his head with such perfumes as haue beene shewed you before in the Chapter of the Glanders and also to giue him alwaies Coleworts chopt small with his prouender Some would haue him to drinke the warme blood of sucking pigs new slaine and some the iuyce of Leekes with oile and wine mingling together Others praise wine and Frankincense some oyle and Rue some would haue his body to be purged and set to grasse Of the consumption of the flesh and how to make a leane Horse fat MArtin saith that if a Horse take a great cold after a heat it wil cause his flesh to wast and his skin to wax hard and dry and to cleaue fast to his sides and hee shall haue no appetite vnto his meat and the fillets of his backe wil fal away and all the flesh of his buttocks and of his shoulders will be consumed The cure whereof is thus Take two sheepes heads vnflead boile them in three gallons of Ale or faire running water vntill the flesh be consumed from the bones that done strain it through a fine cloth and then put thereunto of Sugar one pound of Cinamon two ounces of conserue of Roses of Barberries of Cherries of each two ounces and mingle them together and giue the Horsse euery day in the morning a quart thereof lukewarme vntil all be spent and after euery time he drinketh let him be walked vp and downe in the stable or else abroade if the weather be warme and not windy and let him neither eate nor drinke in two houres after and let him drinke no cold water but lukewarme the space of fifteene daies and let him be fed by little and little with such meate as the Horse hath most appetite vnto But if the horse be nesh and tender so wax lean without any apparant griefe or disease then the old writers would haue him to be fed now and then with partched Wheat and also to drinke Wine with his water and eate continually wheate bran mingled with his prouender vntill hee waxe stronge and hee must be often dressed and trimmed and lye softe without the which things his meat will do him but little good And his meat must be fine and cleane and giuen him often and by litttle at once Russius saith that if a Horsse eating his meat with good appetite doth not for al that prosper but is stil leane then it is good to giue him Sage Sauin Bay berries Earth-nuttes and Boares greace to drinke with wine or to giue him the intrals of a Barbell or Tench with white Wine He saith also that sodden Beanes mingled with Branne and Salt will make a leane Horsse fat in very short space Of griefe in the breast Blundevile LAurentius Russius writeth of a disease called in Italian Grauezza di petto which hath not beene in experience amongst our Ferrers that I can learn It coms as Russius saith of the superfluity of blood or other humors dissolued by some extreame heat and resorting down the breast paining the Horsse so as he cannot well go The cure whereof according to Russius is thus Let him bloode on both sides of the breast in the accostomed vaines and rowell him vnder the breast and twice a daye turne the rowells with your hand to mooue the humours that they may yssue forth and let him goe so roweled the space of fifteene daies Of the paine of the heart called Anticor that is to say Contrary to the heart THis proceedeth of aboundance of ranke blood bred with good feeding ouermuch rest which blood resorting to the inward parts doth suffocate the heart and many times causeth swellinges to appeare before the breast which will grow vpwarde to the necke and then it killeth the Horsse The signes The Horse will hang downe his head in the manger forsaking his meate and is not able to lift vp his head The cure according to Martin is thus Let him blood on both sides aboundantly in the plat vaines and then giue him this drinke take a quart of malmesie and put thereunto halfe a quarterne of Sugar and two ounces of Cinamon and giue it him lukewarme then keepe him warme in the stable stuffing him well about the stomach that the wind offend him no manner of way and giue him warme water with mault alawies to drinke and giue him such meate as he will eate And if the swelling do appeare then besides letting him blood strike the swelling in diuers places with your fleame that the corruption may goe forth and annoint the place with warme Hogs greace and that wil either make it to weare away or else to grow to a head if it be couered and kept warme Of tired Horsses BIcause we are in hand heere with the vitall partes and that when the Horsses be tyred with ouermuch labour their vitall spirits wax feeble I thinke it best to speak of them euen heere not with long discoursing as Vegetius vseth but briefely to shew you how to refresh the poore Horsse hauing neede thereof which is doone chiefely by giuing him rest warmth and good feeding as with warme mashes and plenty of prouender And to quicken his spirits it shall be good to poure a little oyle and vineger into his Nostrils and to giue him the drinke of sheeps heads recited before in the Chapter of consumption of the flesh yea and also to bath his Legges with this bath take of Mallowes of Sage of each two or three handfuls and a Rose-cake boile these things together and being boyled then put vnto it a good quantity of butter or of Sallet-oyle Or else make him this charge take of Bole Armony and of Wheat-flower of each halfe a pound and a little Rozen beaten into powder and a quart of strong vineger and mingle them together and couer all his Legs therewith and if it be summer turne him to grasse Of the diseased parts vnder the midriffe and first of the stomacke THe old Authors make mention of many diseases incident to a horses stomacke as loathing of meat spewing vp his drinke surfetting of prouender the hungry euil and such like which few of our Ferrers haue obserued and therefore I wil breefely speake of as many as I thinke necessary to bee knowne and first of the loathing of meate Blundevile Of the loathing of meat A Horsse may loath his meat through the imtemperature of his stomack as for that it is too hot or too cold If his stomacke be too hot then most commonly it will either inflame his mouth and make it to breake out in blisters yea and perhaps cause some cancker to breed there The cure of all which things hath beene taught before But if he forsake his meat onely for very heat which you shall perceiue by the hotnesse of his breath and mouth then coole his stomack by giuing him cold water mingled with a little Vineger and oile to drinke or else giue him this drinke Take of milke and of wine of each one pinte and put
in water barley bread and larde and so giue them altogether in a drinke to the beast some praise the kernels of Walenuts put into Egge-shels for this cure and other take the bloody water it selfe and blow it into the beastes Nostrils and heard-men by experience haue found that there is no better thing then hearb-Robert to stay the pissing of blood they must also be kept in a stall within doores and be fed with dry grasse and the best hay If their hornes be annoynted with wax oyle and pitch they feele no payne in their hoofes except in cases where any beast treadeth and presseth anothers hoofe in which case take oyle and sod Wine and then vse them in a whot barley plaister or poultase layed to the wounded place but if the plough share hurt the Oxes foote then lay thereunto stone-pitch Grease and Brimstone hauing first of all seared the wound with a whot Iron bound about with shorne wool Now to returne to the taming and instruction of Oxen. It is said that Busiris King of Egypt was the first that euer tamed or yoaked Oxen hauing his name giuen him for that purpose Oxen are by nature meeke gentle slow and not stubborne bycause being depriued of his genitals he is more tractable and for this cause it is requisite that they bee alwaie vsed to hand and to be familiar with man that he may take bread at his hand and be tyed vp to the racke for by gentlenesse they are best tamed being thereby more willing and strong for labour then if they were roughly yoaked or suffered to run wild without the society and sight of men Varro sayth that it is best to tame them betwixt fiue and three yeare old for before three it is to soone bycause they are too tender and after fiue it is too late by reason they are too vnwealdy and stubborne But if any be taken more wild and vnruly take this direction for their taming first if you haue any old tamed oxen how to tame or yoke wild Oxen. ioyne them together a wilde and a tame and if you please you may make a yoake to holde the Neckes of three oxen so that if the beast would rage and be disobedient then will the old one both by example and strength draw hlm on keeping him from starting aside and falling down They must also be accustomed to draw an empty cart waine or sled through some towne or village where there is som concourse of people or a plow in valloed ground or sand so as the beast may not be discouraged by the waight and strength of the businesse their keeper must often with his owne hand giue them meate into their mouth and stroke their Noses that so they may be acquainted with the smell of a man and likewise put his hand to their sides and stroke them vnder their belly whereby the beast may feele no displeasure by being touched In some countries they wash them all ouer with Wine for two or three dayes togither and afterward in a horne giue them wine to drinke which doth wonderfully tame them although they haue beene neuer so Wilde other put their Neckes into engins and tame them by substracting their meate other affirme that if a wilde oxe be tyed with a halter made of Wooll Rasis he will presently waxe tame but to this I leaue euery man to his particular inclination for this businesse onely let them chaunge their oxens sides and set them sometime on the right side and sometime on the lefte side and beware that he auoide the Oxes heele for if once he get the habite of kicking he wil very hardlye be refrained from it againe He hath a good memory and will not forget the man that pricked him whereas he wil not stirre at another being like a man in fetters who dissembleth vengance vntill he be released and then paieth the person that hath grieued him Wherefore it is not good to vse a young oxe to a goad but rather to awaken his dulnesse with a whip The vnderstanding of Oxen. These beasts do vnderstand their owne names and distinguish betwixt the voice of their keepers and strangers They are also said to remember and vnderstand numbers for the King of Persia had certaine Oxen which euery day drew water to Susis to water his Gardens Guidus their number was an hundred vessels which through custom they grew to obserue and therefore not one of them would halt or loyter in that businesse till the whole was accomplished Aelianus but after the number fulfilled there was no goad whip or other meanes could once make them stir to fetch another draught or burthen They are said to loue their fellowes with whom they draw in yoake most tenderly whom they seeke out with mourning if he be wanting The loue of oxen to their yoke-fellow It is likewise obserued in the licking of themselues against the haire but as Cicero saith if he bend to the right side and licke that it presageth a storme but if he bend to the left side of the licking of Oxen natural obseruations he foretelleth a calmy faire day In like manner when he lowgheth and smelleth to the earth or when he feedeth fuller then ordinary it betokeneth chang of weather but in the Autumn if sheep or Oxen dig the earth with their feet or lie downe head to head it is held for an assured token of a tempest Their aptnes to go astray They feede by companies and flockes and their nature is to follow any one which straieth away for if the neat-heard be not present to restraine them they wil all follow to their owne danger Being angred and prouoked they will fight with strangers very irefully The anger of Oxen kye with vnapeaseable contention for it was seene in Rhaetia betwixt Curia and Velcuria that when the heardes of two villages meete in a certaine plaine together they fought so longe that of threescore foure and twenty were slaine and all of them wounded eight excepted which the inhabytantes tooke for anill presage or mischiefe of some ensuing calamitye and therefore they would not suffer their bodyes to bee couered with earth to auoyde this contention skilfull Neate-heardes giue their Cattell some strong hearbes as garlike and such like that the sauour may auert that strife They which come about Oxen Buls and bugils must not weare any red Garments Gillius Oxen prouoked by coulours by cause their nature ryseth and is prouoked to rage if they see such a colour There is great enmity betwixt Oxen and Wolues for the Wolfe being a flesh-eating-creature lyeth in waite to destroy them and it is said that there is so great a natural feare in them that if a Wolues tayle bee hanged in the racke or manger where an Oxe feedeth he will abstaine from eating This beast is but simple though his aspect seeme to be very graue and thereof came the prouerbe of the Oxen to the yoke
