good to write thus much thinking it no time lost while I may profit them anie way Of the diseases in the Spleene THe Splene as I haue said before in many places is the receptacle of melancholy and of the dregs of blood and is subiect to the like diseases that the liuer is that is to say to swelling obstruction hard knobs and inflamation for the substance of the splene is spongeous and there sort apt to sucke in al filth and to dilate it selfe wherefore being ful it must needs swel which wil appeare in the left side vnder the short ribs and such swelling causeth also shortnesse of breath and especially when the body doth labour or trauel It is painful also to lie on the right side because the splene being swollen so oppresseth the midriffe and especially when the stomacke is ful of meat and the patient hath worse disgestion than appetite and is troubled with much winde both vpwarde and downeward Moreouer the vapor of the humor doth offend the hart making it faint and causeth al the body to be heauy and dul and if such swelling be suffered to go vncured then if it be a melancholy humor and abounding ouer-much it waxeth euery day thicker and thicker causing obstruction not onely in the vaines and artires which is to be perceiued by heauinesse and greefe on the left side but also in the splene it self whereas by vertue of the heat it is hardned euery day more and more and so by little and little waxeth to a hard knob which doth not only occupy al the substance of the splene but also many times al the left side of the wombe and thereby maketh the euil accidents or griefes before recited much more than they were Now as touching the inflammation of the splene which chaunceth very sildome for so much as euery inflammation proceedeth of pure blood which sildome entereth into the splene I shal not need to make many words but refer you ouer to the chapter of the Liuer for in such case they differ not but proceeding of like cause haue also like signes and do require like cure The old writers say that horses be often greeued with griefe in the splene and specially in Summer season with greedy eating of sweet green meats and they cal those horses Lienosos that is to say splenetike The signes whereof say they are these hard swelling on the left side short breath often groning and greedy appetite to meat The remedie whereof according to Absirtus is to make a horse to sweat once a day during a certaine time by riding him or otherwise trauelling him and to poure into his left nostril euery day the iuyce of mirabolans mingled with wine and water amounting in alto the quantity of a pint But methinks it would do him more good if he drank it as Hierocles would haue him to do Eumelius praiseth this drinke take of Cummin seed and of hony of each six ounces and of Lacerpitium as much as a beane of Vineger a pint and put al these into three quartes of water and let it stand so al night and the next morning giue the horse thereof to drinke being kept ouer night fasting Theomnestus praiseth the decoction of Capers especially if the barke of the root thereof may be gotten sodden in water to a sirrop Or else make him a drinke of Garlick Nitrum Hore-hound and worm-wood sodden in harsh wine and he would haue the left side to be bathed in warme water and to be hard rubbed And if al this wil not helpe then to giue him the fire which Absirtus doth not allow saying the splene lyeth so as it cannot easily bee fired to do him anye good But for so much as the liuer and splene are members much occupied in the ingendring and seperating of humors many euil accidents and griefes doe take their first beginning of them as the Iandis called in a horse the yellowes drinesse of body and consumption of the flesh without any apparant cause why which the Phisitians call Atrophis also euill habite of the bodie called of them Chachexia and the Dropsie But first wee will speake of the Iaundis or Yellowes Of the Yellowes THe Physitians in a mans body do make two kinds of Iandis that is to say the Yellow proceeding of choler dispersed throughout the whole body and dieng the skin yellow and the blacke proceeding of melancholie dispersed likewise throughout the whole bodie and making al the skin blacke And as the yellow Iaundis commeth for the most part either by obstruction or stopping of the cundits belonging to the bladder of the gall which as I said before is the receptable of Choler or by some inflamation of the liuer wherby the blood is conuerted into choler so spreadeth throughout the body euen so the black Iandis cōmeth by meane of some obstruction in the liuer-vain that goeth to the splene not suffering the spleene to do his office in receiuing the dregs of the blood from the liuer wherin they abound too much or else for that the spleene is already too ful of dregs and so sheddeth them backe againe into the vaines But as for the blacke Iandis they