a chafing dish and coales mixt them together giue it the horse to drinke this will cleanse the horses stomacke and bring it to its strength againe But the ancient Farriers did vse first to let the horse bloud in the necke veine because euery surfait breedes distemperature in the bloud then trot the horse vp and downe an howre or more and if he cannot stale draw out his yard and wash it with white wine made luke warme and thrust into his yard either a cloue of garlicke or a little oyle of camomill with a peece of small waxe candle If he cannot dung first with your hand rake his fundament and then giue him a glister of which you shall read hereafter when his glister is receiued you shall walke him vp and downe till hee haue emptyed his belly then set him vp and keepe him hungry the space of two or three dayes obseruing euer to sprinkle the hay hee eateth with a little water and let his drinke be warme water and branne made mash-wise after he hath drunke the drinke let him eate the branne if he please but from other prouender keep him fasting at least tenne dayes There be other Farriers that in this case vse onely to take a quart of beere or ale and two peny worth of sallet oyle and as much dragon water a peny worth of treacle make all these warme vpon the coales then put in an ounce of cinamon anise seedes and cloues all beaten together and so giue it the horse luke warme to drinke All these receipts are exceeding good yet for mine owne part and many of the best Farriers confirme the same there is nothing better for this disease then moderate exercise much fasting and once in foure or fiue dayes a pint of sweete wine with two spoonefull of the powder Diapente CHAP. 58. Of foundring in the body being a surfaite got either by Meate Drinke or Labour THis disease of foundring in the body is of all surfaits the most vile most dangerous and most incident vnto horses that are dayly trauelled it proceedeth according to the opinion of some Farriers from eating of much prouender suddenly after labour the horse being then as it were panting hot as we may dayly see vnskilfull horsemen do at this day whereby the meate which the horse eateth not being disgâ—sted breedeth euill and grosse humours which by little little spreading themselues through the members do at the length oppresse almost confound the whole body absolutely taking away from him al his strength insomuch that he can neither go nor bow his ioynts nor being layd is able to rise againe besides it taketh away from him his instrumentall powers as the office both of vrine and excrements which cannot be performed but with extreme paine There be other Farriers and to their opinion I rather leane that suppose it proceedeth from suffering the horse to drinke too much in his trauell being very hot whereby the grease being suddenly cooled it doth clappe about and suffocate the inward parts with such a loathsome fulnesse that without speedy euacuation there can be no hope but of death onely Now whereas some Farriers do hold that this foundring in the body should be no other then the foundring in the legges because it is say they a melting and dissolution of humours which resort downeward they are much deceiued for it is not as they hold a dissolution of humours but rather a binding together of corporall and substantiall euils which by an vnnaturall accident doth torment the heart Now for the hold which they take of the name Foundring as if it were drawne from the French word Fundu signifying melting truly I thinke it was rather the ignorance of our old Farriers which knew not how to entitle the disease then any coherence it hath with the name it beareth For mine owne part I am of opinion that this disease which we cal foundring in the body doth not onely proceede from the causes aforesayd but also and most oftest by sudden washing horses in the winter season when they are extreme fat and hot with instant trauell where the cold vapour of the water striking into the body doth not onely astonish the inward and vitall parts but also freezeth vp the skin and maketh the bloud to leese his office Now the signes to know this disease are holding downe of his head staring vp of his haire coughing staggering behinde trembling after water dislike of his meate leannesse stiffe going disability to rise when he is downe and to conclude which is the chiefest signe of all other his belly will be clung vp to his backe and his backe rising vp like a Camell The cure according to the opinion of the Farriers is first to rake his fundament and then to giue him a glister which done and that the horses belly is emptyed then take of malmsey a quart of sugar halfe a quarterne of cinamon halfe an ounce of licoras and anise seedes of each two spoonefull beaten into fine powder which being put into the malmsey warme them together at the fire so that the hony may be molten then giue it the horse luke warme to drinke which done walke him vp and downe either in the warme stable or some warme roade the space of an howre then let him stand on the bit fasting two howres more onely let him be warme clothed stopt and littered when you giue him hay let it be sprinkled with water and let his prouender be very cleane sifted from dust and giuen by a little at once and let his drinke be warme mashes of malt and water Now when you see him recouer and get a little strength you shall then let him bloud in the necke veine and once a day perfume him with Frankinsence to make him neese and vse to giue him exercise abroad when the wether is warme and in the house when the weather is stormy Now there be other Farriers which vse for this disease to take a halfe peny worth of garlicke two peny worth of the powder of pepper two peny worth of the powder of ginger two peny worth of graines bruised and put all these into a pottell of strong ale and giue it the horse to drinke by a quart at a time dyetting and ordering him as is aforesayd and when he gâ—tteth strength either let him bloud in the necke veine or the spurre veines or on both to conclude there is no drinke nor dyet which is comfortable but is most soueraigne and good for this infirmity CHAP. 59. Of the greedy Worme or hungry Euill in Horses THIS hungry Euill is a disease more common then found out by our Farriers because the most of our horse-maisters out of great ignorance hold it a speciall vertue to see a horse eatâ— eagerly whereas indeeede this ouer-hasty and greedy eating is more rather an infirmity and sicknesse of the inward parts and this disease is none other then an insatiate and greedy eating contrary to nature and old custome
will be strong and stinke exceedingly The cure of this disease according to the maner of the Italians French men is first to separate the sound from the sicke euen a farre distance from that aire where the sicke breatheth then let them bloud in the necke veines and giue euery one seuerally to drinke two spoonefull of the powder of Diapente brewd in a pint of strong sacke of the composition of which Diapente and of the particular vertues thereof you shall reade in a chapter following If you cannot readily get this Diapente you may then take a pint of Muskadine and dissolue it in two ounces of the best treacle and it will serue the turne Questionlesse these medicines are both exceeding good for they are great preseruatiues against all inward infections yet that which I haue found farre to exceede them and to be most excellent not onely for this plague amongst horses but for the plague or murraine of some called the mountaine euill amongst beasts is this Take a good quantity of old vrine and mixe therewithall a good quantity of hens dung stirre them well together till the dung be dissolued then with a horne giue to euery horse of beast a pint thereof luke warme This haue I seene helpe hundreds CHAP. 27. Of the Feuer accidentall coming by some wound receiued IF a horse shal receiue any grieuous and sore wound either by stroake or thrust by which any of the vitall powers are let or hindred certaine it is that the paine and anguish of such wounds will bring a horse to a hot feuer and then his life is in great danger besides a horse being naturally subiect to moist distillation in his throate there will many times rise therein great swellings and vlcers through the paine whereof a horse will fall into a burning ague The signs whereof are that he will couet much to drinke but cannot drinke and his flesh will fall away in much extraordinary fashion The cure besides the remedies before mentioned is to let him bloud vnder his eares and in the mouth and then to take a fine manchet cutting it in slices steep it in muskadine and compel him to swallow them it shall also be good if once in three â—ayes you steepe your manchet in sallet oyle and make him eate it As for his drinke let it be onely warme mashes of malt and water which if he cannot drinke you shall then giue it him with a horne And thus much touching feuers both ordinary extraordinary CHAP. 28. Of the diseases in the head AS a horses head is composed of many parts so are those many parts subiect to many and sundry grieuances as namely the panicles or thin skins which cleauing to the bones do couer the whole braine are subiect to headache mygram dizinesse and amazes the whole braine it selfe is properly subiect to breede the frenzie madnesse sleeping euill the taking and forgetfulnesse And here is to be noted that many Farriers and those of approued good skils haue strongly held opinions that horses haue very little or no braines at all and my selfe for mine owne part being carried away with their censures did at last vpon good considerations â—ut vp the heades of diuers horses some dead some in dying and I could neuer find any liquid or thin braine as in other beasts but onely a very thicke strong tough and shining substance solid and firme like a tough ielly which I euer held to be onely a panycle and so resolued with others that a horse had no braine but after vpon further discourse with men of better learning I had this solution giuen me That a horse being a beast of extraordinary strength and ability made euen to endure the worst of all extremities either by sore labour or heauy burthen that nature in his creation had endowed him with members answerable to such vigor as namely that his braine was not liquid and moist as subiect to fleet or to be distempered with euery small disorder but tough and hard euen vnpenâ—trable and not to be pierst by any reasonable motion And for the panicles they shewed me those thin skinnes ouer and besides that great substance so that by experience I saw and now know that a horse hath both brain and a panicle and in them two are bred the diseases before mentioned Now in the ventricles or cels of the braine in those conduits by which the liuely spirits giue feeling and motion to the body there do breede the turne-sicke or sturdy the staggers the falling euill the night mare the apoplexie the palsey and conuulsion or crampe the catharre or rheume and lastly the glaunders And thus much of the head in generall CHAP. 29. Of head-ache or paine in the head THe head-ache is a paine that commeth either of some inward cause or of some cholericke humor gathered together in the panicles of the braine or else of some extreame heate or cold or of some suddaine blow or of some noysome sauour The signes are the hanging downe of the horses head eares dropping of his vrine dimnesse