and for the most part it followeth some extreme great emptinesse or want of foode the beast being euen at the pinch and ready to bee chappe-falne There bee some Farriers which suppose that it proceedeth from some extreame cold outwardly taken by trauelling in cold and barraine places as in the frost and snow where the outward cold maketh the stomacke cold whereby all the inward powers are weakned The signes are onely an alteration or change in the horses feeding hauing lost all temperance and snatching and chopping at his meate as if he would deuoure the manger The cure according to the opinion of some Farriers is first to comfort his stomacke by giuing him great slices of white bread toasted at the fire and steeped in muskadine or else bread vntoasted steeped in wine then to let him drink wheat flowre and wine brewed together There be others which vse to knead stiffe cakes of wheate flowre and wine and to feede the horse therewith Others vse to make him bread of pine-tree nuts and wine knoden together or else common earth and wine mingled together but for mine owne part I hold nothing better then moderately feeding the horse many times in the day with wholesome beane bread well baked or oates well dryed and sifted CHAP. 60. Of the diseases of the Liuer in generall and first of the inflammation thereof THere is no question but the liuer of a horse is subiect to as many diseases as either the liuer of a man or any other creature onely through the ignorance of our common Farriers who make all inward diseases one sicknesse the true ground and causes not being looked into the infirmity is let passe and many times poysoned with false potions but truth it is that the liuer sometimes by the intemperatenesse thereof as being either too hot or too cold too moist or too dry or sometimes by meanes of euill humors as choler or fleame ouerflowing in the same heate ingendring choler and coldnesse fleame the liuer is subiect to many sicknesses and is diuersly payned as by inflammation apostumation or vlcer or by obstructions stoppings or hard knobs or lastly by the consumption of the whole substance thereof The signes to know if the disease proceede from hot causes is leannesse of body the loathing of meate voyding dung of a strong sent great thirst and loosnesse of belly The signes to know if the disease proceed from cold causes is good state of body appetite to meate dung not stincking no thirst and the belly neither loose nor costiue Now to proceede to the particular diseases of the liuer and first of the inflammation you shall vnderstand that it cometh by meanes that the bloud through the abundance thinnesse boyling heate of sharpnesse thereof or through the violence of some outward cause breaketh out of the veines floweth into the body or substance of the liuer and so being dispossest of his proper vessels doth immediately putrifie is inflamed corrupting so much of the fleshly substance of the liuer as is either touched or imbrewed with the same whence it cometh that for the most part the hollow side of the liuer is first consumed yet sometimes the full side also this inflammation by a naturall heate is sometimes turned to putrifaction then it is called an apostumation which when either by the strength of nature or art it doth breake and runne then it is called an vlcer or filthy sore Now the signes of an inflammation on the hollow side of the liuer which is least hurtfull is loathing of meate great thirst loosnesse of belly and a continuall vnwillingnesse to lye on the left side but if the inflammation be on the full side of the liuer then the signes be short breathing a dry cough much paine when you handle the horse about the wind-pipe and an vnwillingnesse to lye on the right side The signes of apostumation is great heate long fetching of breath and a continuall looking to his side The signes of vlceration is continuall coldnesse staring vp of the haire and much feeblenesse faintting because the filthy matter casting euill vapours abroad doth many times corrupt the heart and occasion death Now for the cure of these inflammations some Farriers vse to take a quart of ale an ounce of myrre and an ounce of Frankinsence and brewing them well together giue it the horse diuers mornings to drinke Others vse to take three ounces of the seedes of smallage and three ounces of Hysop and as much Sutherwort and boyle them wel in oyle and wine mingled together and giue it the horse to drinke keepe the horse warme and let him neither drinke cold water nor eate dry dusty hay CHAP. 61. Of Obstructions stoppings or hard knobs on the Liuer THese obstructions or stoppings of a horses liuer do come most commonly by trauelling or labouring on a full stomacke whereby the meate not being perfectly disgested breedeth grosse and tough humours which humours by the extremity of trauell are violently driuen into the small veines through which the liuer ought to receiue good nutriment and so by that meanes breedeth obstructions stoppings Now from these obstructions when they haue continued any long time especially if the humours be cholericke breedeth many times hard knobs on the liuer which knobbes maketh the horse continually lye on his right side and neuer on the left because if he should lye on the left side the waight of the knob would oppresse the stomacke and euen sicken all the vitall parts in him The signes of these obstructions or stoppings are heauinesse of countenance distention or swelling great dulnesse and sloth in the horse when he beginneth his trauell and a continuall looking backe to his short ribbes where remaineth his greatest paine and torment Now the cure thereof is to seeth continually in the water which hee drinketh Agrimony Fumitory Camomill VVormewood Licoras Anise seedes Smallage Persley Spickenard Gentian