haue not bin obserued to be in horses as in mē by any of our Ferrers in these daies that I can learn And yet the old writers of horseleach-craft do seeme to make two kindes of Iandis called of them Cholera that is to say the dry Choler and also the moist choler The signs of the dry choler as Absirtus saith is great heat in the body and costiuenesse of the belly wherof it is said to be dry Moreouer the horse wil not couet to lie down because he is so pained in his body and his mouth will be hot and dry It commeth as he saith by obstruction of the cundit wherby the choler should resort into the bladder of the gal and by obstruction also of the vrin vessels so as he cannot stale The cure according to his experience is to giue him a glister made of oile water and Nitrum to giue him no prouender before that you haue raked his fundament and to power the decoction of Mallowes mingled with sweet wine into his nostrils and let his meate be grasse or else sweet hay sprinkled with Nitre and water and he must rest from labor be often rubbed Hierocles would haue him to drinke the decoction of wild coleworts sodden in wine Again of the moist choler of Iandis these are the signes The horses eies will looke yellow and his nostrils will open wide his eares and his flanks wil sweat and his stale will be yellow and cholerick and he wil grone when he lieth downe which disease the said Absirtus was wont to heale as he saith by giuing the Horsse a drinke made of Time and Cumin of each like quantity stampt together and mingled with wine hony and water and also by letting him blood in the pasterns This last disease seemeth to differ nothing at all from
wel sodden and also mundified that is to say the huske pulled awaye like as when you blanch Almonds Of diuers sorts of Feuers according to Vigetius and first of that which continueth but one day THe Feauer of one day called by the Geeek name Ephemera or els by the Latin name Diaria chaunceth many times through the rashnesse and small discretion of the keeper or some other that letteth not to ride a horsse vnmeasurably either before or after watering whereby the horsse afterward in the stable entreth into an extreame heate and so falleth into his Feuer which you shall know partly by his waterish and bloodshotten eyes and partly by his short violent and hot breathing and panting Moreouer he will forsake his meate and his Legs wil wax stiffe and feeble The cure Let him haue rest all the next day following and be comforted with warme meate then let him be walked vp and downe saite and softly and so by little and little brought againe to his former estate Of the Feauer continuall THe Feuer continuall is that which continueth without intermission and is called in Italian by the Latine name Febris continua which springeth of some inflamation or extreame heate bredde in the principall members or inwarde partes about the heart which is knowne in this sort The Horsse doth not take his accustomed rest whereby his flesh dothfal away euery day more and more and sometime there doth appear hot inflamations in his flankes and aboue his withers The cure Purge his head by squirting into his Nostrils mans vrine or the Water of an Oxe that hath beene rested a certaine time to the intent such water may be the stronger and then giue him the drinke writen in the next Chapter Of the Feuer taken in the Autumne that is to say at the fall of the leafe IF a Horsse chance to get a Feauer at the fall of the leafe cause him immediatly to be let blood in the necke vaine and also in the third furrow of the roofe of his mouth and then giue him this drinke Take of Iermander foure ounces of Gum dragant and of dryed roses of each one ounce beat them all into fine powder and put them into a quart of Ale adding thereunto of Oyle oliue foure ounces and of Hony as much and giue it the Horsse lukewarme Of the Feuer in Summer season A Feuer taken in Summer season is much worse then in any other time and especially if it be taken in the Dogge daies for then the accidents be more furious Blundevile The signes be these his artires wil beate euidently and hee will shed his seede when he staleth and his going wil be vnorderly The cure Let him blood in a vaine that he hath in his hinder hanch about foure fingers beneath the fundament or if you cannot finde that vaine let him blood in the necke vaine toward the withers and if it be needefull you may giue him also this drinke Take the iuyce of a handfull of Parslein mingled with Gum dragant with Ensens and a fewe Damaske roses beaten all into fine powder and then put thereunto a sufficient quantity of ale made sweete with Hony Of the Feuer in winter FOr the Feauer in Winter it shall be good to take the powder of the drugs last mentioned and with a quill or reede to blowe it vp into his left Nostrill to make him to neese It shall be good also to let him bloode in the necke