpated the Leg was again seiz'd with those running and noisome Sores that were cur'd with so much difficulty before The Cure was a second time attempted and no sooner perform'd but the Foot was again cover'd with Figgs and those successive Revolutions of these different kinds of Sores are peculiar to old Horses whose Legs are Gourded and cannot be reduced to their natural Shape or to those who have a Swelling in their Legs occasion'd by some remainders of the Farcin for since the corrupt Humours of the whole Body are discharg'd by the Gourdy Leg if their passage be stopt they bend their course to the Foot where they produce Figgs When a Horse has been troubl'd for some considerable time with this Infirmity his Foot becomes deform'd and grows visibly larger than the other The Figgs that appear on the Frush and are not fastn'd to the Gristle or Bone of the Foot do not make the Horse halt unless they accidentally touch the Ground so that unless the Part be carefully examin'd a Man may be easily deceiv'd Thus at Paris the Horse-Coursers never buy a Horse for Service till they lift up his Feet to see whether he be troubl'd with Figgs especially on the hinder Feet tho' all this Caution cannot save 'em from being cheated sometimes since there are some Horses that seem to be cur'd of the Figgs which at the end of three Months return with as much violence as ever Remedies for the Figg in a Horse's Foot Before you apply any Remedies to the Figgs if there be watry Sores or Swellings in the Leg you must endeavour to Cure 'em with a white Honey-Charge which will asswage the Swelling remove the Pain and dissipate the Humours that nourish the Figg and hinder the Cure To proceed with order I shall consider in the first place the Figgs that grow on the Frush which may be sometimes cur'd without taking out the Sole Pare the Foot cutting away so much of the Hoof that there may be a convenient space to reach the Sore with your Fleam or Lancet then cut the Sole about the Figgs and extirpate the very Roots of them for if you take away only the Tops the Cure will be imperfect because tho' they appear small on the out-side they are larger under the Sore but in the mean time I suppose that they are not fasten'd to the Gristle or Bone of the Foot Having laid open the Sore take two Pounds of Honey a Pint of Aqua-vitae six Ounces of Verdigrease in very fine Powder searc'd thro' a silken Sieve a like quantity of White-Vitriol beaten small four Ounces of Litharge reduc'd to very fine Powder and two Drams
from an Obstruction of the Passages by stagnating and thick flegmatick Humours 'T is to be observ'd that the Lungs consume more Nourishment than any Part of the Body since they are nourish'd only by the purest and most subtil or bilious part of the Blood as it appears evidently from the Consideration of those Animals who are desâ—â—tute of Lungs for they may be almost said to live upon nothing Thus Fishes who have no Lungs are easily fatten'd by a small quantity of Nourishment and even it seems not improbable that the Kidneys were design'd by Nature for the Evacuation of the Impurities of the Lungs for Fishes are equally destitute of both these Parts and usually Horses who are troubl'd some Days with a Flux of Urine are seiz'd with a Cough by reason of the driness of their Lungs I thought fit to insert these Remarks for the Information of those who have lean and wasted Horses for if the Lungs be affected they will hardly ever be able to fatten 'em because that Part will consume a considerable part of the Nourishment which otherwise wou'd have been turn'd to Flesh and besides 't is observ'd that all Pursive Horses stale very much during the Cure because the Impurities of the Lungs are voided that way This is a very true and curious Observation and was never mention'd by any Writer on this Subject or inserted in any Book whether French Italian German or Latin If we consider the Vessels and other spermatical Parts that enter the Composition of the Lungs they will appear to be cold and dry If we take a View of the fleshy soft and spongy Substance of the Lungs they seem to be hot and moist and if we reflect on their Lightness and aptness for Motion we can hardly forbear concluding that they are of a cold and moist Nature The Lungs are divided into several parts call'd Lobes which surround the Heart and especially into two by a double Membrane which in Humane Bodies is call'd the Midriff They are of a spongy Substance easily dilateable which sucks in the Air and expels it again with some smoaky and fuliginous Vapours by the two different Motions of Respiration This Part is fuller of Veins and Arteries than any other Part of the Body which make it so subject to Inflammations and Obstructions as the Humours are either hot and subtil or thick and heavy Pursiveness proceeds from several Causes Thus a slight Obstruction in the Lungs in the Veins or some of the Arteries may cause a shortness of Breath which is cur'd with easie Remedies The same Distemper proceeds usually from some Humours stagnating in the Passages of the Lungs in the Kidneys or in the Arteries for the free Circulation of the Blood being stopt a great quantity of it gathering together in one place presses the Ducts or Passages of Respiration and obstructs the Freedom of Breathing When the Blood is hot and boiling it quickly degenerates into Putrefaction and causes a dangerous Inflammation in that Part which must be allay'd with powerful Coolers This Obstruction is usually caus'd by flegmatick and pituitous Humours and tho' in this Case 't is not attended with such violent Symptoms as are produc'd by the other Causes of this Distemper 't is very stubborn and hardly to be conquer'd by the best Medicines for those slimy and tough Humours cannot easily be loosen'd and separated from the Parts where they stick and therefore the Cure must be attempted with cutting and attenuating Remedies And besides since the Motion of the Blood is obstructed and that Liquor depriv'd of the Advantage of Ventilation this kind of Pursiveness is quickly accompany'd with a sort of Putrefaction and some other Symptoms which seem to proceed from a hot Principle tho' the Cause of the Disease is rarely of that Nature 'T is plain that Pursiveness proceeds from a cold Principle and yet the Symptoms that attend it seem to denote the heat of the Cause tho' it be really of an opposite Nature for this Distemper is usually occasion'd by pituitous Humours and the thick Flegm which stuffs the Passages and causes a difficulty of Respiration This may serve to discover the Error of those who turn out their Pursive Horses to Grass and are usually much surpriz'd when they take 'em up with an intention to confine 'em to dry Feeding to find them shorter-winded then ever for the coldness of the Grass augments the Flegm and makes it thicker and heavier and consequently more apt to obstruct the Motion of the Blood and Air in the Lungs If it be objected that Grass has been sometimes observ'd to relieve Pursive Horses 't is reasonable to suppose that in such a Case there was an Inflammation occasion'd by a redundancy of Blood that might be cool'd and allay'd by the coldness of the Grass which moistening the Lungs might give some ease to the Horse so long as he continu'd to feed on it And after a due Consideration of this Case I am persuaded of the Justness of that General Rule which enjoyns a total abstinence from Grass to all short-winded Horses since the Benefit they receive by that sort of Nourishment lasts no longer than they actually feed on it The most dangerous kind of Pursiveness is that which is occasion'd by hard Riding and violent Labour for sometimes in such cases a Vein is open'd and the Blood falls into the Cavity of the Lungs where it putrefies and turns to Matter which for want of a Passage stagnates about the Lungs and breeds an Ulcer in ' em And the danger is so much the greater because a large Ulcer from what Cause soever it proceeds wastes and consumes the Horse to such a degree that 't is impossible to make him thrive or render him fit for Service This Distemper is usually caus'd by the heat of the Aliments by which the Horse is nourish'd as old Clover too great abundance of Hay and several other kinds of Food and the same Infirmity proceeds for want of Exercise by reason of the Multitude of Flegmatick and Corrupt Humours that are bred in a Horse's Body and in a particular manner affect the Lungs The Watering of a Horse when he is over-heated is apt to make him short-winded When this Distemper is hereditary 't is absolutely incurable for the Horse contains in his Body the Principle of the Defect which can never be corrected or remov'd by the use of Remedies A Natural Weakness of the Lungs which renders 'em susceptible of the corrupt Humours that abound in the Body can never be repair'd by Art and the same may be affirm'd of the irregular Structure or Contexture of that Part as when 't is either too narrow or fasten'd to the Sides This Distemper is curable in the beginning especially in young Horses if it be not accompany'd with a Cough Purgative Remedies are of little use in this Distemper since the Flegmatick Humours from which it usually proceeds can never be evacuated by these Medicines and the only
this Distemper for the Farcin and put themselves to needless Trouble and Charge for the Cure of it 'T is occasion'd by a Redundancy of Blood over-heated by several Accidents and other Causes already mention'd For the thinnest and most subtil part of the Blood penetrating the Substance of the Flesh causes external Tumours resembling the Farcin And long Rest and want of Exercise are usually the occasional Causes of this Distemper by hindering the Dissipation of superfluous Humours You may easily cure this Distemper by Bleeding your Horse plentifully once or twice in the Neck-Veins These Tumours are distinguish'd from the Farcin both by the suddenness of their Appearance and of the Cure for sometimes they overspread the Body in one Night And besides they are neither hard nor fasten'd to the Flesh These Swellings are oftentimes repell'd and driven inwards by unseasonable Bleeding and the Horse is seiz'd with a Fever in which Case you must immediately give him a Clyster and an Hour after an Ounce or two of Treacle or Diatessaron in Wine which by driving out the Humour will give Ease to the Horse and at last cure him Some Horses are troubl'd from time to time with little Knots or Bunches in several parts of their Body occasion'd by the Boiling or rather excessive Heat of their Blood for the most subtle and choleric Particles being driven outwards to the external Parts of the Body form these little Tumours part of which break and disappear and the rest are dissolv'd by insensible Transpiration The general and most effectual way to cure all these Ebullitions is to mix with your Horse's Bread those Remedies that are endu'd with a Virtue to cool and purifie the Blood Thus Liver of Antimony given to the quantity of an Ounce and a half every Day will safely and quickly dissolve all those Knots and sweeten your Horse's Blood Three or four Doses of the Cinnabar-Pills are also very effectual in this Case You may prevent this Distemper by giving your Horse Sal Prunellae in his Bran which will expel those Bilious Serosities that usually cause these Symptoms and perhaps drive 'em out by the Urinary Passages The same Remedy allays the Heat of the Blood and Intrails and prevents the Farcin and other Distempers occasion'd by the Heat of the Blood For the Satisfaction of the Curious I shall insert the Preparation of Sal Prunellae which is a very useful Medicine both for Men and Horses CHAP. CL. Crystal Mineral or Sal Prunellae THis is only Nitre or Salt-Petre fix'd with Sulphur to prevent its Solution Take Salt-Petre of the fourth Solution melt it in a Crucible or Iron Pot and when you perceive that 't is entirely reduc'd to a liquid Form throw a little Brimstone upon it Assoon as the Flame ceases cast some more Brimstone into the Crucible continuing after the same manner till you have thrown in an Ounce of Flower of Brimstone for every Pound of Salt-Petre which must be kept in Fusion during the whole Operation Then take out the Salt-Petre with an Iron Spoon and put it into a little Copper Bason which being plac'd in a Pailful of cold Water the Mineral will congeal at the Bottom and appear as white as Snow An Iron Pot is more fit for this Operation than Crucibles which are usually pierc'd and crack'd with the Salt-Petre unless you can procure a good German Crucible For the better understanding of a Passage in the Beginning of the preceding Description it will not be amiss to acquaint the Reader that Salt-Petre is found congeal'd into Chrystals in the Water which is pour'd for that purpose on Lime and Plaister taken from the Ruines of old Buildings and mixt with Ashes This Water is afterwards boil'd till a Scum appear on the Top and then set in a cold place in Woodden Vessels where Chrystals of a long Figure and rusty Colour are form'd which is Salt-Petre of the first Solution Then dissolve these Chrystals in clean Water strain it thro' a Woollen Cloth boil it as before and when 't is cold the Salt-Petre of the second Solution will appear in Chrystals which are proper for the making of Gun-Powder Liver of Antimony and several other Preparations For if the Nitre were too fine and violent it wou'd carry off part of the Antimony that is mixt with it If you wou'd have your Salt-Petre more pure and refin'd dissolve it in Water filtrate boil and chrystallize as before to procure Salt-Petre of the third Solution repeating the same Operation as often as you think fit for if the Salt-Petre be not very pure 't is impossible to make fine Sal Prunellae Crystal Mineral is not only fix'd by the Sulphur but purg'd of those Arsenical Spirits of which it was full so that 't is entirely freed of all Sharpness and Malignity It purifies and cools the Blood and Intrails allays and stops the Ebullition of the Humours in Fevers powerfully opens all Obstructions opens and incides the Body of Medicines that their Virtues may be the better extracted and in one Word 't is a very cooling Remedy without Acrimony or Biting You may give an Ounce and a half of it every Day in moisten'd Bran mixt with half an Ounce of Juniper-Berries beaten or dissolve three or four Ounces of it in a Pailful of Water for your Horse's ordinary Drink and it may be also conveniently mix'd with purging Medicines Every Author extols the Virtues of this Remedy but I have only insisted on its Usefulness for Horses So Cooling a Medicine ought to be cautiously administer'd to Horses whose Constitution is different from that of Men And therefore when you give it in moisten'd Bran 't will be convenient to add half an Ounce of Juniper-Berries beaten to qualifie and correct the extreme Coldness of the Remedy which notwithstanding its great Usefulness in other Respects oftentimes destroys the Horse's Appetite and makes his Hair stare But some Horses have the Advantage of such strong Appetites that the Use of this Medicine tho' administer'd alone produces not the least ill Effect upon their Stomachs And I have made some Horses eat three or four Pounds of it without disordering their Stomachs or making 'em forsake their Meat CHAP. CLI Of the Shedding of the Hair from the Head accompany'd with the Mange And of the Falling of the Hair from the rest of the Body especially about the Neck and hinder part of the Thighs THE Heat that occasions these Disorders is not always an Effect of Distempers in the Intrails but sometimes proceeds from a Corruption of the Humours and is the more dangerous because it may degenerate into a Fever The remote Causes of this Heat are immoderate and violent Exercise too hot Nourishment such as Clover Beans c. Fatness of the Body and a hot or choleric Constitution The Signs are evident for the Hair sheds and falls off from several parts of the Body the Horse is tormented with a violent Itching and several other Symptoms are visible Marks
is of greatest importance and use in any Horse for people buy Horses only to Ride or Travell upon that is the end for which they will have them any other design being only so many means the better to arrive at and obtain that end but before you cause walk any Horse you must observe if when he is standing still he be right planted upon his Limbs because upon the right or wrong Camping of a Horse when he is standing still doth depend notwholly but in a great part his good or bad going and carriage Now the natural situation of the Legs should be larger or wider above than below that is to say the distance which is betwixt the one foot and the other should be less than that between the one of the fore thighs and the other upon the inside and at that part of them which is next to the shoulders the knees should not incline too much to other or be too close one upon the other but the whole Leg should descend in a streight line to the very Pastern joynt the feet being placed upon the ground should be turned neither out nor in but the Toe pointing directly forewards being situate or camped after this manner he will be very well plauted on his Legs and all this may be observed when he is at rest and standing in the Stable As for the Hind-hand his jarrets or hams should not be too closs together and if they are then he will be crooked or bowed called in French un Cheval crochu but according to the term the Horse Coursers give it they say that such a Horse is only a little too much closed behind the hind-leg or rather that part called the instep which is betwixt the Hock and Pastern joynt should stand perpendicular to the ground if it stand foreward or as it were under his Belly the situation of it is bad but if it stand stopping a little backwards from the perpendicular line and be so situate as when a Horse is going to stale or piss it is no bad stance but then commonly such Horses have too long Haunches which is a deffect for the manage because it is with a great dale of difficulty that they can assemble themselves and goe upon their Haunches but they have for the most part always a good walk or Raik although the fore parts be the sooner spoilt and ruined by it upon the contrary again those Horses whose Haunches Hams and In steps are altogether streight that is whose hind legs towards the feet fall not far enough back when standing still I say such Horses can but with difficulty raik or walk well moreover if the hind Pastern joynt be so placed either to one side or forewards as if it were dislocate such situations are nought he should likewise plant his hind feet fla upon the ground and not rest only upon his Toes as those Horses which are called in French Chevaux Ramptins you must also observe if he turn the toes of his hind feeâ— much outwards which is a very considerable imperfection in respect that in great descents such Horses have almost no strength in their Haunches and if they be designed for the Coach it will not be possible for them to keep her back when upon any considerable descent but that you may be the more sure of this cause the Horse which situates himself after that manner to go or be put back with ones hand and if in going back he keep the toâ—â— of his hind feet turned outwards then is it with difficulty that he goeth back which is a sign that he will be for no great service and the more that he turneth out his hind toâ—â— the more reason will you have to conclude that he is a bad Horse whatever other qualifications he may have This much of the situation in which a Horse should most commonly place himself when standing still let us now prosecute the rest and observe his step or walk you must then cause step him forewards to know if he be not lame for if he be it will be to no purpose to examine him further few People buying Horses which are nottarly known to be lame You must cause ride the Horse at a foot pace that you may have the more time not only to consider if he walk well but also if his Legs perform the actions which they ought now for a Horse to walk well his steps should be quick that is he should not make in his walk slow and debile motions with his Legs but should move them quickly and make two times with them in the space that many Horses mark but one thus he will walk more commodiously fatigue himself less and his rider will be more eased and comforted by it After having made this general view you are to observe that for a Horse to go well he should have the Raising or lifting up of his Leg the Stay or keeping of it up and the Tread or setting of it down all good these are called in French Le Lever ou hausser le Soûtieu et L'appuy now because this is a kind of Language not understood by every Person I shall explain each term by it self as followeth The Lever raising or lifting up of a Horses Legs when he is walking will be good if he perform it hardily and with ease not crossing his Legs the one over the other nor carrying his feet either too much out or in and that he also bend his knees as much as is needfull this is for the Lever or raising of his Legs The Soûtien stay or keeping of them up is good when after that his legs are raised he keepeth them up so long as he ought the rest of his body and head remaining in a good posture a man may know when a Horse hath not the stay or keeping up of his leg good when he perceives him set it down suddenly to give ease to his other leg in which he is perhaps either pained or hath a weakness some Horses also appear as if their noses were always a going to the ground and of these it may be very justly said that the stay or keeping up of their Legs in the Air is nought and that their legs are weak and pained this much of the Soûtien or stay of a Horses Legs in the Air which is the Second thing to be considered in a Horses going In the third and last place you are to consider the Appuy or setting down of the Legs or rather feet upon the ground commonly called the Tread which to be good should be firm vigorous and streight and without resting upon one side of the foot more than upon the other or setting down the toe or heel the one before the other but that both be done at one and the same time and when the foot is placed upon the ground that it be turned neither out nor in but perfectly streight that the Pastern also be neither too much plyed nor too stiff or streight
mentioned particularly upon the number 32. Marked in the figure of the first plate If upon the fore-sinew of the leg between the spavin upon the inside and the jardon without there be as it were a circle which joineth them and invironeth the nerve of the instep then is it a considerable imperfection to which few horses are Subject but when they have it they are incurable I never see above halfe a dozen have it and they had all of them acquired it by being kept too much upon their haunches neither did I ever observe a horse to have this circle but he had always either a jardon or spavin accompanying it but I have many times seen spavins and jardons alone without it Now a horse which hath this infirmity is spoilt and ruined past recovery You are also to observe if the ply or bending of the Ham be swelled which would be a considerable imperfection especially in a Coach Horse for it is a source which maketh a continuall discharge of humours upon the legs that cause putrifaction and breed mattering warts in French Petreaux and other infirmities in those parts to which Coach Horses are but too subject and therefore such a swelling should alone hinder a Man to buy a Coach Horse which hath it but if the whole Ham be swelled then seeing it may proceed from some accident as Casting with the Halter being intangled with the cross hanging barr or such like which may all be cured in this case there is not much to be feared and therefore the Seller should warrant the recovery of the Horse or otherways oblige himselfe to take him again because I have more than once seen such kind of swellings to stand in need of firing to discuss them although they were only light sized and saddle Horses which had them In the ply of the Ham where this swelling cometh there are some times Chops and Crevices which resemble the Mallender in the fore-legs and are called the Selender it will be so much the better if they are there when the swelling is also in that part because they will serve as drains thorow which the humor occasioning the swelling will evacuate it selfe but then it were yet better that that humour were not at all there because then their would be no need of a Selender to drain it Besides the reasons I have already given to convince you that there is no part of a Horses body should be more narrowly considered than the Hams you are also to observe that they are those parts which carry and support the greatest weight of the body when a Horse is performing any beautifull ayre in the mannage or galloping at hunting so that if he have already any weakness in them it will but add more blemishes to his infirmity if he be continued at those exercises and if people require any more of him than to goe at a foot place feeling the trouble he hath in his Hams and not being able to move them without pain he will endeavour to ease himselfe by resting as much as he can upon his fore-legs to spare them behind so that these before will be very soon spoilt and the Horse become absolutely useless having neither fore-legs nor Hams he can make use of besides that going always thus upon his shoulders because of the pain he hath in his Hams he will become at last a perfect Baggage horse or at least very unpleasant and uneasie for the Saddle which we call a pitifull jade of attendance of whom the best is to make ones selfe Rid with the first opportunity seeing he is for no kind of service and that the longer he be keept he will still become the greater Carrion It is an infallible rule upon which a man may rely when he is a buying a horse that when one of the hands or quarterts of a horse is weaker than the other he will soon be spoilt and serve but a very short time when I say hands or quarters I mean either his two hind legs or his two fore and this weakness cometh more frequently in the fore-legs than hind a good token whereby to know if the fore hand be weak is when the horse hath little or no movement in his fore-legs and that when he is pushed on in a Carrier he formeth his halts or stops well upon his haunches which is a sign that his hind quarter is strong and that he hath good reins but that his fore are weak to know if that weakness in the fore legs be natural or accidental is what is very difficult to determine but for a half-skilled person it is abundantly sufficient that he knows the imperfection without penetrating into its cause If the Horses weakness proceed from his hind quarters then in all probability he will be either bowed or which is quite contrary to it carry his Hams outwards as he is riding or otherways will have some considerable infirmities in them as spavins Curbs jardons c. and if it be in his fore hand then his legs will be spoilt by being round and gourded having the nerves hard and a little contracted with splints windgalls and other such like infirmities Morover if he have only one of his legs weak then the other three by carrying and supporting always the whole weight of his body will soon come to be spoilt and if one of his Quarters be weak for example his fore hand then the hind will but endure a short time because it will support his whole weight and therefore in a little it will be as soon spoilt as that before except he be a horse of mannage which with a weak fore-hand especially if his hind quarter be excellent may indeed endure and serve a considerable time providing also that the ayre which it is intended he shall always goe be appropriate to the foibleness of the horse or goodness and strength of his hind hand but his fore parts then will have no movement because he will goe very low and closs by the ground and although he may be very much upon his haunches yet he will appear to goe upon his shoulders because of his not plying and bending enough his fore-legs If both the Horses quarters be equal in suppleness strength and goodness then is it a token that he will be long serviceable and usefull When Horses are appointed for the mannage it is very imprudently done to take them with the least imperfection or infirmity in their Hams for what good can be expected from a horse which cannot be put exactly upon his haunches for fear of presently spoiling him by augmenting the imperfection which he haâ—â— already but too much in that part and which would prove such as would give him so great trouble as might dry him up and render him Hectick or Consumptive and so would mightily disappoint the expectation of his suceeding in any thing which is gracefull In fine I would not advise such persons who either live in Mountainous Countreys or whose affairs call
of Olive Oyl or Butter and afterwards pouder it all over with brayed Char-coal made of wood and continue this dayly till healing or Bath frequently the part with good Brandy which is the most soveraign remedy of any provided the horse will suffer it The use of Cruppers after the English fashion which may be shortned or lengthned at pleasure is at present common in all places so that even in the Academies of Riding a man will rarely see any other people know so well the conveniences of them and the disadvantages in useing any others The Poitral or Breast-plate is not of much less consequence it should be of a just length and the stayes or supporters of it should be neither too long nor too short for being too long the Breast-plate or Tie will fall below the motion of the shoulder and so trouble the horse in riding and if they were too short it would be too strait and so frett and cut the hair in several places It many times falleth out that the hair is cut and taken away in those parts of the shoulders where the Hulsters rest because of their great Weight to prevent it you must cause fix beneath them a piece of Roe-buck or Veal Skin well furnished with hair as I have told you should be done beneath the buckle of the Crupper or otherwayes line that part with very soft leather stuft with Wool this care should be particularly had for horses appointed for the Warrs But since it is of late become the fashion in France to make use of pretty short Pistols Horses are more freed of this Trouble because heretofore they had Pisteâ—s almost as long as Carrabines which frequently Gall'd horses in the fore-parts of their shoulders where they rested It is also fit that the Buckles by which the breast-plate or Tie is fixed to the saddle should be so placed as neither to cut the hair nor hurt the horse and if they be too far forward there will be a necessity to cause remove them a little more back betwixt the saddle-bow and pannel or even upon the bow it self if a man can do no better and he shall also place beneath them a piece of Veal or Roe-buck skin with the hairy side turned nixt to the Horse You are nixt to view the other furniture belonging to the Saddle to wit the Girths and be sure that they be large and strong and of good fresh Girth-web and if they have knots which Grooms commonly make upon them to shorten them when they are too long and which will spoil and gall the horse you are to untie them Also their Buckles should be if possible after the English fashion for they are the best of any and never tear a mans Boots with their tongues The Saddle-straps should be of Hungarian Leather or for want of it good white Oyled Leather and see that there be two upon each side of the Saddle-bow with a good broad sursengle those girths used for hunting are very good and girt well they have two buckles above other whereof one hath only a Tongue and the use of them is very common in Equipages See that you be provided likewise with a pair of good long Stirrop-Leather those of Hungarian or white Oyled leather are also the best and with Surrop 〈◊〉 which are very strong and either barred or grated where you place your feet and also pretty large that you may the sooner quit them in case of a fall Sometimes those who gallop at hunting or move much their Legs as they â—â—â—vel do soon hurt with their Stirrop-leathers a horse's sides especially if he be leaâ— and so gall them extremely below the saddle to hinder it you must fix or stretâ—â— a Leather strap or old false-scabbard of a sword between the two points of the foâ— and hind bows of the saddle upon each side and make the Stirrop-leathers to pass oveâ— them which will certainly prevent this in conveniency Good Stirrop-irons should be large and strong Tinned and round all over aâ—â— light and barred where you place your feet for thus a man keepeth his feet firmer upon them they should be fixed to the stirrop-leathers without swivles because they use and at length pass through the holes unless they be made after the English fashionâ— but every one hath his own fancy for stirrops I have said of them what seems to 〈◊〉 most reasonable but providing that a man can put in and out his foot easily in a 〈◊〉 rop-iron although it should be made even of a Sabot or wooden shoe as some Spaniards use for their she Asses or of a simple piece of Timber as in Sweden it is 〈◊〉 no great import to me provided I am not obliged to make use of them The English Stirrop-irons are neat and well wrought the lightest are most propeâ— for a Course or taking the Air some approve of them for all uses and I find they have reason but as they make them at present indifferently large round all over and neatly Tinned with greates where the feet are placed I look upon them to be the best fashion of any for all uses and they are also got at an easie rate CHAP. XXIX How a man should order and take care of Horses in the beginning of a Journey I Have employed the preceeding Chapter CHAP XXIX How a man should order horses in the beginning of a journey in discoursing of things accidentally longing to a Horse such as Saddlot-Bridle c. It remains at present that 〈◊〉 consider the circumstances that are most necessary and in a manner essential be observed by a man before he begin a Journey which are if the Horse be good 〈◊〉 endure Fatigue and be such as I have already descrived he should If he be very a and not at all in Wind that is if he have not been Travelled or Exercised of a 〈◊〉 time you are to bring him to it after this manner You are the first day to cause your horse walk abroad a short league or two three Miles the day following a league and a half and then let him rest for a dayâ— two afterwards you shall make him begin again his walk of one League 〈◊〉 second day of two and the nixt of three and then you are to give him a days 〈◊〉 so the horse will after this manner be brought in a condition to begin his jouâ—â— when you please and to travel very far if you take care of him as I shall direct yâ—â— And this should particularly and in a more special manner concern those who have 〈◊〉 charge of and are to conduct Equipages which have remained whole Winters wiâ—â— out any kind of exercise or Travel Because it is most dangerous to make a horse begin a Journey before he be in Wiâ— and while he is not as yet accustomed to fatigue for if it be in the Summer time 〈◊〉 will after the very first day loose his Appetite or take the Vives and sometimes will become foundered
extremity so that if they be not well in wind and accustomed to such long Courses they are very quickly burst but notwithstanding of this good and keen hunters will rather venture the killing of their horses by excessive Riding then fail to be up with the dogs if therefore you have been obliged at hunting or otherwayes to make great dispatch with hazard of bursting your horse you shal when arriv'd cause order him as I have already told you by causing scrape off the sweat rubing him all over and causeing lead him in ones hand untill he cool then half an hour after you shall cause give him in an English quart of Claret wiâ—e two of the stinking pills discrib'd in the 85. Chapter of the second part Sect. 3. or otherwayes without the balls give him an English pynt of good Brandy or the like quantity of good Claret with a couple of greated Nutmegs mixt with it then put him in the Stable covering and littering him well an hour after give him a Glister and half an hour after it hath wrought unbridle him and give him some wet Bran and I assure you unless he be quite spent and undone you will prevent all the accidents which would happen to him by foundering or otherwayes The very same method may be observed for Coach-Horses which have been wrought and pushed beyond their Wind and Strength but then you must be careful not to give the stinking pills or for want of them the Wine and Nutmegs untill they have fully recovered their breath that is to say half an hour or three quarters at most after their arrival to some more and to others less CHAP. XXXI That Horses at their first arrival should not have their Legs Rub'd down although the practice of it be both very common and ordinary THE generality of people who travel CHAP XXXI That horses at their first arrival should not have their legs rub'd down observe this method of causing rub down their Horse's Legs with Straw so soon as they are put in the Stable and pretend thereby to unweary and supple their legs and so very much refresh them but it is one of the greatest abuses can be committed because this action can produce no other effect but to draw down upon the legs those humours which are already stirred up by the fatigue of the Journey for by Rubbing the Nerves are heated and consequently their Pores opened which maketh the Spirits exhale and giveth an opportunity to the humours which have been already stirred up by the way to discharge themselves and by their natural tendency to settle upon them and possess those imperceptible passages which were taken up with these Spirits and thereby to occasion obstructions which will deprive them of motion and consequently render the Horses legs absolutely stiff and unserviceable for the legs being those parts of the body which are lowest are as it were it's sink or conduit especially when the humours are drawn down upon them by this Rubbing which is made with Straw besides that those parts being already fatigued are the more dispos'd to receive them Now this humour having once fallen down does not again ascend and to resolve and discuss it is difficult because the parts afflicted have not natural heat enough and so the humour condenses and spoils the horse and I admire that people never reflected upon this until I first discovered it But it may be objected against this that the humour which falleth down is dissipate by insensible transpiration and through the Pores which are opened by this Rubbing of the Legs to which I answer that the humour indeed does in some measure rarify but that it cannot be all discussed that way having too gross a body for it so that the remaining part of the humour insinuates it self as a vapour amongst the Nerves which is afterwards by the cold condensed into a water and this water into a kind of viscuous or glairous matter which cannot be dispelled by any Rubbing because this Rubbing being practised in a time when all the humours are in agitation it draweth them down and instead of giving ease or being any ways beneficial to the horse is extremely prejudicial and hurtful This Rubbing of the Legs which people practise at their first arrival is the reason that their Horse's Legs next day are stiff and although they may not be sensible of nor perceive it so soon yet they cannot but in a very short time come to discover it because it will occasion obstructions in the Nerves which stop the passages of the spirits that are the cause and fountain of motion and which obstructions will render the motion of the Horse's legs so difficult and troublesome that his whole strength will not be sufficient to make them serviceable as they ought and so he will come to trip stumble and many times fall so that by this method people take a great deal of pains to ruine and spoil their Horses by destroying their Legs Those who will not yeild to so palpable and convincing reasons as these let them make but a trial of it and then certainly they will be perswaded of it's truth as severals have already been who no more order their horses Legs to be Rub'd down at their first arrival but only when they are altogether cool'd and pretty well rested Now you shall prevent all these inconveniences by practising this I advise you which is to cause lead your horse to a pond or washing place instead of rubbing him down or for lack of this conveniency cause wash and bath his Legs at the Stable door with a pail of cold water that thereby you may prevent the descent of the moved humours which is quite contrary to what is daily practised by the most part of people who it seems have never been at the pains to reflect upon what I have been saying It is not that I disapprove or discharge the Rubbing a horse's legs upon the contrary I very much approve of it recommend it and practise it my self but then it is only when they are pertectly cool'd and that the humours which the days travelling has stirred up are setled for example if in the evening before you go to bed you cause rub your horses Legs for a full Hour he will be refreshed by it or if in the Morning after your horse is Curried and drest you make your Groom divert himself with a good hard Hay-Wisp so long as you shall judge it convenient it will open the Pores and make way for those subtil humours which have lately fallen down upon the Nerves to resolve and being rarifyed by rubbing to evaporate so that the legs are thereby rendered more supple and you will produce by it a quite contrary effect to what it would have had should you have caused rub them at your first arrival But you may perhaps insist and say that all people yea even those who are most Skilful in horses do practise it It is indeed true that many