Succory Endyue and Lupyns the vertues whereof are most comfortable to the liuer But for as much as the most part of our English Farriers are very simple Smithes whose capacities are vnable to diue into these seuerall distinctions and that this worke or maister peece is intended for the weakest braine whatsoeuer you shall vnderstand that there bee certaine generall signes to know when the liuer of a horse is grieued with any griefe of what nature or condition soeuer it be and so likewise generall receipts to cure all the grieues without distinguishing or knowing their natures you shall know then if a horse haue any griefe or paine in his liuer by these signes First by a loathing of his meate next by the wasting of his flesh drynesse of his mouth and roughnesse of his tongue and great swelling thereof and refusing to lye on the side grieued and lastly a continuall looking backeward Now the generall cures for the sicknesse of the liuer is according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers to giue the horse aloes dissolued in sweet
and his colour is either a bright sorrell a cole blacke without any white or an yron gray vnchangeable that is such a gray as neither will euer turne to a daple gray to a white or to a flea-bitten and these horses are of nature light hot fiery and seldome of any great strength these horses are much subiect to pestilent feuers yellowes and inflammations of the liuer Therefore euery Farrier shall be carefull in the composing of any medicine for such a horse to purge choler yet very moderately and not with any extraordinary strength in the potion or drench because the horse being in his best strength not reputed strong should you apply any violent thing to him that little strength being abated there were great danger in the confounding of the whole body If the horse participate more of the aire then of the other elements then is he of a sanguine complexion and his colour is either bright bay or darke bay which hath neither skouling countenance mealy nose nor white flanke or a white flea-bitten white lyard like siluer or a blacke with white starre white rache or white foote these horses are of nature pleasant nimble free and of a good strength The diseases to them most incident is consumption of the liuer leprosie glanders or any disease that is infectious They are of a good strong constitution and may endure strength in their medicines especially any thing that cooleth the bloud If the horse participate more of the water then of the other elements then is he of a flegmaticke complexion and his colour is either a milke white a yellow dun a kiteglewd or a pyedball in whom there is an equall mixture of colours that is as much white as of the other color otherwise if the bay the blacke or the dunne exceed the white he is sayd to be of that complexion of which the color is greatest These horses are of nature slow dull and apt to leese flesh the diseases which are most incident vnto them is colds head-atch rheumes staggers and such like They are able to endure the reasonable strength of any medicine because the abundance of fleame which is in them sufficeth both nature and the potion to worke vpon all cold simples are to them exceeding hurtfull so are also they which are violently hot in the third degree the first because it bindeth too soone the latter because it disperseth too suddenly therefore simples of a moderate meane are the best If the horse participate more of the earth then of the other elements then is he of a melancholy complexion and his colour is mouse dunne russet chesnut a sky gray darke bay with mayly nose redde or white slanke or a reddish bay hauing long white haire like goates haire growing on his legges These horses are of nature heauy and saint hearted the diseases to them most incident is inflammations in the Spleene Frenzie Dropsie and such like They are commonly of better strength then they will suffer to appeare by their actions and are able to endure the strength of any reasonable medicine all cicatrizing and dry simples are hurtfull vnto them the cold and moist are the most profitable Hauing thus shewed you these foure complexions Cholerike Sanguine Flegmatike and Melancholy together with their qualities and strengths you shall vnderstand now that amongst Farriers there is another complexion or fift constitution which is called the composition or mixture of complexions that is whensoeuer a horse doth participate of all the foure elements equally and in due proportion none being greater or lesse then another and this complexion of all other is the best and and most perfect and the horse which is of this complexion is euer of one of these colours that is to say either a faire browne bay dapled or not dapled a daple gray a blacke full of siluer haires or a faire roane redde or blacke And those horses are of nature most excellent most temperate strongest gentlest and most healthfull though they may haue any disease yet are they naturally inclined to no disease but what infirmity soeuer falleth vnto them is meerely accidentall and not through any ouerflow of naturall distemperature All medicines must be compounded for them according to the nature of the sicknesse and the time of their languishment for if their sicknesse be young and new bred then are they able to receiue any well composed receipt but if it be old the inward powers and faculties feebled then you must bee carefull to helpe nature by adding to euery medicine of what nature soeuer some simple of comfort that as euill humours be clensed so strength may still be repayred maintained And thus much for complexions CHAP. 11. Of inward sicknesse the causes and seuerall kindes thereof SIth I haue already passed ouer al those things which haue a naturall and perfect working in a horses body