the true knowledge whereof consisteth their preservation I doe hold it a thing most needfull that we doe perfectly know that thing which wee doe cal Generation and Corruption which all Physitians and Philosophers have so much discussed both in their Schooles and Writings and how the body of the Horse like also to that of Man is compounded of the foure Elements viz. Fire Aire VVater and Earth Of the foâ— Elements Fire Ayâ—â— Water anâ— Earth The natures of these four Elements are different for Fire is hot and dry but it participates most of Heat Ayre is hot and moyst but chiefly moyst Water is moyst and cold but most cold Earth is cold and dry but most dry Fire and Ayre are both light Elements and VVater and Earth both heavy Four Humours also there are Of the foâ— Humours Bloud Phlâ—gme Choler 〈◊〉 Melanchoâ—â— which be as it were four Children to these four Elements and these are Bloud Phlegme Choler and Melancholy These foure Humours are attendant upon the four former Elements without which a naturall body cannot be made for Bloud naturally if it be perfect is hot and moyst but taketh most from heat and therfore is subordinate to Ayre Phlegme is cold and moyst but the principall quality thereof is coldnesse and therefore hath reference to VVater Choler is hot and dry but his chiefest nature is heate and therfore is governed by the Element of Fire Melancholy is cold and dry but his chiefest condition is drynesse and therefore subjects it selfe unto the element of earth Now the fountaine of the bloud is the Liver which dispersing it selfe by the helpe of the veines into all the parts of the body nourisheth and preserveth the same Flgme preoccupateth the braine being a cold and spungy substance and the seat of the sensible soule Choller inhabiteth the Liver which being hot and dry maketh a pleasing harmony with the bloud Melancholy resideth in the spleene which is the receptacle and discharge of the excrements of the Liver From whence we may collect that it hath its proper use and end as for demonstration Bloud principally nourisheth the body Flegme occasioneth motion of the joynts and members Choler exciteth and provoketh the body to avoyd it's excrements and lastly Melancholy disposeth the body to an appetite Whereupon all the learned Philosophers doe with one unanimous assent agree in this that in every naturall body there are foure principall instrumentall members The instrumentall members The braine the heart the liver and the stones or gignitors from which all the parts of an organicall body is said to be framed and these are the braine the heart the liver and the stones or gignitors and each one of these doe performe its true function to all the particular members of the body for the sinewes doe receive their sustentation from the braine and these are called animall spirits the arteries from the heart which are vitall spirits the veines from the liver which are naturall parts and the seed-vessels from the stones or gignitors as the place of generation Now forasmuch as I have shewed you the foure elements with their true natures the foure humours with their qualities and the foure instrumentall members with their true conditions It now remaineth that we intreat briefly of the foure naturall faculties which is in every body together with their true attributes The foure naturall faculties To eate to retaine to concoct and to expell The first faculty is to eate the second to retaine the third to concoct and the fourth to expell And to answer to these foure faculties you must understand that there are residing in the body the afore-named humours that is to say Bloud Flegme Choler and Melancholy whereof nature maketh use of the service of but one of these onely to work upon which is an excrement which we doe justly call whey or wheyish-bloud whose engendring is wrought in the liver and so conveieth it selfe into the veines at what time the foure humours doe take from the body that forme and substance it ought to assume and of this very liquor doth nature serve it selfe to resolve the meat and so to operate that the same may passe through the straight caves conducts pores and passages carrying nourishment to all the parts of the body You must therefore understand that the veines are the receptacles for the bloud which is mixed with the vitall spirits so as the said veines have their source or origin from the liver whereby their office is to exhaust from the liver unto the veines the said wheish substance and to inject part thereof through the passages into the bladder and from thence againe forth of the body by which meanes the body is freed from offence and from sustaining domage whereof two of the veines conduct part of the said whey from the liver unto the coddes and so to the seed-vessels where it remaineth with some small quantity of the purest bloud by which meanes the operation of the stones whose quality are hot and dry doe thereby effect a most perfect seed Which two veines nature who is the most exquisite Artist and Quae nihil habet vitii hath planted one in the reines on the right side which endeth in the right cod and another semblable in the left both which take their issue from either of the coddes accordingly besides nature hath bestowed upon the right cod much heat and drynesse so hath she also given unto the left as great a quantity of cold and moysture the right cod by meanes of its heate engendring the male and the left by reason of its cold engendring the female and so likewise is it as well of the female as of the male of every creature But now to come to the heart which is formed with the liver and braine and maintained with the purest bloud which is so excessively hot as whilst the creature liveth if you put but your finger into its hollow part it is impossible to continue it there long without burning or scalding the same from whence it must necessarily ensue that the liver being the fountaine of all the bloud must of necessity have great and abundance of pure bloud wherwith to support and maintaine the structure of the whole body and the vitall spirit of any creature is none other thing than a corporeall fume or vapour to speake properly very pure and subtile begun in the heart by the operation of the naturall heat spread by the arteries and veines to refresh and comfort the whole body which agitative or subtile Spirit proceeding from the heart and vitall spirits being a continuall motion by reason that motion and agitation is the true life therof which continually remaineth in all living creatures But the heart which may be truely and rightly stiled the fountaine of life and heat nature hath assigned it its proper place which is to be scituate in the center that is the middle part of the body from whence proceedeth life and heat into each