vaine Blundevile and in the palat of the mouth and then to giue him one of these drinkes heere following Take of Ireos sixe ounces of round Pepper one ounce of Bay-berries and of the seede of Smallage of each one ounce and let him drinke them with sodden Wine Or else take a pint of good Milke and put therein of Oyle foure ounces of Saffron one scruple of Myrrhe two scruples of the seede of Smallage a spoonefull and make him drinke that or make him this drinke Take of Aristoloch otherwise called round Hartwoâ—t one ounce of Gention of Isop of Wormwoode of Sothernwood of each one ounce of dry fat Figs sixe ounces of the seede of Smallage three ounces of Rue a handfull boile them all in a cleane vessell with Riuer Water vntill the third part be consumed and when you see it looke blacke and thicke take it from the fire straine it and giue the Horsse to drinke thereof lukewarme As touching his dyet let his water be alwaies lukewarme wherein would be put a little Wheat meale and remember to giue him no meate so long as his fit continueth And because in all Agues it is good to quicken the naturall heate of the Horsse by rubbing and fretting his body it shall not be amisse in some faire day to vse this friction called of the ancient writers Apotorapie which is made in this sort Take of Damaske Roses one pound of olde Oyle a pinte of strong vineger a pinte and a halfe of Mintes and Rue beaten into powder of each one ounce and a halfe together with one olde dry Nut beate them and mingle them together then being strained and made lukwarme rub and chafeal the horses body therewith against the haire vntill he beginneth to sweate then set him vp in the warmest place of the stable and couer him well Of the Feuer which commeth of raw digestion or of repletion YOu shall know if the Feuer proceedeth of any such cause by these signes heere following The Horsse will blow at the nose more then hee is accustomed to doe seemeth to fetch his winde onely at his nose and his breath will bee short hot and dry you shall see his flanks walke and his backe to beate The cure Cause him to be let blood aboundantly in the head and palat of his mouth and by squirting warme vineger in the morning into his nostrils force him to neese and if hee bee costiue let his fundament be raked or else giue him a glister to ease the paine in his head And as touching his dyet giue him but little prouender or hay neither let him drink much nor often but betwixt times But in any wise let him be well rubbed and chafed and that a good while together and if you vse the friction declared in the last chapter before in such sort as there is said it shall do him very much good Of the Feuer accidentall comming of some vlcer in the mouth or throat THe Horsse not being well kept and gouerned after that he hath beene let blood in the vpper partes yea and also besides that of his owne nature is subiect vnto the distillation in his throate or partes there about the painefull swelling or vlcer wherof causeth the Horsse to fall into a grieuous Ague Whereof besides the former remedies apt to purge humors it shall be necessary also to let him bloode in the vaine of the head and in the palat of his mouth and to bee short in all those places where the disease causeth most griefe And if
good to lay the white of an Egge or to wash them with the iuice of Selidonye Another of blood-shotten eies or any other sore eie comming of rume of other humor FOr any sore eye make this water take of the water of Eye-bright of Rosewater Markham and Malmesey of each three spoonefuls of Cloues 6. or seauen beaten to fine powder of the iuice of Houselicke two spoonefuls mix all these togither and wash the horsses eies therewith once a day and it will recouer him Of dimnesse of sight and also for the pin and web or any other spot in the eie IF the horsse be dim of sight or hath any pearle growing in his eie or thin film couering the ball of his eie than Russius would haue you take of pomis stone of Tartarum and of sal Gemma of each like weight Blundevile and being beaten into very fine powder to blow a little of that in his eie continuing so to do euerie daie once or twice vntill he be whole Martin saith that hee alwaies vsed to blow a little sandiuoire into the eie once a day which simple he affirmeth to be of such force as it will breake any pearle or web in short space and make the eie very cleare and faire Russius amongst a number of other medicines praiseth most al the powder of a blacke flint stone Of the Pin and Web and other dimnesse Markham FOr to cure the Pinne Web Peatle Fylme or other dimnesse vse this meanes following Take of Sandiuere the powder of burnt Allom and the powder of black Flint-stone of each like quantity and once a day blow a little thereof into the horsses eye and it will weare away such imperfect matter and make the eie cleere Of the Haw called of the Italians Il