and do maintaine vphold and preserue the same in good state and health except accidentally they be encountred and crossed by some excesse or in dyet or in exercise it shall now be meete that we begin to speake of the things which be contrary and against nature which are all those things whereby at any time the healthfull estate of the horses body is any way impeached and they be three in number that is the causes the sicknesse and the accidents which follow euery sicknesse Now the causes of sicknesse are all vnnaturall affects and euill dispositions which going before do as it were by violence bring sicknesse after them and of these causes there be two sorts some internall some externall the internall be those which breede within the body of the horse as euill humours euill obstructions and euill iuice Externall are they which communicate with the outward parts of the body as heate cold wounds and such like of which I shall speake more in the second booke and for so much as I intend at the beginning of euery particular disease to shew the cause of that disease I will at this time speake no more of that subiect Now for sicknesse it selfe which is any thing that is contrary to nature it is diuided into three generall kindes the first an euill temperature the second an euil state or composition and the third a loosening or diuiding of an vnity Now of these two latter I intend not to speake in this place because they appertaine to surgery which I reserue for the second booke but for the first kinde which is an euill temperature it is taken two fold that is either simple or compound simple when one quality onely doth abound or exceede as to be too moist or too dry compound when mo qualities then one do grow into excesse as for a horse to be too hot and too dry or too cold and too moist Againe sicknesses are sayd some to belong as consumptions glanders and such like which linger and weare a horse away by small degrees Some short as the staggers yellowes anticor and such like which
spring time of the yeare when bloud begins to encrease and most commonly to colts and yong horses it proceeds of the same causes that the Quotidian doth and sometimes of ranknesse and ill bloud The signes to know it are all the signes formerly spoken of and this as the chiefest that the horse will be apparantly sicke as it were on the Munday then apparantly well on the Tuesday and sicke on the Wednesday following This feuer is neuer seene but it beginneth with shaking The cure therefore is assoone as you perceiue the horse to begin to shake you shall take a certaine hearbe or rather weede called stone-croppe and bruising it in a stone morter take some foure spoonefull of the iuice thereof and infuse it in a quart of strong alè and giue it the horse to drinke then walke him gently vp and downe in some temperate aire for an howre then set him vp with the helpe of clothes put him into a sweate for an other howre then coole him and in any wise till his fits leaue him let him drinke no cold water and let his prouender be the oldest and dryest oates you can get onely vpon his good dayes before his fits come keepe him very long fasting and empty CHAP. 18. Of the Quartane Feuer THe Quartane feuer is that which some Farriers call a third daies sicknesse as thus If his fit begin on the Munday he will be well on the Tuesday and Wednesday and sicke againe one the Thursday It proceedeth from the same causes that the Tertian feuer doth yet in his working is not so apparantly violent but of much longer continuance for if great care helpe be not these feuers will last some a quarter of a yeare some halfe a yeare and some a whole yeare There needes no other signe to know it then the coming and going of the fits as hath bene declared already And for the cure it is the selfe same which is described in the former chapter for the Tertian feuer onely if his fits do not leaue him at the first taking of the medicine you shall then giue it him againe the second time but not aboue thrice at the most in any wise CHAP. 19. Of the Feuer Continuall THe feuer continuall is that which continueth without any intermission and it is most dangerous and violent for there is in it the effects of all the former feuers euer one taking place as the other endeth as a Quotidian beginning is pursued by a Tertian and a Tertian by a Quartane and those two supply so many howers till the Quotidian doth begin againe This kind of continuall feuer most often springeth from some inflammation or violent heate ingendred in the pricipall members about the heart and the signes thereof are want of rest and falling away of the flesh besides certaine inflammations or swellings which will appeare about his withers and flanks The cure is first to purge his head by neesing the manner whereof you shall finde in a particular chapter hereafter which done you shall giue him this drinke Take of Iermander two ounces of gumme dragant and dryed roses of each halfe an ounce beate them into fine powder and put them into a quart of ale adding thereunto of oyle Oliue two ounces and as much hony and when it is luke warme giue it the horse to drinke then walke him a little space and after set him vp close and warme keepe him from cold water and let his prouender be dry oates CHAP. 20 Of the Hectique Feuer THe Hectique feuer in horses is a dangerous and mortall feuer being in a horse the first originall breeder of a consumption it is a certaine hot and dry humour which runneth betweene the skinne and the flesh proceeding from a sicke stomacke which hauing bene scalded with hot drinks as those ill dyeted running horses be which feede vpon much spice or those which take hot drenches vpon euery foolish and sleight occasion hath almost cleane lost the power of disgestion it sometimes happens to those horses