wet Brush which must be every moment dipt into Water the water which first cometh from the Leg through the Brush will be white as milk but the washing and rubbing must be still continued till the Water come away clear and then the leg will be abâ— dantly clean this invention is excellent in the summer time but not in Winter 〈◊〉 cause cold water founders Light-sized horses which are of a more delicate constituâ—e than others however those who have fine horses and take delight in them may inâ—â— summer time make use of this method The horse being thus Curryed and Drest they then put on his Sheet and Mane-cloaâ—â— if he have one and girt it on with a broad Sursingle or Housing-girth which 〈◊〉 two little Cushions about the bigness of ones two fists fastned to it about half a 〈◊〉 distant from other and which are placed one upon each side of the back-bone whâ— the girth is to be fastened those two little Cushions facilitate a horse's breathing 〈◊〉 preventing his being pressed by the Sursingle then you shall turn him to the Mange and give him some Hay which you shall have before shaken that so it may be boâ—â— well separate and fred from its dust before you throw it before him If people do not shake out that earth or dust which hath adhered to the graâ—â— while it was growing in the meadow when the water overflowed it and that 〈◊〉 water passes over it when it is yet uncut and that the horse eat of this grass when it 〈◊〉 made hay without being well shak't and tossed it will make him cough extremeâ—â— and be prejudicial to his Lungs as also if the water happen to overflow the meadow when the hay is cut this kind of hay which hath been in a great part covered with the Mud of these overflowing Waters although it be afterwards well dryed and also exactly shaken yet is most prejudicial to horses and worse than the former You are to suffer your horses which are first drest to eat from the time they are drest until nine a clock and those that are last till ten Some people so soon as their horses have eaten their Corn in the morning and art drest tye them up to the Rack till nine a clock and this is very proper for 〈◊〉 which are very fat but for these which need fatning a man may order them as I have directed which is to suffer them to eat all the morning except when they are a dressing At Ten a clock or a little after you shall lead your horses to the River but in summer time you may take them to it after eight if you live in a convenient place for it because this quickens a horse and makes him brisk and lively to be watered abroad But if you cannot do better then you may let them drink within doors and 〈◊〉 be in Winter having drawn their Water you shall observe if it be warm and toâ— more certain of it you shall dip your hand in it and if it be not you shall then thâ—â— some wheat bran amongst it which is a thing both very proper and most whâ— some but if it be in the summer time and that you are obliged to let them dâ—â—â— well-Well-water you must cause draw it a considerable time before you suffer them to drâ—â— it and also cause set it in the sun in clean Hogsheads which have their heads kooâ—â— out that so the great crudity of the water which is most prejudicial to horses nâ—â— be corrected by the heat of the Sun Generally speaking River Water is not so good in Winter as Well because 〈◊〉 too cold and if the Well-water be good it is somewhat warmish when it is immdiatly drawn and consequently better than River When People lead their Horses to the River to drink they should go softly to 〈◊〉 at a step and if they are Coach-horses should return from it at a short Trot 〈◊〉 even at a step if they have a mind for it The English at coming our of the water gallop commonly their running or hâ—â—ing horses for a quarter of an hour without Intermission and almost at full speed the method may he good for them but galloping after watering cannot but be hurtâ—â— and so very prejudicial that the horses accustomed to it do either soon or late becoâ—â— pursy by this rare method upon which the English will bear no reason that is give against it People must not be surprized that I give so many precautions concerning Wateing for if you observe it narrowly and attentively you will find that a great maâ— of the diseases which happen to horses proceed from bad Water or from being wâ—tered unseasonably the reason is that the heat of the intrals attracteth with a grâ—â—avidity and quickness the liquor which the horse drinketh and if it chance that thâ— water be charged with any sharp mineral such as Allum Bitumen or any the liâ—â— without doubt that drink or liquor will leave some intemperature in the inward parâ—â— with some impression of a strange or unnatural heat If the Waters be sharp or too crude they leave behind them obstructions or â—â—crudities that are capable to hinder the necessary functions which are required to boyl and perfect the Blood which by that means giveth occasion to several sorts of diseases When you return with your horses from the water you shall lash a little water upon each leg with your two hands and afterwards wipe them down with straw to cause the water run off Some people so soon as they return from the water give their horses Oats but I think it is not a good method because seeing a Groom who hath Six horses to look to cannot take them all to the water but at Three times if they were accustomed to get Oats immediatly as they come from the water they would be impatient waiting for the rest would Bite and Strike at other and eat no Hay during all that time The Horse-coursers who are understanding in their profession as it is their cheif design to cause horses look plump round and full Flanked cause them drink in the Summer time by seven a clock in the morning and give them no drink at all in the Evening that so they may drink the more heartily next Morning having been so long without it after which they no doubt feed better and so appear more plump and better Bellyed in the morning then giving them drink again at two a clock in the afternoon they feed them after it which makes them appear full and round all the after-noon and seeing they do not show them in the night-time they care not whether they then look well or not but suffer them to endure Thrist that so they may drink the more heartily in the Morning this method is good to be practised by those who have no other disign in showing their horses but to sell them but for those who keep and feed them for their own service I assure you
doing for the Knot slipping it was impossible to find the End of the Vein and besides the Motion of the Blood is stopp'd as effectully by taking up the Vein as by cutting it Let the Horse's usual Food be moisten'd Bran let him not lie loitering in a Corner of the Stable but use moderate Exercise and his Ordinary Drink must be prepar'd thus Melt two Pounds of Brimstone in an Iron Spoon and while it boils throw it into a Pail of Water then take out the Brimstone melt it again and cast it into the same Water which the sick Horse must drink for the Water will retain the sweet and balsamic Salt of Brimstone which is the Balsam of the Lungs The progress of this Disease even when 't is incurable is not very quick but rather insensible for the Sharpness of the Matter increases by degrees as the Ulcer grows greater and the Part affected is piece-meal consum'd in the mean time the neighbouring Parts are spoil'd the whole Body pines away and receives no Benefit by the best and largest Supplies of Nourishment Some Horses cannot endure the Water prepar'd with Brimstone and therefore you must take the Paste of a Peny White-Loaf when 't is just ready to be put into the Oven and steep it in the Water for the Tartness of the Paste will correct the loathsome Taste of the Brimstone and make the Water grateful to the Horse and besides it nourishes him and comforts his inward Parts As the Ulcer increases in a part so near the Heart it causes a Hectic Fâ—ver the usual effect of the Glanders by which the whole Body is dry'd and the Horse dies about six Months or a Year after But since 't is hard to know certainly whether the Glanders be of this kind which almost always proves Mortal you must endeavour to discover the nature of the Disease by the application of proper Remedies by the success of which you may perceive whether there be any hopes of the Cure Thus you may exhibit the Drink which I prescrib'd for 't is very proper in all the various sorts of Glanders especially in the most dangerous kind that which affects the Lungs And to convince you that you ought not to despair of the Cure at the first appearance of this Distemper 't is observ'd that some Horses recover of themselves in the Stable but this happens only when there is not an Ulcer the matter not being sharp enough to corrode and waste the part However since 't is impossible to judge certainly of the Malignity of the Distemper you must not neglect the use of Remedies The Horses that are seiz'd with this Disease are frequently put into a way of Recovery by the use of good Remedies which would even perfect the Cure if the Lungs were not already wasted but God alone can restore a consum'd Part. I remember I attempted the Cure of a Horse troubl'd with the Glanders and kept him in the constant use of Remedies for a whole Month together Every Morning I made him drink three Pints of the Emetic Wine with two Ounces of the Cordial Powder and in the Evenings I Syring'd his Nose with half a Glass of the same Wine which dissolv'd the Kernel between his two Cheek-Bones and gave him a good Appetite to his Meat His Eye look'd well he voided less Matter and had all the signs of Amendment after which I purg'd him and committed the rest of the Cure to Nature but the Horse by degrees pin'd away and at last dy'd After his Death I open'd his Body and found his Lungs wholly turn'd to a Mass of Corruption I confess I ought not to have purg'd him during the time of his Evacuation at the Nose For Experience has since convinc'd me that the Purgation of a Horse when he voids Matter by the Nose is apt to give him the Glanders tho' he have it not already This puts me in mind of another Horse that was committed to my care to whom I gave two Doses of the Remedy describ'd in the following Chapter which made him void abundance of Matter Then I purg'd him and afterwards gave him three Doses of the Cordial Pills in Wine for three days together and eight days after three Doses more but the Evacuation of the Matter was wholly stop'd I order'd him to be air'd and walk'd and to compleat the Cure according to my judgment at that time I purg'd him again ten days after and at last took out the Kernel which was large and fix'd The Wound being clos'd I let him Blood and concluding him to be cur'd sent him to his Master Six Months after he began to void Matter again and continu'd in that condition above six Years during which time he was able to walk a foot-pace and Work very well but at last he pin'd away and died I thought fit to communicate these two Instances out of a hundred others I have met with in my Practice to demonstrate that oftentimes the Horse is in the greatest danger when he seems to be cur'd And therefore when a Farrier undertakes to cure a Horse of the Glanders you may conclude that either he will hardly be able to perform his Promise or that the Disease is not really what you imagine it to be 'T is a most certain Rule that a Horse should never be Purg'd while he voids Matter at the Nose for a Purging Medicine may throw him into this Distemper tho' he were free of it before We must follow Nature in the Cure of Diseases and not compel her to change her course or to submit to one that is opposite to that which she has already taken as Purgation is in the present case 'T is true most Farriers observe that Method but I 'm fully convinc'd that 't is very dangerous and oftentimes fatal The Emetic Wine never purges a Horse tho' the Dose be augmented to two or three Quarts for it works by insensible Transpiration and is an excellent Remedy You will find it describ'd in the Twenty Third Chapter CHAP. XIX How to expel the Matter by the Nose I Shall proceed to describe some Remedies proper for this Distemper And if the Case be not altogether desperate you will quickly perceive the good effects of ' em Before you give any Remedies you must consider whether the sick Horse be a hearty Feeder For if he be nice and squeamish the Cure will never succeed according to your desire since some of the Medicines you must give him will encrease the natural Infirmity of his Stomach so that it will cost you as much Pains and Time to restore his Appetite as to cure the Glonders and at the end you will find it impossible to compass your design But if the Horse that is committed to your Care be a good Eater in the first place make him abstain from his Oats then take Aqua Vitae and Oil Olive of each a Quart mix or brew 'em together in a Pot till they be perfectly united and spurt some
Besides you must not open the Heels but pare the Frush flat for otherwise the Sponge on one side wou'd bear too hard against the Frush and therefore the Sponges of these Shoes must not be made wide If these Directions be observ'd the Shoes will bear very little against the Frush and tho' they sometimes press the Sole there can be no danger since both that and the Frush are left very strong Having Shoo'd the Horse thus grease the top of the Foot near the Hair every Day and you will perceive it by degrees to acquire a more regular shape after which you may take up the Pastern Veins as I intimated before For if the bleeding produce a good effect the taking up of the Veins will certainly compleat the Cure and in three or four Months your Horse will be able to wear flat Shoes and by degrees his Foot will recover its perfect shape You will find the Reason of this Operation in the Chapter that contains directions for the Shooing of flat Feet But since the following Ointment is necessary in this case I shall take this occasion to communicate the description of it The Ointment of Plantane otherwise call'd the Ointment for the Feet to Rectifie the Hoof and make it grow Take fresh Butter and Sheep's Suet melted and freed from its Membrances of each one Pound White-Wax cut into small Pieces and Common Turpentine of each four Ounces Oil-Olive six Ounces put 'em altogether into a Bason and melt 'em Then add a Pint of Juice of Plantane and as soon as you perceive 'em begin to boil remove the Vessel from the Fire then set it on again and continue after the same manner for the space of eight or ten Hours till the Juice be wholly Consum'd without boiling after which remove the Vessel from the Fire and as soon as the Matter begins to thicken add an Ounce of Olibanum in Powder stirring perpetually till it be quite Cold. This Ointment rectifies the Hoof and makes it grow without occasioning a preternatural Heat which is the usual effect of uncorrected Oils and Greases The Juice of Plantane tempers the heat of the other Ingredients and therefore you must avoid boiling which wou'd consume it before it had time to communicate its cooling quickly In Winter you may apply an Ointment made of equal Parts of common Honey Tar and Tallow mixt without heat or boiling for 't is a very effectual and cheap Remedy Connestable's Ointment to make the Hoof grow and to render it soft and tough Of all those who pretend to Skill in this Art there is not one who has not the Vanity to boast of some Secret Ointment for the Feet And even some of our Farriers have the confidence to affirm that their Ointment is absolutely incomparable and able to make a Hoof grow an Inch bigger in Eight Days but that never was nor ever will be done for besides the efficacy of the Remedy the growth of the Hoof depends on the Season the driness or moisture of the Horse's Constitution and the nature of the Foot I must confess I dare not promise Wonders but I can assure the Reader that the Composition of this Ointment is methodical that the Ingredients are very agreeable to the nature of the Hoof that their Doses are exact and regular and consequently that if we may venture to establish the credit of a Remedy upon Theoretical Principles this must certainly be endu'd with excellent Virtues but that is not all for I have found it by experience to be very successful and Monsieur Le Connestable who had the finest set of Horses that cou'd be procur'd in his Age made always use of this Ointment Take new Wax Goat's-grease or for want of that fresh Sheep's-Suet and the fat of Bacon cut into small Pieces and steep'd in Water twenty four Hours till it grow fresh the Water being chang'd every three or four Hours of each one Pound Melt 'em together and then add a large handful of the second Bark of Elder and if it be in the Spring two handfuls of Elder-Buds when they are about the bigness of your Thumb Boil 'em over a gentle Fire for the space of a quarter of an Hour stirring 'em from time to time Then squeeze the Matter thro' a course Cloth and put the straining in the same Bason or Pot with two Ounces of Oil-Olive four Ounces of Turpentine and the like quantity of Honey after which remove the Vessel from the Fire and stir the Ointment till it be quite Cold then anoint the Hoof for the breadth of an Inch round the Hair and repeat the Application once a day You must never anoint the Foot but when 't is dry and you must always take care to wipe off the Dust and dry Dirt before you lay on the Ointment All Books of Horsemanship are full of descriptions of Ointments for the Feet and even every Farrier usually composes his own I might imitate their Example and swell my Book to as little purpose as they do theirs but I am not so fond of multiplying Medicines especially since I 'm encourag'd by often repeated and successful Experiments to stick to the three Ointments mention'd in this Chapter namely The Ointment of Plantane that of Connestable and the other compos'd of equal quantities of Honey Tar and Grease The first is chiefly useful when the Hoof is as hard as Glass so that the Ointments that are apply'd to it glide along without piercing it and the second and third are proper in all other cases The last is cheap and more effectual than all those costly and elaborate Medicines that are usually prescrib'd for the Feet 'T is to be observ'd that Spetch Grease must never enter the Composition of Ointments for the Feet by reason of its heat which will make the Foot ragged and full of Circles To make the Hoof grow very speedily Having spoken of the Vices and Imperfections of the Feet 't will not be improper to subjoin the method of making the Hoof grow since it happens not unfrequently that a Horse who has Travell'd without Shooes till his Feet be worn and decay'd remains useless ever afterwards for want of a sufficient hold for the Nails that must be driven into his Hoofs Instead of observing the usual Custom to anoint the Hoof every Day for the breadth of an Inch about the Cronet next the Hair you must spread the Ointment on Flax wrap it about the Hoof for the breadth of an Inch round the Cronet at the Hair and bind it on carefully renewing the Application twice a Week but keeping still the same Flax that was apply'd at first This Method is more effectual than that which is commonly practis'd for the Ointment being kept constantly on the Hoof will moisten and penetrate it and consequently make it grow You may apply any of the three above-mention'd Ointments according to the Nature of the Hoof. CHAP. LXXXVI Of Surbated Feet A Horse's Foot is said to be Surbated
cover the Sore place with a Lamb's-Skin laying the Woolly side next the Part and continue to anoint it thrice every Day which Method is infinitely more natural than the Application of Defensives which produce no effect if there be a great Swelling and Heat preceded by a violent Contusion but if the Swelling continue accompany'd with Heat Distension and Beating so that you have reason to believe that there is already Matter generated or that the Tumour tends to Suppuration you must alter your Method and wash off the Ointment with luke-warm Oxycrate mixt with a handful of Salt and as soon as the Part is dry chafe it with an Ointment made of half a Pound of Populeon a quarter of a Pound of Honey and the like quantity of Black-Soap mixt cold and diluted with a large Glass of Spirit of Wine This Ointment being apply'd gently to prevent a further Contusion of the Part will dissipate the Humours and take away the Heat after which the Sore place must be cover'd with a Lamb's-Skin to promote the Operation of the Ointment Note That the Application must be renew'd at least four times a Day to divert the Humour and prevent any danger of Corruption In the mean time give your Horse a Dose of Cinnabar-Pills for two Days together keeping him Bridl'd two Hours before and as long after every Dose two Days after administer the Pills again repeating the same Dose from time to time for they are endu'd with a wonderful efficacy to assist Nature in the Expulsion and Concoction of the Matter contain'd in the Withers from whence 't is plain that they are very proper to promote the Cure if you persist in the use of 'em till you perceive the Matter to be already generated To draw and ripen a Swelling When Nature requires your assistance to digest the Humour and hasten Suppuration if you cannot procure the above-mention'd Ointments prepare that which follows Take the Powders of Cummin-seed and Linseed of each an equal quantity boil 'em in Cow's-Milk with a sufficient quantity of Pigeon's-Dung in Powder rather too much than too little and make a Pultess which will ripen the Swelling and asswage the Pain Or Take four Ounces of the Roots of Marsh-Mallows beaten boil 'em in Water and afterwards add Leaves of Mallows and Brankursin of each a handful After they are well boil'd beat 'em to a Mash adding Oil-Olive and Butter of each two Ounces Flower of Fenugreek-Seed as much as may suffice to thicken the whole and apply it warm to the Part. When you have brought the Tumour to Suppuration that is when the Matter is generated and ready to be let out make one or more Holes in the lower part of the Swelling with a red-hot Iron about the bigness of the end of your Finger and having prest out the Matter dress the Holes with soft Tents besmear'd with the Duke's Ointment which will both make the Tents stick and prevent an Inflammation Or you may put in Tents of Hog's-Lard reaching from one Hole to the other and carry on the Suppuration so long as it shall be necessary but above all you must take care to make the Holes in the lower part of the Swelling and leave no boggy or hollow place underneath that the whole Matter may be evacuated and if you perceive that there is some Matter left or that the Skin is separated from the Flesh below the Holes you must immediately pierce the Skin with a red-hot Iron at the end of the hollow Place for without that Precaution the Skin would never be united to the Flesh Then put in Tents moisten'd with the Duke's Ointment from one Hole to another to draw out all the Matter Note That the Tents must be rowl'd hard lest they hurt or bruise the Part. Having put in the Tents you must take care to keep the Swelling moist with the Duke's Ointment to allay the Inflammation continuing to dress the Holes and to renew the Tents till the Cure be compleated And besides if there be a large hollow within you must inject with a Syringe some of the Waters for Gun-shot Wounds or the yellow-Yellow-Water if there be a great deal of Putrefaction Swellings upon the Withers are sooner cur'd by this Method than by Incision for the Flesh that is cut or touch'd with the Razor rots and falls away the Part remains deform'd and not unfrequently the Sore is very much enlarg'd without necessity You may safely use this Method when the bottom of the Sore is sound and when the Bones are not infected with any Caries or Corruption But if you perceive that there is a Scale to be separated or a Felander or such like putrefy'd Matter sticking to the Bone the surest way is to cut off all that is Corrupted and even the Mane if there be occasion without touching the Nerve that runs along it discovering at once the bottom of the Sore and piercing to the Quick You must not leave any high or swelling Lips 〈◊〉 cut the Sore sloping and above all you must take care to give the Matter a Vent 〈◊〉 keep it from stagnating The Operation must be heedfully perform'd for the cutting of the Neck-Sinew wou'd certainly spoil the Horse and therefore you must carefully separate the corrupt Flesh from the Sinew Having thus freed the Sore from all Impurities and cut off all the corrupt and putrefy'd Flesh strew the place with red-hot Ashes taken out of a burning Fire continuing to cast on the Ashes till the Blood be stopt Let the Sore remain untouch'd till the next Day and then wash it with the Water of a Smith's-Forge luke-warm or with warm Wine Urine or the Second Water and powder it again with hot Ashes Repeat the same two or three times once in twenty four Hours after which you will find the Sore in a very hopeful condition without Swelling Heat or any other symptom that may retard the Cure for the Salt contain'd in the Ashes is heated and melted by the moistness of the Sore and being a kind of Alkali it destroys the Acid and Corrosive Humour that falls by way of Defluxion upon the Part and that being destroy'd the Swelling abates and the Heat vanishes This is an excellent Method but since 't is not always easie nor sometimes possible to procure Ashes especially in an Army you may observe the following Directions After you have made the Incision take a sufficient quantity of Vitriol or Green Copperas that of Germany is cheapest dissolve it in Water till the Water be fully saturated and incapable of dissolving any more and with this Solution bathe the Wound or Sore applying afterwards Flax dipt in the same Water and binding it on carefully Forty eight Hours after take off the Dressing and if you perceive any Inflammation or Swelling renew the Application of the Flax dipt in the Solution of Vitriol which will certainly asswage the Heat and Swelling Then wash the Sore with the Water of a Smith's-Forge lukewarm and after that with