of sight swolne and watrish eyes The cure according to the opinion of some of our English Farriers is to let him bloud in the eye veines and to squirt warme water into his nosthrels and for that day giue him no meate the next morning fasting giue him warm water and some grasse at night giue him barley and fitches mixt together and so keepe him warme till he be sound but this cure I do not fancy the best help is first to make him neese by fuming him then let him bloud in the palate of the mouth and keepe him fasting at least twelue howres after then powre into his nosthrels wine wherein hath bene sodden euforbium frankinsence and after feede him and keepe his heade warme CHAP. 30. Of the frenzie and madnesse of a horse THe madnesse of a horse by the most ancient and best approued Farriers is diuided into foure passions the first is when some naughty bloud doth strike the panicle of the braine but in one part onely it presently makes the horse dull both of minde and sight and you shall know it by this signe the horse will turne round like a beast that is troubled with the sturdy the reason being because the outside of the head is grieued onely The second is when the poyson of such bloud doth infect the middle part of the braine then the horse becommeth franticke leaping against walles or any thing The third is when that bloud filleth the veines of the stomacke and infecteth as well the heart as the braine then is he said to be madde But the fourth and last is when that bloud not onely infecteth the braine and heart but euen the panicles also and then he is said to be starke madde which you shall know by his biting at euery man which comes neere him by his gnawing of the manger and walles about him And lastly by tearing of his owne skin in peeces
of Licoras of Fenugreeke of Basnis of each halfe an ounce of Cardanum of pepper of bitter almonds of Baurach of each two ounces of nettle seed and of Aristolochia of each two ounces boile them altogether in a sufficient quantity of water and in that decoction dissolue halfe an ounce of Agaricke 2. ounces of Coloquintida together with 2. pound of hony giue him a pint a halfe of this at a time for at least a week together and if the medicine chance at any time to proue too thicke you shall make it thin with water wherein licoras hath bene sodden and some Farriers also besides this medicine will with a hot yron draw the flanks of the horse to restraine their beating and slit the horses nosthrels to giue the wind more liberty but I do not affect either the one or the other the best diet for a horse in this case is grasse in Summer hay sprinkled with water in Winter There be other Farriers which for this infirmity hold that to giue the horse 3. or 4. daies together sodden wheat and now then a quart of new sweet wine or other good wine mixt with licoras water is a certaine remedy There be other Farriers which for this disease take the guts of a hedgehogge and hang them in a warme ouen till they be dry so that a may may make powder of them then giue your horse 2. or 3. spoonfull thereof with a pint of wine or strong ale then the rest mixe with anise seeds licoras sweet butter make round balles or pils thereof giue the horse 2. or 3. after his drink and so let him fast at least 2 howres after Now when at any time you giue him any prouender be sure to wash it in ale or beere then take Comin Anise seeds Licoras and Sentuarie of each like quantity make them being mixed together into fine powder strew two spoonful therof vpon the prouender being being wet This physicke must be vsed for a fortnight at the least Others vse to take of cloues nutmegs 3. drams of galingale Cardomonum 3. drams of foot of bay seeds comin of each 3. drams make them into fine powder put it into white wine being tempered with a little saffron then put to so many yolkes of egges as may couÌ„teruaile the other quantity then mixe them with water wherin licoras hath bene sodden making it so thin that the horse may drink it and after he hath drunk the quantity of a pint halfe of this drinke tye vp his head to the racke let him so stand at least an howre after that the drinke may descend into his guts then walke him gently abroad that the medicine may worke and in any case giue him no water for foure and twenty houres after the next morning giue him some grasse to eate and the branches of willow or sallow which will coole the heate of the potion Now there bee other Farriers which take of Paunces Longwort Mayden-haire the crops of nettles Carduus benedictus hearbe Fluettin the rootes of dragons bruised the roots of Elecampana bruised of water hempe of peniriall of light wort of Angelica of each of these a good handfull or so many of these as you can conueniently get bruise them and lay them all night in two or three gallons of water and giue it a boyle in the morning and let the horse drinke thereof as much luke warme as hee will then after this drink giue him a pretty quantity of sodden wheat vse this dyet for a weeke or more at the least and then if the season be fit put him to grasse This cure is of great reputation and thought to helpe when all other faileth for mine owne part I wish euery man to iudge it by the practise There be others which onely for nine or ten dayes together will giue their horse water wherein licoras hath bene sodden mixt with wine and hold it a most soueraigne helpe There be others which will onely giue new milke from the cow but I despaire in that cure because milke being onely flegmatike flegme is the onely substance of this disease Other Farriers vse to keep the horse fasting foure twenty howres then take a quart of ale a quarter of an ounce of Fenugreeke halfe a quarter of bayes of the greene barke of Elder trees of sugarcandy of water cresses of redde mints of redde fennell of haw-tree leaues and of prim-rose leaues of each halfe an ounce the whites of sixe egges beate these in a mortar and seeth them in the ale giue it him to drinke then let him fast after twelue howres then giue him meate and prouender inough yet but little drinke Others vse to giue him wet â—ay and moderate trauell then take twenty egges and steepe them in vinegar foure and twenty howres giuing the horse two euery morning and after the egges are spent a pottell of new milke from the cow Now there be other Farriers which onely will dissolue in vinegar fifteene egges and giue the horse the first day three the second day fiue and the third seuen and hold it a good helpe Others will take an ounce of frankinsence two ounces of brimstone mixe it with a pint of wine and halfe a pint of hony Others will take Sal-niter burnt with the powder of pitch and giue it with the same quantity of wine and hony Others will onely giue Sal-niter mingled with his meate prouided alwayes that in euery cure you keepe your horse from cold and labour and dayly chafe his head with oyle and wine CHAP. 49. Of the dry Malady or Consumption THis disease of the dry malady or as the ancient Farriers terme it a generall consumption is nothing but a meere exulceration of the lungs proceeding from a cankerous fretting and gnawing humour ingendred by cold and surfaite which descending from the head sickneth corrodeth the lungs Some of our ignorant Farriers will call it the mourning of the chine but they are thus farre forth deceiued that the mourning of the chine doth euer cast some filthy matter at the nose and the dry malady neuer casteth forth any thing The signes to know this dry malady or consumption are these his flesh and strong estate of body will consume and waste away his belly will be gaunt his backe bone hidde and his skin so stretched or shrunke vp that if you strike on him with your hand it will sound hollow like a tabor his haire will hardly shed and either he will vtterly forsake his meate or the meate he eateth will not disgest prosper or breede any flesh on his backe he will offer to cough but cannot except in a weake maner as though he had eaten small bones truly according to the opinion of others so I find by practise that it is incurable yet that a horse may be long preserued to do much seruice I haue found it by these helpes First to purge his head with
Mirre beaten to powder Others strong ale Myrre â—allet oyle and twenty graines of white pepper and in stead of the ale you may take the decoction that is the water wherein sage rue hath bene sodden it will soone make the horse fat Others take sodden beanes well bruised and sprinkled with salt adding to the water foure times so much beane flowre or wheat bran and giue that to the horse and it will fat him suddenly Wine mixt with the bloud of a sucking pigge made luke warme or wine with the iuyce of featherfeaw or an ounce of sulphur and a peny waight of Myrre well made into powder together with a new layed egge will raise vp a horse that languisheth Barley dryed or barley boyled till it burst either will fat a horse But the best way of faâ—ting a horse for most of the wayes before prescribed are not to breede fat that will continue is first to giue your horse three mornings together a pint of sweete wine and two spoonefull of Diapente brewed together for that drinke will take away all infection and sicknesse from the inward parts then to feed him well with prouender at least foure times a day that is after his water in the morning after his water at noone after his water in the euening and after his water at nine of the clocke at night Now you shall not let his prouender be all of one sort but euery meale if it may be change as thus if in the morning you giue him oates at noone you shall giue him bread at euening beanes or pease mixt with wheat branne and at night sodden barley and so forth and euer obserue of what food he eateth best of that let him haue the greatest plenty and there is no question but he will in very short space grow fat sound and full of spirit without either mislike or sicknesse CHAP. 52. Of the Breast-paine or griefe in the breast THough most of our Farriers are not curious to vnderstand of this disease because it is not so common as others yet both my selfe and others find it is a disease very apt to breed and to indanger the horse with death The Italians call it Granezza di petto and it proceedeth from the superfluity of bloud and other grosse humors which being dissolued by some extreme and disorderly heate resorteth downeward to the breast and paineth the horse extremely that he can hardly go The signes are a stiffe staggering and weake going with his forelegges and he can very hardly or not at al bow down his head to the ground either to eate or to drink and will groane much when he doth either the one or the other The cure is first to bathe all his breast and foreboothes with the oyle of Peter and if that do not help him within three or foure dayes then to let him bloud on both his breast veines in the ordinary place and then put in a rowell either of haire corke horne or leather of all which and the maner of rowelling you shall reade in a more particular chapter hereafter in the booke of Surgery Now there be other Farriers which for this sicknesse will first giue the horse an inward drench as namely a pint of sweet wine and two spoonfull of diapente then bathe all his breast and legges with wine and oyle mingled together and in some tenne or twelue dayes it will take away the griefe CHAP. 53. Of the sicknesse of the heart called the Anticor THis sicknesse of