which men too carefully teaching to drinke beere and wine do so contiâ—ually apply them thereunto that in the end they become subiect to this sicknesse The signes to know it is the horse will neuer eate with any appetite and when you draw out his tongue you shall finde it rawe and almost scalded his flesh wil be loose and flaggy and his body will be subiect to a continual trembling The cure is first wash his tongue either with the sirrop of mulberries or with allome running water sage and woodbinde leaues boiled together then giue him fasting in a morning this drink Take of aloes one ounce of agarike halfe an ounce of licoras and aniseseeds of each a dram beaten to powder let him drinke it with a quart of white wine luke warme made sweet with sugarcandy or hony let him drinke no drinke but warme mashes of malt water and let his meate be sweete bay or greene corne blades and euer after his medicine lâ—t him be chafed a little kept fasting two or three howres and stand warme and well clothed CHAP. 21. Of the Feuer taken in Autumne or the fall of the leafe ALl these feuers before spoken of do for the most part commonly happen to horses in the spring time of the yeare by reason that the new bloud is euer aptest to be inflamed yet notwithstanding we finde by experience that feuers will somtimes come at the fall of the leafe which we call Autumne and they are of longer continuance then the other The signes are none other but such as I haue already declared for they are the same feuers onely altering in the time of the yeare If therefore your horse do chance to catch a feuer at the fall of the leafe you shall let him bloud on his necke veine and in the palate of his mouth and you shall giue him to drinke the same drinke which is formerly set downe for the feuer continuall and there is no doubt of his recouery CHAP. 22. Of the Feuer taken in the Summer season A Feuer taken in the Summer season is the worst of al ordinary feuers whatsoeuer especially all such as are taken in the Dog daies because according to the opinion of Farriers al accidents are then most furious the especial signes of this feuer are that his arteries wil beate most palpably wheresoeuer he staleth there you shall perceiue he sheddeth his seed also The cure according to the ancients is to let him bloud on the great veine which he hath on his hinder haunch almost foure inches beneath his fundament but for mine own part because that vein is not so easily found of euery ignorant Smith that many times by mistaking they may cut the artery in stead of the veine I hold it fully as good to let him bloud vpon the necke veine which done giue him to drinke two howres and a halfe after this drinke Take the iuice of a handful of purslaine and mixe
it with gumdragant anise seedes and damaske rose leaues beaten to powder then put them into a quart of strong ale made sweete either with sugarcandy or hony and faile not to giue him this drinke three mornings together keeping the horse warme during his sicknesse CHAP. 23. Of the Feuer taken in the winter season A Feuer taken in the winter is not so dangerous touching the life of a horse as the feuer before mentioned yet is it a feuer which will continue long and aske great circumspection in the cure the causes thereof are the same which are formerly described and the signes are no other then hath bene already declared Touching the cure it is thus you shall first purge his head by making him neese that done you shall let him bloud both in the necke and the palate of the mouth and then two howres and a halfe after giue him this drinke Take of treus three ounces of round pepper halfe an ounce of bay berries and the seede of smallage of each halfe an ounce boyle these in white wine and giue it him to drinke luke warme Other Farriers vse to take a pint of new milke and to put therein two ounces of sallet oyle of saffron one scruple of mirre two scruples of the seede of smallage a spoonefull and to make him drinke it luke warme but the horse which taketh this drinke must be in good strength for it he be brought low it is somewhat too strong The ancient Italians did vse for this feuer to giue this drinke Take of Aristolochia halfe an ounce of Gentian of Hysop of wormwood of Southerwoort of each halfe an ounce of dry fat figges three ounces of the seede of smallage an ounce and an halfe of rue halfe an handfull boyle them all with running water in a cleane vessel vntil almost halfe be consumed then when it beginnes to thicken take it from the fire straine it and giue it the horse luke warme Now there are not any of these drinkes but are sufficient for the cure but the first is best Now for his dyet be sure to keepe him fasting long before his fits come and let his drinke be onely warme mashes of malt and water Now if you perceiue that his fits continue and bring the horse to any weaknesse you shall then to comfort and quicken the natural heate of the horse rubbe and chafe all his body ouer either in the Sunne or by some softe fire with some wholsome friction of which frictions you shall finde choyce in a particular chapter hereafter following together with their seuerall natures and vses CHAP. 24. Of the Feuer which cometh by surfaite of meate onely THe Feuer which cometh by surfaite of meate onely without either disorder in trauell of corruption of bloud is knowne by these signes The horse will heaue and beate vpon his backe his breath will be short hot and dry and his winde he will draw only at his nose with great violence The cure therefore is you shall let him bloud in his necke vnder his eyes and in the â—â—late of his mouth you shall also purge his head by making him neeâ—e then keepe him with very thin dyet that is let him fast for more then halfe of the day and let him not drinke aboue once 〈◊〉 foure