the Second Water or with Lime-Water and besmear it with Ox-Gall covering it very softly with Flax or Powder of old Ropes which being remov'd the next Day will leave the Sore fair and clean Wash it again with the Second Water or with Lime-water to allay the Itching that usually obstructs the Cure and afterwards anoint it with Ox-Gall and cover it softly with Flax or Powder of old Ropes as before continuing after the same manner till it be heal'd If you perceive any corrupt or bruis'd Flesh apply Spirit of Vitriol or one of the above-mention'd Caustics or which is the surest way burn the Part and after the Scab falls off anoint it again with Ox-Gall and continue as before till it be perfectly heal'd To consume Proud-Flesh since 't is not always convenient to apply Caustics you may strew it with the Powder of white Vitriol which will quickly eat it away If the Application of the Ox-Gall do not answer your expectation you may have recourse to one of the Ointments prescrib'd for the Cure of Wounds especially the Hermit's Ointment applying sometimes Aegyptiacum or Powder of Colcothar to consume the corrupt Flesh I have already intimated and I cannot too often repeat it that as soon as you perceive corrupt Flesh in a Wound or Sore or fleshy Excrescencies that rise like Buttons above it you must burn 'em with a hot Iron or apply the Powder of Colcothar that is common Vitriol calcin'd till it grow red and after the falling away of a very little Scab the Wound will remain fair and clean During the cure of Hurts in the Withers or other Parts of the Body you may wash the Part with the Vulnerary Water which heals cleanses and allays the Itching and the same Effects are also produc'd by the Second Water If these Ointments be not strong enough powder the Sore with white Vitriol and lay a convenient Ointment over it continuing to dress it after that manner till the Flesh be sufficiently firm CHAP. CVII The Vulnerary Water 'T Is to be observ'd That the Spirit of Vitriol which is usually sold is only Aqua-Fortis mixt with Water nor can this Cheat be discover'd by the common Method of trying true Spirit of Vitriol for if you put a piece of blue Paper into Aqua-Fortis mixt with Water the Paper will be dy'd red as if it had been put into Spirit of Vitriol and therefore the surest way is to buy the Spirit of those that distil it and to prove the Goodness of it dip a new Pen into it and write some Letters on white Paper then heat the Paper and that which makes the blackest Characters is the best Spirit Having thus made choice of true Spirit of Vitriol put a Pint of it into a Glass-Vial with an Ounce of good Opium cut into small and very thin slices let it stand cold twenty four Hours during which time it will acquire a brown Colour and you will find a Sediment at the bottom like Slime pour off the clear and keep it for use This Water far from causing any Inflammation allays and tempers the heat of a Wound and besides it does not occasion any considerable Pain for the Opium benumbs the Sense of Feeling and blunts the sharpness of the Spirit of Vitriol It strengthens and promotes the growth of a new Sole and there cannot be a better Remedy for Quitter-bones Pricks with a Nail or Stub False-Quarters Proud-Flesh Scab'd-Heels and in one word for all sorts of Wounds and Sores if the Bones do not appear uncover'd It allays the Itching of Hurts in the Withers and other Parts of the Body and so prevents the Inconveniencies that are occasion'd by tying up the Horse so short that he cannot lie down to hinder him from scrubbing the Sore If you wash the Part with this Water every Day and apply a convenient Ointment the Wound or Sore will be quickly heal'd without that troublesome Itching which retards the Cure The Cure of great Wounds is also obstructed by Felanders which breed in 'em and therefore you must burn 'em to the very Bone and apply a Digestive to hasten the falling of the Eschar If the Vulnerary Water do not cleanse the Wound sufficiently from all Corruption dip a little Cotton in the Liquid Caustic describ'd in the Eighth Chapter or in pure Spirit of Salt and apply it to the part of the Wound that is to be separated Sometimes the ends of the Tendons and Sinews are hurt and weaken'd by the Contusion that accompanies the Wound or are corrupted by the long continuance of the Matter or even by the violence of the Remedies and in these cases there remains so much weakness in the Nervous Parts that the Horse continues ever afterwards less fit for Service than formerly As soon therefore as you perceive the Wound to be fair and clean and wholly free from foul and corrupt Flesh take two Ounces of Aloes and one Ounce of Myrrh in Powder and put them into a large Matrass with half a Pint of Spirit of Wine stopping the Vessel very close and setting it on hot Ashes till the Spirit be sufficiently Impregnated with the Tincture of the Substances this Tincture being apply'd cold on Bolsters of Flax to the Tendons and Nerves asswages Pain promotes the healing of Wounds destroys Corruption and prevents a Gangrene and therefore it ought to be apply'd to all sorts of Wounds when there is any sign or fear of a Mortification The Powder of Lime and Honey describ'd in the beginning of the following Chapter is excellent for incarnating and drying up Wounds and when they are almost clos'd if there remains no Swelling or Deformity you may rub the Lips of the Wound with Unguentum Aureum mixt with the Emetic or Angelical Powder once wash'd which is of great efficacy to joyn and renew the Skin when the Cure is already brought to such a degree of Perfection that the Application of Remedies seems to be altogether useless I have often with very good Success anointed the Scar with Oil of St. John's-wort which makes a fine smooth Cicatrice without the least appearance of any Lips unevenness or any other Deformity which are the usual effects of the ignorance of the Farrier If you have no Angelical Powder you may use instead of it the Golden Sulphur of Antimony or if that be also wanting with a little Colcothar mixt with Unguentum Aureum anoint the Callous Lips of the Wound for these Applications will take away the Callus and make a fine Cicatrice 'T is to be observ'd That a Horse will put himself into all manner of Postures to rub the Wound when it begins to heal and sometimes thrust his Head under his Flank to bite and scrub it These Inconveniencies must be prevented with all possible Care lest after you have left the Wound fair and clean you find it at your return bloody foul and bruis'd and be oblig'd to begin the Cure again for all the Flesh that is rubb'd will certainly
quantity of good White Tartar which is only the dry Lees of Wine that stick to the Bottom of the Cask burn it in an Earthen Pot surrounded with live Charcoal till the Pot grow red then suffer it to cool and reduce it to a Powder which in the Language of Art is call'd Powder of Calcin'd Tartar It drys all sorts of Wounds or Hurts in the Withers or any other part of the Body 't is good for a Weeping or Frothy Sole that cannot be dry'd with the usual Remedies When 't is apply'd to a Wound it raises a Scurf which must be so forc'd to fall away before the Application be renew'd Burn some Oister-Shells in the Fire till they grow perfectly white then take 'em out and after they are cold beat 'em to a very fine Powder which is an excellent and successful Remedy for Wounds and Scars because it is a true Sal Alkali separated entirely from all its Acid Particles by the Action of the Fire And therefore as soon as 't is apply'd to the Wounds it imbibes and sucks up as much of the Acid Juice or Humour as 't is capable of containing and so frees the Wound or Sore from the force of all the Disorders with which 't is attended such as Pain Inflammation Eating or Corroding of the Flesh Swelling and every thing else that obstructs the healing or closing of the Wound Thus Nature being deliver'd from her Enemy by the frequent Applications of the burnt or calcin'd Shells exerts all her Vigour for the speedy Cure of the Wound I know few Farriers that are capable of comprehending the force of this way of Reasoning since the most ingenious Persons of that Profession content themselves with judging of Causes by their Effects without penetrating further into the Nature of Distempers Those who are troubl'd with external Haemorrhoids or Piles may use this Powder with success applying it to the Tumours when they bleed mixt with fresh Butter or some other convenient Liniment for it destroys the Acid that occasions the Pain and Heat The Powder of calcin'd Muscel-Shells produces the same Effect if it be apply'd either to a Wound in Horses or Haemorrhoids in Men because it is a powerfull Alkali that absorbs all Acid Juices The Bones of a Cuttle-Fish that are every where to be found in Druggists Shops and commonly us'd by Goldsmiths for casting of Rings in a Mould are endu'd with almost the same Virtues for they contain an excellent Alkali that dries up all sorts of Wounds They are very brittle and may be easily reduc'd to a very fine Powder All sorts of Bones that are of a porous or less compact contexture if they be burnt till they are very white and easily reducible to Powder are of excellent use for the drying up of Wounds or Sores for they are fixt Alkali's separated from their respective Acids by calcination and immediately suck up the Acid contain'd in the Wound which is the only Sourse of all the Disorders that hinder the Cure CHAP. CIX Of Swellings or Wounds on the Reins or Back THE Hurts that affect this Part are almost as dangerous as the Wringing of the Withers and therefore as soon as you perceive a Swelling you must immediately lay hot Dung in a Bag to the Tumour and if it be not asswag'd in six Hours apply Whites of Eggs beaten and thickned with a piece of Allum according to the Directions prescrib'd for Hurts in the Withers If you cannot prevent Suppuration proceed as in the above-mention'd Case making a Passage to let out the whole Matter tho' you shou'd even open the Sore to the Bone and continue to dress it as you were taught before in the Cure of Wounds After you have pierc'd the Swelling with a hot Iron as for Hurts in the Withers draw out the Tents twice a Day syrenge the Holes with the Waters for Gun-shot-Wounds and besmear the Tents with the Duke's Ointment chafing the whole Tumour with the same Ointment and covering it with a Woolly Lamb-Skin to secure the Wound against the Injuries of the Air or Wind. But if the Swelling have no vent as it happens not unfrequently you cannot make a perfect Cure and therefore you must immediately make an Incision as in the Withers piercing to the Bottom of the Sore and taking away all the dead and rotten Flesh After you have wip'd off the Blood apply hot Embers to the Wound and the next Day wash it with warm Wine Urine or a convenient Lye renewing the Application of the hot Embers three or four times after the same manner and dressing the Wound like a Hurt in the Withers If the Tumour tend to Separation and cannot be dissolv'd the best way is to rub the lower part of it with a Retoire which opens the Swelling and draws forth a red Water and afterwards hastens the Generation of the Matter If the first Application of the Retoire increase the Tumour considerably there will be no need of a second But if the Swelling be not much augmented you most proceed to a second Application If you have no Retoire open the Swelling in the lower part with a red hot Iron if the Matter be already form'd If the Matter that runs out be bloody or only a red Water you may conclude that the Swelling is too soon open'd but if it be white the Sore will heal of it self and your only care must be to keep the Hole open and renew the Application of the red-hot Iron in case of Necessity We are oftentimes oblig'd if the Matter take up a large space to make several Holes with a red-hot Iron that we may have the Conveniency of thrusting a Tent from one Hole to another for the more speedy uniting of the Skin to the Flesh If the Matter that runs out be Black you have reason to fear a Gangrene and must immediately search the bottom of the Sore with your Probe for 't is a certain Sign that the Seat of the Matter is remote and the surest way is to make a large Incision to the bottom of the Sore with a Razor and so dip the Bolsters of Flax in the Vulnerary Water or Lime-Water with Sublimate stopping the Wound with Tents and anointing all the external parts of it with the Duke's Ointment If you perceive the Matter that runs out next Day to be very stinking 't is a sign of great Corruption and therefore you must cut away all the corrupt Flesh till it appear fair and clean strew the Sore with Salt and afterwards for the greater Security wash it with the Vulnerary Water or the Yellow-Water as before applying the Duke's Ointment about the Sore to all the parts from whence you suspect the Matter may come Afterwards when you perceive no more dead or rotten Flesh strew the inside of the Sore with Salt and apply a Detersive such as the Neat-herd's Ointment for Gauling or Aegyptiacum mixt with Aqua-fortis and when it begins to grow of a fair red Colour dress it with
fiery and full of Mettle this Medicine wou'd make him extremely sick tho' a Couple of Clysters administer'd in the Height of the Sickness might perhaps prevent the ill Effects of it if you take care in the mean time to walk him frequently And besides 't is to be observ'd that this Remedy must not be given to a Horse either in the Beginning of the Disease or when 't is accompany'd with a Fever for it wou'd purge his Life out of his Body Take two or three Pounds of Fat of Bacon cut into thin Slices steep it in Water till it be fresh changing the Water five or six times once every two Hours in the mean time take red Colewort not a headed Cabbage and white Mullein of each two large Handfuls Carduus Benedictus one Handful Chop 'em small and beat 'em to a Mash in a Mortar with the fresh Fat of Bacon Form this Mass into Pills like Tennis-Balls and roll 'em up with Powder of Liquorice that they may not stick to your Fingers when you put 'em into the Horse's Mouth After the Horse has taken six or seven of these Pills give him a little Wine with a Horn or even after every Pill if you perceive that your Horse swallows 'em with Difficulty and after he has taken all the Pills wash his Mouth with a Pint of Wine and afterwards pour it down his Throat besides which you must allow another Pint to be taken with the Pills The Horse must stand bridl'd four Hours before and as long after If this Remedy be attended with Success to compleat the Cure you must begin the former Course with the Decoctions and Clysters but if it proves ineffectual administer the following Remedy Take the Leaves of Red Colewort not headed Cabbage which is not only useless but hurtful and Carduus Benedictus of each three Handfuls White Mullein and Colt's-foot of each three Handfuls Juniper-Berries one Handful Boil 'em half an Hour in two Quarts of Water then remove the Vessel from the Fire and add to the boiling Decoction two Handfuls of fresh Corn-Poppy Flowers or one Handful of 'em dry'd Cover the Pot immediately and when 't is almost cold strain out the Liquor adding as much Saffron as is sufficient to tinge it with a yellow Colour with two Ounces of Liquid Conserve of Roses and having given your Horse a Clyster the Day before make him drink up this Decoction repeating the same Clyster in the Evening and continuing after the same manner for twelve Days if your Horse's Stomach be not disorder'd in which Case you must forbear the Use of the Remedies till his Appetite be restor'd After the twelve Days are expir'd if his Flanks be sound without any Palpitation you must not overwhelm Nature with a Heap of Remedies but allow her Time to compleat the Victory and utterly to destroy her Enemy that is already weaken'd by the Medicines Since usually the preternatural Heat which causes the Distemper is augmented by the Remedies and the internal Parts heated and wasted 't will be necessary to restore the Natural and destroy the Preternatural Heat and to remove the remaining Obstructions by giving the Horse every Day an Ounce of Sal Prunellae in Powder and two Nutmegs grated and mixt with moisten'd Bran. The Use of this Remedy must be continu'd for a long time unless the Horse forsake his Meat in which Case instead of Sal Prunellae 't will be convenient to give him two Ounces of Liver of Antimony in Powder which procures an Appetite without cooling the Body so much as the other CHAP. CXXIII Remedies for Obstructions of the Lungs caus'd by Foundering A Young Horse who had so great an Oppression in the Flanks that he was thought to be Pursive and given over for lost was perfectly cur'd by the following Remedy Take Carduus Benedictus Mossie Lung-wort chopt small of each one Handful Missleto of the Oak beaten an Ounce Roots of Marsh-Mallows and Elecampane stampt in a Mortar half an Ounce Hyssop two Handfuls boil the Ingredients about half an Hour then press out the Liquor and add half an Ounce of Juice of Liquorice an Ounce of Liquorice beaten to Powder Anniseed and Fennelseed reduc'd to fine Powder of each half an Ounce a Scruple of Saffron half a Pound of Clarify'd Honey and a Quart of White Wine Mix and make a Decoction to be given blood-warm to the Horse at two Doses who must stand bridl'd six Hours before and after you have walk'd him an Hour must be kept bridl'd four Hours longer This Decoction must be exhibited four Days together then intermit three Days and afterwards give him four Doses more This Remedy will ease him very considerably and even absolutely cure him if he be Young But if you perceive no Benefit by the Use of it you may exhibit the Purging Medicine describ'd in the preceding Chapter observing diligently all the Circumstances and Directions mention'd there And afterwards give him the following Powder which may be also given safely and with good Success without any preceding Evacuation Take three Pound of Linseed dry'd in a Furnace according to the Method describ'd in one of the preceding Chapters Gentian three Ounces Fenugreek two Ounces Elecampane an Ounce and a half Sage and Hyssop of each three Ounces Brimstone half a Pound Mix and make a Powder The Dose is two Spoonfuls mixt with Bran every Morning till the whole Powder be taken and the Horse must stand bridl'd an Hour and a half after every Dose If the Disease continue still give him a Clyster for tho' it will not perfect the Cure it may perhaps give him Ease if it be frequently repeated And afterwards suffer Nature to act for she will quickly subdue her Enemy if you assist her with a well-regulated Diet. The most dangerous Kind of these Distempers is that which is accompany'd with a Fever which not only torments the Horse extremely but makes so quick a progress that it will not admit of so long a Delay as is requir'd for the administring of the above-mention'd Remedies You must begin the Cure with one of these two Clysters Make a Decoction of the softening Herbs chopt small and dissolving half a Pound of Honey in the strain'd Liquor inject it luke-warm Or you may give one of these Clysters in the Morning and the other in the Evening if you think fit Boil an Ounce of Crocus Metallorum reduc'd to fine Powder in five Pints of Beer for half a Quarter of an Hour then suffering it to settle pour off the Liquor strain it thro' a Linnen Cloth doubl'd add a quarter of a Pound of Butter inject the whole luke-warm and the next Day exhibit the following Remedy CHAP. CXXIV A Remedy for a Founder'd Horse that is troubl'd with a Fever and very sick TAke the distill'd Waters of Carduus Benedictus and Sccbious of each six Ounces Water of the Herb call'd Queen of the Meadows Cinnamon Water and Succory Water of each four Ounces Liquid Conserve of
it would be a great deal better for them even although they should receive no other advantage by it but this that they will eat with a great deal better appetite But perhaps some may say that horses have been long enough bridled the whole day before so that there is no need of letting them stand so long unnecessarly in the stable without eating To which I answer that besides what I have already said there are many Horses to whom it is very fit to suffer the froth and foam to come in their mouths by the assistance of the Bit which obliges them to move their Tongues and by this meanes they moysten their mouths which giveth them a better relish of what they eat whereas if their mouths were not thus refreshed they would eat but a very short while so that a man thereby rather gains as losses any time contrary to the common Maxim of the hostler-boyes You are also to observe this by the way that if your horse hath been very Warm and that you could not have the conveniencie to cause him drink upon the road he will when unbridled eat but very little although you have exactly observed all the directions I have been giveing and that because he is much prested and troubled with thirst therefore in that case you are to give him such a quantity of Oats washt in Ale or Beer as you shall judge sufficient however less if you intend to feed him again after he hath once drunk Many are of opinion that people spoile their horses by giving them Oats before their water because say they the water maketh the Oats to pass too soon and so undigested out of the stomack I again think that it is good to feed with Oats both before and after watering although it be commonly the custom not to do it till after The Carriers and Coach-men upon their quick dispatches give it alwayes after watering neither is it without some appearance of Reason that they thus feed with Oats only after watering because the water doth not remain so long in the stomack but quickly passes so that the stomack is not at all weakned with it and the Oats which are of a porous and spongious body retain abundance and as much of the moisture of the water as is sufficient for the benefit of the horse this is the only Reason why people feed with Oats only after watering which however is not of force enough to hinder a man to feed Horses before watering which have been very warm and hard Rid for they will be a great deal the better of it and not at all in hazard of becoming sick When people Travel in Flying-Coaches or with laid or fresh horses from stage to stage and that they have driven very hard when the horses are taken all in a sweat and out of breath from the Coach they should as I have already said cause first scrape off their sweat rub them well down and cover them and then cause walk them half an hour in peoples hands that they may recover their wind during which time they shall prepare for each of them a French half Bushel of wheat Bran which is about six English quarts and which must be well moistned with water then having put them in the stable and unbridl'd them lay it before them in the Manger that so they may with it cool and refresh their mouths which are dryed with the dust and sand and which many times reacheth to their very Throats now this wet Bran detatches or separates the dust from their mouths and Tongues and even although horses be a little warm they very seldom receive prejudice by this method This dust and and sand doth sometimes so very much dry the tongues palates and throats of horses that they many times lose their appetite by it because their tongues become hard and dry especially in horses which suffer them while they are traveling in excessive hot weather to hang out of their mouths and therefore people should never fail either to give such horses alittle wet Bâ—an for the first thing they give them to eat or otherwayes to cause wash their mouths and tongues well with a wet Spunge to oblige them to eat People make use of the same method for hunters and all other horses which having Rid hard are out of breath but especially if they be very fat the use of this we Bran doth exremelywell with them and gaineth them time because useing it they may be the sooner unbridled and in a condition to eat In places where wheat Bran can be haâ— this method is excellent but except in France it is somewhat scarce and difficult to be got other Countreyes not making much use of it this way and in Holland 〈◊〉 soon as their horses arrive whether they be warm or not they give them drink with out apprehending any prejudice by it as I have already observed was the custome amongst the Waggoneers but then their waters in those countreyes are not quick and sharp for becoming in a manner warm by standing they cannot therefore 〈◊〉 readily prejudge them but when people attempt this method with horses in France they frequently dye before they can be accustomed to this so dangerous a habit of liveing which I assure you shall never be put in practice by me People should take exact notice to the water which horses drink especially when traveling for upon that in a manner dependeth their preservation or destruction that water which is least quick or penetrating is the best if you can have the conveniency of a River it is preferable to a Spring and a Spring or Fountain to a Draw-well but when a man is necessitate to let his horses drink of such penetrating waters he should cause bring it in a pretty time before he use it set it in the Sun or cause warm somed it to correct the sharpness of the rest but it is sooner done to throw amongst it a little wheat Bran or some soft of bread crumbled for want of both which the crudity of the water may be a little corrected by either stirring it some time about with your hand or throwing a little Hay amongst it but if the water be extremely quick and peirceing neither the stirring of it with your hand nor Hay will prevet the horses taking the Vives and therefore in that case you are either to mix with it a little warm water or wheat Bran which will sufficiently correct it It sometimes happneth that horses are so hard and unmercifully rid that they are burst and either dye or become foundered if a man do not apply proper remedies to prevent it for example people are at the Stagg-hunting and cannot have the conveniency of their laid or fresh horses because the Stagg takes quite another way theâ— where they are placed or perhaps runns further than is expected so that people being warm and bent upon the chase do not consider their horses but push theâ— on to the outmost
them when they stand in need of it because the necessity of having a horse sometimes shoed is preferable to the observation of the Moon for if a horse want a shoe he must alwayes have one put on again and if it be in a good time of the Moon you may cause pare his foot but not otherwayes For feet that are brittle and which split easily you should alwayes as much as possible shoe them betwixt the full Moon and the change yea even in the last quarter of the Moon and you will know by the practice of it the good effects that it hath it being true that the feet shoed about the last quarter grow very little but then they become firmer and are not so apt to break this is what few people consider for they think it enough if they cause shoe their horses at the change if your horses feet be brittle you must never pare them at the change but alwayes after the full Moon that is to say in the Decress Whoever will observe this direction I assure him he will make his horse's feet become better and although they be brittle yet the horn will become tough for which purpose this following composition will be very useful Take common honey white grease and tar of each a like quantity mix them cold and use it for anointing brittle hoofs every other day it will keep the feet moist and soften them if nevertheless it hath not that effect you expected of it have recourse to the hoof-salves set down in the 47 Chap. of the 2d part Sect 2d c. But horses which have hard feet in which People cannot drive a nail without bending it by reason of their hardness should be shoed at the Change if the horn with that hardness be not also brittle which almost alwayes happeneth but if it be both brittle and hard he should be shoed after the full Moon and his sole should be moistned with good Remolades or softners and his horn with hoof-salves or thrust forward his own dung being wet with a little fresh water under his fore feet and cause him stand upon it the whole day and continue it for a time this will doe more good to some kind of hoofs than the remolades but not to all Having now discoursed of shoeing in general Without tying my self to any particular imperfection in the feet I shall next speak briefly of all kinds of Feet in particular CHAP. XXXVIII Of low heels tender feet and other kinds of bad and imperfect feet WHen you are paring a horse's feet which hath low heels CHAP XXXVIII Of low heels tender feet and other kinds of bad feet you must only pare the Toe without touching in the least the heel and also it is good not to touch the Frush unless it be begining to corrupt and then you must pare it flatt you must also cut the toe with the Cutting-knife or Rasp only and not with the Butteris People make only use of the Butteris for to give the shoe a seat after they have cut the Toe with the Cutting-knife for Examp the breadth of ones finger or thumb if the foot be too long at the Toe in which case you must also cause pierce the shoe near the edge at the Toe for fear of pricking and so placeing the shoe after that fashion you will force the too great nourishment which went to the Toe to strengthen the heels and in twice or thrice shoeing the foot will come to take a good shape and form and also in the time that you restrain the Toe by cutting it the heel will strengthen Now these kind of feet growing only at the toe all the nourishment of the foot goeth there and so the heel becometh alwayes narrower and daily weaker but if you observe that which I tell you to cut the toe with the Cutting-knife having only as it were Blanched or cleaned the sole with the Butteris and that you put the shoe at the Toe a finger breadth or ane inch back according as the toe is too much sprung and that afterwards you cut away the horn I assure you the foot will take quite another form or shape which will be a great deal better and the heels will also strengthen But if your horse's heels be low and not narrow and that the Frush be large or fat with great difficulty will you keep it from touching the ground and then your horse will be in danger of halting especially when he is riding upon hard ground To prevent it I think there is no other remedy than to give him Calkins after the Fashion of the point of a Hares eare in French en Oreilles de Lievre which is doâ—e by turning the insides of the spunges the whole breadth of the shoe and making then after the fashion of Calkins now these kind of Calkins will not do great harm 〈◊〉 his feet and he will also goe the more firmly with them upon the street or 〈◊〉 slippery ground so by this means you will hinder his Frush to touch the ground It is not that I approve of Calkins after whatever fashion they are made the greaâ— Calkins are the worst and those which spoil most a horse's feet but these after the fashion of the point of a Hares care are the least dangerous and if people could also dispence with the want of these it would be still so much the better But if the horse which hath low heels have them also narrow near the shoe although that his frush be large which is not ordinary you must then give him no Calkins neither after the fashion of a Hares care nor any other but you must cause shoe him with Panton shoes in French fers à pantouffle with a narrow Spunge and very thick in the inside that is to say that it must slope very much from the inside of the shoe next his foot to the outer edge and place the spunge of the panton shoes upon the heels so that the thick edge of the spunge may enter within the Corners of the Frâ—â— to press them out when they grow cut his Toe with the Pareing-knife according as you shall find occasion for it and after that he is shoed keep his feet in his Dâ—â—â— being a little moistned with water untill he leave halting for he will for a few day have pain in his feet untill he be accustomed to wear these kind of shoes afterward you may cause him work for he will not have carried them long when he will I accustomed with them and after thrice shoeing the heel and also the whole for will have taken a good form or shape The Horse-coursers to cover this imperfection of having low heels cause make the Spunges of the shoes great and thick for to supply the want of the heels which is indeed a very good invention to spoil the heels for good and all for it is good for nothing but this that it maketh those who are ignorant buy such horses
