putrefaction occasioned by moist Rheums and other indigested Moistures dedescending on them or Inflamations occasioned by Lumps Knots or Kernels under the Chaul proceeding from cold or immoderate labour and many times the Mourning of the Chine by a Horse's immoderate Leaping a Mare or over-straining himself in the action And this may likewise happen by his eating too much raw meat or drinking upon a suddain heat and many other ways which when I come to treat of Diseases I shall largely discourse on But first I shall proproceed to let you know how Horses ought to be used to prevent their contracting Diseases as much as in the superficial Schemes of Art the greatest Artists of this kind have allowed and the means are chiefly five as Cleansing Blood-letting Purging Sweating and Vomiting The first of these may be said to be twofold as outward and inward the first being by cleansing his external Parts by care and good dressing which ought the more diligently to be observed upon his being taken up from Grass and the time limited for that by the curious is Bartholomew-tide for then the heart of the Grass beginneth to decline And this may be done in the manner which I have often recited in what relates to Dressing nor is it at all inconsistent with Reason that the cleansing the Skin from dust and dirt and loosening it in every part by gentle rubbing should enliven the Horse and render him more sprightly so that Nature having her free course and progress without restraint may opperate in dispersing kind refreshment to every part and keep those gross humours from setling that are frequently the origiâ—al of Diseases and Grievances and if so it happen that your Horse be mirey and foul then may you use Fulling-earth Soap and other scowring Materials especially with warm Water but then having an especial care he catch not cold thereupon keeping him warm and well drying him till he be thorowly cold and in so doing you will prevent those moist Diseases wherewith he is otherwise afflicted And the better to effect this cut away all the superfluous hairs that any way anoy the body or other parts c. And so being shooed and neatly dressed I leave him to the Second Part which consists in the Internal cleansing and purging Directions for which in consideration of more immediate or particular Directions take in the following Chapter CHAP. XVII How a Horse ought to be used in general and particular as to his Physick Diet and Looking to for the preservation of him even to old Age. THough I have named what I intend to propose in the foregoing Pages yet let not the Reader considering the consequence and validity of what I shall here propose think it amiss that I select a Chapter for no other purpose and that the advantage may neither be delayed nor appear small in the Eyes of the Reader or Practitioner take a prospect of it in the following Directions As for inward Purging the measures ought to be taken from the temperature of the Horse's body and more especially in case of his retirement at such a time that no hard labour or immoderate exercise has been imposed on him And in this case if you find him costive or that in case of Evacuation nature help not as in usual cases let some one with a small Arm penetrate his Fundament and draw thence the Dung that obstructs or at least clogs the fluent or natural passage that so both the natural and artificial Motions and Causes proceeding from Drugs or composition of Purgation may opperate and perfect their intended design and may be best administred Clyster-wise But then consider the constitution of your Horse If he be fat and somewhat inclining to foulness it must be a strong potion that will effectually opperate but not so if the Horse be weak and melancholy But waving 'em here I shall speak more particularly of them in due place as also of Drinks which ought to be made and seasonably given for the preventing sickness and preservation of health and if you find the Blood coagulated which may be perceived by the trembling of the Veins and the working of it therein then it is requisite to let him Blood and give him a gentle Vomit to carry the foulness from off the stomach that may be the occasion of bad digestion and consequently of the naughtiness of the Blood Dieting him with Mashes and fine Provender from which may spring such wholsome nutriment as may create a thin and airy Blood rubbing and often anointing his Body with Hogs Lard or Ointment of Marshmallows And now to be satisfied what things mostly contribute to health take the following Opinions of the Learned viz. A good natural constitution good digestion good nourishment moderation in feeding and diet moderation in labour and sleeping moderation in leaping Mares Again wholsome Airs not laboured too soon after Grass to be kept from raw Meats not to drink nor eat being hot ever observing to walk him at the end of any Journey and not to Physick him unless you find occasion And these observances being the occasion of long life I shall endeavour for the better satisfaction of the Reader more fully to demonstrate them As for Nature good Digestion and sound Nutriment they ought to be consonant and indeed they are well proportioned when neither the moisture with its humidity is not so predominant as to quench and over-power the heat nor the extraordinary heat too suddainly consume the moisture though of necessity the latter must be of force above the former or else Digestion cannot be perfected as it ought and in that case seasonable nourishment must consequently fail Moderation in Eating is another main cause of long life as immoderate Eating is of a short one For as excess in Eating though the Provender be never so good and wholsome obstructs good digestion and contracts crudities with a bad habit of stomach so on the contrary spare Diet weakens and decays Nature and infeebles the natural powers and faculties of Life giving the heat by that means a power absolutely to subdue and conquer the Radical moisture and gives Diseases an opportunity to break in upon the infeebled body which prove many times too hard for the Farrier for in all Creatures observe that the weaker Nature is the stronger is the distemper Another cause of health and long life proceeds from moderate and kind labour for by indifferent motion digestion is much forwarded and the humours dispersed being by that means prevented from setling more than is requisite in any one place besides it is the cause that Excrements are sooner voided which by lying long in the body might occasion sickness And further observe that he be not laboured upon a full stomach so as by over-straining digestion may be hindred which should turn to nutriment and lay a foundation for Diseases by indigested Crudities being too suddainly drawn into the Veins and by that means dispersed into all parts of the Body