and twenty houres and that drinke to 〈◊〉 â—arme water you shal also once or twice chafe his body with wholesome friction and if during his cure he chance to grow costiue you shall cause him to be raked and afterward giue him either a suppositary or a glister of both which and of their seuerall natures you shall reade sufficiently in a chapter following CHAP. 25. Of Feuers extraordinary and first of Pestilent Feuers WE find by many ancient Italian Writers that both the Romans and others their countrymen haue by experience found many horses subiect to this pestilent feuer which is a most contagious and pestiferous disease almost incurable for mine own part I haue seene it in many colts and young horses Surely it proceedeth as I iudge either from great corruption of bloud or from infection of the aire The signes thereof is the horse will hold downe his head forsake his meate shed much water at his eyes and many times haue swellings or vlcers rising a little below his eare rootes The cure is first you shall not faile to let him bloud in the necke veine then two or three howres after you shall giue him a glister then make this plaister Take of squilla fiue ounces of elder of castoreum of mustard-seed and of euforbium of each two ounces dissolue the same in the iuice of daffadill and sage and lay it all about the temples of his head and betweene his eares then giue him to drinke for three or foure dayes together euery morning two ounces of the best treacle dissolued in a pint of good muskadine The Italians vse to giue him diuers mornings a pound of the iuice of elder roots or in stead of his hay a good quantity of that hearbe which is called Venus haire but if the time of the yeare be such that they cannot haue it greene then they boyle it in water and straine it and giue it him to drinke but I hold the first drinke to be most sufficient his dyet being thin and his keeping warme CHAP. 26. Of the Plague or pestilence in Horses of some called the gargill or murraine THis pestilence murraine or gargill in horses is a contagious and most infectious disease proceeding either from surfaite of heate cold labour or hunger or any other thing breeding corrupt humours in a horses body as the holding too long of his vrine drinking when he is hot or feeding vpon grosse foule corrupt foods as in low grounds after flouds when the grasse is vnpurged such like Somtimes it springs from som euil influence of the planets corrupting the plants and fruites of the earth and cattell too somtimes also from diuers other such like causes but howsoeuer when the disease beginneth certaine it is that it is most infectious and if there be not care and preuention vsed of multitudes it will not leaue one Not any of the ancient Italian Farriers nor any of our English Farriers that I haue met with do or can yeeld me any signe or token to know this disease more then that one or two must first dye then by their deaths I must adiudge preuent what wil follow but they are mistaken for this disease is as easily known by outward â—ignes as any disease whatsoeuer as namely the horse will first begin to lowre and hang downe his head within two or three dayes after such lowring you shal see him begin to swell vnder his eare rootes or vnder the rootes of his tongue and that swelling will run vniuersally ouer all one side of his face being very extreme hard and great Moreouer all his lips mouth whites of his eyes will be exceeding yellow and his breath
according to the opinion of ancient Farriers from a continuall crudity oâ— raw disgestion of the stomacke from whence grosse vapours ascending vp into the head doe not onely oppresse the braine but all the sensitiue parts also Now for my part I rather hold it an infirmity of the stomacke and inward bowels which being cloyed with much glut and fat doth in the night season so hinder the spirits and powers from doing their naturall office that the beast hauing as it were his breath strangled doth with an vnnaturall struggling in his sleepe put his body into an extreme sweat and with that passion is brought to much faintnesse of which I haue had much and continuall experiâ—nce onely in horses exceeding fat and newly taken from the grasse but especially from such horses as are either fatted vpon eddish grasse which in some countries is called after-maths or such as are taken vp fat in the winter season The signes to know this disease is that in the morning when you come early to your horse you shall finde him all of a great sweate and his body something panting or perhaps you shall but only find him sweat in his flankes vpon his necke and at the rootes of his eares either of both are signes of this sicknesse especially if at night when you litter him you finde that he is dry of his body and giueth no outward signe of inward sicknesse Now there be some that will obiect against me and say that this infirmity is not the night-mare but an ordinary infirmity ingendred by superfluity of cold grosse and vnwholesome food got in the winter season which nature through the helpe of warme clothes and a warme house expels in this manner in the night season To this obiection I answer that if they do disallow this sicknesse to be the night-mare that then without all contradiction there is no such disease as the night-mare at all and that it is but only a name without any substance or consequence but forasmuch as this sicknesse is not onely very vsuall but also carrieth with it all the effects and attributes ascribed vnto the night-mare and that it is as yet a disease vnnamed I do not think I can giue it a more proper terme then to call it the night-mare The cure whereof is euery morning and euening both before and after his water to giue the horse some moderate exercise as to make him go at least a mile and more for his