and Siccity in mixt Bodyes so to harden and fasten them together as that having once assumed their Shaps it causeth them to retein and keep them which otherwise by the force of the other Elements would be so lax and loose as not to be able to hold together wherein I could produce many familiar instances which for brevities sake I am enforced to omit But the opinion of the best Physitians is that when any naturall Body dyeth the substance thereof returneth back againe to those Elements from whence they came Thus you may plainely see that Fire is naturally hot and therefore separateth Ayre moyst and therefore giveth Shape Water cold and therefore bindeth and Earth dry and therefore naturally hardneth and keepeth its impression Wherefore in any Malady in a Horse observe but this one Rule viz. that when at any time an Inflamation shall arise in the Body be you confident it proceeds of Fire and therefore you must administer if you will performe a right Cure things contrary to that Element to wit what may be agreeable to Ayre and Water whereby to moysten coole and allay the rage of the heat If it be a Flux of Bloud or the like proceeding from the abundance of moysture which takes its origin from the Element of Ayre then must you apply Medicines which may connive with the Eâ—rth whose drynesse may harden such moysture If it proceed of Cold Rhumes or the like whereby the infirmity hath its source from the Element of Water you must then administer Medicines cohering with the Element of Fire and Ayre which may be able through its heat and moysture to expell all cold and grosse humours And lastly if the griefe be Maingenesse or the like which cometh from the Earth which be dry and arid infectious diseases then must your applications be had from the Element of Fire whose nature is to dissolve all siccative humours Wherefore I say againe that heat being too predominant is asswaged by the meanes of moystnesse and coldnesse too great moystnesse by heat and drynesse over-much coldnesse by heat and drynes and too great a proportion of drynesse by heat alone Hippophyl But then tell me I pray you bee there no other Elements or beginnings in Living Bodies more then these foure before named Hippos No Sir not any other which have their beginnings but there are two other which the Learned doe terme proper Elements viz. the Ingendring of Seed and Menstruall Bloud but these I say doe assume their essence from the other foure Elements whereby they become a Body wâ—ich otherwise they could not and therefore are subordinate to them and they take their place after them Hippophil Having spoken sufficiently of the Natures and Qualities of these foure Elements What say you to the Humours Hippos I say that the Humours are also foure in number The 4. first Qualities which Physitians doe stile the first Qualities according as I have formerly intimated and these foure are Bloud Phlegme Choler and Melancholy Bloud being sweet in tast Phlegme neither sweet bitter nor sowre and therefore of no tast or if of any like to that of good Oyle rather sweet then otherwise Choler is bitter in tast and Melancholy is sowre in tast So as by these tasts you may distinguish them and these Humours have reference or neere affinity unto the foure Elements for like as I have before agnized Bloud is of the nature of the Ayre Phlegme of the Water Choler of the Fire and Melancholy of the Earth and these Humours have their particular abode and residence in the body absolute and peculiar to themselves as Bloud hath his abiding in and about the Heart Phlegme in the Braine Choler in the Liver and Melancholy in the Spleene whereby we may the better come to know what Complexion raigneth in every Horse as also how he is naturally qualified and disposed for the Horse that is of a Sanguine Complexion is commonly a Bright Bay who is of disposition joviall wanton or merry agile and of motion temperate neither too fiery nor too dull or melancholy Your Milke-white is of Complexion Phlegmatique whose property commonly is to bee lunt heavy and slow your Bright-Sorrell hath commonly reference to Choler and he is naturally for the most part fiery hot and ever-free-mettled but yet of no great strength Your Mouse-Dunne and such like rusty and sut-colours are commonly of a Melancholy Complexion and they be ordinarily cowardly faint-hearted subject to starting flothfull restife stubborne disobedient revengefull c. but if these Complexions be rightly symbolized and doe all meete in one and the same Horse according to each ones proper nature they doe performe their functions as they ought in a perfect harmony whereby the Horse remaineth sound and healthy but if there be discord or disagreement in the Elements and Humours there must bee the like in the Complexions and then doth the poore horse suffer for it to the danger both of Life and Health Hyppophyl I ever understood that there are certaine Spirits which doe remaine in the body of every Horse doe you know them Hipposerus Hippos Yes I doe and they be said to bee two in number viz. The Spirit Animal Spirit Animal and the Spirit Vitall the Spirit Animal hath its residence in the Braine by which meanes it giveth motion feeling and power to the Horse through the ayd of the Sinewes and the Spirit Vitall Spirit Vitall makes abode in the Heart which is the only cause of the excessive heat thereof which disperseth the Bloud into every part and member of the Body For the Heart and the Braine are in equality absolutely different the Heart being most violently hot as I have before shewed and the Braine is as extreamely cold and so hereof needs not any more be spoken in this place Hippophyl But may not a man conjecture to what infirmities or diseases Horses may probably be subject by their Complections Hyppos Yis Sir very easily yea and that with so great advantage and profit to the Cure if the Ferrier be expert and skilfull in the making and applying of his Medicines The disease known by the Complexion as that nothing can be more For example the horse that is of colour either bright-Bay or dark Bay with a pleasant and cheerfull countenance or if he bee a white Flea-bitten white-Lyard or Black with a white-starre or race downe the face or white-foot if he be of eyther of these colours we hold him to bee of a Sanguine Complection and in Horses of this Complecâ—â—on the Element of Aire is most predominant Of the Sanguine Complexion and they be commonly of nature affable well-metled active and of good strength but the Maladies whereunto they are most usually incident are Leaprosies glanders Consumptions and the like yet these Horses are frequently of so able Constitutions as that they have vigour enough to endure good and strong Medicines provided these Medicines be not too hot but cooling The Horse
Clister i. c. ✚ There be many other good suppositories and Clisters which I have already and will hereafter set you down which be very soveraigne for this malady § 18. C. Hippophyl VVHat disease is that we call the crowne-scab Hyppos This sorance is a scab or crust which groweth upon the cronet or top of the hoofe next unto the hayre it is a filthy stinking and cankerous disease and not onely troublesome but painefull to the beast and it commeth commonly in the winter whilst the Horse is in the Stable like as doth the Scratches and it is ingendred first by reason the Horse from a Colt till he came to be handled was for the most part kept in moyst wet and cold grounds for no Horses are inclinable unto this disease but those that are bred up in such like grounds The signes to know this malady is that the hayre will stare about the coronet and become thinne and brisly The way to cure the same is Crown scab First to wash and bathe the place well so farre as the scab or sorance goeth which is commonly round about the coronet then shave or clip away the hayre close then Take Turpentine tryed Hogs-grease and honey of each like much a little of the powder of Bolearmonacke the yelkes of two Egges with as much wheate flower as will thicken it by working it to a salve and apply this plaister-wise with a linnen cloath to the sorâ—nce renewing it every day once till it be whole but let him not come into any wet during his cure ✚ This is a very good one Another Take old Chamberly and set it upon the fire and as the scumme ariseth take it off then put to it of white salt as much as will suffice and as the scumme ariseth the second time take it away with this liquor wash and bathe the sorance three or foure times a day till it be whole ✚ Another very good which I have often used Take soft sope tryed Hogs-grease of each halfe a pound Bole-armonacke in fine powder as much as will suffice Turpentine foure ounces make all these into one body and so plaister-wise apply it to the place binding it on with a clout that it come not off renewing it daily till it doe leave running then wash and bathe it in vineger warmed till the sorance be cleane dryed up ✚ §. 