maketh them sweat much so that if a man had any extraordinary labour to put them to they would become Pursy but this eating of their litter is very easily prevented The second Maxim is That for every horse which is fat and resting at home that is which either works and travels not at all or but very little new threshed wheat straw is better for him than hay because his wind is better preserved by it it alters not his flank and also the fat and flesh which it produceth is alwayes more firm then that of hay as likewise as people say more dureable conforme to the French proverb Cheval de paille Cheval de bataille Which I English thus A horse that 's fed with straw of Wheat Is firm in flesh and fit for Feat In fine a horse fed only with Wheatâ—straw and Oats may be kept at rest in the stable a full year without spoiling whereas if he had eat hay he would appear old and become very dull and heavy in the space of three months But some persons who have only one horse will perhaps say that they shall prevent his resting so much and remaining so long in the stable without doeing any thing but if he be hurt or become lame they will be necessitate to do it and those who have great stables of horses know very well that when they have been much travelled especialy at the close of a Campaigne where they have been extremely fatigued there is a necessity to give them rest and that for a considerable time that so they may recover Horses which are Light-bellyed and have not their flanks altered agree better with the eating of Hay than straw also they are excepted out of the proceeding Rule because the hay cause them to drink lustily and the abundance of water tempers and qualifies that heat which dryed them up and hindered them to take a Belly yet Hay considered as Hay would seem more fit and proper to take away a horse's Belly than give him one because by its naturall heat it should do him more prejudice than straw which is not so fiery but as it obliges horses to drink much by reason of it's being charged with a nitrous Salt which provokes thirst the quantity of drink extinguishes it's fiery and heating quality how great soever and so the horse which is no more consumed by that fire which contracted his Belly is put in a condition to have it enlarged therefore a man should make no difficulty to give hay to such kind of horses and every lean horse which eateth heartily and drinketh lustily and proportionably to what he eateth will be very soon fat and full flanked For horses which are very lean a man will not very suddenly fatten them with Straw therefore Hay is much more proper for them if their flanks be not altered for if they have the least inclination to Pursyness hay is nought for them because of the reasons I shall hereafter give you in the second part when I discourse of horses which is broken-winded or Pursy and although people very justly say that such a horse hath his flank altered because he hath a little feeling or touch of Pursyness yet you must not imagine That that alteration proceeds from heat because heat is nothing but an accident of Pursyness and its essentiall cause flows from a cold principle which is heavy slow and Viscuous phlegm that not only obstructs and stops the conduits of respiration but also those passages through which the blood runs for refreshing and nourishing the Lungs in the time of its perpetuall circulation but the accidental heat proceeds from this that betwixt the Pulmonary artery and Vein there is in the Parenchyma or bloody and fistolous substance of the Lungs Anastomoses or passages from the Veins to the Arteries which being many times obstructed do occasion that accidental heat in the Lungs by reason of the heat which is communicated to them from the Heart Horses which are inclined to be charged with flesh in their necks or to become Thick-necked should not eat too much wheat straw because it will increase their fleshyness as experience will teach you but unless it be in these few exceptions our Maxim holds alwayes good Excepting also Spanish horses which as they grow old become smaller and thinner Necked contrary to all other horses and I am also of opinion that a Spanish horse which hath a thick and well turned neck is better than if he had it more slender because his mouth is more certain and firm with it neither will he be so subject to Beat upon the hand or Chack in the Bridle and therefore will consequently have a better Appuy or feeling of the pressure of the Bit upon his Barrs The Wheat-straw in Languidock is most excellent because being tread upon the peoples feet who thresh it it is beat and softned and consequently more appetizâ— it is not but that without this Treading it might be cut aboundantly small but 〈◊〉 it could not without a great deal of trouble be made so soft and toothsome 〈◊〉 other way as it is this We are not however wholly to banish Hay and therefore there should alway a small quantity of it be given to horses before Watering to excite their thirst and peoâ—â— find difficulty to maintain some horses in a good case with straw alone withâ— he help of some hay therefore I think they should alwayes have six or eight poâ—â— weight given them every four and twenty hours unless there be some reasons whâ—â— oblige a man to give them none at all The third Maxim for the right feeding of horses is Never to suffer them to drink 〈◊〉 cold or sharp water as I have already remarked when I discoursed of what was be observed when horses are upon journey because such kind of water weakâ—â— their stomach engenders crudities and causes obstructions in the Liver it is froâ— that also that Collicks and Grips in the belly do commonly proceed cold and shaâ—â— water prevents and retards a horses growing fat which is lean and if he be alrâ—â—â— fat will make him the sooner become lean and in a bad condition In a word it 〈◊〉 most unwholsome for him The water of great Rivers is excellent for horses although those indeed whiâ—â— are too rapid are not so very good Spring or Fountain Water is better than thâ—â— of Draw-wells although people are necessitate in many places to make use of this foâ— lack of better Water which hath had time to settle or hath been taken a pretty whilâ— from the Well or Fountain is better than that which is immediatly drawn exceâ—â— in time of an excessive cold in which water which is new drawn hath a kind 〈◊〉 warmness and is therefore more wholesome for horses to drink immediatly than thâ—â— which hath been suffered to cool by being a considerable time drawn before it be made use of I assure you good water contributes to the keeping a horse fat and plump
already said a day that fair and calm CHAP. LXX Precautions to be observen in blood-letting and if he be a young Horse that it be in the increase of the Mooâ—â—â— if old then after the Full and also take care that the Horse be tyed up early in 〈◊〉 morning to the Rack and that he neither get Water nor Combing for fear of too 〈◊〉 moving and agitating his Spirits then he is to draw with a pair of Fleems 〈◊〉 should be of a reasonable breadth for the Reason before given about three pounds blood and then to leave him tyed to the Rack for two hours After which he shal give him some scalded Bran or a Mash and seeing our Author hath not in any part of his Book given the least Directions to make one by Reason I judge that they are not much made use of in France Malt being but very scarce there because of the small quantity of Ale they drink yet since it is a mixture very good for Horses and much used in these Islands I have thought fit to set down in this place the true Method of making a good Mash as followeth Take four English Quarts or half a Peck of good well ground Malt How to make a Mash and put it into a Pailor wooden Vessel by it self then take a Gallon or four English Quarts of fair Water and set it on the fire and when it hath boiled a very little put as much of it into the Malt as will moisten it working and stirring them with a piece of flat wood after which pour in the rest of the Water and mix all very well together then cover up the Vessel closs with a double covering or some Cloaths and let it stand thus for two hours or till such time as you intend to give it to your Horse the Mash being thus made and your Horse ready to take it uncover the Vessel and with your hand stir all well together crushing and squeezing the Mai t as much as possible and when luke-warm give it the Horse to drink It must I say be little more as milk warm when he taketh it and if it should prove either too hot or too thick when you are to give it you may rectifie both by adding a little cold Water to it but be sure not so much as to make it either too cold which would turn it raw or too thin which would abate a great deal of its pleasant taste and strength You may also if you intend he should eat none of the Grain or Malt a little whereof can never do him prejudice squeeze the Liquor quite from it and so let him drink it throwing away the Malt or rather giving it to your Hogs or Cows This is the best Method I know to make a good Mash which in many cases is found to agree well with Horses especially such as are any-wise indisposed or sick and which was therefore the cause of my setting it down in this place our Author not having as I have said made the least mention of it to my knowledge in his whole Book The Germans cause gallop their Horses before blooding to the end say they that the bad blood which is as the Lee may be mixed with the good and so both drawn together but they are deceived in this because the blood is filled with Spirits which being agitate and stirred up with this kind of coursing doth immediatly evaporate in a great abundance with the most subtile part of the blood when ever the Vein is opened so that blooding after this manner is more prejudicial than profitable If those who thus cause their Horses gallop before blood-letting were perswaded of the Circulation of the Blood they would not be in so gross an Error as to believe that the Blood is with the same tranquillity in the Veins as Wine is in a Hogs-head whose Lee lyeth at bottom but would be convinced that the whole Mass of the Blood circulates as well the gross part as that which is more subtile seing then this is so there is no need of any violent agitation of it such as galloping to oblige it to come forth but rather upon the contrary the Horse should be kept calm and quiet for fear of evacuating and lossing too many of his Spirits as I have already explained Those who are very careful of their Horses cause them eat only Bran in place of Oats both the day before Blooding the day it self and the day thereafter and for these three days they should also let them rest or at least that day wherein they are bled and also give them only bran in it You are also in taking blood to regulate the quantity according as your Horse is a great feeder and as his Veins are full and stretched and accordingly as it issues forth with violence having still regard to the quality of the Disease his Strength Age and the Season It is a general Maxim that a man without very good and pressing Reasons she 〈◊〉 never make great evacuations by blood-letting because there is made by it a too 〈◊〉 dissipation of the Spirits whereby the Horse is weakned so that his Members 〈◊〉 so easily perform their functions as also there are thereby formed crudities iâ— Veins which are the Source and Origine of several Diseases CHAP. LXXI How to judge of the Quantity and Quality of Blood ALthough it is not the common Practice of Farriers to receive a Horse's 〈◊〉 into a Vessel when they open any of his Veins it is however very â—â—â—â—â—sary CHAP LXXI How to judge of the Quantity and Quality of Blood that so a man may first judge of the Quantity he takes from 〈◊〉 and afterwards of its Quality Therefore when a Man opens a Horse's Vein he should instead of letting 〈◊〉 Blood fall to the ground receive it into a convenient Vessel the contents whereof should have measured before hand to know how many pounds of Water it containâ— that so heÌ„ may proportionably draw as many pounds of Blood in the same Vessel 〈◊〉 example a Man knows how much space two English Quarts of Water take up in a Vessel the same space will be filled with four pounds of Blood for an English Quaâ—â— of Water weighs about two pound and Blood is near of equal weight with Water having drawn the quantity of Blood he designs to evacuate he shall let it fix and â—â—â—geal that he may the better judge of its quality now although Blood be somewhâ—â— lighter then Water yet the difference is so very inconsiderable that it is not 〈◊〉 noticeing You shall then when you blood a Horse observe if it run calmly and slowly 〈◊〉 without any impetuosity as also if it cleave to your fingers when you touch it 〈◊〉 cause if it do it is a sign that it is Viscuous and will be subject to occasion obstruâ—â—â—ons therefore in that case you are to Blood your Horse frequently for this kin◠〈◊〉 Blood is a sign of Repletion
that wears a Bitt Gelding or Nage will be certainly the better to be wrought in the Mannage both for readyness and safity for without settling upon the hand they are both very uneasy and dangerous I must likewayes tell you that Corvets and other Ayres settle a Horse mightily upon the hand make him light before and put him upon his Haunches which are all usefull for a Souldiets horse and make him stop upon his Haunches which is very useful especially for a man in Armour for did his Horse stop upon the Shoulders he would give his Rider being Armed such a Shock as would make his Bones ake were he never so sound Nay to make a Horse goe in Leaps or Capriols firms him also upon the Hand which is good for a Souldiers Horse But sayes a Galant when I should have use for him in the Field than he would be playing tricks But this is a great mistake for the helps to make Horses go in Ayres and to make them go upon the ground are vastly different and good Horsemen have much a do to make them go in Ayres with their best helps So that if you let them alone they will not trouble you besides two or three dayes March will make them that they will not go in Ayres if you would have them and yet they are much the readier to go on the ground whereby you see that there is no Horse whatsoever can be a good and useful horse in any kind with a Bitt but what is wrought in the Mannage and therefore 〈…〉 you for your 〈◊〉 and use to Ride or cause Ride all your Horses in the Mannage and you will find 〈…〉 without iâ— absolutely safe anâ—â—â—â—ful neither can any 〈…〉 well and gracefully in a snaffie without having been â—â—ed to the Bitt as he wiâ—◠〈◊〉 had he been formerly Rid with and accustom◠〈◊〉 it Thus I think it sufficiently proved that there is nothing of more use for any Horse then the Mannage 〈…〉 thing of more State Manliness or Pâ—easure then Riding And as it is the 〈…〉 the most healthful exercise in the World In Hâ—â—ting Hauking 〈…〉 â—â—hooting Cocking Carts and 〈…〉 things there is no use a 〈…〉 meerly Pleasure But in a Horse of 〈…〉 both 〈…〉 Pleasure It is 〈…〉 at if there were nothing commendable but what is usefull strickly examined we found then have nothing but hollow 〈…〉 houses fig leaves for our Cloa◠〈…〉 for our Mâ—nt and Water for our 〈…〉 most things else are only 〈…〉 curiosities but not designing 〈…〉 the Philolopher I shall 〈…〉 practice of such abstinâ—â—ces to 〈…〉 commend the 〈…〉 Horsemen CHAP. III. Of the great mistake which many people are in who think it a great disparagement to Horsemanship if by chance a good Horseman be thrown from his Horse MANY 〈…〉 are much deceived when if a Horse thâ— wâ—â—s Rider CHAP III they not only 〈…〉 think they have good reason for it Saying of the best Horseâ—â—â— in the World To whom such a mischance shalâ— happen that he is a fine 〈…〉 for they can swear that they knew a Horse threw him but they 〈…〉 a good Horseman may be sometimes thrown sooner than a bad one 〈…〉 Horsemen little think of sitting and so may be six pâ—â—â—ed Their thoughts 〈…〉 make their Horses go well and so never think of â—â—â—owing whereas a 〈…〉 thinketh of nothing but sâ—â—ing for fear he should be thrown and 〈…〉 to make his Horse go well For he know not how to do it but holds by 〈…〉 his head inclining towards the Horses which is ready to beat out 〈…〉 holding fast by the Horses Flances which makes him look 〈…〉 an African Monster and his Horse is so disordered 〈…〉 him 〈…〉 in that manner is the most nauseous sight that can be and the most 〈…〉 to the beholders So that it were much better for the Spectators to see him 〈…〉 his own reputation also provided he received no hurt by it Thus you see that any Groom or Tinket may siâ— and yet be no Horseman which is a greater business than only sitting For a Jackanapes in Paris Garden when he is beated with mustâ—d Mâ—â—ffs the Gentleman sits very sure but not very comely and in my Opinion 〈…〉 excellent Horseman for sitting is but one thing in Horsemanship and there are Commands of things in the Art so if a good Horseman be thrown by chance hath 〈…〉 his Horsemanship because be was once thrown and is an Ignorant fellow 〈◊〉 inspired with Horsemanship because be can ill favouredly Cling to the Horse and keep himself on No sitting fast is one of the meanest things in Horsemanship which comprehendeth many more of greater consequence But I must tell you that it is even very rate to see a good Horseman thrown although I have known 〈◊〉 presumptuous ignotant fellows to get frequently falls but as a good Horseman whâ—â— thrown by chance doeth not loss all his Horsemanship by it so an Ignorant Rider 〈…〉 is not presently inspited with Horsemanship for it is a mistake as rediculous as it is common to take sitting fast on Horseback for the whole Art of Horsemanship 〈…〉 that were then the common Jockies and Horse-courses servants would be the best Horsemen in the World for some of them are extremly 〈◊〉 and hardy but as for one Knoweldge of Horsemanship they know not 〈…〉 means CHAP. IV. That people are mightily disceived who by meer Speculation without practice think to become good and Skilful Horsemen I Have known some People ask CHAP IV. If the Reading a Book of Horsemanship would make them good Horsemen To those I answer That good Books upon any practical Art which are plainly Writ are certainly very useful but then you must have all in your memorie and perhaps even then you do not understand them but put the case you do Yet wanting practice it is imposible you can Ride well and yet no fault at all in the Books but in you It is true there are some people who think they can see nothing but what they can immediatly do which must be certainly by inspiration by which I never knew any to Ride though many pretend to Preach by it Do you think that an ignorant School-boy can be as Learned as a Doctor Or let a skilful Musician Write the Rarest Book in the World for Composing and Singing can you imagine that as soon as you have read his Book you can do what he teacheth No truely and yet not the Books fault but yours in being so partial to your self as to think you can do any thing at first sight without Practice or Study which would be a Miracle I never saw nor I believe any body else ever shall In the same manner if a Lutenest should Write a Rate Book can you expect that as soon as you have read it you can play upon the Lute because it may be you can jangle the strings but you say you can Ride truely just as you jangle the Lute
did in the second and third Fortnights to which I refer you only in this last Fortnight you shall observe these few directions following First You shall keep your heating dayes the first Week of this Fortnight but the second or last Week you shall forbear one heat and not give your Horse any five dayes before his Match but for it give him only strong and long Airings and watering Courses You shall not need this Fortnight to give him any Scouring at all and if morning and Evening during this Fortnight you burn the best Frankincence in the Stable you will find it very wholsome for your Horse and he will also mightily delight in it In this Fortnight when you give him any washt meat let it be washt either in the Whites of Eggs or a little Muskadine or Cherrie for it is most wholsome and prevents pursiveness This Fortnight give him no Hay but what he taketh out of your hand after his heats and also let that be but in little quantity and clean Dusted The last week of this Fortnight if the Horse be a foul feeder you must use the Muzzle continually but if a clean feeder then three dayes before the match is sufficient The Morning of that day before the day for the Match feed well both before and after Watering and Airing and water as at other times but before noon and afternoon diminish his Portion of meat a little as also before and after evening Airing feed as at noon and water as at other times but be sure to come earlier home then ordinary that evening from Airing For This Evening you are to Trim and Shoe your Horse and do all extraordinary things of Ornament about him providing alwayes you take care neither to hinder his feeding nor interrupt his rest for I have heard some Horsemen say that when they had shod their Horses with light shoes or plates the night before the course their Horses have taken such notice thereof that they would neither eat what they gave them nor ly down to take any rest all the night following But to have so much understanding and cunning a Horse must be old and long experienced in this exercise otherwayes he cannot make such subtile observations However to pass over other curiosities as Pletting the Main and Tail c. I do advise you that things which are of most necessity and use be alwise done this day which is the day before the match rather then upon the morning of the Course because your Horse that morning should be troubled as little by handling or otherwise as possible Late at night feed as you did in the evening and give him of what he liketh best according to his Stomack only as little bread and Beans as possible then puting on his muzzle and tossing up his Litter leave him quiet till next morning The next morning being that of the match day come to him very early and takeing off his Muzzle rub his head well right his Cloaths and then give him a pretty quantity of Oats washed as I said in the whites of Eggs Muskadine or Cherrie or if he refuse them washt give him them dry or mixt with a little Wheat after he hath eaten them if he be a slow emptier walk him abroad and in the places where he used to empty there intice him to it which when he hath done bring him home and puting on his Muzzle let him rest untill you have warning to make ready but if he be a free emptier let him ly quiet When you have warning to make ready take off his muzzle and put on his Snaffle being well washed in a little Muskadine or Cherrie but before you Bridle him if you think him too empty give him three or four mouthfuls of the washt meat last spoke of then Bridle him up and dress him afterwards Pitching the running Saddle and Girths with Shoemakers wax set it on and girt it Gently so that he may but only feel the Girths but have no straitness then lay a clean sheet over the Saddle over it his ordinary Cloaths then his Body Cloath and Breast Cloath and wisp him round with soft wisps Finally if you have a Cloath of State let it be neatly fastned above all and being ready to draw out give him half an English Pint or half a Sâ—â—ts Mutchkin of Muskadine or Cherrie and so lead him away In all your leading observe to use gentle and calm motions suffering him to smell upon any dung and in special places of advantage as where you find Rushes long Grass Heath or the like walk in and entice him to piss but if you find no such help then in some certain places where you lead him and especially near to the place where you are to mount and having accustomed him to it before break some of the straw wherewith he is wisped under him and thus intice him if you can to stale or piss also in leading if any white or thick Fome or Froth arise about his mouth with a clean napekin wipe it away and causing carrie a bottle of clean water about with you wash his mouth with it now and then When you are come to the place where you are to take his back before you uncloath rub and chaff his Leggs well then pick his feet uncloath wash his mouth with water get upon his back and adjusting your Stirrops and other things about your Body walk him softly to the starting post and there starting fair perform you your part by running him to the greatest advantage he is capable of and leave the rest to providence for although we are oblidged to use the means and helps of second causes yet it is that which decideth and determineth all even the most trivial actions any of us poor Mortals are concerned in 14ly Some other usefull Observations to be taken notice of by a keeper in sundry Accidents which befall a Race Horse during the time he is preparing for a Match THere is no unreasonable creature of pleasure subject to so many disasterous chances of Fortune as the Horse and especially the running Horse both by reason of the multiplicity of diseases belonging I may say peculiarly to him as also the violence of his exercise and nice tenderness of keeping therefore it is fit that every keeper should be Armed with such observations as may be a means for him both to prevent mischiefs and Accidents and also remide them when they do happen Therefore the first Observation I shall begin with shall be 1. Observations from Meat and Drink LET the Feeder or Keeper therefore observe if there be any Meat Drink or other nourisâ—ment which he knows to be good for him and yet the Horse refuse it that in this case he is not to force it violently upon him but by gentle means and cunning enticements to win him thereto tempting him when he is most hungry or most thirsty and if he take but a bit at a time he will soon come to take