Another cause there is of the like nature that depends upon the moderateness of sleeping and waking for too much waking is an enemy to health by spending the vital spirits that should support and maintain life and a decaying that moisture that should refresh the several parts of the body causing thereby Leanness and Barrenness a dulling of the Brain and a defect in the Lungs and Liver whose offices it weakens by decaying the vigor in the performance and contrary to this excessive sleeping dozes the brain hinders digestion and obstructs nature in the performance of her offices contracting noxious vapours and a foulness of the stomach Another thing to be considered is that your Horse be not admitted to spend himself too much upon Mares because such immoderate exercise weakens the Brain Back and Eyes wastes the Vital Spirits and often shortens the days of many a brave Horse and therefore if you would have your Horse last long let him not cover above three or four Mares in a year at the most or if your conveniency will not at all times admit you to keep him from them then Geld him whilst young for it is ever observed that a Gelding lives longer naturally than a Stoned-horse and a Mule than them both because he is not subject to generation Wholsome Air above all things is to be chosen for that rarifies the blood helps digestion and comforteth the Vital spirits when-as gross Air or evil scents not only make the Horse loath his Provender but corrupt the Blood and subject the whole body to diseases Travelling after Grass too soon without purging and cleansing the Horse's body cause the bad humours to incorporate or by spreading themselves to afflict each part with pains and disorders reducing the Horse to a dullness of temper and disposition and so raw meats engender raw flegmatick humours afflicting the Stomach and Brain occasioning the Glaunders Coughs Catarrhs Stavers Yellows Anticors and Morfoundring not only disable the Horse but if neglected become incurable but by death Another cause there is and that not to be lightly regarded which is not to suffer your Horse to eat or drink when hot and to stand thereon for by so doing the Blood will corrupt and putrifie occasioning Surfeits Feavers Obstructions and many the like Maladies and Grievances frequently occasioning death But as soon as you bring him home in that condition put him into a warm Stable without washing Rub or cause him to be well rubbed down Cloath him well and let him have a sufficient quantity of warm Litter to stand on and if he be subject to eat it put on his Muzzle and so let him stand an hour or more till his grease be sufficiently cooled and you 'l find him in a fit condition to give him his Provender And lastly that he may be well breathed and sound winded thereby being enabled to hold out as occasion shall require you may at seasonable times mix with his Provender the Powder of these following Seeds and Drugs c. viz. Cummin and Anniseeds Powder of Licoris and Ellecampane-Roots Farberries Brimstone Flower and the Roots of white Lillies Hysop Horehound Savin Coltsfoot the Seeds of Marshmallows Rue and Polipodium of the Oak and any of the like quality that will occasion good Wind and prevent Infections purifie the Blood and help the Liver in the performance of its office that is to rarifie the nutriment by a good digestion but you must not mix over-much at a time especially when you first begin it least he take disgust at the scent or taste and so reject his Provender but increase the quantity by degrees not giving him any above twice a week and then let it be Morning and Evening CHAP. XVIII An exact Description of the Veins of a Horse how scituate in the Body as also of Blood-letting and how and upon what account of Sickness or other defect they are to be opened for the prevention of death or danger HAving thus far discoursed in Generals and Partiticulars of what relates to a good Horse or Mare of any sort or kind that thereby the Reader might instruct himself I shall proceed to what yet remains material to be known especially to Farriers and such who undertake the Cure of Horses which is to give an account of the several parts of the Body so as they may be distinguished as occasion shall require but especially of such parts as shall be found most usefull on immergent matters and the Veins being the pipes or conduits that carry off Blood and consequently nutriment to all parts of the Body I think it highly convenient to say something in the first place of them From the Liver note there ariseth one large Vein which like a conduit supplies the rest of the branches which are many in number and spread themselves throughout the Body like little Rivolets or streams And of these two material ones are found in the Palate of the Mouth above the first and third Barrs which ought to be opened by a discreet Farrier when the Horse is afflicted with any Malignant pain or disease in the Head or Stomach Two more there are that descending which from the lower part of the Eyes descend to the Nostrils and are best opened when the Eyes are afflicted with any distemper or grievance Two others there are above his Eyes which are called Temple-Veins because they run cross the Temples and these are generally opened for cold diseases in the Head. Two great ones there are likewise that run along the Wind-pipe by the sides of it from the uppermost Joynt of his Chaps to the Breast commonly called Neck-Veins and these are opened for sundry diseases being the most usual Veins that are opened There are two other Veins that arise from between the fore-legs and are called Breast-Veins because they end on the top of the Breast and these are opened in case of Surfeits Feavers or Heart-sickness Two others there are which ascend from the fore-legs but rise not so high as those before mentioned and these rest upon the foremost bough of the fore-leg and are generally called Plat-Veins and are opened in case of Foundering or any other grief or grievance in the Legs or Limbs Other two there are that pass from the Elbow of the fore-shoulder down along the inside of the fore-legs being known by the name of Shank-Veins which are generally opened in case of Splents Spavins Mallenders or Sallenders c. Then are there four Veins which run along the Fetlocks of the Horse known by the name of Shackle-Veins and these although they are small are yet important ones and by bleeding cure the stiffness of the Joynts and prevent Foundering Then are there four more about the Corronets in his Hoofs called Corronet-Veins and are opened for the Ring-bone and Surbating In the Hoof are four more which circle his Toes called Toe-Veins and are opened for fretting and foundering Two great Veins there are that descending from his Stones pass along the inside