the heart which by the ancient Farriers is called Anticor as much as to say against or contrary to the heart is a dangerous mortall sicknesse proceeding from the great abundance of bloud which is bredde by too curious and proud keeping where the horse hath much meate and little or no labor as for the most part your geldings of price haue which running all the Summer at grasse do nothing but gather their own food and such like where the maisters too much loue and tendernesse is the meanes to bring the horse to his death as we find dayly in our practise for when such naughty and corrupt bloud is gathered it resorteth to the inward parts and so suffocateth the heart The signes whereof are the horse will many times haue a small swelling rise at the bottome of the breast which swelling will encrease and rise vpward euen to the top of the necke of the horse and then most assuredly it kils the horse he will also hang his head either downe to the manger or downe to the ground forsaking his food and groaning with much painfulnnesse This disease is of many ignorant Smiths taken somtimes for the yellowes and sometimes for the staggers but you shall know that it is not so by these obseruations First neither about the whites of his eyes not the inside of his lips shall you perceiue any apparant yellowes and so then it cannot be the yellowes nor will he haue any great swelling about his eyes nor dizzinesse in his head before he be at the poynt of death and so consequently it cannot be the staggers The cure thereof is two-fold the first a preuention or preseruatiue before the disease come the second a remedy after the disease is apparant For the preuention or preseruatiue you shall obserue that if your horse liue idly either at grasse or in the stable and withall grow very fat which fatnesse is neuer vnaccompanied with corruptnesse that then you fayle not to let him bloud in the necke veine before you turn him to grasse or before you put him to feede in the stable and likewise let him bloud two or three moneths after when you see he is fedde and at each time of letting bloud you must make your quantity according to the goodnesse of the bloud for if the bloud be blacke and thicke which is a signe of inflammation and corruption you shal take the more if it be pure red and thin which is a signe of strength and healthfulnesse you shall take little or none at all There be others which vse for this preuention to giue the horse a scouring or purgation of malmsey oyle and sugarcandy the making and vse whereof you shal reade in the chapter of purgation this would be giuen immediatly when you put your horse to feede and as soone as you see his skin full swolne with fatnesse Now for the remedy when this disease shall be apparant you shall let him bloud on both his plat veines or if the Smiths skill will not extend so farre then you shall let the horse bloud on the necke veine and that he bleede abundantly then you shall giue him this drinke Take a quart of malmsey and put thereunto halfe a quarterne of sugar and two ounces of cinamon beaten to powder and being made luke warme giue it the horse to drinke then keepe him very warme in the stable stuffing him round about with soft wisps very close especially about the stomacke least
of the bloud and is as subiect to infirmity as any inward member whatsoeuer as to inflammations obstructions knobbes and swellings it through the sponginesse is apt to sucke in all manner of filth and to dilate and spread the same ouer the whole body the appearance thereof is on the left side vnder the short ribs where you shall perceiue some small swelling which swelling giues great griefe to the midriffe especially after a full stomacke taking away much more of the horses disgestion then his appetite and being suffered to continue it makes faint the heart and growes in the end to a hard knob or stony substance This disease or diseases of the spleene are incident to horses most in the Summer proceeding from the surfaite or greedy eating of greene meates The signe of which diseases are these heauinesse dulnesse paine on the left side and hard swellings short breath much groaning and an ouer hasty desire to his meate The cure according to the opinion of our best Farriers is to make the horse sweate either by labour or cloathes then to giue him to drinke a quart of white wine wherein hath bene boyled the leaues of Tamariske bruised and a good quantity of comin seede beaten to powder and giue it luke warme Others vse after the horse hath sweat to powre into his left nosthrell euery day the iuyce of Mirobalans mixt with wine and water to the quantity of a pint Others take of comin seede and hony of each sixe ounces of Lacerpitium as much as a beane of vinegar a pint put all these into three quarts of water and let it stand so all night and giue the horse a quart thereof next morning hauing fasted all night Others make the horse a drinke of garlicke nitrum hore-hound and wormewood sodden in sharpe wine and to bathe all the horses leftside with warme water and to rubbe it hard There be others which vse to cauterize or scarifie the horses left side with a hot yron but it is barbarous and vile and carrieth no iudgement in the practise CHAP. 65. Of the Yellowes or Iaundise AS before I sayd from the obstructions or ouerflowings of the gall and spleene doth spring this disease which our common Smiths call the yellowes and our better Farriers the iaundise and you shall vnderstand that of this yellowes or iaundise there are two kinds the first an ouerflowing of choler proceeding from the sicknesse of the gall and it is called simply the yellowes or yellow iaundise because the outward parts of the body as eyes skinne mouth inside of the lips and such like are dryed and coloured yellow the other an ouerflowing of melancholy proceeding from the sicknesse of the spleene is called the blacke yellows or blacke iaundise because all the outward parts are blacke Now both these iaundises or yellowes haue their beginnings from the euils of the liuer the yellow iaundise when the liuer by inflammation hath all his bloud conuerted into choler and so ouerwhelmes the body and the blacke iaundise when some obstruction in the liuer veine which goeth to the spleene hindreth the spleene from doing his office and receiuing the dregges of bloud from the liuer or else when the spleene is surcharged with such dregges of the bloud and so sheddeth them back againe into the veines Now although this distinction of the blacke iaundise or blacke yellowes will appeare strange vnto our common Farriers yet it is most certaine that whensoeuer a horse dyeth of the yellowes he dyeth onely of the blacke yellowes for when it cometh vnto the case of mortality then are al the inward powers conuerted to blacknesse and the yellow substance is cleane mastered but whilest the matter is yellow so long the horses body is in good state of recouery Besides these yellowes do euer follow one the other and the lesser hath no sooner got preheminence but the greater pursues him of all the inward diseases in a horse body this is most common oftest in practise and yet most mortal if it be not early preuented The signes of this disease of yellow iaundise are yellownesse of eyes nosthrels inside of lippes the skinne the yard and the vrine his eares and his flankes will sweate and he will groane when he lyeth downe and he will not onely be faint but vtterly forsake his meate also The cures which are at this day in practise for this disease are infinite and a world of them corrupt and poysonous euery Smith almost making a medicine of his owne inuention God knowes weake and to little purpose but for the best receipts which at this day are vsed by any good Farrier whatsoeuer I will deliuer you the whole catologue First for the ancient Farriers both Italian French they did vse to take of tyme and comin of each like quantity and stamping them together to mingle it with wine hony and water and then to let him bloud in the pasternes But now the Farriers of latter dayes vse first to let the horse bloud in the necke veine suffering him to bleede till you perceiue the bloud to grow pure then to giue him this drinke Take of white wine or ale a quart and put thereunto of saffron of turmericke of each halfe an ounce and the iuyce that is wrong out of a great handfull of selladine and being luke warme giue it the horse to drinke then keepe him warme the space of three or foure dayes giuing him warme water with a little branne in it Others vse after the horse is let bloud in the necke veine First to rake him then to gim him a suppositary made of Salt Hony and Marioram and then giue him to drinke halfe an ounce of myrre dissolued in a quart of wine or ale Others vse to giue after bloud letting onely cold water and nitrum mixt together There be others which after bloud letting will onely stoppe his eares with felladine and then bind them fast vp and let him haue no exercise for twelue howres after Others vse after the letting him bloud to giue him a glister then to take saffron and turmericke and mixing them with a quart of milke to giue it him to drinke luke warme Others vse to let the horse bloud in the third barre of the roofe of his mouth with a sharpe knife and after he hath bled well to take a halfe peny worth of English saffron and a peny worth of turmericke and a new layed egge with the shell and all small broken and mixe it in a quart of stale ale or beere and so set him vp warme Others vse to take after bloud letting of turmericke and of saffron a like quantity and two or three cloues and sixe spoonefull of vinegar or verdges and to put into each eare of the horse three spoonefull thereof and then stoppe his eares with black wolle so tye them vp for seuen or eight dayes after Others take long pepper graines turmericke and licoras all beaten into fine powder then brew them with a quart