till he has recover'd his Appetite and then give him another Dose If this Remedy work too violently and cause too great an Agitation in the Horse's Body infuse two Ounces of Tabacco in a Quart of Oil-Olive let it stand in hot Ashes all Night and in the Morning strain out a Glass-full which you must give him luke-warm one half at each Nostril This is a gentler Medicine and besides that it will make him void some Matter it allays the sharpness of the Humours but you must observe the same Directions as before concerning Beating in the Flank and Loss of Appetite You must take care to augment or diminish the Dose according to the good or bad Condition of the Horse's Appetite and the great or small Quantity of the Matter which he voids Nature oftentimes heals those internal Ulcers which are the Source of the filthy Matter that runs out of the Nose when by a great Evacuation she is eas'd of the Burthen of sharp and malignant Humours that foment the Distemper The Cure of an Ulcer consists wholly in cleansing it for you may commit the healing of it to Nature This Remedy will expel a prodigious Quantity of Matter some Horses bear it well without losing their Appetite and even the Kernel disappears in the Wane of the Moon but if it grow again you must repeat the Medicine If after a long Continuance in this Method the Horse begins to void less Matter and according to all Probability the Flux of Matter will quickly cease forbear the Use of the Remedy for some Days and if the Evacuation be wholly stopt as it sometimes happens give him a Dose of the Cordial Powder for three Days together in a Quart of White or Red Wine after which the Kernel will perhaps return no more and the Horse will perfectly recover I have given this Remedy to some Horses who were not at all troubl'd with a beating in the Flank after the taking of it nor lost the least stroak of their Teeth they were cur'd for some time but afterwards some of 'em relaps'd into their former Disease When the the Lungs which are the usual Seat of this Distemper are much wasted the Disease is incurable and the above-mention'd Remedy hastens the Horse's Death but since 't is impossible to save him the best Way is to dispatch him speedily When you undertake the Cure of this Distemper whatever Remedy you design to use you ought always during the Encrease of the Moon to strengthen Nature and help her by gentle Methods to cast forth the Matter that offends her for which Purpose repeated Doses of the Cordial Powder Treacle Electuary of Kermes and the Cordial Pills are very effectual And during the Wane you must syringe the Nostrils and give Remedies to promote the Evacuation of the Matter This Method seems to promise good Effects but I will not positively warrant the Success Perfumes are not very proper in this Case 't is true they expel a great deal of Matter and even without Violence but they make the Horse too lean and dry and spoil his Appetite CHAP. XXI A Perfume to draw forth the offending Humours TAke Betony Vervain Mugwort Speedwell Bawm Wormwood Scabious Agrimony Mint Hyssop and Sage burn 'em in a Chafing-dish and putting a Bag with a Hole in it about the Horse's Head make him receive the Smoak into his Nostrils for a quarter of an Hour which will expel abundance of Matter The wild Vine that grows in the Hedges call'd black Briony slic'd small while 't is green and afterwards beaten casts forth a Smell that will make the Horse void a great deal of Matter Some say it hurts the Sight but Experience will convince you of the contrary It has most Virtue when it bears its Flower To declare my Opinion ingenuously I never observ'd any Horses to receive great Benefit by Persumes but I was willing to insert 'em here for the Satisfaction of some Persons The Syringe makes Persumes and even Feathers useless and spoils not the Horse's Appetite but since Farriers are very fond of these Medicines and continually propose the Use of 'em I thought fit to describe the best that can be made tho' even that is not very effectual and I dare not advise you to use it During the Use of these Remedies keep the Horse to a moistening Diet which facilitates the Evacuations you are oblig'd to procure Some dislike moisten'd Bran and recommend Oats but I always found Bran to be the most proper Food for Oats give Nature too much trouble to digest ' em I have seen Horses void Matter at the Nose six Years together and yet during all that time perform their wonted Service hunt eat and undergo Fatigues like other Horses The Use of Remedies was laid aside they were not kept to any Diet and the the whole Business of the Cure was left to Nature but at last the Disease carry'd 'em off I have also seen others tho' very few who cou'd not be cur'd by Medicines and yet sometime after the Use of Remedies and Hope of Cure were both laid aside they recover'd their perfect Health CHAP. XXII Another Remedy for the Glanders TAke a Pot large enough to hold five Pints or three Quarts fill it a third part full with the second Bark of the Aller or Alder-Tree which grows in watery Places and serves to make Stools Ladders and other Utensils of small Value scrape the Bark or cut it small and having added two Quarts of Water boil it to the Consumption of one half stirring it from time to time then add another Quart of Water to that which remains and boil away that also after which add another Quart and consume that too then press out the remaining Quart and dissolve in the strain'd Liquor half a Pound of Oil-Olive pour out half a Pint of the Liquor thus mix'd and give the rest to the Horse to drink luke-warm then inject the other half Pint into his Nostrils and afterwards walk him abroad in his Cloaths for half an hour This Remedy will draw forth Abundance of Matter and tho' he only voided Matter at one Nostril before it will make him run at both If the Horse be not cur'd eight Days after repeat the same Remedy and perhaps he will recover I have both cur'd some Horses with this Medicine and us'd it several times without any Success at all but it never produces any dangerous Effects If this do not cure the Horse take up his two Neck-Veins and afterwards give him a Dose of the Cordial Pills four Days together which will either cure him or you may conclude him to be past Recovery Another Remedy for the same Distemper Take of Oriental Caster grosly beaten an Ounce Gentian beaten and Savin slic'd small of each an Ounce and a half boil them in five Quarts of strong Vinegar to three and after the Liquor is cold strain it thro' a Linnen Cloth Give the Horse a Quart of this Liquor after he has stood
Blindness Some enjoy an Interval of six Months others are troubl'd with a return of the Distemper once in three Months and some grow Lunatic every two Months The signs of this Imperfection are particularly describ'd in the Second Part. During the time that the Eye is actually seiz'd with the Rheum it appears hot swoln dark cover'd and weeping which are the proper signs of a Defluxion But the surest sign of this Distemper is when under the Apple 't is of a faint yellow Colour during the time of the Defluxion for afterwards that Colour vanishes with the Rheum You must never Bleed a Lunatic Horse on any occasion whatsoever unless you are compell'd to have recourse to that Operation by some unavoidable necessity as by Fevers or Gripings in which cases you may let him Blood in the Flank I have seen Lunatic Horses who having been let Blood for the Farcin grew Blind shortly after You must not give the Horse any sort of Grain while his Eye is actually troubl'd with the Rheum but feed him with Hay Straw and moisten'd Bran. You may also make a Seton on his Pole between his Ears by thrusting a sharp Iron red hot quite thro' the part where his Mane begins and on which the Head-stall of the Bridle rests and putting into the Hole a plaited Cord one half Hair and the other Hemp anointed with Basilicum which must be turn'd round and drawn backward and forward every Morning to let forth the Matter that has been gathering for the space of four and twenty Hours Others keep the Seton open with a Lead-Ring instead of a Cord. The Seton will divert the Humour from the Eyes and ease the Horse in some measure by evacuating part of it Some make two Setons one on the fore-part of the Head where the Tuft of the Mane lies over the Fore-head and another behind where the end of the Head-stall rests but without any considerable benefit If the Weather be fair let the Horse lie abroad to receive the Night-Dew but if it be Cold keep him in a Stable that is not very hot For the Heat of the Stable is very hurtful to Lunatic Eyes 'T is very convenient for a Moon-Ey'd Horse to take up the Eye-Vein when the Rheum is at the heighth and when you can meet with an expert Farrier And it will not be improper to cut the Nerve that lies under the Vein as I taught you before But tho' you do not think fit to cut the Nerve you must of necessity take up the Vein which may be easily done with a crooked Needle as in the case of Defluxions Besides the taking up of the Jugular Veins will very much promote the Cure and you may also observe the following Directions 'T is extreamly profitable for Moon-Ey'd Horses to rowel 'em at the side of each Eye on the flat part of the Cheek-Bone to divert the Humour from flowing to the Eyes and more especially to evacuate that which is already fall'n upon ' em The Operation is thus perform'd Cut the Skin overthwart with a Launce or Razor and separate it from the Flesh about three Inches upwards with the handle of a Slice then put into the Hole a piece of Lead two Inches long and one broad raising up the Skin a little below the Incision made with the Launce to keep the Lead sure Let the Rowels remain twelve or fifteen days and make the Matter run out twice every day by pressing the part gently downwards The Orifices made either by a Seton or Rowel heal of themselves after the Cord or Lead is taken out Instead of Lead you may put into the Hole a little Straw or a piece of an old Shoe or Gentian-Root After these precautions you may proceed to the use of Rue-Water CHAP. XXXII Of the best way of making Rue-Water to Cure Moon-Eyes SInce Rue-Water is an excellent and specific Medicine for the Eyes of Horses and is not to be had every where I thought fit to subjoin the true way of preparing it Take three or four handfuls of Rue cut it small and put it into a Dish of Silver or Earth glaz'd which you must set on a Chafing-Dish with another Dish on the top of it and give it a gentle Heat Remove the upper Dish from time to time and take out the Water which you will find sticking about it with a Feather then set it on as before and let it stand for some time after which take it off again and you will find more Water When you have gather'd a considerable quantity of Water as for example a small Glass-full dissolve in it the bigness of an ordinary Walnut of White-Vitriol and bathe the Eye with it Morning and Evening or if this be not of sufficient efficacy make use of the Lapis Mirabilis And if that Stone should fail too as it may sometimes happen to do when the Eye is very much inflam'd you must have recourse to the Oil of Lead pouring seven or eight drops of it into the Eye every day which is an incomparable Remedy and will fully answer your desires Oil of Lead is a specific Remedy for Defluxions on the Eyes and especially for those that follow the Motions of the Moon If you administer it a little before the usual time at which the Moon brings down the Rheum that Symptom will be prevented and the Eye remain sound And by persisting in the use of this Medicine that is by putting two drops of it into the Eye every day with a Feather you may preserve Horses that are subject to Moon-Eyes for several Years without the least appearance of their wonted Distemper their Eyes remaining all the while sound and bright If the Horse be actually seiz'd with the Distemper you must administer the Remedy twice a day and you will be quickly convinc'd of its Efficacy I have often try'd it with a great deal of satisfaction and you may safely depend upon it CHAP. XXXIII Of Oil of Lead call'd Oleum Saturni THere are different Methods of preparing this Medicine prescrib'd by all the most celebrated Chymists both Ancient and Modern who give it the name of Oil tho' improperly because 't is not Inflamable and I thought fit to retain the same Name since the use of it is confirm'd by such Illustrious Writers as Paracelsus Crollius Zwelfer c. Among all the various Preparations of it I chose to make use of that which follows as the least intricate But if you are not expert enough in these Operations you may employ some Artist to prepare it Methodically tho' you will find the following Description of it so clear and exact that it may be easily made by any Man that has the least skill in Distillation Take six Pounds of Ceruse reduc'd to Powder by rubbing it on the bottom of a Searce turn'd upwards put it into an Earthen Pot with ten Quarts of distill'd Vinegar and digest 'em in a Sand-Furnace three Days and three Nights stirring the bottom of the Matter
from time to time with a Wooden Slice then filtrate the distill'd Vinegar impregnated with the Salt of Lead and evaporate all the moisture which will leave the true and fixt Salt of Lead which you must put into a Glass Retort leaving two thirds of it empty Place the Retort with its Recipient in a Sand-Furnace giving at first a very gentle Fire which must be gradually augmented till nothing come out of the Retort Then let the Vessels cool and you will find in the Recipient the Oil of Lead which you may make stronger by evaporating the third part of the Phlegm which it contains but without any evaporation it will be strong enough for the Lunatic Eyes of a Horse The remaining Matter is an excellent Salt of Lead of good use in several cases It may be apply'd either alone or mixt with several Ointments to divert Rheums or allay excessive Heat as I shall afterwards observe But 't is stronger than that which is usually Sold by Chymists who crystallize it to make it more pleasant to the Eye neither do I think it proper to be us'd inwardly till it be dissolv'd in Water filtrated evaporated crystalliz'd in a Cellar c. I know by experience that some pretended Chymists will tell you that this Operation is impossible but I always found that they were either Ignorant or wanted proper Vessels I have prepar'd it and caus'd it to be prepar'd neither will any Man who has the least skill in Chymistry complain of the difficulty of the Work This Salt is call'd Sugar of Lead because of its sweetness to the Taste and being free of that Acrimony or sharpness which is common to all other Salts 't is useful not only for Moon-Eyes but for all manner of Rheums in the Eyes without occasioning the least Pain or Smarting for it allays the immoderate and confirms the natural Heat of those Organs and consequently diverts the Rheum You may dissolve two Drams of it in Water of Nightshade Celandine or Eye-bright and bathe the Eyes with the Solution A certain Modern Author writes That if it be expos'd to the Air it dissolves into a Liquor but I am not altogether of his Opinion for tho' the Air has some influence upon it yet it cannot reduce it to a Liquor The Salt is more easily to be had than the Oil but 't is not so effectual They who are profest Enemies to the Art of Chymistry and endeavour to discredit all its Operations pretend that we ought by no means to use the Salt of Lead since 't is only Lead Calcin'd as indeed if it be melted in a Crucible with Salt of Tartar or Nitre it will return to its first Substance But tho' Mercury however disguis'd may be rednc'd to true and fluid Quicksilver yet 't is apply'd to several Uses because the Body of it is artificially open'd and either made familiar to our Bodies or render'd proper to empty the part to which it is apply'd whereas in its own Nature 't is close and unfit to produce those Effects which are daily caus'd by some Preparations of it So the substance of the Lead being open'd and united to the Acid Spirit of Vinegar which dissolves it it has a wonderful Vertue to cool the Eye but by melting it with Salt of Tartar the Spirit of Vinegar is destroy'd by that Salt and the parts of the Lead having nothing to keep 'em in their new situation are again reduc'd to Lead tho' but in a small quantity Sometimes the Defluxion is so copious that it cannot be stopt by the Oil in which case you must intercept its Course by a restringent Remedy apply'd to the Forehead Take fine Frankincense Mastic and Bole Armenic of each an equal quantity reduce 'em to Powder and mix 'em with Whites of Eggs and Juice of House-leek which grows on Houses resembling a little Artichoak Spread this Composition on a piece of Leather and apply it to the Horses Fore-head from one Temple to the other renewing it once or twice every day according to the violence and copiousness of the Rheum and tying it on the part with a Linnen-Band CHAP. XXXIV Of cleansing the Horse's Eye below or cutting out the Haw WHen there is no present sign or appearance of a Defluxion in the Eye and the part is as clear as its Infirmity will allow you may have recourse to a Manual Operation which has been successfully administer'd to some Moon-ey'd Horses and without any effect to others and therefore you must not imagine that this Operation can restore an Eye which is so weaken'd by the Rheum that 't is almost quite lost But all that can be reasonably expected from this Method is that it will preserve the Eyes in the same condition as when the Operation was perform'd and prevent the total loss of ' em This Operation ought to be administer'd if possible in the Wane of the Moon and after this manner In the first place having cast the Horse apply a small piece of Money mark'd to the corner of the Eye between the Eye and the Haw which is a Cartilage that all Horses have by the help of which you may thrust a threaded Needle into the Haw without hurting the Eye Then pull back the lower Eye-lid with your Finger and draw forth the Thread fasten'd to the Haw which will follow and draw after it a piece of glandulous Flesh Pull it forth softly cutting by degrees with a Launce that which holds it on each side and as you draw out the Haw the piece of Flesh that sticks to it will follow Proceed in this manner pulling and cutting but very gently till you have taken out a piece of glandulous Flesh of the bigness of an Inch and half a Finger in length and from time to time during the Operation wash away the Blood with Water that you may see what you are doing Having cut the Haw out of each Eye take up the Eye-Vein and afterwards every Morning and Evening wash the Eye with Aqua-vitae or with the Solution of Lapis Mirabilis in Water In the mean time you must not suffer the Horse to eat Oats but feed him only with moisten'd Bran for fifteen or twenty days after which you may safely make him return to his Labour and give him Oats to eat This Operation is grounded on a very natural way of Reasoning For as several parts of the Body are furnish'd with Emunctories or Receptacles of bad Humours so there is a lump of glandulous or spongy Flesh under the Eye which is as it were the sink of the Brain and receives the sharp raw and undigested Humours which that part throws off These Humours exhale and send up hot and burning Vapours to the Eye which prick and irritate it and afterwards draw thither all the Impurities of the Neighbouring Parts Thus we see that the Eye is always more subject to Heat and Vapours below than above as you may particularly observe in Moon-Eyes which during the time
and assoon as he comes into the Stable apply a Restringent Charge Take the Crum of a little Loaf hot from the Oven soak it in Spirit of Wine and apply it warm to the Wind-Gall lay a Bolster over it and tye it on with a broad Band wrapt several times about the Leg. This will cure a Wind-Gall in four and twenty Hours I remember that having apply'd this Remedy to a Spanish Horse who was troubl'd with a small Wind-Gall when I remov'd the Dressing I found the Leg very much swoll'n which surpriz'd me so much the more because I cou'd not imagine whence the Swelling proceeded In so doubtful a Case I apply'd the Remedy describ'd in the Sixty first Chapter consisting of Allom Whites of Eggs Honey and Spirit of Wine which asswag'd the Swelling in three or four times Dressing but the Wind-Gall remain'd still nor did I judge it convenient to endeavour the Removal of it by a new Application since my first Attempt had succeeded so ill tho' both before and since that time I have often cur'd Wind-Galls without the least appearance of a Swelling in the Leg. This Accident convinc'd me that the surest Remedy may fail sometimes and that we ought still to be prepar'd for all Events and when one Remedy proves unsuccessful to have recourse to another The following Restringent is very good Take Powder of Red Roses and of Myrtle-Berries of each two Drams fine Bole in powder and Starch of each four Ounces Juice of Plantane and green Service-Berries or for want of these Medlars of each an Ounce Vinegar of Roses three Ounces Mix 'em cold and make a Restringent Charge If it be too thin you may thicken it with Chalk and if it be too thick dilute it with Vinegar of Roses This Remedy serves not only to dissipate Wind-Galls which usually return upon the first occasion of violent Exercise but also to stop Defluxions and asswage or repel Swellings where it wou'd be dangerous to suffer 'em to end in Imposthumes as in all Sinewy Parts on the Hough and Reins If you would absolutely extirpate a Wind-Gall apply some softening Remedy and after that the Ointment of Beetles or that of Worms The Italians make use of Retoirs with excellent Success and the same are now very much us'd at Paris 'T is true those Medicines occasion a Swelling in the Part to which they are apply'd but that is soon asswag'd without any ill Consequence Yet before you apply a Retoire you may try the following Remedy To repel or asswage a Wind-Gall Wen or any other Soft Swelling Take a Quart of strong Vinegar and four Ounces of Galbanum beaten digest 'em on hot Ashes four and twenty Hours stirring 'em from time to time till the Galbanum be wholly dissolv'd then put in a Pound of common Turpentine and boil over a slow fire half an Hour after which add Mastich in powder three Ounces fine Bole one Pound Mix and make a Charge which must be apply'd hot and cover'd with a Piece of Paper When this falls off you will find the Swelling gone and therefore you may wash the Part with black Soap Butter or Oil-Olive for one Application is almost always sufficient This is an excellent Remedy This Charge will asswage and repel Wens in the Beginning and take away all sorts of Swellings To take away a Wind-Gall I can assure the Reader from frequent and successful Experience that the Ointment of Beetles describ'd in the seventieth Chapter or a convenient Retoire will utterly extirpate a Wind-Gall and the Hair will grow again as before Thus the Cure is perform'd more surely and effectually than by repelling Medicines for the Cause is remov'd and the Humours that fomented the Wind-Gall evacuated whereas the above-mention'd Remedy only drives in the Swelling but does not dissolve it You must not be surpriz'd at the Swelling occasion'd by the Ointment of Beetles for it ought to produce that Effect and the Tumour will fall away by degrees And even sometimes when too large a quantity of the Ointment is apply'd the Leg swells so extremely that the Horse seems to be irrecoverably lost but you may easily asswage the Swelling and take away the Heat and Pain by washing the Part with warm Wine mix'd with a little Butter The Fire is the last and best Remedy for Wind-Galls for it resolves and dissipates 'em so entirely that they never return again 'T is true it spoils the Sale of the Horse but it makes him fit for Service and I may say truly and without Vanity that I have brought this Remedy into fashion at Paris and made it so common as 't is at present and even I have often seen the King at Hunting on the Back of a Horse that had been fir'd on all his four Legs For sinewy Wind-Galls that grow on the Sinew behind the Fetlock the surest Remedy is to give the Fire pretty smartly but without piercing the Skin which will certainly cure 'em in the Beginning but this Operation is oftentimes delay'd till the Wind-Gall grows big and so hard that you cannot press it down with your Finger so that many Horses are irrecoverably lost by meer Neglect for they halt right-down and tho' you give the Fire it will not produce the desir'd Effect in less than six or eight Months and even then the Cure is frequently imperfect because the Tumour is grown so hard that the Fire either operates very slowly or not at all And therefore assoon as a sinewy Wind-Gall begins to make your Horse halt you must immediately give the Fire before the Swelling grow big and hard I speak only of the hinder Legs which are frequently subject to Accidents of this Nature whereas the fore Legs are rarely troubl'd with ' em CHAP. LXXIV Of Retories or Ruptories call'd by the Italians Dead Fire THE Italian Name of these Medicines is grounded on Reason for they not only heat the Part to which they are apply'd but even destroy it if they be rashly and immoderately us'd and therefore a Retoire is a kind of potential Fire Ruptories are compos'd in the Form of an Ointment of almost the same Drugs that are us'd in Blistering-Plaisters for Men which derive their Name from the Bladders or Blisters full of a reddish Water that arise in the Parts to which these Plaisters are apply'd Retoires produce the same Effect in Horses for they draw forth red Waters from the Part on which they are laid These are excellent Remedies in the hands of a prudent and skilful Person but if they be rashly apply'd either in too large a Quantity or on some great Veins as in the Case of a Blood-Spavin they will occasion no less dangerous Accidents than if a Cautery or Caustic had been apply'd for besides the Inflammation and Pain with which they are constantly attended they raise prodigious Scabs and Scurfs and make 'em fall away from the Part 't is plain then that a Retoire must be us'd with a great deal of Care