water and after he is watered to gallop him gently on the hand a good space then when he is brought into the house and well rubbed to giue him his prouender being oates and to mixe therewith a handfull or better of hempseede onely in this cure you must be carefull that your exercise do not enforce him to sweate nor shall you haue need to vse it longer then you finde that he sweateth much in the night season This exercise and medicine will not onely cure this infirmity but also any cold that is newly gotten whatsoeuer CHAP. 36. Of the Apoplexie or Palsey THese palseyes or apoplexies which happen vnto horses are of two sorts the one generall the other particular The generall palsey is when a horse is depriued of all sense and mouing generally ouer his whole body which is seldome or neuer found out by our Farriers because the mortality and suddainnesse of death which pursues the disease takes from them all notes obseruations of the infirmity and indeed for the generall palsey there is no cure and therefore there needs no description of signe or cure For the particular palsey that is when a horse is depriued but of some part or member of his body and most commonly it is but the necke onely as both my selfe and others haue found by dayly experience The disease procedeth from foulnesse of foode or from fenne feeding which breedeth grosse cold and tough humours which ioyning with crudities and raw disgestions oppresse the braine violently altogether it also cometh many times by meanes of some blow or wound giuen vpon the temples of the head The signes to know the disease are the gathering together of his body going crookedly and not straight forward but seldome and holding his necke awry without motion yet neuer forsaking his prouender or meate but eating it with greedinesse and much slauering The cure is to let him bloud on his necke veine and temple veine on the contrary side to that way he wryeth then annoynt all his necke ouer with the oyle Petroleum and with wet hay ropes swaddle all his necke ouer euen from his breast to his eares but hauing before splented his necke straight with splents of wood made strong smooth flat for the purpose then for 3 mornings together giue him a pint of old muskadine with two spoonefull of this powder to drinke Take of Opoponax two ounces of Storax three ounces of Gentian three ounces of Manna Suâ—carie three ounces of Mirre one scruple and of long pepper two scruples beate all these into fine powder Now there be some Farriers which for this disease vse to draw the horses necke on the contrary side with a hot yron euen from the necke to the shoulder and on the temple of his head of that side also a long strike and on the other a little starre in this maner and from his reines to his midde backe small lines in this maner But I that know this sicknesse proceedeth from the braine and sinewes cannot conceiue how any helpe should come from burning of the skinne because it is the sinewes themselues and not the skinne that is drawne vp and straightned and therefore I would wish euery Farrier to forbeare this tormenting vnlesse he apparantly see that the skinne it selfe through dislike and weaknesse is shrunke also and then the cure is not amisse CHAP. 37. Of the generall Crampe or conuulsion of sinewes THese generall crampes or conuulsions of sinewes are most forcible contractions or drawings together of the sinewes and muscles and they happen sometimes generally into many parts of the body somtimes particularly as but into one member and no more when they are generally diperst in horses they proceede commonly from some wound wherein a sinew is halfe cut and no more and so there runneth a generall contraction ouer the whole body by degrees When they are particular as but in one member then they proceede either from cold windy causes or from the want of bloud For the generall contraction which cometh by a wound you shall reade the cure thereof in the booke of Surgery following where the sinew being cut in two peeces the contraction ceasseth For the particular where but one member is grieeued you shall know it by these signes the member will be starke and stiffe insomuch that neither the beast nor any man will be able to bow it the sinewes will be hard like stickes and the horse being downe is not able to rise during the time of the contraction he will also halt
altogether and giue him euery morning and euening a pint for a weeke together If to the boxe leaues you adde oates and bettony it is not amisse so you keep the horse warme Others vse to giue a horse a pint of swines bloud warme Others vse to boyle in a gallon of water one pound of Fenugreeke then straining it giue the water morning and euening by a pint at a time to drinke then drying the Fenugreeke giue it the horse with his prouender Others vse for all maner of coughes to take a quarterne of white currants and as much clarified hony two ounces of sweet marioram with old fresh grease and a head of garlicke melt that which is to be molten and punne that which is to be beaten mixe them together and giue the horse better then a pint thereof three mornings together Others vse to giue a horse the guts of a young pullet dipt in hony and being warme and certainly there is not any of these medicines but are most soueraigne and well approued Now whereas some Farriers vse to thrust downe the throat of the horse a willow wand rolled about with a linnen cloath and annoynted all ouer with hony I for my part do not like it for it both torments the horse more then there is occasion and doth but onely go about to take away that which is gone in the struggling before the medicine can be vsed for it is onely for a cough which cometh by a feather or some such like matter CHAP. 43. Of the inward and wet Cough TOuching all inward coughs