wel sodden and also mundified that is to say the huske pulled awaye like as when you blanch Almonds Of diuers sorts of Feuers according to Vigetius and first of that which continueth but one day THe Feauer of one day called by the Geeek name Ephemera or els by the Latin name Diaria chaunceth many times through the rashnesse and small discretion of the keeper or some other that letteth not to ride a horsse vnmeasurably either before or after watering whereby the horsse afterward in the stable entreth into an extreame heate and so falleth into his Feuer which you shall know partly by his waterish and bloodshotten eyes and partly by his short violent and hot breathing and panting Moreouer he will forsake his meate and his Legs wil wax stiffe and feeble The cure Let him haue rest all the next day following and be comforted with warme meate then let him be walked vp and downe saite and softly and so by little and little brought againe to his former estate Of the Feauer continuall THe Feuer continuall is that which continueth without intermission and is called in Italian by the Latine name Febris continua which springeth of some inflamation or extreame heate bredde in the principall members or inwarde partes about the heart which is knowne in this sort The Horsse doth not take his accustomed rest whereby his flesh dothfal away euery day more and more and sometime there doth appear hot inflamations in his flankes and aboue his withers The cure Purge his head by squirting into his Nostrils mans vrine or the Water of an Oxe that hath beene rested a certaine time to the intent such water may be the stronger and then giue him the drinke writen in the next Chapter Of the Feuer taken in the Autumne that is to say at the fall of the leafe IF a Horsse chance to get a Feauer at the fall of the leafe cause him immediatly to be let blood in the necke vaine and also in the third furrow of the roofe of his mouth and then giue him this drinke Take of Iermander foure ounces of Gum dragant and of dryed roses of each one ounce beat them all into fine powder and put them into a quart of Ale adding thereunto of Oyle oliue foure ounces and of Hony as much and giue it the Horsse lukewarme Of the Feuer in Summer season A Feuer taken in Summer season is much worse then in any other time and especially if it be taken in the Dogge daies for then the accidents be more furious Blundevile The signes be these his artires wil beate euidently and hee will shed his seede when he staleth and his going wil be vnorderly The cure Let him blood in a vaine that he hath in his hinder hanch about foure fingers beneath the fundament or if you cannot finde that vaine let him blood in the necke vaine toward the withers and if it be needefull you may giue him also this drinke Take the iuyce of a handfull of Parslein mingled with Gum dragant with Ensens and a fewe Damaske roses beaten all into fine powder and then put thereunto a sufficient quantity of ale made sweete with Hony Of the Feuer in winter FOr the Feauer in Winter it shall be good to take the powder of the drugs last mentioned and with a quill or reede to blowe it vp into his left Nostrill to make him to neese It shall be good also to let him bloode in the necke vaine Blundevile and in the palat of the mouth and then to giue him one of these drinkes heere following Take of Ireos sixe ounces of round Pepper one ounce of Bay-berries and of the seede of Smallage of each one ounce and let him drinke them with sodden Wine Or else take a pint of good Milke and put therein of Oyle foure ounces of Saffron one scruple of Myrrhe two scruples of the seede of Smallage a spoonefull and make him drinke that or make him this drinke Take of Aristoloch otherwise called round Hartwoâ—t one ounce of Gention of Isop of Wormwoode of Sothernwood of each one ounce of dry fat Figs sixe ounces of the seede of Smallage three ounces of Rue a handfull boile them all in a cleane vessell with Riuer Water vntill the third part be consumed and when you see it looke blacke and thicke take it from the fire straine it and giue the Horsse to drinke thereof lukewarme As touching his dyet let his water be alwaies lukewarme wherein would be put a little Wheat meale and remember to giue him no meate so long as his fit continueth And because in all Agues it is good to quicken the naturall heate of the Horsse by rubbing and fretting his body it shall not be amisse in some faire day to vse this friction called of the ancient writers Apotorapie which is made in this sort Take of Damaske Roses one pound of olde Oyle a pinte of strong vineger a pinte and a halfe of Mintes and Rue beaten into powder of each one ounce and a halfe together with one olde dry Nut beate them and mingle them together then being strained and made lukwarme rub and chafeal the horses body therewith against the haire vntill he beginneth to sweate then set him vp in the warmest place of the stable and couer him well Of the Feuer which commeth of raw digestion or of repletion YOu shall know if the Feuer proceedeth of any such cause by these signes heere following The Horsse will blow at the nose more then hee is accustomed to doe seemeth to fetch his winde onely at his nose and his breath will bee short hot and dry you shall see his flanks walke and his backe to beate The cure Cause him to be let blood aboundantly in the head and palat of his mouth and by squirting warme vineger in the morning into his nostrils force him to neese and if hee bee costiue let his fundament be raked or else giue him a glister to ease the paine in his head And as touching his dyet giue him but little prouender or hay neither let him drink much nor often but betwixt times But in any wise let him be well rubbed and chafed and that a good while together and if you vse the friction declared in the last chapter before in such sort as there is said it shall do him very much good Of the Feuer accidentall comming of some vlcer in the mouth or throat THe Horsse not being well kept and gouerned after that he hath beene let blood in the vpper partes yea and also besides that of his owne nature is subiect vnto the distillation in his throate or partes there about the painefull swelling or vlcer wherof causeth the Horsse to fall into a grieuous Ague Whereof besides the former remedies apt to purge humors it shall be necessary also to let him bloode in the vaine of the head and in the palat of his mouth and to bee short in all those places where the disease causeth most griefe And if
a straw deep so as both ends may meet vpon the breast then make a hole in his forehead hard vnder the fore-top and thrust in a cornet vpwarde betwixt the skin and the flesh a handfull deepe then put in a Goose feather doubled in the midst and annointed with Hogs-greace to keepe the hole open to the intent the matter may run out the space of ten daies But euery day during that time the hole must be clensed once and the feather also clensed and fresh annointed and so put in again And once a day let him stand vpon the bit one houre or two or be ridden two or three miles abroad by such a one as wil beare his head and make him to bring it in But if the Cricke be such as the Horsse cannot holde his necke straite but cleane awry as I haue seene diuers my selfe then I thinke it not good that the Horsse be drawne with a hot iron on both sides of the necke but onely on the contrary side As for example if he bend his head toward the right side then to draw him as is a foresaid onely on the lefte side and to vse the rest of the cure as is aboue saide and if neede bee you may splent him also with handsome staues meete for the purpose to make his necke stand right Of Wennes in the neck A Wen is a certaine kirnell like a tumor of swelling the inside whereof his hard like a gristle and spongious like a skin ful of wrets Of Wens some be great and some be small Againe some be very painefull and some not paineful at all The Physitians say that they proceede of grosse and vicious humors but Vegetius saith that they chance to a Horsse by taking cold or by drinking of waters that be extreame cold The cure according to Martin is thus take of Mallowes Sage and red nettles of each one handful boile them in running water and put therunto a litle butter and hony and when the herbs be soft take them out and all to bruise them and put thereunto of oile of Bay two ounces and two ounces of Hogs-greace and warme them together ouer the fire mingling them well together that done plaister it vpon a piece of leather so big as the Wen and lay it to so hot as the Horse may endure it renewing it euery day in such sort the space of eight daies and if you perceiue that it will come to no head then lance it from the midst of the Wen downward so deep as the matter in the bottom may be discouered and let out that doone heale it vp with this salue take of Turpentine a quarter and wash it nine times in faire new water then put thereunto the yolk of an egge and a little English Saffron beaten into powder and make a taint or rowle of Flax and dip it in that ointment and lay it vnto the sore renewing the same euery day once vntil it be whole Of swelling in the necke after bloodletting THis may come of the fleame being rusty and so causing the vaine to rankle or else by meanes of some cold wind striking suddainely into the hole The cure according to Martin is thus First annoint it with oyle of Camomell warmed and then lay vpon it a little hay wet in cold water and bind it about it with a cloth renewing it euery day the space of fiue daies to see whether it wil grow to a head or else vanish away If it grow to a head then giue it a slit with a lancet and open it with a Cornet that the matter may come out Then heale it vp by tainting it with Flax dipt in Turpentin and Hogs-greace molten together dressing it so once a day vntil it be whole How to staunch blood IF a Horsse be let blood when the signe is in the necke the vaine perhaps will not leaue bleeding so soone as a man would haue it which if any such thing chance then Russius saith it is good to binde thereunto a little new Horse dung tempered with chalke and strong vineger and not to remooue it from thence the space of three daies or else to lay thereunto burnt silke felt or cloath for al such things wil staunch blood Of the falling of the Crest THis commeth for the most part of pouerty Blundevile and specially when a fat Horse falleth away sodainely The cure according to Martin is thus Draw his Crest the deepnes a straw on the contrary side with a hot iron the edge of which iron would be halfe an inch broad and make your beginning and ending somewhat beyond the fall so as the first draught may go all the way hard vppon the edge of the mane euen vnderneath the rootes of the same bearing your hand right downward into the neckeward then answer that with another draught beneath so far distant from the first as the fal is broad compassing as it were al the fall but stil on the contrary side and betwixt those two draughts right in the midst draw a third draught then with a button iron of an inch about burne at each end a hole and also in the space betwixt the draughts make diuers holes distant three fingers broade one from another that done to slake the fire annoint it euery day once for the space of nine daies with a feather dipt in fresh butter moulten Then take Mallowes and Sage of each one a handfull boile them well in running water and wash the burning away vntill it be raw flesh then dry it vp with this powder Take of hony halfe a pinte and so much vnslect lime as wil make that hony thicke like paast then hold it in a fire-pan ouer the fire vntil it be baked so hard as it may be made in powder and sprinkle that vpon the sore places Of the falling of the Crest THe falling of the Crest is occasioned most commonly through pouerty yet somtimes I haue seen it chance through the il proportion of the crest Markham which being hye thicke and heauy the necke thin and weake vnderneath is not able to support or sustaine it vp how euer it be there is remedy for both if it proceede of pouerty first try by good keeping to get it vp againe but if it wil not rise or that the originall of the disease be in the il fashion of the crest then let this be the cure First with your hand raise vp the Crest as you would haue it stand or rather more to that side from which it declineth then take vp the skin betweene your fingers on that side from which the Crest swarueth and with a sharpe knife cut away the breadth of very neere an inch and the length of foure inches which doone stitche vp the skinne together againe with three or foure stitches and by meanes of strings weights or other deuises keepe the crest perforce leaning on that side applying thereunto a plaister of Deeres sewet and Turpentine boiled together till the sore