vnghia de gli occhi THis is a gristle couering sometime more then one halfe of the eie It proceedeth of grosse and tough humours Blundevile discending out of the heade which Haw as Martin saith would be cut away in this sort First pull both the eyelids open with two seuerall threds stitched with a needle to either of the lids Then catch holde of the Haw with another needle and thred and pull it out so far as you may cutte it round the bredth of a penny and leaue the blacke behind For by cutting away too much of the fat and blacke of the eie the horsse many times becommeth blear eied And the haw being clean taken away squirt a littie white wine or beere into his eie Another of the Haw A Haw is a grosse grissell growing vnder the eye of a horsse and couering more then one halfe of his sight Markham which if he bee suffered will in short time perrish the eie the cure is thus Lay your thumbe vnder his eie in the very hollow then with your finger pull downe the lid and with a sharpe needle and thred take hold of the haw and plucking it out with a sharpe knife cut it away the compasse of a penny or more that done wash the eie with a little Beere Of Lunaticke eies VEgetius writeth De oculo lunatico but he sheweth neither cause nor signes thereof but onely saith that the old men tearmed it so Blundevile because it maketh the eie sometime to looke as though it were couered with white and sometime cleare Martin saith that the horsse that hath this disease is blind at certain times of the Moone insomuch that he seeth almost nothing at all during that time and then his eyes will look yellowish yea and somewhat reddish which disease according to Martin is to be cured in this sort First vse the plaister mentioned before in the chapter of waterish or weeping eies in such order as is there prescribed and then with a sharpe knife make two slittes on both sides of his head an inch long somewhat towardes the nose a handfull beneath the eies not touching the vaine and with a cornet loosen the skinne vpward the breadth of a groat and thrust therein a round peece of leather as broad as a two penny peece with a hole in the middest to keepe the whole open and looke to it once a day that the matter may not be stopped but continually run the space of ten daies then take the leather out and heale the wound with a little flax dipt in the salue heere following Take of Turpentine of hony of wax of each like quantity and boile them togither which being a little warmed wil be liquid to serue your purpose and take not away the plaisters from the temples vntil they fal away of themselues which being fallen then with a smal hot drawinge yron make a starre in the midst of each Temple vaine where the plaister did lie Which star would haue a hole in the middest made with the button end of your drawing yron Another of lunaticke or moone eies Markham OF these Lunaticke eyes I haue knowne diuers they are blinde at certaine times of the Moone they are very redde fiery and full of filme they come with ouer-riding and extraordinary heat and fury the cure of them is thus Lay vppon the Temples of his head a plaister of Pitch Rozen and Mastick molten togither very exceeding hot then with a little round yron made for the purpose burne three or foure holes an inch or more vnderneath his eies and annoint those holes euery day with Hogges greace then put it in his eies euery day with a little Hony and in short time he wil recouer his sight Of the Canker in the eie THis commeth of a ranke and corrupt blood discending from the head into the eie The signes You shall see red pimples some small and some great both within and without vpon the eye-lids and al the eye will looke redde Blundevile and be full of corrupt matter The cure according to Martin is thus Firste let him blood on that side the necke that the eie is greeued the quantity of a pottle Then take of Rochalum of greene Coporas of each half a pound of white Coporas one ounce and boile them in three pints of running water vntill the halfe be consumed then take it from the fire and once a day wash his eie with this water being made luke warme with a fine linnen cloath and clense the eie therewith so oft as it may look raw continuing thus to do euery day vntill it be whole Of diseases incident to the eares and poll of the head and first of an Impostume in the eare IMpostumes breed either by reason of some blow or brusing or els of euil humors congealed in the eare by some extream colde the signes bee apparant by the burning and painefull swelling of the eare and part thereabout The cure according to Martin is in this sort First ripe the impostume with this plaister Take of Lineseed beaten into powder of wheat Flower of each halfe a pint of hony a pint of Hogges greace or barrowes greace one pound