people do it but the most skilful do it not and if the reasons I have given cannot satisfie you I referre it to experience which is the Mistress of Art and finally as I am not so much taken with my own opinion as to oblige all people to yeild to it so I consent that you do not beleive me but that for your fancy you spoil your horse rather then submit to reason CHAP XXXII A Charge or Bath to preserve horses Legs and prevent their spoyling either upon Travel or by hunting IF you have a horse CHAP XXXII A Bath to prevent horses legs spoiling upon Travel which is worth your care and paines to preserve his 〈◊〉 after Travel so soon as ever he is arrived in the evening and put in the Staâ—â— you shall cause make some Cow or Ox dung very thin with Vinegar so thaâ— be but of the consistence of thick Broth and adding to it a good handfull of siâ— Salt cause Rub and charge his fore-legs from the knees and hind-legs from 〈◊〉 Hams or Gambrells by chaffing them well with and against the hair that so 〈◊〉 remedy may penetrate and adhere to them and that they may be all covered 〈◊〉 with it and thus leave him till next morning neither wetting his legs nor removeâ— him out of his place but giveing him his water for that evening in a Pail The next Morning you shall cause lead him to the River if there be any thaâ— his Legs may be wash't or otherways you may cause make them clean with a wisâ— wash them with well water which is also very good this remedy is both cheap 〈◊〉 excellent is astringent and strengthens the parts oppressed and being continued 〈◊〉 renewed every Evening will preserve the Legs so neat and sound that a Horse at the end of a long Journey will as to his Legs appear as if he had not stirred out of 〈◊〉 Stable it will be somewhat difficult to perswade many people that so small and â—â—vial a thing as this can produce so wonderful an effect for the remedy is most 〈◊〉 and all those to whom I have recommended it have found a great deal of good by because this charge doth not only refresh a Horse's legs but restricts their swelling so that it is a great deal better than many of those Charges which Farriers sell at a very dear rate for the same use When the Salt is left out it is not altogether so good although it never fails even then to produce a good effect and many times when I have had no Vinegar I have made use of simple Water in it's place and the charge hath notwithstanding had a very good operation This method of chargeing and Bathing a horse's Legs was found out by a meer reasoning and the first time I made use of it it succeeded much better than I could have imagined If you have therefore big and large Horses to conduct and take care of during a long Journey and which are either to be led in the hand or otherways you are to make use of this remedy which is easy and cheap and requires but a very little pains to prepare and apply it and you will at the end of your Journey be sensible how good and profitable a thing it is You are also to grease or anoint the fore-feet of such Horses as have them brittle and dry and that at their first arrival at night although it should be with nothing else but fresh butter Oyl or swine-seame but if with the Oyntment of Roses so much the better that so the Cow dâ—ng falling down upon their hoofs may not dry them for I assure you that Cow-dung contrary to the opinion of many people spoileth a horses feet it doth indeed moisten the Sole but it dryeth up the hoof which is of a different nature from it if you observe this method you will find a great advantage by it Those who to recover their horses feet cause make a hole which they fill with moistned Cow-Dung and so keep their fore feet in it during the space of a Moneth or so do very badly because although the continual moisture which is amongst the Dung causes the hoof to grow yet it drys and shrinks in so extremely being out of that place that is spleets and breaks like Glass and the foot immediatly straitens In fine Cow Dung is good and profitable for the sole but alters Burns and spoils the hoof by drying it up too much Therefore to recover a horses feet you are rather in place of Cow-Dung to fill a hole full of wet blew clay and oblige the horse to keep his fore-feet amongst it for a moneth I will not here omit another remedy which unwearyeth and takes away the swelling of the Legs and also supples and renders them neat it is abundantly sufficient to practise it from time to time but for the preceeding charge although you should make use of it every evening I assure you you will neither lose your time nor labour The Baths which I have discoursed of in the second part composed of the Lees of Claret-Wine good Herbs and Honey do mightily refresh and supple horses Legs as also to cause rub them at your first arrival in the evening with Vinegar and Salt or Brandy or even with warm Claret-Wine in which there is dossolsed a little old Hogs Grease all this unwearies supples and refreshes horses legs But if they are swelled or gorged as it many times happens in the hind-legs of such horses which are fatigued then you are to cause wash and bath them with cold water and an hour after to cause anoint them with Honey and while the Honey is yet upon them to cauffse chaff them with good Brandy above it and without taking any of the Honey away and continuing this every day you will not only take away the swelling but strengthen and fortify his Legs upon his Travel You shall also unweary and refresh your horses Legs if you charge and bath them well with the cold Lees of Claret-wine the remedy is both good and procured at an easy rate CHAP. XXXIII How to take away the Swelling or Gourding from horses Legs and to unweary them with quench'd Cinders YOu must cause boil some water in a Kettle CHAP XXXIII How to take away the gourding from horses legs with quenched Cinders and then take from the fire the red Cinders which are made of the best wood you can procure such aâ— Vine Branches Walnut-tree Oak or Beech for the Cinders of white and soft Woods are not proper for this use no more than that which hath been long aâ— floating upon Water if nevertheless you can have no better you are to mix with this eight Ounces of the Ashes made of the burnt Lees or Dregs of Wine you may have them at the Grocers or from the common Washers throw any of the Cinders of these Woods being red hot amongst the Boyling water for the more of them yâ—â— throw
it be in Winter you shall not unsaddle him so soon but 〈◊〉 when he is fully dry and that he hath eat some after which you shall also cause 〈◊〉 him well beneath the Saddle When you have taken off the saddle you shall cause set it in the Sun that so 〈◊〉 Pannels of it may dry then you shall cause beat them with a Rod that they neâ—ther harden nor hurt the horse those who make use of Saddle-Cloaths which the double and put beneath their Saddles don't run this risk and the method is very good 〈◊〉 if it be in the winter when you have not much Sun-shine proper for it and that you horse hath sweat a great deal then the Saddle being wet in the pannells you shaâ—â— cause dry it by a fire rather as set it upon his Back next day all wet I had almost forgot to tell you that when you take off the Saddle you are 〈◊〉 feel your horses Back where it stood to discover if he be neither pinch'd nor galleâ— and if he be you are both to cause rectifie the Saddle and apply something to the part afflicted the Saddle by taking away some of it's stuffing where it pressed him or by chambering it he must be a very bad Saddler who does not understand how this is to be done for in all the considerable Townes they know it are to the sore by treating it as I shall hereafter shew you When a horse hath stood an hour or two unsaddled a man will discover betteâ— those parts in which he hath been oppressed than just immediatly when the Saddle is taken off because when he is cool the part which was oppressed will swell whereas instantly after he is unsaddled it cannot be so well perceived because the heat hindereth it from rising But if your horse be only swelled without having his skin cut and only 〈◊〉 being oppressed and pinch'd with the Saddle then it is best to apply a remedy to it a soon as possible for if you should neglect it there would grow a hardness in the place which is called a Sit-fast and which through time will fall away and leaâ—â— a great wound in it's place all which may be prevented by the following remedy but not judgeing it needfull to refer you for so small a matter to the 2. pâ—â— which is the Treatise of Diseases you shall make the Restrictive following Sect. 2. A Restristive to repell and take away any swelling upon a Horse's back occasioned by a bad Saddle TAke three Sect 2. four five or six whites of Eggs according to the largeness 〈◊〉 the swelling put them into a pretty large plate and beat them with aâ— big peice of Alum untill you raise from them a strong and thick froth which will be done in about a quarter of an hour's time if you continue still beating it Tale then of this strong froth which will be pretty thick and Rub and chaff very well the swelling with it and also lay as much of the froth upon it as you can cause it imbibe and so leave it till next morning at which time the swelling will infallibly be repelleâ— and fallen I have had the proof of this remedy a thousand times there are indeed many other wayes to perform this but this is both the readiest and most easy of any if nevertheless you desire a greater variety you may have recourse to the Chapter of wounds in the second part you may carie always a piece of Alum along with you for this purpose because it will serve severall times and the remedie is both cheap and good Sect 3. Another for the same use RUB and chaff very hard the swelling with good Brandy Sect 3. and if with spirit of wine so much the better when you have Soked the place well with it set fire with a lighted paper to what remaines upon it of the Brandy or spirit of Wine and when the fire of its own accord extinguishes then the swelling will also dissappear Or otherways having chaffed extremely well the swelled part with good Brandy immediatly rub it all over with black Soap to occasion a froth which you are to suffer to dry upon the swelling and which I assure you will restrict it provided there be no matter in it this last is perfectly good for Coach-Horses whom the harness hath fretted if you have not conveniency of getting the best black Soap take that which is more common The most part of Horses become lean upon Travel especially the larger size which are made use of in Equipages because making the whole days Journey commonly with one reach they are bridled so long together that they become lean and their Saddles which rested very equally upon them at their first setting out are found to be now too large by reason of it And a Horse will become sometimes so lean by it that the Saddle will come to rest either upon the Withers or Reins which will prove very troublesome you are therefore when you perceive that the points of the Saddle-bows do not rest against his Body and that the Saddle appeareth to be too wide to cause stuff the points and that part of the pannel which goes all along the Back and also opposite to the shoulder pits with Hart-hair or the hair of cut Manes and Tails if need be sometimes also it is very fit to cause quilt and ply the points of the bows with Felt especially if the horses leanness be extraordinary and that he hath become very small in the body So soon as you give your horses Oats it is good to leave them alone that so they may eat them with the less greed and disturbance for a vigorous horse so long as there is any person behind him while he is eating will not fail to look about to him now and then and so loses many of his Oats which at that time fall from his Mouth that you may therefore prevent this you are to leave him alone provided you are in a place where they have not a trick of stealing horses Oats from them which is very ordinary in many Inns where although the Masters be both in a good condition and honest yet their Servants rob one another of the Oats committed to their Charge and then make a peice of Gallantry and Jest of it You are also before you leave your horse to see that he be so tyed as that he may ly down with ease and that his binding or halter be neither too long nor too short If your horse hath swett much all the day long and that you find he is perfectly dry after the eating his Oats it will be very fit to cause Curry and rub him over for a quarter of an hour that so his hair which the the sweat in a manner hath glewed together may be detatched and separate which would otherwayes render his body stiff and hinder him to rest well all night besides that it would also stop and bind up the Pores
whereby in the night time the Vapours and exhalations which are called the Excrements of the third concoction and which should evacuate are detained in the body to the great prejudice of his health for horses produce a great many of these vapours which should transpire and insensibly evaporate through the Pores especially in the night time which is most manifest by the quantity of dust which is found upon a horse's skin and which people take daily away with the Curry comb now if you hinder this transpiration which should be made in the night time you will prejudge him especially if he hath wrought hard and fatigued much all the day long I shall therefore conclude That a horse which hath swett much and is dry will be mucâ— the better of being Curried a quarter or half an hour in the Evening and if he be 〈◊〉 dry to have his Body rubbed all over very well for the like space with good Straw I will here set down an observation for the Curious and such as desire to be instructed in the least particulars relating to Horses it will be useful to them when their hoâ—es are either sick or very low and that they would recover and make them up again it may prove also very beneficial to them when Travelling that so they may prever all the inconveniencies which may hinder their horses to perform chearfully their Journey You are then to look to your horses dung thereby to judge of his inward disposition that so you may prevent the inconveniences which may befall him if 〈◊〉 dung be too thin it may be a sign that either the water which he drunk was too 〈◊〉 and peirceing or that he hath drunk too greedily of it if there be amongst his dâ—â— whole grains of Oats perhaps the horse hath either not grinded or chaw'd the well or that he hath a weakenss in his Stomack and if his dung be black dâ— or come away in very small and hard pieces then it is a token that he is overhâ—â—ed in his body Sect 3. Now according as you have judged by these remarks of his inwâ—â—â— constitution so you shall administer that to him which you shall think most propeâ— and which is taught you in many places of this book the Ancients it seems 〈◊〉 this method for I have read in a very old Author viz Galen Veneti et Prasâ—â— fludiosi spectatores equorum stercora quo intelligant quemadmodum alimenta coxerint odâ—â— tur tanquam ex eo omnem eorum bonam habitudinem cognituri Where by the word odorantur I think he can mean no other thing but that they lookt attentively and carefully to the dung and not that they smelled it for if it was smelled at 〈◊〉 was certainly only by the commoner sort of people who were notwithstanding 〈◊〉 Curious When horses are arrived at the Inn and tyed up to the Rack a man should besâ— they are unbridled cause lift their feet to see if they want any of their shoes oâ— those which they have do not rest upon their soles and cause pick and clear thâ— of the earth and gravel which may be got betwixt their shoes and soles and 〈◊〉 also stop them with Cow-dung if the horses be worth that pains as I have alâ—â— ordered you or that the Master be so careful as to cause do it If you water them abroad so soon as they return from the River if you 〈◊〉 stop their feet with Cow-dung it will ease the pain in their feet and take away tâ— heat and benumb'dness which may have been occasioned by the hard earth and 〈◊〉 dung remain in their feet all night which will keep them soft and in a good â—â—dition by expelling the heat There are many Horses which so soon as they are unbridled do instead of eaâ— lay them down to rest because of the great pain which they have in their feet that a man is ready to judge them either sick or very much harassed but if he look their Eyes he will see they are lively and good and if he cause offer meat to the as they are lying they will eat it very willingly yet if he handle their feet he 〈◊〉 find them extremly hot which will discover to him that it is in that part they â—â—fer therefore you are to cause observe if their shoes do not rest upon their for which is somewhat difficult to be certainly known without unshoeing them but you cause take off their shoes then look to the insides of them and you will obâ—â—â— that those parts of them which rest upon the soles are more smooth and shining the any other you are therefore in that case to cause pare their feet in those parts 〈◊〉 fix on the shoes again anointing their hoofs with ointment of Roses or some oâ— thing of that nature and causing also stop their soles with scalding hot black pâ—â— Tar or Ship-pitch which are all much about one and let it cool in them before yâ— suffer them to go to the ground this Pitch or Tar will nourish the soles take aâ— the painful heat and perfectly strengthen them at Paris people have the conveniâ— of geting Ship-Pitch which is nothing else but that mixture wherewith they pitch thâ— Boats and which strengthens sooner horses feet when applyed hot then almost 〈◊〉 other kind of application it is composed of old oyl or grease and black pitch whâ— they cause melt and mix togither and so keep it for their use Horses which have tender feet are commonly they which immediatly lay then selves down to rest so soon as they are unbridled and that because of the great pâ—â— which they have in their feet By tender-footed horses I here understand such a have low heels or whose feet have but a small body that is but a very little thicknâ— betwixt the sole and hoof in that part of the foot which is about two finger breadth or less above the Toe or fore part of it also those which have too little feet or which have cloven quarters or are hoof-bound or have their hoofs Circled and last of all those which have Flat-feet When People Travel in very warm and dry Weather their horses feet do many times alter and become dry and the hoof for lack of moisture spleets and breaks so that a man is in hazard of having his horse loss his shoes you are therefore before you take such horses to the Water in the morning to anoint their fore-feet just at the on-setting of the hoofs with the ointment of Roses or any other hoof-salve whereof I have given you a description in the 2d part sometimes also when the feet are much altered you should anoint them at twelve a Clock and it is particularly of such kind of horses you are to take the greatest care because of having their hoofs so very brittle when you are either Travelling in hot Countries or that you have a great difficulty to cause them keep their Shoes There are some horses
spirit of Wine 〈◊〉 all together and without warming it bath all his four legs and shoulders with it 〈◊〉 ting it remain upon them for eight and forty hours after which you shall make 〈◊〉 Bath descrived in the 65 Chap. of the 2d part with which you shall bath his l◠well and therewith also wash off the Blood which was upon them and his shoulde in place of a Charge Sect 2. Several other methods whereby to unweary horses when they come first from Travel YOw will extreamly unweary your horse if you charge his Legs with this composition following take a pound of common salt and putting it into a frying pan fry it untill it be perfectly dry and leave crackling for to have spoke according to the terms of Art I should have said Decrepitat salt Sect 2. and when it hath thus left crackling throw it scalding hot into a large Mortar and beating it very fine add to it two pounds of honey which you are to mix very well with it by the help of the Pestle with this charge and rub his Legs and although they be swelled it will resolve and discuss it and take away the pain and benummedness of the finews which the travelling may have occasioned this remedy is both easie and cheap The baths for the Legs descrived in the 2d part do wonderfully asswage their pain and lay their swelling as also if you cause rub and chaff them well with good brandy or spirit of Wine Or if you take two parts Brandy and one part oyl of Walnuts and mixing them well together chaff your horses Legs with it it is an excellent remedy but I alwayes suppose that the Bleeding hath preceeded it To unweary your horses at an easie rate you may after having bled him Cause warm sorne Claret Wine lees untill it be throughly hot then adding a pound or two of Honey thicken the composition by degrees with good wheat flower not forgetting to keep it alwayes stirring untill it come to a pretty thick consistence then take it from the fire and once in twenty four hours charge the horses Legs with it without removing any of what was put on before this is an excellent remedy and hath alwayes a very good effect The thickest of the dregs or lees of the Claret-Wine made use of quite cold is excellent you are to charge and rub the Legs with it and frequently to renew its application this remedy succeeds many times better then one more composed If you add a third of Vinegar to two thirds of thick Wine lees it will lay the swelling of a leg and take away all the heat and fluxion which may have fallen down upon it by the fatigue of the journey Another easie enough remedy to unweary a horse without either much charges or multiplicity of ingredients is vinegar and quenched Charcoals of Wood which will dissolve and dissipate all the humours which are capable of resolution and which incommoded the leg by stifining its motion I have already taught you how it should be made But if your horse be so very fatigued that none of the abovementioned applications can recover him then have recourse to the 33 Chap of the 2d part where it is discoursed to the full of used and spoilt legs and of the meanes to recover them and if all the remedies which you have caused apply produce noe good effect my only advice then is to give him rest for Nature many times of her own accord performs that which all the remedies in the world cannot However take alwayes care to cause rub his legs well with a good Hay Wisp as also to Currie and dress the rest of his body well and perhaps the remedies which have not operate in the time of their application will discover their effects afterwards and that long rest will at last perfect the Work At least you may cause once practise all the preceeding Remedies with an assureance that they cannot alter the Legs even although they should receive noe ease or benefit by them which is a thing impossible There are some remedies which soften and mollify so extreamly the Sinews of the Legs by reason of their great humidity and moistening quality that they make a horse Cripple and halt for a long time after their application and although they have taken away the great pain yet they make the Legs yeild and bend beneath the horse because of their having too much softned the Nerves so that there is almost as much time required to harden and strengthen the Nerves again as there was required 〈◊〉 unweary and recover them of their fatigue if there had been applyed proper and methodical remedies to them such as I have proposed CHAP XXXVI Of the Art of Shoeing or the true and exact method of Shoeing all sorts of feet be they never so bad or deformed PEople should be perswaded that no Escuyer or Master of horse CHAP XXXVI Of the Art of Shoeing Gentlem◠or other person who hath good and handsome horses should be ignor◠of the order and method that ought to be observed to have them 〈◊〉 shoed to the end that if he cannot conveniently find a skilful and expert Smith 〈◊〉 may at least order after what manner they should be shoed to have it well done I think therefore that there should be a distinction made betwixt two methods 〈◊〉 shoeing The first and most useful method is to shoe for the advantage of th◠foot and according to it's nature and shape so to fit shoes to it that may make 〈◊〉 better than it is and if it be good may preserve and keep it from becoming bad The second method is that which disguiseth the foot and maketh it appear good when really it is not And this last is that which is most sought after by the Horse Coursers for albeit that this last method of shoing through time wholly ruines the foot yet those who have no other design but to fell and put off their horses do not much trouble themselves about it for provided that their horses feet but appear good and they get them sold it is all they desire I shall show you the first method which is to shoe a horse for the advantage of his foot only and although many run and seek earnestly after the second that is to disguise the foot and make it appear good when really it is not for by that method of shoeing they will at last wholly ruine their horses feet and that is what I do not undertake to teach you therefore to prevent your falling into this errour you mu◠not neglect to learn the right method of shoeing for the profit and advantage of the foot People have known in this our age Kings who understood how to forge a horse's shoe and there are but few persons of quality who know not how to drive a Nail thereby to serve themselves upon a necessity It is a Maxim that people cannot teach that which they know not themselves
Charge or Softner reasonably warm or hoof salve as I have before ordered you You must also renew two or three times the application of the restrictive and the Charge or hoof-salve keeping him alwayes shoed after the former manner but if his foot after shoeing be very high and round soled you must then let him stand eight or ten dayes upon his Litter If the horse have his sole but a little raised or that it be not as yet absolutely round beneath after twice or thrice shoeing it will be helped but the more it is out of shape the more time will it take to rectifie it It is to be observed that flat feet at least the most part of them have their heels narrow near the shoe so that the smiths hollowing or vaulting very much their shoes make them rest upon the outsides of the heels and by that meanes make them become narrower now quite contrary to this method you must cause shoe your horses with panton shoes so that causing their heels to open you will contribute to the shrinking in of the sole and under part of 〈◊〉 foot as I have told you before and cannot tell you it too often But if your horses foot be extraordinary high or round in the sole you must without delay bar the pastern Veins which will be the only means to give a good shoe to those flat kind of feet for without this operation any other will have no great 〈◊〉 fect because the main design is to put a stop to that superfluous nourishment which goeth to the sole and to force nature to furnish that nourishment to the upper pâ—â— of the foot which the shoeing with panton shoes will doe even without retrenching and cutting his hoofs at the sides if you but only with the Cutting-knife cut as retrench his Toe and that you keep his sole strong without almost taking any this from it so that being shoed with shoes which are not vaulted although they rest little upon the soles yet they will not cause him halt much even although they 〈◊〉 Panton shoes Afterwards fit the shoe and providing it rest not altogether upon 〈◊〉 sole it is enough seing you left the sole expresly for that purpose strong enough 〈◊〉 fasten the shoe with very thin Nails When he is shoed you shall fill his feet with Taâ—â— scalding hot or with the restrictive before mentioned or otherwayes keep theâ— amongst his moistned dung It 's true this is to keep the horse a long time without having any service of hiâ— but oftentimes for not taking that care of him and giving that rest hebecometh altogether unservicable as I have seen a great many for not taking notice to them 〈◊〉 time there are some which have such kind of feet that will yet be somewhaâ— serviceable but according as they need help people take more or less care of them The smiths whom I ordered to shoe some horses after this method did it at first out of meer complysance thinking that every man had liberty to spoyl his owâ— horse and ruine his feet but afterwards finding this method of shoeing with pantâ— shoes and barring the pastern veins to succeed well they protested to me that it was only the experience they had of them which convinced them of their usefulness 〈◊〉 the best way is to prevent the disease and to hinder your horses in the beginning have round or high soles because horses which are brought up in moist and maâ—â— Countries and especially those which come from Holland Frizland Oldenburg 〈◊〉 the other adjacent Countries are very subject to have their Feet spoilt when they aâ—ter or change the horn For besides the bad form and nature of such hoofs 〈◊〉 horse Merchants at Paris and other places dry up the whole hoof with a great deal Cow-dung To prevent then your horses feet to become Comble or high and 〈◊〉 in the soles you must use all the means imaginable for it is not enough to buy the with good Feet when they come to France or England but you must also prefer and maintain them in that condition The first shoeing of Coach-horses is of consequence So that you are then but make the horn level where the shoe resteth and not to take any thing from the 〈◊〉 but as it were to clean and whiten it because it hath been already made too holles shoe him just and peirce your shoe a pretty distance from the edge but you 〈◊〉 drive your Nails low for if you should peirce your shoe near the edge the Nails wâ—â— in driving split the horn which hath been already too much weakned by the hoâ— Merchant who had no other design but to make his horses feet appear hollow 〈◊〉 must then cause peirce your shoe at a pretty distance from the edge so that the Nails 〈◊〉 not easily split the horn but for fear of pricking your horse you are to drive them 〈◊〉 what lower than ordinary and drive a Nail just at the Toe to the end that the 〈◊〉 may stay longer on without shifting it's place and may remain streight upon 〈◊〉 foot You are not at all to retrench his quarters nor open his heels but let the 〈◊〉 follow the compass of the horses foot and by this means you shall preserve his 〈◊〉 and they will be alwayes good Those Smiths who think to give ease to their horses by enlargeing their shoes vaulting them a little insensibly spoil their feet because they follow the form the shoe and so become mishap't for the more that you enlarge your shoe at 〈◊〉 the more you must enlarge it the next shoeing and that is the way absolutely to 〈◊〉 your horse for it is far more difficult to rectifie your horses feet and give them age shape when once deformed then in the beginning when they have good feet and the horn altering to preserve them because they are then capable of receiveing any for you intend to give them Horses which have big and large feet although they not flat yet are more subject to have them easily spoilt then any other if people tâ— not care at every shoeing to retrench them untill the nature of the horn be chang This is what I thought good and necessar to be practised for this kind of bad feet shall in the following chapter continue to speak of other sorts of bad feet than these I have already discoursed of Those who need horses for the Plough and who live in a soft countrey that is to say where there are few hard or flinty stones they should certainly buy such horses as have so high and round soles that they can be no more serviceable upon the streets in Parit London or any other great City especially if they be young and that they judge they will do their business after they are recovered for I have known such horses given for twenty Crowns which had they had good feet would been worth fix times more all they have to do is to bar the
Hay that wherein there is much Clover is absolutely the best A Botte of Straw and three Measures of Oats whereof there are six as I said in the Bushel with two heaped Measures of Bran at Twelve a Clock especially and the Straw which he leaveth of the above-mentioned proportion will serve for his Litter A Hunter or Journey-Pad of a reasonable size will eat more Hay although his labour be not so violent both because they are commonly longer of Body and also that when they go to the Feilds to hunt they are a long time without eating therefore they must have more food to keep them always in good case so that people should give to them a Botte and a half of Hay a Botte of Straw and four Measures of Oats A large Galloway or Summer-Pad two Bottes of Hay in three days and each day a Botte of Straw with two Measures of Oats besides one of Bran at twelve a clock The lesser size of Galloways or Summer little Nags two Bottes of Hay in three days and the like quantity of Straw but then two Measures of Oats given at three times in the day will be abundantly sufficient As Coach-Horses are larger than any of these above-mentioned so they require a greater allowance of food therefore if they are very large five Bottes of Hay and three Bottes of Straw betwixt the two and six measures of Oats to each that is the Setier should serve them both for ten days but if they are horses only of a middle size then four Bottes of Hay and three of Straw betwixt the two and five Measures of Oats to each will serve however some people give only four of Oats but it is too small an allowance if they work much In fine I am of opinion that it is an excellent Maxim to feed well such horses as work as also these which do not for it is a true Proverb that there should be no such thing as Oats resting or not made use of A Setier of Oats will serve two of the largest size of Coach-horses ten days although they work very hard and twelve if but moderatly to the common or ordinary size of Coach horses the Setier will last twelve days between the two and to the smallest size it will serve fourteen but a man is always according to their violent moderate or very small exercise to regulate himself for the just distribution of their food When once horses are very plump and well accustomed for a long time to Hard-meat they are nourished and maintain themselves in that condition with a very little food for example I have known in Paris extraordinary large Coach-horses 〈◊〉 did not eat each of them in twenty four hours above an Botte of Hay and a 〈◊〉 straw the Setier of Oats lasted them both a fortnight and yet they were 〈◊〉 very fat and in good case It is true indeed that their labour was but moderate and quently interrupted that is they had many days of rest and before they were reducâ— this small allowance they were continually sick but thereafter kept their health 〈◊〉 well Now if any Man should offer to regulate his horse's food according to this pâ—â—tion without considering whether or not they be already in a good case or have of a long time accustomed to Hard-meat would I assure you be deceived for they only those horses which are very fat that can be maintained with so little food 〈◊〉 must they also be suffered to work too excessively The Wheat Bran which is given to Coach-horses should not be reckoned as 〈◊〉 of their food except they be either extraordinary light-belly'd very young or excessâ— over-heated in their bodies which you may easily discover by the hardness blackness of their Dung Cut-Straw is very good to be given them amongst their Oats and in other 〈◊〉 they are to be ordered as the rest of your horses Every Man who hath good horses should cause take a special care of them 〈◊〉 they are worth his pains and for that effect if he can have his choice of a Stable shall have it well aired and not at all moist for Humidity is a great enemy to 〈◊〉 and bringeth many inconveniencies along with it therefore except in a dry and 〈◊〉 foundation all stables beneath ground are moist and consequently worth 〈◊〉 the Windows should be to the North if possible and the whole Stable kept very 〈◊〉 however without Stiffling and it is upon this account that the Vaults which are tooâ—â— are unwholsome because they are almost as hot as Ovens the Manger should be 〈◊〉 three or four foot high a foot and a half broad and as much in depth provide that the Stall be full four foot high which is the greatest height it should 〈◊〉 the largest size of Horses but for the middle three foot and a half is sufficient and for 〈◊〉 least or Galloway Nags three because for this last size this height of the Manger 〈◊〉 judged abundantly sufficient for if it were heigher it would oblige them 〈◊〉 stretch too much their necks before they could reach the bottom of the manger Heck or Rack perpendicularly fixed because in those which slop forwards the 〈◊〉 and short hay falls from them and so durties the horse's head and Mane In 〈◊〉 where there are a great number of horses the best way is to have no Rack at all cause the Grooms which should be continually near them will give them their by degrees and so it will be better freed from its dust as it is just untyed and 〈◊〉 out of the Bottle which is a thing not very commonly practised for the 〈◊〉 men and Grooms do generally throw the Bottles of hay into the Rack hard tyed and without so much as the least untying or dusting it which is a bad custom 〈◊〉 cause if you cause dust it well and but give it them little by lttle it will them a great deal more good than if you should give it all at once as those lazy 〈◊〉 slothful Grooms do The measures and dimensions of a Stable within the walls are eighteen or two foot for one range of horses to wit ten foot for the length of the horse where standeth and eight or ten foot for the Alley or Walk and so proportionably 〈◊〉 Stable of two ranges there must be allowed seven foot and a half for the stanâ—â— two horses which is about eight inches for the Mid-pillar and about three 〈◊〉 inches for the place of each horse For the rest see Chap. 50. at the end A 〈◊〉 not want good models both in France and England whereby he may be instâ—â—â— in the building a convenient Stable especially in France that of Merlow in 〈◊〉 pleasure house of the Constables of Mommorancy the Kings Stables both the great and lesser the Stables of Cardinal Mazarin those of Chilly belonging to Monsieur 〈◊〉 those of Maison which are of a very odd and extraordinary fashion and many 〈◊〉 any of which patterns a man
if he stand in need of it and also what medicament is most fit for him to regular its quantity to resolve after what method it should be administrate to cause 〈◊〉 take it at a proper and seasonable time and lastly to practise exactly all the circâ—â— stances which should be observed First It is certain that the seldomer a man purge a horse it will be always the â—â—est side he chooseth for it should never be attempted without a great necessity 〈◊〉 they are easily enflamed and so much the more readily because they require great quantity of Drugs to purge them which cannot possibly be given without 〈◊〉 printing a strange heat in their bodies and which finding a disposition in their parâ— and humours doth many times either degenerate into a Feaver or leave behind 〈◊〉 great impression of its heat which is not soon extinguished The second reason why horses should not be purged except in a great necessity that the medicaments are commonly twenty four hours in their bodies before they begin to operate so that during that time they alwayes overheat or alter some of the parts seing they don't rest there without moving over-heating or irritating nature If people could act upon horses conform to the doctrine of those who disapprove purging they would certainly prevent a great many disorders because whatever precautions people may observe in preparing them for it yet they so frequently remark such considerable disorders after its operation that we may confidently conclude nature suffers a great deal by such an evacuation If we could find out remedies whereby we might so fortifie and redress nature as that she could discharge her self of her own accord through the common passages of that which were prejudicial to her and that she could either overcome and destroy these bad humours take away their malignity or fix them then certainly People might be freed from that trouble they have in purging them but for my part whatever care and diligence I have taken I have not as yet discovered these remedies and if there are some Medicaments which may perform a part of this effect yet they do it not wholly but leave the remander of the humours more attached and fastned and more difficult to be evacuate then the whole would have been had the remedy been altogether a Specifick for them Necessity hath no Law and therefore people are many times obliged to purge horses but then it should be performed by observing the Climate Season the different aspects of the Planets the disease the constitution age and if possible the very nature and disposition of the horse which being void of reason and speech cannot discover to us his distemper and far less what is fit for it The third reason for which we should observe exact precautions in purging proceeds from the difficulty of knowing the condition of the disease and the disposition of the humours which when concocted and digested by nature are easily evacuate but being crude and unprepared are rebellious and don 't yeild to the Remedy and because there are several kinds of these humours it is very fit to give here a slight description of them The division that Hippocrates maketh of the parts of Man is to be observed in all Creatures he establishes first the solid parts as the bones and flesh next the liquid parts as the Blood and humours and lastly the spirituous parts which are the Source of life the principal Organs of Action and the first Springs of all our motions The Liquid parts are those humours which are of no fixed and stable consistence they are produced of the Food which people take and after divers preparations a part of them is converted into the proper substance of the solid parts which is called Nutrition another portion of them repaires the loss and dissipation of the Spirits and the rest is rejected as useless if the food be proper right chosen and taken in time and in a just quantity if the concoction and preparation of them be made it as ought and that all the parts which contribute to digestion acquit themselves exactly well of their functions and if the unprofitable and superfluous part of them be thrown out and expelled in its due time and in just quantity through the common passages then there is formed a perfect Health which is rare in Men because their passions and the disturbance of their Body and Spirits produce a great deal of disorder from which horses are exeemed and I do really believe that the passions and irregular desires in Men are a considerable part of the cause why they have not a health so throughly and firmly established as otherwise it would yea we even see that horses without having passions are not in a perfect state of Health and that through labour which is either given them immoderatly or unseasonably or otherways by reason of bad nourishment as I shall show you more at large in the 2d part If it happen that the food be improper altered and corrupted and either taken unseasonably or in too great or small a quantity if the Digestion be out of order or if the Excretions or voidings are disordered then is the whole Oeconomy of the Body perverted its forces diminish and Diseases are brought upon it so that in this disorder it produces humours which degenerate from the excellency of the Blood and to facilitate the understanding of these according to their different Comparisons people make several kinds of divisions of them some compare them to Milk and say that the purest blood considered in the perfection of its mass answers to the intire substance of Milk and that there are three parts which compose it Bile answers to Butter Melancholly to Cheese and Phlegm to Whey those again who compare the Humours to the Elements and Seasons of the Year say that Blood corresponds to the Spring and to Air and give it the qualities of hot and moist that the Bile sembles Summer to which they give the qualities of hot and dry not formally virtually and that phlegm hath an affinity to water which is cold and moist therefore hath a conformity to Winter and to the Moon that Melancholy is cold dry and so cometh near to the nature of Earth because of the cold which is esseâ— to it The Chymists have attempted to find out a conformity betwixt the humours their own principles but seeing they have not as yet agreed about it amongst the selves it is difficult to establish any thing which may prove solid upon prince which are still controverted and debated therefore we shall have no regard to the but adhere to that which is most agreeable to the ends of Purging People should not think of purging blood considered as Blood because if it abouâ— in too great a quantity it requires evacuation by bleeding and so likwise if it be 〈◊〉 heated to give a freedom to and facilitate the motion of the Spirits and then 〈◊〉 wards it may be clarified