which are gotten and ingendred by colds and rheumes of long continuance being not onely dangerous but sometimes mortall you shall vnderstand that they are diuided into two kindes the one wet the other dry the wet cough proceedeth from cold causes taken after great heats which heat dissoluing humours those humors being againe congealed do presently cause obstructions and stoppings of the lungs Now the signes to know this wet cough is the horse will euer after his coughing cast out either water or matter out of his nosthrels or champe and chaw with his teeth the thicke matter which he casteth out of his throate as you shall easily perceiue if you heedfully note him he will also cough often without intermission and when he cougheth he will not much bow downe his head nor abstaine from his meate and when he drinketh you shall see some of his water to issue out of his nosthrels The cure is first to keepe him exceeding warme then for as much as it proceedeth of cold causes you shall giue him hot drinkes and spices as sacke or strong ale brewd with cinamon ginger cloues treacle Long pepper and either swines grease sallet oyle or sweete butter for you shall know that all cold causes are cured with medicines that open and warme and the hot with such as cleanse and coole Some vse to take a pretty quantity of Beniamine and the yolke of an egge which being well mixt together and put into an egge shell cast all downe into the horses throat and then moderatly ride him vp and downe for more then a quarter of an howre and do this three or foure mornings together Others vse to keepe him warme and then to giue him this drinke Take of barley one pecke and boyle it in two or three gallons of running water till the barley burst together with bruised licoras anise seeds and of raisins of each a pound then straine it and to that liquor put of hony a pint and a quarterne of sugarcandy and keepe it close in a pot to serue the horse therewith foure seuerall mornings and cast not away the barley nor the rest of the strainings but make it hot euery day to perfume the horse withall in a close bagge if he eate of it it is so much the better and after this you shall giue the horse some moderate exercise and for his dyet let him drinke no cold water till his cough abate and as it lessoneth so let his water be the lesse warmed Now for mine own part though all these receits be exceeding good and very well approued yet for mine owne part in this case thus hath bene my practise If I found either by the heauinesse of the horses head or by the ratling of his nosthrels that the cough proceeded most from the stopping of his head I would only giue him foure or fiue mornings together three or foure good round pils of butter and garlicke well knoden together in the morning fasting and then ride him moderately an howre after but if I found that the sicknesse remained in the chest or brest of the horse then I would giue him twice in foure dayes a pint of sacke halfe a pint of sallet oyle and two ounces of sugarcandy wel brewd together and made luke warme and then ride him halfe an howre after and set him vp warme suffering him to drinke no cold water till his cough began to abate or leaue him CHAP. 44. Of the dry Cough THis disease which we cal the dry cough is a grosse and tough humour cleauing hard to the hollow places of the lungs which stoppeth the winde-pipes so that the horse can hardly draw his breath It doth proceede by ill gouernment from the rheume which distilling from the head falleth downe to the breast and there inforceth the horse to striue to cast it out The especiall signes to know it is by eating hot meates as bread that is spiced straw dry hay or such like his extremity of coughing will encrease by eating cold and moyst meates as grasse forrage graines and such like it will abate and be the lesse he cougheth seldome yet when he cougheth he cougheth violently long time together and dryly with a hollow sound from his chest he also boweth his head downe to the ground and forsaketh his meate whilest he cougheth yet neuer casteth forth any thing either at his mouth or nosthrels This cough is most dangerous and not being taken in time is incurable for it will grow to the pursicke or broken winded altogether The cure according to the opinion of the ancientest Farriers is that for as much as it proceedeth from hot humours therefore you shall perfume his head with cold simples as Camomill Mellilot Licoras dryed red Roses and Camphire boyled in water and the fume made to passe vp into his mouth and nosthrels Others vse to take a close earthen pot to put therin three pints of the strongest vinegar and foure egges shels all vnbroken and 4. heades of garlicke cleane pild bruised set the pot-being very close couered in a warme dunghill or a horse mixion there let it stand foure and twenty howres then take it forth and open it and take out the egges which will be as soft as silke and lay them by vntill you haue strained the vinegar and garlicke through a linnen cloath then put to that liquor a quarterne of hony and halfe a quarterne