of strong beere or ale and giue it the horse to drinke Others vse after raking bloud letting to take the iuyce of Iuy leaues mingling it with wine to squirt it into the horses nosthrels and to let him drinke only cold water mixt with vitrum and let his foode be grasse or new hay sprinkled with water Thus you haue seene I dare well affirme all the best practises which are at this day knowne for this disease where they all faile there is no hope of cure yet let me thus farre further informe you This disease of the yellowes or iaundise if the keeper or maister be not a great deale the more skilfull and carefull will steale vpon you vnawares and as I haue often seene when you are in the middest of your iourney remote and distant farre from any towne that can giue you succour it may be your horse will fall downe vnder you and if you should let him rest till you fetch him succour questionlesse hee will bee dead In this extremity you haue no helpe but to draw out a sharpe poynted knife dagger or rapier for a neede and as neare as you can opening the horses mouth strike him bloud about the third barre of the roofe of his mouth and so letting him eate and swallow his owne blood a good while then raise him vp and be sure he will go as fresh as euer he did but after you come to place of rest then bee sure to bloud him and drench him as aforesayd or else there will a worse fit come vpon him Now to conclude for the blacke iaundise which of some Farriers is called the dry yellow though for mine owne part I hold it to be incurable yet there be other Farriers which are of a contrary humour and prescribe this physicke for the cure thereof first to giue the horse a glister made of oyle water and nitrum after his fundament is raked then to powre the decoction of mallowes mingled with sweete wine into his nosthrels and let his meate be grasse or hay sprinkled with water and a little nitre and his prouender dryed oates hee must rest from labour and be often rubbed Now there be other Farriers which for this disease would onely haue the horse drinke the decoction of wilde cole-worts sodden in wine the effects of all which I onely referre to experience CHAP. 66. Of the Dropsie or euill habit of the body WHereas we haue spoken before of the consumption of the flesh which proceedeth from surfaits ill lodging labour colds heates and such like you shall also now vnderstand that there is another drinesse or consumption of the flesh which hath no apparant cause or ground and is called of Farriers a dropsie or euill habite of the body which is most apparantly seene when the horse by dislike doth leese his true naturall colour as when baynesse turnes to dunnesse blackes to duskishnes whites to ashinesse and when he leeseth his spirit strength and alacrity Now this cometh not from the want of nutriment but from the want of good nutriment in that the bloud is corrupted either with fleame choler or melancholy coming according to the opinion of the best Farriers either from the spleene or the weaknes of the stomacke or liuer causing naughty disgestion Others thinke it cometh from fowle feeding or much idlenesse but for mine owne part albeit I haue had as much tryall of this disease as any one man and that it becometh not me to controll men of approued iudgements yet this I dare auerre that I neuer saw this disease of the euill habite or euill colour of the body spring from any other groundes then either disorderly and wilde riding or from hunger or barraine woody keeping Betwixt it and the dropsie there is small or no difference for the dropsie being diuided into three kindes this is the first thereof as namely an vniuersall swelling of the body but especially the legges through the aboundance of water lying betweene the skinne and the flesh The second a swelling in the couering or bottome of the belly as if the horse were with foale which is onely a whayish humour abiding betwixt the skinne and the rimme and the third a swelling in the same place by the like humour abiding betwixt the great bagge and the kell The signes of this disease are shortnesse of breath swelling of the body or legges losse of the horses naturall colour no appetite vnto meate and a continuall thirst his backe buttockes and flankes will be dry and shrunke vp to their bones his veines will be hidde that you cannot see them and wheresoeuer you shall presse your finger hard against his body there you shall leaue the print thereof behind you and the flesh will not rise of a good space after when he lyeth downe he will spreade out his limbes and not draw them round together and his haire will shedde with the smallest rubbing There be other Farriers which make but onely two dropsies that is a wet dropsie and a windy dropsie but being examined they are all one with those recited haue all the same signes and the same cure which according to the ancient Farriers is in this sort First to let him be warme couered with many cloathes and either by exercise or otherwise driue him into a sweate then let his backe and body be rubbed against the haire and let his foode be for the most part cole-worts smallage and Elming bowes or what else will keepe his body soluble or prouoke vrine when you want this foode let him eate grasse or hay sprinckled with water and sometimes you may giue him a kinde of pulse called Ciche steeped a day and a night in water and then taken out and layed so as the water may drop away There be other Farriers which only would haue the horse to drinke parsley stampt and mixt with wine or else the roote of the hearbe called Panax stampt and mixt with wine Now whereas some Farriers aduise to slit the belly a handfull behinde the nauell that the winde and water may leasurely issue forth of mine owne knowledge I know the cure to be most vile nor can it be done but to the vtter spoyle and killing of the horse for a horse is a beast wanting knowledge of his owne good will neuer be drest but by violence and that violence will bring downe his kell so as it will neuer be recouered Now for these dropsies in the belly although I haue shewed you the signes and the cures yet are they rare to be found and more rare to be cured but for the other dropsie which is the swelling of the legges and the losse of the colour of the haire it is very ordinary and in howrely practise the best cure wherof that euer I found is this Take of strong ale a gallon set it on the fire skum off the white frothwhich riseth then take a handfull of wormwood without stalke and as much rue in like manner
better horses But to return to my purpose the Farrier who goeth about to purge a horse by purgation must consider the nature of the horses disease and the strength of the horse and with them ioyne the nature strength and quantity of the medicine he must also consider the climate vnder which the horse is bred the time of the disease the time of the yeare and the time of the day for as the diseases and the humours which cause the diseases are sundry so they must be auoyded by sundry medicines sundry wayes compounded according as experience from a continuall practise shall instruct you wherein you are to obserue that weake delicate and tender horses are not to be purged with that violence which strong stubborne and sturdy horses are and therefore in such cases the quality and quantity is to be looked into of euery simple The climate is to be respected as whether it be hot or cold and the time of the disease for some diseases must be purged at the beginning as feuers pestilence yellowes staggers all violent inward diseases and some not till the matter be throughly disgested as colds strangles and apostumations Now albeit the sicknesse proceed from cold humours yet you must not administer as hot simples in summer as in winter nor in the contrary case so cold things in winter as in the summer whereby you see the season of the yeare is to be respected Then touching respect of the day you are to obserue that day to be best which is most temperate sith too much heate maketh a horse faint and too much cold doth hinder the medicine from working A little regard is to be had to the wind weather for a moyst day with a South winde is to be preferred before a North winde with a dry day Now the best howre of receiuing any potion is euer in the morning after he hath fasted from meate and drinke all the night before As soone as your horse hath receiued any pill or potion let him be walked or gently ridden vp and downe one howre at the least and then set vp and suffered to stand on the bit two howres after wel littered cloathed and stopped but if you perceiue that he beginneth to grow sicke as most commonly horses will then you shall suffer him to lye downe assoone as his sicknesse is past you shall offer him a mashe of malt and water luke warme for any other meate keep him fasting till his medicine haue done working Now to come to particular receipts and medicines themselues you shall vnderstand that although the ancient Farriers do make but two kindes that is to say pils and purgations yet I diuide them into three that is to say scourings pils and purgations Scourings are those wholesome naturall and gentle purging medicines which stirring vp no great fluxe of humours do onely keepe the body cleane from such euils as would grow being euery way as wholesome in health as in sicknesse and may most properly be termed preparatiues or preparers of the body to entertaine more stronger medicines To speake then first of the most gentlest and naturall scouring it is only grasse being giuen to a horse only fifteene dayes together and no more for after that it fatteth and not scoureth Next vnto grasse is forrage which is onely the blades of greene corne as wheat rye barley and such like being giuen seuen dayes and no more Next is greene thistles being cut vp and giuen the horse to eate the space of fiue daies and no more and the last of this nature is the mash made in this manner take a pecke of ground malt and put it into a peale then take a gallon and a halfe of water boyling hot from the fire and put it to the malt then with a staffe mash and stirre them together at least halfe an howre till tasting the water you feele it as sweete as hony then being luke warme giue it the horse to drinke All these scourings do onely but cleanse the guts and coole the body adding comfort to the spirits and ingendring strength onely the mash is to be vsed after labour or in stead of drinke in the time of any great sicknesse Scourings of a little stronger nature are these first when you giue your horse any prouender to mixe with halfe a pecke of oates a handfull or two of cleane drest hemp seede or else to take a good quantity of boxe leaues and put them into a pewter dish then set them before the fire and let them dry leasurely till they be so hard that you may crush them to powder then take as much of the powder of brimstone as there is powder of boxe and mixe them together and amongst halfe a pecke of oates mixe a handfull of this powder and giue it the horse to eate both these scourings are to be vsed after labour especially when the horse hath sweat much These two scourings worke vpon no matter but what nature is willing to expell they purge the stomacke head and intrailes they kill all manner of wormes and dry vp fleame Scourings of the strongest nature are to take of sallet oyle halfe a pint and of new milke from the cow a pint brew it together and giue it the horse luke warme or else take a pint of muskadine and halfe a pint of sallet oyle and being mixed together giue it the horse to drinke or else halfe a pint of oyle and a pint of sacke mixt together and giuen the horse to drinke luke warme These scourings cleanse the head body and guts of all fleame or molten grease which any violent labour hath dissolued they are exceeding good for any manner of cold or stoppings in the winde-pipes Now for pils you shall vnderstand that the first and easiest are these either to take twenty cloues of garlike cleane pild and bruised then a quarter of a pound of sweete butter and so rolle vp the garlicke in foure or fiue balles or pellets as big as two wal-nuts a peece and so taking out the horses tongue thrust them downe his throate one after another or else to take a quarter of a pound of butter and as much red saunders beat them well together in a morter then make it into foure or fiue balles and put them downe the horses throat Pils of a somewhat stronger nature are to take a handfull of rosemary leaues and chopping them small mixe them with a quarter of a pound of sweet butter and then making it into round bals giue them vnto the horse or else take round peeces of raw mellons and thrust them downe the horses throate or else to take fiue greene figges and put them downe the horses throate The strongest pill is this take of lard two pound layd in water 2 howres then take nothing but a quarter of a pound of the cleane fat thereof and stampe it in a mortar thereto put of licoras of anise seedes and of fenugreeke of each beaten into powder one