19. C. Hippoph HOw doe you take away a Curbe Hippos This is a swelling a litle â—eneath the Elbow of the Hough upon the great Sinew behind and above the top of the horne which caused the Horse to halt especially when he beginneth to be hot for by rest it payneth him the lesse it commeth either by a straine or by carrying of some heavy burthen or else he taketh it hereditarily from his Sire or Damme The signes to know it is by the long swelling in the place before mentioned The cure is First shave away the hayre then with an Incle or Filliting bind the Hough streight above the joynt then with a smallsticke beat rub and chafe the Curb Curbe like as you use to doe in the cure of the Splent then with a Fleame or Knife pierce the skinne through in two or three places and so with your Thumbe thrust forth and crush out the corrupt bloud and after convey so deepe as you can get into every hole the bignesse of two barley-cornes of Arsnick and so having bound up the place let it so remaine by the space of foure twenty houres then open the place and anoynt it every day once with molten Butter till it be whole ✚ Another Take Wine Lees one pint a porrenger full of Wheate-flower of Cummine in fine powder halfe an ounce mixe all these well together and being made warme upon the fire charge the place therewith renewing it every day once by the space of three or foure dayes together and when you do perceive the swelling to be almost gone then draw it with your hot Iron and charge the burning with Pitch and Rosin molten together which must be applyed warme to the end the charge may stick on the better and then presently clap on Flocks and let it so rest till of it self it fall away and let him come in no wett or water by the space of twelve or foureteene dayes after and he wil be perfectly cured ✚ Another Take a Barre of Iron heat it red hot and hold it neere to the place till it become warme then with your Fleame prick six or seven holes through the Skinne and anoynt the Sorance with Nervell then take of salt a Spoonefull and of Verdegreace a penny weight in fine powder with the white of an Egge let these be well incorporated together then take a little Flax or Hurds and wet it in this Medicine and bind it to the place renewing it every day once and in short time it wil be perfectly cured ✚ All these receipts I have used and I have found them to be right-good CHAP. VII §. 1. D. Hippophylus WEll now that we have made an end of this Chapter let us proceede on to another Tell me I pray how may a Dangerous Sicknesse come to a Horse Hippos Sir that which you call Dangerous Sicknesse is of divers natures proceeding from sundry causes Dangerous sicknes how it commeth having everyone its distinct symptoms and therefore do require severall remedies wherefore that you may the better know how and when any sicknesse commeth observe I pray but these foure principles following and you shall never erre viz. First that all sicknesse commeth either by heates in over violent exercise as when the Horse v. g. hath his grease molten the heart overchaged the vitall bloud forced from the inward parts and the large Pores and Orifices of the heart so obstructed and stopped that the spirits cannot returne backe to their proper places so as the Organs of the Body cannot rejoyce but by this meanes the body must of necessity languish founder and mortifie Secondly dangerous sicknesse commeth also by colds as by indiscreete or negligent keeping as well before as after long and violent exercise and then is the head perplexed the eyes dulled and pained the rootes of the tongue inflamed and swelled the lunges with rhumes tickled and offended occasioning strong and laborious coughing and the Nosthrills often distilling and powring forth filthy and corrupt matter Thirdly dangerous sicknesse commeth also by surfet of foode either by eating too much or too little of what is good or also of that which is not wholesome so as the first killeth or at least debilitateth the Stomacke oppresseth the Heart and sendeth up those evill fumes into the Head by which are ingendred the Stavars Frenzies and other mortall diseases the second putrifies the bloud and converts all its nutriment into corruption from whence proceedes the Yellows Farcin Feavers Mainges and other such like pestilent leprous and loathsome diseases which suffocating the heart and clogging the Stomacke dilates and spreads
it selfe universally over the whole body leaving no member free and confoundeth every faculty and member thereof Fourthly and lastly dangerous sicknesse comes also by accident as when a Horse v. g receiveth some deep or perilous wound or hurt either in his body or elsewhere in some vitall or dangerous part by meanes whereof nature is so farre offended as that incontinently a general sicknes seazeth upō the Horse which not in opportune time prevented death suddenly ensueth and these infirmities are called by the more expert Ferriers Accidentall feavers for if you be pleased to observe well you shall finde the Horse sometimes trembling sometimes sweating sometimes cold sometimes burning but never in good temper And thus much briefly of these foure points or grounds which be the occasion of most dangerous sicknesse Accidentall Hippoph What meanes hath a man to know the signes whereby to distinguish these severall sicknesse the one from the other Hippos Very easily Sir for if sicknesse doth proceed from the first of these foure principles to wit from heats then are the signes these viz. The heavinesse of his countenance swelling of his limbs especially of his hinder legges scowring and loosenesse of his body in the beginning of sicknesse short and hot breath a loathing and forsaking of meat c. If from the second viz. cold then the signes are a dejected countenance dulnesse or sleepinesse of the eyes Dangerous sicknesse how to know Pustils or hard knots under the Chaule yea and many times inflamed kernels and swellings so high as to the very roots of the eares a rotten or moyst inward hollow cough he many times chewing betwivt his teeth some loose filthy and flegmaticke matter immediately after his coughing which in some cases is not an evill signe by reason that thereby the cold rotteth and goeth away whereas on the contrary side for a Horse to cough cleare and dry doth demonstrate a dry cough which hath long time lurked in his body sorely festring and tormenting him inwardly which is very difficile to cure but at length discovers it selfe by reason the creatures languishing and generall falling away of his flesh for his belly will be shrunke up and when he drinketh much of the same water will issue forth of his nose his eyes will be either watry or materative and runne continually through paine which he hath in his head procured by meanes of this