faire water vntil the barly begin to burst and boile therewith of bruised Licoras of Annis-seedes or Raisins of each one pound then straine it and to that liquor put of hony a pinte and a quarterne of Sugar candy and keepe it close in a pot to serue the horse therwith foure seuerall mornings and cast not away the sodden barly with the rest of the strainings but make it hot euery day to perfume the horse withal being put in a bag and tyed to his hed and if the horse will eat of it it shal do him the more good And this perfuming in winter season would be vsed about ten of the clocke in the morning when the Sun is of some height to the intent the horse may be walked abroad if the Sun shine to exercise him moderatly And vntill his cough weare away faile not to giue him warm water with a little ground mault And as his cough breaketh more and more so let his water euery be lesse warmed then other Of the dry cough THis seemeth to come of some grosse and tough humor cleauing hard to the hollow places of the lungs which stoppeth the wind-pips so as the horse cannot easily draw his breath and if it continue it wil either grow to the pursick or else breake his wind altogether The signs be these He wil cough both often drily and also vehemently without voiding at the nose or mouth The cure according to Martin is in this sort Take a close earthen pot and put therein three pints of strong vineger and foure egs shels and all vnbroken and foure Garlike heads cleane pilled and bruised and set the pot being very close couered in some warme dunghill and there let it stand a whole night and the next morning with your hand take out the egges which will be so soft as silke and lay them by vntill you haue strained the Garlike and Vineger through a faire cloath then put to that liquor a quarterne of hony and halfe a quarterne of Sugarcandy and two ounces of Lycoras and two ounces of Annis-seedes beaten al into fine powder And then the Horsse hauing fasted al the night before in the morning betwixt seuen and eight of the clocke open his mouth with a cord and whorle therein one of the egges so as he may swallow it downe and then immediately poure in after it a horneful of the aforesaide drinke being first made lukewarme and cast in another egge with another horne full af drinke and so continue to do vntill he hath swallowed vp all the egges and drunke vp all the drinke and then bridle him and couer him with warmer cloathes then he had before and bring him into the stable and ther let him stand on the bit at the bare rack wel littered vp to the belly the space of two houres Then vnbit him and if it be in winter offer him a handfull of wheaten straw if in summer giue him grasse and let him eat no hay Blundevilâ— vnlesse it be very wel dusted and sprinkled with water and giue him not much thereof And therefore you shal need to giue him the more prouender which also most be wel clensed of al filth and dust and giue him no water the space of 9. daies And if you perceiue that the cough doth not weare away then if it be in winter purge him with these pilles Take of lard two pound laid in water two houres then take nothing but the cleane fat thereof and stamp it in a morter and thereto put of Licoras of Annis-seeds of Fenegreeke of each beaten into powder three ounces of Aloes in powder two ounces of Agerick one ounce Knead these together like paast and make thereof six bals as big as an egge Then the horse hauing fasted ouer night giue him the next morning these pilles one after another anointed with hony and oile mingled together in a platter and to the intent he may swallow them down whether he wil or not when you haue opened his mouth catch hold of his tong and hold it fast while you whirle in one of the pilâ— that done thrust it into his throat with a roling-pin then let his tongue go vntill he hath swallowed it downe then giue him in like manner all the rest of the pilles and let him stand on the bit warme cloathed and littered the space of three houres at the least and after that giue him a little wet hay and warme water with a little ground mault in it to drinke and let him drinke no other but warme water the space of a weeke And now and then in a faire sunny day it shall be good to trot him one houre abroad to breath him Of the fretized broken and rotten lungs THis proceedeth as Absirtus and Theomnestus saith either of an extreame cough or of vehement running or leaping or of ouer greedy drinking after great thirst for the lungs be inclosed in a very thin filme or skin and therefore easie to be broken which if it be not cured in time doth grow to apostumation and to corruption oppressing all the lungs which of old Authors is called Vomica and Suppâ—ratio But Theomnestus saith that broken lungs and rotten lungs be two diuers diseases and haue diuers signes and diuers cures The signes of broken lungs be these The Horse draweth his wind short and by little at once he will turne his head often toward the place grieued and groneth in his breathing he is afraid to cough and yet cougheth as though he had eaten small bones The same Theomnestus healed a friends horse of his whose lunges were fretized or rather broken as he saith by continual eating salt with this manner of cure here following Let the Horsse haue quiet and rest and then let him blood in the hanches where the vaines appeare most and giue him to drinke the space of seuen daies barly or rather Otes sodden in Goates milke or if you can get no milke boile it in water and put therein some thicke collops of larde and of Deeres sewet and let him drinke that and let his common drinke in winter season be the decoction of wheat meale and in summer time the decoction of barly and this as he sayth wil binde his lungs againe together Vegetius vtterly disalloweth letting of blood in any such disease as this is all maner of sharp medicynes for feare of prouoking the cough by means wherof the broken places can neuer heale perfectly And therfore neither his medicines nor meat would be harsh but smooth gentle and cooling The best medicine that may be giuen him at all times is this take of Fenegreeke and of Linceede of each halfe a pound of Gum dragagant of Mastick of Myrrhe of Sugar of Fitch flower of each one ounce Let all these things be beaten into fine powder and then infused one whole night in a sufficient quantity of warme Water and the next day giue him a quarte of this lukewarme putting thereunto two or three ounces of
thereunto three ounces of Meâ— Rosatum and wash al his mouth with Vineger and salt If his stomacke be too colde then his haire wil stare and stand right vp which Absirtus and others were wont to cure by giuing the horse good wine and oile to drinke and some would seeth in wine Rew or Sage some would adde thereunto white Pepper and Mirre some woulde giue him Onions and Rocket seed to drinke with wine Againe there be other somewhich prescribe the blood of a young Sow with old wine Absirtus would haue the horse to eat the green blades of wheat if the time of the yeare wil serue for it Columella saith that if a horsse or anie other beaste do loath his meate it is good to giue him wine and the seede of Gith or else Wine and stampt garlicke Of casting out his drinke VEgetius saith that the horse may haue such a Palsie proceeding of cold in his stomack as he is notable to keepe his drinke but many times to cast it out again at his mouth The remedy whereof is to let him blood in the necke and to giue him cordiall drinkes that is to say made of hotte and comfortable spices and also to annoint al his breast and vnder his shoulders with hot oyles and to purge his head by blowing vp into his Nostrils pouders that prouoke neezing such as haue beene taught you before Of surfetting with glut of prouender THe glut of prouender or other meat not digested doth cause a horse to haue great paine in his body so as hee is not able to stande on his feete but lyeth downe and waltereth as though he had the Bots. The cure whereof according to Martins experience is in this sort Let him blood in the necke then trot him vppe and downe for the space of an houre and if he cannot stale draw out his yard and wash it with a little white wine luke warme and thrust into his yard either a brused cloue of Garlicke or else a little oile of Cammomile with a wax candle If he cannot dung then rake his fundament and giue him this glister Take of Mallows two or three handfuls and boile them in a pottle of faire running water and when the mallows be sodden then straine it and put therevnto a quart of fresh Butter and halfe a pinte of oile Oliue and hauing receiued this glister lead him vp and downe vntill he hath emptied his belly then set him vp and keepe him hungry the space of three or foure daies and the hay that he eateth let it be sprinkeled with water and let him drinke water wherein should be put a little bran and when he hath drunke giue him the bran to eate and giue him little or no prouender at al for the space of eight or ten daies Of another kind of surfetting with meat or drinke called of vs foundering in the body THis disease is called of the old writers in Greeke Crithiasis in Latine Hordiatio it commeth as they say by eating of much prouender suddainely after labour whilst the horse is hot and panting Blundevile whereby his meate not being digested breedeth euill humors which by little and little do spread thoroughout his members and at length do oppresse all his body and doe cleane take away his strength and make him in such a case as he can neither goe nor bow his ioyntes nor being laide he is not able to rise againe neither can he stale but with great paine It may come also as they saie of drinking too much in trauelling by the waie when the horse is hot but then it is not so dangerous as when it commeth of eating too much But howsoeuer it commeth they saie all that the humours will immediatelie resorte downe into the horses legges and feet and make him to cast his hooues and therfore I must needs iudge it to be no other thing but a plaine foundering which word foundering is borrowed as I take it of the French word Fundu that is to say molten For foundering is a melting or dissolution of humors which the Italians cal Infusione Martin maketh diuers kindes of foundering as the foundering of the bodie which the French men call most commonly Morfundu and foundering in the legs and feet also foundering before and behind which some Authors doe denie as Magister Maurus and Laurentius Russius affirming that there are fewer humors behind than before and that they cannot easily be dissolued or molten being so far distant from the hart