the former Directions When your Horse begins to go upright without any visible halting 't will be sufficient to dress the Sore tho' never so large with Schmit's Ointment spred on soft folds of Linnen but before you apply the Ointment if the Flesh be foul you must touch it with the Vulnerary Water or the Liquid Caustic to allay the Itching which is usually so troublesome when the Sore begins to heal that you can hardly keep the Horse from nibbling at it with his Teeth You may also keep the Part from Itching and the Flesh from growing too fast by washing the Sore every Day after the Scabs are fall'n off with the second Water which is very effectual in this case 'T is to be observ'd that the Sore must never be touch'd with common and unmix'd Water because it hinders the Cure by encreasing the Moisture which abounds but too much already in the Parts near the Joints For to facilitate the motion of the Bones provident Nature has fill'd the Joints with a certain Moisture that is easily communicated to the Neighbouring Parts and therefore we must always endeavour to consume that superfluous Moisture by drying Remedies Since the second Water is of an excellent use not only in this case but for the Cure of all manner of Sores I shall take this occasion to inform the Reader that this name is usually given to Aqua-fortis after it has been us'd for the solution of Metals by which means it acquires a green colour You may easily procure it from Goldsmiths or Refiners of Metals who sell it at a very low rate as being unfit for their business When the Matter ceases to run out tho' the Swelling be not wholly asswag'd to dry up the remaining Sores dress both these and the Swelling once every two Days with the second Water boil'd to a moderate thickness with unslack'd Lime which will dry bind and resolve very effectually especially if there be a Swelling without any considerable Pain nor can you make use of a better Astringent The Lime must be laid in a dry place where in eight or ten Days it will crumble into Powder CHAP. LXXXIV Of the Ring-bone THE Ring-bone is a Swelling that grows between the Cronet and Pastern-Joint on one of the two Tendons that are in that Part. 'T is hard and callous sticking very fast to the Pastern the Horse does not complain much when you handle it It presses the Tendons and Ligaments and grows so big when 't is near the Cronet that by intercepting the Nourishment it makes the Foot shrink and the Hoof wither or grow dry The longer it continues it descends lower upon the Cronet and encreasing to a considerable bigness makes the Horse Lame from whence 't is plain that the Greatness of the Danger which attends it must be measur'd by its Nearness to the Cronet The Ring-bone is sometimes hereditary but 't is usually occasion'd by a Strain taken in Curvetting which tries all the Force of the Sinews bounding Turns and violent Galloping or Races This Distemper is not very common but if the Danger be not prevented by a seasonable Application of Remedies 't is usually the Cause of irrecoverable Lameness It proceeds sometimes from the Indiscretion of those who back their Horses while they are too Young before their Joints are well knit and strengthen'd Sometimes those Tumors are at first no bigger than Beans but afterwards they encrease to half the quantity of a small Apple and they usually appear on both sides the Pastern with a little Swelling between ' em Since several Persons are not only ignorant but afraid of the Effects of giving the Fire they may observe the following Method In the first place take out the Sole then clip away the Hair very close and apply to the Ring-Bone true Oil of Bay with Flax a Cover and Bandage Two days after separate the Scurfs rais'd by the Oil and renew the Application with the same Flax. When you take out the Sole you must cleave the Frush and when the Dressing is fitted to the Sole with Splents you must thrust Rowlers into the Cleft to keep it open and one Bandage will serve both for the Ring-bone and Frush The Fire is the most usual and certain Remedy to Cure Ring-Bones when they are increas'd to any considerable Bigness First you must take out the Sole and six days after when you remove the second Dressing make Incisions with your Fleam beginning above and reaching downwards about a Finger's breadth distant from each other cutting the Skin to the Callus that causes the Ring-Bone thro' the whole Extent of the Swelling but without hurting the Cronet Since these Incisions are usually attended with a great Flux of Blood apply hot Turpentine with Flax and a Bandage letting it remain untouch'd forty eight Hours after which remove the Dressing and with a red-hot but not blazing Knife burn the whole Callus very dexterously without pressing too hard upon the Part. If the whole Substance of the Ring-bone be not consum'd your Labour will be entirely lost and therefore you must burn it over and over and penetrate the whole Tumour thro' the Incisions that were made before after which apply a Mixture of Turpentine Tarr and Honey or an Ointment made of Hog's Lard and Verdigrease laying Flax over it and wrapping it about with a Cloth till the Scabs fall away Then dress the Sores with Schmit's Ointment or Aegyptiacum or the Ointment Apostolorum till the Matter cease to flow after which Farriers usually wash the Sores with the Second Water and then apply drying Powders in the mean time the Sores ought always to be kept cover'd both to prevent the Growth of proud Flesh and to hinder the Horse from reaching 'em with his Teeth for if great Care be not taken to dress and cover the Part there will remain a Swelling where the Ring-bone was which may be reckon'd a great Deformity in the Leg tho' it does not make the Horse halt Besides you must be extremely careful in the Dressing of a Ring-bone not to tye the Bandage too hard for fear of causing an excessive Tumour the best way is to renew the Dressing every day or at least every two days I intend to make the Healing of the Sole after it is cut out the Subject of a Particular Chapter which you may consult on this Occasion I had once a Young Horse committed to my Care for the Cure of this Distemper and after I had taken out the Sole and given the Fire the Strangles that were just ready to run tho' I cou'd not perceive any apparent Sign of 'em fell with so much Violence on the Part where the Ring-bone was seated which was on one of the Fore-Legs that the whole Skank was extremely swoll'n and the Tumour broke in two places at the Pastern-Joint out of which a vast quantity of Matter was evacuated I kept the Cronet always charg'd with good Restringents made of Powder of unslack'd Lime and the
a Day with the Balsam cold having first heated the Sinews by rubbing 'em very hard with a wisp of Hay 'T is also very proper for Bruises and cold Pains for Sinew-Sprains and Wounds This Balsam may be also us'd by Men with very good Success for it heals green Wounds as speedily and effectually as natural Balsam 't is also good for Weakness and Pains in the Joints for cold Pains Rheumatisms Sciatica's and Strains and generally in all other cases for which the Queen of Hungary's Water is commended and even is much more effectual nor can you find the description of it in any other Book if it be not borrow'd from this If it be duly Prepar'd it will be of a bright and lovely Gold colour If there be a Scale to be separated this Balsam will quickly bring it away but you must first take out the Sole and then apply the Balsam cold till the Scale be loosen'd Note That by how much nearer the Scale is to the Nut or Pivot it will require the longer time before it can be separated and therefore you must not blame the Remedy for the tediousness of the Cure for 't is to be observ'd that if the Nut or Pivot that is the Bone which is joyn'd to the Bone of the Foot be prick'd with a Nail or otherwise 't will never throw off a Scale and the Cure will certainly be very long because the Bone must be scrap'd to take away the blackness To conclude Experience will convince those who use this Balsam of its wonderful efficacy in all cases and even for Men 't is a rare Secret for Wounds Bruises cold Aches Defluxions c. If the curious Surgeon labour to discover its Virtues with a sufficient degree of Application he will find 'em to exceed his Belief if the Medicine be duly Prepar'd CHAP. XCVI Remedies for an Imposthume in the Hairy part of the Foot SOmetimes when a Prick with a Nail is neglected the Imposthume rises above the Hoof for the Matter being retain'd in the Sore below and not being able to find a Passage by reason of the hardness of the Sole or Hoof it ascends between the Bone of the Foot and the Coffin-Bone and appears under the Cronet This is usually the Case of those Horses who have weak Feet and is always very dangerous because the Hoof may be entirely separated from the Bone of the Foot or at least the Matter may harden about the Cronet and corrupt the Gristle tho' the danger be not so great in this case as in the former And even after the Horse is cur'd there may remain Swellings on the Cronet which encreasing may contract and dry the lower part of the Foot to prevent which Inconveniency you will find some Remedies at the end of the Chapter As soon as you perceive the Imposthume the usual Remedy is to take out the Sole but before you proceed to that Extremity you may try the following Medicines by which I have seen several Horses cur'd These Swellings are more dangerous in Mules than in Horses because they have tenderer Feet In the first place you must pare the Foot to open a Passage to the Matter downwards and endeavour to discover where it lies by loos'ning the Sole a little from the Hoof then dress the Sore with the Vulnerary Water or for want of that with the burning Balsam or the Oil de Merveille apply'd warm charging the Cronet with a Restringent made of unslak'd Lime mixt with the Second Water especially the Part where the Imposthume appears for there cannot be a more powerful Restringent Or you may apply a Composition of Soot Whites of Eggs and Vinegar to repel the Matter downwards promoting the Operation of the Remedy with a convenient Bandage If you pour hot Oil into the Foot it will appear on the Cronet at the top of the Foot and so Cure the whole Wound and heal it to the bottom but if after the first or second Application of the Restringent the Hoof be not re-united to the Hairy-Skin you must have recourse to the Countesses Ointment The Countesses Ointment to heal and close up the Sores occasion'd by Imposthumes in the Hairy part of the Foot Take half a Pint of Aqua-vitae and a Pound of Honey boil 'em over a very small Fire in a clean glaz'd Pot stirring 'em with a Slice till the Honey be throughly heated and incorporated with the Aqua-vitae then add Verdigrease Gall and Venetian-Borax of each two Ounces strain'd thro' a fine Searce with two Ounces of White-Vitriol beaten boil 'em all together over a gentle Fire stirring 'em till they be well incorporated and keep the Ointment for use in the same Pot well cover'd Apply this Ointment cold on a little Cotton or Flax and above that charge the whole Foot with a white or black Restringent Thus the Sore will be heal'd and the Hoof fasten'd to the Skin after the first or second Application In this case the main scope of the Cure should be to strengthen and bind the upper Parts or to drive the Matter downwards This may be done by applying the Ointment above with the Restringent Charge over it and dressing the Hole made in the Foot with the Vulnerary Water the burning Balsam or the Oil de Merveille or of Gabian If those Cautions be neglected the Matter will harden and form a great Callus on the Cronet which will occasion the shrinking or drying of the Foot by stopping its usual Supplies of Nourishment and if the Gristle be infected the Swelling will be almost as dangerous as the Quitter-bone But all these Inconveniencies may be prevented by a seasonable observance of the above-mention'd Directions before the Disease grow inveterate If there be only a simple Swelling observe the following Directions To asswage and resolve hard Swellings on the Cronet If the Tendon or Gristle be Infected as you may conclude it is when the Probe that is put into the Hole reaches to that Part you must use the same Method as in the Cure of a Quitter-bone but if the Infection do not reach so far and there is only a hard Swelling whether it obstruct the Nourishment of the Foot or not mix unslak'd Lime with the Second Water or for want of that with Aqua-vitae tho' the former is better and apply it to the Swelling with Flax laying a Plate of Lead over it to keep on the Dressing and binding it about very hard Repeat the Application every Day and in three Days the Swelling will be asswag'd But if by reason of the extream hardness of the Swelling this Remedy prove wholly ineffectual you must take out the Scale and cleave the Frush to enlarge the Quarter under the Swelling four Days after shave away the Hair as close as you can and heat the Part by rubbing it with the back of a Knife or some other Iron Instrument till the Skin grow very red without Bleeding Then anoint it with the best Oil of Bay cold with Flax and
a Cloth wrapt about it and a Bandage over all and in the space of two Days if the Oil be good it will raise little Scurfs which you must separate from the Skin and take away gently Then dress the Part as before continuing after the same manner till the Swelling be dissolv'd If this Remedy be not attended with Success your only refuge must be the Fire and therefore you must pierce the Skin with a red-hot Iron making Holes thro' the whole extent of the Swelling at the distance of a Finger's breadth from each other and half a Finger's breadth from the Cronet extending the Holes beyond the Swelling the breadth of half an Inch then charge the whole burnt Part with a mixture of Turpentine Honey and Tarr apply'd with Flax and every four Days renew the Application with the same Flax till theScabs fall off after which wash the Sores with Aqua-vitae and strew 'em with the Powder of old Ropes The Sole must be taken out and the Frush cleft four Days before you give the Fire unless you unsol'd the Horse fifteen Days or three Weeks before in order to the Application of the Oil of Bays The Powder of unslak'd Lime that enters the Composition of the above-mention'd Restringent Remedy ought to be Prepar'd thus put a piece of Lime on a Board or in a Pot and set it in a dry place where it will draw in the Air and crumble to Powder which as I order'd before must be mix'd with the Second Water or if that cannot be procur'd with Aqua-vitae and this is certainly one of the best Restringents hitherto known It has been often observ'd that after the taking out of the Sole for Surbating or a Prick with a Nail when the Sore seems to be perfectly cur'd an Imposthume appears above the Hoof in which case you must apply the Countesses Ointment to the Sore on the Cronet and charge the whole Foot with the above-mention'd Restringent for two or three such Applications will probably be sufficient to perfect the Cure This Remedy ought to be highly esteem'd for it may prevent the loss of a Horse's Foot and the Countesses Ointment is also good for soft or frothy Soles CHAP. XCVII Of the Casting of the Hoof. HOof-cast or the Casting of the Hoof is when the Coffin-Bone falls quite away and leaves the Bone of the Foot fasten'd to the Pivot or Bone of the Pastern by the Sinews that surround it cross-wise below the Bone appearing to the Eye being of a spongy or porous Substance and cover'd with Flesh This is one of the dangerous effects of Pricking with a Nail which sometimes reaches the Sinew and makes the Horse Lame Besides I saw the very Bone of the Foot fall away in two or three Pieces having been pierc'd and broken by a Nail in the Street Two other Horses lost the same Bone entirely on the like occasion and tho' they were at last cur'd they remain'd Lame ever after and only fit for the Plow and other Work of that Nature because there was no Bone left within the Coffin I would gladly be inform'd whether those Gentlemen that pretend to be Masters of never-failing Ointments could have cur'd these Horses and prevented the falling out of the Bone since I am perswaded that it was in a manner Dead and no longer a natural part of the Foot If they affirm that they could have brought away the Bone without taking out the Sole I must beg leave to dissent from them till they convince me that their Ointments are better or even as good as mine which I confess are not sufficient to perform the Work without the assistance of Manual Operation and after all not without a great deal of difficulty But these Boasters must in some measure be excus'd since they never saw any of these dangerous cases which happen no where so frequently as at Paris because the Streets are so pester'd with Dirt and Wheels A certain Person of Quality who had often tir'd me with tedious and hyperbolical Harangues in Praise of his infallible Ointment desir'd my Opinion of his Horse's Foot that was prick'd with a Nail in the Street and cou'd not be cur'd by his boasted Remedy I order'd a large Incision to be made and immediately perceiv'd that the Bone of the Foot was hurt and that there was a Scale to be separated which I drest with the Vulnerary Water and quickly cur'd the Sole After this Accident the Receipt of the Ointment that had till then been kept so secret was freely communicated to a great number of Persons which is the usual Fate of those magnify'd Remedies when they fall into the hands of Ignorant Persons I acknowledge this Digression is somewhat long but may perhaps serve to undeceive some of those who imagine that no Disease is able to resist the wonderful efficacy of a boasted Secret The Strasburg Ointment Frankfort Pills Orvietan and all the famous Secrets are at last brought to light and for my part I never scruple to communicate all that I know to the Publick and this freedom is so far from depriving me of the use of the Secrets which I impart that it secures me against Mistakes since I can always have recourse to the Book where I find them fully describ'd Of Horses who cast their Hoofs few escape irrecoverable Lameness and generally they may be turn'd away as useless since before the Hoof can be renew'd the charge of the Cure amounts to more than their Value especially at Paris and after all they are hardly fit for Service but if you resolve to attempt the Cure and try the success of the best Remedies I must acknowledge that I know no better Method than that which is prescrib'd by Signior Carolo Ruini in his Book Entitul'd Infirmita Del Cavallo and after him by Philippo Scacco in his Treatise Di Mescalzia Printed at Venice I have nothing to add to what those Gentlemen have said on this Subject especially the former only I think my self oblig'd to declare that I have always observ'd the charge of the Cure to exceed the value of the Horses and that after all they were only fit to be imploy'd in Tilling the Ground Nevertheless since there are some fine Horses whom a Man would not willingly lose without trying the success of the best Methods and who may serve for Stallions if they be not Gelt for the general satisfaction of my Readers I thought fit to subjoin the description of an excellent Ointment to restore the Hoof which I can confidently recommend as very effectual if it be duly apply'd and the use of it continu'd for a considerable time Schmit 's Ointment Take half a Pound of Rosin and a Pound of Oil-Olive melt them in a Copper-Bason Tinn'd and a quarter of an Hour after you remove the Vessel from the Fire add Mastic and Olibanum in Powder of each an Ounce and half stir the Ingredients together about half a quarter of an Hour and then add half a
the Matter and discover the bottom of the Sore but if there be no Scale or any other Impurity in it dress the Hole as if it were occasion'd by a Prick with a Nail To prevent these Bleymes you must keep your Horse's Feet clean and moist making him stand five or six Hours every Day with his Fore-feet in his own Dung moisten'd with Water It will be also convenient when he is Shod to knock down the Heel that the Sinew may be extended for 't is usually crooked in those Horses that have great Heels and besides the same caution will prevent the Contraction and Narrowness of the Heels for the Bleymes are almost always occasion'd by the shrinking of the inside of the Hoof to prevent which Inconveniency if that part of the Hoof be already shrunk pare the Foot and set on a Pantofle-Shooe and if your Horse be very much Hoof-bound draw three or four Lines with a hot Iron on the Hoof from the lower part of the Cronet to the Shooe and keep the inside Quarter very supple and moist I have seen Horses forc'd to stand eight or ten Days in Litter by reason of this Infirmity the preventing of which will save a great deal of Charge to their Masters The second sort besides the usual symptoms of the first infects the Gristle which must be extirpated as in the Cure of a Quitter-bone This kind of Bleyme is infinitely more dangerous than a Quitter-bone for many Horses are kill'd by it others remain for ever Lame and some escape after a long and tedious Cure 'T is sometimes occasion'd by an Over-reach which without making any outward Wound makes a Contusion within and the bruis'd Blood turns to Matter which seeking a passage infects the Gristle and being retain'd grows to a Scirrhous Lump which must be taken out below and the Gristle above and the Sore cur'd by the Remedies already propos'd in a like case During the Cure instead of Oats give your Horse moisten'd Bran with two Ounces of Liver of Antimony every Day to divert the course of the Humours and purifie the Blood You may consult the Chapter that contains the Method of Cure for Quitter-bones where you will find the Remedies that are proper in this case The third sort of Bleymes is occasion'd by small Stones and Gravel enclos'd between the Shooe and the Sole but this kind may be easily cur'd If the Shooe be ill set on or not kept fast by the Nails the Horse is in danger either of Surbating or of the Bleymes and those who have flat Feet are most subject to this Infirmity because the Sand or Gravel enters easily between the Sole and the Foot In order to the Cure you must pare the Foot to discover the Sore and if you perceive that there is no Matter generated take out the bruised Sole but if the Matter be already gather'd let it out and dress the Sore like a Prick with a Nail If the Cure be seasonably attempted it will be quickly perfected but if you find that the Distemper has already gather'd strength you must have recourse to the Vulnerary Water the burning Balsam the Oils De Merveille and of Gabian To conclude the Cure depends on the evacuation of the Matter below the neglect of which might be attended with very troublesome Consequences CHAP. XCXI Of Scab'd Heels or Frush SOmetimes the Frush falls away by degrees by reason of an Eating Scab which pierces to the Quick and occasions so great an Itching that the Horse cannot walk without halting but these Sores are not so dangerous as they are troublesome and painful Before the Horse grows Lame his Feet stink of old rotten Cheese so that you may easily discover the nature of the Grief since 't is impossible to come into the Stable without perceiving the Smell And besides they beat the Ground from time to time with their Feet by reason of the intolerable Itching in those Parts To begin the Cure you must pare the Frush with your Buttress as near as you can then quench a sufficient quantity of unslak'd Lime in Vinegar strain out the Liquor boil it and throw it boiling hot on the Frush after which apply a Restringent Charge of Powder of unslak'd Lime mixt with the Second Water or the black Restringent made of Soot Vinegar and Whites of Eggs. The Countesses Ointment is very useful in this case for it performs the Cure in three or four Applications but the Dreâ—â—ing must be kept on with Splents If the Disease return after you have cleans'd the Sores apply the Neat-herds Ointment which will heal them tho' the Internal Cause can hardly be remov'd and besides the Horse may be let Blood in the Toe from time to time All the Ointments prescrib'd for running Sores or putrify'd Legs are also good in this case For Preservation you must often pare the Frush and rub the Place once or twice with the Second Water which will consume part of the Corruption and dry up the root of the Scabs so effectually that they will not break forth again for a long time after Then bathe the Part every Day with the following Water cold Take of Allom and white Vitriol of each a Pound and a half boil 'em in a Gallon of Water till it be reduc'd to two Quarts At last when you perceive the Itching gone melt Tarr or Black Pitch upon the Scabs and keep the Feet well pick'd and free from Dust or any other Ordure that might dry ' em The last nam'd Remedy is very effectual CHAP. C. Of the Crown-Scab THE Crown-Scab is a white or mealy Scurf caus'd by a burnt yellow and malignant Matter that breaks forth at the roots of the Hair where it sticks to the Skin and makes the Hair bristle and stare and at last Scalds it quite off You may distinguish the Nature of the Distemper by the bristling of the Hair on the Cronet and not unfrequently on the whole Pastern to the Joint The place is cover'd with a mealy Scurf and the Cronet swoll'n by the abundance of Humours that fall upon the Part. The most subtle Particles of those Humours exhaling thro' the Pores of the Skin harden into a kind of Salt that sticks to the Skin and produces the Scurf which usually appears on the Cronet There are two sorts of Crown-Scabs Some are dry without the least humidity and others are moist by reason of a stinking Water that Issues out of the Pores and communicates its stench and moisture to the Neighbouring Parts Besides at the beginning of the Foot under the Cronet the surface of the Hoof is crack'd and split by the driness and acrimony of the Humour contain'd in the Cronet from whence the Hoof receives its Nourishment But I shall have occasion to treat of this Distemper in that part of this Work that contains Instructions for the curing of Horses In the mean time it may be observ'd that it is neither painful nor makes 'em unfit for Travelling unless in