faire water vntil the barly begin to burst and boile therewith of bruised Licoras of Annis-seedes or Raisins of each one pound then straine it and to that liquor put of hony a pinte and a quarterne of Sugar candy and keepe it close in a pot to serue the horse therwith foure seuerall mornings and cast not away the sodden barly with the rest of the strainings but make it hot euery day to perfume the horse withal being put in a bag and tyed to his hed and if the horse will eat of it it shal do him the more good And this perfuming in winter season would be vsed about ten of the clocke in the morning when the Sun is of some height to the intent the horse may be walked abroad if the Sun shine to exercise him moderatly And vntill his cough weare away faile not to giue him warm water with a little ground mault And as his cough breaketh more and more so let his water euery be lesse warmed then other Of the dry cough THis seemeth to come of some grosse and tough humor cleauing hard to the hollow places of the lungs which stoppeth the wind-pips so as the horse cannot easily draw his breath and if it continue it wil either grow to the pursick or else breake his wind altogether The signs be these He wil cough both often drily and also vehemently without voiding at the nose or mouth The cure according to Martin is in this sort Take a close earthen pot and put therein three pints of strong vineger and foure egs shels and all vnbroken and foure Garlike heads cleane pilled and bruised and set the pot being very close couered in some warme dunghill and there let it stand a whole night and the next morning with your hand take out the egges which will be so soft as silke and lay them by vntill you haue strained the Garlike and Vineger through a faire cloath then put to that liquor a quarterne of hony and halfe a quarterne of Sugarcandy and two ounces of Lycoras and two ounces of Annis-seedes beaten al into fine powder And then the Horsse hauing fasted al the night before in the morning betwixt seuen and eight of the clocke open his mouth with a cord and whorle therein one of the egges so as he may swallow it downe and then immediately poure in after it a horneful of the aforesaide drinke being first made lukewarme and cast in another egge with another horne full af drinke and so continue to do vntill he hath swallowed vp all the egges and drunke vp all the drinke and then bridle him and couer him with warmer cloathes then he had before and bring him into the stable and ther let him stand on the bit at the bare rack wel littered vp to the belly the space of two houres Then vnbit him and if it be in winter offer him a handfull of wheaten straw if in summer giue him grasse and let him eat no hay Blundevilâ— vnlesse it be very wel dusted and sprinkled with water and giue him not much thereof And therefore you shal need to giue him the more prouender which also most be wel clensed of al filth and dust and giue him no water the space of 9. daies And if you perceiue that the cough doth not weare away then if it be in winter purge him with these pilles Take of lard two pound laid in water two houres then take nothing but the cleane fat thereof and stamp it in a morter and thereto put of Licoras of Annis-seeds of Fenegreeke of each beaten into powder three ounces of Aloes in powder two ounces of Agerick one ounce Knead these together like paast and make thereof six bals as big as an egge Then the horse hauing fasted ouer night giue him the next morning these pilles one after another anointed with hony and oile mingled together in a platter and to the intent he may swallow them down whether he wil or not when you haue opened his mouth catch hold of his tong and hold it fast while you whirle in one of the pilâ— that done thrust it into his throat with a roling-pin then let his tongue go vntill he hath swallowed it downe then giue him in like manner all the rest of the pilles and let him stand on the bit warme cloathed and littered the space of three houres at the least and after that giue him a little wet hay and warme water with a little ground mault in it to drinke and let him drinke no other but warme water the space of a weeke And now and then in a faire sunny day it shall be good to trot him one houre abroad to breath him Of the fretized broken and rotten lungs THis proceedeth as Absirtus and Theomnestus saith either of an extreame cough or of vehement running or leaping or of ouer greedy drinking after great thirst for the lungs be inclosed in a very thin filme or skin and therefore easie to be broken which if it be not cured in time doth grow to apostumation and to corruption oppressing all the lungs which of old Authors is called Vomica and Suppâ—ratio But Theomnestus saith that broken lungs and rotten lungs be two diuers diseases and haue diuers signes and diuers cures The signes of broken lungs be these The Horse draweth his wind short and by little at once he will turne his head often toward the place grieued and groneth