the Pulmonary Artery when the Heart compresses it self from the lungs it is carried to the left Ventricle by the Pulmonary Vein which hath Anastomoses or Communications with the Pulmonary Artery where it is perfected and made more pure then it is sent into the great Artery from whence it runs into all the parts of the body for their nourishment This is a succinct deduction of the new Opinion concerning Sanguification let us now come to those Reasons which oblige us to take blood 1. The First Reason that obliges us to blood a Horse is Plenitude Reasons for Blood letting which is nothing else but an immoderate and excessive quantity of blood there are two kinds of it one when the Vessels are so very full of blood that they can scarce contain it without bursting the other when there is more blood than is needful for the entertainment of the parts so that Nature cannot govern it omne énim nimium naturae inimicum for although there be no great fear of the Rupture of a Vein yet so great a quantity of blood rarely fails to oppress and over-heat the Body 2. The Second Reason is the excessive heat of the blood which causes it to sparkle in the Veins in this case blooding refreshes and appeases the boiling of it 3. The Third Reason that obliges us to let blood is that we may take away the corrupt Humors contained in the Veins which by their putrefaction can only produce bad effects therefore nature being eased by this evacuation doth the more easily digest the rest 4. The Fourth Reason is that when the blood hath not liberty enough to run and pass freely through its vessells blooding gives it vent and so facilitates its motion 5. The Fifth Reason is to make a revulsion by altering its course when it carries it self from one part to another with too great impetuosity and in too much bundance now in this case people either endeavour to retard its course or to pâ—cure another for it quite another way 6. The sixt and last reason for Blood-letting is to give ease and releif to any 〈◊〉 that is overcharged with Blood and which is performed by Blooding the 〈◊〉 afflicted Now although the Mass of the Blood which comprehends all that is containe in the Veins doth degenerate into Bile Phlegm or Melancholy yet nevertheless people do not scruple to take Blood for if it be Bilious it stands in need of refreshâ—â— and cooling and then it must be taken often and but a little at a time If the Veins be full of Melancholick Blood then there will be a necessity to 〈◊〉 but a little at a time and also blood seldom only to facilitate the course of the to thick Blood If the Blood be Phlegematick crude slow and Cold then it must 〈◊〉 taken in a less quantity than when it is in any other disposition Blood-letting hath also its inconveniencies when it is practised unseasonably 〈◊〉 then it maketh a revulsion of the Spirits which are the source of strength and of the Natural heat it 〈◊〉 also taketh away the aliment appointed for the nourishment 〈◊〉 the parts whence it is that a man is to consult a horse's strength to know if 〈…〉 endure blooding and also to consider if the horse be very extenuate for then he would stand more in need to be made up by good feeding then to loss his Blood Blooding is most necessary by way of prevention for all horses which people 〈◊〉 well and cause Labour little It should be done twice a year to preserve theâ— from those Diseases that proceed from that plenitude which is a burden to them The letting of Blood is very profitable for the cureing of Feavers the Farcy Mange Stroaks of all kinds for defluxious upon any part of the Body the Eyes excepted for the foundering in the Body Vertigo Head-akes and a great many other Diseases However there are some Authors who do not approve of Blooding by way of prevention saying that if people chance to neglect it at that time in which they we accustomed to practise it it would occasion some indisposition to the horse and the therefore a horse should never be bled by way of prevention but in the pale Philippo Scacco in his treatise Di Mescalzia is of this sentiment Seing Blood-letting then cures several Diseases it cannot be doubted but that it is usefull for the preservation of horses from the same Diseases and if you neglect it a any accustomed time then you are in the wrong especially if your horse be either heavy too strongly fed or out of exercise but if otherwise then you are 〈◊〉 tyed to it CHAP. LXVIII At what times Horses should be let Blood NOne I beleive call in question CHAP. LXVIII At what times horses should be bled but that there are some times in the yeâ— wherein one humor predomines more than another For example 〈◊〉 agree that it is the Blood which predominats in the Spring in the Sâ—mer Bile in Autumn Melancholy and in the Winter phlegm That which is preforme in the space of a year is renewed every six hours which is the time wherein the whole Circulation of the Blood is perfected as an infinite number of experiments have discovered and to explaine it breifly people have remarked that the Heart beats about 4000 times in an hour this motion or beating of the heart is called Systolo and Diastole which is all one with Dilatation and Compression By each Diastole the Heart attracts to it self from the Veins about half a dram of blood and by each Systole sends so much forth from it self into the Arterys all which being exactly calculate a horse will have in his Body about 50. pounds of Blood which will all pass through the two Ventricles of the heart in about six hours space by running from the Veins to the Ventricles and from the Ventricles into the great Artery and in each tour or Circulation that the Blood maketh one of the above-mentioned humors will be predominant in the manner following From midnight to six a clock in the Morning it is the Blood that predominates from six to twelve a clock in the day it is Phlegm from twelve a clock till six at night it is Bile and from six to midnight it is Melancholy This which I affirme may seem to be a Vain discourse without any kind of ground or solid foundation but you may satisfie your self by an easie experiment made after this manner Endeavour to know the temper of your horse and let us suppose him to be bilious then draw Blood of him betwixt twelve a clock in the day and six a clock at night that is to say about four and you will find that as you have made the evacuation in that time wherein Bile did predomine so you will have evecuate a great deal of Bile which will convince you of the truth of what I affirme because it will be almost all Bile whereas if you should
take blood from the same horse about four a clock in the Morning which is the time that blood predominats you will then find his blood good and but a little mixture of Bile amongst it and so of the other humors This change in the Mass of the blood is a certain token of its circulation and in effect if it had not this motion it would corrupt after the same manner as those humors that are in the Body do who either ly still or are stopt in some part of the Body and which by reason of their putrefaction are the cause and origine of many diseases And Blood did it not circulate would so much the more easily purifie in that it containes in it the principles of Corruption to wit Heat and Moisture Now this being laid down as a Principle is it not very advantagious to evacuate the humor that offends or causes any indisposition in the Horse this may no doubt be done by this Observation which is to take blood of him in that time wherein the humor which a man intends to evacuate doth most predomine in the Veins but upon the contrary Blooding will be prejudicial to him if practised at any other time because there will then be evacuate an humor which neither offends in quantity nor quality it is therefore of greatest consequence to observe exactly the time and hour in which it is most proper to Blood a horse It is also to be remarked that the Compleat Circulation of the blood is not always precisely performed each six hours because of the temper of the horse therefore supposing it to be phlegmatick in that case it will exceed the six hours but if it be Bilious then it will be accomplished in less than six and so of the rest To prevent therefore your being deceived by this I have ordered the time of Blooding to be four hours after that the humor which should prodominate in that time of circulation hath begun to change and increase for example for such horses as are Bilious at four a clock at night that so you may not be mistaken and perform a Bleeding that will be useless and unprofitable for your horse I lay down then for an infallible Rule that the Sanguine horse should be bled at four in the Morning the pituitous or Phlegmatick at ten the Bilious or fiery at four a clock in the afternoon and the Melancholick at ten at night and if till now you have performed many Bloodings which have produced bad effects it is because you did not know and make use of these Observations Blooding should be also practised as much as possible in the increase of the Moon and never when she is in the signs of Leo or Taurus when the Blood is to be taken from the Neck or if it be from any other part of the Body it is to be taken you are then to observe never to take Blood from that part which is governed by any sign while the Moon is in that sign for example in the Fore-thighs or plat Veins when the Moon is in Gemiui The letting of Blood should be also performed in a calm and clear day and which is free from clouds and fogs because the Veins being emptyed a little by the Blooding do immediatly attract into their vacuities the Air which is an univeâ— Spirit and which if pure and clear will be in no hazard of altering the blâ—â—â— but upon the contrary will fill them with pure Atoms which will rectify it whereas if be moist to open the Veins at such a time is just to mix with the blood noysce Serosities with which the Veins do many times abound Moreover you are to a serve not to let bood when the Moon is in Opposition to the Sun that is when it is 〈◊〉 Moon nor when they are in Conjunction which is new Moon nor when they 〈◊〉 in a Square which is the Quarters because in all these times Blooding prejudicial Without designing to show my abilities and skill I can assure you that before made these observationes I took sometimes blood from horses which did alone cost them their Lives and that only for once Bleeding and that since that time have performed Bloodings which have manifestly saved them and that cheifly for being caused take it at a proper and seasonable time I am therefore hopefull that having cleared this road and path some who 〈◊〉 Curious will advance and penetrate further in it and that being grounded upon true opinion which is for the Circulation of the Blood it will discover to the pâ—â—lick such secrets as have been hitherto unknown I had almost forgot to tell you that you are never to take blood from horses the Solstices nor Aequinoxes for these are times in which Nature is a kind of 〈◊〉 ferer and therefore waits for some Crisis or other extraordinary effect You are then not to incommode her at these times be cause it may produce very considerable accidents and this is to be observed not only upon the very dayes themselves but also two dayes before and as many after But if you know certainly the conâ—â—tution and temper of your horse then if he be Sanguine observe to blood him whâ— the Moon is in any of the earthly signs which are Taurus Virgo and Capricorn if 〈◊〉 be Cholerick blood him when the Moon is in a watery sign such as Cancer Scopâ— or Pisces if Melancholick when the Moon is in an Airy sign such as Geeâ—â— Libra or Aquartus and if Phlegmatick then when the Moon is in any of the fiery signs which are Aries Leo and Sagittarius I have added these circumstances purposely for the Curious who I know will please it CHAP. LXIX Of the parts of the Body wherein Horses are commonly bled WHen people blood Horses by way of prevention CHAP. LXIX Of the parts of the Body wherein horses are commonly bled they should when 〈◊〉 conveniency will allow them take it from young Horses in the 〈◊〉 or fifth day of the Moon and from old when it is three or four dâ—â— past the full young Horses as well as old are to be bled as rarely as possible 〈…〉 also the same of such Horses which pass their Aliments without being concocted as digested such as those who have much whole and undigested Oats amongst thâ—â— dung unless it be that the Horse swallow them without chawing which is frequently the custom of many Horses Neither are you to blood such Horses as are cold and phlegmatick nor those whâ—â— work in an excessive cold Countrey no more than those in other Climats in the gâ—â—â— heats and excessive colds because during that time their bodies stand more in nâ—â— to be strengthned than weakned There are some who observe very exactly what I hinted a little at in the preceâ—â—ing Chapter and they do very well in so doing when they are Masters of the time and that it is only by way of precaution that they do it which is not
is through time quite lost and the heat of the Grease which enters into 〈◊〉 composition Surmounts the refrigerating quality of the other ingredient it provokes sleep is good for feaverish persons and for Head-akes proceeds from heat if the fore-head and temples be Anointed with it It is also very goe to be given for cooling in Glysters useing betwixt two and four Ounces 〈◊〉 it at a time As for the refrigerating Ointment of Galen it is mighty refreshing as cooling There are also other Emplasters and Ointments much in use for horses to 〈◊〉 the Diachylum Magnum which mollifies hardnesses and either resolves Swelling or brings them to maturity The Nutritum otherwayes called Tripharâ—â—â— which is good for the imperfections of the skin and to dry up Ulcers The Unguentum De Belo which Cools Binds and Strengthens it is good in the beginning of hot defluxions especially for Erysipelys The Pompholix for pricks and Street-Nails and besides it also dryes up Ulcers The Stiptick Ointment for horses whose fundaments fall out by reason of the violence occasioned by some effort or stress Sect. 2. Of other Ointments and Emplasters made use of for Horses THe Emplast of Melilot Mollifies all hardnesses and dispells wind Sect. 2. The Basilicon Ripens by cleansing and drawing The Vnguent Rubrum incarnates Asswageth pain and healeth up wounds The Vng Egyptiacum cleanses Ulcers and Fistulaes removes Corruption and eats away the Dead-flesh more powerfully then the Vng Aposlolorum as also it dryes up wounds The Emplast Divinum is good for Malignant Ulcers it consumes their putreâ— faction and advances the ripening of Tumours I shall here give you the Receipt of a Plaister An approved receipt for Corns in mens feet for easing the pains occasioned by Corns in Mens feet which I have alwayes found succeed very well Take three Drams of Emplast Divinum and puting it into a little glazed earthen pot melt it over a gentle heat adding to it a small spoonful of Olive Oil to keep the plaister from burning as it melts being melted take it from the fire continually stirring it about and when it begins to cool add to it one Dram of good sweet Sublimate in fine Powder and continue still stirring it off the fire until it be perfectly cold Take a little of this Plaister and spreading it upon either a piece of fine Linnen cloath or Cambrick apply it to the Corns and let it continue at them for 24 hours at the end of which time as you are going to bed remove the Plaister and with your Nail scratch as much from your Corns as you can conveniently take away after which apply the very same Plaister again and I assure you within two days you will scarcely feel any pain after four dayes apply a fresh plaister continueing still to scratch your Corns at the end of every 24 hours as you go to bed and at last you will take them wholly away but after the second day you will have no more pain The Emplast Oxycrotium mollifies hardnesses and removes pains proceeding from a cold cause The Emplast Aureum is good for agglutinating incarnating and easing pain as also for making the hoofs grow The Emplast De Betonica is good for wounds and Ulcers in the head The Diapalma which the Apothecaries call Diacalcitios a strange and hard word only to amuse people stops Defluxions and heals Ulcers The Ointment of Montpelier for Swellings and to strengthen The Dukes Ointment for Tumors and hot Inflammations The Vng Oppodeldoch for dryed up and torn or rent shoulders The Hermits Ointment is admirable for Horses Wounds Monsieur Curty's Plaister for pricks in the feet and Street-Nails The Ointment of Plantane for Brittle-hoofs and to make the horn grow These six last Compositions are those most made use of for horses and are described in the 2d Part of this Book as may be seen by the Alphabetical Table which is at the end of the said part I shall here also set down Black-Soap although it is properly neither ranked amongst Ointments nor Plaisters but seeing it is a powerful resolver of Tumors and Swellings and also that it is excellent for drying up the white corrupt and stinking Humors in Horses Legs I thought it deserved to be set down in this place There are many other Oyntments and Plaisters in the 2d Part which are almost all of my own invention there are likewise a great many Descriptions of Oils Ointments Plaisters c. In Bauderon Du Renou Scroderus and in the Works of la Franaboisiere as also in the new Dispensatory of Zwelfer and several others who all of them show their Compositions and Vertues Sect. 3. Of the Oyls commonly made use of for horses THe Oil of Sect. 3. Violets takes away Inflammations tempers the heat of Impostumâ— and eases pain The Oil of Lillies heats resolves and digests humors which occasion pain The Oil of Iris removes akes proceeding from a cold Cause and advances the ripening of Tumors it penetrates more powerfully and is a greater Resolver than the Oil of Lillies but is less Anodyne The Common Oil of Roses is good for inflammations it keeps back Defluxions aâ—â— is good for stopping the impetuous motion of humors The Oleum Rosarum Omphacinum is more cooling than the former and is excellent for akes or pains proceeding from a hot Cause it also fortifies the Stomack and other intestines and is astringent The Oil of Camomil or Melilot heats and resolves indifferently it also eases pairs proceeding from a cold cause and strengthens wonderfully the Nerves The Oilof Hypericum which we call St Johns Wort is the true Balsam of the Nervous parts it cures Burnings and pricks with Nails or Stubs and is also Anodyne and Diuretick The Oil of Laurel or Bayes I mean that which is true and not that which is commonly sold in Parts in which there is not above the fourth part of the Oil of Lâ—â—â— and the other three only of Swines Seam to which they give the true Colour by a little Verdigrise in fine powder it is not I say this kind of it which I here mean but theâ—e and unsophisticate Oil of Laurel which resolves powerfully and gives ease 〈◊〉 indispositions of all the parts proceeding from a cold cause but especially to those 〈◊〉 the Nerves and Joynts The Oil of Dwarf-Alder-Seeds asswages all kind of Akeings in the joynts and 〈◊〉 sipates gross Phlegm The Oil of Earth-worms is good for the Nerves all pains in the joynts and is 〈◊〉 Anodyne or softning The Oil of Rue is a great Resolver it heats and attenuats gross humors expâ— wind and is good for the Colick and Convulsion The Oil of Marjoram is good for the Nerves and the cold affection the Brain The Oil of Gabian is an Oily juice or rather Bitumen which comes forth 〈◊〉 the Water in a spring near Besiers in Languedock it is hot as are all the Petrolaus 〈◊〉 Bitumenous Oils proceeding from Rocks whereof Dioscorides discourses at large
and is good for pricks Street-nails c. it also fortifies resolves and attenuats or makes this Viscuous and thick humors it is also good for the Nerves and all pains proceeding from a cold cause The Oil of Petrolaeum is more penetrating than the Gabian and hath the same effect only it causes a greater Inflammation and Swelling it is good for the strains of 〈◊〉 shoulders and Haunches and other fleshy parts where there is a necessity for the Mâ—â—cament to soke through the Flesh that so it may dissipate the Humors the Gathered The Oleo Dysasso is a kind of Petrolaeum clear as Essence it is found in the Tetories of the Duke of Modena and is commonly also sold at Parma as well as in Moles it is a kind of Petrolaeum which is rare in France and is as penetrating as any â—eâ— composed of very subtile parts it is admirable for all cold pains and resolves poweâ—fully but it must be used with discretion because it is extreamly hot The Essence or Oil of Turpentine is excellent for the Nervous parts and strains in the joynts but then it must not be often applyed to one part for it would burn the Skin and make it fall away in pieces There are several other kinds of Oils but because it would be Tedious to set down here all their Vertues therefore if you desire to know them and which is more to compose them look to the Alphabetical Table at the end of the second Part or otherwise read the Authors I have already cited as also Joubert Rondelet and others Sect. 4 Of the distilled Waters commonly made use of for Horses FOr the Infirmities of the Eyes people make use of the Waters of Celandin Sect. 4. Eye bright Fennel Roses and Honey-suckle For the Breast and Lungs that of the Burr-dock Camomil Elecampane Colts-foot and Violets The Cordial-Waters are those of Carduus benedictus Borrage Bugloss Roses The cordial waters and Flowers and Violets these four last are the four Cordial Flowers As also the Waters of Spanish Scorzonera Mead-sweet Scabious and others where of the use is admirable in Horses Fevers The Waters for the Liver are those of Agrimony and the Sharp poynted Dock The Waters which provoke Urine are those of Parsly Roots Radishes Juniper berries Pellitory of the Wall and Gromel Those which provoke Sweat are the Waters of Carduus benedictus Mead-sweet and Butter-burr The Vulnerary Water and second Water in French Eau Seconde are good for Wounds which have false proud and spongeous Flesh growing about them because they take away its itching quality These are in short the Ointments Plaisters Oils and Waters which people make most commonly use of for Horses as also those which are expresly appropriate to the temperature of Horses as you may see more at large in the 2d Part. CHAP. LXXIV How to dy the Manes and Tails of Horses of either a Scarlet or Gold Colour which will continue fresh and lively for a long time as also to make a White Star in a Horses Fore-head Sect. 1. SInce the third Impression of this Book CHAP. LXXIV How to Dy the Manes anâ— Tails of Horses c. People have begun to Dy their Horses Manes and Tails of a Scarlet Colour as is practised by the Hungarians Polonians and Cravats which Colour maketh a pretty enough show upon White Horses I therefore fancyed it would not be disagreeable to the Reader that he here find an easy Method to perform it which I have many times experimented and with very 〈◊〉 Charges It is to be observed that they are only the white Manes and Tails 〈◊〉 can receive this Colour and of whatever Colour the Horse be it matters not I providing his Mane and Tail be white they will take on the dye but the hairs 〈◊〉 are black will continue so and receive no other Colour but the natural The Secret 〈◊〉 is this Take two Ounces of a Root which you will find in the Druggists called Mâ—dde Latine Rubia Tinctorum beat it coursly and put it into a glazed Pot which willâ— dure the fire with an English Pint and a half of Claret Wine and a small Glasfullâ— Olive or Walnut Oil put the hair of the Horses Tail or Mane into the Pot stoppe it all closs about with a course Cloath or Wisps of Hay or Straw that none of it 〈◊〉 evaporate then hold beneath the pot a Chafin-dish full of burning Charcoal Coal-cinders blowing it with a pair of Bellows and keeping it so until the Liâ— hath boiled about a quarter of an hour Sect. 1. and that the Horse may not feel the heâ—â— the Fire you are to cause hold a Board betwixt the Chafer and Horse taking 〈◊〉 care that there be only the hair in the Pot and nothing of the Horses Dock beâ—â— he could not suffer it when it hath boiled about a quarter of an hour take 〈◊〉 the Mane or Tail out of the Pot and wash it immediatly in a Pail of clean Water 〈◊〉 which it will be of a beautiful Scarlet Colour but if it should not prove to be 〈◊〉 deep enough Dy then close it up in the Pot a second time and make it boil 〈◊〉 some fresh Liquor for a quarter of an hour as before after which wash it again 〈◊〉 Water this colour will remain so long as the hair continueth although the 〈◊〉 Mane should be washt once every day I beleive the Root of Alkanet or Orchanet would perform the like effect howeveâ— never made tryal of it but seeing it hath the Quality to dy Red as well as Mâ—â—â— there is a great probability that it would succeed it is easie to make tryal of it Sect. 2. How to Dy the Mane and Tail of a Yellow or Gold-Colour THere is a Root called Terra Merita which being made use of as the fore will in all probability tinge the Mane and Tail of a Yellow or Goldâ— lour Sect. 2. however I will not be positive in it having never experimentâ— but the trial of it will not cost much if you use it after the same method 〈◊〉 Wine and Oil as you did the Rubia Tinctorum Sect. 3. How to make a White Star in a Horses Fore-Head I Promised to give in this Book Sect. 3. a Method for making a Star or white Maâ— Horses fore-head but I have observed it to succed so ill that I do not adviâ—â— to rely much upon it nor to trouble your self to enquire after other methods for it because the Hollanders who practise it daily to make their Horses which are â—â—ly black resemble those who have naturally Stars in their Fore-heads do thereby ny times render them more ugly than beautiful therefore without warranting any thing relating to it if you have such a design I shall tell you that they cause rost a large Onion amongst hot Embers or Ashes and being almost throughly rosted they divide it in two and dip it into scalding hot Walnut Oil after which they immediatly
of wheat straw Stepping him out twice a day to the Water and after he hath Drunk walk him up and down an hour without making him sweat that so you may bring him in Wind and it should be about two hours every day that he should be thus walked abroad in some pleasant Field wherein he takes delight if a Stallion were not thus brought in wind before he is made to Cover he would either become pursey and broken-Winded or run a great Risk of being so and were he not well fed he could not perform his Task but 〈◊〉 deceive your Mares or at least the Colts would be but pityful and very weak 〈◊〉 Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus and although you nourish him very well yet 〈◊〉 will alwayes take him in again abundantly lean if you give him many Mares he 〈◊〉 not serve you so long and his Mane and Tail will fall away through poverty 〈◊〉 you will find difficulty enough to recover and bring him to a good condition 〈◊〉 Body for the year following you are therefore only to give him Mares according to 〈◊〉 strength that is twelve or fifteen and at most twenty Wee should in England cause cover our Mares in the beginning of June that 〈◊〉 they may Foal in May in which Month there is plenty of Grass and which will 〈◊〉 make the Mares have a greater aboundance of Milk for the better nourishing of their Foals Mares go with Foal eleven Months and as many days as they are yee old for example a Mare of nine years old will carry her Foal Eleven Months aâ—â— nine dayes and one of six eleven Months and six dayes so that a man may here by regulate himself in the Causing cover his Mares that so their Foals may 〈◊〉 brought forth at such a time of the year as there will be aboundance of Grass in the Countrey where he intends to keep his Breed It sometimes happens that Mares kill their Foals through carelesness or for hareing been entangled in the stable with their Halters or through the difficulty they have in bringing them forth To assist a Mare at her Delivery now seing you may easily by what hath been saiâ— guess near at the time when she should Foal you should therefore cause alwayes a Servant attend her that so he may assist in case of necessity and who may observe whether it be for want of strength or courage that the Mare cannot bring forth her Foal in which case he is with his hand to close her Nostrils which will make her press to have breath in making which effort she will be delivered or otherwise let him pour into her Nostrils a little Claret Wine boylâ—d with Fennel and Sallad-Oil which will also assist her to bring forth But if through misfortune it be dead in her belly then you are to endeavour to cause her bring forth the dead Foal and also preserve her life by the following remedy take of Mare or Asses Milk or for want of that Goats Milk four pound weight which is about two English Quarts three pounds of strong Claret Wine-Lees Olive Oil two pounds juice of white Onions one pownd mix all together and make it Luke warm after which give it the Mare at twice about aâ—e hour betwixt each Drench If this remedy have not effect enough then some adroit Person shall anoint his haâ—d and arm with Olive Oil and shall endeavour to pull it out either whole or in piâ—â—â—â— and if he cannot get a good hold of it then he is to ty about the Chin of the Foal a large and strong Whip-cord and so pull it forth with as much Gentleness as possible Sometimes Foals come forth with their Feet foremost in that case you are to thrust them in again and with your hand endeavour to pull forth its head at least its nose thereby to facilitate the Mares delivery I had these remedies from an old Cavalies who practised them many times upon the Stud-Mares he had a charge of it depends upon your self to make use of them or not upon necessity he was an honest and itgenuous man and he also assured me that he had by this method preserved Mares from whom although having pull'd the dead Foals they yet did not fail afterwards to bring forth very good and beautiful ones You should about the end of May or beginning of June at which time there is commonly abundauce of Grass put your Mares into an Inclusure well Pallissado'd or enclosed with hedges or a stone Wall and which may be capable to feed them the whole time the Stallion is to be with them or that they are in Season in which Inclusure or Pasture all your Mares should be put together as well those which are Barren as others Then lead forth your Stallion having first taken off his hind feet shoes to prevent thereby his hurting the Mares when he kicks or stricks out bâ—â— his Foreshoes must be kept on for the preservation of his Feet then cause him before you turn him loose amongst the Mares to cover one twice in hand to render him the more calm and Gentle after which take off his Bridle and let him go freely to the rest with whom he will become so Familiar and use them so kindly that they will at last make love to him so that not one of them will be hors'd but as they are in Season after he hath served them all he will try them again one by one and will only cover such as willingly receive him he knows very well when they desire no more his Company and when he hath perform'd his Work so that then he begins to beat at the Palissade that he may be gone at which time he is to be removed and your Mares put into a fresh inclosure These are the wise means Nature makes use of and I assure you that of twenty Mares there will not three fail whereas if you caused Cover them in hand the one half would not Hold There should be built in that inclosure wherein the Stallion runs with the Mares a little Lodge for to retire and preserve him from the scorching heats in which there should be also a Manger wherein you are to give him his Oats Pease split Beans Bread or what else he liketh best and he must be alwayes thus had a care of while he is with the Mares which will be about six or seven Weeks and there should be not only to take care of that but also to give you a particular account how your Mares are Hors'd a servant appointed to remain night and day with them for whom there should be built a little Hutt in the same Inclosure for him to lye in he is also to take care that no other horses come to them nor other Mares to your Stallion and to advertise you when any thing extraordinary happeneth but above all to take care to lead the Stallion in time of excessive heats or great sun-shine into the Lodge built
man should therefore yeeld or slacken his hand as frequently as he can to all kinds of Horses and by this means he will draw some obedience from them when such as cleave to the Bridle Reins will draw from them none at all Part 1 Chap 82. Fig 1. Une Branch Droit à Pistolet A Streight branch after the forme of a Pistol Fig 2. Une Branch à La Conestable A Branch after the Duke of Moâ—â—erancy Constable of France his Fashion Fig 3. Une Branche à La Gigotte A Branch after the Forme of a Gigol or Log pretty well kneed and also bruised forewards at the Larrâ—t or Ham. Fig 4. Une Branche à La 〈◊〉 A Branch very much 〈…〉 Larret or Ham of it after 〈…〉 a bent Knee Fig 5. Une branche Françoise A Branch after the French Fashion Fig 6. Une autre Branche à La Conestable Mais plus hardie que La precedente Another Branche after the Duke of Mommorancy Constable of France his Fashion but more strong hardie then the proceeding Branch Fig 7. Une autre Branche à La Gigotte Mais qui ramens d'Advantage qui La precedente Another Branch after the forme of a Gigol or Leg But which bringeth in a Horses head better then the preceeding Branch Fig 8. Une autre Branche Françoise Mais plus hardie que la Precedenâ—â— Another Branch after the French Fasâ—â—â—â— but more strong hardie then thâ— preceding Branch Fig 9. Fer pour les pieds plats The true forme of a Shoe for Flat Feet Fig 10. Fer à Pantouffle A Panton or Pantable Shoe Fig 11. Fer à Demy Pantouffle A half Panton Shoe Fig 12. Fig 13. A Masticadour or Slavering Bit. Fig 14. CHAP. LXXXII Of all the different kinds of Branches most in Use THe Branch is the second part of that Division CHAP. LXXXII Of Branches we made in the beginning of our instructions for Bitting where we told its effect was to place a Horse's head and neck and that it was to be proportioned according to the design a man hath of either bringing in or raising a Horse's head The Branch is not the first Cause that acts in the placing a Horse's head and neck for it is only a second or help to the Bit-mouth because as a Bit-mouth hath no effect but by means of the sensibility that is in a Horse's mouth and that that sentiment is awakned no other way but by the Bit-mouth it follows that to make use of that sensibility there is a necessity that the Branch Cooperate with the Bit-mouth and but only as a second Cause to produce those effects which we know it doeth by giving so beautiful a posture to Horses and obliging them to carry in the most becoming posture whereof Nature hath made them capable The line of the Banquet is that part of the branch whereby we judge of its effects and which discovers to us its strength or weakness See plat 3 Fig. 4. A strong or hardy Branch is that whose Sevill-hole at the lower end of it is placed upon the outside of the line of the Banquet See Plat. 3 Fig 4.5 8. and the Flaque or Gentle which hath it placed upon this side of the above-mentioned Line See Plat 3 Fig. 1. A Rude and hardy Branch will bring in a Horse's head proportionably as it is more or less hardy and the Flaque or Gentle cannot operate but by its weakness thereby diminishing the effect of the Bit-mouth and so causing a Horse more easily suffer the Appuy or Pressure of the Bit who before had difficulty to endure it The ordinary effect of a Branch is to bring in a Horse's head that is the Action most natural to it because the further it is from a Horse's Neck the greater strength will it have in pulling and therefore that which is most hardy will bring best in provided it be in the hands of a Person who understands to make use of it A Branch may also raise a horse's head but then it shall be never but betwixt the Ham and Sevill-hole that it will have this Operation and that by reason of the Bent or turn that is given to it in that part for it is not the name of a Branch that causeth it either bring in or raise a Horse's head but only the Turn or shape that is given to its lower parts Short Branches are ruder then long if they have both of them the same shape and turn because as the effects of a long Branch cometh from a pretty distance therefore it does not constrain a horse so upon a sudden as a short which besides it's great constraint is also unpleasant I shall give a description of all the Branches which are of most use for the right briding of horses and in explaining the effects of each Branch in particular shall at the same time discourse of all those parts which compose one without speaking separately of each and thereby making a long discourse which proves many times as troublesome as useless It is difficult enough at first seing of a horse to chuse a proper Branch for him it being much harder than to appoint a Mouth because a Bit-mouth may be both seen and felt and People have a certain measure for its bigness but it is not so with a Branch because it must be proportion'd to the length of a horse's Neck however one may sooner fail in ordering a too short than too long a Branch I fancy that by considering exactly the Models I am to give a man can scarcely fail but that so soon as he sees a Branch he will be capable to tell that it is for a horse which hath such a Neck and that when he sees how any horse carries his head he will he also immediatly able to discover that such a Branch is proper for him because he carries so and so and hath such a Neck 1 Vne Branche droit a Pistolet See Plat 3 Fig 1. THis Branch being almost perfectly streight is called in French à Pistolet or Branch after the form of a Pistol as also à la Caâ—abroise it is the shape of its lower end which giveth it this Denomination it is called streight because it hath no shoulder and is made use of for young Horses because it is commonly the first which people give them to form their mouths and cause them relish a Bit. This fashion of streight Branch restrains a horse a great deal less than one having a shoulder and it is alwise the Method should be observed in beginning a young horse to constrain him as little as possible that so there may be no occasion given him to resist whereby he may shun that constraint which is displeasing to him for of all the Chastisements and Remedies wherewith Art furnishes us there are none less natural than the effects of a Bridle and consequently very difficult to be comprehended by Horses People commonly for the very same reason make Branches pretty long