But tho' repelling Remedies must not be us'd in those Cases we must endeavour to dissolve the Swelling and diffipate the Matter by applying Remedies that are endu'd with a Power to attenuate heat and dissolve the Humours before we proceed to Suppuration Sixthly If the Wound be accompany'd with a great Contusion the Cure will be more tedious for the bruis'd Flesh must putrifie and fall away and its separation must be hasten'd by Manual Operation or by the Application of Caustics but the surest and safest Method is to make use of Instruments which are easily manag'd and guided Seventhly The cure of round or circular Wounds is always attended with so much difficulty that to facilitate the Work they ought to be cut into a long Figure Eighthly A Wound ought to be carefully cover'd for the Air retards the Cure and for that purpose it is very convenient to make use of a Lamb's-Skin in those Parts of the Body where it can be conveniently apply'd and in all others to cover the Wound with Tow which must be cut and beaten that it may stick the faster Ninthly The Lips of a Wound can never be clos'd or re-united so long as they are Callous and therefore you may rub them with the Golden Ointment mixt with Butter of Antimony that was never wash'd or precipitated in Water This Mixture will promote the closing of the Bones by destroying the Callus but since they are sometimes so large and hard that such Remedies are not able to consume 'em they must be cut off or rather Lanc'd and Gash'd with a Fleam or red-hot Knife which will hasten the forming of a Cicatrice As soon as you attempt the Cure of a Wound shave the Hair very close about two Fingers breadth round the place and keep it always neat clean and supple that the Skin may be easily stretch'd in order to the joining of the Lips of the Wound Simple Wounds made by the Saddle or otherwise if they be not of any considerable depth are heal'd by washing 'em with Urine or warm Wine and afterwards strewing 'em with the Powder of an old Rope or Flax cut very small but if the Wound be somewhat large 't will be convenient to substitute the Second Water instead of warm Wine and Urine for it allays the Itching and hastens the Cure And to consume the Proud-Flesh which is usually very troublesome you may apply White-Vitriol in Powder or rather Colcothar which is more effectual Colcothar is only Vitriol burnt till it grow red Sometimes a Saddle-Gall degenerates into a hard Knot call'd a Sitfast the usual Method of Farriers is to anoint it with Oil of Nuts mixt with an equal quantity of Water or with Hog's-Lard or Tallow till it fall away of it self which requires a very long time and afterwards the Sore may be wash'd with the Second Water and for want of that with warm Wine and strew'd with Bran and by the constant use of these Applications it will be insensibly heal'd But the Sitfast will fall away more easily and speedily if you hold a lighted Candle over it letting the melted Tallow drop upon the Knob and after 't is separated wash the Sore with warm Wine and the Second Water or Urine and anoint it slightly with old Salt-Butter strewing upon it the Powder of an old Rope The Butter supplies the place of a Detergent by keeping the Sore clean and quickly brings it to a Cicatrice I have several times seen a Gangreen occasion'd by a neglected Sitfast and always observ'd that the Horses dy'd very speedily The surest way to remove a Sitfast is to rub it with the Ointment of Beetles or for want of that with some good Retoire holding a hot Bar of Iron near the Part as soon as the Retoire is laid on and renewing the Application three Days together One Application of a Caustic Ointment will produce the same Effect and thus you may prevent those troublesome Accidents that are usually occasion'd by the long continuance of a Sitfast If the Wound be so large and deep that it must be Tented as it usually happens in the Thighs Withers and other parts of the Body a simple Tent of salted Hog's-Lard will be sufficient unless it be necessary to keep the Wound open in which case to avoid large Incisions which cannot be perform'd without difficulty and are never free from danger instead of Tents you must use a Prepar'd Sponge which will open the Wound without Incision and discover the bottom of it This Method is of excellent use when the Wound is in those Parts of the Body that are full of Sinews or Tendons or when the flowing of the Blood hinders you from seeing what you ought to cut How to prepare a Sponge for the opening of Wounds Take a fine Sponge wash'd clean ty'd about very hard with Pack-thread and wrapt in wet Paper then lay it in a hollow place in the midst of the Hearth covering it with hot Ashes and live Coals over the Ashes leave it there to dry for the space of a quarter of an Hour or longer after which take it out and when 't is Cold untie it and cut it with a Knife into what form you please Then besmearing it with a Ripening or Digestive Ointment to prevent its sticking to the Flesh thrust it into the bottom of the Wound the next Day draw it out with your Pincers and you will find it much swoll'n and the Hole sufficiently widen'd without hurting the Sinews and Tendons which could not have been done by Incision But if the Sponge be not sufficient to open a Wound that is very foul and full of dead Flesh provided it be not under the Foot incorporate two Ounces of Sublimate in Powder with half a Pound of melted Wax and dip a very fine Sponge in that Mixture till it has suck'd up as much as it can contain then lay it in a Press two Days and two Nights after which you may cut it into the form of Tents and it will both open the Wound and produce the effect of a Cautery If you would make it stronger add an Ounce of Arsenic in fine Powder mixing it with melted Wax and the two Ounces of Sublimate which will make an excellent Cautery for Quitter-bones to extirpate the Tendon or any other corrupt Matter But if the Sore be under the Foot occasion'd by a Nail or Stub or any other Accident the Sponge prepar'd with Sublimate or Arsenic must not be apply'd lest the Humours shou'd be driven upwards to the Cronet where they might occasion great Disorders In such cases you may use a Sponge dipt in Wax alone prest and cut into Tents as before which will open a Wound but not so effectually as the former since it contains not any Caustic Ingredients However it has this advantage that it neither causes Pain nor hurts the Nerves and is very convenient for preventing the growth of Proud-Flesh in the Feet for when the Part is bound up carefully with Splents
the Sponge being swell'd by its Heat and Moisture presses and keeps down the Flesh If the Hole be of a sufficient wideness you may use Tents of Hog's-Lard which cleanse the Part and heal the Wound without bruising the Flesh but the usual Tents if they be not very carefully and exactly made up retard the Cure instead of promoting it 'T is a very important tho' little observ'd Rule That the Operation of external Remedies should be assisted by a regular Administration of inward Medicines Some commend Purgation for the Cure of great Wounds which in my Opinion is a very preposterous Method for it produces a quite contrary effect to the design of the Prescriber by occasioning a Defluxion of Humours upon the Part that are only loosen'd and put in Motion but not evacuated by the Medicine CHAP. CIV Cinnabar Pills for Wounds Worms Mange and Farcin and for the shedding of the Hair from the Head and Neck TAke of the finest and cleanest Assa-foetida Bay-berries of Provence or Italy and Cinnabar all in fine Powder of each a Pound incorporate 'em in a Brass-Mortar with a sufficient quantity of strong Aqua-vitae and make up the Mass into Pills weighing fourteen Drams each which must be laid in a convenient place to dry Give two of these Pills to the Wounded Horse once in two Days or once every Day till he has taken eight or ten according to the greatness of the Wound and that he may swallow 'em the more easily you may give 'em in a Pint or three half Pints of Wine making him stand Bridl'd two Hours before and as long after the taking of every Dose These Pills may be kept twenty Years They promote the Cure of a Wound by purifying the Blood and resisting Corruption They contribute also to the Cure of Gauls and the Farcin and drive Worms out of the Body This Remedy is highly useful in an Army where the Wounds of Horses must be cur'd with all Expedition and it may be truly said that the effects of it are wonderful and almost incredible Sometimes the Hair falls away from the Head and Neck by reason of the excessive heat of the inward Parts The usual Remedy in this case is Bleeding but since that alone is not sufficient it will be very convenient both to administer a Dose of these Pills for three Days together and to rub the bare places twice a Day with good Lime-Water If the Disease continue still repeat the whole process and afterwards give your Horse Flower of Brimstone in moisten'd Bran beginning with a small quantity and augmenting the Dose by degrees till it arise to half a handful every Day during which time you may ride your Horse For the Cure of those eating Scabs that are so troublesome and hard to be rooted out of the Mane and Tail after you have Bled and Purg'd your Horse give him three or four Doses of two Pills each and the external Application of Lime-Water will quickly perform the remaining part of the Cure if not you must reiterate the whole course The same Pills may be profitably Administer'd to Horses that are troubl'd with running Sores in their Legs or the Pains Warts or Bunches Quitter-bones and such like stubborn Distempers for they facilitate the Cure by intercepting and diverting the Humour that causes and foments the Disease After the description of those Pills which are of such excellent use in the Cure of Wounds I could not forbear subjoining a brief Account of their other Virtues and I hope this digression will neither be useless nor unwelcome to those Readers who are willing to be Instructed And to satisfie those Critical Gentlemen who may peruse this Book with a design rather to pick Quarrels with the Author than to improve their Knowledge I am willing to own that the end of this Chapter had perhaps been a more proper place for the description of these Pills than the beginning of it but withal I must beg leave to acquaint 'em that I am not so much in love with Formality as to give my self the trouble of making an alteration of so little Importance Since Tents are necessary in the Cure of all sorts of Wounds and those that are made of Hog's-Lard are very convenient for most of 'em it will not be improper to give a short hint of their Preparation and Use Cut the Lard into long Pieces and put one of 'em into the Wound when you draw it out again you will find it half melted and must suffer it to cool that it may recover its usual firmness and consistency after which put it in again if it be not grown too short If the Wound be foul or the Flesh corrupt it must be wash'd with the Yellow-Water at every Dressing but if you perceive that neither that nor any other of the usual Detergents are sufficient to cleanse the Wound or if it be pester'd with Proud-Flesh add an Ounce of Arsenic in fine Powder to the whole Dose of the Lime-Water that shall be describ'd in the following Chapter And if even that be too weak you must burn the whole Wound with a red-hot Plate of Iron for if you take care not to touch the Skin Tendons and Sinews there will not the least mark of Burning appear after the Cure As soon as you have given the Fire anoint the burnt Part with Oil of Bay covering the whole Wound if possible with Flax and continue the use of the Oil which must be apply'd warm till the Scab or Escar be loosen'd and ready to fall off after which 't will be more convenient to anoint the Part with Basilicum or Tallow till the Scab be quite separated and you will find the Skin fair underneath without the least mark of Burning for this Method of giving the Fire excels the best Applications of Powders and Ointments The common Detergent and cleansing Remedies are in my Opinion too weak for Horses They are usually compos'd of Honey Vinegar Bean-flower Barley-flower the Juices of Plantane and Agrimony Flower-de-luce Roots Turpentine Rosin c. These Medicines are only Medicamenta levioris Armaturae with respect to the Wounds of which I 'm treating But Unguentum Apostolorum Aegyptiacum and the Neat-herds Ointment are very proper in this case We must not play with Horses Wounds nor vainly expect to Cure 'em with such feeble Remedies as the Golden Ointment the Plaister de gratia Dei and Betony-Plaister for 't is certain that Salt-Butter is more effectual for keeping Wounds clean than all those Compositions And therefore the surest Method is to wash the Wound with Urine or the yellow-Yellow-Water and afterwards to anoint it with Salt-Butter strewing the Powder of Old-Ropes upon it And to apply Aegyptiacum if there be a great deal of corrupt Flesh The Pain occasion'd by the Application of Aegyptiacum ought not to be made an Argument against the use of it since 't was never observ'd that any Horse pin'd away on that occasion And to give the Reader a
of Remedies you are at last oblig'd to give the Fire but since some Men will not be perswaded of the incredible effects of this Remedy and others cannot procure it when they have occasion to use it I shall communicate the description of an Ointment for Wounds that will advance the Cure more in one Day than other Ointments do in a considerable space of Time CHAP. CV The Hermit's Ointment for Wounds in Horses TAke the green Leaves of Long-Birthwort Paul's-Betony and Sage of each a handful and half Sanicle one handful Roots of Marsh-mallows and Comfrey dry'd in the Shade of each an Ounce slice the Roots very small and boil 'em in a Skillet with a Pint of Cream for the space of a quarter of an Hour after which add the Leaves chopt small and boil 'em so long till you can perceive nothing in the Skillet but a pure Butter produc'd by the boiling of the Cream then strain it out into a Pot and put into the same Skillet a quarter of a Pound of the Lard of a Hog fed with Acorns cut into Slices and mixt with the remaining Herbs and Roots boil all together about a quarter of an Hour and strain out the melted Lard upon the Butter in the next place boil two Ounces of Oil-Olive in the Skillet with the same Herbs and Roots for the space of a quarter of an Hour and strain it out into the Pot with the Butter and melted Lard after which squeeze out all the Juice and Fat of the Herbs and Roots in the same Pot and while they are still hot add an Ounce of melted Tar and an ounce and a half of Burnt-Allom in Powder incorporating the whole Mass and stirring it till it be cold When you have occasion to apply this Ointment melt a little of it in a Spoon and with a soft Pencil anoint the Wound very lightly covering it gently with Flax or Powder of old Ropes and renewing the Application once a Day The Wound will be quickly heal'd by this Method if Nature the principal Operator assist the efficacy of the Remedy by Sodering Gluing Nourishing Preserving and Restoring the Part to its proper Temperament and Condition Besides the Application of the Ointment you must consider diligently whether there be any unnatural or extraneous Substance in the Wound which must be taken out and if you perceive Excrescencies of spongy Flesh you must either give the Fire or consume 'em with White-Vitriol dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine which is of admirable use in this case and after the Scab is fall'n or rather the Swelling asswag'd apply the Ointment If you have occasion to cleanse any part in the Wound which you cannot see and dare not burn for fear of hurting the Sinews you may use the following Water which is an admirable Cleanser Lime-Water or the Yellow-Water Those who love to disguise Trifles with hard and lofty Names call this the Phagedenical-Water You may easily prepare it thus Take two or three Pounds of unslak'd Lime newly made put it into a large Bason of fine Tin and pour upon it by degrees five Quarts of Rain-Water then set the Bason in a convenient place for two Days stirring the Water often after which suffer the Lime to fall to the bottom pour off the Water by inclination strain it thro' brown Paper and to three Pints of it add half a Pint of good Spirit of Wine an Ounce of Spirit of Vitriol and as much Corrosive Sublimate in fine Powder Mix and preserve it for use in a Glass-Vial If you perceive a great deal of Corruption in the Wound or any appearance of a Gangrene add to the whole quantity of the Water an Ounce of Arsenic diminishing the Dose proportionably according to the quantity of the Water I shall take this occasion to give a brief Account of the signs and cure of a Gangrene Of a Gangrene A Gangrene may be consider'd in two different respects for in its Progress 't is only a tendency to Mortification whereas it ends in a Sphaceâ—â—s or confirm'd Mortification The signs of it are a sudden loss of Sense and consequently an insensibility of Pain lividness and afterward blackness of the Part affected a noisome Smell resembling that of a dead Carcass and an extraordinary softness in the Part that was before hard and distended The Cure of a confirm'd Gangrene is impossible and ought not to be attempted but while 't is in the beginning and even in its progress the Case is not altogether desperate As soon as you perceive any part of a Wound to be seiz'd with a Gangrene you must immediately scarifie it to the quick with your Fleam wash it with Sea or Salt-Water and cover the whole Wound with Flax steep'd and soak'd in the strongest Lime-Water dressing it twice a Day after the same manner A Detergent and Cleansing Water for a Gangrene If the Lime-Water be too weak you may prepare another thus Take crude Allom one Pound German-Copperas grosly beaten half a Pound Verdigrease in fine Powder three Ounces boil all together in a Gallon of strong Vinegar to the consumption of one half then without straining the Liquor reserve it for use in a Glass-Vial The use of this Water is the same with that of Lime-Water shake the Bottle as often as you have occasion to apply the Liquor and if after the first Application you find that it is too weak add two Ounces of strong Aqua-Fortis to each Quart shaking 'em well together Another Cleansing-Water Take very strong White-Wine two Pints and a half Aqua-vitae half a Pint Spirit of Vitriol two Ounces mix them in a Glass-Bottle capable of containing two Quarts and an Hour after add two Ounces of Verdigrease in fine Powder White-Vitriol four Ounces and Green Copperas one Pound the two last grosly beaten stop the Bottle very close with a Cork and Hog's-Bladder then let it stand in Infusion on hot Embers twenty four Hours shaking it every six Hours after which preserve it for use shaking it every time and applying it according to the Directions prescrib'd for the use of Lime-Water It may be kept three Months without losing its Virtue The greatest simple Wound may be quickly cur'd by a prudent and diligent observation of the Method and Directions prescrib'd in this and the preceding Chapters When a Horse's back is Gaul'd during a Journey the best way is to take out a little of the stuffing of the Pannel over the Swelling then sow a piece of white and very soft Leather on the inside of the Pannel anoint it with Salt-Butter and every Evening wipe it clean rubbing it till it grow soft and anointing it again with Butter or for want of that with Grease Wash the Swelling or Hurt every Evening with cold Water and Soap and strew it with Salt till the Horse be Sadl'd in the Morning The Sea-rush that is usually wrapt about Glasses that are brought in Chests from Venice is of admirable efficacy for the cure of Saddle-Gauls during
a Journey 'T is soft and consequently does not bruise the Flesh and its saltness quickly heals the Sore if a large quantity of it be thrust into that part of the Pannel that touches the Gaul'd place Sometimes Coach-Horses are gaul'd in the Breast by their Harness and the Part is either Sore or rises in hard Bunches especially in Rainy Weather In this case you must shave off the Hair very close about the Sore place and then rub the whole Breast with Water and Black-soap or for want of that with any other kind of Soap chafing it gently into a Lather for the space of a quarter of an Hour after which wash that part of the Breast which is usually cover'd by the Petrel with Salt-Water suffering it to dry up of it self Then look upon the Harness and if the Gauling be occasion'd by any hardness in the Leather you must either take it away or sow on little Bolsters to hinder the Harness from rubbing on the Sore place In Rainy Weather especially in Harvest the Crupper of the Horse is usually Gaul'd or at least the places that are cover'd with the Harness are swoll'n fretted and cover'd with a sort of Scurf Rub the Part with Black-soap and a little Water till the Soap be turn'd to Froth chasing it in with your Hand and letting it dry upon the Part. By the same Method you may quickly cure a Sore occasion'd by the taking away of a Sitfast How to stanch Bleeding The cutting of a large Vessel by a great Gash or Wound is usually follow'd by so violent a Flux of Blood that the ordinary Methods are not sufficient to stop it In this case the Powder of Sympathy is an excellent Remedy but those who cannot procure it or are not willing to use it must endeavour if they can to lay bare and bind up the cut Vessel which is the furest way to stop the Blood If that cannot be done the Orifice of the Vessel must be stopt with a piece of Roman-Vitriol and the Wound bound up if the Situation of the Part admit of a Bandage if not the usual Remedy is to Sear the Part with a hot Iron for nothing stops Bleeding more effectually than the Application of an actual Cautery or Searing-Iron but those who are afraid of Burning may try the Success of other Remedies For Example Take equal quantities of Colcothar or Vitriol Calcin'd till it grow red Frankinsence and Aloes in Powder mix 'em with Whites of Eggs to the thickness of Honey and add a convenient quantity of the Hair of a Hare cut small If this Remedy prove ineffectual add to it Dragon's-Blood Man's-Blood dry'd Plaister and Calcin'd Vitriol either all together or only part of 'em which will certainly stanch the Blood if it be apply'd in a sufficient quantity And the same effect is produc'd by the Ligature which Surgeons call the revulsive Bandage After the Blood is stopt you must suffer the Wound to remain untouch'd for the space of three Days that you may know whether the Vessel be exactly clos'd The Simples that are indu'd with a Virtue to stop and prevent Bleeding are the Roots and Leaves of Nettles the Bark of a Pomgranate and Pine-Tree the Leaves of Plantane and Willows Services or Sorb-Apples burnt Galls quench'd in Vinegar Bean-flower Starch Soot Litharge Ceruss Vitriol Colcothar Allom a Sponge dry'd and reduc'd to Powder and dry Coriander-seeds But in case of necessity there cannot be a more pleasant and effectual Remedy than Caustics or Cauteries either in Powder or any other form which raise a Scab or Eschar that stops the Passage and I have seen Powder of Arsenic apply'd on certain occasions which quickly makes a large Eschar When the Scab falls off great care must be taken to prevent a new Flux of Blood and consequently the Wound must neither be irritated by sharp Remedies nor by putting in of a Probe You may easily compose a Powder of the above-mention'd Simples to stop Bleeding for example take the dry Bark of a Pomgranate Roman-Vitriol and Allom of each an equal quantity mix and apply it to the Wound CHAP. CVI. Of a Horse that is Wrung or Hurt in the Withers HAving treated of the Cure of Simple Wounds I shall in the next place proceed to consider those that are occasion'd or preceded by Tumours If your Horse be hurt by the biting of another Horse on the Neck or near the Withers keep the Part clean and wash it with Lime-Water or Aqua-vitae or chafe it with Water and Soap or wash it with the Second Water observing the Directions prescrib'd for the Cure of Wounds If there be only a simple Contusion use Aqua-vitae and if the Wound be small anoint it with Oil of Walnuts mixt with Red-Wine and apply'd cold If the Horse have large and fleshy Withers the Cure will be more difficult than in those who have nothing but Skin and Bone by reason of the Moisture contain'd in the Flesh and increas'd by the Phlegmatic Humour furnish'd by Nature to facilitate the motion of the Joints for the redundant Humidity occasions the growth of Proud-Flesh hinders the drying of the Part and makes the Cure difficult and tedious Sometimes a hurt in the Withers is occasion'd by the largeness of the Saddle-Bows which bruise and crush the Flesh and in that case 't is the usual Custom of Farriers to apply a Restringent Charge of Powder of Bole-Armenic Vinegar and Whites of Eggs. I approve of that which follows and dare affirm that it will cure the Hurt if it be not very great Beat the Whites of six Eggs with a piece of Allom almost as big as an Egg for the space of half a quarter of an Hour without intermission till the whole be reduc'd to a very thick Scum or Froth with which you must rub the Swelling and afterwards cover it with the rest of the Froth suffering it to dry upon the Part. Ten or twelve Hours after repeat the Application neither must you be surpris'd if the Heat and Swelling still remain for a repelling and an astringent Remedy ought not only to drive the Humours from one part to another but to expel it thro' the Pores by pressing and binding the Part that was dilated by the Humour deriv'd from the Veins If the Hurt be great you must begin the Cure with letting the Horse Blood in the Neck and the Bleeding must be repeated two Days after to prevent the impetuous descent of the Humours upon the Part affected but if there be only a small Hurt you may safely omit the letting of Blood If the Contusion occasion'd by the Saddle-bows be follow'd by a Tumour and Inflammation anoint the Sore place with the Duke's Ointment and cover the Withers with a Lamb-Skin after you have bath'd them with Lime-Water prepar'd without Sublimate for that Remedy does very powerfully allay the Inflammation and if there be no Matter generated may alone suffice to asswage the Swelling if not apply the Duke's Ointment and
fall away I cur'd a Horse of a hurt in the Withers who was obstinately inclin'd to rub the Part and so industrious in finding out means to do it that we were oblig'd to tye him up in such a manner that he could not stir any part of his Body his Head and Tail were ty'd and besides he was hung up for the ease of his Legs but so low that his Feet touch'd the Ground Yet for all our Precautions he found a way to hinder the closing of the Wound by the motion of the Skin of his Neck so that if I had not ty'd his Head very low I cou'd never have perfected the Cure When the Wounds are fair and clean you must in the next place proceed to dry 'em with Powders and you will find those that are least Compound to be most effectual especially this Take a convenient quantity of old pitch'd Boat-Ropes dry 'em in a Furnace till they may be easily beaten to Powder in a Mortar strain it thro' a Hair-Sieve and having bath'd the Wound with the Second or the Yellow-Water strew this Powder upon it leaving the Wound untouch'd till the Scurfs caus'd by the Powder fall away after which renew the Application as before and continue after the same manner till the Wound be heal'd The surest way is to tye up the Horse in such a manner that he may neither be able to touch the Wound with his Tongue nor to rub or scratch it and even you may hang him up and in some cases keep him six Months in that Posture as I have oftentimes done washing their Legs every Day with cold Water In the beginning of great Hurts in the Withers the Matter that stagnates in the Part does frequently corrupt the Flesh that surrounds it and the Corruption slips in between the flat and broad Bone of the Shoulder and the Body as you may perceive by searching the Wound with your Probe In this case you must lay the whole Part bare and cut a Passage for the Matter and Corruption that none of it may be left at the bottom of the Sore and afterwards cure the Wound according to the ordinary Method And since the Shoulder-Blade can never be re-united to the Body so long as the Motion of the Shoulder keeps it separated you must Shackle the two Fore-Legs that the Horse may be kept constantly in one Posture dressing the Wound according to the above-mention'd Directions If you perceive a large Cavity make use of the Waters or Potions for Gun-shot Wounds describ'd in Chap. CX Syringing the Wound twice every Day and exhibiting the Cinnabar Pills inwardly to hasten the Cure CHAP. CVIII Powders to dry up a Wound TAke Honey and unslak'd Lime reduc'd to Powder and searc'd of each a Pound mix 'em and put 'em into a Pot over a moderate Fire stirring perpetually till they be throughly dry'd and as it were Calcin'd so that the Matter may be beaten and reduc'd to a fine Powder which will incarnate and dry up a clean and red Wound The only inconveniency of this Powder is that it draws Flies to the Part in the Summer nor will you find a more effectual Remedy among all that vast variety of Powders with which Books of this Nature are stuff'd if it be apply'd in a Season when there are no Flies Charcoal beaten old Shooes burn'd sifted Ashes Powder of Rosemary or Sage c. are also very proper Other Powders to dry up Wounds Those who live in a place where Aqua-Fortis is made may easily prepare a Powder to dry up Wounds and prevent the growth of Proud-Flesh for the Caput Mortuum that remains in the Retort after the distillation of Aqua-Fortis beaten to Powder and apply'd to the Wounds is more effectual than Burnt Allum Calcin'd Vitriol and other such like Powders The Distillers of Aqua-Fortis sell the Caput Mortuum at a very low rate for if they do not meet with a Customer they throw it away as useless so that you may have a Porter's Burthen of it for Ten Pence The distillation extracts only the most Spirituous and Volatil Parts of the Ingredients but the Fixt Salts remain in the Caput Mortuum and perform the effect requir'd in this case Aqua Fortis is distill'd from Vitriol or Bock-Allum and Salt-Peter and that which remains in the Retort after the first Method of Distillation is indu'd with the Virtues of Calcin'd Vitriol as that which remains after the second produces the effect of Burnt-Allum I am not ignorant that there are several other ways of distilling Aqua-Fortis but these are most usual and besides the Caput Mortuum is always proper in these cases whatever be the Ingredients or Method of the Distillation for example Sal Armoniac Sal Gemmae and Bole-Armenic are join'd to Salt-Peter in the distillation of those Waters that are known by the Name of Aqua-Regia and leave in the Retort a Sediment or Caput Mortuum which is very effectual for the drying of Wounds and hindering the growth of Proud-Flesh if they be reduc'd to Powder and apply'd to the Part. This Advice is particularly directed to Farriers who use a great quantity of these sorts of Powders Before all other drying Powders I prefer those that are made of the Caput Mortuum remaining in the Retort after the distillation of Spirit of Vitriol because there is always some Bole-Armenic mixt with the Vitriol to prevent its melting in the Retort since it would not yield any Spirit if it were in a state of Fusion And the Bole mixt with the Calcin'd Vitriol which is endu'd with a certain Balsamic Quality makes a Composition that hinders the falling down of any Defluxion upon the Part and dries the Wound very effectually and speedily Borax in fine Powder is an excellent Remedy to dry up Wounds and hinder the growth of Proud-Flesh Arsmart or Water-Pepper dry'd and beaten to Powder dries up Wounds and even if it be stamp'd while 't is green and put between the Wound and the Saddle it cures a small Hurt Another Powder to dry up Wounds The drying up of Wounds is so much the more necessary because the best Ointments keep the Parts moist and are apt to breed Matter Supposing for example that you have dress'd a Quitter-bone so long till there remains no bottom in the Sore that is till you can discover no cavity with your Probe the Matter at the same time ceasing to run you may conclude that 't is time to apply Powders especially if you ride your Horse The following Powder is excellent in such Cases for it sticks so fast that a Horse cannot possibly shift it off by any Motion besides it raises a Scurf on the Sore that prevents the Corruption of the Flesh and after the Scurf is fall'n you will find the Sore all over Cicatriz'd Renew the Application of the Powder continuing after the same manner and the Sore will be sooner Cured by this Method than any other whatsoever The Powder is thus prepar'd Take a sufficient