cold and his hayre will be rough and staring c. From the third to wit from surfet by meate either naturall or unnaturall the signes be these a dulnesse of the head eyes and countenance yea and that in such a violent manner so as the Horse will be hardly able to lift up his head from the manger a dull and dead eye and sunk into his head his eares prickt upright and the tops of them cold as also his upper lips and sheath his pace reeling and staggering and if the disease be farre gone he will be of a frenetike and mad comportment as by biting and gnawing the Racke and Manger or whomsoever shall come within his reach and sometimes by biting of himselfe and by beating his head against the wall and floore and other such franticke postures and passions but if the malady be not yet gotten into the braine or doe not occupy that place but that it hath settled it selfe more intrinsecally in the body or heart then you shall perceive by the whites of the eyes the lips and tongue this disease to be the plaine yellowes and if the disease be farre gone then will the Yellowes be dispersed all over the whole skinne and the Horse sweat in the morning when first you come to him as if he had beene sorely ridden or had an Arcticke feaver and have a desire rather to be lying then to stand and when he standeth it will be with his fore-legs straddling the one from the other and he will also have a loosenesse or scowring especially if the Horse hath taken his surfet by eating too many Oates or other provender and by drinking sudden-after which you shall the better know because the Horse will in his ordure voyd some of his Oates or other graine whole as not being disgested by reason that the cold water so suddenly taken upon his over-hasty eating not being all chewed will coole his stomacke and make him to swell besides the Horse will have a generall loathing and forsaking of his meat which is likewise the common symptome of every kinde of surfet and almost every degree of sicknesse The fourth and last ground or principle is that if his infirmity and sicknesse doe proceed from accidentall meanes then are the signes a perplexed and troubled body sometimes sweating at the roots of his eares in the flankes and behinde the shoulders against the heart sometimes he will be taken with a trembling all his body over and sometimes with a glowing and burning in his vitall parts as in the temples of his head against his heart on the inside of his fore-legs next to the body and on the inside of the hinder-legs also his mouth will be dry and hot his tongue will be subject to be enflamed and furred in fine he will have a loathing and aversion from meat but onely that he must eate and a great draught and thirst and a great longing to drink cold water and when he hath drunke what him liketh yet will he neverthelesse desire to keep his mouth continually in the water Many other signes there be whereby a man who is any thing at all skilfull and cautelous may by observing discover when his Horse falleth into any infirmity and sicknesse as when you doe perceive that his countenance and postures do alter from their usuall customes then be you well assured your Horse doth alter and decay in his health Also you must observe his feeding and how he doth eate as whether with a good appetite or with a weake stomacke the first being good the second unkindely and unhealthy as also how he doth discharge or empty himselfe and how his urine and the colour of his doung or ordure doe alter which if his doung or excrements be pale and full of graines then is it good but if blacklsh and dusky according as I have before in its due place handled then be you confident he hath much heate and drynesse in his body by which meanes probably ensueth great and dangerous sicknesse very many other signs of sicknesse there are as the not casting or shedding of his hayre in its due and proper season hide bound costivenesse laxativenesse the clinging up of his belly to the flankes continuall dislike drowsinesse dulnesse and heavinesse when he hath wanted due ordering and feeding c. all which symptomes are so well known to every man as that they need not be handled further in this place Hippoph But now Hipposerus sithence you have thus farre discoursed what are the causes and signes of dangerous sicknesse I would gladly you would shew me how I may
this confection halfe an ounce and dissolve it in Muskadine or sweet Sacke a pinte and a halfe and so give it your Horse bloud-warme and as occasion is profered adde to it of London Treacle one ounce ✚ This Diatesseron is a confection so soveraigne being as I said before an antidote against all infectious diseases it is a present cure for all sorts of Feavers or any other desperate or dangerous sicknesse taking first bloud from the Horse if there be cause § 4. D. Hippoph IS there nothing good besides these in case of desperate and dangerous sicknesse supposing that neither Diapente or Diatesseron can be had Hippos Yea Sir if neither of these may be gotten and that you are fearefull of the life of your Horse then doe I counsell you thus Take of the best Tarre two ounces of honey one ounce Desperate and dangerous sicknes◠blacke sope two drams and bay salt a handfull incorporate all these well together then fill two egge shels the crownes onely being broken so as you may get forth the meat and fill them up againe with this medicine and put them downe his throat and walke or ride him gently up and down a quarter of an houre or more warme cloathed that done set him up warme and litter him well and let his drinke be either Mashes or white water for foure or five dayes after but let him fast three houres after his medicine and let his Hay and Provender bee sweete and good ✚ This I have often experimented §. 5. D. Hippoph I Should thinke Hipposerus that for change Bread were good to be given sometimes to a Horse I pray you what is your opinion thereof Hippos If you meane such ordinary Horse-bread which our common Bakers used to make for Horses which is now long since out of date and use I say it cannot be good for a Horse by reason it was ill made and the Materialls whereof it was compounded nourish very little nay it hurteth a Horse much more than it can do him good for it breedeth evill humours and worse bloud in his body it being made of bran and chisell for the most part with a little course Rye meale to make it stick together and so made up and kneaded with cold water and after the outside of the loaves or roules are rowled in ground or rather bruised pease which can in no case bee good or wholesome But if you have a desire to give your horse bread whereby hee may the better endure labour eyther in his travell or long journeys or in Tilting Hunting or otherwise then if you please to give him this bread which I do heere prescribe you it will give him strength of body be very much helpfull to his winde keep him from fainting in his labour and exercise be it never so sore Horse bread Take Wheate meale Oate meale and Beanes all ground very small of each one peck Anniseeds foure ounces Gentiana and Fenugrick of each one ounce Licoris two ounces let all these be finely powdred and searced and ad the whites and yelkes of twenty new layd Eggs well beaten together and put to the other ingredients and so much strong Ale as will knead it up then make your loaves like to horse-bread but not too thick and let them be well baked but not burned let not this bread bee given to your Horse too new and when you doe give it