the other vital parts Whereunto a man might answere that the natural heat of the hart doth not cause dissolution of humors but some vnnaturall and accidentall heate spred throughout all the members which is daily proued by good experience For we see horses foundered not only before or behind but also of al foure legs at once which most commonly chanceth either by taking cold sodenly after a great heate as by standing stil vpon some cold pauement or abroad in the cold wind or els perhaps the horse trauelling by the way and being in a sweat was suffred to stand in some cold water whilst he did drinke which was worse then his drinking for in the mean time the cold entering at his feet ascended vpward and congealed the humors which the heat before had dissolued and thereby when he commeth once to rest he waxeth stiffe and lame of his legs But leauing to speak of foundering in the legs as wel before as behind vntil we come to the griefs in the legs feet we intend to talk here only of foundring in the body according to Martins experience The signes to know if a horse be foundered in the body be these His haire wil stare and he wil be chil and shrug for cold and forsake his meat hanging down his head and quiuer after cold water and after 2. or 3. daies he wil begin to cough The cure according to Martin is thus First scour his belly with the glister last mentioned and then giue him a comfortable drink made in this sort Take of Malmsie a quart of Sugar halfe a quartern of hony halfe a quarterne of Sinamon halfe an ounce of Licoras and Annis seedes of each two spoonfuls beaten into fine powder which being put into the Malmsie warme them togither at the fire so as the hony may be molten and then giue it him luke warm that done walke him vp and down in the warme stable the space of halfe an houre and then let him stand on the bit 2. or 3. houres without meat but let him be warme couered and wel littered and giue him hay sprinkled with a little water and clean sifted prouender by a little at once and let his water be warmed with a little ground Malt therein And if you see him somewhat cheered then let him blood in the neck and also perfume him once a day with a little Frankincense and vse to walke him abroad when the weather is faire and not windy or els in the house
thought it came of weakenes as is aforesaide which I would iudge by the waterishnesse of the seed and vnlustines of the horse would giue him red wine to drinke and put therein a little Acatium the iuyce of Plantaine and a little Masticke and bath his backe with redde Wine and oyle of Roses mingled togither Of the falling of the yard IT commeth as I take it through the weakenes of the member by meanes of some resolution in the muscles and sinnewes seruing the same caused at the first perhaps by some great straine or stripe on the backe It may come also by wearines and tiring For remedy whereof Absirtus was wont to wash the yard with salt water from the sea if it may be gotten and if not with water and salt and if that preuailed not he would al to pricke the outmost skinne of the yard with a sharpe needle but not deepe and then wash all the prickes with strong Vineger and that did make the horse as he saith to draw vp his yarde againe immediately yea and this also will remedy the falling out of the fundament Pelagonius would haue you to put into the pipe of his yard hony and salt boiled togither and made liquid or else a quicke fly or a graine of Frankencense or a cloue of Garlicke clean pilled and somewhat brused and also to powre on his back oile wine Nitre made warm and mingled togither But Martins experience is in this sort First wash the yarde with warm white wine and then anoint it with oyl of Roses and hony mingled togither and put it vp into the sheath and make him a cod-peece of Canvas to keepe it still vp and dresse him thus euery day once vntil it be whole And in any case let his backe be kept warme either with a dubble cloath or else with a charge made of bole Armonie Egges wheate-flower Sanguis Draconis Turpentine and Vineger or els lay on a wet sacke which being couered with another dry cloath wil keepe his backe very warme Of the swelling of the Cod and stones ABsirtus saith that the inflammation and swelling of the cod and stones commeth by meanes of some wound or by the stinging of some Serpent or by fighting one horse with another For remedy whereof hee was woont to bath the cod with water wherein hath beene sodden the roots of wilde Cucumber and salt and then to annoint it with an ointment made of Cerusa oile Goates greace and the white of an Egge Some againe would haue the cod to be bathed in warme Water Nitrum and Vineger togither and also to be annointed with an ointment made of chalke or of potters earth Oxe dung cumin Water and Vineger or else to be annointed with the iuice of the herb Solanum called of some night-shade or with the iuyce of Hemblocke growing on dunghils yea and also to be let bloud in the flankes But Martin saith that the swelling of the cods commeth for the most part after some sicknesse or surfetting with colde and then it is a signe of amendment The cure according to his experience is in this sort First let him blood on both sides the flanke veines Then take of oile of Roses of Vineger of each halfe a pinte and halfe a quarterne of Bole Armony beaten to powder Mingle them togither in a cruse and being luke-warme annoint the cods therewith with two or three feaâ—hers bound togither and the next day ride him into the water so as his coddes may be within the water giuing him two or three turnes therein and so returne faire and softly to the stable and when he is dry annoint him againe as before continuing thus to do euery day once vntil they be whole The said Martin saith also the cods may be swollen by meanes of some hurt or euil humors resorting into the Cod and then he would haue you couer the cods with a charge made of Bole Armony and Vineger wrought togither renewing it euery day once vntil the swelling go away or that it breake of it selfe and if it breake then taint it with Mel Rosatum and make him a breech of Canuas to keepe it in renewing the taint euery day once vntil it be whole Of incording and brusing THis terme incording is borrowed of the Italian word Incordato which in plain English is as much to say as bursten Blundevile and might be more rightly tearmed of vs vncodded For when a horse is bursten his guts falleth downe into the cod making it to swell The Italians as I take it did cal it Incordato because the gut followes the string of the stone called of them Ilcordone or Lachorda whereof Incordato seemes to be deriued with some reason According to which reason we should cal it rather instringhed than inchorded for Chorda doth signifie a string or chord Notwithstanding sith that incording is already receiued in the stable I for my part am very well content therewith minding not to contend against it But now you haue to note that either man or beast may be bursten diuersly and according to the names of the partes greeued the Physitians doe giue it diuers names for you shall vnderstande that next vnto the thicke outward skinne of the belly there is also another inward thin skin couering al the muscles the Caule and the guts of the belly called of the Anatomists Peritoneum which skin commeth from both partes and sides of the backe and is fastened to the midriffe aboue and also to the bottome of the belly beneath to keepe in al the contents of the neather belly And therefore if the skin be broken or ouer sore strained or stretched then either some part of the caule or guts slippeth downe sometime into the cod sometime not so farre If the gut slip downe into the cod then it is called of the Physitians by the Greek name Enterocele that is to say gut-bursten But if the caule fall downe into the cod then it is called of the Physitians Epiplocele that is to say Caule-bursten But either of the diseases is most properlie incident to the male kind for the femal kind hath no cod Notwithstanding they may be so bursten as either gut or caule may fal downe into their natures hanging there like a bag But if it fal not downe so lowe but remaineth aboue nigh vnto the priuy members or flankes which place is called of the Latines Inguen then of that place the bursting is called of the physitians Bubonocele whereunto I knowe not what English name to giue vnlesse I should cal it flanke-bursten Moreouer the cod or flanke may bee sometime swollen by meanes of some waterish humour gathered together in the same which is called of the physitians Hydrocele that is to say water-bursten and sometime the cod may be swollen by meanes of some hard peece of flesh cleauing to the thin skins or panicles of the stones and then it is called of the physitians Sarcocele that is to say flesh-bursten But forasmuch as
none of mine Authors Martin nor anie other Ferrer in these daies that I knowe haue intermedled with anie kind of bursting but onely with that wherein the gut falleth downe into the cod leauing all the rest apart I wil onely talke of this and that according to Martins experience which I assure you differeth not much from the precepts of the old writers But first you shal vnderstand that the gut bursten and flanke bursten doth proceed both of one cause that is to say by meanes that the skinne called before Peritoneum is either sore strained or else broken either by some stripe of another horse or els by some strain in leaping ouer an hedge ditch or pale or otherwise yea and many times in passing a carier through the carelesnes of the rider stoping the horse sodenly without giuing warning wherby the horse is forced to cast his hinder legs abroad so straineth or bursteth the skin aforesaid by meanes whereof the gut falleth downe into the cod The signes be these The horse will forsake his meat and stand shoring and leanning alwaies on that side that he is hurt and on that side if you search with your hande betwixt the stone and the thigh vpward to the body and somewhat aboue the stone you shall find the gut it selfe big and hard in the feeling whereas on the other side you shal find no such thing The cure according to Martin is thus Bring the horse into some house or place that hath ouer head a strong balk or beame going ouerthwart and strew that place thicke with strawe then put on foure pasternes with foure ringes on his feete and then fasten the one end of a long rope to one of those Ringes then thread all the other rings with the loose end of the Rope and so drawe all his foure feete togither and cast him on the straw That done cast the rope ouer the baulke and hoise the horse so as he may lye flatte on his backe with his legs vpward without struggling Then bath his stones well with warme Water and Butter molten togither and the stones being somewhat warme and wel mollified raise them vp from the body with both your hands being closed by the fingers fast togither and holding the stones in your hands in such manner worke downe the gut into the body of the horse by striking it downward continually with your two thumbs one labouring immediately after another vntill you perceiue that side of the stone to bee so so smal as the other and hauing so discorded that is to say returnd the gut into his right place take a list of two fingers broad throughly annointed with fresh butter and tie his stones both togither with the same so nigh as may bee not ouer hard but so as you may put your finger betwixt That done take the horse quietly down and lead him faire and softly into the stable whereas he must stand warme and not be stirred for the space of 3. weekes But forget not the next day after his discording to vnloosen the list and to take it away and as wel at that time as euery day once or twice after to cast a dish or two of cold water vp into his cods and that wil cause him to shrinke vppe his stones and thereby restraine the gut from falling downe and at the three weekes end be sure it were not amisse to geld the stone on that side away so shall he neuer be encorded againe on that side But let him not eat much nor drinke much and let his drinke be alwayes warme Of the botch in