will know as he is going back if his Head be firm and if he performeth it franckly or only obeyes with Reluctancy that so you may give him another Bit which may help to gain his consent without either troubling or hurting his Mouth If in going back he bring in his Head to a right posture that is if having formerly thrust out his Nose he now bring it in so as that it stands perpendicular to the ground then it is certainly the fault of the Person that formerly Rode him that he hath not already placed his Head in that posture for his once doing it is a sign that he can and therefore there is nothing but to let him acquire a Habit of it Afterwards cause him to go at a step or walk and let the Rider feel him on his Hand that so he may oblige him to place his Head in the most beautiful posture he is capable of with that Bit and do you at the same time endeavour to know if he have either too large or too small a Bit in his Mouth too large in that it maketh him frumple his Lips and that at the same time the hooks which fasten the Curb do also pinch him and too little in that he swallows his Bit-mouth as we Term it Consider next the length of the Branches which may with a little experience be easily understood As whither too long or too short which a little reasoning will discover to you because if the horse be such as you know there is a necessity to restrain much then they are to be shortned but if but gently and little then they must be lengthed and especially if he either beat on the hand or have a too slender Neck for in those cases the Branches are to be made very long because their operation coming slowly and at a distance it will surprise the Horses Beard as well as his Shoulders and Legs a great deal less than if they were shorter and that their Effects came from a short distance that is which were nearer to the Hand of the Rider Again cause the horse to go at a step or Gallop to Part and Stop suddenly and by seeing him perform these Actions you may judge whether he have a good or but an indifferent mouth if you judge by his easie stopping that he hath a very fine mouth then give him only a Simple Canon-mouth for when a Man can make good use of a horse with a Canon-simple he should never seek after another After this open your Horse's Mouth suffering the Bit mouth to remain in its place and by this you will know whether his tongue be so big as that he will need either a Bit with a like Liberty or one that is larger than that he hath already and which you may also come to know more easily if you observed him to have his Appuy or feeling of the Bit somewhat Dull because in this Case there is a necessity to disengage his tongue and the like if he Arm his Barrs with his Lips but if he should have a dull Appuy because of his Arming himself with his Lips against the pressure of the Bit and yet have high and sharp ridged Barrs then his Barrs are only to be discharged of his Lips and that only by accident as I have before told you If the Horse incline to carry low you are not to give him a liberty for the tongue which will rise too high for that by tickling his palate would bring his head down between his Legs You shall next feel his Barrs to observe how they are shap't for it is partly they that make a mouth either good or bad if they are sharp ridged then you are to give your Horse a gentle Bit mouth and you are not so much as to mention a Pignatelle which is only proper for round Barrs If the Horse have them very fleshy and low then you must have recourse to such mouths as will reach them but if his Barrs be high and altogether insensible which is what we call a False mouth then in that case you may give him a mouth with the Liberty after Mr Pignatell's fashion or after the form of an Asses tread because for such Bit mouths as are beneath the line of the Barrs they produce in False mouth'd Horses but an ugly grimace and a yet worse effect Having observed all I have been telling you you are yet to cause ride your Horse to cause him Part and Stop go back Part again and then go at a Walk that so you may judge if he have strong Reins sound Legs and good Feet or if his hind quarters be stronger than his fore For your Horse may have contracted these imperfections by reason of his performing bad Stops through ignorance a bad Habit or by any impatient ardour occasion'd many times by his want of Reins or for having painful and weak Hams therefore it is not a rude bridle will rectifie such imperfections but good lessons well practised for a rude Bit will produce more disorder and confusion than good effects and that because the ground or lower parts of a Horse's mouth are generally good but rude Bits perfectly spoyl them It may happen that the horse you intend to Bit hath been disorderly with the Bit he carries because it is too rude for him it is in that case easie to give him one more Gentle If your Horse beat on the hand you are to endeavour to discover the motive obliged him to it the universal remedy for such horses is the Canon à Trompe provided the fault proceed not from the Horseman who may have either too hard a hand or otherwise cleave too much to the Bridle When you are about to Bit a Horse you have only seen a little and therefore cannot know so exactly all his imperfections you are to inform your self of them to wit if he be heavy on the hand or if he Heat in the mouth if he retain his strength for if he be hot and Fiery to the end you may take your measures accordingly If your Horse have a weak Fore hand you are to give him a Bridle which will subject him more than otherwayes you would and if his Hind-hand be weak by reason of some infirmities as Jardons Spavins c. Then you must give him a Bridle which restrains less than one you would give him had he not these infirmities Now by all that hath been immediatly said and from the knowledge of the effects of the Bit mouths heretofore described you may easily form your project for prescribing a Bit-mouth for any Horse whatsoever Let us next proceed to the Branch I suppose you have also a sufficient knowledge of its different effects as I have explained them because according to them you are to consider after what manner a Horse carrieth his head that so you may fix upon the Branch you intend to give him You are to observe that the Bit-mouth that is that kind which you are
did in the second and third Fortnights to which I refer you only in this last Fortnight you shall observe these few directions following First You shall keep your heating dayes the first Week of this Fortnight but the second or last Week you shall forbear one heat and not give your Horse any five dayes before his Match but for it give him only strong and long Airings and watering Courses You shall not need this Fortnight to give him any Scouring at all and if morning and Evening during this Fortnight you burn the best Frankincence in the Stable you will find it very wholsome for your Horse and he will also mightily delight in it In this Fortnight when you give him any washt meat let it be washt either in the Whites of Eggs or a little Muskadine or Cherrie for it is most wholsome and prevents pursiveness This Fortnight give him no Hay but what he taketh out of your hand after his heats and also let that be but in little quantity and clean Dusted The last week of this Fortnight if the Horse be a foul feeder you must use the Muzzle continually but if a clean feeder then three dayes before the match is sufficient The Morning of that day before the day for the Match feed well both before and after Watering and Airing and water as at other times but before noon and afternoon diminish his Portion of meat a little as also before and after evening Airing feed as at noon and water as at other times but be sure to come earlier home then ordinary that evening from Airing For This Evening you are to Trim and Shoe your Horse and do all extraordinary things of Ornament about him providing alwayes you take care neither to hinder his feeding nor interrupt his rest for I have heard some Horsemen say that when they had shod their Horses with light shoes or plates the night before the course their Horses have taken such notice thereof that they would neither eat what they gave them nor ly down to take any rest all the night following But to have so much understanding and cunning a Horse must be old and long experienced in this exercise otherwayes he cannot make such subtile observations However to pass over other curiosities as Pletting the Main and Tail c. I do advise you that things which are of most necessity and use be alwise done this day which is the day before the match rather then upon the morning of the Course because your Horse that morning should be troubled as little by handling or otherwise as possible Late at night feed as you did in the evening and give him of what he liketh best according to his Stomack only as little bread and Beans as possible then puting on his muzzle and tossing up his Litter leave him quiet till next morning The next morning being that of the match day come to him very early and takeing off his Muzzle rub his head well right his Cloaths and then give him a pretty quantity of Oats washed as I said in the whites of Eggs Muskadine or Cherrie or if he refuse them washt give him them dry or mixt with a little Wheat after he hath eaten them if he be a slow emptier walk him abroad and in the places where he used to empty there intice him to it which when he hath done bring him home and puting on his Muzzle let him rest untill you have warning to make ready but if he be a free emptier let him ly quiet When you have warning to make ready take off his muzzle and put on his Snaffle being well washed in a little Muskadine or Cherrie but before you Bridle him if you think him too empty give him three or four mouthfuls of the washt meat last spoke of then Bridle him up and dress him afterwards Pitching the running Saddle and Girths with Shoemakers wax set it on and girt it Gently so that he may but only feel the Girths but have no straitness then lay a clean sheet over the Saddle over it his ordinary Cloaths then his Body Cloath and Breast Cloath and wisp him round with soft wisps Finally if you have a Cloath of State let it be neatly fastned above all and being ready to draw out give him half an English Pint or half a Sâ—â—ts Mutchkin of Muskadine or Cherrie and so lead him away In all your leading observe to use gentle and calm motions suffering him to smell upon any dung and in special places of advantage as where you find Rushes long Grass Heath or the like walk in and entice him to piss but if you find no such help then in some certain places where you lead him and especially near to the place where you are to mount and having accustomed him to it before break some of the straw wherewith he is wisped under him and thus intice him if you can to stale or piss also in leading if any white or thick Fome or Froth arise about his mouth with a clean napekin wipe it away and causing carrie a bottle of clean water about with you wash his mouth with it now and then When you are come to the place where you are to take his back before you uncloath rub and chaff his Leggs well then pick his feet uncloath wash his mouth with water get upon his back and adjusting your Stirrops and other things about your Body walk him softly to the starting post and there starting fair perform you your part by running him to the greatest advantage he is capable of and leave the rest to providence for although we are oblidged to use the means and helps of second causes yet it is that which decideth and determineth all even the most trivial actions any of us poor Mortals are concerned in 14ly Some other usefull Observations to be taken notice of by a keeper in sundry Accidents which befall a Race Horse during the time he is preparing for a Match THere is no unreasonable creature of pleasure subject to so many disasterous chances of Fortune as the Horse and especially the running Horse both by reason of the multiplicity of diseases belonging I may say peculiarly to him as also the violence of his exercise and nice tenderness of keeping therefore it is fit that every keeper should be Armed with such observations as may be a means for him both to prevent mischiefs and Accidents and also remide them when they do happen Therefore the first Observation I shall begin with shall be 1. Observations from Meat and Drink LET the Feeder or Keeper therefore observe if there be any Meat Drink or other nourisâ—ment which he knows to be good for him and yet the Horse refuse it that in this case he is not to force it violently upon him but by gentle means and cunning enticements to win him thereto tempting him when he is most hungry or most thirsty and if he take but a bit at a time he will soon come to take
horses are most subject to it p. 47 FOUNDERED In the body See Chest-foundering In the feet how such horses are to beshoe'd as also a remedy somewhat extraordinary for the same p. 139 FRUSH Where placed p. 4 How it should be shapt p. 12 FUZIES What they are p. 39 G GALLING SEveral methods to preserve tender skin'd horses from galling beneath the Sadle p. 94 That Mares are more subject to galling beneath their Tails than horses and how to prevent it p. 99 To prevent a horse's galling beneath the Hulsters by reason of their weight p. 99 To prevent a horse's galling in the sides by the motion of the stirrup Leathers p. 100 To help the galling of horses occasioned either by a Saddle or Harness p. 112 CASKOINS See Thighs GATHERERS What Teeth so called with their Division p. 3 GELD INGS When once they contract a Vice they rarely quite with it p. 73 GIRTHS After what fashion the saddle-Girths should be made p. 99 GLANDS See Kernels GLYSTER Of Glysters and the Etymologie of the word p. 185 The models of several kinds of Glysters p. 185 Emollient p. 185 Carminative p. 185 Purging p. 185 To appease a great beating in the Flanks p. 186 Astringent p. 186 Anodine p. 186 Diuretick p. 186 After what method a Glyster is to be Administred to a horse p. 187 GRASS How to fatten horses with grass or green Barley p. 160 Directions anent turning horses to grass p. 161 GRAY Dappled a very common and excellent colour and why it is so p. 80 83 Sad or poudered p. 80 Silvered a bright and lively colour p. 80 H HACKNEYS WHen their motions are unequal how incommode they are to the Rider p. 75 HALTING That the surest way to know if a horse halt is to cause trot him alongst a Pitchtstreet or Causey in ones hand p. 68 HAMS Where situate p. 5 How they should be shapt p. 13 In ham'd what it is p. 42 That although Inham'd horses be commonly good yet they are very unfit for hilly-countreys As also how the horse-coursers Sweeten that term p. 42 HAMS That the hams are one of the chief parts wherein the least Infirmities are of consequence p. 60 That horses designed for the maunage should not be bought with the least infirmity in the Hams p. 64 HAND An excellent direction for the Bridle-hand p. 250 HARASSED See Lean HAUNCHES Where placed p. 4 How to know when they are too long p. 46 HEAD How a horse's head should be framed to be well shapt p. 5 That horses which have their heads much charged with Flesh are generally Subject to the infirmities of the Eyes p. 5 When a horse is said to have his head well placed p. 7 HEAD-STALE That the best Head-stales and Reins for Bridses are made of Hungarian leather and the Reason why that leather is best p. 92 HEALTH A method whereby tomaintain or preserve horses in health p. 197 HEAVY On the hand Explained p. 242 HEEL What part so called p. 4 That to have the one side of the heel higher than the other is a considerable imperfection p. 50 That a horse's heels are never to be opened after the common way when shoeing p. 120 HEELS LOW See Shoeing HEELS NARROW See Hoof-bound HIGH METTL'D The difference betwixt highmettle and Fireyness p. 53 HIGHT A common Observation where by People pretend to know of what height their Foâ—â— will be when they come â— Age but not much to be 〈◊〉 lyed upon p. â— HIND-HAND How it should be shapt p. 4 What the imperfections are 〈◊〉 which it is Subject c. p. â—â— HONEY The Composition of Mercurâ— honey p. â— HOOFS That a horse's hoofs should be somewhat shining high and smooth p. â— How they should be shapt p. â— What is to be done when the are so hard and brittle the the Nails will not drive without bending p. 1â— An Ointment to make thâ—â— Grow p. â—â— HOOF-BOUND What it is and the cause of thâ— infirmety as also how such horses are to be shoed p. 129 â— HORN-HIPPED What it is p. â— HORâ—ES A pretty commendation of 〈◊〉 horse p. â— The names of all the parts which Generaly frame or compese a horse's Body p. â— How the parts of a horse's Bods should be framed to appeâ—â— comely and well shapt p. â— Curious remarks upon horse represented either in Relâ—â— or Flat-painting p. â— At what Age horses are commonly most serviceable p. â—â— Of the shapes of horses in geaâ—rall and of horses of deferent Kingdoms p. 20â— HUMOURS The four Humors which are is the Bodyes of horses p. â— A discourse upon them p. 17 To prepare the Humors 〈◊〉 such horses as people inteâ— to Purge p. 18â— I. JADS The defences they commonly use against the Rider p. 73 JARDON Where Situate and as much if not more to be feared than the Spavin p. 62 That horses having a Circle-joyning a jardon and spavin are incureable p 63 That Jardons and Spavins are hereditary imperfections p. 64 JAW-BONES Where placed p. 2 How they should be shapt p. 7 JOURNEYING How a man should order and take care of horses in the beginning of a journâ—y p. 100 How a horse is to be put in wind before he begin a long journey p. 100 That a horse which is to make a long journey should be made to encrease his days journeys by degrees p. 101 JOINTS Long See Long-jointed Short See short jointed IMPERFECTIONS The perfect knowledge of the faults and imperfections in horses p. 18 Acontinuation of the knowledge of the faults and imperfections in horses p. 32 A further Continuation of the knowledge of the faults and imperfections in horses p. 46 A yet further continuation of the knowledge of the faults and imperfections in horses especially such as come in the Hind-quarters p. 59 INFIRMITIES What the imfirmities are which the horse-merchants are by Law obliged to warrant and secure â—hose horses from which they Sell. p. 69 INSTEP What part of the hind leg so called p. 13 INTERFERING See Cutting K. KRENELLS Several kinds of them to which horses are Subject p. 32 KIB'D HEELS What they are p. 67 KNEE Where placed p. 4 How it should be shapt p. 12 L. LAMENESS THe true Method to know if a horse be Lame or halteth p. 68 LEAN Of the Food and entertainment of Lean fatigued and Light-belly'd horses p. 159 A continuation of the Method for Recovering horses which are hâ—rassed and Lean after a long journey p. 162 LEAVE EAR'D What it is p. 6 LEEKHEADS See Poireaux LEGS Of what parts a horse's fore-legs consist p. 4 That the broadest and flattest legs are the best p. 12 How a horse's Hind-legs should be shapt p. 13 How to know when a horse's Legs are good p. 35 The First mark of bad legs p. 35 The Second mark of bad legs p. 36 The Third mark of bad legs p. 36 Other imperfections of the legs p. 37. c Some other marks and Observations whereby to know when
Remedy and in the Progress of it have Recourse to another which must be again chang'd for a Third in the Declination of the Disease Thus you see that Variety of Remedies instead of being an Inconvenience is very useful and advantageous to those who keep Horses for they may chuse that which pleases 'em best or that which may be prepar'd with least difficulty since they are all good tho' some of 'em must necessarily be better than others To proceed methodically in the Cure of Distempers some general Rules must be laid down which we ought always to observe And these Rules either respect the Subject of the Disease the Distemper it self the Remedies that are prescrib'd or the Person that applies ' em As for the Subject of the Disease or the sick Horse we must diligently enquire into his Constitution Age and Strength together with the Occasion of his Sickness for there are some Horses as for Instance those that have been manag'd who are naturally tender and squeamish We must consider whether they are too old or too young whether their Strength has been exhausted by hard Labour or Want of Food and whether their Distempers were occasion'd by some Excess for all these Circumstances forbid the Use of strong Remedies or at least require small Doses since it is not at all convenient to purge and bleed a Horse or to torment him with Medicines when he has only need of Rest and good Nourishment In the next place We must consider the Nature of the Disease that is propos'd to be cur'd For 't is equally ridiculous to imagine that a violent Distemper will yield to weak and gentle Remedies and that every slight Indisposition requires powerful and long continu'd Medicines We must never attempt the Cure of a particular Distemper so long as the whole Body is out of Order for it wou'd be in vain to apply Medicines to a sore Foot while the Leg and even the whole Habit of the Body is full of bad Humours Yet some Farriers are guilty of this Errour tho' they might with as probable Hopes of Success undertake to dry a River without stopping its Spring There are also some Diseases that obstruct the Cure of others and must be remov'd before ' em And besides we must examine whether there be any Venom or Malignity lurking under the Distemper for the Biting of a mad or venemous Beast differs very much from a simple Wound Concerning the Remedies that are to be us'd you must observe these Rules If you find it necessary to proceed to some Manual Operation let it be perform'd dextrously and let all your Drugs be well chosen exactly prepar'd and skilfully apply'd You must not imagine that the scarcest dearest and most operose Medicines are the most effectual Despise not the Herbs that you daily tread under your Feet but you may justly suspect a costly Drug Gold Pearls Precious Stones Unicorn's Horn and Bezoar are often prescrib'd without any other Effect than the draining of the Patient's Purse And therefore in Diseases of long continuance we ought to try the gentlest easiest and cheapest Remedies before we proceed to extremities as Arnold de Villa Nova has well observ'd in his Tratise on the Aphorisms where he affirms expresly That 't is a Cheat to use Compound Remedies when Simples are at hand Besides it may be observ'd that when I mention a great Number of Medicines I do not pretend that none of 'em ought to be omitted for the Efficacy of a Remedy does not consist in the Multitude of Drugs Only I thought fit to propose a considerable number of 'em that every Man may chuse such of 'em as he can most easily procure but there are some particular Compositions for dangerous Diseases in which I wou'd not have the least Circumstance omitted 'T is certainly a great Happiness for such as keep Horses to live near skilful and expert Farriers In the most considerable Towns you will always find some on whose Skill you may securely depend and who are able to perform boldly without Presumption and certainly without Confusion all the Operations that are necessary for the Cure of the Diseases mention'd in this Book But since the Conveniency of such skilful Neighbours is not to be found every where the surest way will be for every Man to endeavour after a competent Measure of Knowledge in this Art and to neglect no Opportunities of Instruction And since there are several laborious Compositions it will be necessary to have Recourse to an Apothecary who ought to be faithful in chusing skilful in preparing and reasonable in setting a Price on his Drugs I am consident that all those who have any Inclination for Horses may by a serious Perusal of the ensuing Discourse attain to a perfect Knowledge of their Diseases and be able to cure 'em successfully Before you proceed to cure a sick Horse you must labour in the first place to know the Nature and Causes of his Distemper I confess 't is very hard to make an exact Judgment of these things in Horses who are destitute of Reason and the Use of Speech We are for the most part forâ—â—d to depend on bare Conjectures from which we must draw such Inferences as are necessary for the Discovery of proper Remedies 'T is plain that Experience Study and above all a great deal of Care and Attention are necessary Qualifications of a Farrier since the Cure of those Diseases that are already suppos'd to be known depends on Two Things the Choice and Application of Remedies If the Horse be of sufficient Value to merit a particular Care you must stand behind him and diligently observe the least of his Actions that you may proceed with more Certainty in the Choice of convenient Remedies The Neglect of this Observation is the main Reason why the greatest part of Farriers have so ill Success in the Cure of Internal Distempers 'T is impossible by a transient View of a Horse to observe whether there is any thing unusual about him or to prescribe suitable Remedies and apply 'em in due time For even tho' we stand behind him and consider attentively the very least of his Actions that we may draw some Light from 'em to guide us in our Proceedings we are frequently apt to fall into Errours notwithstanding all our Care to prevent 'em according to that Saying of Hippocrates Occasio praeceps judicium difficile experimentum periculosum Daily Experience teaches us That 't is very difficult to make a right Judgment of Diseases in Humane Bodies and how much harder must it needs be in the Case of Horses the Nature of whose Diseases is so little known because they have not been so carefully study'd as those of Men and besides these Animals are not able to discover their own Ails The Practice of Country Farriers is usually grounded on a Traditional Conveyance of their Experience from Father to Son from Master to Servant or from one Companion to another which for want
the Horse grows in Age. You must observe that when you open the Horses Mouth with the above-mentioned Upset to take away the Lampas Barbs or Wolve's Teeth that part of the Instrument which rests upon the nether Jaw must be cover'd with some old Raggs to preserve the Jaw from being hurt by it I have seen several Horses whose Mouths were spoil'd by neglecting so necessary a precaution CHAP. V. Of Hurts or Wounds in the Mouth WHen the Bit bears too hard upon the Horse's nether Jaw whether by the carelesness of the Rider or some other reason the Bars are oftentimes wounded or broken If the Hurt be small and the Bone entire you may rub the part with Honey of Roses eight or ten times every day But if the Bone be broken and when you touch the Sore with your Finger if you find a sharp point or prick or if there be an Ulcer already produc'd moisten a little Cotton in Spirit of Vitriol or Spirit of Salt which you must put into the hole of the Jaw and while it remains there hold the Horse's Tongue with one hand and with the other keep his Mouth open For 't is dangerous to pour the Spirit by drops into the Ulcer lest some of it should fall upon a sound part and corrode it also Afterwards rub the Sore every day with Honey of Roses or common Honey and the Escar or Scab will fall off and the Bone Scale of it self The Scab being fall'n anoint the part frequently with Aqua Vitae or put Sugar into it till the Sore be heal'd If there be a hole in the Jaw accompany'd with Rottenness and Stench which you may know by putting your Finger into it without finding a Scale and by the stinking Corruption with which your Finger will be smear'd when you pull it out you must fill the hole 3 or 4 times every day with Sugar beaten small which will quickly cleanse it and continue after the same manner till the hole be clos'd up and the Jaw heal'd But you must take care afterwards to put a single Canon-bit in the Horses Mouth and never to use any more the Bit that hurt him which would spoil his Mouth without Remedy If only the Tongue be hurt it will quickly heal of it self without any application if you change the Bit and take another that will suffer his Tongue to move freely Sometimes it happens that the Bone is split quite downwards under the Flesh of the Jaw where Matter gathering corrupts the Bone and by the provident care of Nature to throw off that putrid Matter it corrodes the Skin and causes a Tumor or Swelling to open a passage to the Corruption and discharge a part of it In this case you must first search the depth of the hole with a Probe for I have sometimes found that the Probe reach'd into the very Mouth And then make an Incision above the Beard with a Red-hot Knife reaching downwards and dividing the Skin to the very Bone after which put in the Probe again to guide the actual Cautery or Red-hot Iron with which you must touch the Bone several times till all the corrupted part of it be throughly burnt And to hasten the Exfoliation or falling off of the Scales you must anoint the whole burnt part with good Oyl of Bay every six hours for the space of two days But since it is necessary that the Horse should eat to preserve his Life the motion of the Jaw and of the part affected which is very moist will make the Flesh grow excessively which unless prevented in time will stop the hole you made in the Jaw and hinder the Scales from falling off And therefore you must take care to keep the passage open by burning the proud Flesh with a hot Iron and even sometimes the burning must be repeated three or four times or instead of that you may put Powder of Sublimate in the hole over-against the Beard where the Flesh grows too fast For on the Bars within the Mouth you must only put Sugar into the hole and the scale of the Bars will easily fall off But on the Jaw you will find it very difficult to separate the scale that should come out of the hole on the Beard and this is the part where the Flesh grows so excessively In the last place after the scales are fall'n off you must put Sugar beaten small into the hole within the Mouth and on the Wounds made on the Beard and afterwards wash 'em with Aqua Vitae and Burnt Allum continuing in the same manner till the Cure be perfected CHAP. VI. Of Loathing of Food or Want of Appetite A Horse is said to be troubl'd with this Distemper either when he eats less than he was wont to do or eats slowly and without Appetite or when he abstains from eating any Oats at all This Disease may proceed from several Causes some of which are easlly known and cur'd whereas others are uncertain especially in the beginning of dangerous and doubtful Diseases I shall proceed to consider the various Causes of this Distemper with the proper Remedies of each case Some Horses are naturally so nice and squeamish that the least bit of Filth or sprig of musty Grass which they find among their Oats any inconsiderable Trifle or almost nothing at all is sufficient to put 'em out of conceit with their Food But as they are apt on every slight occasion to forsake their Meat so they easily recover their wonted Appetite This Infirmity proceeds from certain little Worms within the Lips of the Horses both above and below which cause such an Itching that they are continually rubbing their Lips against the Manger and without any other Indisposition abstain from Eating If you turn back their Lips the Worms appear like little Lumps or Pushes To cure this Distemper you must cut the uppermost Skin within the Lips in the parts where you see the Worms with a sharp Knife or Lance and afterwards rub the Incisions and all the Inside of the Lips with Salt and Vinegar and the Horse will quickly recover his Appetite If you are wholly ignorant of the cause that makes your Horse loath his Food I am of opinion that 't is very proper in the Morning to bleed him in the Roof of the Mouth with a sharp pointed piece of a Hart or Buck's-Horn or which produces the same effect with a Lance. The Operation is thus perform'd find out the middle of the Roof between the two Crocks or if it be a Mare at the third or fourth Furrow of the Mouth and prick the part with a Lance or piece of Buck's-Horn either of which mey be us'd without any difficulty Then give the Horse two Pecks of moisten'd Bran to stop the Bleeding If he continue to bleed after he has eat his Bran draw up his Head with a Halter as if you were going to give him a Drench and immediately the Bleeding will be stop'd But if after you have kept his Head in
application of 'em and in the composition of every Medicine you must have a special regard to the restoring of their Appetite that the Remedy may not only be proper for the Cure of the Disease but agreeable to the Stomach The application of these Rules to particular cases would require an account of all the Diseases to which Horses are subject and therefore I shall at present content my self with laying down this general Observation that when a Horse abstains obstinately from all manner of Food you must use all means that are not contrary to his Distemper to make him eat lest you be forc'd at last to have recourse to violent Methods such as the usual way of pouring in his necessary Sustenance with a Horn which cannot be done without drawing up his Head with a Halter and putting him into a very uneasie posture which hinders him from breathing freely and increases the Fever when he has any I confess you may make him swallow a Draught without using the Halter but even that cannot be done without exposing him in some measure to the same Inconveniencies I cannot approve the Method of those who if a Horse abstain from eating for the space of twelve or fifteen hours and even tho' he be seiz'd with a Fever immediately give him a Quart or two of Milk with Yolks of Eggs which they imagine is sufficient to prevent all the ill effects of his preceding Abstinence But besides that a Horse may be suffer'd to fast two days without any danger this sort of Nourishment is not at all agreeable to his Stomach and even is apt to make him Sick tho' he was not so before 'T is true Milk yields good Nourishment and is easily digested but 't is subject to the common Inconveniency of the best Aliments that it quickly corrupts in a disorder'd Stomach where it curdles and occasions violent Pains and if it be not cast forth at the Mouth which a Horse cannot do since he never Vomits it hardens and produces dangerous Obstructions So that Hippocrates had reason to forbid the use of it in Diseases of the Head Fevers and some other cases tho' he recommends it on certain occasions Lac dare capite dolentibus malum malum etiam febricitantibus If that famous Author thought it inconvenient for Men who are accustom'd to it and can discharge it by Vomiting how prejudicial must it be to Horses who never taste a drop of it after they leave off Sucking and besides cannot Vomit I have made some Trials of it but always without the least Success especially when the Horses were Feverish In Stomacho aegrotantium Animalium acessit lac sed non imprimitur vitali Caraciere propterca aciditas fit putrefactiva quae non nutrit sed malum auget Those who will not be disswaded by these Reasons fromfeeding their Sick Horses with Milk may blame their own Indiscretion for the ill success of the Cure For let a Person who is in Health drink a Glass of Milk fasting and immediately Vomit it up again as some can do without the least difficulty he will find that t is already become sowre and even half coagulated or turn'd to Choose by reason of the Acid or Sharp Juice in the Stomach of all sorts of Animals For 't is a vulgar Observation that Acids have a power to curdle or coagulate Milk which therefore cannot be agreeable to the Stomach of a Sick Horse where it presently turns to Corruption and instead of nourishing him encreases his Disease 'T is true this Experiment cannot be made upon a Horse who never Vomits but it may serve for a convincing Argument that Milk is rather hurtful than profitable to a Diseas'd Horse Some give their Horses strong Flesh-Broths or Jellies which I have found by experience to be very prejudicial to 'em for it would be more proper to give em Extracts of Hay and Oats which are their usual Food The dangerousness of this Method will appear more evidently if we confider that Horses have so strong an avernon to Flesh and Fat that such Broths are apter to destroy than to restore their Appetites And all the World knows that if the Teeth of a Horse who is in perfect Health be rubb'd with Fat or Suet he will forsake his Meat much more when he is actually Sick I am not ignorant that the Fat may be taken away from Broath but still 't is plain that any sort of Broth is nauseous to a Horse and disagreeable to his Stomach and therefore ought never to be given since there are other Aliments which are more natural and in all respects more convenient I commend a very thin Broath made of Bread especially the Crum boil'd with Water and a little Salt for 't is certainly very proper Nourishment for a Horse that will neither eat Hay Oats nor Bran. I have seen some Horses drink this Liquor like Water which nourish'd 'em for a considerable time and if they should happen to loath it you may force it down their Throats with a Horn for a very little quantity will serve to sustain ' em You may also feed the Sick Horse with a Broth or Liquor which is both cheap and easily prepared and besides is of the same nature with his usual Nourishment 'T is made of Oats or cleans'd Barley well boil'd in pure Water without Butter Fat or any other mixture you must strain the Liquor from the Grains and give it him luke-warm It differs from his ordinary Food only by the boiling of the Oats or Barley which cannot make it prejudicial to a Stomach that is weaken'd by the continuance of a Disease This Method seems to be founded on Reason and agreeable to the dictates of good sence And experience will discover its usefulness Take a pound of Barley-flower well fears'd and purifi'd from the Bran boil it in about two pints of Water to a sufficient thickness then take it from the Fire and add a quarter of a pound of Sugar The quantity of Broth here prescrib'd is sufficient to sustain a Horse four and twenty Hours and must be given with a Horn. It moistens the Body when dry'd by a Feverish heat or any other cause but if the Fever be very gentle and the want of Appetite proceed from some other Cause you may add to the Broth an Ounce of the Cordial-Powder hereafter describ'd which will contribute powerfully to the recovery of his Appetite Or you may mix with the Broth an Ounce of Ever of Antimony in Powder which will make him Hungry and allay the preternatural heat of his Entrails When a Horse is troubl'd with a Fever Palpitation or unusual beating of the Heart or any other hot or violent Diseases which seldom continue long you must be careful in proportioning the quantity of his Food and neither give nor suffer him to eat too much Excessive Eating has to my certain knowledge prov'd fatal to several Horses who might have escap'd if they had been kept to a convenient that
is a thin and spare Diet. A great quantity of Hay is very hurtful to Sick Horses and Straw is better when it can be had 'T is certain that in those Diseases that are of short continuance few or no Horses die of Hunger whereas a great number of 'em are kill'd by excessive Eating When you are forc'd to give the Horse his Food with a Horn you must proceed in that method according to his strength and size But if he eat without constraint as it happens frequently by vertue of the prepar'd Antimony mixt with his Bran which gives him an Appetite you must keep him to a strict Diet For when the natural Heat is wholly taken up in the Digestion and Concoction of Aliments it canout not exert its force to consume the Humor that causes the Disease and consequently the Cure is retarded I recommend a strict Diet only in violent Distempers which are not of any long continuance for when the Disease lasts long you must take other Measures and feed the Horse lest the preternatural Heat should be augmented and the body of the Horse so dry'd that you cou'd not afterwards restore him to his wonted Constitution The Rules here laid down for the Nourishment of Sick Horses shall not be repeated afterwards Before I engage further in the description of Remedies it will not be improper to admonish those who are Lovers of Horses to beware of being Cheated by those deceitful Praises that are given to the Remedies commonly call'd Secrets The custom of extolling Remedies is grown so general that 't is very hard to perceive whether those who magnifie 'em so extremely act out of a principle of Justice or are sway'd by a vain desire to make a Figure in the World and to perswade the Publick that they are Masters of some rare and extraordinary Medicines You may observe that they who are desirous to gain Credit to their Remedies will at least assure you that they are admirable and that they cure all those who use 'em You must not seem to doubt of their Infallibility tho' in all their Descriptions you can neither perceive any Method Regularity of Doses nor the least appearance of Reason but must blindly believe that those rare Secrets have perform'd innumerable Cures I advise you not to suffer your self to be bubbl'd by such ill grounded Praises For experience will convince you that they who have good Remedies never impart 'em but after long and earnest Solicitations and only to their best Friends My design is not by discrediting others to recommend my own Remedies I only desire you to communicate 'em to Judicious and Learned Persons and after you have heard their Opinion of 'em to try and value 'em according to their Success In the mean time I assure you that you have in this Book the Summ of above Forty Years Labour and Experience during which time I have been still endeavouring to find out and make trial of the best Remedies for Horses I have carefully perus'd all the Books that treat of this Subject consulted Learned Men to resolve my Doubts studied the various Effects of Simples and try'd the Vertue of 'em not once but a hundred times I have made Additions and Alterations according to the various Success I have had in my Practice and without desiring in the least to magnifie my Skill I can assure you that the greatest part of the Remedies here communicated to the Publick are of my own Invention and all of 'em compos'd Methodically and grounded on Reason Besides I have freely imparted all that I know without concealing any thing that the Publick may enjoy the fruit of my Labour Before I was Master of that little Knowledge which Time and Experience have taught me I esteem'd the Remedies which I found to be effectual so precious and kept 'em so secret that I communicated 'em to very few but I have since overcome all those Prejudices For 't is certain that those who excel in any Art are never jealous of the rest of their Profession whereas common Artists and half Proficients cannot endure to hear any Man prais'd but themselves and far from doing Justice to the Merit of others they imagine that every acknowledgment of the Skill of their Fellow-Professors is a diminution of their own Glory I pretend no right to the Title of Learned but I cannot forbear expressing my satisfaction to perceive that the favourable reception of this Treatise has stirr'd up the Indignation of some Persons who would be thought skilful As soon as it appear'd it was receiv'd by most Farriers with furious Exclamations against the Method I prescrib'd for the Cure of the Diseases incident to Horses because I did not think fit to follow their thread-bare way of Practice Since that time several Persons of Quality who put some confidence in my Experience having commanded their Farriers to observe my Directions punctually they found 'em to be successful on a thousand Occasions They yielded at last to the evidence of Truth and by degrees began to read my Book which cur'd 'em of some of their old Prejudices and convinc'd almost all of 'em one after another Insomuch that within these fifteen or sixteen Years the Method of curing Horses is almost wholly chang'd at Paris and the Farriers come daily to ask my advice concerning the Sick Horses that are committed to their care by which means they satisfie their Customers who almost all read my Book and will have their Farriers to observe exactly the Method that is prescrib'd in it when their Horses are seiz'd with any Distemper If things continue in this posture as according to all probability they will the Art which we profess will in a little time be very much improv'd and attended with better Success than it was heretofore So important an Effect is already owing in a considerable measure to this Book which ought to recommend it very advantageously to the Publick CHAP. X. Of the Strangles FEW or nor Horses that are foal'd in this Country escape being troubl'd with the Strangles which is a Throwing forth or Evacuation of superfluous Humours gather'd in the Bodies of Foals either according to the usual Method of Nature thro the Nostrils or by Swellings or Boils under the Throat between the two Jaw-bones They seem to differ from the Small-Pox in Children only with respect to the Place where the Humours are expell'd I know there are various Opinions concerning the Cause of this Distemper For some look for its Original in the Mare 's Womb from whence they think the Foal brings the Seeds of it which some Years after when the natural Heat is considerably augmented break forth and agitate the Humours which by degrees are discharg'd on some part of the Body where they usually come to Suppuration Others are of Opinion that the Change of Nourishment that is of Milk to more solid Food makes a notable Alteration in the Body both in the Humours and in the Parts that are