the oldest oyle oliue one pound and a halfe pitch a quarter of a pound and two ounces Turpentine a quarter of a pound melt euery one of these that will melt seuerally by themselues and then mingle them together with the rest of the simples beaten to fine powder and after that they haue bene a little boyled on the fire take it off and straine it into a faire vessell and whensoeuer you will giue your horse any thereof giue it him with wine or foure or fiue spoonefull with a pint of sacke or muskadine and if with long keeping it waxeth hard then soften it with the oyle of Cypresse so that it may bee good and thicke This confection is both a medicine and an oyntment if you put it in the horses nostrels it will draw out all noysome humours and discharge his head of all griefe if you annoynt his body therewith it healeth all convultions colds and drynesse or withering of the body and if you bathe his limbes therewith it driueth away all wearinesse and tyring and if you giue it him with wine to drinke it cureth all kinde of inward maladies CHAP. 99. How to make the oyle of Oates TAke of milke two gallons and warming it on the fire put thereto a quarter of a pound of burnt allum which will make it runne of curds then take out the curd and cast it away then straine the whay through a course cloath into a cleane vessell then take a quarter of a pecke of cleane husked oates that were neuer dryed and put them into the whay and set them on the fire till the oates burst and be soft then take them off and powre them into a collander that is full of holes so that the whay may goe gently from them without any pressing for you must keepe the oats as moist as may be this done put the oats into a frying pan and set them ouer the fire stirring them continually till you see the vapour or smoake of them not ascend vpwards but as it were runne about the pan then suddenly take them off and putting them into a presse presse them most exceedingly and looke what cometh frō them is only the oile of them which you must saue in a close glasse Now there are other more artificiall and curious waies to distill and extract this oyle but this of all is the most easiest and surest for euery meane capacity This oyle of oates is of all medicins simples whatsoeuer the most excellent and soueraigne for a horses bodie as being extracted from the most naturall wholsome and best food which doth belong vnto a horses body This oyle being giuen by foure or fiue spoonefull in a pinte of sweete wine or a quarte of strong ale and some of the whay powred into the horses nosthrels doth cure the glaunders before all other medicines It is also giuen in the same manner the best of all purgations for it purgeth away all those venemous and filthy humors which seedeth the most incurable farcy whatsoeuer And for mine own part as long as I can conueniently come by this oyle of oates so long I will neuer in any medicine whatsoeuer vse any oyle or vnctious matter then it onely I hauing found by experience that it is the soueraigne of al simples of that kind whatsoeuer they be CHAP. 100. Certaine briefe Obseruations to be obserued at home and abroad whilst the horse is in health THese obseruations following are gathered from the most exact principles and vnfallible grounds of all the best and surest approued horsemen either of this kingdome or of any other nation within Christendome First then for the generall feeding of your horse when he is in health you shall feed him with straw hay oates fine little wheat beanes barly bread made of beanes pease or fitches or any other meate that swels not in the horses body It is the opinion of Camerarius first to giue prouender then hay and lastly water but our English custome is first hay then water and lastly prouender In your trauell feed your horse betimes for all night that thereby the horse may sooner take his rest The quantity of prouender which you shall giue your horse at one time shall be as much as you can hold in the palmes of both your hands at sixe times Horsebread which is made of cleane beanes cleane pease or cleane fitches feedeth exceedingly Let your horses meate and drinke be exceeding sweete and cleane yet his water by no meanes extreme cold running water from the rocke for it pearceth to much To rubbe your horses mouth with salte and wine will make him both eate and drinke with a much better appetite Let your horse neither eate when he is hot nor drinke when he is hot neither presently after his trauell Labour your horse moderately when the weather is either extreme hot or extreme cold that so you may auoide extreme heats or suddaine colds Trauell not your horse too late that your owne eye may see him well dried and well fed before you take your owne rest Neuer take the saddle from your horses backe suddenly Lend not your horse least your selfe walke on foot Let your horse lye cleane and dry keepe your stable sweete let no swine lye neere it nor let any pullen come whithin it Let your horse euer be tyed with two reines Let the light of your stable be euer towards South and North yet so as the North windowes may in the winter be shut vp close at pleasure and opened in the sommer to giue fresh aire Ride your horse oft a little on stony waies that he may the better feele his feete and harden his houes Haue euer neere your stable some close plaine greene that your horse being let loose he may oft tumble himselfe thereon Let your horses bed be of soft sweete straw somewhat aboue his knees of which rie straw is the best for though barley straw be the softest yet a horse wil couet to eate it and it is vnwholesome and wheat straw though it be not vnwholsome to eate yet it is hard to lye vpon as for oate straw it is the best in the superlatiue for it is both wholsome to eate and soft to lye vpon Curry or dresse your horse twise a day before water and when he is curried rubbe him with your hand and with a rubber his head would be rubbed with a wet cloth and his coddes made cleane with a dry cloth his foretop his maine and his taile would be oft wet with a wet maine combe and euer where the horses haire is thinnest there curry the gentlest Let the plaunchers of your stable lye euen and leuell that your horse may stand at his ease and not proue lame by too much oppressing his hinder partes Let not any mud wal be within your horses reach for he will naturally couet to eate of it and nothing is more vnwholesome Giue your horse plenty of garbadge which is chopt wheat straw both with his prouender and
without Let your hay bottles be very little and tyed very hard for so your horse shall eate with the best stomacke and make least waste To sprinkle water vpon your hay is most wholesome and to sprinkle fenugreeke vpon your prouender is as soueraigne the first is good for the winde the latter for wormes Giue your horse dayly exercise for that gets the best stomacke to his meate Purge your horse once a yeare with grasse or with greene blades of corne called forrage for fifteene daies together yet before you so purge him in any case let him bloud and whilest he is in purging by no meanes let him haue any prouender A horse after trauell hath euer more bloud then any beast whatsoeuer Greene grasse or forrage cleanseth the bloud encreaseth strength healeth diseases auoydeth melancholy helpeth the horses growth and maketh the skin smooth whilest the horse is at soile by no meanes let him take cold The Northerne man watereth two howres before he rideth at the least then lets the horse eate a little hay then giues prouender but not much and bridleth the horse vp a quarter of an howre before he rideth at night he watereth two miles before he taketh his lodging then rideth easily he neither walketh his horse nor stuffeth him nor looseth any gyrth but only rubbeth him very cleane so lets him bite vpon his bridle halfe an howre after with good store of litter vnder him then he giues the horse hay and after prouender before he goeth to bed he watereth againe yet but a little then sees the horse throughly well drest and rubbed well littered and most sufficiently meated There be others which walke after labour then rubbes well littereth and vnbridleth both which be good so that the one haue not too much walking nor the other too cold a stable But howsoeuer stuffe not your horse backward but betwixt his forelegges and formost gyrth for backward stuffing is perillous lest drawing his yard when he would stale he draw backe into his sheath any of the litter that stoppes him The Northerne mans vse agreeth with the French principles which saith Vse no other walking then yourselfe on your horses back by riding him gently till you come to your Inne and so make him cold then shake litter vnder him rub his legges his belly and euery parte of his body well till he be dry then vnbridle him rub his head wel and giue him hay slacke no girth till it be night that the windowes be shut suffer the horse to drinke but a little at once to auoyd suddaine cooling of the stomacke or driuing the horse into a shaking feuer at night rub and curry well and feede according to the horses stomacke Other good horsemen ride gently till the horses sinewes be chafed and neuer water in trauell till the horse haue staled and forbeare to trauell him fast before he haue drunke that he may not drinke in his great heat and they hold the standing water the best after water for a mile they ride softly till his water be warmed in his belly and before they come to their Inne they do not water nor of an howre after they haue vnbridled then they clothe well and giue prouender hauing a care that their horses stand not in the wind and that they haue ben rubbed dry and cleane Now all these principles are exceeding good yet I would wish euery traueller to learne how his horse hath beene vsed and that custome if it be not too much against reason still to follow If you come late to your Inne and that your iourney be greate and hasty so that your horse will not eate till he haue drunke and yet is hote notwithstanding then let his drinke be milke giuen in the darke lest the whitenesse make him refuse it this is both cordiall and pleasant if you cannot get milke enough then mingle milke with water luke warme for no drinke would be giuen to a horse hotter If your horse either by labour or surfaits be brought low leane and weake you shall giue him mates milke to drinke many daies together and it will make him strong It is not good to wash your horse if he be either very hot or very fat otherwise you may wash his legges aboue the knees so that in no case you wash his belly and that you ride him a good round pace after his washing then by no meanes walke him but set him vp and dresse him the purer the water is wherein you wash your horse the more wholesome it is so that it be not too extreme cold The best howres to water your horse in when he liues at rest is betwixt seauen and eight in the morning and foure and fiue in the euening When you trauell at euery steepe hill light both to refresh your horse and your selfe Let a fat or hot horse haue his water at foure times and not as much as he will drinke at once giue him prouender twise at night but once in the morning let his cloth neither be too hot nor with straw too much stuffed when he eateh good hay let him haue lesse prouender then when he eateth straw giue his meate by a little at once to auoyd glutting of him and let him stand two howers euery day without meate Rubbing much hard and well doth profite preserue and doth keepe both strength of body and legges for in rubbing and combing a horse doth take much delight and it is better then much meate To feede with barley according to the opinion of the ancient Italians ingendreth good bloud encreaseth strength and courage and maintaineth health but with vs here in England we finde oates to be a much better feeding In the dogge daies it is not wholesome to ride your horse oft into the water to allay his naturall heate The maisters eye to see his horse well curried and with the hand well rubbed and well meated and the stable sweete and cleane kept preserueth health and wonderfully feedeth the horse Cleanse and picke the soales and bottoms of your horses feet oft and stuffe them with Oxe dung and annoynt his houes with fresh grease tarre or Turpentine Much rest is the mother of many diseases When you ride looke often to your saddle your horses shooes and you shall finde much more ease in your iourney CHAP. 101. Certaine speciall Principles in Foales and in Horses THe Foales whose legges be long wil euer be talle for of all beasts their legges in length euer grow the least and by the bignesse of their legges you shall gesse the strength and greatnesse of their bodies Let your colts if you can possible neuer be housed till they be past three yeares old The Greeke horse which we call the Turky horse is a most excellent horse swift bold well headed tall and strong many of them be white some bay some sorrell and some blacke The Arabian horse is most swift and most beautifull The horse of Affrica which we call the Barbary horse is