the graines of a horse IF a horse be full of humours and then suddenly laboured the humours will resort into the weakest parts and there gather together and breede a botch and especially in the hinder parts betwixt the thighes not farre from the cods The signes be these The hinder legges wil be al swollen and especially from the houghes vpwarde and if you feele with your hand you shal find a great kind of swelling and if it be round and hard it wil gather to a head The cure according to Martin is thus First ripe it with a plaister take of Wheat-flower of Turpentine and of hony of each like quantity stirring it together to make a stiffe plaister and with a cloth lay it vnto the sore renewing it euery day once vntil it breake or waxe soft and then launce it as the matter may runne downeward Then taint it with Turpentine and Hogges greace moulten togither renewing it euery daye once vntil it be whole Of the diseases incident to the wombe of a Mare and specially of barrennesse IT seemeth by some writers that the wombe of a Mare is subiect to certaine diseases though not so many as the wombe of a Woman as to ascent descent falling out convulsion barrennesse aborsment yea Aristotle and others do not let to write that menstrual blood doth naturally void from the Mare as from the Woman though it bee so little in quantity as it cannot be well perceiued But sith none of mine Authors haue written thereof to any purpose nor any Ferrer of this time that I knowe haue had any experience in such matters I wil passe them all ouer with silence sauing barrennes whereof I promised before in his due place to declare vnto you the causes and such kind of cure for the same as the old writers haue taught A Mare then may be barren through the vntemperatenesse of the wombe or matrix aswell for that it is too hot and fiery or else to cold and moist or too dry or else too short or too narrow or hauing the necke thereof turned awry or by meanes of some obstruction or stopping in the matrix or for that the mare is too fat or too leane and many times mares goe barren for that they be not well horsed Wel the cure of barrennesse that commeth through the fault of the matrixe or wombe according to the old writers is thus Take a good handful of Leekes stamp them in a morter with halfe a glasseful of wine then put thereunto twelue Flies called of the Apothecaries Cantharides of diuers colours if they may be gotten then straine altogether with a sufficient quantity of water to serue the mare therewith two daies together by powring the same into her nature with a horn or glister-pipe made of purpose and at the end of three daies next following offer the horse vnto her that should couer her and immediately after that she is couered wash her nature twice together with cold water Another receipt for the same purpose TAke of Nitrum of sparrowes dung and Turpentine of each a like quantitye well wrought together and made like a suppository and put that into her nature and it wil cause her to desire the horse and also to conceiue Hippocrates saith that it is good also to put a nettle into the horses mouth that should couer her Of the Itch Scabbe and manginesse in the taile and falling
hogs greace Then bring him into the stable and let him rest the space of 9. daies but let him lye down as little as may be and put on a pasterne on the sore leg so as it may be bound with a cord vnto the foot of the manger to keepe that legge alwaies whilest he standeth in the stable more forward then the other And at the nine daies end take out the prickes and annoint the sore places with a litle Dialthea or with hogs grease and then turn him out to grasse Of the swelling of the forelegs after great labor GReat labor and heat causeth humors to resort down into the legs making them swel The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Bath them with buttered beere or els with this bath here following take of Mallovves 3. handfuls a rose cake Sage one handful boile them together in a sufficient quantity of vvater and vvhen the Mallovves bee soft put in halfe a pound of butter and halfe a pinte of Sallet-oile and then being somewhat vvarme vvash the svvelling thervvith euery day once the space of three or 4. daies And if the swelling wil not go away with this then take Wine lees and Cumin and boile them together and put thereunto a little wheate-flower and charge al the swelling therewith and walke him often and if it will not serue then take vp the great veine aboue the knee on the inside suffering him not to bleed from aboue but al from beneath Of the Foundering in the forelegs THe cause of this griefe is declared before in the Chapter of foundering in the body whereas I shewed you that if a horse be foundred in the body the humors wil immediatly resort downe into his legs as Martin saith within the space of 24. houres and then the horse wil go crovching al vpon the hinder legs his forelegs being so stiffe as he is not able to bow them The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sort Garter each leg immediatly one handful aboue the knee with a list good and hard and then walke him or chafe him and so put him in a heat and being somewhat warmed let him blood in both the breast vaines reseruing the blood to make a charge withal in this manner Take of that bloode two quartes and of Wheate-flower halfe a pecke and sixe Egges shelles and all of bole Armony halfe a pounde of Sanguis Draconis halfe a quarterne and a quarte of stronge Vineger mingle them altogether and charge all his shoulders Breast Backe Loynes and Forelegges therewith and then walke him vpon some hard ground suffering him not to stand still and when the charge is dry refresh it againe And hauing walked him three or 4. houres together lead him into the stable and giue him a little warm water with ground mault in it and then a litle hay and prouender and then walke him againe either in the house or else abroad and continue thus the space of foure daies and when all the charge is spent couer him well with a housing cloth and let him both stand lye warme and eat but little meat during the foure daies But if you see that at the foure daies end he mendeth not a whit then it is a sign that the humor lies in the foot for the which you must search with your butter paring all the soles of the fore-feete so thin as you shall see the water yssue through the sole That done with your butter let him blood at both the toes and let him bleede well The stop the veine with a little hogs-grease and then tacke on the shooes and Turpentine molten together and laid vpon a little Flax and cram the place where you did let him blood hard with tow to the intent it may be surely stopt Then fil both his feet with hogs grease and bran fried together in a stopping Pan so hot as is possible And vpon the stopping clap a piece of leather or else two splents to keepe the stopping And immediatly after this take two Egges beat them in a dish and put therto bole Armony and bean-flower somuch as wil thicken the same and mingle them wel together make therof two plaisters such as may close each foot round about somwhat aboue the cronet and bind it fast with a list or roler that it may not fall away nor be remoued for the space of three daies but let the sole be clensed and new stopped euery day once and the cronets to be remoued euery two daies continuing so to do vntill it be whole During which time let him rest vnwalked for feare of loosening his hooues But if you see that he begin to amend you may walke him faire and softly once a day vpon some soft ground to exercise his legs and feet and let him not eat much nor drink cold water But if this fundering breake out aboue the hooue which you shal perceiue by the loosenesse of the coffin aboue by the cronet then when you pare the sole you must take al the fore-part of the sole cleane away leauing the heeles whole to the intent the humors may haue the freer passage downeward and then stop him and dresse him about the cronet as is before said Of Foundring OF all other sorances Foundering is soonest got and hardlyest cured yet if it may be perceiued in twenty and foure houres Markham and taken in hand by this meanes heereafter prescribed it shal be cured in other twenty and foure houres notwithstanding the same receit hath cured a horse that hath bin foundred a year more but then it was longer in bringing it to passe Foundering commeth when a horse is heated being in his grease and very fat and taketh thereon a suddaine cold which striketh downe into his legs and taking away the vse and feeling thereof The signe to know it is the horse cannot go but wil stand cripling with al his foure legs together if you offer to turne him he wil couch his buttocks to the ground and some Horses haue I seene sit on their buttocks to feede The cure is thus Let him blood of his two breast vaines of his two shackle vains and of his two vaines aboue the cronets of his hinder hooues if the vaines wil bleed take from them 3. pints at least if they wil not bleed then open his neck vain and take so much from thence Saue the blood and let one stand by and stir it as he bleeds lest it grow into lumps when he hath don bleeding take as much wheat-flower as wil thicken the blood the whits of 20. Egges and three or foure yolkes then take a good quantity of Boleaâ— minacke and a pinte of strong vineger incorporate al these wel together and withal charge his backe necke head and eares then take two long rags of cloath and dip in the same charge and withal garter him so straite as may be aboue both his knees of his forelegs then let his keeper take him out to some stony
ointment made of old Lard Sope and gray Salt for that will eat out the coare and cause it to rot and so fall out of the one accord Of the Canker called of the Italian Il Canero A Canker is a filthy creeping vlcer fretting and gnawing the flesh in gret breadth In the beginning it is knotty much like a Farcine Blundevile and spreadeth it selfe into diuers places and being exulcerated gathereth togither in length into a wound or sore This proceedeth of a melancholy and filthy blood ingendered in the body which if it be mixt with Salt humors it causeth the more painefull and greeuous exulceration and sometime it commeth of some filthy wound that is not cleanly kept the corrupt matter whereof cankereth other clean parts of the body It is easie to be knowne by the description before The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Frst let him blood in those vaines that be next the sore and take inough of him Then take of Alum halfe a pound of greene Coporas and of white Coporas of each one quarterne and a good handfull of Salt boile all these things togither in faire running water from a pottle to a quart And this water being warme wash the sore with a cloath and then sprinkle thereon the powder of vnslecked lime continuing so to do euery day once the space of fifteen daies and if you see that the lime do not mortifie the ranke flesh and keepe it from spreading any further then take of blacke Sope halfe a pounde of Quicke-siluer halfe an ounce and beate them together in a pot vntill the Quicke-siluer be so well mingled with the Sope as you can perceiue none of the Quicke-siluer in it And with an yron slice after that you haue washed the sore with the stronge water aforesaide couer the wound with this ointment continuing thus to do euery day once vntill the Canker leaue spreading abroad And if it leaue spreading and that you see the ranke flesh is mortified and that the edges begin to gather a skin then after the washing dresse it with the lime as before continuing so to vntil it be whole And in the dressing suffer no filth that commeth out of the sore to remaine vppon any whole place about but wipe it cleane away or else wash it away with warme water And let the horse during this cure be as thinly dieted as may be and thoroughly exercised Of the Fistula called of the Italians Fistula A Fistula is a deepe hollowe crooking vlcer and for the most part springes of maligne humors ingendered in some wound sore or canker not throughly healed It is easie to know by the description before The