loathing of his Food without Beating in his Flank or a Fever you must observe the Directions propos'd in the Sixth Chapter prepare a Bag for him with an Ounce of Assa-foetida and every day make him drink a Pint of good Spanish Wine which is very good for the Bastard Strangles Afterwards if he has any Kernels you must bring 'em to Suppuration which you will find a harder Task to perform than in the true Strangles whether they be under the Throat or at the side of it And if they be not prevented by proper Remedies they will either strike inward or harden and remain in that condition or perhaps grow so big as to hinder Respiration To advance the Suppuration you may give him two or three Doses of Cordial Balls which are very useful to drive out the Humour If notwithstanding these Remedies the Matter or Quitter is not yet generated you must give him three Doses more with a Pint of Spanish Wine mixt with the same quantity of some other sort of Wine for each Dose then rub the top of the Gland with a Retoire holding a red-hot Iron near it that the Retoire may penetrate which will promote the Suppuration and draw the Matter powerfully If all these Remedies prove ineffectual you must have recourse to the Medicine for resolving Glands describ'd in the Twentieth Chapter which if it be carefully prepar'd will infallibly resolve and dissipate the Gland or Kernel Besides all these Remedies you may burn the Hair on the Glands with a searing Candle and afterwards apply to the part a large Plaister made of Emplastrum Divinum or of Manus Dei or of the greater Diachylum with the Gums both which may be had from Apothecaries spread the Plaister on thin white Leather and apply it to the Gland laying over it a Lamb's Skin which ought also to cover some of the parts under the Head You must let the Plaister stick till the Matter is ripen'd in the Kernel and then open it with a red-hot Iron putting in Tents as before If these Plaisters be not strong enough to bring the Glands to Suppuration you must use another of the Ointment of Beetles or that which follows CHAP. XIV An Ointment to ripen Kernels THis Ointment is not only fit to be apply'd to the Glands between or at the side of the Jaw-Bones but good for all manner of Swellings that ought to be suppurated if the part be often chaf'd with it and kept very warm 'T is prepar'd thus Take four Ounces of Basilicum melt it in a Skellet and add an Ounce of Emplastrum Divinum or of Manus Dei which is as good and is kept by all Apothecaries after they are melted into one Mass remove the Skellet from the Fire and add three Ounces of old Treacle the older the better mix 'em all thorowly and make an Ointment with which you must every day chafe the Gland or the part that is to be brought to Suppuration and you will soon perceive its Efficacy Sometimes the Ointment is too hard for the Farriers of Paris desire their Basilicum to be made very hard and the Apothecaries to please 'em add a great deal of Rosin to thicken it which does not at all augment its Vertue and therefore in that case you may add to the whole quantity an Ounce of old Oil Olive which will bring it to a due consistency To avoid Repetitions I referr the Reader to the Directions propos'd in the Chapter concerning the True Strangles which must be observ'd in the present Case and even with greater Care because this is a more dangerous Distemper CHAP. XV. Of the Cold Rheum or Morfounding THE word Rheum in the general signifies all sorts of Defluxions that flow from one part and fall upon another but properly speaking the Rheum in Horses is a Defluxion under the Throat and on other neighbouring parts of raw phlegmatick and superfluous Humours that are gather'd either by a great Cold or for want of Digestion or by reason of some particular Distempers or exhal'd from the inward parts The remote causes of this Disease are of a different Nature Sometimes 't is occasion'd by being suddenly expos'd to the Cold after having suffered a vehement Heat Thus immoderate Exercise or Labour beyond the strength of a Horse heats not only his outward but even his inward parts And if he be suffer'd to catch Cold presently after or expos'd to the cold Air in a Harvest-night immediately the Defluxion seizes on some inward parts of the Body and hinders 'em from performing their Functions Sometimes thick and viscous Humours being dissolv'd and melted by long and violent Exercise fall upon the Lungs where they cause Obstructions which are attended with difficulty of Breathing Or if Nature be strong enough to expel 'em they flow out of the Nose in the form of white or green Snot which according to its sharpness produces a Cough The abundant flowing out of the Humour has given occasion to frequent Mistakes and several Horses have been suspected to have the Glanders who were only troubled with a Cold. This Disease may be also occasion'd by suffering a Horse to Drink while he is hot without riding him afterwards or by his drinking very cold Water too greedily in Summer or melted Snow The signs of a Cold are these Dulness Want of Appetite a Cough and running at the Nose To distinguish it from the Strangles you must enquire whether the Horse has been expos'd to any of those Inconveniencies that may cause a Cold and if he has you may certainly conclude that to be the Disease Another sign is when his Throat is drier and harder than usually You may easily perceive whether 't is harder by feeling it and this hardness proceeds from the Heat and Driness which are the effects of the Cold. Sometimes the Cold is so violent that it throws the Horse into a Fever with manifest danger of his Life in which case his Neck-Vein must be open'd and oftentimes the same Operation is repeated Bleeding is also esteem'd proper when a Horse is troubl'd with so great an Oppression in his Breast that he cannot Breathe Horses are also let Blood when the Cold is accompani'd with a Quinsie or Inflammation of the Throat that hinders 'em from swallowing In these three Cases Bleeding is profitable for a Horse that is troubl'd with a Cold. This Disease is very dangerous when it seizes a Horse in the Encrease of the Moon for his Lungs are oppress'd with a multitude of Humours that encrease with that Planet besides the Defluxion falls upon all the inward parts of the Body and almost always the Disease is of long continuance as being caus'd by Fulness For 't is certain that all Diseases proceeding from Fulness when they happen during the encrease of the Moon are stronger and more apt to overwhelm Nature and disturb her in the performance of her Functions by reason of the encrease of Humours at that time But when it happens in
the Wane of the Moon 't is of shorter continuance and less violent for the Humours decrease with the Moon and the Horse recovers speedily If these Observations be not attentively consider'd by those who undertake the Cure of Horses they will hardly be able to make a certain Judgment concerning the length and dangerousness of their Distempers or to prescribe a successful Method of Cure This Assertion is grounded on a certain knowledge of the Causes The way of curing a Cold is the same with that which I prescrib'd for the Strangles For you must cover the Horse's Neck with a Furr'd Skin keep him warm give him the Electuary of Kermes put Baggs with Assa-Foetida into his Mouth thrust Feathers into his Nose Syringe him and proceed in all other respects as in the Cure of the Strangles If you perceive that your Horse has not wholly lost his Appetite you may give him the Cordial Powder every three days or rather the Electuary of Kermes And when the Disease is attended with a total loss of Appetite you cannot give a better Remedy than that Electuary in a Pint of Spanish Wine once in two days if he has not a Fever or if he have a Fever you may give him the Cordial Waters with Clysters both before and after The Arman describ'd Chap. VII is very good in this case It may be given five or six times in the day tying it to the Bit and will be found to be a Sovereign Remedy Take the sick Horse's Urine while 't is yet hot mix it with an equal quantity of Wine about a Pint or a Pint and half of each and make him drink it all up then cover him and let him stand Bridl'd two hours Repeat the same several times If you cannot have his Urine hot take a Pint of Flesh-Broath without Fat or Salt and as much Wine mix 'em for a Draught Repeat the same three or four days and if he Sweat not after the first Dose add to the Draught an Ounce of the Cordial-Powder and cover him well Continue after the same manner for some days For a Cold accompany'd with a violent Cough Take Honey of Roses and Juice of Liquorice of each four Ounces Fenugreek-seed Grains of Paradice Cummin-seed Cinnamon Cloves Ginger Gentian Birthwort-roots Anni-seed and Coriander-seed of each two Drams Reduce all the hard Ingredient into Powder and give the whole to the sick Horse in a Pint of White-Wine with six Ounces of Carduus-Benedictus-Water Let not this Composition offend those who are only pleas'd with Cooling Remedies for Horses must not be us'd like Men. If you cool 'em too much when they are troubl'd with this Distemper you will stifle em and therefore beware of purely cooling Medicines You will quickly be sensible of the good effects of This which contains many hot Ingredients but since they are agreeable to the nature of Horses they do not inflame 'em and cause only so much Heat as is necessary to strengthen the Parts Experience will convince you of the Truth of my Assertion for the Remedy will succeed and I shall take occasion hereafter to demonstrate that there is need of a great deal of Prudence to administer cooling Remedies to a Horse with safety and success You must also walk him frequently in the Sun-shine if it be Summer and observe the same directions that I prescrib'd in the case of Want of Appetite Chap. VI. and also in the Chapters of the Strangles A Draught for a Cold join'd with a Palpitation or Beating in the Flank When the sick Horse is troubl'd with a Cough a vehement Beating in his Flank and even Palpitation of the Heart you cannot assist him more effectually than by giving him two Clysters and then the following Draught after he has stood two hours in the Morning with a watering Bit in his Mouth 'T is composâ—d of the Waters of Scorzonera Carduus Benedictus Scabious Roses and bitter Succory of each half a Pint Give the Horse a Quart of these Waters with an Ounce of Zedoary and two Drams of Saffron both in fine Powder then rinse the Horn with the half Pint that remains and make him drink that also After which let him stand four hours with a Waterbit in his Mouth and as soon as you unbridle him lay moisten'd Bran before him leaving him to eat at his pleasure till Night and then give him a good Clyster with an Ounce and an half of Sal Polychrest Take Assa-foetida and Powder of Savin of each half an Ounce and tie 'em in a Bag to the Bit let the Horse stand two hours then unbridle him and after two hours more put in the Bag again For besides that this Bag gives him an Appetite it eases his Head by making him void a great quantity of Water and bitter Flegm Instead of the Zedoary and Saffron you may mix an Ounce of the Confection of Hyacinth without Musk or Amber-grise with the Cordial Waters and the same may be repeated two or three times if need require and if you found any Benefit by the first Dose for that which gives Ease may if continu'd perfect the Cure The main part of the Cure consists in giving the Horse one or two softening Clysters with Sal Polychrest every day A Softening Clyster Take Leaves of Mallows Violets Herb-Mercury Pellitory of the Wall of each three Handfuls Annis-seeds one Ounce or a Handful of green Fennel if it be in the Summer let 'em boil half an hour in a large Pot or Kettle in three Quarts of Water for a little Horse or four for a large one adding an Ounce and a half or two Ounces of Liver of Antimony in fine Powder After the Decoction is half-cold press it out and add to the strain'd Liquor four Ounces of Lenitive Electuary and a Quarter of a Pound of fresh Butter Mix and make a Clyster which must be injected after you have rakâ—d the Horse then put him again into the Stable and let him stand half and hour bridl'd If these Remedies be apply'd with Prudence when the Occasion requires and without either Rashness or Negligence the Horse will certainly be eas'd by 'em unless the Disease be extremely violent CHAP. XVI The Vniversal Cordial-Powder TAke Sassafras Zedoary Elecampane Gentian Carlin-Thistle Angelica Cubebs Spanish Scorzâ—nera Master-Wort and Marsh-Mallows of each half a Pound Birth-Wort round and long Bay-Berries Bark of Oranges and Citrons Savin of each four Ounces Cardamoms Liquorice Myrrh Shavings of Hart's-Horn and Ivory Coriander-Seed Seeds of Carraway Cummin Annise and Fennel of each two Ounces Cinnamon an Ounce Cloves Nutmeg and Oriental Saffron of each half an Ounce all fresh and gather'd in due time for a Root dug up in Summer is of no Value and therefore they must be gather'd in the Spring when they begin to shoot forth or about the time of Advent before the Frost The Medicine will be more effectual if you add a Pound of the Grains of Kermes but since they cannot be kept without
Intermissions of his Fever you may take the Advantage of one of those Intervals to prepare and exhibit the following Liquor Mix a Pound of fine Barley-Flower with a sufficient quanityt of Water as if you design'd to make Gruel boil it till it begin to thicken then add the quantity of an Egg of Sugar and while 't is moderately warm inject it into the Horse's Nose one half into each Nostril Since the Passages of the Nose end in the Mouth you will perhaps be surpriz'd that I do not prescribe this Nourishment to be given to the Horse in the Beginning of the the Disease when he stands so much in need of it as not being able to take any Food at the Mouth but I consider that every thing that a Horse takes by the Nose does extremely fatigue and torment him and therefore even the most cooling sorts of Nourishment such as Barley given after that manner might increase his Fever if he has any or throw him into a Fever tho' he were free of it before For tho' this Fever be only accidental and not much to be dreaded 't is nevertheless impossible to give any Nourishment by the Nose without manifest hazard and therefore I think we ought not to have recourse to that Method till the Horse be in danger of starving in which case 't is better to make an Attempt to save his Life tho' with some hazard than to suffer him to die of Hunger CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Vives 'T IS certainly a manifest Impropriety of Speech to say that the Horse has always the Vives because he always has those Parts where that Distemper is seated and shews it self when he is actually troubl'd with it These are certain Glands or Kernels near the Neck which being of a soft and spongy Substance and held to be the Drainers or Emunctories of the neighbouring Parts are subject to Inflammation which causes a Swelling that obstructs the Throat and stops the Wind so that if the Horse be not speedily assisted he is in danger of being choak'd The Pain and Uneasiness occasion'd by the stoppage of his Wind makes him lie down frequently and immediately start up again tumble struggle and toss his Body after a strange manner thinking by these various Motions to get rid of the Pain that torments and stifles him This Distemper may be very fitly compar'd to that which is call'd the Quinzie in Men. 'T is thought that the Vives are always accompany'd with the Colic because the same Symptoms appear in both The most usual Cause of this Disease is a sudden Change from one Extremity to another especially from a violent Heat to a sharp Cold as when a Horse is suffer'd to drink immediately after hard Riding or any vehement Exercise for by this means the Humours are melted and falling too plentifully on the Kernels swell 'em and occasion all the above-mention'd Disorders The Vives are also caus'd by over-working or riding a Horse beyond his Strength and out of Wind or by neglecting to cover and walk him after violent Exercise and a Horse may bring 'em upon himself by eating too large a Quantity of Oats Barley Wheat or Rye besides which they may proceed from several other Causes which are almost always owing to the Indiscretion either of the Rider or Groom Of Remedies for the Vives Bend the Horse's Ear downwards towards his Throat near the Cheek-bone and mark the place where it touches the Skin for that is the Part where the Inflammation is seated that causes the Swelling and if the Hair can be easily separated from the Skin by plucking it off with your hand 't is a Sign of Ripeness and that 't is time to resolve or at least to give vent to the Matter contain'd in the Swelling Then take hold of the Kernel which you will find in that Part with a Pair of Pincers or Plyers and beat the Swelling gently with the Handle of a Shooing-Hammer till you judge it to be sufficiently rotten or bruise the Kernels or Tumours with your hand till the Vives be rotted and soften'd making the flatuous or windy Spirits break thro' the Skin by way of insensible Transpiration after which the Swelling will certainly be resolv'd and disappear This is the easiest and surest Method 'T is the general Custom of Farriers to open the Vives with a Lance making an Incision upon the Kernel or Swelling out of which they take a certain Substance like the Fat of Beef but harder and afterwards stop the Hole with Salt Others pinch forth the Vives out of the Inside of the Ear pretending that the same Matter that is included in the Kernels which are the Seat of the Vives is also contain'd in that part of the Ear but this is a ridiculous Fancy 'T is better in my Opinion to rot the Vives than to open 'em because the last of these Methods renders the Horses more obnoxious to this Distemper Farriers think 't is the safest way to open 'em but I chuse rather to corrupt 'em unless the Swelling be so great that the Horse is in danger of being stifl'd in which case you must open 'em without delay to give Ease to the Horse After you have rotted or in Cases of Necessity open'd the Vives bleed the Horse under the Tongue wash his Mouth with Salt and Vinegar blow some of the Vinegar into his Ears rubbing and squeezing 'em hard to make it penetrate for it powerfully asswages the Pain that is communicated to the Jaws by reason of their Nearness to the Seat of the Vives Then take Hemp-seed beaten two handfuls two Nutmegs grated and six Yolks of Eggs mix 'em with a Quart of Wine and make the Horse drink it walking him gently half an hour after Sometimes the Distemper will not yield to this Remedy in which Case you must give the Horse a good Clyster with Sal Polychrest and repeat the Remedy of Hemp-seed c. Besides you must not grow weary of walking him abroad for Exercise rouzes the Natural Heat and puts it in a Condition to resist its Enemy This I recommend as a very good and sure Remedy and besides 't is cheap and easily prepar'd I can assure you from my own Observation that 't is a most present Remedy to thrust a Bodkin or Shooe-Maker's Awl quite thro' the Horse's Nostrils two or three fingers breadth above their Opening There will run out as much Blood on each side as would fill the Shell of an Egg and then it will stop of it self At the same time that you bleed him under the Tongue you must also let him blood very plentifully in the Flanks then cause him to be rak'd thus Chuse a Boy or any Servant that has a little Hand which you must make him besmear with Oil or Butter and stretching it out at full length with the Fingers join'd close together thrust his Arm up to the Elbow into the Horse's Fundament and draw out his handful of Dung But since a heedless and unskilful
together it will appear that I had reason to prescribe so many different Remedies I have seen a great number of Horses lost by the Ignorance of those who undertook to Cure 'em For those pretended Artists endeavour'd only to make 'em Stale tho' the Disease was truly a Wind-Colic On the other side most Farriers and Grooms imagine that a Horse is troubl'd with the Gripes when his Urine is supprest and that Mistake is so strongly rooted in 'em that 't is impossible to convince 'em of their Error So that when a Horse is troubl'd with a Stoppage of Urine and the Farriers pretend that the Distemper proceeds from the Gripes you may certainly conclude that they are mistaken and that the Disease is an effect of another Cause When the stoppage of Urine is occasion'd by a confirm'd Obstruction or by an Inflammation of the Neck of the Bladder you must not persist in the use of Internal Medicines to provoke Urine which would only serve to encrease the Pain and Inflammation and stifle the natural Heat by driving vast quantities of serous and flegmatic Humours into the Bladder But instead of these you may safely apply the external Remedies describ'd in this Chapter It was never observ'd hitherto that Horses were subject to the Stone or Gravel or that the stoppage of Urine that occasions this kind of Colic was ever occasion'd by Sand or Gravel Nevertheless in the Year 1668. an old Spanish Horse died in our Academy after a Sickness of some Hours during which he Sweat all over the Body To discover the Cause of so cruel a Distemper I order'd his Body to be open'd by our Farrier who found in his Kidneys a Stone that weigh'd four Pounds and two Ounces brown and shining like polish'd Marble resembling a little Dutch Cheese and of a very regular Figure for it was not the breadth of a Line thicker on one side than on the other Both its Figure and Weight have remain'd entire ever since and it has been seen by almost all the People of Paris with admiration I presented it to my good Friend Count Bertholin who made all those who saw it taken out of the Horse's Body attest the truth of the matter of Fact before a Notary He preserves it still and shows it to all those who desire a sight of it nor could I forbear relating so unusual an Accident For a Flux of Urine Having already discours'd of the Stoppage of Urine I shall proceed in the next place to give an account of the Cause and Cure of a contrary Distemper in which the Horse voids an excessive quantity of crude and undigested Urine resembling Water and at last dies not being able to support the long continuance of such an immoderate Evacuation This Flux of Urine is occasion'd by the Heat and Sharpness of the Blood and an Inflammation of the Kidneys which like Cupping-Glasses suck all the serous Humours out of the Veins and discharge 'em into the Bladder every thing that the Horse drinks passing immediately thro' his Body without the least Alteration The remote Causes of this Distemper are Immoderate and Irregular Exercise or Working of young Horses cold Rains in the beginning of Winter and eating of Oats that are Imported by Sea where being of a spongy Nature they imbibe and suck in the volatile saline Spirits that rise out of the Sea When you undertake the Cure of this Disease in the first place you must order the Horse's Diet feeding him with Bran instead of Oats and give him a cooling Clyster next day let him Blood and the day after inject another Clyster after which Bleed him again the following day The whole quantity of Blood that is taken away must not exceed four Pounds that is two at each time After you have let Blood twice and injected two Clysters boil two Quarts of Water and put it into a Pail-full of common Water with a large handful of Oriental Bole beaten to Powder Mix the whole very well and make the Horse drink it luke-warm if it be possible neither must you give him any other Liquor for his ordinary drink Morning or Evening Horses that are troubl'd with this Distemper drink excessively and some of 'em are so thirsty and their Bodies so heated that they would drink six Pail-fulls of Water every day You must not restrain 'em but let 'em have their full liberty to drink as much as they please provided the Water be prepar'd as before with boiling Water and Bole for the more they drink the sooner will they be cur'd When the Horse begins to Stale as he us'd to do when in Health and his Belly and Dung return to their natural Condition you must restore his Oats by degrees exercise him moderately at first and afterwards Ride or Work him with discretion CHAP. L. Of a Horse that Stales Blood DUring the great Heats of Summer if a Horse be ridden long and hard or over-heated by immoderate Exercise he will Piss pure Blood and this Disease is frequently Mortal especially if some Vein or large Vessel be broken which discharges the Blood into the Bladder Some Horses Piss Blood abundantly without a Fever loss of Appetite or any other appearance of Indisposition in which case the Flux of Blood proceeds only from the excessive Heat of the Kidneys and may be easily cur'd It would seem indeed that they could not long bear so vast an expence of Blood but since a little Blood will serve to tinge a great quantity of Urine 't is commonly thought that all they Piss is pure Blood whereas oftentimes the tenth part of it is not Blood and if proper Remedies be applied during the first days of the Distemper the Cure will be easily accomplish'd I shall forbear giving a particular Account of the Causes and Consequences of this Disease out of complaisance to those who are profest Enemies to Speculation and only look for Remedies in a Book of this nature Bleed the Horse and give him every Morning three Pints of White-Wine made Emetic by the Infusion of unwash'd Crocus Metallorum otherwise call'd Liver of Antimony The Nitre will give the Wine a red Colour and make it of admirable efficacy for it will both Cleanse and Heal which are the two main Scopes of the Cure Keep your Horse Bridl'd four Hours before you give him the Wine and as long after Repeat the Dose everyd ay and in six or seven Days the Flux of Blood will cease and the Horse will be in a fair way of Recovery For the Emetic Wine expels all Impurities out of the Bladder and consolidates the part which is all that can be desir'd for the Cure of this Distemper If the Pissing of Blood be accompany'd with Heat and a Palpitation of the Flanks as it usually happens give the Horse a good cooling Clyster every Evening bleed him a a second time if need require and dissolve two Ounces of Sal Polycrest in the three Pints of Emetic Wine which you were order'd
into an Oven to bake in a glaz'd Earthen Pan that you may not lose the Fat or Grease with which you must anoint the Legs of a tir'd Horse every Evening and next Morning chafe 'em with Aqua-Vitae above the Grease continuing after the same manner seven or eight days To encourage the Man whom you employ to rub the Horse and make him diligent you may give him the Goose to eat Another During the Heat of Summer make your Horse stand two whole hours every day up to the Hams in a Stream or Current of Water which will do him more good than a multitude of Ointments 'T will be very convenient to make him lie abroad in the Dew all the Month of May or if you chuse rather to keep him in the Stable you may lead him out every Morning to a Meadow and gathering the Dew with a Sponge bathe and rub his Legs with it Spirit of Wine mixt with a little Oil of Wax will strengthen the Sinew resolve the hard Knobs that grow on it and by removing those Obstructions facilitate the motion of the Leg. CHAP. LXI For Blows swell'd or gourdy-Legs whether the Swelling be occasion'd by some Accident or proceed from any other Cause I Shall in the next place proceed to treat of swell'd and gourdy-Legs and prescribe convenient Remedies to resolve and dissipate all sorts of Swellings occasion'd by Blows Bruises Desluxions long Journies hard Riding and keeping young Horses too long in the Stable or any other Swellings or Tumors whatsoever that happen in a a Horses Legs either before or behind If the Swelling be caus'd by a violent Blow with another Horse's Foot or by a Fall Bruise or any other such like cause apply one of the Honey-Charges describ'd in the Fifty Seventh Chapter and continue the use of the Remedy till the Cure be perfected But if the Legs or any part of 'em remain still swoln chuse any of the following Remedies that you shall judge most convenient When the Swelling is occasion'd by a slight Accident you may take it away by applying only cold Lees of Wine once every day or to make the Remedy more effectual you may mix a fourth part of Vinegar with thick Lees of Wine But if the Swelling continue apply the following Charge A Remedy for a Blow and to asswage a Swelling Boil a Gallon of Lees of Red-Wine softly over a clear Fire stirring perpetually till they begin to thicken then add fine Wheat-Flower and Honey of each two Pounds Black Soap one Pound boil and stir till the whole Mixture be reduc'd to the Consistence of a Charge The continu'd use of this Remedy will strengthen the Horse's Legs and take away the Swelling This Charge may be also apply'd to a Swelling that spreads it self under the Belly and advances between the Legs but the Duke's Ointment is much more effectual in that case To Cure a Swell'd Leg. Tumors of a long standing grow hard because the Humour contain'd between the Skin and Flesh is so raw and undigested that Nature is not able to concoct it And therefore the Swelling must be asswag'd and the harden'd Humor resolv'd by the application of a piercing Remedy such as that which follows Endeavour to get some of the Horse's own Urine for so the Remedy will be more effectual but if that cannot be had take of Cow's-Urine a Pint Flowers of Brimstone half an Ounce Allum a Dram boil away to half a Pint and bathe the Swelling with this Liquor chasing it hard then take a Clout that has been worn dip it in the same Liquor and wrap it about the part renewing the Application Morning and Evening till the Cure be perfected You may easily procure the Urine prescrib'd for this Composition by going into a Stall where Cows are lying and rousing 'em up For they use always to Stale assoon as they rise especially in the Morning when their Meat is laid before ' em A Bath to resolve a Swelling in the Thigh or Leg. Take ten Pounds of green Roots of Mallows or Marsh-Mallows when you prepare the Remedy in the Spring or during the time of Advent before Christmas but at all other times take six Pounds of the dry Roots Beat 'em to a mash and boil 'em gently with ten Quarts of Water in a Kettle for two Hours then pour in as much hot Water as you have lost by evaporation adding three large handfuls of Sage-Leaves and continue to boil an Hour and a half or two Hours longer Take off the Kettle and add two Pounds of Honey and one Pound of Black Soap incorporating all together suffer it to cool till you can almost endure to thrust the end of your Finger into it and then mix a Quart of strong Aqua-Vitae with the whole Composition Foment the Swelling with this Bath and afterwards chafe it with a handful of the dregs or thickest part of the same Then walk the Horse half an Hour and continue to observe the same Method every Day for seven or eight Applications will resolve the Swelling unless there be an Imposthume that tends to Suppuration as you may easily perceive by the heat and hardness of the Part in which case lay aside the use of the Bath and apply Basilicum Take Black Soap and Honey of each one Pound good Aqua Vitae half a Pint and mix 'em cold This is a very good Remedy to take away Swellings you must rub the Part with it every day and walk the Horse half an Hour afterwards repeating the Application till the Horse be cur'd Or if the Swelling be small bathe it with the Solution of Allum in Wine A Remedy for a hard Swelling proceeding from a Blow or any other Cause Beat the Whites of six Eggs with a large piece of Allum for half a quarter of an Hour till they be reduc'd to a thick Froth after which add a Glass of true Spirit of Wine for Aqua-Vitae is not at all proper in this case shaking the Spirit with the Froth till they be very well incorporated Then mix and incorporate the whole with half a Pound of common Honey and charge the Horse's Legs three or four times scouring off the Charge with Water in which Dishes have been wash'd If the Legs continue swoln repeat the Charge and the Swelling will quickly disappear For this is a very good Remedy and I have often try'd it with success both on the fore and hinder Legs To prevent the Swelling of the Legs Some Horses after long Galloping and others after a great Journey tho' perform'd only at a Foot-pace are seiz'd with a Swelling in their Legs before they have stood two Hours in the Stable and after they have enjoy'd a little Rest their Legs become perfectly round the Tumour coming and going by Turns To prevent this Inconveniency assoon as your Horse arrives at his Journey 's End charge the Parts where the Tumour uses to appear with Cows-Dung mix'd with Vinegar which will keep down the Swelling This Remedy cures as
then take a hard Egg cut thro' the middle sprinkle it with Pepper and apply it hot tying it fast to the griev'd Part. If the Horse be not cur'd by the first Application repeat it the next Day In frosty Weather when Horses are rough-shod or their Shoes made with long Caulks they are apt to over-reach and make a hole above the Cronet or in the Pastern which is not without danger And therefore you must immediately wash the Wound with warm Vinegar then fill it with Pepper and lay over it a black restringent Charge made of Chimney-soot Vinegar and Whites of Eggs or of Bole and Vinegar or which is best of all of Lime temper'd with Water Repeat the same the next Day and the Cure will be perfected For an Over-reach by the Caulk of the Shoes fill the Hole with Gun-Powder beaten and temper'd with Spittle as they usually make Touch-Powder then set Fire to it and repeat the same the next Day In the mean time both the Foot and Wound must be carefully preserv'd from Moisture and if the Attaint be from time to time wash'd with Aqua-Vitae it will heal tho' never so deep if the Tendon be not hurt If the Cure do not proceed according to your desire melt a little of the Emplastrum divinum with Oil of Roses in a Spoon and fill the Hole with Cotton dipt in this Ointment laying a Plaister of the same over it and dressing the Horse every Day after the same manner till the Cure be perfected as it will be speedily if the Tendon or Gristle be not hurt If the Hole be deep and notwithstanding all these Remedies the Horse continue still to Halt or the Part above the Attaint be swoln the Hoof shrunk and the Foot contracted beneath you have reason to fear that the Tendon is griev'd and therefore you must carefully examine the Part with your Probe and if you find that the Hole reaches to the Tendon dress it according to the Directions that shall be given for the Quitter-Bones If the Attaint be neglected on a Journey tho' the Horse do not Halt at the first by reason of the Corruption that is generated by the Cold and Foulness of the Part the Sore may reach the Hoof in which case after one or two Applications of the Honey-Charge you must proceed to give the Fire and dress it as a Quitter-bone 'T is to be observ'd that the Sore will never Heal so long as the Horse licks it and therefore you must cover it with the Remedies that shall be describ'd in the following Chapters If the bottom of the Hole be foul tho' the Gristle be not spoil'd which you may know by searching with your Probe to hinder the Corruption from reaching thither especially if it breeds Matter or if you perceive a Swelling or Hardness above or at the side of the Part you must wash it with Warm Wine and fill the Hole with Schmit's Ointment renewing the same upon occasion If the Cure prove tedious and the Horse begin to Halt the Swelling growing big and hard and voiding Matter you must have recourse to the Chapter that treats of Quitter-bones for you may certainly conclude that the Gristle is hurt and must be extirpated or the Sore will never be cur'd CHAP. LXXX Of the Scratches THere are three Sorts of Scratches Simple Sinewy and Scratches in the Hoof commonly call'd Quitter-bones The simple Scratches are most usual being a Tumor caus'd by corrupt Humours contain'd in the Skin and the Flesh It grows in all the parts of the Pastern especially behind and the Horse voids by this Channel or Gutter all the deprav'd Humours that were gather'd in that Part. The Scratches in a Horse resemble a Corn in a Man's Foot he cannot endure you to touch the Sore and it usually makes him halt before it be suppurated that is before the Corruption be discharg'd Sometimes the Scratches are the Reliques of the Strangles or of the Impurities expell'd by Nature sometimes they proceed from Hurts and Bruises and they are also occasion'd by the Dirt and Flesh that sticks to the Pasterns which growing hot and sharp frets and corrodes the Skin The Simple or Plain Scratches are most easily cur'd and the Horse is perfectly sound when they are taken away The sinewy Scratches so call'd because they are either under above or at the Side of the Sinews may be divided into Three Kinds but the First is very rare 'T is a Tumour generated under one of the Sinews of the Pastern which hinders the Matter from running out and causes so violent a Pain that the Horse is seiz'd with a Fever and halts right down for all the softening and asswaging Remedies in the World cannot penetrate to the Swelling that lies under the Sinews and Tendons of the Pastern The Part is remote from the Heart which is the Principle of Heat and cannot by its own Force digest those crude and raw Humours so that the Horse must unavoidably suffer cruel Torments and for the most part perish This Disease is more dangerous than the Quitter-bone and the Cure is always extremely difficult The Second Sort of sinewy Scratches grows on one of the Sinews of the Pastern it swells the Pastern and Leg makes the Horse very lame and frequently sends forth a great Scab instead of corrupt Matter In this Case you must charge the Leg and apply a good softening Remedy after the Scurf is fall'n dress the Sore with Schmits Ointment or for want of that with what follows Take a pound of Honey and two Ounces of Verdigrease in fine Powder Mix and thicken 'em with a sufficient quantity of Wheat-flower adding a small Glass-full of good Spirit of Wine Apply this Ointment with flax to the Sores and dress 'em every day bathing the Leg and especially the griev'd Sinew with warm Wine mix'd with a little Butter and the Horse will grow sound There is a Third and very dangerous Kind of sinewy Scratches which breeds at the side of the Master-Sinew on the hinder-Legs and the nearer it grows to the Sinew the more malignant it is and the Cure less easie Many Horses have been incurably lam'd after a continual Application of Remedies for seven or eight Months These Scratches are very painful for they make the Horse halt right down and forsake his Meat they occasion a Fever and almost all the Horses that are troubl'd with 'em are so tormented that they cannot put their Foot to the Ground and at laft they sink under the miserable Pain Having explain'd the Three Sorts of sinewy Scratches I shall now proceed to consider the Third Member of the first Division The Third Sort of Scratches commonly call'd Quitter-bone is seated between the Cronet and Hoof and is also very dangerous because it makes the Horse cast his Hoof which much diminishes his Value for the new Hoof is hardly ever fit for Service Thus I have briefly run over the several Kinds of Scratches and I shall propose the
second Water to dissolve the Swelling which reach'd that part dressing the Sores with Aqua-Vitae Honey and unslack'd Lime well mix'd together and at last the Horse recover'd tho' the Cure was extremely retarded by that Accident Some affirm that a Ring-bone may be cur'd before it grow big by giving the Fire without taking out the Sole if the Foot be not very dry and shrunk especially if the Vein under the Knee be taken up but Experience has convinc'd me that to proceed methodically the Cure of this Distemper must be always begun with taking out the Sole whether the Fire be given or not for the taking out of the Sole draws the Matter downwards and makes a kind of Revulsion nor is the Fire alone tho' given with all possible Care and Dexterity able to dissolve a Ring-bone I have made several Observations that will not permit me to doubt of this Truth for I have seen some Horses who after an exact Observance of the above-mention'd Method continu'd to halt as before The Sole was taken out the Skin was pierc'd with red-hot Knives reaching to the very Callus the whole Tumour was burnt the Scabs fell the Sores were fair and in a very good Condition and after all the Horse was as Lame as ever I was therefore oblig'd to order the Sole to be taken out a second time and the Frush to be cleft to the Pastern with a Fleam to widen the Heels after which some of the Horses were cur'd tho' I have met with others that recover'd not till I had taken out the Sole a third time At that time I had not found out the way of cleaving the Frush to widen the Heels and therefore I only did half my work in taking out the Sole But since I began to put that Method in Practice I never was oblig'd to take out the Sole more than once And to convince you of the Usefulness of taking out the Sole in those Cases I can assure you that I have cur'd Horses of the Ring-bone by taking out the Sole without giving the Fire applying Oil of Bay and proceeding according to the Directions mention'd in the Beginning of this Chapter in so much that the Horse went upright and was very fit for Service the Ring-bone in the mean time making no progress for above three Years but at last it was found necessary to give the Fire If you cut the part with the Fleam and then give the Fire thro' these Incisions the remaining Scar will be smaller and less unseemly than if the Skin had been pierc'd with a red-hot Knife for tho' in several other Cases ' the Skin is only sear'd till it acquire a Cherry Colour for the Cure of this Distemper you must not only pierce the Skin but penetrate the whole Tumour or Callus that sticks to the Pastern However every Man may please himself and either pierce the Skin with a red-hot Knife or cut it with a Fleam and then give the Fire thro' these Incisions 'T is true indeed the last of these Methods is the best for besides that it leaves not so great a Scar these Incisions serve to direct the Operator and he sees more plainly what he is doing than those who pierce the Skin with red-hot Knives Nevertheless I use with good Success to proceed immediately to giving the Fire and burning the Callus without making the least use of the Fleam when the Horse is of no great Value assoon as the Fire is given apply a Mixture of Turpentine Tarr and Honey laying it on warm with Flax and a Bandage and keeping the place cover'd till it be heal'd after seven or eight days when the Matter is generated you must dress it every day Sometimes after the falling of the Scab the Flesh swells and grows too fast but this Inconveniency may be prevented by washing the Sore with the second Water the vulnerary Water or the liquid Caustic and afterwards applying convenient Powders or Ointments such as that of Schmit or the Cleansing Ointment for Quitter-bones While the Sole is growing under the Foot you will seldom be troubl'd with proud Flesh and if you are you may easily consume it with Powders or even burn it with a flat Knife for provided you touch not the Skin you may burn the Flesh as much as you please without the least danger of leaving a Scar and after the falling of the Scab the Sore will appear fair and clean but both the Growth of proud Flesh may be prevented and the Cure hasten'd by keeping the Sore always cover'd with convenient Ointments CHAP. LXXXV Of the Vices of the Feet and Hoofs IN the first place I shall take notice of those Horses who have pretty handsome Feet but their Hoofs are so brittle that they are apt to break near the Holes that are made by the Nails of their Shooes And the Loss of a Shooe which usually happens on this occasion may be the Cause of the Loss of the Horse The Hardness of the Hoof if it be not accompany'd with Brittleness may be easily cur'd and is only a Defect by Accident I shall in the second Part treat of the Vices of the Feet with respect to the Figure and Shape and of the Manner of Shooing adapted to every particular Case You may easily know at first sight whether a Horse's Hoofs be brittle for they will appear all broken about the Shooe the best way is to shooe those Horses after the Full Moon and never during the Encrease contrary to the Opinion of several Persons after which you must anoint 'em every Day with the Ointment for the Feet In the Second Part I shall discourse largely of Feet that are ill-shap'd flat and form'd like Oyster-shells but since I have reason to believe that many of my Readers will not have the Curiosity to peruse those Chapters it will not be improper to say something on that Subject here By the following Method you may rectifie a flat Hoof which is commonly so weak that the Horse cannot Travel unless his Shoes be made very hollow and besides the least Sand or Gravel that enters between the Shoe and the Sole makes him so Lame that he must be kept on the Trench for some time after In the first place you must take up the Pastern Veins in four several places two in each Leg Or you may bleed him plentifully in the four Pastern Veins and delay the taking of 'em up till afterwards then set on Pantosle Shoes to widen the Heels for almost all those flat Feet have narrow Heels 'T is to be observ'd that you must by no means weaken the Sole towards the Heel when you pare the Hoof but leave it as strong as you can for otherwise these Shoes will certainly make the Horse halt You must also suffer him to rest some Days after the Shoes are set on and keep his Feet in his own Dung well moisten'd that he may be enabl'd by the Moisture to wear these Shoes without any inconvenience