let a Horse Blood too often decays Nature and much weakens the Horse when on the other side too long to defer it gives corrupt Blood an opportunity to create Diseases that infect and afflict him if it be done for healths sake without any sign of apparent danger then is twice in a year sufficient The times best approved of for this office are the end of December and the beginning of May. Now some are of opinion that there is no need of letting a Stone-horse Blood if he be used to cover Mares unless some disease be apparent and the reason they give is that his spending does exhaust his Blood sufficiently But such a reason is very weak considering the Blood of which the Seed is made by the working and operation of the Genital Parts is the most spirited and and pure of all other and that which ought to be taken away by Blood-letting is commonly the most gross and offensive so that it will never turn to Seed but corrupt by continuing in the Body and create Diseases and therefore ought it to be drawn off that the Veins being emptied may fill with better Blood nay Blood-letting is coveted naturally by some Horses for the Horses of Poland often let themselves blood by often rubbing against a sharp Post or Rock And so does the River Horse in Niius from whose Example 't is held that Phlebotomy or Blood-letting came in use Others there are that will not have Geldings let Blood and the reason they give is that his Body through the loss of his Genitors being infeebled wants the Blood to support and corroborate it and that it consumes faster in him than in a Stone-horse But this bears no weight for the Blood will increase according to the constitution of the Horse and his feeding and according to the heat or coldness of the Country the Horse is bred in the less or more Blood is found in him The next Material matter to be regarded is the exact time when it ought to be performed and most hold it best in the Morning when the Horse is fasting an hour after he wakes or rouses up And then again have regard to the Moon it being in the encrease if possible but by no means in the Sign where the Vein is scituate that you open least thereby your Horse be weakned for then the Vital spirits will issue with the blood And another regard is to be had to his Age for if he be very old you must not bleed him unless upon some emergent occasion but suffer his Blood to nourish him that his Flesh may not wain or decrease And in all these cases you must have regard to a Horse's constitution for some are more capable of losing three pound of Blood than others are two or one or in case of a Disease according as more or less is required as the Blood is more or less infected and in such a case no time nor season is to be regarded but as necessity requires for many times Blood-letting in such cases is a means to save the Horse as deferring of it is to the destroying of him And in these or the like cases it ought to be known in what Diseases it is requisite and that it may in the general be discovered by these Signs Viz. If the Horse's Eyes look red and his Veins rise and swell beyond the ordinary bounds then is he oppressed with too much Blood or at least that which is not good If you perceive by his Itching scrubbing himself and uneasiness that there is a salt firey humour contracted in the Veins then let him Blood which is more immediately known by the extraordinary itching of the Mane and Tail by rubbing of which the Hair frequently sheds and the Skin peels off If his Urin be red and high-coloured and his Dung very hot black and hard If on his Back there appear little Bubles or Inflamations red and angry or if his Meat be not well digested then they denote the Horse to abound with Blood and stand in need of having it drawn off to a degree that his health may be preserved or restored If the Whites of his Eyes are tainted with yellowness or the like happen to his upper or neither Lip it is requisite to bleed him for upon the happening of any of these Signs the Blood is disordered super-abundant or corrupted and some fatal sickness is threatned To prevent or at least mittigate which there is no better way than bleeding And in the manner of letting Blood when you have corded your Horse conveniently that the Veins may appear full and fair you may strike your Fleam in the Neck-Veins four Inches on this side the setting-on of the Head but the other Veins being small you must open them with a Lancet for fear of cutting them through and so consequently injure the Nerves that support them And thus much for Blood-letting and the Signs of Bleeding c. From which I shall proceed to what relates to Cures of all kinds whether Internal Diseases or External Sorrances after the best and easiest manner and method according to the approved Rules and Directions of the ablest Farriers and Horsleeches that are and have been rendred famous for their Skill not only in this but in divers other Nations and withall let you plainly understand the cause of the most Chronical diseases as well as the means to Cure them rendring the method and manner easie to the Practitioner and advantageous to those that trade in Horses and keep them for their profit or pleasure But before I absolutely enter upon them there are a few things necessary to be considered and especially five Viz. 1. To inform ones self to what grief or distemper a Horse is inclinable 2. The cause from whence it proceeds whether External or Internal 3. The tokens and symptoms by which the distemper is known 4. By what means the Causes accrue that create the distemper 5. How to apply Remedies fitting to the distempers and disorders And these are so absolutely necessary that without such knowledge a perfect cure cannot be wrought by any Farrier And now as for the Diseases and Grievances incident to a Horse they are not a few those that reckon the least consent to sixty of different natures and to be plain there are many more which may be called dependants on these or indeed some of them no less dangerous But submitting to the Judgment of the Learned I now come to another Material Point which relates mostly to the Chyrurgical part or Methods to be taken and known in the curing Sorrances c. which indeed are the most difficult and then I shall proceed in order CHAP. XXI A Description of Diseases Grievances or Sorrances incident to Horses c. to foresee them by sundry signs and tokens and know whence they arise with the ways and methods of Preventing Redressing and Curing them by Approved Rules and Remedies according to the Practice of the best Farriers in all Ages