in his breathing he is afraid to cough and yet cougheth as though he had eaten small bones The same Theomnestus healed a friends horse of his whose lunges were fretized or rather broken as he saith by continual eating salt with this manner of cure here following Let the Horsse haue quiet and rest and then let him blood in the hanches where the vaines appeare most and giue him to drinke the space of seuen daies barly or rather Otes sodden in Goates milke or if you can get no milke boile it in water and put therein some thicke collops of larde and of Deeres sewet and let him drinke that and let his common drinke in winter season be the decoction of wheat meale and in summer time the decoction of barly and this as he sayth wil binde his lungs againe together Vegetius vtterly disalloweth letting of blood in any such disease as this is all maner of sharp medicynes for feare of prouoking the cough by means wherof the broken places can neuer heale perfectly And therfore neither his medicines nor meat would be harsh but smooth gentle and cooling The best medicine that may be giuen him at all times is this take of Fenegreeke and of Linceede of each halfe a pound of Gum dragagant of Mastick of Myrrhe of Sugar of Fitch flower of each one ounce Let all these things be beaten into fine powder and then infused one whole night in a sufficient quantity of warme Water and the next day giue him a quarte of this lukewarme putting thereunto two or three ounces of
owne hooues beaten into powder and mingled with wine and powred into his right nostril will make him to stale if you chafe him vpon it and the rather as Hierocles saith if you carry him to some sheepes coat or other place where sheepe are wont to stand the smel of whose dung and pisse without any other medicine as he saith will prouoke him to stale Some will giue the horsse white Dogges dung dried and mingled with salt wine and Amoniacum to drinke some hogges dunge onely with Wine and some the dregges of horse-pisse with wine and many other medicines which I leaue to rehearse for feare of being too tedious and especially sith Martins experience doeth follow heere at hand agreeing in all points with Laurentius Russius cure which is in this sort First draw out his yard and wash it well in white wine and scoure it well because it will be many times stopped with durt and other baggage togither and hardned like a stone and then put a little oile of Cammomile into the conduit with a wax candle and a brused cloue of Garlick and that will prouoke him to stale And if that will not helpe Take of Parsly two handfuls of Coriander one handfull stampe them and straine them with a quart of white wine and dissolue therein one ounce of cake-Sope and giue it luke warme vnto the horse to drinke and keepe him as warme as may be and let him drinke no cold water for the space of fiue or six dayes and when you would haue him to stale let it be eyther vpon plenty of strawe or vpon some greene plot or els in a sheeps coat the sauor whereof wil greatly prouoke him to stale as hath bin aforesaid Of pissing blood PElagonius saith that if a horse be ouermuch laboured or ouercharged with heauy burthen or ouer fat he will many times pisse blood and the rather as I thinke for that some vaine is broken within the horses body and then cleere blood will come forth many times as the Physitians say without any pisse at all But if the blood be perfectly mingled togither with his stale then it is a signe that it commeth from the kidnies hauing some stone therein which through vehement labour doeth fret the kidnies and vaines thereof and so cause them to bleed through which while the vrine passeth must needs be infected and died with the blood It may come also by some stripe or from the muscle that incloseth the necke of the bladder The cure according to Pelagonius Absirtus Hierocles and the rest is thus Let the horse blood in the palate of the mouth to conuert the blood the contrary way then take of Tragagant that hath been steeped in wine halfe an ounce and of Poppy seede one dram and once scruple and of Stirax as much and twelue Pineaple kirnels let all these things be beaten and mingled wel togither and giue the horse thereof euery morning the space of seauen daies the quantity of a hasell-nut distempered in a quart of wine methinkes that the quantity of a Walnut were too little for so much wine Some write that it is good to make him a drinke with the root of the hearbe Asphopelus which some call Daffadil mingled with wheat flower and Sumach sodden long in water and so to bee giuen the horse with some wine added thereunto or make him a drinke of Goats milk and oile straining thereunto a little Fromenty Anatolius saith that it good to giue the horse three daies togither sodden beanes cleane pilled whereunto would be added some Deeres sewet and a little wine Of the Colt euill Blundevile THis name