Schmit's or the Doctor 's Ointment using your utmost Diligence to prevent a Gangrene in the Summer for during the Winter Wounds are not so much subject to that fatal inconveniency Lapis Mirabilis is good to resist Corruption as also the above-mention'd vulnerary-Vulnerary-Water and for want of that the yellow-Yellow-Water but the Spirits of Vitriol or Salt are better besides several others all these Remedies ought to be apply'd in case of Necessity when the Matter that runs out appears of a Black Colour which is one of the greatest signs of Corruption If you cannot stop the Blood after the opening of an Abscess sear the part for besides the conveniency of stanching the Flux of Blood the falling away of the Scab will promote the Cure and at last when 't is time to compleat the Cure the regular application of the Hermit's Ointment will quickly perform the Work An excellent Digestive Take fine Turpentine and Honey of each two Ounces the Yolks of four Eggs half an Ounce of Myrrh and an Ounce of Alloes in Powder mix all the Ingredients cold and you will have a Digestive that hinders the Corruption of the Flesh and takes away all the Pain occasion'd by the violence of the preceding Remedies The usual Digestive of Farriers is compos'd of Turpentine incorporated with the Yolks of Eggs to the thickness of an Ointment of a pale Citron Colour which is a good Remedy but inferior to the former When the Wound appears fair and clean and fit to be clos'd you may apply several sorts of Ointments That which follows is esteem'd good and is thus prepar'd The Hunter 's Ointment for deep Wounds Tho' I have already communicated the description of the Hermit's Ointment which is one of the most effectual Remedies for Wounds and cures 'em very speedily without the least ill Accident I thought fit also to insert that which follows since 't is a good easie and cheap Remedy Take Hog's Grease and Oil-Olive of each one pound melt the Grease in the Oil and after they have boil'd a little add two handfuls of the fresh Roots of Sharp-pointed Dock beaten and slic'd small Continue to boil for the space of half an Hour stirring from time to time after which add two handfuls of Self-heal and boil half an Hour longer then squeeze the Substances thro' a Linen Cloth in a Press and throwing away the Dreggs put the strain'd Liquor in a Bason over a gentle Fire with a pound of common Turpentine and as soon as they begin to incorporate add four Ounces of Verdigreese reduc'd to a fine Powder boiling and stirring 'em over a slow Fire then remove the Vessel from the Fire and add two Ounces of Borax beaten very small and six Ounces of unslak'd Lime in very fine Po wder stirring 'em till they be quite cold This Ointment will be of a lovely Green Colour When you have occasion to use it apply it cold to the Wounds and strew 'em with the Powder of old Ropes powdering the Tents with the same It cleanses heals consolidates and cicatrizes the Wound without hurting it Experience will convince you of its Excellency CHAP. CX Of Waters for Gun-Shot Wounds or Vulnerary Potions 'T IS not always convenient to make large Incisions in Gun-shot Wounds especially in the Army during the Heat of the Summer where there are no places to shelter the Horses either from the Sun or from Flies To discover the bottom and depth of these Wounds you must search them with a long Iron Probe placing the Horse in the same posture he was in when he receiv'd the Shot The Wounds by a Musquet Bullet are usually so deep that 't is impossible to reach the bottom of 'em with Ointments or Powders and therefore 't was necessary to invent certain Remedies in form of VVaters to be injected several times a day There is also a moistn'd Tent put into the Wound to keep it open the Hole is covered with a wet Linnen Cloth and half a pint of the same VVater is given inwardly to the Horse once a day Thus several Wounds are happily cur'd that wou'd have certainly prov'd fatal without the assistance of these Remedies 'T is true this Method is not always attended with success but at least a man has the satisfaction of thinking that his Horse did not perish by his neglect If the Horse be seiz'd with a Fever you must administer Clysters prepar'd with the Scoriae of Antimony and abstain from the inward use of the above-mention'd VVaters which are compos'd of hot Ingredients and wou'd consequently augment the heat and agitation of the humours and precipitate 'em on the wounded part But 't is frequently observ'd that very large Wounds in Horses are not accompany'd with a Fever nor must we condemn these Medicines for Horses tho' the use of 'em be almost intirely abolish'd for Men unless among the Switzers where they are still in great Credit A Simple Water for Gun-shot Wounds Take an Ounce and a half of the Raspings of round Birth-wort put it into a new Varnish'd Pot with three Quarts of small White-Wine and boil 'em over a gentle Fire to the consumption of a Quart then add six Ounces of fine Sugar and as soon as that is melted remove the Vessel from the Fire and strain out the Liquor Make the Horse drink half a Pint of this Water or rather Wine every Morning and wash or syringe the Wound with it twice every Day Another more Compound Take the Leaves of Comfrey Self-heal Speedwel and Sow-Bread slic'd small of each two handfuls Crab's-Eyes in fine Powder four Ounces put 'em into a Stew-Pot with four Quarts of the thinnest White-Wine lute on the Cover exactly and set the Pot on a gentle Fire Digest three Days after which boil half and Hour and strain out the Water or rather Wine Make the Horse drink half a Pint of it every Morning keeping him Bridl'd two Hours before and as long after wash and syringe the Wound with it and apply Tents moistenâ—d in the same Liquor This Water is more effectual than the former Another Take Mace Crab's-Eyes and Zedoary of each half an Ounce Mummy and Galingal of each three Drams Nux Vomica two Drams and half beat 'em grossly and put 'em into a large and strong Glass-Bottle slightly stopt with three Quarts of White-Wine Digest six Hours in a moderate Heat and without stirring the Iâ—quor pour out a large Glass-full every Morning to give the Horse and wash or syringe the Wound twice every twenty four Hours If this Water be too dear for a Horse it cannot be thought too chargeable for Men. A Compound Wine for curing Wounds in a Horse This Composition is more easily prepar'd and less chargeable than the former I shall insert the Names of several Vulnerary Simples that you may choose such of 'em as can be most easily procur'd but the more Ingredients you take the more effectual will your Remedy be Sow-Bread Savin Vervain Comfrey Lung-Wort Arsmart
especially when the Grief is seated in the Pastern-Joint of the Hinder-Leg tye a Chewing-Ball to the Bit and make him champ upon it every Morning till his Appetite be restor'd To prevent his being Founder'd which is the usual effect not only of this but of several other Distempers that are accompany'd with a violent Pain in the Legs or Feet give him Assa-foetida in Powder for five or six Days together an Ounce every Day in a Point of Wine keeping him Bridl'd two Hours before and as long after every Dose for this Medicine contributes effectually to the Cure of those Distempers I promis'd to communicate the description of an Anodyn and Astringent Pultiss that is a Remedy to asswage Pain and stop the defluxion of Humours An Anodyn Pultiss Take a Pound of Linseed-Flower and a Pint of Red-Wine boil 'em together in a Skellet and as soon as the Broth or Liquor begins to boil add four Ounces of fresh Butter boiling and stirring till it grow thick Then put in two Ounces of Oriental-Bole in fine Powder stirring perpetually till the whole be perfectly Incorporated after which remove it from the Fire add six Ounces of common Turpentine and continue stirring for half a quarter of an Hour Spread the Pultiss on Flax and lay it about the Pastern-Joint as I order'd before 'T is not only endu'd with a Virtue to allay Pain but asswages the Swelling and prevents the falling down of the Humours The Wounds or Sores on the Pastern-Joint that affect the Sinew are oftentimes so dangerous that if you neglect the least Circumstance prescrib'd in the Cure the Horse will remain utterly Lame and even tho' you omit no care I dare not warrant the Success for the event is still doubtful especially if the Sores be on the Hinder-Leg which are infinitely more dangerous than those that are seated on the Joints of the Fore-Legs and it happens not unfrequently that the Horse either dies or grows so lean that the charge of the Cure equals if not exceeds the full value of the Horse CHAP. CXII To prevent the Madness occasion'd by the biting of a Mad-Dog either in Men or any sort of Cattle THis Subject is so excellently handl'd in a Pamphlet Printed at Poitiers that I cannot forbear transcribing it without the least alteration and to begin with the Printer's Address to the Reader The Secret which I discover says he is as useful and necessary as 't is rare and hitherto unknown It discovers the infallible Cure of a Distemper for which Physicians have not yet prescrib'd a certain Remedy and all the hope of those that are seiz'd with it depends either on a Miracle or dipping in the Sea whereas there are many places so remote both from St. Hubert and the Sea that 't is impossible for those who inhabit 'em to have recourse to either The usefulness of this Remedy is attended with another very considerable advantage I mean the easiness of its Preparation for without searching the Shop of an Apothecary the Ingredients that enter its Composition are to be found every where except one that is not absolutely necessary and might be Planted or Sow'd in every Garden The Knowledge of this Secret was confin'd for several Ages to a certain Family who freely communicated its salutary Influences to those who stood in need of 'em but still kept the Secret as an honourable Inheritance of the Family It was lately discover'd to me by a Jesuit of the same Family with an obliging Permission to Communicate it to the Publick which I do the more willingly since he assur'd me that the efficacy of this Remedy is confirm'd by so many Experiments and so universally esteem'd in the Country where his Family resides that tho' it be not above seven small Leagues distant from the Ocean the Waters of which are known to be a sure Remedy for that Distemper yet all the Inhabitants of the Country who have the Misfortune to be bitten by Mad-Beasts chuse rather to use this Medicine than to have recourse to the Sea The same Person added That it has hitherto preserv'd all those who took it whether Men or Cattle from the Madness occasion'd by those Accidents and that he was lately inform'd by one of his Relations That he had seen several Persons Cur'd by it after they had suffer'd one or two Fits of Madness 'T is hop'd that the Publick will receive favourably so rich and precious a Treasure which I communicate with the Father's Permission I dare confidently warrant the Success of this Remedy since I have constantly observ'd that it answers the Desire and Expectation of those who make use of it and I know a considerable Family about thirty Leagues from Paris who were acquainted with the Secret and communicated to the Neighbours the advantageous effects of so noble a Remedy which they believ'd was only known to themselves but as soon as they were convinc'd of their Mistake by the Publication of this Pamphlet they imparted the Receipt to all those who desir'd it An Infallible Remedy for Madness occasion'd by Biting When any Person or other Animal is bitten by a Mad Beast or Man if the Skin or Flesh be Wounded you must in the first place cleanse the Wound very carefully scraping it with an Iron Instrument without cutting away any part of it unless it be so rent and torn that it cannot be united to the Member then wash and bathe the Wounds with Water and Wine somewhat warm mixt with as much Salt as you can lift with the ends of your Fingers The Wound being thus cleans'd take Rue Sage and Field-Daisies both Leaves and Flowers of each one Pugil or as much as you can lift with the ends of your Fingers which is sufficient for one Person and one Wound but the quantity must be proportionably encreas'd if there be more Persons or Wounds to be heal'd and besides you may take somewhat more of the Daisies than of the other two Herbs Take also a convenient quantity of the Roots of Eglantine or Sweet-Bryar and of Spanish Scorzonera tho' that which grows in France is not inferior to the other in Virtue chop the Roots especially those of Eglantine very small and add five or six Heads of Garlick each of the bigness of a small Nut First beat the Roots of Eglantine with the Sage in a Mortar and afterwards add all the rest of the Ingredients with as much Bay Salt as you can lift with the Ends of your Fingers or a somewhat larger quantity of White Salt beating 'em together in the same Mortar to a Mash part of which must be apply'd as a Pultis to the Wound and bound on carefully till the next Day if the Wound be deep you may also pour some of the Juice of the same Mash into it This done pour half a Glass of White-wine or for want of that any other sort of Wine on the remaining part of the Mash which will amount to the quantity of a large Hen's
This Tincture of Sulphur is by many esteem'd a great Secret but whatever it might be call'd before it cannot pretend a Right to that Title since 't is now communicated to the Public You may pour in twelve Pints of fresh Water into the same Pot and proceeding as before make a new Tincture and even may repeat the Operation three or four times but 't is in vain to prepare so great a quantity of the Remedy unless you have three or four Horses to cure for the Tincture does not continue good above ten or twelve Days after which the Sulphur leaves the Water and is precipitat edat the bottom of the Vessel An excellent Ptisan for Asthmatic Persons may be made of this Tincture with the Addition of Liquorice and other convenient Druggs Some Gentlemen will perhaps complain of the tediousness of this Preparation But if they can find a Remedy to cure their Horses with less trouble I promise them not to be offended at the happiness of their Invention CHAP. CXX Of the Cough PUrsiveness is almost always attended with a Cough but the latter of these Distempers is frequently unaccompany'd with the former The Cough is an extraordinary Motion of the Parts that serve for Respiration by which Nature endeavours to expel the Matter that offends her out of the Lungs This Distemper usually proceeds from Flegm lodg'd in the Canals of the Wind-Pipe which is the Passage of the Air or Breath 'T is the vulgar Opinion that a great quantity of Flegmatick Humours distill from the Brain into the Chest but the Lungs of a Horse are so large and water'd with so many Vessels that they are sufficiently able to furnish Matter for a Cough without borrowing it from any other part of the Body The Cough is a struggling of Nature to throw off the Humour that oppresses her Sometimes 't is the effect of a great Cold or of the Driness of the Passages of the Lungs for want of Moisture or of the irritation of that Part by Smoak or Dust either in the Field or the Dust that sticks to his Hay or Oats and sometimes a Cough is occasion'd by Drinking either Muddy or too cold Water Sometimes a Horse is seiz'd with a Cough when eating too greedily some part of his Food slips into the Passage of Respiration but in this case there is no need of any Remedy When an old Horse Coughs you may know whether he is Pursive by an attentive Consideration of the Circumstances of the Symptom for if the Cough be moist you have no reason to suspect that your Horse is short-winded but if he be dry and often repeated you must observe his Flanks carefully to know certainly whether he be Pursive An old Cough is oftentimes more dangerous than a beginning Pursiveness Sometimes the Cough may be occasion'd by the Relicks of a Rheum or Foundering in the Body The following Powder is an excellent Remedy for all sorts of Coughs But before I proceed to the Description of that Medicine it will not be improper to communicate an Easie and Cheap but very Essectual Remedy Put into each of the Horse's Ears half a Silver Spoonful of Oil of Sweet-Almonds rubbing the Ear very hardto make it penetrate continuing after the same manner five or six Days By this Method you may cure any Cold that proceeds from Foundering and Rheums even tho' it be accompany'd with a Running at the Nose And 't is to be observ'd that this Remedy may be administer'd during the use of the following Powder since the Operation of the one doth not in the least hinder or retard that of the other A Powder for a Cough whether old or newly taken Take Carduus Benedictus Hyssop Colt's-Foot white Mullein Fenugreek Seed and Juice of Liquorice of each six Ounces Juniper-Berries Roots of Elecampane and Flower de Luce of Florence of each five Ounces Cardamoms Gentian Birthwort long and round of each three Ounces Seeds of Annise Cummin and Fennel of each an Ounce and a half Cinnamon and Nutmegs of each half an Ounce Live Sulphur half a Pound Beat all the Ingredients apart and searce 'em thro' a fine Hair Sieve then mix the Powders and keep 'em hard press'd in a close-ty'd Leathern Bag. This Powder may be kept long and is superiour in Virtues to most other Remedies 'T is Methodically compos'd being a Mixture of Cordials and specific Remedies for the Lungs for since the Cough is occasion'd by Flegmatic Humours rising from the Lungs into the Wind-Pipe the cure of it requires a cutting and attenuating Remedy and all the Indications are answer'd by this Powder To a large Horse you may give two Ounces of the Powder in a Quart of luke-warm Beer to those of a middle size an Ounce and a half and only an Ounce to small Horses let it stand in a cold Infusion in the Beer all Night and in the Morning make your Horse drink it luke-warm keeping him Bridl'd two Hours before and as long after and repeating it once a Day for fifteen Days Those who live in a Country where there is no Beer may instead of it mix a Pint of Water with a Pint of Wine or you may give your Horse an Ounce every Morning in moisten'd Bran. If your Horse be very fat and fleshy and consequently of a flegmatick Constitution you must give him the Powder in unmixt Wine instead of Beer Since there are some Horses who cannot be easily made to swallow any thing with a Horn and the lifting up of his Head and keeping it in that Posture may raise the Cough and since there are some Persons who have not the conveniency of Horns and others who are not willing to use 'em you may give the Powder in moisten'd Bran beginning with a small quantity and afterwards augmenting the Dose to a handful or two Ounces Some Horses at first have an Aversion to this Remedy and therefore you must begin with a small Dose but afterwards they became so fond of it that they eat their Bran more heartily when that is mixt with it And I have even seen some Horses eat the Powder without any Mixture from a Man's Hand It will not be improper to present the Reader with a particular description of all the Ingredients that enter the Composition of this excellent Remedy that such as are Novices in this Art may know the peculiar Virtues of each Simple If this digression seem tedious or useless to some Critical Readers 't is presum'd they will not be offended since they may skip over it without any trouble and that they will be so just as to consider that the description which they censure may be perus'd by others with Pleasure and Advantage I. Carduus Benedictus is a very useful Herb which is sown and prospers very well in our Gardens 'T is moderately hot it comforts strengthens and rejoyces the Heart corroborates the noble Parts expels peccant Humours by Sweat resists Poyson asswages Pains in the Kidneys and destroys Worms
you think fit but whether you purge or not you must begin with Bleeding Then Take Sarsaparilla and China-Roots cut small of each three Ounces Roots of Avens two Ounces Leaves of Agrimony two large handfuls Scordium a handful and a half boil 'em gently in four Quarts of Water to a Quart and a half in a cover'd Vessel then strain and adding a Pint of White-Wine make a Decoction for five Doses to be given five Mornings together adding to every Dose an ordinary Glass-full of Urine Substance in the Top and in the Neck of the Vial. Thus you have a sweet Sublimate which if it be rightly prepar'd will not discover the least Acrimony when you touch it with your Tongue for all the sharp and biting Salts that made the first Sublimate corrosive are evaporated thro' the Neck of the Vial which must be always kept open during the Sublimation and even part of the first Corrosive Sublimate is carry'd off with the Salts so that there remains only the sweet Sublimate or Mercury which may be kept for several Uses 'T is to be observ'd that all the Preparations of Mercury may be reviv'd and restor'd to their natural Form and Fluidity with Filings of Steel or unslak'd Lime which by the Assistance of the Fire attract and retain all the Spirits that kept the Mercury in a manner imprison'd in so many various Forms according to the Diversity of the Preparations for several Uses Thus Cinnabar which is only Mercury sublim'd with Sulphur may be reduc'd to fluid Quick-silver with Filings of Steel and the same may be said of all the other Preparations of Mercury such as the Precipitates Turbith Mineral c. CHAP. CXLIV Remedies for the Farcin that resembles a Hen's Fundament THE Humour that foments this Kind of Farcin partakes so much of Melancholy that the Knots are seldom or never brought to Suppuration sending forth a sort of foul and proud Flesh that can hardly be curb'd or extirpated by Remedies The Difficulty of the Cure ought to heighten our Diligence and convince us of the Necessity of using the most potent Remedies to expel the Cause of the Distemper such as these that follow Since black Hellebore is one of the principal and most effectual Remedies for the Cure of this Disease great Care shou'd be taken to correct its ill Qualities by an exact Preparation Take a sufficient quantity of the Roots of true black Hellebore wash'd and dry'd infuse 'em twenty four Hours in Vinegar of Roses and throwing away the Vinegar dry the Roots at a very gentle Fire Pills for the Farcin Take Sena Leaves and Salt of Tartar of each an Ounce Turbith Aloes and Mercurius dulcis of each half an Ounce black Hellebore prepar'd three Drams Rhubarb two Drams Ginger and Nutmegs of each a Dram and a half Anniseed and Fennelseed of each half a Dram Beat all the Ingredients to a gross Powder and with a Pound of fresh Butter make 'em up into Pills keep your Horse bridl'd six Hours before and as long after and assoon as he has taken the Pills walk him gently for the space of half an Hour well cover'd Note That you must bleed your Horse the day before you give him the Pills You may purge a Horse for the Farcin with two Ounces of the Catholic or Imperial Pills of Fernelius mix'd with half an Ounce of Mercurius dulcis made up into one or two Pills and exhibited in a Pint of White-Wine As soon as you perceive that your Horse has recover'd a good Appetite and that the Operation of the Purgative is over give him the following Ptisan CHAP. CXLV The German Ptisan for the Cure of the Farcin TAke the dry Roots of Angelica Gentian Valerian Avens round Birthwort and Marsh-Mallows of each an Ounce and a half or a double quantity of the green Roots Leaves of Agrimony two Handfuls Beat the Roots grossly boil all the Ingredients in a close-cover'd Pot in three Quarts of Water to the Consumption of one half Then press out the Liquor thro' a Linnen-Cloth and add to the Straining before it grow cold half an Ounce of Juice of Liquorice and White Wine an equal quantity to the whole Decoction and afterwards add two Pugils of Oriental Saffron in Powder Three Days after the Purgation when the Evacuation is over and the Horse's Appetite restor'd let him stand bridl'd from Five a Clock in the Morning to Eight then give him the fifth Part of the Decoction keeping him bridl'd three Hours after Repeat the Decoction after the same Manner for five Days together If his Appetite be not fully restor'd in the limited time after the Purgation you must wait four five or six Days till you are convinc'd that he feeds as heartily as he did before you gave him the purging Medicine During the time of his taking the Decoction if the Weather be not too hot walk him gently half an Hour every Day after Dinner These five Doses of the Decoction are usually sufficient for perfecting the Cure without any other Remedy and the Cords Knots and Tumours are heal'd and dry'd up Moderate Exercise is convenient in the beginning but afterwards you may travel him as if he were perfectly sound If you perceive new Knots to arise at the first New Moon you may conclude that the Disease is not perfectly extirpated and therefore you must prepare and exhibit the Ptisan as before but without Bleeding or Purging If the Tumours break forth again the Case is altogether desperate for it has been frequently observ'd that when the Farcin is inveterate and has long resisted the Efficacy of the best Remedies especially when corrupt Flesh breaks out of the Tumours instead of Matter that the Malignity of the burnt and corrupted Blood has so heated the Substance of the Lungs that there are Ulcers generated in several parts of 'em And therefore since 't is impossible to restore a consum'd Part those Ulcers that waste the Lungs are the infallible Messengers of Death The Truth of this Observation is confirm'd beyond Contradiction by the Diffections of those Horses that die of the Farcin for their Lungs are almost always found to be corrupted and putrefy'd and sometimes the Liver is over-spread with Ulcers and part of it wasted and turn'd to Putrefaction Now I wou'd willingly know of those confident Pretenders to infallible Secrets for the Farcin whether their Remedies are able to restore a rotten and wasted Liver If not 't is in vain to expect the Horse's Recovery for the putrefy'd Liver will still continue to vitiate the Blood and hinder the Cure of the Farcin which is occasion'd by the Corruption of the Blood How ridiculously do those Boasters betray their Ignorance for want of Experience Since all that the most skilful and expert Farrier can promise in this Case is That he will cure the Farcin if it be curable for sometimes the Liver is ulcerated at the first Appearance of the Distemper and is the very Cause of the Disease in