cure according to Martin is thus Firste search the depth of it with a quill or with some other instrument of lead that may be bowed euery way meet for the purpose For vnlesse you find the bottome of it it wil be very hard to cure And hauing found the bottome if it be in such a place as you may boldely cut and make the way open with a launcet or rasor then make a slit right against the bottome so as you may thruste in your finger to feele whether there be any bone or gristle perished or spungy or loose flesh which must be gotten out and then taint it with a taint of flaxe dipt in this ointment Take of hony a quarterne and of Verdigrease one ounce beaten into powder Boile them together vntill it looke redde stirring it continually least it runne ouer and being luke warme dresse the taint wherewith and bolster the taint with a bolster of flax And if it be in such a place as the taint cannot conueniently be kept in with a band then fasten on each side of the hole two ends of Shoomakers thread right ouer the bolster to keepe in the taint which ends may hang there as two laces to tye and vntie at your pleasure renewing the taint euery day once vntill the sore leaue mattering And then make the taint euery day lesser and lesser vntill it be whole And close it vp in the end by sprinckling thereon a little slect lime But if the Fistula be in such a place as a man can neither cut right against the bottome or nigh the same then there is no remedy but to poure in some strong water through some quill or such like thing so as it may goe to the very bottome and dry vp all the filthy matter dressing him so twice a day vntill the horse be whole Of an Aubury THis is a great spungy Wart full of blood called of the Italians Moro or Selfo which may grow in any place of the body and it hath a root like a Cocks stone The cure according to Martin is thus Tie it with a thred so hard as you can pull it the thred will eate by little and little in such sort as within seauen or eight daies it will fall away by it selfe And if it be so flat as you can binde nothing about it then take it away with a sharpe hotte yron cutting it round about and so deepe as you may leaue none of the root behind and dry it with Verdigreace Russius saith that if it grow in a place full of sinnewes so as it cannot be conueniently cut away with a hot yron then it is good to eat out the core with the powder of Resalgar and then to stop the hole with flax dipt in the white of an Egge for a day or two and lastly to drie it vp with the powder of vnslect lime and hony as before is taught Of Wounds VVOunds commeth by meanes of some stripe or pricke and they are properly called wounds when some whole part is cut or broken For a wound according to the Phisitians is defined to be a solution diuision or parting of the whole For if there be no solution or parting then methinkes it ought rather to be called a bruse then a wound And therfore wounds are most commonly made with sharpe or piercing weapons and bruses with blunt weapons Notwithstanding if by such blunt weapons anie part of the whole be euidently broken then it ought to be called a wound as wel as the other Of wounds some be shallow and some be deepe and hollow Againe some chance in the fleshy partes and some in the bonye and sinnewie places And those that chaunce in the fleshy parts though they be verie deepe yet they be not so dangerous as the other and therefore we will speak first of the most dangerous If a horse haue a wound newly made either in his heade or in any other place that is full of sinnewes bones or gristles first Martin would haue you to wash the wounde well with white wine warmed That done to search the bottome of the wound with some instrument meete for the purpose suffering it to take as little winde in the meane while as may be Then hauing found the depth stop the hole close with a clout vntill your salue be
readie Then take of Turpentine of Mel Rosatum of Oile of Roses of each a quarterne and a little vnwrought Waxe and melt them together and if it be a cut make a handsome rol of cleane picked Towe so long and so bigge as may fill the bottome of the wound which for the most part is not so wide as the mouth of the wound then make another role greater than that to fill vp the rest of the wounde euen to the harde mouth and let both these rolles be annointed with the ointment aforesaid Luke-warm But if the hurt be like a hole made with some pricke then make a stiffe taint such a one as may reach the bottome annointed with the aforesaid ointment and bolster the same with a little Towe And if the mouth be not wide inough so as the matter may easily runne forth if it be in such place you may do it without hurting anie sinnew then giue it a pretie slit from the mouth downward that the matter may haue the freer passage and in anie wise haue a speciall regarde that the taint may be continually kept in by one meanes or other as by binding or staying the seine with the ends of shoomakers thread as is aforesaid And if the hole be deep in such place as you may not cut it then make your taint of a spunge and so long as it may reach to the bottom and the taint being made somewhat full with continuall turning and wrying of it you shall easily get it downe and then dresse the wound with this twice a day clensing the wound euery time with a little white wine lukewarm For this spunge anointed with the ointment aforesaid will both draw and suck vp all the filthy matter and make it so faire within as is possible and as it beginneth to heale so make your taint euery day lesser and lesser vntill it be ready to close vp and neuer leaue tainting it so long as it will receiue a taint be it neuer so short For hasty healing of woundes breedeth Fistulas which properly be old wounds and therefore must be cured like Fistulas Of wounds in the fleshy parts VSe the same ointment and maner of proceeding as before And if the wound be large then to keep in the taint or roles you shal be fain to put two or 3. shoomakers ends on each side of the sore leauing them so long as you may tye them together and loosen them when you will like laces Of old Vlcers or wounds TO cure an old Vlcer as Fistula Gall or Botch or any new receiued wound these are the best salues and most approued in mine experience take of hony halfe a pinte of Deeresewet two ounces of Vardigrease beaten into powder as much boyle al these exceeding wel vpon the fire then with the same lukewarme taint or plaister any venemous sore and it wil recure it If you take of wax Turpentine oyle of Roses of hogs-grease of each like quantity and halfe so much Tar as any one of the other simples melt al these together and being well incorporated together either taint or plaister any wound and it will heale it Also if you take the greene leaues of Tobacco bruised and put them into a greene wound they will heale it the ashes of Tobacco burnt if they be strewed vpon anye sore that is neere skinning it will also skin it perfectly and it will incarnate well if the vlcer be not too deepe and dangerous There bee many other salues plaisters and vnguents which I could set downe but since I haue experienced these for most effectuall I omit the others as superfluous Of an hurt with an arrow IF the horse be hurt with an arrow taint the hole with hogs grease and Turpentine molten together renewing it euery day once vntil it be whole Of pulling out shiuers or thornes MArtin saith that if it bee not very deepe sope being laid vnto it al night will make it to appear so as you may pul it out with a paire of nippers But if it be very deep then you must open the place with a knife or lancet and get it out and afterward heale vp the wound as hath beene taught you before Russius saith that the rootes of reed being stampt and mingled with hony will draw out any thorne or shiuer and so will snailes as he saith being stampt and wrought with fresh butter and if the place be swollen he saith it is good to mollifie it with Hogs-grease and hony which wil asswage any new swelling that commeth by stripe or otherwise Of bruisings or swellings MArtin saith First prick it with a fleame Then take of wine lees a pint as much wheat-flower as will thicken it and an ounce of cumin Boile them together and lay this somewhat warme vnto it renewing it euery day once vntill the swelling either departe or else come to a head And if it do then lance it and heale it vp as a wound Of sinnewes cut prickt or bruised Bluâ—â—evile TAke of Tar and Bean-flower and a little oile of Roses and lay it hot vnto the place And if this do no good then take Wormes and sallet-oile fryed together or else the ointment of worms which you shall haue at the Apothecaries and one of these will knit ir againe if it be not cleane asunder How to cure a wound made with harquebush-shot MArtin saith First seeke with an instrument whether the pellet remain within or not and if it do you must get it out with an instrument meete for the purpose Then to kill the fire Take a little vernish and thrust it into the wound with a feather annointing it well within with the feather and after that stop the mouth faire and softly with a little soft flax to keepe the wind out and on the outside charge all the swelling with this charge take of bole Armony a quarterne of Lineseede beaten into fine powder halfe a pound of beane flower as much and three or 4. broken egges shels and all and of Turpentine a quarterne and a quart of vineger and mingle them well together ouer the fire and being somewhat warme charge all the sore place with part thereof and immediatly clap a cloth or a piece of leather vpon it to keepe the wound from the cold aire continuing both to annoint the hole within with vernish and also to charge the swelling without the space of foure or fiue daies and at the fiue daies end leaue annointing of it and taint it with a taint reaching to the bottom of the wound and dipped in Turpentine and hogs-grease molten together renewing it euery day twice vntill it bee throughly killed which you shall perceiue by the mattering of the wound and by falling of the swelling for so long as the fire hath the vpper hand no thicke matter will yssue out but onely a thin yellowish water neither will the swelling asswage And then take of Turpentine washed in nine seuerall waters halfe a pound and put thereon
are killed they call the skins of slaughter-Lambs The best are brought out of Italy and Apulia and al those parts which are beyond Rome Narbon and Spaine yeald plentiful store of black Lambs and their skins are sold by Marchants and white skins are plentifull in England Their flesh is nourishable and conuenient for foode but yet inferior to weather mutton for that it containeth more moysture then heate To conclude this discourse of the Lambe the greatest honour thereof is for that it pleased God to call his blessed Son our Sauiour by the name of a Lamb in the old Testament a Lambe for sacrifice in the new Testament styled by Iohn Baptist the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world There is a prouerb in Greek Arneia soi lelaleken agnus tibi locutus est A Lamb hath spoken this vnto you and it was a prouerbiall speech to expresse a diuine reuelation of some businesse that men cannot attaine vnto by ordinary and common meanes because either it is concealed or else it concerneth thinges to come For it is reported by Suidas that once in Egypt there was a Lambe that spake with a mans voice vppon the Crowne of his head was a regall Serpent hauing Winges which was foure cubits long and this Lambe spake of diuers future euents The like is said of another Lamb that spake with a mans voice at what time Romulus and Remus were borne and from these miraculous euents came that common prouerb and so for this story I will conclude with the verse of Valerius Aspena nunc pauidos contra ruit agna leones There is in Moscouia nere volga a certaine beast of the quantity and forme of a little Lamb the people call it Boranz and it is reported by Sigismundus in his description of Moscouia that it is generated out of the earth like a reptile creature without seede with dam without copulation thus liueth a litle while and