moist Countries for in dry Climates it dries up in the Summer without the Application of any Remedy Nevertheless the Humour that breeds the Scurf is sometimes so hot and sharp that the Horse is extreamly prejudic'd by it and even sometimes the Scab over-runs the whole Leg almost to the Knee and Hoof. The common drying Remedies serve only to palliate the Evil which returns after a seeming Cure and even after 't is dry'd up may continue still to cast forth a Scurf that sticks to the Hair and must be every Day rubb'd off with a Curry-comb A Drying Remedy may be thus prepar'd take two Ounces of good Brasil Tobacco cut small or at least separated from the Stalks and infuse it twelve Hours in half a Pint of strong Spirit of Wine stirring 'em every Hour that the Spirit of Wine may pene rate its Substance and wholly extract its Tincture Then chafe the Scab without taking off the Skin and afterwards rub 'em very hard with a handful of the Tobacco continuing to rub 'em after the same manner once every Day If notwithstanding the use of this Remedy the Scratches are not dry'd or break forth again after an imperfect Cure use that which follows Rub the Part with a Wisp of Hay till it grow hot but without fleying off the Skin or drawing Blood then touch it gently with Cotton dipt in the Spirit of Vitriol repeating the Application the second time if the first be not sufficient Or dress the Sores with the Neat-herd's Ointment which you will find describ'd in the hundred fifty seventh Chapter I had once a young Barbe who was troubl'd with a Crown-Scab not much different from the Pains or Red-Water in the Legs for it was very moist and in order to the Cure of so troublesome an Infirmity I apply'd too large a quantity of Spirit of Vitriol which was better rectify'd and stronger than I imagin'd Immediately the Sinew and the whole Leg swell'd and the Swelling was accompany'd with so violent a Pain that the Horse could not stand upright so that I was forc'd to have recourse to the Red-Honey-Charge to asswage the Pain of the Leg and especially the Sinew And to the Place where the Scab appear'd which was extreamly tormented with the Acrimony of the Spirit I apply'd the white Honey-Charge which allay'd the Pain but shortly after the whole Cronet fell off Yet the Flesh and Skin were afterwards restor'd and the Sores heal'd but there was a great Scar left which was never afterwards cover'd with Hair In the mean time the Horse was absolutely cur'd of the Crown-Scab but by reason of the violent Effects of the Remedy he was forc'd to be kept two Months in the Stable This Example may serve to admonish the Reader of the Danger of applying too large a quantity of Spirit of Vitriol especially if it be good for that which is usually sold at Paris is not so strong and 't is safer to renew the Application two or three times than to endanger the Horse by an over-proportion'd quantity at the first Spirit of Salt produces the same effect and the Experience I have had of its Nature inclines me to prefer it before the other for it cleanses more powerfully The following Remedy is sometimes sufficient for the Cure of the Crown-Scab Infuse a sufficient quantity of Sal-Armoniac in Spirit of Wine that is as much Salt as the Spirit will dissolve for as soon as you perceive the Salt to lie at the bottom you may conclude that the Spirit is satiated Then rub the Part and bathe it with the impregnated Spirit The Cure of an inveterate Crown-Scab is often attempted without Success for the Spirits of Vitriol and Salt are not infallible Remedies in this case and 't is frequently observ'd that larger Sores are more easily cur'd than this Scab especially such as are old and malignant CHAP. CI. Of Fleshy Excrescencies on the Frush by some ignorant Persons mistaken for the Figgs BEsides the Sores occasion'd in the Frush by Pricks and Stubs Scabs and Figgs sometimes fleshy Lumps or Excrescencies arise at the side of the Part about the bigness of small Nuts which are occasion'd by the heat of the Feet or Stable and are not dangerous tho' sometimes very painful Some ignorant Persons confound these with the Figgs which are nourish'd and fomented by a corrupt nervous or sinewy Juice which is the cause of their Malignity and besides they are oftentimes fasten'd to the Gristle whereas the Excrescencies which are the Subject of this Chapter proceed only from an excess of Heat so that the Disease is sympathetical not essential to the Part and therefore infinitely less dangerous tho' it often makes the Horse halt right-down and if neglected might produce very troublesome Consequences And even sometimes tho' very rarely the Sole must be taken out before the root of the Swelling can be extirpated but generally these Tumours are as easily Cur'd as known When you perceive a Lump or Excrescency of live Flesh fastn'd to the side of the Frush which usually makes the Horse halt and oftentimes right-down if it be seated on one of the Hinder-Legs large and high above the Frush you must immediately cut it off with a red-hot Knife sear the Part to stop the Blood and dress the Sore with the Countesses Ointment or for want of that with the Powders of Crude Allom Galls and White Vitriol equally mixt and apply'd with a Bolster of Flax laying over it and over the whole Frush and Sole a Restringent Charge made of Turpentine Soot and Aqua-Vitae boyl'd gently and incorporated with perpetual stirring Three Days after take off the Dressing and touch the Part with Spirit of Vitriol after which renew the Application as before and by a careful observance of this Method the Cure will be speedily perfected But sometimes after a regular Application of the above-mention'd Remedies the Swelling returns and must be again cut off with a red-hot Knife after which apply the Countesses Ointment and when you remove the Dressing wash the Part with Spirit of Wine then dress it with the Ointment and continue after the same manner till the Sore be heal'd In the menn time to promote the Cure by cleansing drying and strengthning the Part you may touch it with Spirit of Vitriol and apply White Vitriol with the usual Dressing of Bolsters Bandage or Splents It may sometimes happen that all these Remedies will not be sufficient to prevent the return of the Tumour in which case you must pluck off the Frush and dress the Part according to the Directions mention'd in the Chapter that treats of the Figgs If the Horse halt right-down apply only the Countesses Ointment dressing it once in two Days and persisting in the use of that Remedy till he begin to walk upright Sometimes those Bunches or Excrescencies appear at the end of the Frush on the Hinder-Legs and are so painful that the Horse treads on his Toes and can neither endure to stand
But tho' repelling Remedies must not be us'd in those Cases we must endeavour to dissolve the Swelling and diffipate the Matter by applying Remedies that are endu'd with a Power to attenuate heat and dissolve the Humours before we proceed to Suppuration Sixthly If the Wound be accompany'd with a great Contusion the Cure will be more tedious for the bruis'd Flesh must putrifie and fall away and its separation must be hasten'd by Manual Operation or by the Application of Caustics but the surest and safest Method is to make use of Instruments which are easily manag'd and guided Seventhly The cure of round or circular Wounds is always attended with so much difficulty that to facilitate the Work they ought to be cut into a long Figure Eighthly A Wound ought to be carefully cover'd for the Air retards the Cure and for that purpose it is very convenient to make use of a Lamb's-Skin in those Parts of the Body where it can be conveniently apply'd and in all others to cover the Wound with Tow which must be cut and beaten that it may stick the faster Ninthly The Lips of a Wound can never be clos'd or re-united so long as they are Callous and therefore you may rub them with the Golden Ointment mixt with Butter of Antimony that was never wash'd or precipitated in Water This Mixture will promote the closing of the Bones by destroying the Callus but since they are sometimes so large and hard that such Remedies are not able to consume 'em they must be cut off or rather Lanc'd and Gash'd with a Fleam or red-hot Knife which will hasten the forming of a Cicatrice As soon as you attempt the Cure of a Wound shave the Hair very close about two Fingers breadth round the place and keep it always neat clean and supple that the Skin may be easily stretch'd in order to the joining of the Lips of the Wound Simple Wounds made by the Saddle or otherwise if they be not of any considerable depth are heal'd by washing 'em with Urine or warm Wine and afterwards strewing 'em with the Powder of an old Rope or Flax cut very small but if the Wound be somewhat large 't will be convenient to substitute the Second Water instead of warm Wine and Urine for it allays the Itching and hastens the Cure And to consume the Proud-Flesh which is usually very troublesome you may apply White-Vitriol in Powder or rather Colcothar which is more effectual Colcothar is only Vitriol burnt till it grow red Sometimes a Saddle-Gall degenerates into a hard Knot call'd a Sitfast the usual Method of Farriers is to anoint it with Oil of Nuts mixt with an equal quantity of Water or with Hog's-Lard or Tallow till it fall away of it self which requires a very long time and afterwards the Sore may be wash'd with the Second Water and for want of that with warm Wine and strew'd with Bran and by the constant use of these Applications it will be insensibly heal'd But the Sitfast will fall away more easily and speedily if you hold a lighted Candle over it letting the melted Tallow drop upon the Knob and after 't is separated wash the Sore with warm Wine and the Second Water or Urine and anoint it slightly with old Salt-Butter strewing upon it the Powder of an old Rope The Butter supplies the place of a Detergent by keeping the Sore clean and quickly brings it to a Cicatrice I have several times seen a Gangreen occasion'd by a neglected Sitfast and always observ'd that the Horses dy'd very speedily The surest way to remove a Sitfast is to rub it with the Ointment of Beetles or for want of that with some good Retoire holding a hot Bar of Iron near the Part as soon as the Retoire is laid on and renewing the Application three Days together One Application of a Caustic Ointment will produce the same Effect and thus you may prevent those troublesome Accidents that are usually occasion'd by the long continuance of a Sitfast If the Wound be so large and deep that it must be Tented as it usually happens in the Thighs Withers and other parts of the Body a simple Tent of salted Hog's-Lard will be sufficient unless it be necessary to keep the Wound open in which case to avoid large Incisions which cannot be perform'd without difficulty and are never free from danger instead of Tents you must use a Prepar'd Sponge which will open the Wound without Incision and discover the bottom of it This Method is of excellent use when the Wound is in those Parts of the Body that are full of Sinews or Tendons or when the flowing of the Blood hinders you from seeing what you ought to cut How to prepare a Sponge for the opening of Wounds Take a fine Sponge wash'd clean ty'd about very hard with Pack-thread and wrapt in wet Paper then lay it in a hollow place in the midst of the Hearth covering it with hot Ashes and live Coals over the Ashes leave it there to dry for the space of a quarter of an Hour or longer after which take it out and when 't is Cold untie it and cut it with a Knife into what form you please Then besmearing it with a Ripening or Digestive Ointment to prevent its sticking to the Flesh thrust it into the bottom of the Wound the next Day draw it out with your Pincers and you will find it much swoll'n and the Hole sufficiently widen'd without hurting the Sinews and Tendons which could not have been done by Incision But if the Sponge be not sufficient to open a Wound that is very foul and full of dead Flesh provided it be not under the Foot incorporate two Ounces of Sublimate in Powder with half a Pound of melted Wax and dip a very fine Sponge in that Mixture till it has suck'd up as much as it can contain then lay it in a Press two Days and two Nights after which you may cut it into the form of Tents and it will both open the Wound and produce the effect of a Cautery If you would make it stronger add an Ounce of Arsenic in fine Powder mixing it with melted Wax and the two Ounces of Sublimate which will make an excellent Cautery for Quitter-bones to extirpate the Tendon or any other corrupt Matter But if the Sore be under the Foot occasion'd by a Nail or Stub or any other Accident the Sponge prepar'd with Sublimate or Arsenic must not be apply'd lest the Humours shou'd be driven upwards to the Cronet where they might occasion great Disorders In such cases you may use a Sponge dipt in Wax alone prest and cut into Tents as before which will open a Wound but not so effectually as the former since it contains not any Caustic Ingredients However it has this advantage that it neither causes Pain nor hurts the Nerves and is very convenient for preventing the growth of Proud-Flesh in the Feet for when the Part is bound up carefully with Splents
Roses two Ounces Confection of Alkermes without Musk or Ambergrise one Ounce Treacle half a Dram Powder of Oriental Saffron six Grains Mix all the Ingredients in a Glass-Vial and give to your Horse with a Horn rinsing the Horn the Vial and your Horse's Mouth with a Mixture of the Waters of Carduus Benedictus Succory and Scabious of each an Ounce and half This Water or Julep allays the Heat of the Fever Inject a Clyster about Four a Clock in the Afternoon give the Remedy at Six and keep your Horse bridl'd till Eight The next Day at Four in the Afternoon administer one of the above-mention'd Clysters at Six let your Horse blood in the two Plate-Veins of the Thighs keeping him bridl'd two Hours after You may repeat the Dose of the Remedy two or three times but not the Bleeding without Necessity In the mean time the Horse must eat little Hay you must frequently wash his Mouth with Verjuice Salt and Honey of Roses and oftentimes inject one of the above-mention'd Clysters Since I have often observ'd that the Apothecaries ask an excessive Rate for this Remedy I thought fit to advertise those who may have Occasion to use it that the highest Price of it does not amount to above * About 6s Three Livres and Ten Sous for the Confection of Alkermes is without either Musk or Ambergrise This Remedy ought to be highly esteem'd by those who are Masters of good Horses for by the Use of it in less than a Month I cur'd Four Horses of Value after they were past Hope of Recovery For your Horses Ordinary Drink You may dissolve in a Pailful of Water the Remedy for Fevers consisting of Salt of Tartar Sal Armoniac c. describ'd in Chap. CXXXVI If that cannot be procur'd you may infuse in a Pailful of Water the Dough of a Peny-Loaf ready to be put into the Oven which makes the Water white cools the Body of the Horse and affords some Nourishment and is infinitely better than Flower which is commonly us'd on this Occasion This is an excellent Remedy for simple Fevers and almost for all Horses that are troubl'd with a violent beating in the Flanks proceeding from a hot Cause and I have even given it with good Success to Morfounded Horses when the Disease was accompany'd with a beating in the Flanks for tho' in this case hot Remedies are requir'd to strengthen Nature and enable her to expel that which offends her yet since the Fever is augmented by the heat of the Medicins we must find out and exhibit a good Remedy that strengthens without much Heat which is the peculiar Character of the above-mention'd Julep or mixture of Waters When the Fever is violent the Sick Horse either does not lie down at all or if he does starts up again immediately by reason of the difficulty of Breathing that oppresses him when he lies and therefore if in this case your Horse lie down and remain long in that Posture you may conclude him to be in a hopeful Condition nor must you reckon it a bad sign tho' he complain more when he lies than when he stands for even the soundest Horses are wont to complain when they are in that Posture This is an important remark in the case of all Horses that are extreamly Sick and a diligent observance of it will enable you to make a better Judgment of the Nature of the Distemper A Potion or Drink for a Founder'd Horse that is very Sick either with or without a Cough Take two Pints and half of the Four Cordial Waters viz. of Scorzonera Queen of the Meadows Carduus Benedictus and Scabious dissolving in the same an Ounce of Confection of Hyacinth without Musk or Ambergreece and one Treacle-Pill in Powder Give this Mixture to your Horse in the Morning and rinse the Pot and Horn with half a Pint of Wild Succory-Water which you must make him drink after you have wash'd his Mouth with it Keep him Bridl'd three Hours before and two Hours after and at Night give him the following Clyster Take Powder of Sal Polychrest an Ounce and a half Pulp of Coloquintida without the Seeds half an Ounce boil 'em in five Pints of Beer half a quarter of an Hour and in the strain'd Liquor dissolve a quarter of a Pound of good Populeum make a Clyster to be injected Lukewarm If this Remedy prove ineffectual you may conclude that your Horse's Life is in danger but if you perceive any signs of Amendment you must frequently repeat the Clyster which will very much promote the Cure I have sometimes given with Success a Dose of Stinking Pills to Horses troubl'd with this Distemper for tho' that Medicine seems at first to encrease the beating in the Flanks it quiets all those disorders afterwards tho' I must confess the same Remedy has disappointed me at other times The Lieutenant's Decoction for a Horse that is Founder'd and very Sick Take Carduus Benedictus and Hyssop of each one handful Juice of Liquorice two Ounces Roots of Gentian stampt in a Mortar one Ounce boil the Ingredients in a Pint and a half of Water for the space of half an Hour and as soon as you remove the Vessel from the Fire pour into it half a Pint of White-Wine straining out the Liquor Add as much Saffron as you can lift between your three Fingers and make a Decoction for one or two Doses according to your Horse's Strength or his Aversion to the Medicine The next Day let him Blood in the Flanks and keep him in a temperate place Since Horses in this Condition are wont to eat very little they must be nourish'd with cleans'd Barley without Butter or Fat or with Bread if you can persuade 'em to eat it or Bran c. For more particular directions in this Case you may consult the Sixth Seventh Eighth and Ninth Chapters of this Book and therefore I shall content my self at present with putting you in Mind that you must frequently put a Bit into your Horses Mouth and remember always to offer him Meat when you unbridle him CHAP. CXXV Crocus Metallorum TAke the best Crude Antimony or that which is fullest of Points and Nitre or Salt-Petre of each an equal quantity beat 'em severally to Powder and mix 'em in a Crucible Then set 'em on Fire with a Match or live Cole and as soon as the Flame is extinguish'd and the Matter cold you will find the Liver of Antimony under the Scoriae which are also of good use in certain Cases Separate the Liver and reduce it to a very fine Powder then throw it into Water and beat again in the same Mortar that which the Water cannot dissolve continuing after the same manner till the whole Matter be reduc'd to an impalpable Powder then suffer the Water to settle and you will find at the bottom a Liver-Colour'd Powder which you must continue to wash by pouring on fresh Water till the Salt of the Nitre that
him in one of the folds of his Guts who imagining that it was a Musquet-Bullet came to shew it me wondring that so large a Bullet did not kill the Horse when he receiv'd the Shot These two Experiments may serve to convince the Reader that the Regulus of Antimony does not exert its Purgative force on the Body of a Horse Prepar'd Antimony may be safely given in the above-mention'd and several other cases It s principal effect is to purifie the whole Mass of the Blood by insensible Transpiration and the frequent use of it consumes the superfluous watry Humours which being Infected with Putrefaction transmit malignant Vapours to the Brain breed a slimy Matter that stops and obstructs the small Branches of the Veins and mixing with the Blood corrupts the whole Mass of it and makes it unfit for nourishing the parts of the Body The Liver of Antimony does very powerfully open the Obstructions of the Veins and Arteries and so destroys the fomenting cause of most Distempers and besides 't is endu'd with this admirable quality that it acts by way of Irradiation an unbounded Virtue peculiar to this Mineral reduc'd to Medicines by a due Preparation The same Remedy is both an excellent Preservative from all Distempers if it be given to a Horse from time to time and Cures those that are actually troubl'd with Diseases excepting such as require hot Remedies as the Strangles Glanders and Running at the Nose I am extreamly surpriz'd not to find the least mention of so noble a Remedy in the Works of so many Learned and Judicious Authors who have describ'd the Maladies of Horses It cools and refreshes the Body and those who use it will have the pleasure and satisfaction of believing on most certain and reasonable Grounds that it cannot produce any ill effect I know the ancient Physicians who were generally Enemies to Antimony endeavour'd to destroy the credit of that Remedy by affirming that 't is full of Arsenical Spirits that waste and corrode the Internal Parts and are usually attended with fatal Consequences tho' it seems at first to be administer'd with excellent Success but I must beg leave of those Gentlemen to tell 'em that at least with respect to Horses those Arsenical Spirits are only lodg'd in their Brains for I have made several Horses eat four or five Pounds of this Remedy without intermission and sometimes four or five Ounces every Day so that if there had been any Corrosive Spirits in the Antimony the Stomach and Intestines of these Animals would have certainly been bor'd like Sieves Whereas on the contrary the Horses that devour'd so large a quantity of Antimony recover'd daily grew brisk and lusty and even some that were Hide-bound and wasted were quickly fatten'd by the use of this Powder which contains no malignant Particles nor even produces any ill effect on the Body of a Horse as I might easily demonstrate by the testimony of a thousand Persons that have us'd it After so many Experiments I am so fully perswaded of the harmlesness of this Remedy that I recommend it to all my Friends and as for the Arsenical Spirits I 'm no more afraid of 'em than of the Spirits or Hobgoblins with which Children are usually scar'd If your Horse's Distemper requires hot Remedies you must abstain from the use of Liver of Antimony because it cools the Body And 't is also to be observ'd that when your Horse begins to eat it especially during the first eight or ten Days you must neither Gallop Work nor even Ride him immediately for by the use of this Remedy the Blood is put into a kind of universal Ebullition and therefore if the Horse be fatigu'd or over-ridden while the Blood continues to be so briskly mov'd he will easily become Founder'd tho' he might have escap'd that Inconveniency if he had not eaten the Liver of Antimony since the Humours and especially the Blood wou'd not have been so violently agitated In the mean time moderate Exercise is not only convenient but necessary for it obliges Nature to expel by the Pores those Vapours call'd Fuliginous Steams that infect the Blood but during the first eight or ten Days vehement Exercise is extreamly hurtful and you must always remember when your Horse sweats to wipe and dry him very carefully and to prevent his growing suddenly Cold tho' after the first Ebullition of the Blood is over you need not confine your self to so strict an observance of those Cautions CHAP. CXXVI Of Tir'd Horses that Pine away after hard Labour or Riding HOrses are usually reduc'd to a languishing condition by violent Exercise and fatiguing Marches especially in an Army and can hardly ever after recover their wonted Health and Vigour for sometimes they have good Forage whereas at other times they are obliged to eat Rye Millet unwholsome Herbs and rotten Hay sometimes they have abundance of Provender and at other times very little or none at all and besides they are sometimes forc'd to drink corrupt Water at unseasonable times not to mention the irregularity and hardness of their Marches so that if a Horse be not of a very strong Constitution and well Limb'd 't is almost impossible for him to undergo so many Fatigues 'T is not an easie Task on such occasions to direct the Intentions of the Cure to any particular Distemper but you can hardly fail of success if you take care to exhibit and apply such Remedies as are proper to strengthen the internal and refresh the external parts of the Body to expel and consume the peccant Humours that are daily gather'd either by Bleeding or universal Purgations and if you discover any particular Distemper you must have recourse to the specific Remedies that are peculiarly appropriated to your Horse's present Condition The Signs to know a Horse that has been ill us'd in the Camp are these When he Breathes there appears a sort of Canal stretching along his Belly like a Rope or Cord his Hair stares and is discolour'd his Dung is dry black and sometimes full of Worms and his Eyes are heavy he never thrives tho' he feeds heartily when you walk him he seems sullen and complains and shews none of that briskness or liveliness which is usually the effect of repose If these Signs appear in a tir'd Horse after his return from the Army or from a long Journey you must in the first place let him Blood in the Neck-Veins and afterwards proceed to exhibit some digestive Powder that promotes the Concoction of Aliments and prepares the superfluous Humours in order to their more easie and effectual Evacuation Liver of Antimony produces the effect of a Digestive Powder if two Ounces of it be given once a Day with moisten'd Bran But if your Horse has an aversion to Bran you may give him the Golden Sulphur of Antimony in Wine according to the Directions prescrib'd in Chap. CXXIX which will operate more effectually than any other Preparation of Antimony and quickly restore
the Method prescrib'd in the Sixth and following Chapters Since the Oil of Rue is a good and cheap Remedy it will not be improper to insert the true description of it Oil of Rue Take a Pound of Oil-Olive and two handfuls of Rue chop'd small boil 'em slowly in a Skellet and strain out the Oil throwing away the Herbs Then add two handfuls of fresh Rue and boil and strain as before Repeat the same Operation a third time and preserve the Oil which is indu'd with a Virtue to cut and digest thick and tough Humours Being dissolv'd in a Clyster it helps the Colic and asswages Pains in the Belly Kidneys and Bladder and it may be successfully us'd in outward Applications for the Cure of several cold Diseases It resolves hard and cold Tumours that resist the efficacy of ordinary Remedies but by reason of its Heat you must never use it when you have reason to fear an Inflammation CHAP. CXXXIII Of Palpitation of the Heart THE beating or palpitation of the Heart is a quick and violent Motion of that noble Part by which it endeavours to expel something that oppresses it 'T is usually occasion'd by a malignant Steam or Vapour proceeding partly from a Melancholic Humour that stagnates in the Veins and insinuates it self into the great Artery hard Riding violent Exercise corrupt Water bad Nourishment and every thing that is apt to produce Heat or Obstructions are the remote Causes of this Distemper The Palpitation of the Heart is visible to the Eye for when the Disease is violent the Heart beats with so much force against the Horse's sides that you may plainly perceive the motion of the Skin at every stroke and if you lay your Ear to the Part you may hear as it were the Blows of a Hammer within the Horse's Body on both sides together Some Horses in this Condition retain their Appetite better than others and are not troubl'd with an extraordinary beating in the Flanks Remedies that strengthen the Heart cherish and revive the Spirits dispel thick Vapours and resist their Malignity are proper in this case Bleeding is the sovereign Remedy of this Distemper and it may be safely repeated oftner than once in one Day if the violence of the Palpitation be not abated This Distemper is sometimes very vehement and impetuous but not usually Mortal unless it be accompany'd with a Fever which does not happen very often The Cure is almost always successfully perform'd by the frequently repeated use of convenient Clysters Bleeding and Cordial Remedies As for Cordials you have the Electuary of Kermes the Cordial-Powder the Lieutenants-Powder and the Cordial-Balls which must be methodically exhibited and the Dose repeated two or three times according to the violence of the Distemper If the Palpitation be accompany'd with a vehement beating in the Flanks you must give your Horse a Quart of a Cordial Mixture of the Waters of Scorzonera Scabious Carduus Benedictus and Roses with an Ounce of Confection of Hyacinth without Musk or Ambergreese and one of the Cordial Balls reduc'd to Powder rinsing the Pot and Horn with half a Pint of the same Cordial-Waters The Cordials must be repeated every Day or at least once in two Days They who cannot procure any of the above-mention'd Remedies may prepare the following Potion A Remedy for the Palpitation of the Heart Take Bugloss Bawm and Borage of each a handful boil 'em in a sufficient quantity of Water for the space of half a quarter of an Hour till the Water be reduc'd to a Pint Then removing it from the Fire add two handfuls of Sorrel and let it stand till it be cold Dissolve in the strain'd Liquor an Ounce and a half of Conserve of Roses half an Ounce of Confection of Hyacinth without Musk or Amber-greese and ten Grains of Saffron make your Horse drink it luke-warm and two Hours after give him the following Clyster A Clyster for the Palpitation of the Heart This Clyster dispels and removes Obstructions and consequently is very proper for a Horse opprest with such a Distemper as this that proceeds from Vapours and Wind. Take the five softening Herbs Mugwort Cammomil Rue and Melilot of each two handfuls Powder of Sal-Polychrest an Ounce and a half boil 'em for the space of half a quarter of an Hour in a sufficient quantity of Water to three Quarts then press out the Water and throw away the Herbs After which add to the strain'd Liquor Linseed and Fenugreek-seed beaten to Powder of each two Ounces Boil about a quarter of an Hour longer and add to the straining Oil of Bay and fresh Butter of each three Ounces Cow's Urine one Pint if it can be procur'd Repeat the Clyster every six Hours and the Potion once a Day Keep your Horse to a spare Diet feed him with moisten'd Bran give him no Oats and walk him frequently at a foot pace As soon as you perceive the Palpitation to be perfectly allay'd and your Horse restor'd to his former Health 't will be highly convenient to exhibit the following Purgative Take an Ounce and a half of Aloes for an ordinary Horse or two if he be of a very large size an Ounce of Agaric in Powder and a like quantity of Flower de luce of Florence make a Powder and give it to your Horse in a Quart of Milk keeping him Bridl'd five Hours before and four Hours after The next Day the Medicine will begin to operate and you must walk your Horse from time to time till the evacuation be stop'd after which you may give him his usual allowance of Oates This Purgation attacks and subdues the cause of the Distemper and quickly perfects the Cure A Clyster to dispel Wind. Take of the usual softening Decoction three Quarts and three or four Ounces of the Carminative and Purgative Oil prescrib'd for the second kind of Colic or a quarter of a Pound of Oil of Bay and two Ounces of Butter Mix and make a Clyster The preceding Remedy I mean both the Potion and Clyster are universally useful in all the various kinds of Palpitation but if you can certainly discover the cause of the Disease you may observe the following Directions If it be Summer and you have reason to suspect that the Distemper proceeds from the excessive Heat of the Horse's Body let him Blood in the Neck-Vein and make him stand in Water up to the Neck for an Hour during which time you may prepare this Potion Take the Waters of Scorzonera Scabious Roses and bitter Succory as much of each as a common Drinking Glass will contain Cream or Crystal of Tartar in Powder one Ounce Syrup of the Juice of Sorrel or for want of that of Violets four Ounces Mix and make a Draught And you may give him an Ounce of Sal-Polychrest in a Quart of Wine and walk him an Hour or somewhat less according to his Strength and afterwards give him one of the following Clysters You may mix the Febrifuge describ'd in
the Hundred thirty sixth Chapter with his ordinary Drink A Clyster for the Palpitation of the Heart accompany'd with Heat Take an Ounce and a half of Sal-Polychrest in Powder with a sufficient quantity of the five softening Herbs the Roots of Sorrel and Bugloss the Seeds of Cucumbers Gourds Citruls and Melons grosly beaten and a small quantity of Anniseed Boil the Ingredients in Water to three Quarts add a quarter of a Pound of fresh Butter four Ounces of Powder-Sugar and half a Pound of Oil of Roses Mix and make a Clyster Another cooling Clyster Boil a sufficient quantity of the softening Herbs with two Ounces of Anniseeds in Powder for half a quarter of an Hour in the Whey of Cow's Milk to two Quarts and to the strain'd Liquor add the Yolks of six Eggs a quarter of a Pound of Butter half a Pound of Honey of Violets and an Ounce of Sal-Gemmae in Powder or for want of that of common Salt Make a Clyster If you perceive no sings of an excessive Heat in your Horse's Body or if he be seiz'd with the Distemper during the Winter you must not let him Blood unless there be a great Oppression For in that case you may open the Veins of the Thighs or that in the Brisket and prepare the following Potion Some of the Clysters and Potions prescrib'd for a Palpitation accompany'd with a violent Heat may serve to cool Horses that are over-heated tho' they be not troubl'd with a Palpitation but you must take care not to cool 'em immoderately I have often advertis'd the Reader that the Constitution of Horses is different from that of Men and you may conclude that their Condition does not require cooling Remedies when after the use of those Medicines the Hair begins to bristle and stare when they lose their Appetite or are seiz'd with a shivering Fit If any of these signs appear you must lay aside the use of cold Remedies and give 'em Cordial Powders or the following Cordial Potion A Cordial Potion for the Palpitation of the Heart Take Carduus Benedictus Sage and Rosemary of each half a handful boil 'em for half an Hour in a Pint and a half of Water to the consumption of half a Pint To the strain'd Liquor add of White-Wine one Pint Juniper-Berries round Birthwort Myrrh and shavings of Ivory of each one Dram Galingal Cinnamon and Cloves of each a Scruple Saffron six Grains all in fine Powder Make your Horse drink this Potion luke-warm then walk him half an Hour and two Hours after give him the above-mention'd Clyster for the dispelling of Wind. Continue in a diligent observance of this Method according to the varietie of Seasons and other Circumstances For his ordinary Food you may give him Bran Hay and Wheat-Bread The Distemper is sometimes very violent but rarely Mortal and Horses that are once seiz'd with it are usually subject to it afterwards CHAP. CXXXIV Of Fevers A Fever in Horses is a preternatural and unusual Heat in the Body proceeding from an Ebullition or violent Fermentation of the Humours which weakens the natural Heat and renders it unfit for the regular discharge of its Functions I cannot explain its nature better than by comparing it to the Ebullition of Wine in a Cask where that Liquor is agitated heated dilated and fermented and if it be straiten'd or have no vent it breaks impetuously thro' all obstacles spreads is Steams and Vapours all around and appears so troubl'd and muddy that we cannot discern the least drop of Wine in the Vessel But after these disorderly Motions all the Impurities that were contain'd in the Wine are separated the Lees fall to the bottom a sort of Scum floats on the top and the Concavity of the Vessel is cover'd with a crusty Substance This is the true Idea and representation of a Fever When an unusual Ebullition or Fermentation happens in the Mass of the Blood from what ever cause it proceeds the Blood is agitated and put into a disorderly Motion it swells and breaks out of the Vessels that are no longer able to contain it it acquires a Heat that is obvious to Sense and fills the whole Body with Steams and Vapours which stupifie the Head and the Mixture of it is so extreamly perverted that when you open a Vein that which runs out of it seems to be corrupt Matter rather than Blood When Nature gets the Victory over her Enemy she separates and expels the impure and superfluous Humours And 't is this struggle of Nature that occasions the burning Heat extream Thirst heaviness of the Body difficulty of Breathing excessive beating of the Arteries and Heart and all that numerous Train of Symptoms which usually accompany Fevers and discover the Nature of the Distemper ' Twou'd be an Undertaking of more Labour and Ostentation than Profit to engage in a long Dissertation concerning the Causes Differences and Effects of Fevers I am resolv'd neither to give my Reader nor my self so much Trouble since few Persons are willing to employ their Time in such nice Enquiries and perhaps their want of Curiosity in this Case ought not to be esteem'd a Fault But I shall omit nothing that may serve to promote the Cure of this dangerous and oftentimes fatal Disease Some pretend to discover by a diligent Observation of the Urine the Progress of Nature in her Conflict with the Distemper and the true State of the Body But this Method is hardly practicable in the Diseases of Horses by reason of the Difficulty of procuring their Urine to make Observations of that Nature The various Distinctions of Fevers into Quotidians Tertians Quartans c. are of no Use in this Case and therefore I shall only take Notice of three Kinds of ' em A simple Fever A Simple Fever is neither attended with a Putrefaction of the Humours nor with any considerable Disorder in the Parts of the Body It proceeds from a slight Ebullition of the over-heated Blood and is easily Cur'd by reason of the few Symptoms that accompany it 'T is frequently seated in the Substance of the Heart or in the Lungs Spleen Liver or Stomach It may be Cur'd without much Difficulty by a seasonable and methodical Application of convenient Remedies A putrid or humoral Fever The second kind is accompany'd with a Putrefaction of the Humours and with a remarkable Indisposition of some part of the Body either internal or external 'T is usually Mortal and since Horses are not very subject to Fevers we may reasonably conclude that so dangerous a kind of 'em proceeds from a violent Cause only it must be acknowledg'd that Beasts have this Advantage over Men that their Natural Appetites are less inordinate and their Food more simple and agreeable to Nature Besides their Brains are not disturb'd with Drinking and their Exercise contributes to the Preservation of their Health A pestilential Fever The pestilential Fever makes a prodigious Havock in a little time It overturns and destroys the Strength of