Colt euil in my iudgement doeth properly signifie that disease which the physitians cal Priapismus which is a continual standing together with an vnnatural swelling of the yarde proceeding of some winde filling the artires and hollow sinnew or pipe of the yard or else through the abundance of seed which do chance oftentimes to man and I think sometime to stoned horses Notwithstanding Martin saith that the colt euil is a swelling of the sheathe of the yard and part of the belly thereabout caused of corrupt seed comming out of the yard and remaining within the sheath where it putrifieth And geldings most commonly are subiect to this disease not being able for lacke of natural heat to expel their seed any further For horses as Martin saith are sieldome troubled with this disease because of their heat vnlesse it be when they haue beene ouer trauailed or otherwise weakened The cure according to him is thus Wash the sheath cleane within with Luke-warme Vineger then draw out his yard and wash that also that done ride him into some running streame vppe to the belly tossing him therein too and fro to alay the heat of the members and vse him thus two or three daies and hee shal be whole Another of the Colt euill THe Colt euill is a disease that commeth to stoned horses through rankenes of nature and want of vent it appeareth in his cod and sheathe which wil swell exceedingly Markham the cure is nothing for if you wil but euery day twice or thrice driue him to the mid-side in some Pond or running riuer the swelling will fall and the horse wil doe wel If the horse be of yeeres and troubled with this griefe if you put him to a Mare it is not amisse for standing stil in a stable without exercise is a great occasion of this disease Of the mattering of the yard IT commeth at couering time when the horse and mare both are ouer-hot and so perhaps burne themselues The cure according to Martin is thus Take a pinte of white wine and boile therein a quarterne of roche Alome and squirt thereof into his yarde three or foure squirtfuls one after another and thrust the squirt so far as the liquor may pierce to the bottome to scowre away the bloody matter continuing thus to do once a day vntil he be whole Of the shedding of seed THis disease is called of the Physitians Gonorrhea Blundevile which may come sometime thorough aboundance and rankenesse of seed and sometime by the weakenes of the stones and seed vessels not able to retaine the seed vntill it be digested and thickned Vegetius saith that this disease will make the horse very faint and weake and especially in Summer season For cure whereof the said Vegetius would haue the horse to be ridden into some cold water euen vp to the belly so as his stones may bee couered in water and then his fundament being first bathed with warme water and oile he would haue you to thrust in your hand and arme euen to the very bladder and softly to rubbe and claw the same and the parts thereabouts which be the seed vessels that done to couer him warm that he take no cold and euery day he woulde haue you to giue the horse hogges dung to drinke with red wine vntil he be whole I for my part if I
qualities remedies and miraculous operation therof wherfore they must be verie warily and skilfully taken foorth for there is in a little skin compassing them about a certaine sweet humor called Humor Melleus and with that they must be cut out the vtter skin being cut asunder to make the more easie entrance and the Apothecaries vse to take all the fat about them which they put into the oyle of the Castoreum and sell it vnto fisher men to make baite for fishes The females haue stones or Castoreum as well as the males but very small ones Now you must take great heed to the choise of your Beauer and then to the stones which must grow from one roote conioyned otherwise they are not precious and the beast must neither be a young one nor one very old but in the meane betwixt both being in vigour and perfection of strength The Beauers of Spaine yeeld not such vertuous castoreum as they of Pontus and therefore if it be possible Hermolaus The corrupting of Castoreum take a Pontique Beauer next one of Gallatia and lastly of Affrique Some do corrupt them putting into their skinne gumme and Ammomacke with blood other take the raines of the beast and so make the castoreum very big which in it selfe is but small This beast hath two bladders which I remember not are in any other liuing creature and you must beware that none of these be ioyned with the castoreum You may know if it be mingled with Ammoniacke by the tast for although the colour be like yet is the sauour different Platearius sheweth that some adulterate castoreum by taking of his skinne or some cod newly taken forth of another beast filling it with blood sinnewes and the pouder of castoreum that so it may not want his strong smell or sauour other fill