too him let it be five or six mornings together without other provender and thus you shall have him well winded lusty strong hardy and healthy whereby to be able to hold out and retaine his mettle to the last Also when he is to bee used or employed Take a thinne linen cloath and put therein of white Sugar candy one ounce and as much powder of Anniseeds sew up this to the Bit or Snaffle in a fine linnen cloath when you are to take his backe first dipped in White or Claret Wine and so let him bee exercised or travelled with this in his mouth this giveth moysture to his mouth and stomacke it expelleth inward heat and faintnesse from his body and heart and causeth him to forget his labour and travell for it doth revive his vitall spirits ✚ Another kind of bread I will give you not much unlike the former but somewhat better and a greater cooler Take Wheate-meale one peck Rie-meale Beanes and Oate meale both ground very small of each halfe a peck Anniseeds Lycoris of each one ounce and white Sugar candy foure ounces all in fine powder the yelkes and whites of twenty Egges well beaten and so much white Wine as will knead it into a past make this into great loaves bake them well and after they be two or three dayes old let him eate of this bread but chip away the outside ✚ Hippoph What is the reason you choose of these graines meale rather then flower wherewith you doe make your bread Hippos Sir I preferre Meale far before Flower by reason Flower is much more hot and binding and therefore the courser the bread is the better it is for the Horse and the more wholesome and the reason why I doe put Rie into my latter bread is because Rie is a loosener and a cooler and therefore it will make him the more soluble §. 6. D. Hippoph VVHat is good to dissolve and mollifie Tumors and hard swellings in the Legges or other parts and members of the Horse Hippos Tumors and swellings sometimes comes by heats gotten with over hard riding whereby the creature being over much heat the grease falleth downe and setling in the Legges and other parts doe grow dry and hard this breedeth Splents Spavens Curbes Ring-bones and the like Sorances which in trueth are none other things then proper Tumors besides it doth occasion other knots and swellings which are to be cured after this manner viz. Take of the roots of Mallowes or of Holliocks of each two ounces Dissolve Tumors of Linseed and of Fenugrick of each six ounces of the fat or grease of Hennes or Capons or for want thereof of Neats foote oyle a Wine quart of Waxe six ounces steepe the rootes and seedes being bruised in a pottle of white Wine when it is scalding hoat for three dayes and three nights and the fourth day boyle them in the same liquor and adde thereto when you beginne to set it upon the fire your grease and waxe putting also thereunto of Rosin three ounces then let all these boyle together a good while and at the taking it from the fire put thereinto of Venice Turpentine two ounces and so stirre them together and thus it is made fitting for your use which being well reserved will dissolve all hard swellings and Tumors the Sorances being dayly anoynted therewith ✚ This I have by much practise found to be very good Another Take white Lilly roots Hemlock Mallowes Beares-foote Scabeous Cuccoe-pits of each one handfull chop them small and infuse them for twelve daies together in white Wine
or the like Thirdly we opâ—n the two Pallet veines in the Mouth and thosâ— doe Cure the Lampas and any inward sicknes within the body as the Yellowes Stavers Anticor Surfets Drowsinesse Tyrednesse or wearinesse of the body or if the Horse have any Mâ—lady in the Throat as the Strangles Quincy Kernells Pustills either within or without it many times helpeth Inflamations Glanders or the like for the eating or swallowing of his owne bloud is most wholesome and soveraigne in such cases Fourthly we doe usually open the two Neck veines which helpeth Farcins Yellowes Stavers Scabs Mainges Agues Feavers Colds Surfets Glanders or any other Mâ—lady which may be any way noxious to the inward parts of the body And it also preventeth sudden sicknes if you have any suspect therof Fiftly the opening of the two Plate or Breast Veines doe help the Anticor Sicknesse of the Heart Morfounding which is the foundring in the body by over riding whereby the Grease of the Horse is molten it also preventeth diseases in the Liver Lungs and inward parts grieved and sometimes hurts in the Shoulder which causeth lamenesse before Sixtly we use to touch the two Arme or Thigh Veines before which helpeth Foundring in the Fore-feet Mallenders splent serewe Ring-bone and such like infirmities in the Fore-feet and such other higher parts Seventhly we use to take Blood from the foure Shackle-veines before and this is very good for the Crown-scab Ring-bone and such like diseases Eighthly we use to strike the two Spur-veins which cureth the Farcin in the Sides morfounding swelling under the Belly which is a disease called the Feltrick and the like Ninthly we prick the two Toe-veines which do help Frettizing Foundring Hoof-bound beating of the Horses Feet by riding upon hard and stony wayes and the like Tenthly we open the two Thigh-veins behind and this doth help the griefes of the Kidneys Swellings in the hinder-legs Foundrings Selenders Scratches Kybes c. and it helpeth also diseases in and about the Belly as pissing of Blood pissing oft after great and extraordinary labour and the weaknesse of the Reines the Back Belly Guts or any other the inward parts the Curb Spaven and such diseases which come of ranknesse of Blood Eleventhly wee sometimes doe open the foure Shackle-veines behind and this is very good against foundrings and other paines in and about the feet Twelfthly we let bloud in the two flanke or hanch-veines and this is most profitable for all kind of feavers the stones poverty the felter-worme Thirteenthly we draw bloud froÌ„ the two tayle-veynes which cureth the mainge in the tayle falling off the haire or the itch in the tayle Scown-scab And these are for the most part all the veines which are usually opened or that my selfe have ever known or have seen my Master open which are very great meanes to help these diseases by me mentioned So as the full summe or number of veines which Ferriers use commonly to open are thirty Other veines there are which are of a smaller proportion and therefore not fit to be opened Neverthelesse some Ferriers there are who have fondly reported unto me that they have let horses bloud in many of those small veins but I could never learne for what purpose the same was done let this therfore which I have here set you down suffice for this matter Hyppophyl I have heard you Hypposerus attentively but yet I would most gladly understand one thing which is that whereas you say that the opening of these veines doth help and cure such diseases I would gladly be satisfied herein for if by the opening of these veines the horse will be cured then we may spare much labour in applying drinks purgations clisters and such other things which we usually make and give to horses Hyppos Sir I assure me you cannot be so ignorant as you speake for this opening of veines and bloud-letting doth not alwaies absolutely cure those diseases which I have named but it doth sometimes asswage the malignancy of the malady somtimes it preventeth diseases and sometimes againe it prepareth the body the better to receive such physicall drinks which doe inwardly cure them and such Salves Oyles