neuer stirreth far from the place it is bred in I mean it is not able to moue it selfe but eateth vp al the grasse green things that it can reach and when it can find no more then it dyeth OF THE MVSMON I Haue thought good to reserue this beast to this place for that it is a kind of sheepe and therefore of natural right and linage belongeth to this story for it is not vnlike a sheepe except in the wooll which may rather seeme to be the haire of a Goate Pliny and this is the same which the auncients did cal Vmbricae oues Vmbriam sheepe for that howsoeuer in haire it diffreth from sheepe yet in simplicity and other inward giftes it commeth nearer to the sheepe Strabo calleth it Musmo yet the Latines call it Mussimon This beast by Cato is cald an Asse and somtimes a Ram and sometimes a Musmon The picture which heere wee haue expressed is taken from the sight of the beast at Caen in Normandy and was afterward figured by Theodorus Beza Munster in his description of Sardinia remembreth this beast but he saith that it is speckled whereat I do not much wonder seeing that he confesseth that he hath al that he wrote thereof by the Narration of others Some say it is a horse or a mule of which race there are 2. kinds in Spaine called by the Latines Astuxcones for they are very small but I do not wonder thereat seeing that those little horses or Mules are called Musimones because they are brought out of those Countries where the true Musmones which we may interpret Wilde sheepe or wilde goats are bred and norished There are of these Musmons in Sardinia Spaine and Corsica and they are said to be gotten betwixt a Ram and a goat as the Cinirus betwixt a Buck-goat and an Ewe The forme of this beast is much like a Ram sauing that his brest is more rough and hairy his hornes do grow from his heade like vulgar Rams but bend backward onely to his eares they are exceeding swift of foot so as in their celerity they are comparable to the swiftest beast The people of those countries wherein they are bred do vse their skins for brest-plates Pliny maketh mention of a beast which he called Ophion and he saith hee found the remembrance of it in the Graecian books but he thinketh that in his time there was none of them to be founde in the worlde heerein he speaketh like a man that did not knowe GOD for it is not to be thought that hee which created so many kindes of beasts at the beginning and conserued of euery kind two male and female at the generall deluge would not afterward permit them to be destroyed till the worldes end nor then neither for seeing it is apparant by holy scriptures that after the world ended al Creatures and beasts shall remain vpon the earth as the monuments of the first six daies works of Almighty God for the farther manifestation of his glory wisedome and goodnes it is an vnreasonable thing to imagine that any of them shall perish in general in this world The Tardinians call these beasts Mufflo and Erim Mufflo which may easily bee deriued from Ophion therefore I cannot but consent vnto them that the auncient Ophion is the Musmon being in quantity betwixt a Hart and a sheepe or Goate in haire resembling a Hart this beast at this day is not found but in Sardinia It frequenteth the steepest mountaines and therefore liueth on greene grasse and such other hearbes The flesh thereof is very good for meat and for that cause the inhabitantes seeke after it to take it Hector Boethius in his description of the Hebredian Islandes saith that there is a Beast not much vnlike to a sheep but his hair betwixt a goats and a sheeps being very wild neuer found or taken but by hunting and diligent inquisition The name of the Island is Hiethae and the reason of that name is from this breed of sheep called Hierth in the Vulgar toong yet those sheep agree with the Musmon in al things but their tails for he saith that they haue long tailes reaching downe to the ground and this name commeth from the Germaine word Herd a flocke and thereof Hirt commeth for all sheepe in generall Now followeth the conclusion of their story with there medicinall Vertues The medicines of the Sheepe in generall The bodies of such as are beaten and haue vpon them the appearance of the stripes being put into the warme skins of sheepe when they are newly puld off from their backs Galen eateth away the outward paine and appearance if it continue on a day and a night If you seeth togither a good season the skin of the feet and of the snowt of an Oxe or a sheep till they be made like glow and then taken forth of the pot and dried in the windie aire is by Siluius commended against the burstnes of the belly The blood of sheepe drunke is profitable against the falling sicknesse
Pliny if it be tempered in the manner of a glister and afterwards rubbed vpon the eare-lappes the vlcers being quite purged will procure a speedy cure and remedy The gall of the same beast dystilled with a womans milke doth also most certainely heale their eares which are broken within and ful of mattery corruption The gall of a sheep being mixed with common oyle or oyle made of Almonds doth also heale the paines of the eares being powred thereinto Cankers or the corusion of the flesh being annointed with the gall of a sheep is very speedily and manifestly cured Albertus the Dandraffe or scurfes of the head being annointed with the gall of a sheep mixed with fullers-earth which is hardned togither while the head burneth are very effectually abolished and driuen quite vway The gal of little cattle but especially of a lamb being mixed with hony is verily commended for the curing of the falling euil The melt of a sheepe new taken out by magical precepts is accounted very good for the curing of the paine in the melte Pliny hee saying which may be healed that he maketh a remedy for the melt After these things the magitians commaund that the greeued party be included in his Doctor or Bed-chamber that the doores be sealed vp and that a verse be spoken thrice nine times The melte of a sheepe being parâ—hed and beaten in wine and afterward taken in drinke doeth resiste al the obstructions or stopping of the smal guts The same being vsed in the like manner is very medicinable for the wringing of the guts The dust of the vppermost of a sheepes thigh doth very commonly heale the loosenes of the ioynts but more effectually if it be mixed with wax Marcellus The same medicine is made by the dust of sheepes iawes a Harts-horne and wax mollified or asswaged by oile of roses The vpper partes of the thighes of sheepe decocted with Hempe-seed doe refresh those which are troubled with the bloody flix the water whereof being taken to drink For the curing of a horsse waxing hot with wearinesse and longitude of the way mingle goats or sheepes sewet with Coriander and old dil the Coriander being new gathred and diligently pounded in the iuice of Barley and so giue it throughly strained for three daies together The huckle-bone of a sheepe being burned and beaten into smal duste is very much vsed for the making of the teeth white and healing al other paines or aches therein The bladder of a goat or sheepe being burned and giuen in a potion to drinke made of Vineger and mingled with water doth very much auaile and helpe those which cannot holde their water in their sleepe Galen The skinnes which commeth from the sheepe at the time of their young doth very much helpe very manye inormities in women as we haue before rehearsed in the medicines arising from goats The milk of sheepe being hot is of force against al poisons except in those which shal drinke a venemous fly called a Wag-legge and Libbards bane Otmell also doeth cure a longe lingering disease a pinte of it being sodden in three cups of water vntill al the water be boiled away but afterwards you must put thereunto a pinte of sheepes milke or Goates and also Honey euery day together Some men do commaund to take one dram of swallowes dung in three cups ful of Goats milke or sheepes milke before the comming of the quartern Ague Goates milk or sheepes milke being taken when it is newly milked from them and gargarized in the mouth Plinie is very effectual against the paines and swellings of the Almondes Take a 〈◊〉 of sheeps milk and a handful of sifted Anni-seeds and let them seeth togither and when it is somwhat cold let it be drunk and it is very good to loosen the belly Medicine being made of Goats milke and sheepes milke and so being drunke is very good for the shortnesse of breath Marcellus A hot burning grauel stone being decocted in sheepes milk and so giuen to one that hath the bloody flixe is very profitable to him Goats milke or sheeps milke giuen alone luke warme Furnerius Crescontien or sodden with Butter is very profitable to those that are brought very weak with the passions of the stone and fretting of the guts To wash ones face with sheepes milke and goats milke is very good to make it faire and smooth Euenings milk of sheep that is the last milke that they giue that day is very good to loosen the belly and to purge chollor Pliny The haires of the head of a Dog burned into ashes or the gut of the priuy place sodden in oyle is a very good and soueraign remedy for the loosenesse of the flesh about the nails and for swelling of flesh ouer them being anointed with butter made of sheepes milke and hony An oyle sodden in hony and butter made of sheepes milke and honey melted therein is very profitable to cure Vlcers Old Cheese made of sheepes milke is very good to strengthen those which haue bin troubled and made weake with the bloody flix Againe old Cheese made of sheepes milke taken in meate or scraped vppon it and being drunke with wine doth ease the passion of the stone There was a certaine physitian being skilful in making medicines dwelling in Asia by Hellespont Marcellus which did vse the dung of a sheepe washed and made cleane in Vineger for to take away warts and knots rising on the flesh like warts and kernels and hard swellings in the flesh Also hee did bring Vlcers to sicatrising with that medicine which were blasted or scaulded round about but he did mingle it with an emplaister made of wax rosin and pitch dioscorides The dung of sheepe also doeth cure pushes rising in the night and burnings or scauldings with fire being smeared ouer with Vineger without the commixture of any other things The dung of sheepe being mixed with hony doeth take away smal bumpes rising in the flesh and also doth diminish proud flesh and also it 〈◊〉 cure a disease called an emmot Pliny as Rasis and Albertus say The dung that is new come from the sheepe being firste worked in thy hands and applyed after the manner of an emplaister doth eat away many great warts growing in any part of thy body The dung of a sheepe being aplyed to thy feete Vegetius doth consume or wast away the hard flesh that groweth thereon Sheeps dung doth also cure al kind of swellings that are ready to go into carbuncles It is also good being sodden in oyle and applied after the maner of an emplaister for all new wounds made with a sword as Galen saith Aut si conclusum seruauit tibia vulnus Pliny Stercus ouis placidae iunges adipesque vetustos Pandere quae poterunt hulcus patuloque mederi The dung of sheepe and Oxen being burned to powder and smeared with Viniger is very good against the bitings and