which Case 't is certainly incurable And I have already intimated that an inveterate Farcin may infect and waste the Substance of the Lungs And how a Remedy apply'd to the Fore-head put into the Ear hung at the Tail or Mane or Ointments spread on the Knots can heal an Ulcer in the Lungs I confess is very much above my Capacity to comprehend Only thus much I know and dare confidently maintain That so long as those Ulcers remain the Farcin that is caus'd and fomented by 'em must necessarily subsist From what has been said I may reasonably conclude That those Infallible Gentlemen are very little acquainted with the Nature of the Disease they pretend to cure and perhaps never made an Experiment of the Virtue of their Remedies The Farcin seems to have a very near Resemblance to the French Pox Leprosie and King's Evil. CHAP. CXLVI Of an inveterate Farcin YOU will sometimes meet with Farcins of so long a standing and so deeply rooted that the Cure is extremely difficult and even sometimes impracticable if the Substance of the Liver or Lungs be wasted and corrupted But since 't is impossible to divine whether those Parts be infected 't wou'd be a very unreasonable Inference from what I have said on this Subject to pretend that when a Horse is troubl'd with an inveterate Farcin he must be suffer'd to perish without Assistance And besides these Parts are oftentimes only heated dryed or so slightly ulcerated that they may be easily heal'd and restor'd to their wonted Temperament by the Use of convenient Remedies But I shall never advise any Man whatever Tryal he may have made of his Remedy to promise the Cure of an inveterate Farcin when the Knots send forth great Pieces of Flesh like large Mushrooms especially after an unsuccessful Application of other Remedies For such Attempts are oftentimes attended with Shame instead of Honour and Success especially when the Farcin is accompany'd with a Running at the Nose or seizes on the Kernels as it happens frequently in inveterate Farcins which degenerate into the Glanders according to the Vulgar Saying That the Farcin is Cousin-German to the Glanders Before you proceed to the Application of Remedies you may try this easie Experiment Spread about two Ounces of Assa-foetida on a Stick and wrapping a Cloth about it put it into the Horse's Mouth and make him champ upon it twenty four Hours together without suffering him to eat or drink all the while This will draw forth a prodigious Quantity of filthy Humours and if the Lungs be not consum'd or the Liver ulcerated perhaps the Horse will recover You must not be afraid of the seeming Violence of the Remedy for a Horse may fast twenty four Hours without any Danger Neither do I blame the Custom of those who put a second Stick with fresh Assa-foetida into the Horse's Mouth after twelve Hours The Decoctions of Guaiacum Sassafras Sarsaparilla and China Roots are very proper on this Occasion and may be given every Morning for seven or eight Days before Purgation For Example If the Horse's Body be full of raw tough and viscous Humours to which Inconveniency fleshy Horses are very subject the Decoction of Guaiacum will cut attenuate and prepare the Humours to be expell'd by Nature or evacuated by a Purging Remedy If the Horse be Lean and Dry full of Hot and Choleric or Melancholic Humours the Decoction of China will prepare 'em without augmenting their Heat for it may be conveniently given in a Consumption and ill Habit of Body The Decoction of Sarsaparilla is of a middle Nature between the other two The Decoction of Guaiacum is proper for those thick and bulky Dutch Horses that are over-loaded with Flesh and full of Moisture and running or watery Sores The Decoction of Guaiacum Infuse ten Ounces of the Shavings of Guaiacum Wood or for want of that of Box Wood in nine Pints of Water and after they have stood twelve Hours in Infusion on hot Ashes Boil 'em with a gentle Heat in a cover'd Vessel to the Consumption of the third Part of the Water Then strain out the Liquor and give your Horse a Quart every Day for eight Days together keeping him bridl'd three Hours before and three Hours after every Dose You may Purge him afterwards with one of the above-mention'd Remedies The Decoction of China Take four Ounces of the Roots of China cut very small put 'em into a large Glass-Bottle well stopp'd with nine Pints of Water and after they have stood fifteen Hours in Infusion boil 'em over a gentle Fire to the Consumption of one half taking care to prevent the Evaporation of the thinner Parts of the Medicine Then strain out the Liquor and give your Horse a third part of it every Morning keeping him Bridl'd two Hours before and as long after This Decoction must be drunk luke-warm and prepar'd every three Days because 't is apt to turn sowre After eight Doses 't will be convenient to exhibit a Purging Remedy The Decoction of Sarsaparilla This Decoction is prepar'd like that of China only the quantity must be larger because 't is adapted for the Preparation of thicker Humours For Example instead of four Ounces of China you must take six of Sarsaparilla Continue the use of this Decoction six or eight Days to prepare the Humours that cause and foment the Farcin and to purifie the Blood After such a Preparation the Purging Remedy operates more effectually and procures a more plentiful Evacuation whereas the Purgatives that are given without any Preparation or consist of ill chosen Ingredients increase the Distemper instead of abating it and even augment its Malignity After Purgation repeat the Decoctions to dry the habit of the Body and to drain the source of those Malignant Humours that foment the Disease This Method is also very proper for Coach-Horses that are troubl'd with the Pains or filthy Sores in their Legs for otherwise 't is hardly possible to stop the course of the Humours and dry up the source of those noisome Ulcers since they usually break forth again three Months after they are dry'd up and at last are succeeded by hard Swellings like Warts which render the Disease incurable To prevent those dangerous Relapses while your Horse is Young after you have observ'd twice or thrice his Legs to be over-run with Sores you must take two Pound of Blood from him then give him the Decoctions of Guaiacum or for want of that of Box-Wood and afterwards purge him and dry up those watry Humours If the Sores break forth again make him drink the Decoction ten Days then purge him and after the Evacuation is ceas'd and his Appetite perfectly restor'd give him the Decoction for ten Days longer which in all probability will put a final stop to the course of the Humours Instead of the Decoctions of Guaiacum China and Sarsaparilla you may exhibit two Ounces of the Powder of either of the three in a Quart of White-Wine and observe the
relaxation of the Ligaments and Muscles after you have bled your Horse in the Neck apply the Essences Honey-Charges Baths and Fomentations prescrib'd for Shoulder-sprains in the Fifty fourth and Fifty sixth Chapters These Directions may be illustrated with the following Example A Horse who had halted so long of a Strain in the Hip that his Hip and Thigh began to decay for want of Nourishment was cur'd even in Winter which is a considerable circumstance for the Cure is more difficult in that Season than in Summer without the Application of any other Remedy than the above-mention'd Honey-Charge Baths and Fomentations but the Part was first chaf'd with a Mixture of Spirit of Wine and Oil of Turpentine and the Charge that was laid over it serv'd for a Plaister to concentrate the Virtue of the Oil and keep it from evaporating If all these Remedies be apply'd without Success you must give Nature time to work But if after all you perceive no Amendment you must proceed to give the Fire which is the last refuge in this case and ought never to be attempted till after a successless Application of other Remedies 'T is to be observ'd that some Pretenders to Skill in the cure of Horses imagine the Grief to be seated in the Bone at the top of the Rump tho' 't is certain that there is not any Joint in that place and therefore 't is in vain to apply a Remedy to a sound Part. The Joint is almost at the side of the Root of the Tail near the middle of the Thigh and when the Bone is dislocated or only relax'd you may distinctly perceive a hollowness in the Part when the Horse goes and even if you lay your Hand on the two Joints on each side and make the Horse walk gently you will immediately feel at every step that the griev'd Joint is hollower than that on the other side and consequently you may conclude that the Grief is seated there without ridiculously endeavouring to find it out at the top of the Rump where there never was a Joint In order to the giving of the Fire draw a Line with a red-hot Knife round the Joint or place where you observe the Motion making a Circle of the largeness of a great Plate the Joint being in the center This Line must only burn the Hair for it serves meerly to mark the place that must be burnt Then make holes in the Skin at the distance of an Inch from each other thro' the whole space enclos'd with the round Line cover them with a good Plaister and over that lay a sufficient quantity of Saddle-stuffings or Shavings of Cloth set a Patten-Shooe on the other Foot to make the Horse lean on the griev'd side and keep him still in one place without suffering him to lye down for the space of fifteen or twenty Days When the Scabs fall off dress the Sores with Brandy and after you have kept the Horse thirty Days in the same Posture you may begin to walk him by degrees and some time after to ride him gently Since the Fire is a powerful Resolvent it will consume and dissipate the Humours that occasion the Lameness and restore the Part to its wonted Vigour If the Swelling of the Hip descend to the Hough and from thence to the Legs you must let your Horse Blood in the Toe and charge his Legs with the above-mention'd Honey-Charge or anoint 'em with the Grease of a Mule Bear or Camel You may quickly perceive the effect of these Remedies if you take care in the mean time to walk your Horse gently from time to time Badger's-Grease produces the same effect And the Marrow of a Stag and Goose-Grease are also very proper in this case Sometimes the Strain affects only the great Sinew that runs along by the Vein on the inside of the Thigh as you may easily perceive by the Swelling Distention Pain and Heat of the Sinew In this case you must let your Horse Blood in the Neck and charge the Part with his own Blood mixt with Spirit of Wine after which you may compleat the Cure with proper Charges and Baths The above-mention'd Greases are also very useful as likewise the Ointments for the Sinews and other Ointments prescrib'd for the strengthning of the Fore-Legs Or you may apply the Baron's Ointment or Oppodeldoc which is certainly one of the best Remedies not only in this Book but even perhaps in all the Treatises that are extant on this Subject CHAP. CLXII Of the Swelling of the Cods and Stones THE Swelling of the Cods or Stones may proceed from several Causes For sometimes they are stuff'd with serous Humours that descend along the production of the Peritonaeum sometimes the Defluxion is occasion'd by the stroke of another Horse and not unfrequently the Guts fall into the Cods by reason of some Strain or Wrench 'T is the usual custom in this case to ride the Horse into the Water which by its coldness repels the Humour that flows to the Cods and if they be only full of Wind or distended with a slight Inflammation this Method may be attended with Success But if the Inflammation be violent you must apply the following Pultiss A Pultiss Take Yellow-Wax fresh Butter and Oil-Olive of each half a Pound strong Vinegar half a Pint boil 'em together till the Vinegar be almost consum'd then remove the Vessel from the Fire and adding an Ounce of Camphire in Powder make a Pultiss to be apply'd to the swoll'n Cods Four Hours after lay on a fresh Pultiss without taking away the former or covering the Part. If it be a simple Imflammation the Swelling will be asswag'd and the Pain abated But if the Swelling continue after the Heat and Pain are remov'd the Cods hanging down very low 't is a sign that the Horse is troubl'd with a Hydrocele that is when by a relaxation of the Peritonaeum the Cods are fill'd with Water which being too long retain'd in the Part by reason of the great difficulty of expelling it thro' the Pores may corrupt and ulcerate the Stones and at last occasion a fatal Grangrene To prevent these Disasters after the Heat and Inflammation is abated by the above-mention'd Pultiss apply that which follows and if that also prove ineffectual and the Stones continue to hang very low and if by feeling the Cods you have reason to believe they contain a great deal of Water you must Geld your Horse at the Full-Moon As soon as you make the Incision there will come out a Pint or two of reddish Water which caus'd the Swelling and if the Operation be dexterously perform'd the Wound may be easily heal'd if the Stones were not already ulcerated An Astringent Pultiss to asswage the Swelling of the Cods Make a sort of Gruel of Barley-Meal and Vinegar and when 't is almost boil'd add half the quantity of Chalk with a sufficient quantity of Oil of Roses and Quinces and two Pugils of Salt Apply this Remedy
is an excellent Remedy to ripen Matter in any part of the Body where the Skin is broken and when the circumstances of the Disease require the Sore to be kept open You may apply either of these Remedies according to the greatness of the Swelling Vegetius in the Eighth Chapter of his Third Book where he treats of the Swelling of the Stones orders 'em to be anointed Morning and Evening with the Powder of Burnt-Barley mixt with Hog's-Grease adding that a Dog's-Gall is of admirable efficacy in this case These Remedies are cheap and safe but I cannot recommend 'em from my own Experience CHAP. CLXIV Of the Lask Looseness or Flux of the Belly THis Disease is so frequently Mortal I mean when it attacks Horses that it ought never to be neglected when it comes without a manifest Cause But a Horse may be seiz'd with a Looseness without any considerable Danger after the drinking of cold Water in Summer or of melted Snow and after the eating of tender Grass or other Aliments and Medicines that may be rather said to produce a good Effect by loosening the Horse's Belly and expelling part of the Impurities that are lodg'd in his Body But this is not the Disease treated of in this Chapter The Lask or Flux is caus'd by the Weakness of the Stomach that cannot digest the Nourishment which consequently passes thro' the Guts and is voided at the Fundament almost without any Alteration It proceeds also from the Corruption of the Humours that are either gather'd in the Stomach or flow thither from the neighbouring Parts and by disturbing Nature in the Performance of her important Work of Concoction provoke her to a vigorous Endeavour in order to their Expulsion These Humours are not always raw and cold for oftentimes the Guts are scowr'd by an Inundation of Choler which may be call'd a Natural Clyster This kind of Flux is rarely dangerous and even not unfrequently profitable It is an ill Sign when the Aliments are voided entire without the least Mark of Digestion For 't is absolutely impossible for Nature to repair her Losses and regain her wonted Vigour without fresh Supplies of Nourishment and 't is plain that she receives not any considerable Advantage from the Nourishment when it only passes thro' the Body without undergoing any Change Besides these Internal Causes this Distemper may be occasion'd by eating too much Provender in which Case it may be easily cur'd by diminishing the usual Allowance of Food Sometimes 't is caus'd by eating mouldy or rotten Hay frozen Grass and other unwholsome Nourishment as also by drinking very cold Water and by immoderate and fatiguing Exercise This Distemper may also proceed from want of Exercise drinking immediately after the eating of a great quantity of Oats excessive Fatness feeding on Rye Straw and an ill Disposition of the whole Body To discover the Nature of the Humour that causes and foments the Disease you must consider the Excrements that are voided for if they boil and ferment upon the Ground you may conclude that the Distemper proceeds from over-heated Choler if they be white 't is a Sign of Crudity if they be watery they denote a great Weakness of the Stomach A Remedy for the Flux If the Excrements be mixt with small Pieces or Scrapings of the Guts you have reason to fear an Ulcer in those Parts which usually proves fatal if the Danger be not speedily prevented by a seasonable Cooling of the Entrails which may be effected by the following Remedy Take Barley and the Roots of Marsh-Mallows beaten of each two Ounces Powder of Sal Prunellae an Ounce Boil 'em in three Quarts of Water to one Quart The Dose is a Pint two or three times a day This Decoction allays the Inflammation of the Entrails sweetens the Acrimony of the Humors reduces the Choler to its natural State and destroys the preternatural Heat that occasions the Fever If this Distemper be caus'd by Flegm you must strengthen the Stomach evacuate the redundant Humours and bind and strengthen the relax'd Parts These Indications require the Use of the Cordial-Powder or Pills the Electuary of Kermes Treacle and other hot Remedies that are endu'd with a Virtue to strengthen and corroborate the Parts The Cure of this kind of Flux is easier than in the other Cases The Looseness of the Belly or Flux is frequently an Effect of a vigorous struggle of Nature to throw off and expel a troublesome Load of Humours But if it continue longer than three Days and be attended with the Loss of Appetite it may produce dangerous Consequences for sometimes Horses are founder'd by the long Continuance of this Distemper Therefore you must endeavour to prevent the Danger by the seasonable Application of convenient Remedies and by keeping the Horse to a regular Diet. You must not suffer your Horse to eat Oats but feed him with Bran moisten'd with Claret if he have not too strong an Aversion against it Barley parch'd on a Peel at the Fire and then ground is very good in this Case and you must also chuse the best Hay To proceed to the Use of Remedies you may begin with this scowring Clyster A Scowring Clyster Take Wheat Bran well sifted and whole Barley of each two Handfuls red Roses a Handful true Opium slic'd small half a Dram Boil 'em in Whey or steel'd Water for the space of a quarter of an Hour then add the Leaves of wild Succory Agrimony Beets white Mullein and Mercury of each one Handful In two Quarts of the Decoction dissolve the Yolks of six Eggs Honey of Roses and brown Sugar of each four Ounces Mix and make a Clyster After this Clyster has scowr'd the Guts and expell'd part of the corrupt Matter that was lodg'd in 'em you may give your Horse two Ounces of Liver of Antimony in moisten'd Bran or half an Ounce of the Golden Sulphur of Antimony persisting in this Method for a considerable Time For these Medicines strengthen the Entrails allay the Ebullition or Fermentation of the Humours and contribute very effectually to the Cure of this Distemper This done you may inject the following Clyster A Cooling and Binding Clyster Take Knot-Grass or instead of that Shepherd's Purse and white Mullein of each one Handful Leaves of Plantane two Handfuls Flowers of wild Pomegranates half a Handful the Seeds of Myrtles Lettuce and Plantane of each two Ounces Beat the Seeds and boil 'em in three Quarts of Beer or Barley-Water with half a Dram of good Opium cut into thin slices then put in the Herbs and afterwards a Handful of dry'd Roses Add to the Straining half a Pound of Honey of Roses and four Ounces of Sugar of Roses Mix and make a Clyster to be administer'd after the usual Manner A Potion for the Flux If the Flux be not stopp'd or at least abated by the above-mention'd Preparations of Antimony after these two Clysters you must give the following Potion continuing to repeat the Clysters from time to
following Water which is a very good and safe Remedy A Water to heal and dry up the Pains and Warts tho' the Leg be Swoll'n or Gourdy Take white Vitriol and Allom of each a Pound and a half boil 'em in a clean glaz'd Earthen-Pot with five Pints of Water to the consumption of one half and preserve the Water for use You must first cut off the Hair and make the sore place very clean then bathe it every Evening with this Water till it be heal'd This is one of the best Remedies I ever had occasion to use The Black Ointment or the Coach-man 's Ointment to heal and dry up all Manner of Sores in the hinder Legs If you find by Experience that in some Cases none of the above-mention'd Remedies are sufficient to cure the Pains Clefts Mules and Rat-Tails you must endeavour to temper the Acrimony and sharpness of the Humour with the white Honey Charge And tho' after the fruitless Application of the Neat-heard's Ointment or that of Oldenburg there is little hope left of performing the Cure with any other Remedy it will not perhaps be improper to subjoin the Description of a very cheap and effectual Ointment if the Leg be not Gourdy Take common Honey and Powder of Copperas of each a Pound and a half mix 'em together in a Pot over a gentle Fire stirring 'em constantly till they begin to boil then take off the Pot and when the Matter is half cold add an Ounce of Arsenic in Powder Then set it on the Fire again and stir it till it begin to boil after which take it off stirring perpetually till it grow cold and in the mean time take all possible care to avoid the noisome Smell After you have shav'd away the Hair rub the sore place with a Wisp and anoint it with your Finger renewing the Application once every two Days You must not lay it on too thick lest it raise a Scab instead of drying up the Sore CHAP. CLXXXIII Of Swoll'n or Gourdy Legs by reason of the Pains or other Fleshy Sores THE above-mention'd Distempers namely the Rat-Tails Mules Warts Clefts and Pains are accompany'd with a Swelling in the Horse's Legs which must be cur'd after this manner Shave away the Hair upon and about the sore place as close as you can and anoint it with Oil of Linseed and Brandy shaken together till they be perfectly mixt and renewing the Mixture as often as you have occasion to use it because they separate if they be suffer'd to stand long without shaking and anointing the sore Place every day till the Leg be sound If this Remedy do not operate with sufficient Vigour apply the white Honey Charge renewing it every Day and at every Dressing wiping away all the Matter with Flax By a continu'd Application of this Charge the Swelling will be asswag'd and the Sores dry'd up in ten or twelve Days at most Warts must be cut off with a red-hot Knife or you may endeavour to take 'em away with the Ointment in Chap. CLXXXI or those prescrib'd for the Farcin besides several others mention'd in this Book But the following Remedy is most commodious for it makes the Warts fall away by degrees and by reason of the durableness of its Effect is call'd the Perpetual Caustic You must not handle it without your Gloves because it stains the Skin and Nails of a Tawny Colour The Perpetual Caustic or Lapis Infernalis Put an Ounce of strong Aqua-fortis with half an Ounce of Silver-Lace burnt wash'd and dry'd into a Matrass placing it on hot Ashes till the Silver be dissolv'd which quickly turns reddish Then augmenting the Fire evaporate all the Aqua-fortis and there will remain at the bottom a brown Matter usually call'd Lapis Infernalis or the perpetual Caustic which must be kept dry and cover'd This Preparation is sufficient for those whose Curiosity never leads 'em out of the beaten Road but it might be made much more effectual and proper for Men according to the following Directions Take two Ounces of either the Filings or thin Plates of fine Silver and dissolve 'em in five Ounces of strong Aqua-fortis Then pour the Solution into a Glass Cucurbit cover'd with its Alembic and draw off one half of the Aqua-fortis with a Heat of Ashes or Sand. Afterwards let the Vessel stand some Hours to cool and you will find at the bottom of the Cucurbit a certain Matter in a Saline form which must be put into a pretty large German Crucible to prevent its boiling over Set the Crucible in a small Fire till the Ebullition cease and the Matter sink to the bottom after which augment the Fire a little and you will perceive the Matter reduc'd to the form of Oil at the bottom of the Crucible Pour this Oil-like Substance into a very clean Mould somewhat hot and anointed with Tallow where it will grow as hard as a Stone and afterwards keep it in a well-stopp'd Glass-Bottle and in a dry Place 'T is to be observ'd that the usual Effect of this Stone is owing to the Corrosive Spirits of the Aqua-fortis intangl'd and retain'd by this Silver And all the reason why it might not be as well made with Copper or Iron is that when 't is prepar'd with those imperfect Metals it sucks in too much Air and soon turns to a Liquor which nevertheless wou'd be an excellent Caustic But that which is made with Silver retains its solid Form and may be kept in a Bottle 'T is call'd Infernal both from its black Colour and its caustic or burning Quality in both which respects it may be said to resemble Hell This Stone is alone sufficient without the assistance of the Fire Honey-Charge Powders or any other Application to consume and destroy Warts if they be rubb'd with it every Day till they be quite eaten away but since 't is somewhat dear to prevent any useless waste you may beat the smallest pieces of it to Powder and strew it upon the Warts after which the Scab will quickly fall away It may be also apply'd to Figs Proud Flesh and other Tumours and Excrescences that are to be extirpated The same Stone serves a great while since 't is only made use of to rub the Part but its Virtue is somewhat abated by wearing This second Preparation of the Infernal Stone is a very effectual Remedy for Men that are troubl'd with Cancers which may be touch'd every Day with it till they fall away If by reason of the Malignity of the Pains or other filthy Sores the Hoof be separated from the Cronet at the Heel you must apply the white Honey-Charge which will remove that Inconveniency and make the Hoof grow This separation of the Hoof at the Heel of the hinder Leg is not so considerable a Symptom as some may imagine since it affects only the Hoof without penetrating between the Foot and the Coffin-Bone so that there is no danger of an Impostume in the Hairy part of