of strong beere or ale and giue it the horse to drinke Others vse after raking bloud letting to take the iuyce of Iuy leaues mingling it with wine to squirt it into the horses nosthrels and to let him drinke only cold water mixt with vitrum and let his foode be grasse or new hay sprinkled with water Thus you haue seene I dare well affirme all the best practises which are at this day knowne for this disease where they all faile there is no hope of cure yet let me thus farre further informe you This disease of the yellowes or iaundise if the keeper or maister be not a great deale the more skilfull and carefull will steale vpon you vnawares and as I haue often seene when you are in the middest of your iourney remote and distant farre from any towne that can giue you succour it may be your horse will fall downe vnder you and if you should let him rest till you fetch him succour questionlesse hee will bee dead In this extremity you haue no helpe but to draw out a sharpe poynted knife dagger or rapier for a neede and as neare as you can opening the horses mouth strike him bloud about the third barre of the roofe of his mouth and so letting him eate and swallow his owne blood a good while then raise him vp and be sure he will go as fresh as euer he did but after you come to place of rest then bee sure to bloud him and drench him as aforesayd or else there will a worse fit come vpon him Now to conclude for the blacke iaundise which of some Farriers is called the dry yellow though for mine owne part I hold it to be incurable yet there be other Farriers which are of a contrary humour and prescribe this physicke for the cure thereof first to giue the horse a glister made of oyle water and nitrum after his fundament is raked then to powre the decoction of mallowes mingled with sweete wine into his nosthrels and let his meate be grasse or hay sprinkled with water and a little nitre and his prouender dryed oates hee must rest from labour and be often rubbed Now there be other Farriers which for this disease would onely haue the horse drinke the decoction of wilde cole-worts sodden in wine the effects of all which I onely referre to experience CHAP. 66. Of the Dropsie or euill habit of the body WHereas we haue spoken before of the consumption of the flesh which proceedeth from surfaits ill lodging labour colds heates and such like you shall also now vnderstand that there is another drinesse or consumption of the flesh which hath no apparant cause or ground and is called of Farriers a dropsie or euill habite of the body which is most apparantly seene when the horse by dislike doth leese his true naturall colour as when baynesse turnes to dunnesse blackes to duskishnes whites to ashinesse and when he leeseth his spirit strength and alacrity Now this cometh not from the want of nutriment but from the want of good nutriment in that the bloud is corrupted either with fleame choler or melancholy coming according to the opinion of the best Farriers either from the spleene or the weaknes of the stomacke or liuer causing naughty disgestion Others thinke it cometh from fowle feeding or much idlenesse but for mine owne part albeit I haue had as much tryall of this disease as any one man and that it becometh not me to controll men of approued iudgements yet this I dare auerre that I neuer saw this disease of the euill habite or euill colour of the body spring from any other groundes then either disorderly and wilde riding or from hunger or barraine woody keeping Betwixt it and the dropsie there is small or no difference for the dropsie being diuided into three kindes this is the first thereof as namely an vniuersall swelling of the body but especially the legges through the aboundance of water lying betweene the skinne and the flesh The second a swelling in the couering or bottome of the belly as if the horse were with foale which is onely a whayish humour abiding betwixt the skinne and the rimme and the third a swelling in the same place by the like humour abiding betwixt the great bagge and the kell The signes of this disease are shortnesse of breath swelling of the body or legges losse of the horses naturall colour no appetite vnto meate and a continuall thirst his backe buttockes and flankes will be dry and shrunke vp to their bones his veines will be hidde that you cannot see them and wheresoeuer you shall presse your finger hard against his body there you shall leaue the print thereof behind you and the flesh will not rise of a good space after when he lyeth downe he will spreade out his limbes and not draw them round together and his haire will shedde with the smallest rubbing There be other Farriers which make but onely two dropsies that is a wet dropsie and a windy dropsie but being examined they are all one with those recited haue all the same signes and the same cure which according to the ancient Farriers is in this sort First to let him be warme couered with many cloathes and either by exercise or otherwise driue him into a sweate then let his backe and body be rubbed against the haire and let his foode be for the most part cole-worts smallage and Elming bowes or what else will keepe his body soluble or prouoke vrine when you want this foode let him eate grasse or hay sprinckled with water and sometimes you may giue him a kinde of pulse called Ciche steeped a day and a night in water and then taken out and layed so as the water may drop away There be other Farriers which only would haue the horse to drinke parsley stampt and mixt with wine or else the roote of the hearbe called Panax stampt and mixt with wine Now whereas some Farriers aduise to slit the belly a handfull behinde the nauell that the winde and water may leasurely issue forth of mine owne knowledge I know the cure to be most vile nor can it be done but to the vtter spoyle and killing of the horse for a horse is a beast wanting knowledge of his owne good will neuer be drest but by violence and that violence will bring downe his kell so as it will neuer be recouered Now for these dropsies in the belly although I haue shewed you the signes and the cures yet are they rare to be found and more rare to be cured but for the other dropsie which is the swelling of the legges and the losse of the colour of the haire it is very ordinary and in howrely practise the best cure wherof that euer I found is this Take of strong ale a gallon set it on the fire skum off the white frothwhich riseth then take a handfull of wormwood without stalke and as much rue in like manner