Other Farriers vse first to cast the horse and with a rolling pin to open his mouth then with a crooked Iron wrapt about with tow or flaxe to rake out all the stincking grasse or other meate that lieth in his iawes and vnder the roote of his tongue then when you haue cleansed it thus you shall heat strong wine vinegar somewhat warme and then with the same Iron wrapt with new tow and dipt in the vinegar you shall wash all the soare places till they bleede then wash all his tongue and his lips with the same vinegar and so let him rise and then feed him at least 7 dayes with warme mashes and hot graines but in no wise with any hay and he will soone be whole Other Farriers vse to take of the iuice of daffadill roots seuen drams of the iuice of hounds tongue as much of vinegar as much and of allome one ounce mixe these well together and wash the canker therewith once a day vntill it be whole Others vse to take of sauen of baysalt and of rue of each like quantity and stampe them together with as much barrowes grease and annoint the soare places therewith vntill the canker be kild which you may know by the whitenesse then heale it vp onely with allome water Others vse first to wash the canker till it bleede with warme vinegar to take a good quantity of allome beaten into very fine powder and to mixe it with strong vinegar till it be as thick as a salue then to annoint all the soare places therewith and do thus twice or thrice a day vntil the canker be whole Now for mine owne part the best cure that euer I found for this sorrance is to take of ginger and of allome of each like quantity made into very fine powder then with strong vinegar to mixe them together till they be very thick like a salue then when you haue washt the canker cleane either with allome water or with vinegar anoint it with this salue and in twice or thrice dressing the canker will be whole CHAP. 29. Of heate in the mouth and lippes of a Horse THe vnnaturall and violent heate which ascendeth vp from the stomacke into the mouth doth not alwaies breed a canker but sometimes onely heateth and inflameth the mouth and lippes making them onely swell and burne so as the horse can take no ioy in his foode but through the griefe refuseth his meate The cure thereof is first turne vp his vpper lippe or that which is most sweld and with a lancet iagge it lightly so that it may bleede and then wash both that and all his mouth and tongue with vinegar and salt CHAP. 30. Of the Tongue being hurt with the Bitte or otherwise IF the tongue of a horse be either hurt cut or galled by any accident or mischance whatsoeuer the best cure is as the old Farriers suppose to take of English hony and of salt lard of each like quantity a little vnsleckt lime a little of the powder of pepper boile them on a softe fire and stirre them well together vntill they be thicke like vnto an oyntment then wash the wound with white wine warmed after that anoint the wound with the said ointment twice a day and by no meanes let the horse weare any bit vntill he be whole Other Farriers vse first to wash the soare with allome water and then to take the leaues of black bramble and to choppe them together small with a little lard that done to binde it with a little clowt making it round like a ball then hauing dipt the round end in hony to rubbe the tongue therewith once a day vntill it be whole CHAP. 31. Of the Barbes or Pappes vnderneath a Horses tongue THE Barbes are two little pappes which naturally do grow vnder euery horses tongue whatsoeuer in the neather iawes yet if at any time they shoote out and grow into an extraordinary length or by the ouer-flow of humours become to be inflamed then they are a sorrance and with the extremity of their paine they hinder the horse from feeding The cure of them is both according to the opinion of the ancient and late Farriers absolutely to clippe them away with a paire of sheares close by the iaw and then to wash the soare either with water and salt or with salt tartar and strong vinegar mixt together or else with vinegar and salt Any of all which will heale them CHAP. 32. Of paine in a Horses teeth of Woolfes teeth and Iaw teeth A Horse may haue paine in his teeth through diuers occasions as partly by the descent of humors from the head downe vnto the teeth and gums which is very proper to colts and yong horses and plainly to be seene by the rankenesse and swelling of the gummes and also he may haue paine in his teeth by hauing two extraordinary teeth called the woolfes teeth which be two little teeth growing in the vpper iawes next vnto the great grinding teeth which are so painefull to the horse that he cannot endure to chaw his meate but is forced either to let it fall out of his mouth or else to keepe it still halfe chawed Againe a horse will haue great paine in his teeth when his vpper iaw teeth be so farre growne as they ouer-hang the neather iaw teeth and therewith also be so sharpe as in mouing his iawes they cut and raze the insides of his cheekes euen as they were razed with a knife Lastly a horse may haue great paine in his teeth when either by corruption of bloud or some other naturall weaknesse the horses teeth grow loose soare in such maner that through the tendernesse therof he is not able to chaw or grind his foode Now for the seuerall cures of these infirmities you shall vnderstand that first as touching the generall paine in a horses teeth which doth come by meanes of the distillation of humors it is thought fit by the ancientest Farriers first to rubbe all the outside of the horses gummes with fine chalke and strong vinegar well mixt together Other Farriers vse after they haue so washed the gummes to straw vpon them the powder of pomegranat pils to couer the temples of the head with a plaister of pitch rosen and masticke molten together as hath bene before declared Now for the cure of the wolfes teeth or the iaw teeth acocrding to the opinion of the ancient Farriers it is thus First cause the horses head to be tyed vp high to some post or raster and his mouth to be opened with a cord so wide that you may easily see euery part thereof then take an instrument of Iron made in all points like vnto a carpenters gouge and with your left hand set the edge of the toole at the foote of the woolfes teeth on the outside of the iaw turning the hollow side of the toole downward holding your hand steadily so as the toole may not slip not swarue from the foresaid teeth
therewith vntill it be whole Others vse only to bathe the soare with beefe broth and then for foure or fiue dayes after to annoynt it with sope or else first to plunge his feete in scalding water twice or thrice bathe the soare in scalding water then haue ready a hard roasted egge cleaue it in the midst and clappe it to as hot as you can and let it lye bound all night vse this once or twice and you may aduenture to ride him Others vse to take pepper garlicke stampt coleworts and old hogges grease of each like quantity then beate them in a mortar till they come to a salue and so lay it to the soare renewing it once a day till it bee whole Others vse first to take vp the shackle veines on both sides then take the soft roe of a red herring mustard blacke sope and when they are well beat together boyle them in vinegar til they come to a salue apply it to the soare this will cure the Pains albe you do not take vp the shackle veines If you cannot readily get this salue you may take butter hony molten together it wil helpe them or else take a pound of hogs grease a peny worth of verdigrease 2. ounces of mustard halfe a pound of oyle de-bay a quarter of a pound of nerue-oyle halfe a pound of hony halfe a pound of English waxe one ounce of arsnicke 2. ounces of red lead halfe a pint of vinegar boyle all these together and make an oyntment of it then hauing clipt and made the soare all bare apply the medicine thereunto very hot and renew it once a day vntill it be whole Others vse to take 5. ounces of orpiment 5. of tartar once of verdigrease halfe an ounce of Sulphur as much of vitrioll made into powder the iuice of foure Citrions the whites of two egges with three ounces of sallet oyle let all these bee very well beaten together and applyed once a day to the soare and it will not onely heale this disease but any salt humour whatsoeuer Mingle with soft grease vinegar hony orpiment and arsnicke but let arsnicke bee the least and it will cure this disease so will also white waxe turpentine and Camphora mixt together Others vse to take a hundred blacke snailes in the moneth of May slit them and put them into a bagge with a pint of bay-salt then hang them ouer the fire with a vessell set vnder to receiue what drops from them and keep it in a close glasse then annoynt the soare euery day therewith and it will heale this sorrance Others take hony and vinegar of each a like quantity a little oyle and suet of a he goat of each a like also boyle them with a soft fire and stirre it well when it waxeth redde adde of verdigrease and vitriolle of each like quantity made into powder still stirring it till it bee red and thicke then being warme annoynt the soare place therewith once a day after it hath bene washed with warme water and this not onely helpes the paines but also any sorrance whatsoeuer of like nature about the legges Also greene copporas roach allome of each halfe a pound and a handfull of bay-salt boyld in a gallon of running water will heale it or else vnto it adde a pint of hony and boyle it ouer againe and it will bee the better then when you haue annoynted the soare therewith rubbe it after with the powder of glasse mustard and vinegar mixt together and afterward skinne it with creame and the inner rinde of Elder beaten to a