frequentlty This Medicine will purge the Brain and make him eat of his own Accord which is absolutely the best way of Feeding afterwards you may give him moisten'd Bran with Liver of Antimony in Powder which will infallibly restore his Appetite If his Aversion to his Meat continue you must have recourse to the Horn and give him cleans'd Barley without the Addition of Butter or Salt which will nourish and moisten his Body The Barley must be boil'd in Water for the space of five Hours over a gentle Fire then strain and mix it with a convenient quantity of Sugar Take a Pound and a quarter of Barley-flower well boulted and separated from the Bran boil it in two Quarts of Water to the Consistency of thick Broth then add two Ounces of Sugar and give it to your Horse luke-warm This Draught will serve to sustain him twenty four Hours at the end of which it may be repeated If the Violence of the Distemper be not abated you may bleed your Horse a second time The continu'd Use of Clysters and frequent rubbing of the Body are always very profitable in those Cases The Knowledge of the Cause is of very great Importance for the right Management of the Cure and therefore if the Fever be occasion'd by exposing your Horse to the Cold or Night-Air you must keep him cover'd rubb his Body frequently and continue the frequent Use of Clysters If the Distemper proceed from hard Labour and violent Exercise you must boil the Water that serves for his ordinary Drink and mix it with Barley Meal feeding him with Vine Leaves if they be in Season and if you can make him eat 'em without Reluctancy or with Panado or Bread bak'd with Sugar without Fat Butter or Salt If the Fever be caus'd by unwholsome Food 't will be convenient to repeat the Bleeding and to inject Clysters compos'd of a sufficient quantity of a Decoction of the softening Herbs with a Handful of Pigeon's Dung beaten small half a Pound of salt Butter and a Pint of Emetic Wine I have always observ'd the Efficacy of Emetic Wine in Clysters but you must take care not to abuse so useful a Remedy for since Fevers are very dangerous and oftentimes Fatal 't is the usual Custom to lay the Blame of the Horse's Death on the Medicines without taking notice of the Violence of the Distemper By this Method you may certainly cure any Fever that continues simple But these Distempers degenerate oftentimes to putrid Fevers CHAP. CXXXVI Of the Cure of Putrid Fevers THis Kind of Fever commonly attacks young Horses especially those who are vigorous and of a slender Make. It may be easily known by these Signs The sick Horse hangs his Head as if he were quite stupid is hardly able to keep his Eyes open and reels as he goes by reason of the Ascent of Vapours to the Brain his Tongue and Roof of his Mouth are blackish rough and dry there is a great Heat over all his Body his Eyes are red his Breath hot and sharp and his Flanks beat violently You must immediately let him blood sometimes in the Neck Temple or Eye-Veins and sometimes in the Brisket Flanks or Veins of the Thighs The Bleeding ventilates lessens the Redundancy and facilitates the Motion of the Humours It prevents the Breaking of the Vessels allays in some measure the Ebullition tempers the Heat and by taking away part of the Cause of the Distemper gives Nature an Opportunity to subdue the rest You must allow him no more Nourishment than is just sufficient to keep him from starving Green Barley Dandelion and the Tops of Vine Leaves are very proper in this Case or for want of these a little moisten'd Bran Bread and a very small quantity of Hay For his ordinary Drink boil two Ounces of white Tartar beaten to fine Powder in two Quarts of Water for a quarter of an Hour then pour the Decoction into a Pailful of Water with a Handful of Barley Flower and let him drink as much as he pleases You may also mix the following Febrifuge with his Drink which is an excellent and cheap Remedy A Febrifuge or Remedy to drive away Fevers Put a Quart of Water with two Ounces of Salt of Tartar in a Brazen Pot with a Cover and set it over the Fire till the Salt be dissolv'd then pour the Water into a Pail and after the same manner dissolve an Ounce of Sal Armoniac beaten to Powder in another Quart of Water Mix this last Solution with the former and fill up the Pail with common Water if your Horse refuse to drink it add a little Barley Flower to qualifie the unpleasant Taste This Drink will allay the Heat of the Fever quiet and stop the Fermentation and Ebullition of the Humours provoke Urine powerfully and wonderfully ease the sick Horse And therefore you must always pour a little of this Febrifuge into the Water you give him to drink neglecting the Use of Sal Prunellae since 't is not expedient to confound Remedies and the Febrifuge excels all the rest that can be prescrib'd Take Assa-faetida and Savin both in Powder of each half an Ounce tye 'em in a Bag to your Horse's Bit and never unbridle him unless when you think fit to suffer him to eat or drink There are no other internal Remedies useful in this Case but the Cordial Waters which by Virtue of their Essential Qualities strengthen the Heart and inable it to resist the Malignity of the unnatural Heat that opposes and endeavours to destroy that which is Natural and besides by reason of their Moisture they allay and temper that internal Heat which causes the Fever Take three Pints of the Waters of Scabious Carduus Benedictus Scorzonera and Queen of the Meadows with an Ounce of the Confection of Alkermes Make your Horse drink up the whole Mixture and repeat it the next Day if need require Above all you must continue and frequently repeat the use of Clysters injecting three or four every Day if there be occasion For there is no Remedy gives greater ease and relieves the Horse more effectually A Clyster for a Fever Boil two Ounces of the Scoriae of Liver of Antimony reduc'd to fine Powder in five Pints of Whey made of Cow's Milk and after two or three brisk waums remove the Decoction from the Fire and immediately add two Heads of Coloquintida slic'd small and after 't is half cold press out the Liquor add to the straining a quarter of a Pound of Butter and inject it luke-warm This Purgative Clyster will give ease to the Horse without heating his Body Yet it must not be us'd daily but that which follows may be repeated several times every Day Another Clyster for Fevers Take a sufficient quantity of the emollient or softening Herbs and Fennel-seed beaten with an Ounce and a half of Sal-Polychrest and two handfuls of whole Barley boil 'em and add to the strain'd Liquor Oil of Roses and Violets of each
four Ounces Benedicta Laxativa two Ounces or extracted Cassia three Ounces This Clyster evacuates the Impurities contain'd in the Intestines and comforts the superiour Parts You may also rub your Horse against the Hair to open the Pores and let out the Fuliginous Vapours contain'd under the Skin I have observ'd some Horses cur'd by the use of these Remedies and I have seen the same Medicines given to others without Success When the Fever continues three Days without intermission I lay aside the use of Remedies and immediately order the Horse to be thrown upon the Dunghil for I never observ'd in all my Practice that any Horse escap'd after that fatal Period tho' sometimes they linger out five or six Days longer because during the three Days of the uninterupted continuance of the Fever the Liver is quite burnt and consum'd by the violence of the Heat as it appears evidently by the Dissection of Horses that dye of a Fever CHAP. CXXXVII Of a Pestilential Fever THE Cure of this Fever is different from that of the last and is perform'd by strengthning Nature in correcting the malignity of the Poyson that causes the Disorder For the removal of the Cause is the most probable way to put an end to the Distemper For this purpose you must inject Clysters frequently and give repeated Doses of the Cordial Pills or the Electuary of Kermes observing almost the same Directions that are prescrib'd for the Cure of the Anticor I once observ'd a great Mortality of Horses in Germany few escaping that were once seiz'd with the Distemper Almost all of 'em voided a great quantity of Water at the Eyes they were troubl'd with a Fever and a strong Aversion to their Meat the tips of their Ears were cold and a certain yellow and greenish Matter dropt constantly from their Nose At first several Remedies were try'd in vain but at last I invented one that perform'd a great number of Cures As soon as the Disease appear'd the Horse was let Blood before he was suffer'd to Drink but if he had already Drunk the bleeding was delay'd till the next Day He was kept Bridl'd two or three Hours after then the following Remedy was exhibited after which he stood Bridl'd two Hours longer and a Man was order'd to walk him half an Hour Take new Treacle not above three Months old and Aloes Hepatica in Powder of each one Ounce Confection of Hyacinth and of Alkermes without Musk or Ambergreese of each half an Ounce dissolve 'em in a Decoction made with Scabious Carduus Benedictus and Speedwel of each a large handful 'T was observ'd that the Distill'd Waters of those Herbs when they cou'd be procur'd were more effectual than the Decoction The next and the following Days Clysters were Injected and if the violence of the Distemper did not abate the Remedy was repeated taking only one half of the prescrib'd Doses of the Treacle Aloes and Confections but the quantity of the Liquor was not lessen'd This Remedy cur'd all the Horses to whom it was exhibited but perhaps would not succeed so well on another occasion I order'd new Treacle to be us'd because that Medicine acquires a great deal of Heat by being long kept and all the cooling Virtue of the Opium that enters its Composition vanishes Mithridate Orvietan the Treacle Diatessaron the Electuary of Kermes the Confections of Hyacinth and Alkermes without Musk or Amber-greese are excellent Remedies against Pestilential Fevers as are also the Cordials describ'd above If the Disease be occasion'd by the Contagion of the Air as soon as you perceive your Stable to be infected remove instantly all your sound Horses without permiting 'em to enter into it again till you have perfum'd it with equal Parts of Sulphur and Salt-Petre and double quantities of Antimony and Pitch Or you may make an excellent Perfume by burning a Faggot of green Juniper-Wood the Doors and Windows being shut And you must also whiten the Walls wash the Rack and make the whole Stable clean For the biting of Venemous Beasts you may consult the Hundred and thirteenth Chapter If your Horse has swallow'd Poyson make him drink a great quantity of Oil and give him Orvietan Treacle or the Electuary of Kermes and the Cordial Pills are also proper in this case When a Horse happens to swallow Arsenic if his Stomach be void 't is impossible to prevent his Death if he be not assisted in less than an Hour for during that time the Arsenic is able to burn and utterly consume the Part to which it sticks The only Remedy in this case is to make him Drink two Pounds of good Oil-Olive to blunt and deaden the Acrimony of the Arsenic and two or three Hours after give him another Pound of the same Oil. Of the Method to be observ'd after a Horse's Recovery from a Fever When a Fever actually prevails you must not exhibit a Purgative Remedy for that wou'd be a no less preposterous attempt than if you shou'd endeavour to separate the Lees from the Wine during its Fermentation There are only two cases in which a Purging Remedy can be administer'd with safety or success in a Fever In the first place it may be given for the evacuation of corrupt Humours floating in the Stomach and Guts and it must be acknowledg'd that the removal of those Humours wou'd be advantagious to the Horse But since they are not the cause of the Disease that advantage wou'd be very inconsiderable with respect to the damage which Nature cou'd not avoid receiving by the heat and acrimony of the Remedy and by the violent and unusual Motion excited by it The other case in which Purgation is not only useful but necessary is when Nature after the agitation of the Humours during the Fever separates the corrupt from the pure Humours for she is often so weaken'd and render'd so lazy by the violence of her late Conflict that she contents her self with the Victory she has gain'd and is either unable or unwilling to attempt the utter overthrow and expulsion of her Enemy who seems to be perfectly quieted but may afterwards return to the assault with a more dangerous Fury than before As soon therefore as you perceive a remission or cessation of Arms you must take hold of that occasion to assist Nature to compleat the ruine of her Adversary 'T is true Purgatives are repugnant rather than agreeable to Nature but 't is certain she receives an accidental benefit by 'em for when they are in the Body they irritate and offend he Parts thro' which they pass and Nature perceiving those new Commotions endeavours to expel the cause of 'em and in the struggle drives forth the remainders of the Humours that not long before had almost overwhelm'd her as if the Operation of the Medicine had rouz'd her and put her in mind of her Duty You must not wait for the Marks of the Concoction and separation of the Humours from the Urine or Excrements of
of an internal Heat This Distemper sometimes precedes a Cough The following Remedy is very effectual in this Case and generally useful for all over-heated Horses In the first place you may give your Horse the Cinnabar-Pills observing the necessary Directions But if those prove ineffectual prepare the following Medicine Put half a Pound of calcin'd Roch-Allom into a Matrass or long-neckt Vial with a Quart of distill'd Vinegar digest on hot Ashes till the Allom be dissolv'd after which strain the Vinegar thro' a double Cloth or brown Paper Then boil away the third Part in an Earthen Pot and afterwards set it in a cool Cellar where it will congeal into Crystals about the Sides of the Pot. Pour off the remaining Vinegar and having evaporated one half set it in a Cellar to crystallize as before Then mix these Crystals with the former and dry 'em carefully When you have occasion to cool your Horse's Body take these Crystals of Allom Sal Prunellae and Juniper-Berries of each half an Ounce beat 'em to Powder and having infus'd 'em in a Quart of White Wine during the space of a Night make your Horse drink the Infusion in the Morning keeping him bridl'd two Hours before and as long after Continue after the same Manner unless the Horse forsake his Meat for in that Case you must discontinue the Use of the Remedy and even lay it aside entirely if you perceive that his Appetite is quite lost and his Hair begins to stare For these are evident Signs that he stands not in need of cooling Medicines The best way to cool or refresh the Body of a Horse when his Stomach is injur'd by the above-mention'd Remedy is to purifie his Blood with the Liver of Antimony or some other convenient Medicine I might take this Occasion to confute the vulgar Mistakes concerning the Method of administring cooling Medicines to Horses but to avoid Repetitions I shall content my self with referring the Reader to what has been already said on that Subject and conclude this Chapter with the Case of a Horse that without the least Appearance of a Scab was tormented with a violent and almost incredible Itching in his Hide I order'd him to be let Blood twice and made him eat above six Pounds of Polychrest in moisten'd Bran giving him a Handful every Day without weighing the Doses His Stomach was not in the least disorder'd but he had so great a Looseness for twenty Days that his Excrements were as liquid as Cows Dung In the mean time I continu'd the Use of the Sal Polychrest till his Dung was reduc'd to its natural Thickness after which he was bath'd in a River and the Mange was cur'd without any external Application CHAP. CLII. Of Molten-Grease 'T IS the general Opinion of Farriers and consequently of most other Men who believe that their Authority has the Force of an Argument in a Case relating to the Art they profess that this Distemper is occasion'd by violent Exercise which over-heats the Horse to such a degree that his Fat which they also suppose to be redundant is melted in his Body and stifles him But this is a very ill-grounded Hypothesis for if you consider attentively the Causes and Symptoms of this Disease you will find your self oblig'd to conclude that it proceeds from tough and slimy Humours agitated and fermented by a sharp and subtle sort of Choler so that being extremely rarefy'd they break out of the Places where they were lodg'd by Nature and over-running the whole Body according to the Operation of Leven upon Bread ferment the rest of the Humours which being agitated and put into Motion disorder the Oeconomy of Nature emit Vapours that disturb the Brain excite a Fever by reason of the violent Agitation of the Spirits and at last by a provident struggle of Nature in order to the final Evacuation of at least part of those Humours that oppress her they are driven into the great Gut where they are mix'd with the Dung and give us occasion to judge that the Horse is troubl'd with the Disease commonly call'd Molten-Grease Fat Horses are most subject to this Distemper which is usually occasion'd by Repletion or Fulness For the Choler being agitated by violent Exercise and meeting with a Body full of Humours produces the above-mention'd Disorders 'T is a very hard Task to know but more difficult to cure this Distemper I saw a Horse that di'd after two Days Illness without giving the least Sign to help us to the Knowledge of his Disease 'T is true if the Horse be suffer'd to rest after his Grease is molten the Symptom will be more apparent The sick Horse usually forsakes his Meat lies down and rises again suddenly and looks upon his Flanks but the surest way to discover the Nature of the Disease is by putting your Hand into his Fundament for if the Excrements you draw forth be cover'd with a whitish Membrane or Film in some measure resembling Grease you may certainly conclude that his Grease is molten and proceed immediately to the Application of convenient Remedies I attempted and successfully perform'd the Cure of a Horse who was troubl'd with this Distemper in so violent a Degree that the slimy Humour he voided after the Injection of a Clyster continu'd to boil and ferment on the Floor for a very considerable time Of the Cure of Molten-Grease in the Beginning Assoon as you perceive the least Cause to suspect that your Horse's Grease is molten anoint your Hand and Arm with fresh Butter and put it into his Fundament drawing forth not only the Dung but all the slimy Humours After you have rak'd him carefully let him blood in the Neck and half an Hour after give him a Clyster made by dissolving two Ounces of Benedicta Laxativa one Ounce of Sal Gemmae or Sal Polychrest or the Scoriae of Liver of Antimony and a quarter of a Pound of Honey of Violets in two Quarts of the common Decoction adding Emetic Wine and the Urine of a sound Man of each a Pint. Then walk your Horse gently for half an Hour to provoke him to void the Clyster When the Clyster leaves off Working that is about an Hour after the injecting of it give him about half a Pint of the Juice of Housleek which is a Herb that grows on the Walls and resembles little Artichoaks mixt with a Pint of White Wine walking him gently for the space of an Hour This Juice stops the Ebullition of the Humours allays the Heat of the inward Parts and both cleanses and heals the Body if it be seasonably administer'd Afterwards you may repeat the former or some other convenient Clyster and by all means endeavour to restore your Horse's Appetite according to the Method prescrib'd in the sixth and following Chapters You may easily try an Experiment which is said to cure this Distemper effectually by giving your Horse the Blood of a Sheep warm as it comes out of the Vein I can only recommend
to be rubb'd with his own Blood mixt with Brandy boiling Oil of Bay to be pour'd into his Feet and the same to be apply'd moderately hot about the Cronet with Flax and a Bandage Half an Hour after the Bleeding give him two stinking Pills with a Quart of Wine or of Beer if it be in the Summer repeating the same Dose an Hour after and the third time after a like Interval An Hour after the last Dose I prescribe a Clyster of a Decoction of the Scoriae of Liver of Antimony or Sal Polychrest in Beer or Whey and after he has voided the Clyster suffer him to eat and drink littering him well without permitting him to lie down till he be out of Danger When the Pills are given in the Morning the Horse is usually cur'd before Night if not I give him three Doses as before the next Day repeating the Clysters and renewing the Application of Oil of Bay I continue after the same manner till the Horse be completely cur'd and I have even given to some Horses thirty Pills in four Days After a violent Foundering there remains a certain Numness Stiffness and Uweildiness which may be remov'd by walking the Horse gently and injecting two or three Clysters with Scoriae of Liver of Antimony or Sal Polychrest every Day but those Horses are apt to be founder'd by the least Excess 'T is to be obferv'd that the Horse must not be suffer'd to eat Corn for some time after the Cure of this Distemper till he be completely recover'd for the Eating of Oats has oftentimes occasion'd Relapses into a worse Condition than before It will perhaps be expected that I shou'd give a Reason why I order the Horses to be well litter'd when they are not suffer'd to lie down and therefore for the satisfaction of those who may think that Caution needless it will not be improper to put them in mind that the Littering keeps the Horse's Feet warm in Winter and easie both in Winter and Summer And as for the other Circumstance I suffer the sick Horse to lie down assoon as I perceive any considerable Amendment which happens sometimes in less than six Hours but if the Cure proceed more slowly as it usually doeâ— when the Foundering is inveterate or accompany'd with a Fever I keep him from lying down for the space of eight and forty Hours after which that Posture cannot obstruct the Cure If I shou'd ask now of the Generality of Farriers why they put Faggots between Horse's Legs they cou'd only tell me that they have seen others do so before But this Custom is no less observ'd than that of tying Garters about the Legs I shall take this Occasion to mention another Abuse which is usually committed in the Cure of the Distempers for by Bleeding the Horse in the Veins of the Thighs the Humour that Causes the Foundering is drawn to the affected Part instead of being diverted from it whereas the Diversion is effectually perform'd by Bleeding in the Neck Those who let the Horse blood in the Toe are guilty of a more dangerous Errour for they draw the Humour to the Foot from whence it ought to be diverted by all possible Means such as the Application of Oil of Bay Hog's Dung c. Of another kind of Foundering that resembles a Swaying of the Back Sometimes while a Horse remains in the Stable without any preceding Travel or Labour he is seiz'd with a certain Rheumatism which falls so violently upon his Reins or the lower part of his Back that he can hardly draw his Hips after him and when he goes his hinder Parts reel as if his Back was broken he falls upon his Buttocks and crosses his hinder Legs Some Horses in this Case touch the Ground with their Pastern-Joints behind but are neither apt to fall on their Buttocks nor are troubl'd with a rolling of their hinder Parts This Infirmity is of the same Nature with Foundering and proceeds from the same Causes For the Humour falls upon the Back Hips and sometimes on the Pastern-Joints behind while the fore Parts are almost perfectly found Such Horses as have been already Founder'd are more subject to this Distemper than others and are sometimes surpriz'd with it as they walk only at a Foot-Pace without being heated in the least But these Accidents are very rare and Horses are usually taken with this Infirmity in the Stable without any preceding Labour The surest Way is to begin the Cure as soon as may be for if the Disease be suffer'd to get ground or take root it will not yield to the best Medicines and tho' the Horse continue to eat and drink heartily he will remain irrecoverably infirm and incapable of performing the least Service I have seen several Horses whom their Masters were oblig'd to kill after they had in vain spent several Months in the Cure and therefore as soon as you perceive that the Horse cannot walk without drawing his hinder Parts after him and crossing his hinder Legs and that he is always ready to fall upon his Buttocks you must immediately take about three Pounds of Blood out of his Neck-Veins and charge his Back with his own Blood mixt with Brandy Half an Hour after give him a Dose of the stinking Pills with a Pint and a half of Wine repeating the Dose after the same manner as in the Cure of Foundering and injecting a Clyster an Hour after the last Dose after which let him stand two Hours bridl'd and the Cure will be perfected provided it be seasonably begun Give him moisten'd Bran for five or six Days without any Oats walking him every Day in your Hand and observe the same Directions as in the former Case If one Day be not sufficient to perfect the Cure the next Day you must repeat the three Doses of Pills and the Clyster as before I saw a Horse that was cur'd of a dangerous Stavers who by the falling of the Disease upon the Back and hinder Parts was seiz'd with the above-mention'd Symptoms for he walk'd as if his Back had been broken and his Pastern-Joints touch'd the Ground The Farrier that cur'd him of the Stavers imagining that his Back was sway'd thought sit to give the Fire and made several Holes in his Skin all over the lower part of the Back which he cover'd with a Plaister and then hung him up from the Ground leaving him in that Posture till the Scabbs fell off after which unhanging him and not finding the least Amendment I was call'd to his Assistance and having order'd the Horse to be let blood gave him three Doses of the stinking Pills but in vain for he was irrecoverably lost and after he had liv'd about a Year in the Stable unfit for any manner of Service they were at last forc'd to dispatch him I dare not confidently affirm tho' I may venture to say with a perhaps that he might have been cur'd if the Pills had been given assoon as the Distemper seiz'd his Back
Trunchions that breed in the Body of a Horse THere is no Corruption without Generation for what Nature loses in one part she regains in another Every Plant and almost every Animal is a kind of Nursery of a particular Species of Insects When the vital Heat is vitiated it becomes incapable of performing its natural task of concocting the Aliments and consequently the whole oeconomy of Nature is dissolv'd for when the Nourishment of Horses as well as of all other Animals is not perfectly digested Crudities and Humours are generated which are easily corrupted and their Putrefaction produces several sorts of Worms I have already spoken of the Worms that occasion the Colic and violent Gripings Some of 'em are white long and sharp-pointed appearing in the Horse's Dung and are not very dangerous but those that are long and small resembling great Needles are extreamly dangerous some are red short and thick of the bigness of small Beans which torment and oftentimes kill the Horse There is another sort of Worms not unlike to Wood-Lice only they have not so many Feet they are of a reddish brown Colour somewhat velvetted on the back consisting of divers Folds They abide in the Stomach and devour all the Nourishment so that tho' the Horse be a great Eater he cannot possibly thrive since his Stomach prepares Nourishment only for the Worms which sometimes by reason of their multitude pierce the Stomach in several Parts and kill the Horse with extreme Pain And I have even seen thousands of 'em in the Stomachs of dead Horses 'T is impossible to know certainly when a Horse is troubl'd with these Worms for they cause no Griping and never appear in the Dung since they always abide in the Stomach or Maw When a Horse is troubl'd with this last sort of Worms he commonly becomes lean and sluggish he looks upon his Belly or Flanks his Hair stares and whatever Nourishment he takes he never grows fat When Horses are taken up from the Grass they are subject to certain smooth or velveted Worms about half the Bigness of Catter-pillars which appear near the Fundament and are usually call'd Bots. These Insects are not dangerous for you may take 'em away with your Hand without any Medicine Remedies for the Worms The Remedies already prescrib'd for destroying the Worms that occasion a sort of Colic are good against all the various Kinds of those Insects such as the Powder describ'd in that Chapter Mercury if it be duly prepar'd is in my Opinion the most powerful and successful Enemy of Worms For it not only destroys 'em but prevents their future Growth and therefore you cannot give a better Remedy than well-prepar'd Mercurius dulcis or Cinnabar mixt with the Cordial-Powder or the Cinnabar-Pills for the very Steam of Mercury destroys the Worms You may easily kill Bots or Worms that stick about the Fundament by giving your Horse an Ounce or two of the Powder or Flower of Brimstone with moisten'd Oats Hay moisten'd with the Solution of Salt-Petre kills Worms effectually The green Leaves of a Willow or Peach-Tree chopt small and mixt with Oats are very good in this Case Half an Ounce of Savin in Powder mixt with Oats and given for ten or twelve Days together will infallibly destroy the Worms If you keep your Horse five or six Days in a Sheep-Cote without Litter all the Worms in his Body will certainly come forth by reason of the Nitre contain'd in the Sheeps-Dung but since the Cause is not remov'd you must give him the purging Medicine prescrib'd in the following Chapter The Seed of Zedoary beaten and mixt with Bran moisten'd with Wine kills all sorts of Worms Those who cannot procure compound Medicines may chuse one of the following simple Remedies which may be given with Bran or Oats The Seeds of Coriander Citrons Oranges and Lemons the Shavings of Ivory and of Hart's-Horn The Pills prescrib'd for Pursiveness in Chap. CXIX expel all sorts of Worms if one of 'em be given daily in moisten'd Bran for seven or eight Days together You may give a Horse that is troubl'd with the Worms an Ounce of Cinnabar with a like quantity of the Cordial-Powder in moisten'd Bran continuing for some time Or take four Ounces of Cinnabar and two Ounces of the Cordial-Powder and with a Pound of fresh Butter make 'em up into Pills to be given with a Quart of Wine Six Drams of Mercurius dulcis made up into two Pills with an Ounce of Treacle is an admirable Remedy in this Case The Mercury is too cold to be given alone and therefore you must add either the Cordial Powder or Treacle And besides when 't is given alone it oftentimes causes a Disturbance without any Evacuation but the Swelling of the Body that usually happens on this Occasion may be easily asswag'd with a convenient Clyster However 't is certain that it never produces any ill Effect when 't is mixt with Cordials It does not always purge and sometimes its Operation is not visible till the Horse begins to thrive after the Destruction of those pernicious Insects that wasted him Several other Remedies are good for killing Worms such as the Liver of Antimony if two Ounces of it be given every Day with moisten'd Bran or you may use the following Powder A Powder for the Worms Take the Seeds of Coriander Lettuce Rapes and Colewort of each two Ounces Zedoary an Ounce Shavings of Hart's-Horn four Ounces Mix and make a Powder The Dose is two Ounces every Day with Oats or Bran moisten'd with Wine for twelve Days together after which give your Horse a Purge to expel the Worms for after the regular Use of the Powders and other Medicines you will find Purgation extremely useful and almost always necessary for the destroying of these Insects CHAP. CLIX. Purging-Pills to destroy Worms THese Pills are of excellent Use for Horses that are troubl'd with Worms unless they be extremely lean and wasted as indeed in that Case they usually are and therefore before you proceed to purge a lean Horse you must first moisten his Body with wet Bran instead of Oats or infuse an Ounce of Polychrest and half an Ounce of Juniper-Berries beaten in a Quart of Wine for the space of one Night Next Morning give him the Wine luke-warm continuing after the same manner for some Days But if he forsake his Meat you must lay aside the Use of Sal Polychrest for some time and even entirely if his Hair begin to stare for from the Appearance of that Sign you may conclude that the Horse's Body is not over-heated and that you may safely administer the purging Remedy if his Appetite be in a good Condition Sal Polychrest is certainly an admirable Remedy to prepare the Body of a Horse for Purgation when it does not take away his Appetite and even sometimes it kills the Worms However you may afterwards give these Pills with a confident Expectation of very good Success Boil a Pound of Honey in a
is an excellent Remedy to ripen Matter in any part of the Body where the Skin is broken and when the circumstances of the Disease require the Sore to be kept open You may apply either of these Remedies according to the greatness of the Swelling Vegetius in the Eighth Chapter of his Third Book where he treats of the Swelling of the Stones orders 'em to be anointed Morning and Evening with the Powder of Burnt-Barley mixt with Hog's-Grease adding that a Dog's-Gall is of admirable efficacy in this case These Remedies are cheap and safe but I cannot recommend 'em from my own Experience CHAP. CLXIV Of the Lask Looseness or Flux of the Belly THis Disease is so frequently Mortal I mean when it attacks Horses that it ought never to be neglected when it comes without a manifest Cause But a Horse may be seiz'd with a Looseness without any considerable Danger after the drinking of cold Water in Summer or of melted Snow and after the eating of tender Grass or other Aliments and Medicines that may be rather said to produce a good Effect by loosening the Horse's Belly and expelling part of the Impurities that are lodg'd in his Body But this is not the Disease treated of in this Chapter The Lask or Flux is caus'd by the Weakness of the Stomach that cannot digest the Nourishment which consequently passes thro' the Guts and is voided at the Fundament almost without any Alteration It proceeds also from the Corruption of the Humours that are either gather'd in the Stomach or flow thither from the neighbouring Parts and by disturbing Nature in the Performance of her important Work of Concoction provoke her to a vigorous Endeavour in order to their Expulsion These Humours are not always raw and cold for oftentimes the Guts are scowr'd by an Inundation of Choler which may be call'd a Natural Clyster This kind of Flux is rarely dangerous and even not unfrequently profitable It is an ill Sign when the Aliments are voided entire without the least Mark of Digestion For 't is absolutely impossible for Nature to repair her Losses and regain her wonted Vigour without fresh Supplies of Nourishment and 't is plain that she receives not any considerable Advantage from the Nourishment when it only passes thro' the Body without undergoing any Change Besides these Internal Causes this Distemper may be occasion'd by eating too much Provender in which Case it may be easily cur'd by diminishing the usual Allowance of Food Sometimes 't is caus'd by eating mouldy or rotten Hay frozen Grass and other unwholsome Nourishment as also by drinking very cold Water and by immoderate and fatiguing Exercise This Distemper may also proceed from want of Exercise drinking immediately after the eating of a great quantity of Oats excessive Fatness feeding on Rye Straw and an ill Disposition of the whole Body To discover the Nature of the Humour that causes and foments the Disease you must consider the Excrements that are voided for if they boil and ferment upon the Ground you may conclude that the Distemper proceeds from over-heated Choler if they be white 't is a Sign of Crudity if they be watery they denote a great Weakness of the Stomach A Remedy for the Flux If the Excrements be mixt with small Pieces or Scrapings of the Guts you have reason to fear an Ulcer in those Parts which usually proves fatal if the Danger be not speedily prevented by a seasonable Cooling of the Entrails which may be effected by the following Remedy Take Barley and the Roots of Marsh-Mallows beaten of each two Ounces Powder of Sal Prunellae an Ounce Boil 'em in three Quarts of Water to one Quart The Dose is a Pint two or three times a day This Decoction allays the Inflammation of the Entrails sweetens the Acrimony of the Humors reduces the Choler to its natural State and destroys the preternatural Heat that occasions the Fever If this Distemper be caus'd by Flegm you must strengthen the Stomach evacuate the redundant Humours and bind and strengthen the relax'd Parts These Indications require the Use of the Cordial-Powder or Pills the Electuary of Kermes Treacle and other hot Remedies that are endu'd with a Virtue to strengthen and corroborate the Parts The Cure of this kind of Flux is easier than in the other Cases The Looseness of the Belly or Flux is frequently an Effect of a vigorous struggle of Nature to throw off and expel a troublesome Load of Humours But if it continue longer than three Days and be attended with the Loss of Appetite it may produce dangerous Consequences for sometimes Horses are founder'd by the long Continuance of this Distemper Therefore you must endeavour to prevent the Danger by the seasonable Application of convenient Remedies and by keeping the Horse to a regular Diet. You must not suffer your Horse to eat Oats but feed him with Bran moisten'd with Claret if he have not too strong an Aversion against it Barley parch'd on a Peel at the Fire and then ground is very good in this Case and you must also chuse the best Hay To proceed to the Use of Remedies you may begin with this scowring Clyster A Scowring Clyster Take Wheat Bran well sifted and whole Barley of each two Handfuls red Roses a Handful true Opium slic'd small half a Dram Boil 'em in Whey or steel'd Water for the space of a quarter of an Hour then add the Leaves of wild Succory Agrimony Beets white Mullein and Mercury of each one Handful In two Quarts of the Decoction dissolve the Yolks of six Eggs Honey of Roses and brown Sugar of each four Ounces Mix and make a Clyster After this Clyster has scowr'd the Guts and expell'd part of the corrupt Matter that was lodg'd in 'em you may give your Horse two Ounces of Liver of Antimony in moisten'd Bran or half an Ounce of the Golden Sulphur of Antimony persisting in this Method for a considerable Time For these Medicines strengthen the Entrails allay the Ebullition or Fermentation of the Humours and contribute very effectually to the Cure of this Distemper This done you may inject the following Clyster A Cooling and Binding Clyster Take Knot-Grass or instead of that Shepherd's Purse and white Mullein of each one Handful Leaves of Plantane two Handfuls Flowers of wild Pomegranates half a Handful the Seeds of Myrtles Lettuce and Plantane of each two Ounces Beat the Seeds and boil 'em in three Quarts of Beer or Barley-Water with half a Dram of good Opium cut into thin slices then put in the Herbs and afterwards a Handful of dry'd Roses Add to the Straining half a Pound of Honey of Roses and four Ounces of Sugar of Roses Mix and make a Clyster to be administer'd after the usual Manner A Potion for the Flux If the Flux be not stopp'd or at least abated by the above-mention'd Preparations of Antimony after these two Clysters you must give the following Potion continuing to repeat the Clysters from time to