and Vnguents which doe dry and heale up outward infirmities but that bloud letting doth absolutely cure them I say it doth not howsoever in some cases it may Hyppiat What is that which departs from the head of the horse and serveth him for his principall members Hyppos I have shewed you that already they be sinewes and nerves these sinewes which depart and proceed from the head give sense and feeling arriving in the body of the creature and so diffuse and spread themselves through all the principall members which doe descend from the head unto all the other members which make a conjunction of the bones of the legges of the body and of all the other members Of the boâ— Hyppiat How many bones hath a horse and how are they scituated in the body Hyppos There are in the body of every horse two hundred fifty and seven bones Hyppiat Name them severally Hyppos All the bones which every horse hath whereby to make up an organall body are these viz. hee hath in his head thirty nine and forty teeth the bones in his head doe comprehend the Crocks and Handles of the scull albeit they be composed of parts and parcels of certain other bones also the two flat Handles which form the Palate and the Forke or Throat hath five the chine fifty two the breast one ribbes thirty sixe the fore-legges and fore feet have forty foure and the hinder-legges and feet forty So as the whole structure of the body of a horse whereby to perfect a full building of bones consisteth of about 257. or 259. if they be rightly computed which doe represent themselves altogether at what time the perfect Anatomy of the horse is laid open Hyppiat What naturall composition hath the head of the horse Hyppos He hath eyes to see eares wherewith to heare nostrils to smell or scent a mouth and tongue to taste and eat and wherewith to nourish him Hyppiat What naturall composition hath the whole body of the horse in generall Hyppos The whole body hath its heart liver lungs spleene stones and gignitors all which are called the noble parts and that most justly for when either the one or the other of any of these parts receive hurt or domage the poor beast is in perill of his life except in the gignitors according as I have declared Hyppiat What maladies or diseases are most usually incident to the horse Hyppos Sundry diseases as namely Auynes and Gripings called in French Tranchaisons Foundrings Farcins Mainges and very many more which severally to recite would spend much time Neverthelesse I will handle briefly their natures dividing them into two sorts viz. Moyst and Dry the moyst doe proceed commonly from naughty bloud the dry commeth of heat as the Scab Mainge and such like diseases proceeding from moystnes
or with some sword hatchet Bill or other edge-toole or that you should enforce him to doe more than what nature or strength were well able to compasse or leading him upon plaine ground he might wrinch any member or sway his back or breake his leg either by the stroke or stripe of some other horse or otherwise accidentally or should by misfortune fall downe some steepe precipice whereby he may breake or dislocate some limb or member all these disasters we usually doe call Accidentall and all such things of this nature Hippiat Which be the elements which doe give life and nutriment unto man and all other living creatures Hippos They are foure in number that is to say Fire Ayre Water and Earth whose natures if you shall please I will discusse elsewhere Hippiat No I pray let us have them both now and elsewhere their natures conditions and qualities Hippos The nature of Fire is to be hot and dry Ayre to be hot and moyst Water to be cold and moyst and Earth to be cold and dry Hippiat Doe you know the twelve Signes of the Zodiacke and how they doe govern the body of man and of all creatures Hippos Yes I doe know them all perfectly and thus are they called Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Vrgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricornus Aquarius Pisces These doe all governe the twelve Months of the yeare and are placed above the Zodiack Hippiat Doe you know the names of the Planets and their numbers Hippos That I doe very well and they bee seven in number to wit Saturne Iupiter Mars Sol Venus Mercury and Luna Hippiat What parts doe the twelve Signes before mentioned governe Hâ—ppos Aries governeth the Head Taurus the Neck Gemini the Shoulders and Armes Cancer the Stomack and Breast Leo the Heart Virgo the Belly anâ— Guts Libra the Reines and Buttocks Scorpio the Privy parts Sagittarius the Thighs Capricornus the Knees Aquarius the Legs and Pisces the Feete Hippiat In what dayes is it best for a horse to be let bloud Hippos If there be no extraordinary cause as in case of desperate sicknes or so then Ianuary the third and the fifteene Februâ—ry the fourth and nineth March the seventeene and eighteene Aprill the tenth and sixteene May the first thirteene Iune fifteene and twenty But for Iuly and August by reason that the Canicular-dayes be then predominate bloud-letting is not so good but only in urgent case of necessity In September the eleventh and twenty eight October the eight and twenty three November the fift and sixteene December the fourteene and twenty six And these daies doe wee hold to be the very best unlesse dangerous or sudaine sicknesse doe cause us to alter the same for in cases of necessity no daies are to be regarded or observed For Qui retinente vita et non sit mortis imago Si semper fuerit vivens morietur et infra Hippiat What medicine would you apply to a Horse who may have any of the foure Maladyes Hippos I would give him of the foure Cordiall waters which I would make of Buglas Savin Succary Aquavitae Endife and the like Hippiat How would you make a comfortable drinke Hippos I would make it of certaine Cordialls to wit of Sugar Cinamon Cloves Nutmegs Saffron Licoris Annyseeds all these in fine powder adding thereto white wine and all these infused in a cleane earthen pot and hereof would I make a drinke Hippiat Whereof would you make an operative drinke Hippos I would take white Wine Sallet-oyle Aloes Rubarb Agarick Duke or Duck-powder Hony Cordial-powder and of all these things would I put such a quantity as I should thinke requisite and according to the strength and corpulency of the Horse Hippiat Whereof would you make a laxative Clister Hippos Into a laxative Clister I will put either of Pellitory Melelote or Cammamile but Pellitory is the best and of this would I make a Decoction and to this Decoction would I put Sallet Oyle Hony Aloes and Verjuice of the Crab. Hippiat What be the natures of your principall Drugs Hippiat Agarick purgeth the Braine Allos the Breast and body Rubarb purgeth the evill water and it openeth the Liver and helpeth obstructions and oppilations Aristolochia-Rotunda mollifieth the Breast Liver and Lungs and Bacchalauri or Bay-berries doe mortifie the peccant Humours which doe ingender in the Breast or Entrayles nere about the Heart and Saffron if it be discreetly given doth marveylously comfort and enlighten the Heart CHAP. II. Of the causes of Sicknesse in generall and the causes of Health and long Life Hippiat NOw that we have proceeded thus farre in a discussion of the Office of the Ferrier Let us approach yet nearer to intreate of the Cures and that we may goe on Pedetentim and Gradatim Let us first discusse the causes of Maladies and therefore I demand of you What are the true Causes of the sicknesse of the Horse Hippos Sir that man which