to sprinkle it ouer with sea water and the fat remaining which did swim vpon the top being gathered togither in an earthen vessel to poure the water into the cauldron then must the froath be poured againe into the sea water lastly taken out again this is so often to be done that the fat being consumed there wil not any froath be left remaining the Aesypus then being gathered togither is to be mollified with mens hands if there be any filth therin it must out of hand be taken away and all the water by little and little excluded and being fresh poured in let it be mingled with ones hands vntill the Aesypus being touched with the tongue of any one may lightly bind it but not sauor either sharp or tartly and the fat may seeme very white and then let it be hid in an earthen vessell but let there be great care had that they be done in the hot sun But there are some which vse another manner of way to make the same which is this to clense the fleeces and wash away all filth and presse it forth of the same and boile them in water ouer a soft fire in a brazen vessel then to wash the fat which swimmeth on the top being gathered together with Water and being strained in another platter which may haue some hot water in it to hide or ouercast it with a linnen cloth and lay it forth in the sun vntil it be very white and thick enough Some also do vse another way as this to wash the fat being strained with cold water and to rub it with their hands not much otherwise then women doe a seare-cloth for by that meanes it is made more white and purer There is yet another kind of way to make Aesypus described by Aetius in these words take saith he the greasie wooll which groweth in the shoulder pits of sheepe and wash them in hot water being thick and soft and squize al the filth forth of the same the washing wherof you shall put in a vessell of a large mouth or brim casting afterwards hot water in the same then take the water in a cup or in some other such like instrument and poure it in and out holding it vp very high vntill there come a froath vpon it then sprinkle it ouer with sea water if you shall get any if not with some other cold water and suffer it to stand still when it shall waxe cold take that which shall flow on the top away with a ladle and cast it into any other vessell afterwards hauing put a little cold water in it stir it vp and downe with your handes then hauing poured out that water put new hot water in it and repeate againe the same thing altogether which we haue now taught vntill the Aesypus be made white and fat containing no impute or filthy thing in it at al then dry it in the sun being hid for some certain daies in an earthen vessell and keepe it But all these things are to be done when the sun is very hot for by that meanes it will be more effectual and whiter and not hard or sharp There are moreouer some which gather it after this manner They put new shorne wooll which is very filthy and greasie in a vessel which hath hot water in it and burne the water that it may somewhat wax hot afterwards they coole it and that which swimmeth aboue in the manner of fat they scum it off with their handes and put it away in a vessell of Tinne and so do fill the vessell it selfe with raine water put it in the sun couered with a thin linnen cloth and then we must moysten it again and put vp the Aesypus for it hath strength mollifieng and releasing with some sharpnes but it is counterfeited with wax sewet and Rozen and it is straight waies perceiued for as much as the true Aesypus reserueth the scent of the vnwashed wooll and being rubbed with any ones hands is made like vnto Ceruse or white lead Euen the filth and sweat of sheep cleauing to their wooll hath great and manifold vse in the world and aboue all other that is most commended which is bred vpon the Athenian or Graetian sheep which is made many waies and especially this way first they take off the wooll from those places where it groweth with all the sewet or filth there gathered together and so put them in a brasen vessel ouer a gentle fire wher they boile out the sweat so take of that which swimmeth at the top and put it into an earthen vessel seething againe the first matter which fat is washed together in cold water so dryed in a linnen cloth is scorched in the sun vntill it become white and transparent and so it is put vp in a box of tinne It may be proued by this if it smell like the sauour of sweat and being rubbed in a wet hand doe not melt but waxe white like white lead this is most profitable against al inflammation of the eies and knots in cheeks or hardnesse of skin in them Of this Aesypus or vnwashed wooll the Graetians make great account and for the variety of dressing or preparing it they cal it diuersly somtime they call it Oesupum Pharmaicon sometime Oesupon Keroten Oesupon Kerotoeide sometime Oesupon Hugron and such like Of it they make plaisters to asswage the Hypochondriall inflammations and ventosity in the sides Some vse Aesopus for Oesypus but ignorantly and without reason it is better to let it alone but in the collection heereof it must be taken from the sound not from the scabby sheep But when we cannot come by the true Oesypus then in stead thereof we may take that which the Apothecaries and ointment-makers do ordaine namely Meliloti vnc 4. Cardamomi vnc 2. Hysopiherb vnc 2. with the vnwashed wooll taken frō the hams or flanks of a sheep Myrepsus vseth this Oesipus against all gouts and aches in the legs or articles and hardnesse of the spleene Galen calleth it Ius Lanae and prescribeth the vse of it in this sort Make saith he a playster of Oesypus or ius lanae in this sort take waxe fresh-greace Scammonie old oile one ounce of each of Fenny-greeke sixe ounces then seeth or boile your oile with the ius lanae and Fenny-greeke very carefully vntill it equall the oyle and bee well incorporated together and then againe set it to the fire vntill with the perscription aforesaide and also he teacheth how to make this Ius lanae for saith he take vnwashed wooll and lay it deepe in faire water vntill it be very soft that is by the space of sixe daies and the seuenth day take it and the water together that seeth wel taking off the fat which ariseth at the top and put it vp as is aforesaid these things saith Galen The vse of this by reason it is very hot is to display vlcers and tumors in wounds Dioscorides
number quality and sight of the part or member diseased For if it bee otherwise formed or more or lesse in number or quantity or else otherwise placed then it ought to be then it is not well Secondly sicknesse is knowne by alteration of the quality as if it be too hot or too cold too moist or too dry Thirdly when the action of any member is hurt or letted as when the eie-sight is not perfect it is a manifest signe that the eie is euill affected or sicke Likewise when there breedeth no good blood in the body it is an euideÌ„t token that the liuer is not wel Fourthly sicknesse is known by the excrements that come from the beast as by dung or stale for if his dung be too strong of sent full of whole Cornes or of Wormes too hard or too soft or euill coloured it is a token that he is not well in his body so likewise if his stale be too thicke or too thinne too white or too red it betokeneth some surfet raw digestion or else some griefe in his reynes bladder or stones But Vegetius saith that it is best knowne whether a Horsse be sicke or not or toward sicknesse by these signes heere following for if he be more slow and heauy in his trotting or gallopping harder of Spurre then he was woont to be or spreadeth his litter abroad with his feete often tumbling in the night season fetching his breath short and violently loud snuffling in the Nose and câ—â—ting out vapors at his Nostrils or lyeth downe immediatly after his prouender or maketh long draughts in his drinking or in the night season is now downe and now on foot or if in the next morning he be very hot in his pasternes or betwixt his eares or that his eares hang more then they are wont to doe againe if his eye-sight be dim and his eies hollow in his head his haires standing right vp and his flanks hollow and empty whensoeuer two or three of these signes doe concur together then it is to be thought saith Vegetius that the Horsse is not well and therefore hee would haue him immediatly to bee separated from his companyons that bee whole and to bee placed by himselfe vntill his disease bee perfectly knowne and cured and especially if it bee any contagious disease I haue seene diuers Ferrers heere in England to vse that for the triall of a Horsses sicknesse which I neuer read in any Author that is to feele his stones whether they be hot or cold and to smell at his nostrils and so by the sauour thereof to iudge what sicknesse the Horsse hath Truely I thinke that no euill waie if they can discerne with their sense of smelling the diuersity of sauours that commeth out of his Nostrils and then aptly apply the same to the humours whereof such sauours bee bred and so orderly to seeke out the originall cause of his sickenes But I feare mee that more Ferrers smell without iudgement than with such iudgement and no maruell why sith that few or none be lerned or haue beene brought vp with skilful maisters But from hence forth I trust that my trauaile will cause such Ferrers as can read and haue some vnderstanding already to bee more diligent in seeking after knowledge then they haue bin heeretofore whereby they shall be the better able to serue their countrey and also to profit themselues with good fame wheras now for lacke of knowledge they incurre much slander Of the Feauer and the diuers kinds thereof in a horsse I Thinke it will seeme straunge vnto some to heare that a horsse should haue an Ague or Feauer but it was not strange vnto the men of olde time as to Absyrtus Hierocles Blundevâ—â—e Xenophon Vegetius and such like olde Souldiors thoroughlie experimented in horsses griefes A Feuer according to the learned Phisitians is an vnnaturall and immoderate heat which proceeding first from the hart spreadeth itselfe thoroughout all the arteries and vaines of the bodie and so letteth the actions thereof Of Feauers there be three generall kindes whereof the first is that which breedeth in the spirites being inflamed or heated more than their nature requireth The second breedeth in the humors being also distempered by heat The third in the firme parts of the body being continually hot What spirits and humors be hath beene told you before in the keepers Office Of these three generall kinds doe spring many other speciall kinds as Quotidians Tertians Quartanes Feauers Hectique and very many others whereunto mans body is subiect whereof none of my Authors do treat vnlesse Vegetius who speaketh somewhat of a Feauer Quotidian of a Feauer continuall and also of a feauer Accidentall He speaketh also of Summer Autumne and Winter Feauers without making any great difference betwixt them more then that one is worse than another by reason of the time and season of the yeare so that in effect all is but one Feauer Wherefore according vnto Absirtus opinion I will breefely shew you first the causes whereof it proceedes and then the signes how to know it and finally how to cure the same The Feauer chaunceth sometime by surfetting of extreame labour or exercise as of too much trauelling and especially in hot weather of too swift gallopping and running and sometime by extreame heat of the Sunne and also by extreame cold of the ayre and sometime it breedeth of crudity or raw digestion which many times happeneth by ouer greedy eating of sweet green corne or of such prouender as was not throughly dried nor clensed for after such greedy eating and specially of such meat neuer followeth perfect digestion The signes to know a Feauer be these The horsse doth continually hold downe his head and is not able to lift it vp his eies are euen blown so as hee cannot easily open them yea and many times they be watering the flesh of his lippes and of all his bodye is lush and feeble his stones hange low his body is hot and his breath is very hotte and strong he standeth weakly on his legges and in his going draweth them lazily after him yea hee cannot goe but very softly and that staggering heere and there he will lie downe on his side and is not able to turne himselfe or to wallow he forsaketh his meat both hay and prouender and is desirous of nothing but of drinke which as Absirtus saith is an assured token of a Feauer he also sleepeth but little The cure and diet Let him blood in the face and Temples and also in the pallate of his mouth and the first day giue him no meat but onely warme drinke and that by little and little Afterward giue him continually grasse or else very sweet hay wet in water and let him be kept warme and sometime walke him vppe and downe faire and softly in a temperate ayre and then let him rest and when you see that he beginnes to amend giue him by little and little at once barly faire sifted and