92 The Vives and their Remedy ibid. For swanking in the Back or a strain in the Kidnies caused by indiscreet Riding or over-burthening p. 93 For any pain or foulness in the Reins or Kidnies an excellent Scowring c. ibid. A present relief for an Attaint or Over-reach on the Heel or the like p. 94 A Cure for the Sorranee called the Ring-bone ibid. For the Water-Farcion a Remedy p. 95 For the Ives a Remedy ibid. To take off the Film or Skin from a horse's Eye p. 96 A Mallender the Remedy to cure it ibid. For the Palsey or Apoplexy a Remedy ibid. A Farcion in the Head and Neck to cure p. 97 A Linnament to cleanse a Wound new or old ibid. For Kib'd-heels commonly called the Mules a Remedy ibid. The Quitter-bone what it is with its Remedy p. 98 An excellent Cure for the Blood-spavin c. p. 99 For a Neather Attaint or Over-reach in the Pasterâ— Joynt ibid. For a putrefied Frush the Cure. ibid. To dissolve the Humours and thereby anticipate Diseases p. 100 To soften any hard swelling or contracted hardness ibid. For the Splint Wind-gall or Bladders of Gelly in or about any of the Joynts subject thereto p. 101 To cleanse any putrefied or other Sore the safest way ibid. A Horse Planet-struck how to Cure. ibid. For the Poze or excessive Cold a Remedy p. 102 To remedy or cure Hide-boundness in a Horse ibid. For a wet inward Cough a Remedy p. 103 For a dangerous Cough commonly called the dry Cough ibid. For the Yard of a Horse falling a Remedy p. 104 To prevent the Mattering of the Yard ibid. Of the Diseases incident mostly to Mares and known by the name of the Pestilent-consumption p. 105 How a Mare that is subject to cast her Foal ought to be used ibid. How to oblige a Mare to cast her Foal p. 106 Of the several Feavers in a Horse and how to Cure them c. ibid. For any disease and stoppage in the Liver p. 108 For a Botch or Sorrance in the Groin of a Horse a good Cure. p. 109 For a general Manginess the remedy ibid. The Barbs what they are and how removed p. 110 For Blood-shot Eyes an excellent Remedy ibid. For any Film Bite or Blow in the Eye a Remedy p. 111 To kill Lice or remove Flies from offending your Horse ibid. To rid a Horse from any foulness or disorder in the Body ibid. For an extraordinary Bruise or Bite ibid. For a Horse that is troubled with the Strangling a Cure. p. 112 To remedy the Swelling of a Horse upon having eaten any infectious thing in his Grass or Provender that may if not remedied prove dangerous ibid. For a Heart-burning or Wasting occasioned thereby p. 113 To prevent staling Blood a remedy ibid. Another excellent Remedy for the Farcy vulgarly called the Fashion ibid. An approved Cure for any Sinew-strain or Over-reach ibid. Diseases in the Hoof how to remedy c. p. 11â— Hoof-bound what it is and how to remedy it ibid. To soften or harden a hoof the best way p. 11â— To harden a hoof as occasion requires ibid. For any hurt or Cankerous sore in or on the hoof p. 11â— To oblige a horse to carry his Ears well c. ibid. For the grievance called the Frounce a Cure. p. 117 For a heat which sometimes occasions a breaking out in thâ— Mouth and Lips the Cure. ibid. Wolf-teeth what they are and how to ease their Pains thâ— ready way p. 118 To staunch any Bleeding a speedy way ibid. To supply the defect of the falling of the Crest c. ibid. To cure Manginess or the like disorder in the Crest p. 119 The Navel-gall what it is and its Remedy ibid. For a Sitfast or horney Excressence under the Saddle whereby the horse is disabled from carrying it in good order 〈◊〉 he ought p. 12â— For any Knob or Wen near the Saddle-skirt or the Sides 〈◊〉 the horse a Remedy ibid. For Weakness in the Back a strengthning remedy ibid. For the Swelling in the Cods of a horse naturally or occasioned by any Bruise c. p. 12â— For Burstenness or the Rupture in a horse ibid. The Art of discovering hidden Griefs or Ailments in a horse and from what they proceed p. 12â— The Bone-spavin what it is c. p. 12â— For a Haw in the Eye ibid. For the falling out of the fundament a remedy p. 12â— To preserve a hoof from decaying c. ibid. Interferring what it is and the remedy ibid. A false Quarter what it is p. 12â— The Melt on the heel ibid. An excellent remedy for any Strain or Swelling p. 12â— How to remedy the harm done a horse by unadvisedly and unskilfully letting Blood. ibid. For the Leprosie in horses a remedy with the cause ibid. For any disease in the Lungs an excellent remedy p. 12â— For the Swelling of the horse's Legs the Cure. p. 128 The flying Worm what it is and how to Cure it p. 129 Excellent Directions for the prevention of Diseases in horses at sundry times c. ibid. A Cure for a sore or defective Mouth p. 130 For the Mellet in the heels p. 131 The Stavers their signs cause and cure ibid. For the Stone a very good remedy p. 132 To take away a Wen in the Neck or any part of the horse's Body without danger ibid. The Crownet-Scab what it is together with the Cure. p. 133 To draw out a Thorn or Stump or any Iron or sharp thing gotten into the flesh ibid. For a Strain in the Coffin-joynt c. p. 134 For a horse that is perpetually sick or out of order ibid. For a Cold in the Summer c. p. 135 A Through-splint or Screw-pin what it is ibid. To render a brittle hoof firm and serviceable p. 136 To cure the Anbury ibid. To prevent a horse's pissing Blood. ibid. For a broken Knee ibid. For the Dropsey in a horse p. 137 To joyn a Sinew that is cut ibid. For a Wound or hurt in the Tongue p. 138 For the Itch in the Tail or any other part ibid. Another excellent Remedy for the Tetter ibid. For a hurt or Wring in the Withers ibid. Forms of any sort in the Body of a horse how to kill and remove them p. 139 An excellent Salve for any sort of Wound how to make and apply it ibid. â—n Imposthume to ripen and cure p. 140 For any Internal sickness c. ibid. For the Ach weakness or numb'dness of the Joynts p. 141 How to stay any violent Looseness ibid. â—he Lampas what it is and how to cure it p. 142 For the Fig in the foot of a horse ibid. For the Flanks a disease so called and the way to remedy it P. 143. The Shackle-gall and its cure ibid. A Horse that is Gravelled how to remedy P. 144 Of Cataplasms or Poultises P. 145 For any Swelling Aposthume Rankling Wound or broker Bone. ibid. For a Swelling in the Throat or under the Ears ibid.