hath a desire to become an Expert Ferrier must apply himselfe to understand the true nature of two things viz. of Generation and of Corruption in which I could never find the least discord in the Primary nature of Horses albeit compounded of the contrary nature of the foure Elements But I will proceed in Anatomizing unto you the verity hereof more particularly whereby you may the better understand my meaning Hippophyl But friend Hipposerus in my judgement you begin to assume too high a pitch for ordinary Feâ—riers who are in a manner all or the greater number un-lettered persons and therefore will never be able to understand what Generation and Corruption meaneth for these are termes taken from the grounds of Philosophy and therefore above their Genius or Sphere Hippos Sir there be many things necessary to bee duly knowne and as diligently to be observed in him that desireth to be a perfect and able Ferrier which whosoever shall be defective in he may well be an Empyreticall-Hors-Leach but skilfull Ferrier or Marshall he shall never be And for that you please to say that I sore too high because I began my discourse with the termes of Generation and Corruption if you had not interrupted me I should have explicated my selfe so cleerely as that a very reasonable judgement might easily have apprehended me for I hold it not a thing fitting to pussell mens Braines either with Chimeras which they are not able to understand or with over-long and tedious discourses of things meerly impertinent but if you shall be pleased to heare me with patience I will touch upon this subject to wit What are the causes of Sicknesse in generall as also of Health and long Life and that Laconica brevitate and so leave the rest to your judgement and practise especially considering what other Authours my Masters have so learnedly and no lesse sufficiently intreated in this very Art To begin therefore and but to say what I said before with the causes of sicknesse and death of Horses in generall in
organ of the body by which meanes they are preserved and enabled to perform their naturall and proper function And as touching the cods if the liver be not well stored nay full of pure and perfect bloud neither is the creature able to concoct and digest its meat nor can the cods be hot so as if there be in those parts a defect of heat the seed of the beast cannot be perfectly concocted by which meanes the Horse becommeth frigid and impotent and without any power at all of Procreation And this is as much as need be said of this subject wherein if I have any way erred or not delivered my self so cleerly whereby to be understood as I desire the blame must light upon the great desire I promised to brevity howsoever I have endeavoured what in me lyeth to dilate and explicate my self at full Now will I begin to shew to you what meanes we have to preserve horses from all inward diseases which consisteth of four wayes viz. by Purging Sweating Flebothomy or Bloud-letting and Vomit As touching the first which is Purging it is twofold to wit Cleansing and purging Of outward Purging outward and inward This outward purging is by cleansing the outward parts which must be done immediately at what time you take up your horse from grasse which would be about Saint Bartholomewes day for then the heart of grasse doth begin to decline and therfore after that day the grasse he then feedeth upon breedeth no good but bad and corrupt bloud and so consequently sundry sorts of maladies and infirmities in his body besides the ayre beginneth then to grow sharpe which is also very dangerous yea and most contagious for him and if you suffer him to runne after that time his haire will grow long and rough so as he will not have for that winter any slicke or glittering coat Of this outward cleansing or purging your horse you shall finde taught you in lib. 2. cap. 6. § 6. and the manner how and when it would be done viz in a warme day in the Sunne at what time every part and member of him would be soped washed dryed and cleansed from all manner of sweat scurfe dust dirt and filth yea and that all his whole body over especially his Maine Tayle and Cods who being thus cleansed and made dry again and his yard drawne cleansed and annointed with tryed hogs grease let his eares his Maine just so farre as the top of the head-stall will cover and no more and under the Chaule be handsomely trimmed then pull away by the roots all the smelling haires about and under his mouth and nose and the long stubborn hayres under and about his eyes which done cut away about a handfull of the lower part of his tayle even and decently then cause the Ferrier to shooe him up but let him be carefull to pare him neatly and to open the Heeles and Frush Then cloath him up warme and stopped with small wispes this done annoint all his hoofe with the oyntment having first washed them cleane and made them dry againe prescribed you in lib. 2. cap. 11. § 9. Then let his feet be picked cleane and stoppe him with Oxe-doung Cleansing and purging inwardly Now as touching his inward purging this ought to be done evermore before you put him to any labour or exercise and first let him be raked by causing some one who hath a small hand and arme to annoynt them first with a little sweet Butter or Oyle de Bay but some doe use Sope which I doe hold too sharp and so putting his hand into his fundament let him bring forth all his doung and while he is in so doing let him try to feele for Bots or wormes which may sticke fast unto the great Gut and the place where the doung lyeth which if he finde let him pluck them away gently and by degrees and so bring them all out this done give him the Clister mentioned in lib. 2. cap. 6. § 8. Clist c. 4. and so soone as the horse hath received it Clister-wise then presently clap his tayle close to his Tewell and so cause him to keep it so long as you can and this would be done three or foure dayes before the Full or Change of the Moone The next day after give him his first drink inserted lib. 2. cap. 16. § 14. Drinke 1. Drinke 2. purg 4. the next day following give him his second drink shewed you in liq 2. cap. 16. § 14. Purg. 5. and so follow such directions shewed you in those Rules The next day following you have thus given him his two drinks let him bloud Let bloud if you shall finde the bloud to be very bad take the more from him if reasonable good take the lesse but if very good then draw your cord and so do but give the veyne vent and no more then afterwards keep him with warm Mashes as is taught you else-where The next day after bloud letting sweat Sweat him like as is prescribed you in lib. 2. cap. 18. § 28. S. And if you doe discover any cold in him by any symptomes then give him the vomit Vomit prescribed you in lib. 2. cap. 20. § 1. V. And to prevent any Obstructions in the liver or lungs or his heart any way oppressed or otherwise to preserve the blood pure and from corrupting all which inconveniencies may be a ready meanes to bring your horse to his end give him in his Provender Powderâ— be put iâ— his proâ—der such powders and other Simples which you shall find in sundry places of this Treatise for this will refine his blood and preserve his liver from infection and keep him in perfect health Thus far Sir I have declared unto you what I understand of the Cause of Sicknesse in generall It remaineth now for me to inculcate what are the causes of health and long life which to be briefe are twelve in number viz The first is Nature good digestion 12. Canâ— of healtâ— long life and good Nutriment the second is moderation in feeding and dyet the third is moderate labour the fourth is moderate use of sleeping and waking the fifth is moderate spending upon Mares the sixth is moderate journeyes the seventh is wholesome ayre the eight is not to be exercised too soone after grasse the ninth is to be kept from raw and greene meats the tenth is not to be suffered to eate or drinke being hot the eleventh is not to be either washed or walked at the end of his dayes journeyes the twelfth is to give him with his Provender such powders and simples as are prescribed you in all those Chapters which are by me mentioned Hippiat You have spoken well Hipposerus but I would have you shew me how long life is acquired by these causes which as yet you have not done for you have but onely delivered them in generall heads and termes Wherfore I would gladly know what you can say of