salue which must be applyed to the soare twice a day at the least CHAP 79. Of the Mules or Kybe heeles THese Mules or kybed heeles are certaine drye scabbes or chappes breeding behinde vpon the heeles of a horse and so a little inward euen to the fetlocke in long chaps chiâ—ewes it proceedeth either from corruption of bloud or from being bred in wet marrish grounds or else from vncleane and negligent keeping in such manner as the Paines are bred this sorrance will make the horses legge to swell much especially in the winter and about the spring time and he will goe stiffly and halt much Now for the cure you shall vnderstand that whatsoeuer healeth the paines the same will in like sort heale these kybed heeles yet for more particularity you shall know that the old Farriers did vse for this sorrance if they tooke it at the beginning but onely to annoynt it for two or three dayes with sope and then after to wash it with strong vrine or beefe broth till it were whole but if it were of any longer continuance then first to cut away the haire and lay the soare open and plaine then take two ounces of vnslekt lime one ounce of sope and the white of an egge or else an ounce of vnslekt lime and as much salt and 3 ounces of foot and mingling them with strong vinegar annoynt the soare therewith and it will heale and kill them Other Farriers vse to calcinate Tartar and dissolue it in water then congeale it like salt and mingle it with sope like an oyntment and then dresse the soare therewith and this will in 48. howres heale any mules paines or scratches whatsoeuer If you take the iuice of the leaues and roots of elder it is very good to dry vp any of these euill humors CHAP. 80. Of Winde-gales Others vse to open the skin and put out the ielly then take a spoonefull of oyle de bay a spoonefull of turpentine a penyworth of verdigrease the white of an egge and a quarter of an ounce of red lead boyle them together till it come to a salue then lay it to the wind-gall and it will cure it or else after you haue let out the ielly take rosen sheepes suet brimstone of each a like melt them together and lay that vpon the wind-gall so it be not too hot and it will cure it Others take the rootes of comin and beate them well with a little salt and lay that to the wind-gall or else annoynt them with the iuyce of onions or leeke blades and that will allay them or else ground Iuy and wormewood with the rootes sod in wine and layd to the wind-gall will take them away Others of our later experienced Farriers take an ounce of white waxe an ounce of rosen two ounces of raw hony three ounces of swines grease two ounces of oyle of the yelkes of egges fiue ounces of oyle de bay mixe all these well together and straine them then rub them into the wind-gall by holding a hot barre of Iron against the oyntment and it will take the wind-gall away Now for the making of the oyle of yelks of egges it is thus First seeth the egges hard then stampe them and then seeth them in an earthen pot with a soft fire and so straine them Now this medicine will not onely heale the wind-gall but the ring-bone
with the same binding all in together with a cloath and a list fastened about the ioynt renewing it euery day once vntill it bee sound and giue the horse during the cure warme water to drinke and let him stand drye and not haue much trauell Now if your horse surbate in your trauell if euery night you stoppe his feete well with cowes dung or with cowes dung and vinegar it will make him endure out his iourney CHAP. 92. Of the Pricke in the soâ—le of the Foote either by treading on a naile or any other sharpe thing IF a horse in his trauell chance to treade either on stubbe naile thorne or any other sharpe thing whatsoeuer by meanes whereof hee is prickt in the soale of the foote the rider shall perceiue the same by the sudden faltring of the horse who will instantly stand still and lift vp his foote as desiring helpe and if it chance at any other time then the halting of the horse and the diligent searching of a carefull Farrier must finde out the mischiefe Now the cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers is first to pull off the shooe and pare the foote and with a drawing knife vncouer the hole making the mouth so broade as a twopence then tacke on the shooe againe that done stoppe it by powring into the hole turpentine and hogges grease molten together and lay some flaxe or tow vpon it and then stoppe all the horses foote with cowes dung and so couering it with a peece of leather splent it with two crosse stickes so as the stopping may abide in renewing it euery day once vntill it be whole and let the horse treade in no wet Now you must bee very carefull in the curing of this sorrance For if it bee not healed from the bottome besides that it is dangerous to the life of the horse it is also a great hazard that the soare will breake out at the toppe of the hoofe and so loosen the hoofe round about and perhaps make it fall cleane away but if you see that it beginne to breake out aboue then make a greater issue beneath by opening the hole wider and taking more of the soale away that the flesh may haue the more liberty then take of bolearmony halfe a quarterne and of beane flowre as much and two egges beate them and mingle them well together and make a plaister thereof vpon tow and lay it round about the cronet binde it fast on and so let it remaine the space of two daies and then renew it againe not failing so to do euery two dayes vntill you see it waxe hard and firme aboue for this plaister being restricktiue will force the humours to resort alwayes downeward which humours must bee drawne out with turpentine and hogges grease as before vntill it leaue mattering and then drye it vp with burnt allome beaten into powder and strewed vppon the soare with a little flaxe layd againe vppon that continuing so to doe euery day once vntill it bee hardened and let not the horse come in any wet vntill it bee whole Other Farriers vse to taint the soare with tallow tarre and turpentine being molten together and anoynt all the coffin and cronet of the hoofe with bole-armony and vinegar beaten together till the soare bee whole especially if the thing which did pricke the horse was venemous or rusty CHAP. 93. To draw out either Stub Thorne or Iron either out of the foote or any other part of the body IF either the Stubbe the Thorne the Iron or any thing whatsoeuer wherewith your horse is wounded bee gotten so deepe into the flesh that you cannot get hold vpon it to pull it out then according to the opinion of the old Farriers if you finde that albeit it bee too deepe yet it is not much too deepe you shall take a good quantity of blacke sope and lay it to the soare for a whole night and it will make it to appeare so as you may pull it out with a paire of nippers but if it lye very deepe then you must open the place with a launcet and thrusting in your mullets or nippers pull it out by strength and afterwards heale vp the wound as was before taught in the last chapter Other Farriers say that the rootes of reedes being stampt and mixt with hony it will draw out any stubbe or naile so will also blacke snailes being stampt and wrought with fresh butter Now if the place bee much swolne then it is good to mollifie it with a plaister made of worme-wood parietory beares foote hogges grease and hony well boyled and mixt together which will asswage any new swelling that commeth by stripe or otherwise Now when you haue gotten out that which you sought for then you shall first powre into the wound scalding oyle Oliue when that is cold powre into it as hote turpentine when that is cold strew on the powder of Sulphure and then bolster his foote or the soare with hurds and keepe it from all wet and filthinesse CHAP. 94. Of the Figge IF a Horse hauing receiued any hurt as is before said either by stubbe great naile thorne bone splent or stone either in the soale or any other part of the foote and bee not well dressed and perfectly cured there will grow in that place a certaine superfluous peece of flesh like vnto a figge full of little white graines as you see are in figs. The cure whereof according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers is first with a hot yron to cut the figge cleane away and keepe the flesh downe with turpentine hogges grease and a little waxe molten together and laid on with a little tow stopping the hole hard that the flesh rise not renewing it once a day vntill the soare bee whole Now other of our latter Farriers vse after they haue as before said cut away the figge then to take the crops of young nettles chopping them very small lay them vpon a cloth iust as bigge as the figge then take the powder of verdigrease and strew it thinne vpon the chopt nettles and so bind it to the soare renewing it once a day vntill the hoofe haue couered the soare and this is a most certaine cure CHAP. 95. Of a Retrait A Retrait is when a horse by the ill gouernment of the smith is prickt in the foote with some ill driuen naile yet in such sort that it is immediatly espied and the naile drawne backe againe and although it proceedeth of test from the negligence of the smith yet it may also come by reason of the weakenesse of the naile and the hollowesse of the shanke for when the naile is a little too weake the point many times bendeth awry into the quicke when it should go right foorth and when it is hollow it shiuereth in the driuing into two parts whereof one part razeth the quicke in pulling out or else perhaps breaketh asunder and so remaineth still behind and this kind of
three or foure times a day with vrine and that alone will cure him as well as any medicine CHAP. 102. Of euill Houes HOrses partly through a naturall inclination partly through the stoninesse of the soyle wherein they are bred and partly through mischaunce or ill gouernment will haue ill fauoured and naughty houes as either wrinckled or crumpled or else moulded awry or such like all which needes no signes because of the apparant sight thereof then to amend them the best cure is with a fine rape-file to smooth the wrinckles away and to annoynt the cronet of the hoofe with the fat swarde of bacon rubbed in foote then let the horse stand for at least a fortnight vpon his owne dung whereon you shall cast good store of water onely remoue away the dung euery night and then presently after the change of the moone shooe the horse with strong shooes keeping the soale of the foote by paring so hollow as you can possible and it will shape his hoofe to your pleasure CHAP. 103. Of brittle Hooues IF a Horse either through the heate of his owne nature or in that he hath bene either heated on his feete by labour or foundred and euill cured shall happen to haue his houes so brittle and short that they will hardly beare a shooe the signes whereof are the hoofe will be white and crumbling then the best cure according to the opinion of the best Farriers is to take Oxe dung and vinegar and mixing them very well together warme them on the fire and so binde it both vnder and aboue round about the horses hoofe and then lace on his boote of strong leather as is aforesaid in the chapter of casting of the hoofe Other Farriers vse to let the horse stand vpon his owne dung and annoynt all the vpper part of his hoofe with the fat of bacon sodde and mixt with turpentine And this you must doe euery day once till you see his houes