c. MAny are the terms and names given to Grievances and Sorrances and these frequently take their denomination from the place of their scituation relating to the parts of the Body and chiefly arise or proceed from the evil state or habit of the Body and defect of the Members especially when there happens a loosning and division of the Unity or a Dissonance in the temperature and so we say when any division or loosning happen in the Bone it is a Fracture if it happen in the Veins it is a Rupture and in the Flesh a Wound or Ulcer in the Sinews it is termed the Cramp or Convulsion and in the Skin an Excoriation And now observe that in Cauterizing or Burning which may be done two manner of ways viz. with hot Oyls or Water or with a hot Iron as also in making Incision or the like that they ever be done with caution above or beneath the Vein or Sinew and never upon them least by the discommodity that may arise the Horse be rather damaged than furthered And again observe never to apply to Veins or Sinews any extraordinary Corrosives and these we reckon so are Arsnick Sublimate-Mercury Resalgar Oyl of Vitriol Tartar c. In case of Cauterizing ever observe rather to Launce with a hot Iron than a cold one and rather cauterize than cut because by the heat the humours are driven back which would otherwise render the Sore or Grief of long continuance and by the product of a Sore in the Original you may know the constitution of a Horse for if he be sanguine a whitish watery Excressence will flow of an indifferent thickness if Cholerick a thin salt one inclining to greenish if Flegmatick a kind of a gellied-water and if Melancholick then a gross blackish moisture attended by a dry Scab or Scurf In case of Swelling or Tumors it will be necessary with heed to mark the place they begin in as also their progress and ending that so the part of the body afflicted with bad humours may have Applications sutable to remove them Now if it so happen that the Swellings or Tumors be not upon any master Vein or Sinew or too near the Vital parts then may Repercussive Medicines be used but if so then those that are mollifying to raise it gently by degrees that so being ripened it may break of it self or if necessity require it be Lanced that the Corruption passing away such things may be applied that with a Lenitive softness may heal the grief In case the swelling be hard it is generally Corrosive and must have such Medicaments applied but if soft those of a more supple nature will prevail though many happen to be of a long continuance And now to know whether a Swelling has been of a long continuance press it with your finger and if the dint continue after you have taken your finger away then is it old and of a long standing but if the flesh suddainly return then is it newly taken If a Swelling or Sore be broken and moderately matter then it signifies a good constitution and that it mends apace but if the Putrefaction greatly encrease then it denotes a mass of bad humours there contracted which must by degrees be brought away and many times in this or the like cases is Cauterizing actually or potentially used that is with hot Irons or with Liquids c. of which I have before spoken above or beneath the Sore to divert or keep back the humour And now to that which relates to Cures c CHAP. XXII Excellent Receipts for the Cure of Diseases c. in Horses or Mares according to the best Experience of skilfull Practitioners Many of which were never before made publick AS the Causes of Sickness are many so are the Cures or Medicines wherewith they are redressed and the Signs that fore-run and attend them which I have given in Generals and Particulars Yet seeing something of this kind may remain untouched I shall take them in the way as I proceed Now of Sicknesses there are two kinds one that possesseth the whole body as Convulsions Feavers Pestilence and such-like general disorders and contagions infecting the Blood and others but a part of the Body as Vertigoes Head-ach Yellows and the like yet both many times prove equally dangerous and destructive The Glaunders from what it proceeds and how to Cure it The Glaunders is a distemper often gotten by over-riding and suddain cooling upon heats eating too much raw food at unseasonable times or continuing in wet moorish ground proceeding from a flegmatick constitution And this you may perceive before it take too firm a possession by a white matter issuing from the Horse's Nostrils and his unseasonable snorting And this Disease having its seat properly in the Head Take of the green Leaves of a Box-tree an ounce of Anniseeds and the like quantity of Licorish-powder steep them in Ale or new Milk to the quantity of a quart adding Treacle four ounces and the like quantity of Olive-oyl heat them well over a gentle fire and with a horn give the Horse the liquid part to drink in the Morning fasting as hot as may be well endured then give him a moderate Course and bringing him home let him have a warm Mash Cloath him up and leave him in a warm Stable for the space of two hours before you feed him The Quinzey in a Horse c. what it is and how to Cure it The Quinzey is a distemper occasioned by flegmatick humours setling in the Neck or Throat so that the passage of the breath is in a manner stopped and the beast obliged to breathe with a more than ordinary pain and labour To remove them then and redress the grievance after having bled him in the Neck-vein Take Marshmallows Groundsel Cammomoil and Harts-Tongue bray them with a like quantity of Smallage and fry them with Hogs-grease so being very hot apply them to the place which ought to be under the Chaul and they will mollifie the swelling and by degrees remove the obstruction of the passage Then take Roach-Allum Honey and white Dogs-turd dissolve them with brown Sugar-candy in a quart of Milk give it him hot and so continue to do for a week together Morning and Evening renewing likewise the Poltis once a day A Horse's Bleeding at the Nose how to stay or prevent it This happens especially amongst young Horses through the abundance of Blood that through the free passage of the large Veins ascends into the Head and passing to the thin Veins within the Nostrils either by its violent motion forces them or by its corrosive quality eats them in sunder or it may accidentially happen by a stroak or violent straining To remedy which Take the Juyce of Nettles mixed with Loaf-sugar and squirt it up the Horse's Nostrils using at convenient times to burn under his Nose Storax Frankincense or Linnen dipped in Aquavitae in a Chafing-dish the fume of which will oblige the Blood to retreat