if your horse be poore bare leane Fat horse and feeble so that his stomack be good to meate I will give you a Receit which if you doe duly observe my rules justly as I shall deliver them you shall get him up into flesh in twelve or foureteene dayes First therefore take bloud from him if you do find it grosse or Flâ—gmatick for otherwise he cannot possibly mend then insteade of Oates in the morning you shall give him Wheate branne Bran prepared prepared after this manner Set over the fire a cleane Kettle and fill it almost full with faire water and so soone as it boyleth put in your Wheate branne and so let it boyle a quarter of an houre at the least then take it off and let it stand to coole and about foure or five in the morning give him of this branne so hot as he can eate it then for his drinke give him of the same water and at night give him Oates and white water and let him be kept covered and littered warme but if it bee Summer let not the Stable be too hot but temperate and at night give him with his Oates also the quantity of what you may coâ—vey into an Egge-shell of this powder following with which you must continue him the space of eight dayes or according as you shall see cause You must understand that this branne thus prepared is the only thing which dryeth up his naughty grosse and corrupt humours and doth the better prepare the body to assume lust courage strength and flesh together with the helpe of the powder which is this Take of Commin Fenugrick Sileris-Montani Nutmegs Cloves Ginger Linseed of each two ounce Quick-Brimstone six ounce Fat a leanâ— horse make all these into powder of this powder give him every night the quantity of an Eg-shell full with his Oates as I have before prescribed but he must first be watred with white water which so soone as hee hath drunke let his whole body be rubbed then cloathed littered which being done then give him a small sheafe of wheat straw sweet good and well threshed into his Racke and let him eate thereof by the space of an houre which done give him Oates mixed with his powder which when he hath eaten give him Hay at your pleasure remembring to keep him warm but so as with moderation and let him be also well rubbed especially against the hayre and by this doing in short time you shall perceive him to mend exceedingly but you must put also into his Oates together with its former powder of Nettle-seed two handfuls every time for that is the thing which principally will cause him to battle It will also greatly availe to his amendment if he be ayered every morning and evening an houre after sunne rising and an houre before sunne set if the weather be warme and the sunne doe shine ✚ And this I doe assure you is the most exquisite course can be taken whereby to sâ—t up a leane Horse and to make a poor Horse fat in little time and with small charge §. 5. F. Hippoph VVHat helpe have you for the falling of the Fundament Hippos This malady commeth to a Horse sometimes by cold sometimes through weakenesse and meere poverty and sometimes by meanes of a laxativenesse and fluxe of bloud when straining to expell the Horse is not able and by that meanes the fundament commeth out the cure is Falling of the fundament Take white-Salt made into very fine powder strew a little upon the gut then take a piece of Lard and first having boyled Mallow-leaves till they be soft take of these leaves and beat them well with the Lard and when it is sufficiently beaten make it up like to a suppository and apply it to the place every day once till it be whole ✚ This I have often tryed §. 6. F. Hippoph I Should be very glad to know what you can say of Feavers Hippos Sir as touching feavers in Horses I say that they be as subject to them as man is as also that these feavers are of severall natures which cannot be denied which may most easily be distinguished and knowne if you please diligently to observe A feaver commeth many times either by intemperate riding or travell or else through bad and unwholesome dyet and all feavers for the most part have their sourse from these effects if you adde thereunto evill ayre §. 7. F. Hippoph VVHy Hipposerus how doe you define a Feaver Hippos I define it thus A Feaver is an unnaturall and intemperate heat which beginneth at the heart dilateth it self through all the arteries and veynes of the whole body of the Horse hindring all his naturall motions howsoever some Ferriers are pleased to make of them more sorts then I will question their physicall and learned distinctions for I could never conclude them but in a few as quotidian tertian quartan and pestilent and yet all these be of one nature albeit some more malignant then others be onely a Hectique feaver is of a different nature from the former and so also a pestilent feaver may be Now as touching feavers which come in the Spring Summer Autumne or Winter I cannot see why they should be feavers different in nature from these other for there are not any of these but may come to a Horse in any of these seasons §. 8. F. Hippoph FRom whence doe Feavers proceed then Hippos First Sir you must understand that Feavers are of two sorts that is to say Ordinary and Accidentall the ordinary feavers are those that come of surfets over-riding and labour unwholesome meat as moyst raw mouldy and musty bread corne provender and hay of what nature sort or condition soever but your feavers Accidentall come of some terâ—ible stroke or deep wound bringing therewith insufferable paine dolour and griefe to the poor beast again your ordinary Feavers come oft times by the extreame violent scorching of the Sunne but most commonly in the canicular dayes as when your Horse is abroad at grasse where is either want of water or having such as is neither good or wholesome or else where is want of housing shelter to goe into or shady trees to be under and such kinde of Agues doe prove for the most part either Hectike or Pestilent feavers for by that meanes his bloud becommeth inflamed whereby the humour of choller is predominate Now Sir if you be pleased to observe strictly and carefully you shall also finde that feavers doe come many times also from a quite contrary cause as from cold taken upon hard riding or great labour and by having at such times cold water given him to drink or by washing or walking having sweat much or by being out too late in the gripse or shutting in of the evening or upon day breaking especially neere or among fenny moorish or marish grounds by reason that naughty vapours do arise from such kinde of places Feavers also do accrew to Horses when upon hard