come to some toughnesse Others vse to take turpentine hogges grease hony of each a like melt them well together and being warme annoynt all the hoofe therewith then dip tow therein and fold it all about the horse foot both vnder aboue and then put on his boote dresse him thus once a day and once in two daies let him stand foure houres without his boote that his hoofe may grow as well hard as tough CHAP. 104. How to preserue Houes IF you meane to preserue your horses hoofes either from any of the former sorrances or any other griefe whatsoeuer you shall according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers take three heads of garlicke a little bundle of rewe sixe ounces of allome beaten into powder two pound of old grease and the dung of an Asse boyle them all very well together and stoppe your horses hoofes therewith once a day Other Farriers take of vinegar a quarterne of tarre halfe a pint of hogges grease halfe a pound of oyle a pint and a good handfull of wormwod and foure or fiue heads of garlicke boyle all these together to a thicke oyntment and therewith annoynt all the horses hoofes Others vse to boyle beanes till they burst and then temper them with hony and therwith annoynt all the hoofes or else wash all the hoofes with warme vinegar and then annoynt them with horehound wormewod grease molten together Other Farriers take of Olibanum and new waxe of each an ounce of Dialthea and turpentine of each three ounces of butter foure ounces of old oyle sixe ounces of sheeps suet plantaine of each a pound boyle them all well together therewith annoynt the hoofes twice a day Other Farriers annoynt his hoofes with turpentine hogges grease and hony warmed and molten together of each a like quantity then pare the foote well and shooe him in tâ—e new of the moone two or three daies after the change Others vse to take chaulke and white lead mingled together or else barke-dust and hony mixt together and being heated in a posnet and laid hote on the bare flesh is most excellent to make any houe grow to conclude if a horse stand vpon his owne dung being very well watered so he doe not lye in it it is most soueraigne for the preseruing of the houes CHAP. 105. For any hurt vpon the houes IF your horse shall receiue any hurt vpon his houes either outwardly or inwardly as either by any false treading or crossing one foote vpon an other or by any bruise either vpon cogle stone flint or such like then for the cure thereof you shall first stoppe the hoofe with hony and vinegar mixt together for the space of three daies at the least and then afterward with the leaues of Tamariske well bruised beaten together vntil the hoofe be sound againe Other Farriers vse onely to stoppe the hoofe with sheepes grease and horse dung well mixt together renewing it onely once a day vntill it be well CHAP. 106. How to soften houes THe houes of horses will by long dry standing vpon dry plaunchers grow so hard that they will not be pared nor cut by any butteris besides they will so take from the horse the sence and feeling of his feete that the horse wil goe very stiffe and vnnimbly wherefore when you shall perceiue any such defect which is best knowne by offering to pare the hoofe then presently you shall take an ounce of sope two ounces of vnsleckt lime with as much strong lye as will make it soft like a lenwicke salue then with that stoppe the horses feete dayly till they come to a conuenient softnesse CHAP. 107. How to harden houes AS dry standing dry keepinng doth harden the houes too much so wet and moist keeping as continuall going in marrish grounds or continuall standing either vpon dirt or the horses owne dung will make a horses houes too soft in so much that the horse through the tendernesse thereof will neither bee able to goe nor to beare any shooe which you shal perceiue by the soft and easy cutting of the hoofe the manner then to harden and cure them is according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers first to burne an old shooe sole then seeth it well in vinegar and therewith bathe the horses houes at the least twice a day and it will harden them Other Farries vse to take of the powder of galles of branne and of salt of each a handfull boyle these well in a pottle of strong vinegar and therewith bathe the hoofes and in a short space it will harden them CHAP. 108. Of the Maltlong on the hoofe THe maltlong or as some Farriers call it the malt-worme is a cankerous soarrance aboue the hoofe iust vpon the cronet which will breake out into knobbes and branches and out of the same will runne a waterish sharpe lye or humor which will venome the whole foote as for the signes they are the apparant sight of the sorrance and the continuall running out of the thinne
water Now the cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers is if it bee in the sommer time to take blacke snailes and burre rootes and beating them wel together lay them vnto the soare and renew them once in twenty foure howres But if it bee in the winter then take the scraping of a pannes bottome or of a cauldron and put thereto an handfull of the inner greene barke or pils of the Elder tree and hauing beaten them well together in a mortar lay it vnto the soare and renew it once a day and it will heale it Others vse to take garlicke pepper and hony of each like quantity stamp them very well together then annoynt his tongue with a little thereof and then lay some to his pastorns and that will cure the soarrance CHAP. 109. How to skinne any soare foote THere is nothing better to skinne any soare foote of what accident or soarrance soeuer it procede then to take turpentine simply of it selfe and therewith euery day to annoynt the soare foote and it will not onely gather skinne but hoofe also if it bee in a place where any such need requireth CHAP. 110. Of gourded or swolne legges THe gorge or gourded legges is an ill sorrance being a grieuous swelling in the neather part of the legges proceeding either from the melting of the grease by immoderate labour then wanting wherewith to auoide that grease out in the excrements it falleth downe into the limbes and there breedeth this swelling or else when a horse is exceedingly heated and then without care set vp and taketh cold in so much that the blood falleth downe into his legges and there congealeth and maketh his legges to swell To conclude they doe sometimes proceede from hard beating in hard waies in the sommer time which first raiseth vp windgals and then those windgals offending the sinews maketh them to swell and this is the worst gourding because euer for the most parte lamenesse doth follow it The signes are the horses legges will euer bee most swolne when hee standeth still in the house and least when he is in trauell especially if hee trauell in much water and the swelling most commonly is accompanied with some small scabs and in the end it will breake out into the scratches The cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers is to draw him with a hot yron a handfull aboue the knee then rope his legs with a soft rope of hay wet in cold water and let it so remaine a day and a night and it will take away all the swelling Other Farriers take two pound of nerue oile two pound of black sope a pound of Boares grease and melt and boyle all thâ—se well together then straine it and so let it coole then when you haue â—â—y need annoynt and chafe your horses leggâ—s therewith and to make it sinke in the better annoynt him first with nerue-oyle and hold a hote Iron against his legges to make it melte then vse the other oyntment in the same manner which done keepe his legges cleane from dust by lapping a linnen roller about them Others of our later Farriers vse to take vp the veines beneath the knee and let him bleede well then knitte the veine both aboue and below and then annoynt his legges with this oyntment Take of frankinsence rosen and fresh grease of each a like quantity and hauing boyled them very well together then straine it and vse it once a day as you shall haue occasion and it will heale any Gorge whatsoeuer onely for the taking vp of the veines you may if you will forbeare it sith if it bee not done with great cunning it will make the horse stiffe euer after CHAP. 111. Of the Farcy or Fashions THe Farcy of our ignorant Smiths called the Fashions is of all outward sorrances the vilest the most poysonous infectious and the most dangerous being any whit neglected otherwise the most easiest and with the least cost or trouble to bee helped It is a kinde or â—â—eeping â—lcer growing in knots euer following amongst some one veine or other and sometimes alongst diuers or sundry veines according to the strength of the infection It proceedeth sometimes from corrupt bloud ingendred in the body sometimes from outward wounds or hurts receiued by cankerous or poysonous instruments as rusty spurres rusty forkes bitingâ— of dogges or horses bitings of tickes hogges lice or such like sometimes by the rubbing of swine against the legges of the horse or by lying in the litter where swine haue laine or by enterfearing or hewing one legge vpon an other but generally it proceedeth from an euill habite of the body being surfaited by disorderly and vnruly trauell whereby the bloud being heated the grease melted and sudden cold taken there groweth such obstructions in the bloud and such putrifaction in the body that it can no way euacuate or auoyde but by these small knots pustules or vlcers which are so infectious that as many horses as doe gnawe or enappe vpon the horse infected will within one moneth haue the same disease or if the horse infected doe bite any other hee will infect him also and this infection without present cure is mortall and will kill any horse therefore whensoeuer you haue any horse troubled with this sorrance see that you separate him from other horses to preuent the daunger Now for the signes they are the apparance and palpable feeling of the knottes which knottes are neuer but accompanyed with great swellings and rancklinges running alongst as the veines runne and diuiding themselues as the braunches of the veines diuide the number of the knottes multiplying and encreasing vntill the body bee either vniuersally couered ouer or else that the member if it bee in a member bee vtterly deformed and mishapen Now the cure according to the opinion of the ancient Farriers is first let him bloud on his necke veine and on both his spurre veines then giue the horse this drinke Take a gallon of water and put into it a good handfull or rewe and a pound of hempe-seede both being first bruised in a mortar then boyle them in the water till the one halfe bee consumed and giue the horse this to drinke in the morning fasting being cold for diuers morninges together and it will cure him Others of the ancient Farriers vse first to let the horse bloud in that veine where the sorrance first riseth as nigh the soare place as may bee and let him bleede well then fire or cauterize euery knotte one by one taking the knotte in your left hand and pulling it so hard as you can from his body to the intent you may the better pierce the knotte with a round blunt hote Iron of the bignesse of a mans forefingar without doing the body any hurt and let the matter out leauing none vnburned bee it little or much that done annoynt euery knotte so burned with hogges grease warmed euery day once vntill the coares bee ready to