occasioned thereby Take the Juyce of Wood-sorrel or Field-sorrel a pint Allom-powder two ounces Hart's-horn an ounce the Seeds of Pomgranets two ounces and Spring-water a quart boil them well together and strain out the Liquid part give it the Horse as hot as may be To prevent staling Blood a Remedy Take of Ale a quart the Roes of two red Herrings and three or four Cloves of Garlick boil them together and give them the Horse Morning and Evening that is the Liquid part Another excellent Remedy for the Farcy vulgarly called the Fashion Take Rue Garlick and Cloves of each half a handfull bruise them well and boil them in half a pint of Aquavitae then dip Wool or Lint into the Liquid part and stop it into the Horse's Ears binding it in after that bruise the Bark of the Elder and making an incision in the Forehead and raise the Skin with your Pegging-horn and stop it in under the Skin being first dipped in Oyl of Rosemary then give the Horse a dose of the Juyce of Liverwort mixed with half a pint of Canary and after that warm Mashes An Approved Cure for any Sinew-strain or Over-reach Take Oyl of Bays an ounce Linseed-oyl two ounces put them into half a pint of Aquavitae and being well incorporated add Wine-Vinegar half a pint and boil them to the consumption of a third part then with your hand chafe it in or with a warm cloth swathing it afterward to the best advantage and in so doing you will soon find the effects Diseases in the Hoof how to remedy And first for a Horse that upon sundry occasions is apt to cast his Hoof. The cause of the Hoofs falling off is various for sometimes it proceeds from Gravel and another time from the pricking of an Nail and in these cases it cleaves downward as the humour settles but if it happen by any grievance on the top of the Hoof as the Quitter-bone and the like then must you look to the top of the Hoof and when you there perceive it begin to divide from the flesh or to open at any part then take off the Shooe open the Hoof and pare it as near as may be to the Sole after which steep the foot in Neatsfoot-oyl and the Juyce of Hemlock in which Allom has been dissolved then make an Oyntment after this manner Take of Virgins-Wax two ounces of Verdegrease an ounce of Per-rosin three ounces and Hog's Lard a quarter of a pound to these add the Juyce of green Tobacco a quarter of a pint make them into an Oyntment and pour it into the divided place which done bind it up close with a thick Linne-cloth and in so often doing the flesh will be obliged to cleave to the Hoof and render it firm unless it be too far gone before you attempt it Hoof-bound what it is and how to remedy it This grievance proceeds from some defect in the Hoof or harm taken in the Colt-age whilst it was tender or by the falling down of a humour and the Symptoms are the flesh growing over it more than usual the straitness or narrowness in disproportion â—o the Leg and the sound of hollowness being struck with a Hammer or other material Instrument which being well understood Take Hog's Lard a pound Soap the like quantity â—he Juyce of Baum a pound Bay-leaves a handfull â—he Juyce of Rue a quarter of a pint Incorporate or concoct them well over a gentle fire and steep â—he Hoof in the Liquid part for the space of an hour every morning then dip a cloth in the Oyl of Petrolum and bind it about it To soften or harden a Hoof the best way This Experiment is fitting to be known by all Farriers not only for the advantage of Shooing but for the Travel more or less of the Horse Wherefore in the first place if you perceive the Hoof to be hard and brittle standing out uncomly then try it with a Butress and if you find it brittle and not plyable to be pared or cut then Take of Lime unshaked an ounce Common Soap the like quantity dissolve these into a Lye made of Ashwood-ashes and having prepared a Cataplasm or Poultis of Groundsel Marshmallows Smallage Succory and Sallendine fryed in Neatsfoot-oyl after the Horse's hoofs have been steeped in the Lye for the space of an hour as warm as may well be endured clap the Poultis to them and stop the bottom of the foot well with Flax dipped in Tarr To harden a Hoof as occasion requires If by going in moist ground or moist feeding the Hoof happen to be softned so that it will not well bare a Shooe or be prejudicial in Travelling then to render it capable for either Take the Coles of burnt Leather a pound the water wherein Lime has been shaked and hot Flint-stones quenched two quarts add to them a quart of Lime-juyce and a pound of Bay-salt and in the Liquid part either let the Horse stand or with it bathe his Hoofs after which Take Oyl of Tartar or that of Brimstone and anoint them binding a cloth over them and suffer the Horse to stand dry And by thus often doing you will by experience find your expectation answered For any hurt or Cankerous sore in or on the Hoof. Take if the season permit a pound of black Snails if not other Snails of any kind may serve the purpose of Burdock-roots sliced the like quantity Oyl of Cammomoil four ounces and Olive-oyl a quart boil them together till they are plyable to be layed Plaster-wise to the place grieved To which after you have washed the Sorrance with water wherein Elder has been boiled apply them supplying those first layed with fresh every day till you find the effects To oblige a Horse to carry his Ears well the way This defect happens either for want of a true proportion or by a defect of the Nerves which refuse to administer so great a supply of strength as may support the Ears as they ought to stand for the sake of Ornament Now to strengthen the Nerves or Sinews to that degree Take of Bear 's Fat an ounce Comfry-juyce the like quantity Oyl of Amber a dram the Root of black Helebore beaten into Powder an ounce and with Bees-wax half an ounce and the Oyl of Roses half a pint make these into an Oyntment and anoint the roots of the Horse's Ears as hot as may be well endured repeating it for a week together For the grievance called the Frounce a Cure. This Sorrance is also called by some a Cameroy and is not other than small Knobs or Bladders on the roof of the Mouth or upon the Tongue and the cause for the most part is the Horse's feeding in wet or low Marshes in frosty weather or by eating unsavory Hay in which Vermin have pissed or dunged And further some hold it to proceed from the Horse's licking up unsavory things tending to a Venomous quality To remedy which Take Vinegar and Bay-salt with the Juyce