Ounces the middle Bark of an Ash-Tree fresh and green four Ounces good Honey a quarter of a Pound and half a Pound of the Leaven'd Dough of a Rye-Loaf ready to be put into the Oven Beat the Ash-Bark and incorporate it with the rest of the Ingredients without Heat to the Consistence of a Pultiss which must be apply'd cold to the Fundament and the Application renew'd every twelve Hours If you cannot procure the green Bark you may take the dry diminishing the Dose to two Ounces and beating it to Powder Galen's cooling Cerate Album Rhasis and some other Galenical Remedies may be sometimes useful in this Case but are inferiour to the other in Efficacy It happens not unfrequently that the Distemper continues obstinately after a fruitless Tryal of all these Applications In this Case assoon as the Inflammation and great Heat are remov'd you must cut off the part of the Fundament that hangs out with a sharp Knife heated red-hot to prevent a Flux of Blood Sometimes the Fundament shrinks into its Place if the Horse be suffer'd to rest about half an Hour But falls out again if you make him trot thirty Paces which is a Sign of a Fistula And therefore you must take hold of it when it falls out and tying a strong Packthread about it cut it quite off with a red-hot Knife You must afterwards anoint the Wound every Day with Album-Rhasis till the Escarfall and then rub the Flesh with Siccativum Rubrum Many Horses have been sav'd by this Method and several Farriers at Paris have perform'd the Cure by my Directions who never saw it attempted before tho' they are otherwise very skilful in their Profession and have seen Horses cur'd of Fistula's CHAP. CLXVII Of Strains Hurts and Blows on the Houghs STrains in the Houghs are very dangerous by reason of the extream Pain occasion'd by the contusion of the Nervous Parts The Horse's Body grows dry he becomes Lean and is afterwards troubl'd with so many grievous Distempers that he grows ugly and deform'd if not irrecoverably Lame The Causes are the same with those that occasion Strains in the Hips and there is no need of enumerating a multitude of Signs in so plain a case For the Hoof is swoll'n and when you touch it the Horse shrinks and complains Bleed your Horse in the Neck and charge the whole Hoof with his own Blood mixt with Brandy As soon as the Charge is dry lay some of the Ointment of Montpelier above it and about eight or ten Hours after chafe the Part with strong Brandy without taking away the Ointment washing it always with Brandy at the same Intervals after every Application of the Ointment You may afterwards endeavour to repel the Defluxion with Astringent Remedies such as you will find describ'd in several Parts of this Book especially the Astringent Baths mention'd in the preceding Chapter If the Swelling continue notwithstanding the use of these Remedies apply the Duke's Ointment with Brandy and afterwards convenient Fomentations renewing the Applications once a Day If the Swelling ripen or turn to an Abscess open it with a red-hot Iron and proceed as in the Cure of Simple Wounds For a slight Strain 't will be sufficient to anoint the Hoof with the Ointment of Montpelter and Brandy If the Swelling be occasion'd by a Blow from another Horse bleed your Horse Charge the griev'd place with his own Blood and then chafe it with Spirit of Wine or you may chuse some of the following Remedies at your pleasure For Blows on the Houghs and other parts of the Body The Tumours that are occasion'd by these and such like Accidents are not easily dissolv'd or asswag'd If the Humour congeal in those Nervous Parts it resists the Operation of the best Remedies and the Swelling degenerates into a Curb Spavin c. and therefore to prevent those Inconveniencies as soon as the Pain is taken away and only the Swelling remains bathe the Part and charge it with thick Lees of Red-Wine mixt with a third part of good Vinegar and besides you will find severaâ— Remedies for those Swellings in the Sixtieth and following Chapters If the Tumour be inveterate and cannot be dissolv'd by these Applications you may apply the following Remedy which is very effectual A Remedy for a Swelling caus'd by a Blow Mix a Pound of Flower of Linseed with a sufficient quantity of Wine till it be reduc'd to the thickness of Broth boil it over a clear Fire stirring it about without intermission When it begins to thicken add four Ounces of common Turpentine and when that is well incorporated with the Broth put in six Ounces of melted Burgundy-Pitch Then remove the Vessel from the Fire continuing to stir the Composition till you can venture to put your Finger into it after which you must immediately apply it to the place with Flax and a Bandage and repeat the Application once in twenty four Hours If the Swelling be accompany'd with a violent Pain or if the Horse be very Lame you must endeavour to allay the Pain by the Application of the Duke's Ointment or for want of that of the preceding Remedy prepar'd with Milk instead of Wine For the Milk is Anodyne and asswages Pain but is not endu'd with the resolving Faculty of Wine and therefore as soon as the Horse ceases to Halt you must again prepare the Remedy with Wine to take away the Swelling If these Remedies be not attended with the desir'd Success you may have recourse to the Bath mention'd in Chap. LXV or to those that are describ'd in the preceding Chapter to which last you may add some of the Herbs that enter'd the Composition of the former Sometimes these Tumours degenerate into Curbs Spavins or Hough-Boney's which are sometimes cur'd by giving the Fire As soon as a Horse has receiv'd a Blow in his Body with another Horse's Foot bleed him in the Neck and bathe the place with Spirit of Wine five or six times every Day or which is more effectual anoint it with the Ointment of Montpelier and eight Hours after chafe it with Brandy repeating the Application once a Day In these cases I usually apply with very good Success the Crease of a Capon Badger or Bear anointing the Part every Day till the Swelling be dissolv'd Another Remedy for a Swelling occasion'd by a Blow or Stroke with another Horse's Foot Beat the Whites of twelve or thirteen Eggs with a large piece of Allom till they be reduc'd to a thick Froth then mix 'em with a Quart of strong Brandy a Pint of Vinegar and two Litrons of Flower incorporating 'em well without Heat Charge the place with this Mixture renewing the Application every two Hours till the Swelling be abated which usually happens in twenty four Hours Another Remedy to asswage a Swelling caus'd by a Stroke Make a thin Paste of Potter's-Clay mixt with a sufficient quantity of Vinegar boil and stir it till it thicken Then remove it from the Fire
penetrate further and its Operation will be more effectual after the Application of softening Remedies and besides the Mark will be less visible At the same time barr or sear the Vein above and under the Hough with one or two cross Lines And you may also draw a Line along the Vein betwixt the two parts where 't is barr'd This Plaister dissolves all sorts of Swellings that remain after a Hurt or Blow in the Pastern-Joint or any other part in the Body and the same Effect is produc'd by the Ointment of Walnuts CHAP. CLXXV Of the dry Spavin or String-halt THis is a sort of Convulsive or deprav'd Motion without any visible Swelling in the Hough which proceeds from a certain thick and tough Matter that falls from the upper Parts upon the Muscles and obstructs the Motion of the Hough so that the Horse is forc'd to perform the whole Motion with his Hip snatching up his Leg on a sudden and lifting it up higher than the other Most Horses that are troubl'd with this Distemper assoon as the Hough is heal'd that is after they have walk'd five or six steps seem perfectly sound but if you make 'em stand till the Hough cool the first steps they make will be attended with the same unseemly snatching up of the Leg as before This Infirmity appears visibly to the Eye Sometimes it seizes on both Houghs 't is not always painful nor so dangerous as the Bone-Spavin Some Persons scruple not to buy a Horse that is troubl'd with this Infirmity but they ought at least to beat down the Price as low as they can for 't is certainly a great Defect in a Horse and 't is not only impossible for him to go swiftly but he 's in great danger of being irrecoverably lam'd by it I never saw the Cure of this Distemper attempted by any other Method than by giving the Fire and therefore I will not pretend to give any Directions to those who are unwilling to venture on that Operation When a Horse that is troubl'd with the String-halt begins to grow lame as it happens not unfrequently you must immediately give the Fire as in the Cure of a Bone-Spavin and perhaps your Horse will recover in two or three Months and even tho' the Distemper be not attended with Lameness 't is highly convenient to give the Fire for it dissolves and consumes a part of that thick and tough Matter which obstructing the Muscles of the Hough causes this unseemly Motion and usually makes the Horse halt at last CHAP. CLXXVI Of the Ox-Spavin or Bone-Spavin THis Distemper takes its Name from Oxen who are almost always troubl'd with it when they grow old 'T is a Tumour generated by cold Humours which by degrees grows as hard as a Bone the most subtil parts of the Humours being dissolv'd and evaporated 'T is occasion'd by the same Accidents that are assign'd for the Causes of the Jardon and is seated below on the inside of the Hough where 't is join'd to the Leg in the part mark'd 30 in the Figure 'T is small at first but afterwards grows big This Distemper is sometimes but not always attended with Lameness It causes so violent a Pain that the Horse pines away especially about the Flanks and cannot bear Labour This is a very dangerous Disease and for my part I wou'd not buy a Horse that was troubl'd with it at any Rate I have seen some Horses with great Bone-Spavins on their Legs who nevertheless did not halt nor were wasted and even trotted equally with both their hinder Legs on a pav'd Causey These Horses may do Service in plain Grounds but in a Mountainous Country 't is not safe to trust to ' em The most skilful Horse-Coursers buy Horses that are troubl'd with such a kind of Spavin provided they do not halt but go well and even But 't is to be consider'd that they do not buy 'em for their own Use and all the Service they require of 'em is to bring more Money than they cost for they usually sell 'em for sound Horses But they who will be rul'd by my Advice shall never meddle with 'em especially in Mountainous Countries where the Houghs are much exercis'd This is a very dangerous Distemper and requires the most violent Remedy viz. the Fire and even that is oftentimes apply'd without Success When the Disease is hereditary 't is in vain to attempt the Cure by any other Method than by giving the Fire otherwise you may in the beginning try some external Remedies Take the Ointments of Agrippa Marsh-Mallows and Martiatum of each two Ounces Oil of Flower-de-luce one Ounce Oil of Earth-Worms and of Dwarf-Elder Seeds of each three Ounces Mix 'em all together and apply 'em warm by way of Plaister to the Spavin Continue after the same Manner eight or ten Days after which if you perceive no Amendment shave away the Hair and lay on one of the Plaisters prescrib'd in the preceding Chapters keeping it on for the space of five or six Days and then give the Fire very dexterously but not too gently At the same time fear the Vein above and under the Thigh and draw a Line along it from the part where 't is sear'd or barr'd above to that where 't is barr'd below half a Foot under the Hough for if this great Vein be not stopp'd it will perpetually feed the Tumour It will not be improper to admonish the Reader to prevent his being cheated or disappointed that no Person can promise a certain Cure in this Case or to make a Horse sound that is troubl'd with the Spavin by giving the Fire tho' there is no other effectual Remedy 'T is true it cures many Horses but there are others who remain lame all their Life especially those who have been long troubl'd with the Spavin however their Masters continue to make use of 'em but the Service of a lame Horse can never be either pleasant or very useful CHAP. CLXXVII Of the Blood-Spavin THE Blood-Spavin is by several Farriers mistaken for a Curb but it grows somewhat wide of the Place where that Tumour is usefully seated and a little lower 'T is originally occasion'd by the excessive Bigness of the Master-Vein of the Thigh for if the Hough happen to be strain'd when the Horse is young the Blood flows too plentifully and with too great impetuosity into that Part and dilates the Vein under the Hough where the Blood-Spavin grows 'T is a soft Swelling and yields to your Finger when you touch it It may be compar'd to a Varix in Men since it is only a Dilatation of the Master-Vein which passes under it and feeds it 'T is seated under the highest and most apparent Bone on the inside of the Hough and is not accompany'd with Pain The only Remedy for this Distemper is to pluck out a Piece of the Vein according to the Method describ'd in Chap. CLXXXV Coach-Horses that are full of Flesh are most usually troubl'd with the
or Gristle So that Nature endeavouring to expel what offends her bursts the Hoof in the middle of the Quarter and the Matter finds a Passage thro' the Cleft near the hairy part of the Foot This Disease is cur'd by the Method I prescrib'd for the Quitter-Bone for the corrupted Tendon must be separated since 't is no more to be reckon'd as a part of the Foot I do not say that these Clefts in the Foot are always accompany'd with Crepances but only that these Distempers are sometimes united in which Case you may reckon your Horse to be in a very dangerous if not desperate Condition CHAP. CLXXXIX Of the Numness of the Hoof. THE Name of a Distemper usually gives us a confus'd Idea of the Nature of it but the Word introduc'd by Custom to express the Disease treated off in this Chapter seems not to have the least Relation to what it signifies However I will not quarrel about Words but rather proceed to a brief Explication of the Distemper commonly known by this Name to which I shall subjoin an Account of its Signs Causes and surest Remedies after I have told you that the Cure is extremely difficult or at least very tedious In the first place you must know that there is a Bone in the Middle of the Coffin-Bone which is almost of the same Figure with the Foot but much smaller since 't is contain'd within it This is that which we usually call the Bone of the Foot Now a Horse is said to be troubl'd with this Distemper when the Bone of the Foot by reason of a Relaxation at the End opposite to the Toe leaves its Place and natural Situation and the Flesh that surrounded it and united it to the Hoof growing dry there remains a hollow or empty Space Besides the Bone of the Foot being loosen'd at one end falls down and pressing against the Sole that covers it appears in Form of a Crescent as if there were another Bone fasten'd to the Outside of the Bone of the Foot whereas it is only that Bone it self fall'n down out of its natural Place and appearing in the Figure of a Crescent which is greater or smaller as the Bone is more or less loosen'd This Bone is seldom loosen'd towards the Heel to which 't is fasten'd by two great Sinews that pass thro' it in two several Places and bind it so fast to the Foot that unless it be loosen'd by some violent Accident it never descends but towards the Toe in which Case there remains a void space that was formerly fill'd with the Flesh that surrounded the Bone before it was loosen'd so that the Coffin-Bone and the Bone of the Foot were in a manner one continu'd Body so closely were they united whereas in this Case there is a hollow Space along the Hoof towards the Toe and the Extent of that Hollowness is proportionable to the Relaxation of the Bone This Distemper may be known by these Signs The Horse halts right down he trots and even walks upon his Heels and brings down his Toes softly to the Ground without laying any stress upon 'em The Fore-part of the Foot sounds hollow when you knock upon it with your Shooing-Hammer at last it shrinks in the Middle and the Foot loses its natural Shape This Disease has some Affinity with Foundering in the Feet but is less malignant and more easily cur'd The Effects are almost the same in both Cases for when a Horse is founder'd in the Feet the Bone of the Foot is loosen'd before and forms Crescents like those describ'd in this Chapter only they are greater and appear usually on both Feet whereas this Distemper rarely attacks more than one These Crescents in either Case are only the Bone of the Foot relax'd descending from its natural Place and appearing like a Crescent without the Flesh that formerly us'd to cover it So that you must not give Credit to the Opinion of certain Farriers who imagine it to be a Bone or bony Excrescency growing upon the Bone of the Foot This Bone thus relax'd and appearing in the above-mention'd Form is at last depriv'd of Nourishment and grows as it were one extraneous or preternatural Body and consequently must either fall away or be cut out These things were necessary to be premis'd in order to a clearer understanding of the Distemper but since I have hitherto only explain'd the Effect of the Cause I shall in the next place consider the Cause it self When a Horse by reason of vehement labour is over-heated the Humours are put in Motion by this Impression of Heat and the Agitation is encreas'd by other more subtil Humours which being out of their natural Place and besides thin sharp and spirituous ferment the grosser Humours with which they are mix'd This Ebullition occasions the rising of very sharp Vapours full of a volatile and corrosive Salt which insinuating into the Parts where they find least Resistance and in their way passing thro' some places where the natural Heat is moderate being no longer agitated nor supported by the Fermentation that rais'd 'em they are condens'd into Water which is carry'd by its own Weight to the Foot where they find an easie Admittance into the spongy Flesh between the Hoof and the Bone Now this Water or Liquor retaining the sharp and corrosive Nature of its primitive Vapours and in many Respects resembling Aqua-Fortis it consumes all the Flesh that united the Hoof and the Bone and at the same time dries up and separates a vast Number of little Nerves that proceed from the Bone of the Foot and fasten it to the Hoof So that the Bone being no longer sustain'd or kept in it places by the Flesh or those little Nerves falls down towards the sore-part of the Foot forms a Crescent under the Sole and leaves the fore-part of the Hoof empty and hollow Having already explain'd the Nature of Fermentation and illustrated that Explication with clear and proper Examples I know no reasonable Objection that can be made against the Account I have given of this Distemper Only methinks I hear some confident Wou'd-be-Wits enquire who told me all these fine Stories and whether I or my Informers were ever Witnesses of those Transactions in the Body But a very moderate stock of Sense wou'd enable 'em to conceive that tho' neither I nor any Man else can pretend to have seen those internal Motions and Revolutions 't is not at all impossible that a studious Enquirer into Nature may discover the Causes by their Effects And withal I assure 'em that if they can produce a more probable Hypothesis and confirm it with more or better Experiments I will receive it in such a Manner that they themselves shall acknowledge that I am neither of a very obstinate Nature nor over-fond of my own Notions 'T will not be improper in the next place to examine the Difference between the Humour that causes this Distemper and that which causes Foundering The latter of
sharp Juice that abounds in his Stomach and flowing out of its natural Place disturbs and interrupts the Digestions that ought to be perform'd in each part This Humour being out of its natural Place becomes the Principle of Heat and Corruption and there is none else in Horses from whence 't is plain that it ought to be blunted and destroy'd by Alkalies or fixt Salts according to the Doctrine of Learned Chymists Now these Compositions are full of Simples that abound with a sweet Alkali which desâ—reys the Acid that is the Principle of Heat in Horses And besides these Ingredients strengthen the Heart and all the Powers or Faculties of Nature and enable her to expel that which osâ—ends her by the usual Passages I cou'd easily demonstrate that the acid Juice which is of a piercing and dissolving Nature and causes Digestion in the Stomach is the Source of all those Discases that are call'd Hot when it abounds too much and leaves its natural place the Stomach But such a Dissertation wou'd rather tire than instruct the Reader and the little I have said is sufficient for the Wise And therefore I shall only repeat my Assertion that the preternatural Heat in Horses proceeds usually from the too great Abundance of the Acid Juice which flowing out of the Stomach becomes the Principle of Corruption and Heat and the Cause of many Diseases But to return to our Subject Thâ—se Remedies are good to promote the â—â—acuation of the Humour that causes the Strangles when Nature is too languid and remiss in driving out her Enemy For three or four Doses of 'em taken successively will rouze and strengthen Nature and make the Horse that is troubl'd with the Strangles expel the whole Humour that occasions the Disease by which means it prevents the false Strangles that dangerous Consequence of Imperfect Evacuations They may be also given profitably in the Cure of the Trembling or Beating in the Flanks Gripes Vives Loss of Appetite by the Abundance of Phlegm and Crudities Cold Cough Strangles and several other Indispositions as I shall intimate afterwards In short there are few Distempers which they do not help to remove and are even proper for Horses who at their return from the Army or from a long Journey are dispirited lean and spent with bristl'd up Hair and can never be made fat how plentifully soever you feed ' em A Spoonful of the Powder or a Ball beaten and mixt with Oats as often as you allow him any will cure an inveterate Cough and make him long-winded They will help a Horse to expel Humours by the Nose when he is dispos'd to that kind of Evacuation but their usual Effect is to provoke Urine or insensible Transpiration and to enable Nature to shake off the Burthen that oppresses her and to drive out all Impurities without Purgation which is contrary to the Nature of Horses There are several other Descriptions of Cordial Powders now in Use but they consist either of too great or too small a Number of Ingredients and they are usually compos'd of Herbs which cannot be suppos'd to operate effectually on Horses who daily eat a greater quantity of 'em among their Hay than you can give 'em in six Doses of Powder but the Roots and Seeds in which the Virtues of Simples are united and concentrated are of more excellent Use Experience will convince you of the Efficacy of this Powder neither is it too chargeable for there are many Cordial Powders which cost a great deal more and are yet far inferiour to it in Virtue Only the Cubebs are dear because they are brought from a remote Country but you may leave them out and instead of 'em substitute a triple quantity of Juniper-Berries tho' the former are certainly endu'd with admirable Virtues They are found only in the Isle of Java in the Indies where they grow in Clusters like Grapes on a Shrub that like the Pepper-Tree must be supported by some other Tree and the Javaners to keep 'em wholly to themselves will not suffer any Syens to be exported tho' the Fruit is sold very cheap there It strengthens the Stomach clears the Passages of the Breast and chears the languishing Heart Since 't is convenient and almost necessary to be furnish'd with several Remedies for the same design add since the Cordial Powder is one of those that are most frequently us'd I shall subjoin the Description of another which is less compounded tho' very effectual for I have us'd it with good Success when the Universal Powder could not be had Other Cordial Powders Take Bay-Berries Gentian round Birth-Wort Myrrh Flower-de-luce of Florence Shavings of Hart's-Horn and Elecampane of each four Ounces Zedoary Cummin Annise-Seeds and Savin of each two Ounces Cinnamon half an Ounce Cloves two Drams Flowers of Corn-Poppies dry'd two Ounces Beat all the Ingredients a-part searse 'em thro' a hair Strainer Mix 'em thorowly and keep 'em hard press'd in a Leathern Bag ty'd close The Dose is two Ounces infus'd all Night in Wine or you may give only one Ounce in a Quart of Spanish Wine It s Use and Effects are the same with those of the above-mention'd Cordial Powder with this Difference that 't is much inferiour to the other in Virtue The Cordial Powder us'd by Farriers is compos'd of the Seeds of Annise Fennel and Cummin Liquorice Bay-Berries and Shavings of Ivory because all these Ingredients may be had at low Rates I must acknowledge this Powder is useful but there is a vast difference between the Effects of this and those that are produc'd by my Powder and besides they give but one Dose of it to a Horse which they call a Cordial Draught whereas 't is oftentimes necessary to repeat the Dose five or six Days together Experience will convince you of the Truth of what I say for Farriers commonly use Liquorice the Seeds of Coriander Annise and Fennel which they call the four Cordial Powders taking half an OUnce of each and I leave the Reader to judge whether this Composition be equal in Virtue to those I have describ'd CHAP. XVIII Of the Glanders THis is a cold Disease and may be fitly rank'd after the Strangles and Cold with which it has some Affinity The Glanders is a flowing or running at the Nostrils of phlegmatic tough white red yellowish or greenish Humours which are sometimes deriv'd from the Spleen almost always from the Lungs rarely from the Liver or Kidneys The thinner Humours find a Passage thro' the Coeliac Vein or the Passages of Respiration and the thickest are carry'd to the Throat where they fall into a little Receptacle between the two Jaw-bones and from thence by degrees dilating themselves they form and nourish the Kernels that are conspicuous to the Eye and the rest of the Humour flows out of the Nostrils and discovers the Nature of the Disease The immediate Cause of the Glanders is frequently an Ulcer in the Lungs rarely in the Kidneys from which subtle and
malignant Vapours are sent up to the Brain These thin Steams alter the very Substance of the Brain by their Sharpness and being condens'd or thicken'd by the natural Coldness of that Part produce a Humour of the same Nature with Aqua fortis which by its Acrimony irritates the Parts and augments the Ulcer from whence proceeds that troublesome Flux of Humours thro' the Nostrils And whereas the two Jugular Veins furnish and communicate a great Quantity of Blood to the Brain the Substance of which is already alter'd by the malignant Vapours that glide thither perpetually thro' the Coeliac Vein as to the Head of an Alembic the Blood instead of being further purify'd according to the establish'd Order of Nature is corrupted and from thence falling upon the Lungs heats 'em and being render'd incapable of performing its appointed Task to nourish and refresh that Part serves only to augment the Ulcers that are already form'd in it The remote or outward Causes are almost the same with those of the Cold. The Signs by which this Disease may be known are when a Horse already too old to be troubl'd with the Strangles without a Cough voids a great quantity of Matter by the Nostrils and when there are one or more Glands or Kernels fasten'd to the Bone between the two Jaw-bones which are so tender that the Horse can hardly endure you to touch 'em and tho' they be not fasten'd to the Bone yet if they be hard and full of Pain 't is almost always a Sign of the Glanders If the Horse void Matter by the Nose without a Cough and have a Kernel sticking to the Bone you may conclude that his Distemper is not a Cold which is usually accompany'd with a Cough whereas the Glanders are often without that Symptom and besides in the Glanders the Matter usually flows out of one Nostril whereas in the Cold it runs almost always out of both Some cast the Matter that is voided by the Nostrils into Water and if it swim on the Top they conclude the Horse to be free of this Distemper but if it sink to the Bottom 't is a Sign of the Glanders The principal Use of this Experiment is to distinguish the Pus which is properly the Matter of an Ulcer or Imposthume from the Phlegm that comes out of the Vessels which is not so pernicious for the Matter sinks to the Bottom and the Phlegm swims on the Top. But you must not depend on the Certainty of this Sign for if the Matter sâ—ick to the Nostrils like Glue 't is a bad Sign and you may conclude the Disease to be the Glanders tho' the Matter swim on the Top. When either the Breath or Matter that comes out of the Nostrils stinks the Disease is almost always incurable for that noisome Smell proceeds from some Ulcer or corrupt Humour which at least presages the Length and Tediousness of the Cure When in the progress of the Distemper the Humour voided by the Nostrils turns to a frothy Substance and continues to be so the Disease is usually incurable and the Horse dies quickly after I have seen some Horses troubl'd with this Distemper without Kernels or if there were any they were little and moveable and the only Sign by which we could discover it to be the Glanders was the Glewiness of the Matter which stuck to the Nostrils it flow'd not out but obstructing the Passages stopp'd the Horse's Breath but the Passages being clear'd by the help of a Syringe he found Ease and even the Matter was mixt with bloody Fibres which shew'd that it proceeded from some Ulcer that render'd the Disease incurable for not one of the Horses escap'd tho' no Means were neglected to preserve ' em Some pretend that the Seat of this Disease is in the Brain but 't is certainly in the Lungs rarely in the Liver Kidneys or Milt and never in the Brain This I affirm on certain Knowledge and the Account I have given of it is grounded on a Principle which nothing less than a plain Demonstration of its Falseness and Absurdity shall make me renounce This is the most contagious Distemper to which Horses are obnoxious for not only it communicates its Venom at a small distance but infects the very Air and seizes on all the Horses that are under the same Roof with him that languishes under it And therefore assoon as you perceive the least Sign of the Glanders you must separate the the sick Horse from all his Companions and not suffer him to drink out of the same Pail with 'em especially when the Disease is malignant for there are several kinds of Glanders some of which are not so extremely infectious as others but there are none of 'em that ought not to be suspected I 'm perswaded that this Distemper proceeds from a cold Cause and I do not at all doubt of the extream difficulty of the Cure All its various kinds are only distinguish'd by a greater or less degree of Malignity and it will be found that all those who pretend to have cur'd the Glanders have only cur'd either the Strangles Cold or some less malignant sort of Glanders for certainly these Cures are very rare and perhaps I might justly say impossible This Disease is caus'd and fomented by an Ulcer in the Lungs rarely in any other part which encreases and by degrees consumes the whole Lobes of the Lungs and at last kills the Horse If you do not begin while 't is still possible to enable nature to consolidate the Lungs and heal the malignant Ulcer you can never perfect the Cure You may conclude the Disease to be incurable when 't is seated in the Spleen because that Part will hardly yield to the Virtue of Medicines To begin the Cure you may by way of Precaution take up the two Veins in the Neck two Fingers breadth beneath the Place where the Horse is usually let Blood the Operation is perform'd thus First Make an Incision and lay the Vein bare then separate it with a Cronet and tye it with a double Thread of wax'd Silk without cutting the Vein lest the Ends of it should slip out of the Knot when the Horse eats and stirs his Jaws with which one of the Branches of that Vein communicates then fill the Wound with Salt and do the same on the other side of the Neck This Operation is also very useful for the Eyes that are either weak or troubl'd with Defluxions for these Veins being taken up the impetuous Course of the Blood to the Brain will be stopp'd and in the present Case since the Brain receives a less quantity of Blood the quantity of the sharp Humour that falls upon the Lungs will be also diminish'd and the Ulcer sooner healâ—d or at the least 't is certain that if the taking up of a Vein does not promote the Cure it cannot hinder it I adâ—is'd you not to cut the Vein between the two Knots because I have seen Horses kill'd by so
of Arsenick beaten and searc'd thro' a fine Sieve Mix all the Ingredients with the Honey in a clean Earthen Pot and boil them over a very gentle Fire stirring 'em frequently till they be reduc'd to the thickness of an Ointment which must be apply'd on Bolsters of Flax to the Figg If the Incision make the part Bleed which must be avoided if possible apply for the first Dressing the above-mention'd restringent Charge made of Turpentine and Soot laying it on warm with Rowlers Bandage and Splents to stanch the Blood Two Days after apply the Ointment describ'd in the preceding Paragraph laying it on warm and binding it hard with Rowlers and Splents placing Tents at the side to keep it firm and to hinder it from spreading and leaving the part of the Frush that touches the Figg uncover'd 'T is to be observ'd that the Flax must be dry that the Tents must be rowl'd hard before you put the Ointments upon 'em and that the Horse must be kept very dry for Moisture is very prejudicial in this case and obstructs the Cure After forty eight Hours remove the second Dressing and wiping the Sore with dry Flax observe whether there are more Fibres or Roots that must be laid open then wash the Figg with the Second Water and apply the above-mention'd Ointment which may be called the Ointment for the Figgs binding it on with Rowlers and Splents and placing Tents and Rowlers on both sides to keep it from spreading as you was formerly directed for some part of the Cure depends on the titeness of the Bandage When you remove the Dressing separate gently with a Slice or Spatula the little Scabs or rather Scurfs produced by the Ointment taking all possible care to prevent Bleeding If after one or two Applications you perceive not any considerable effect of the Ointment add three Ounces of strong Aqua-Fortis to one half of the Composition mixing 'em cold and suffering 'em to foment after which make use of the Ointment as before and it will certainly dissolve the Figg but in the mean time you must not neglect to bind on the Rowlers carefully and to renew the Application once in forty eight Hours When you take off the Dressing if you perceive that the Figg is sufficiently mortifi'd apply the first Ointment and afterwards you may have recourse to the second upon occasion observing the varieties of Circumstances with great care and niceness If the Flesh grow too fast in any part apply the Ointment with the addition of Aqua-Fortis but when you design only to dry the Part the simple Ointment will be sufficient If the Figg be fastn'd to the Gristle or Bone of the Foot and communicate with those Parts when it seems to be cur'd on one side it spreads and sometimes runs even to the Heel under the Quarter which frequently must be cut And after you have made an Incision into the Quarter you must remove the Gristle with the same Causticks either in Powder or Ointment that are prescrib'd in the Chapter of the Quitterbone for without taking away the Gristle 't is impossible to Cure the Figg If the Figg be very large as sometimes 't is equal to a small Hens Egg 't will be very convenient after you have search'd all around to discover the hollow places under the Scale where the Roots of the Figg lurk and lay 'em open with a crooked and double edg'd Fleam to cut out the whole Figg with a sharp Buttress extirpating entirely all the Putrefaction and corrupt Flesh Then suffer the Horse to bleed freely lengthen his Shooes and tye a Cord about the Pastern to stop the Blood after which cover the Wound with small Salt and over that apply Flax moisten'd with Turpentine boil'd with Soot If the Blood flow so fast that you cannot strew the Wound with Salt mix the Salt with the Composition apply it warm bind up the Foot carefully with an Iron Splent laid cross-wise to keep on the Dressing and lay the same Defensive about the Cronet suffering the Application to remain untouch'd for the space of three Days keeping the Horse in the mean time in a very dry place If the Figg be on the hinder Foot as 't is almost always as often as the Horse Dungs you must immediately remove his Excrements from under his Feet that the Sole may not receive the least moisture which wonderfully obstructs the Cure When you take off the Dressing cleanse the Part carefully with dry Flax and a Slice then apply the Ointment with Bolsters binding it on with Iron-Splents as before only there will be no occasion for the Defensive about the Cronet Two Days after remove the Dressing and consider the colour of the Flesh and having wash'd it with the second Water apply the Ointment with the Addition of Aqua-fortis if the Flesh be foul and the simple Ointment to those Parts where the Flesh is clean and fair continuing after the same manner for some Days Some tender Horses lose their Appetite on this occasion and therefore you must tye a Chewing-Ball to the Bit and give 'em good Clysters with Sal-Polychrest and moisten'd Bran to eat The continu'd use of these Directions will restore the Horse's Appetite which is a point of great Importance If the Figg be fasten'd to the Gristle or Bone of the Foot the surest Remedy is to take out the Sole according to the Method describ'd in the preceding Chapter and then dress the Figg as before and if there be occasion either cut out the Gristle or consume it with Causticks I shall take this occasion to advertise the Reader that I never apply a Caustick when 't is possible to perform the Operation with a Razor for he that uses this Instrument has the conveniency of seeing what he does and of directing and guiding it as he pleases nor is Incision attended with so much Pain as a Caustic and even tho' there be a Scale of a Bone in the Foot to be separated 't is better to make use of a red-hot Iron than a Caustic and for the same purpose I sometimes apply Egyptiacum with Sugar or White-Vitriol or Borax in Powder mixt with Spirit of Wine Violent Cauteries are dangerous in this case for they hurt the Bone of the Foot and cause an Exfoliation which is more troublesome and tedious than the Cure of the Distemper and besides they repel the Humours which occasion several not inconsiderable Disorders During the Cure of this Distemper 't will be very convenient to make your Horse eat every Day some Liver of Antimony in moisten'd Bran to make a revulsion by diminishing the quantity of the Humours that fall upon the Part for since that Remedy resists all Impurities 't will destroy the Causes of the Humour that moistens and nourishes the Figgs After the Cure is compleated to prevent any succeeding Danger tho' this Caution be not absolutely necessary you may take up the Pastern-Veins of the Sore Foot for since the Pastern-Veins carry great abundance
of superfluous Blood to the lower part of the Foot it happens very frequently that the Blood is chang'd into Corruption and Matter and therefore by taking up the Vein the Nourishment of the Figg is Intercepted and the danger of a Relapse prevented tho' the Cure may be perform'd without that precaution Many Farriers endeavour to discredit this Operation because they are not accustom'd to it but 't is not attended with any dangerous Consequences for tho' the Skin is very thick in those Parts 't is impossible to Lame a Horse by taking up the Veins unless it be done purposely and therefore if your Farrier endeavour to perswade you that 't is either useless or dangerous to take up the Veins you may certainly conclude that he does not know how to perform the Operation When the Cure is perfected the Flesh every where clean and sweet no Roots nor Corruption appearing and only a great hollow or void place remaining in the Foot opposite to the Frush or in any other part of it by reason of the great quantity of Flesh that was either cut out or consum'd strew the whole Part with Rosin mixt with Flax or an old Rope sliced small which will fill up the Wound with Flesh if it be kept on with Bolsters of Flax and renew'd every two Days If the Flesh grow too fast as sometimes it does after one or two Applications wash the Part with the second Water and strew it with chopt Flax and Powder of Rosin covering it with dry Flax and Splents I have often observ'd in those Horses that are troubl'd with four Figgs one in each Foot that three of 'em may be easily cur'd but the fourth is almost always incurable because the Humours that fed all the rest is discharg'd upon this alone When the Part is fill'd up with Flesh 't will be convenient to dry it with Powder of calcin'd Tartar which will produce a Scurf that must not be remov'd till it fall away of it self then apply a Restringent Charge about the whole Foot made of Powder of unslak'd Lime mixt with the second Water or Aqua-vitae and reduc'd to a Paste or for want of that a black Restringent Charge which will compleat the growth of the Sole and Frush and the natural shape of both those Parts may be restor'd by the help of Iron Instruments after which the Horse will quickly be in a condition to endure Labour But during the whole progress of the Cure you must observe with extraordinary exactness and Judgment all the above-mention'd Cautions and Directions concerning the change and due Application of the Remedies After you have cut off the upper part of the Figg you may burn the rest with a red-hot Knife which prevents bleeding and then apply Bolsters with Oil of Bay to take away the Pain occasion'd by the burning and bind on the Dressing and Splents as before Two Days after take off the Dressing wash the Sore and wipe it very clean with dry Flax then endeavour to remove the Scab with a Slice and apply Oil of Bay as at first When the Scab is fallen off after two or three Dressings burn the Figg again continuing after the same manner till the Flesh appear clean sound and natural after which dry the Part as before Some preferr this Method before the use of Ointments and it must be acknowledg'd that it performs the Cure more speedily but the Figgs return and besides the Gristle that keeps the Frush firm is so spoil'd by the Fire that the Disease can never afterwards be Cur'd either by the Fire or otherwise as I have oftentimes observ'd in my Practice and for that reason have left off the use of Fire which I prescrib'd for the Cure of this Distemper in the preceeding Editions of this Book They who make use of violent Cauteries or Caustics will never be able to perform the Cure with Success for the Humour is only translated or repell'd to another side and when the Figg seems to be extirpated on one side it breaks out on the other and sticks to the Gristle or Bone of the Foot which inconveniency might be prevented by a due Application of the Ointments for stopping the course of the Humours of which Nature there are several Compositions in this Book and by mixing Aqua-fortis with 'em when they are too weak If the Figg be fasten'd to the Bone of the Foot you must promote the separation of the Scale and afterwards apply the Ointment Apostolorum or the Doctor 's Ointment dressing the Sore below and endeavouring always to close it above I might produce several Instances of the Cure of this Distemper but shall content my self with what I have said already on that subject CHAP. XCI Of Retraits or Pricks with Stubs or with a Nail in Shooing or in the Street IF a Prick with a Nail be neglected it may occasion a very dangerous Sore and fester so into the Flesh that the Horse's Foot cannot be sav'd without extream difficulty and therefore such fatal Consequences ought always to be prevented by a timely Cure When a Farrier perceives in Shooing a Horse that he complains or shrinks at every blow upon the Nail it must be immediately pull'd out and tho' Blood follow there is no danger only you must not drive another Nail into the same place such an accident seldom makes a Horse halt and he may be ridden immediately after it When a Horse halts presently after he is Shod you may probably conclude that some of the Nails press the Vein or touches him in the Quick To know where the Grief lies lift up his Lame Foot and knock with your Shooing-Hammer on the sound Foot for some skittish and unruly Horses will lift their Foot when you touch it tho' it be not Prick'd that you may be the better able to judge whether the Horse be Prick'd when you touch the Lame Foot Then lift up the sound Foot and knock gently upon the top of the Clenches on the Lame Foot and when you perceive that he shrinks when you strike any of the Nails you may conclude him to be Prick'd in that place Horses are usually Prick'd at the Heel in the Fore-foot and at the Toe in the Hinder-foot Then you must pluck off the Shooe pressing round the Foot with the Pincers and when you come to the place that is Prick'd he will endeavour to draw back his Foot and shrink extreamly As you draw forth the Nails you must observe diligently whether they are bow'd or whether there be any Flakes or if the Hole send forth Blood or Matter for a bow'd Nail may occasion Lameness by pressing the Vein and a Flake may either press the Flesh or the Vein and even sometimes you may perceive by the Nail that the Flake remains in the Foot which is a bad sign for you can hardly ever pull it out and so long as it continues in the Foot 't is impossible to perform the Cure Blood or Matter issuing out of