a Horse's Tongue and by the faintness of his breathing When a Horse is very thirsty and seems very little affected towards his Provender then has he the symtoms of a Feaver or some hot disease that afflicts the Heart and Liver or else it may signifie the Putrefaction of the Lungs but when he eats largely and desires not much water it denotes a cold Liver and that the Horse is subject to gross humours by reason the heat cannot concoct the quantity of nutriment as it ought and therefore it is not amiss to restrain him from eating altogether so much as he requires or at least to give it him by degrees that it may leasurely digest If with exceeding greediness he devour his Meat and Drink then beware he be not troubled with the diseases of the Spleen or putrefaction of the Lungs If the Breath of a Horse without travelling or other force or violence be found very hot or so much as is more than usual it denotes the symptom of some feaverish disease approaching If the left side be much swelled and there be no apparent cause then proceeds it from the disorder of the Spleen And if the Legs on that side be likewise swelled then it commonly proceeds to the Dropsey Drivelling or noisome water descending or issuing from the Mouth or Nostrils of a Horse denotes the wet Cough and if it be gellied or the like then it threatens him with the Staggers The dullness of the Countenance lolling of the Ears and hanging of the Head are signs of the Megrim or extraordinary pain in the Head. If disorderly pantings appear on the Breast Sides or any part of the Body then does the Horse labour under some sickness that afflicts the Heart or Liver If the Mouth be foul and furred and the Tongue look yellowish then the Lungs are defective and tending to a Consumption The hollowness of the Temples denotes either the Strangles or that the Horse is very old Shortness of Breath hanging of the Eye-lids and beating of the Flanks denote a Feaver A cold swelling under the Throat with a ratling in the Head signifie the approaching of the Glanders If about the Tongue-roots small knobs appear then it signifies Cold c. If the Horse offer to cough and be faint in so doing as not throughly able to bring up what he offers at then is it occasioned by the swelling or rising of the Lungs or oppressive Phlegm setled there which obstructs the Lungs in the performance of their office The stairing up of the hair and hardness of the skin with dejected looks and lankness of the belly denote the Horse foundered in the body and sometimes the Wind Colick or Stone is signified thereby as also the Yellows which are all dangerous distempers in a Horse If the skin stick to the Ribs so that it cannot be well raised then the Horse is troubled with that infirmity which we commonly call Hidebound An uneven stiffness in going denotes some Strain Wrench cold Swelling in the Joynts or foundering in the feet c. If a Horse have a spongy Wart full of blood it is an Anbury If a knotty Ulcer creeping along the Vein it is a Farcy If scabby or ulcerous on the body and about the neck it proceeds from the Mangy If it singly spread abroad and that but in one place then is it held to be the Canker The Botts or such-like Insects in the paunch or belly of a Horse you shall know by the Horse's endeavouring to strike thereat with his feet his lying down and wallowing himself and his often turning his head back and looking upon his sides If the Horse be over-covetous to lye down on thâ— right side it signifies corrupted blood setled in thâ— Cavas of the Liver and occasions extraordinary heat which by the pressure of the Liver is augmented A Horse's spreading when laid down generally denotes the approach of the Dropsey and his ofter groaning the Colick or the Heart 's being oppressed with bad blood And thus of other signs and symptoms most or the most part whereof I have in this Chapter and what has been before mentioned is effectually discussed according to the best Experimental observances that have been made From whence I shall proceed to give Directions for sundry choice Oyntments and Salves highly necessary to be kept in store and used on sundry occasions as necessity requires and other matters altogether as Material CHAP. XXIV Directions for making and preparing Oyntments Oyls Salves Waters Purgations Poultises Charges Supplements Pills Powders c. singular good in case of any Distemper or Sorrance Many of them never before made publick ALthough I have mentioned many famous Oyntments and Salves in the course of the Cures yet some there are which may indifferently serve for most Sorrances and Griefs of any kind and these I shall chiefly name and direct how to make them because they may be gotten in a readiness and thereby the party not be to seek them nor his Ingredients when the urgency of the Horse's distemper or grief requires the Application An Oyntment to search any Wound or Vlcerated Sore or any thing of the like nature Take of Bees-wax four ounces Turpentine the like quantity the Juyce of Spurg-lawrel two ounces Deer's-suet half a pint Verdegrease an ounce Allom calcined two ounces and Hog's Lard as much as will make it into an Oyntment over a gentle fire This by often using will not only search the Wound and discover dead proud or putrefied flesh but cleanse it and cause it to heal restoring the good flesh and rendering it easie to cure An Oyntment excellent good in case of Botches Boils Seabâ— or the like Sorrances Take the Juyce of green Tobacco half a pint of Deer's-suet a pound the Powder of Dandely onroots two ounces as much of Soap-makers Ashes and half a pint of the Lees of Wine make them up into an Oyntment with half a pint of Olive-oyl and an ounce of the Oyl of Petrolum To skin any Wound an excellent Oyntment Take of Dog's-grease two ounces half the quantity of black Soap of the Powder of calcined Roach-Allom two drams the Juyce of Mugwort an ounce make them into an Oyntment over a gentle fire and when the Wound begins to fill with flesh anoint it over To mollifie and asswage any Swelling an excellent Oyntment Take of Nut-oyl a quarter of a pint Neatsfoot-oyl half a pint and Linseed-oyl the like quantity add to these the Juyce of Plantane a quarter of a pint and four ounces of the Oyl of Earthworms boil them over a gentle fire to a convenient thickness and apply the Oyntment to the place grieved as warm as may be well suffered and chafe it in with your warm hand when it begins to cool An excellent Oyntment to cool and allay any Inflamation Take of the Oyl of Marshmallows half a pint the Juyce of Mandrake-root two ounces Dog's fatt four ounces or instead thereof that of Hog's lard Spermaceâ—i two ounces
hoof the narrow heels the flat hoof the broad frush and the crooked hoof and to these shooes must be purposely made and fitted and the paring be shaped accordingly The Particulars of which being uncertain or at least too tedious for this discourse I refer them to the Skilfull Farrier whose proper business it is to order and reduce them so as they may become practicable and usefull If the hoof be damaged by reason of any Nail that lurks therein not easily to be found it must by all means be looked after and taken thence and the place of its aboad or lodgment may be found by sundry means and ways but chiefly by the heat of that place more than any other or by the Horse's shrinking up his foot or strike thereon or pinch it with your Pincers The place being found pull off the shooe and open the foot gently with a Buttress or Drawing-knife and if you can come at it pull it out if not apply the Plaster I have mentioned for drawing out Thorns Stubs or Splinters Or for your more readiness this Having in the best manner laid open the Wound Take of Stone-pitch Tar Turpentine and Bees-wax of each an ounce and half a quarter of a pint of Juyce of Garlick make them over a gentle fire into a Plaster and apply them as hot as may be endured And sometimes it so happens that by long continuance the Nail in working breaks out above the hoof and in such a case apply Honey Burgundy-pitch and Powder of burnt Allom or a Poultis of Mallows Cammomoil and Groundsel fryed in Hog's Lard and beaten up with the Whites of Eggs and Rye-meal and applying it as hot as may be endured and in so often doing it will break the Skin so that the cause of the grievance may be removed but by the addition of half an ounce of Verdegrease it will bring away the Corruption and heal the Wound Critical Days and the Observation thereon AND now since it may not be amiss to say something of the Critical Days observed by many as to Health and Sickness which relate not only to humane Constitutions but those of all Creatures I shall here incert them These days are accounted such wherein are manifested Alterations in relation to Sickness or Health Life or Death And as for the Critick-day it is ever principally to be observed after the beginning of the sickness as the 3.5.7.9.11.14.17.21.28 In which days so cursarily to be observed no strong Medicines or Purgations ought to be given Nor is it convenient to let Blood unless great necessity require it And other days there are in which many Learned Men hold If Man or Beast fall sick he shall hardly escape and that not without much difficulty which are noted to be these viz. January 1.7 February 3.4 March 1.4 April 8.10 May 2.7 June 10.15 July 11.13 August 3.2 September 3.10 November 3.5 December 7.10 And many add that if any dangerous disease happen on the 10th of August 1st of December or 6th of April it will go very near to terminate in Death Now there are on the contrary other days held to be good days and that if a disease happen on them there is great hopes of recovery nay there is great hopes of succeeding in taking a Journey or any Labour wherein Man or Beast is concerned and these are held to be the 3d and 13th of January The 5th and 28th of February The 3d 22d and 30th of March. The 5th 22d and 29th of April The 4th and 28th of May. The 3d and 8th of June The 12th 13th and 15th of July The 12th of August The 1st 7th 24th and 28th of September The 4th and 15th of October The 13th and 19th of November The 23d and 26th of December And these indeed by the Antients were held in wonderfull esteem they generally taking their measures thereby as to what I have said in relation to them nor are they to be neglected or slighted by Practitioners in Physical or Chyrurgical matters either in relation to Man or Beast no nor in their undertaking relating to Labour or the like but have Some further Considerations upon the Cause of Diseases and how to Remove them Physically discussed c. The cause of a Disease proceeds principally from an effect against Nature and happens either External or Internal the External is that which is outwardly visible and consists generally of what comes by Strokes Bruises Wrenches Scalds Shot or any manner of Wound Those Internal are occult or hid within the body and consequently the less discernable and are divided into an Antecedent and Conjunction The Conjunction is that which is nearest and immediately causes the Disease and is generally held to be the Blood which causes the Phlegm nor is it reckoned the Antecedent doth actually cause the disease but procures matter and stirs it up almost to the creating a disease but between it and the disease are some Causes placed viz. abundance of humours and ill digestion and therefore these things ought to be chiefly considered before any one absolutely attempts to dispell the disease by reason diseases are first cured by removing the Cause Antecedent and after that the Cause Conjunct And as for the External diseases they ought to be known because they breed diseases Internal and very much change the blood and with much diligence are therefore to be sought out that so the Practitioner may be brought to the perfect knowledge of Internal diseases and these External diseases are not either to be avoided or amended but necessarily penetrate the body as Air infected Meat Drink Labour Sleep Watching or Wakefulness Repletion and Evacuation and some disorders that frequently happen or to be avoided as unnecessary as Bruises Strains Slips Wounds Strangling or the like As for the true cause of a disease it sometimes proceeds from corrupt matter whereof they are generated or when either the Sire or Dam is infected with any disease the corrupt quality of which flowing into the Seminal-vessels and transmitting the like to the creature generated making it hereditary and at other times it proceeds from bad usage bad feeding heats colds and many more which I have named in the first Part. And again as I have here hinted Internal diseases may proceed from External strokes bruises or the like And thus much for Physical Observations of this kind From whence I proceed to give an accurate relation of the Spirits by which the frame of Life is supported which take as followeth The Spirits what they are with their Office c. The Spirit is the Aerious and subtil substance of a Body generated of the most pure and thin Blood and is the Original mover and supporter of the Members giving them power to perform their office and is seated chiefly in the Brain and Heart from whence it delates it self by the means of the Nerves and Arteries into all parts of the body and is divided into three parts viz. Animal Vital and Natural the