it with earth and blood other with blood rozen gumme sinnewes and pepper to make it tast sharp but this is a falsification discernable and of this sort is the castoreum that is sold at Venice as Brasouala affirmeth and the most of them sold at this day are bigger then the true castoreum for the iust waight of the right stones is not aboue twelue ounces and a halfe one of them being bigger then the other being sixe fingers bredth long and foure in breadth Now the substance contained in the bag is yellowish solid like waâ— and sticking like glew not sharp and cracking betwixt the teeth as the counterfait is These stones are of a strong and stinking sauour such as is not in any other but not rotten and sharpe as Grammarians affirme yet I haue smelled of it dried which was not vnpleasaunt and things once seasoned with the sauour thereof will euer tast of it although they haue not touched it but lie couered with it in the same boxe or pot and therefore the castoreum of Persia is counterfeit which hath no such smell for if a man smell to the right castoreum it will draw blood out of his nose After it is taken forth from the beast it must be hung vp in some place to be dried in the shadow and when it is dry it is soft and white it will continue in strength sixe yeares and some say seuen the Persians affirme that their castoreum will hold his vertue ten years which is as false as the matter they speake of is counterfait Archigenes wrote a whole booke of the vertue of this castoreum whereunto they may resort that require an exact and full declaration of all his medicinall operations it shall onely be our purpose to touch some generall heads and not to enter into a particular discouery thereof Being so dried as is declared it must be warily vsed for it falleth out heerein as in other medicinall subiects that ignorance turneth a curing herbe or substance into a venemous and destructiue quality therefore we will first of all set downe the daungers to be auoyded and afterward some particular cures that come by the right vse of it Therefore it must be vnderstood that there is poyson in it not naturally but by accident as may be in any other good and wholsome matter and that especially in the smell or sauor therof The dangers in the vse of Castoreum Seruius whereunto if a woman with childe doe smell it vvill kill the child vnborne and cause abortement for a vvomans womb is like a creature nourished with good sauors and destroyed with euill therefore burning of fethers shoo-soles wollen clothes pitch Galbanum gumme onions and garlike is noysome to them It may be corrupted not onely as is before declared but also if it be shut vp close without vent into pure aner when it is hanged vp to be dried or if the bag be kept moyst so that it cannot dry and it is true as Auicen saith that if it be vsed being so corrupted it killeth within a daies space driuing one into madnesse making the sicke person continually to hold forth his tongue and infecting him with a feuer by inflaming the bodie loosing the continuitie of the partes through sharp vapours arising from the stomack and for a proofe that it will inflame if you take a little of it mingled with oyle and rubbe vpon any part of the bodie or vpon your naile you shall feele it But there is also a remedie for it being corrupted namelie Asses milke mingled with some sharpe sirrop of Citron or if need require drinke a dram of Philons Antidot at the most or take butter and sweet water which will cause vomit and vomit therewith so long as you feele the sauour of the stone and afterward take sirrop of Limmons or citrons some affirme vpon experience that two penny waight of Coriander-seed scorched in the fire is a present remedy for this euill And it is more straunge that seeing it is in greatest strength when the sauor is hottest which is very displeasing to a mans nature in outward appearance yet doeth it neuer harme a man taken inwardly being pure and rightly compounded if the person be without a feuer for in that case onely it doeth hurte inwardly otherwise apply it to a moist body lacking refrigeration or to a colde body wanting excalfaction or to a colde and moist body you shall perceiue an euident commodity thereby if there bee no feuer and yet it hath profited many where the feuer hath not bene ouerhot as in extasies and lethargies ministred with white pepper and mellicrate and with Rose cakes laid to the necke or head The same vertues it hath being outwardly applied and mingled with oyle if the bodies be in any heate and purely without oile if the body be cold for in heating it holdeth the thirde degree and in drying the second The maner how it is to be ministred is in drink for the most part the sweet lickor being taken from it and the little skinnes appearing therein clensed away and so it hath among many other these operations following Drunke with vineger
that ther wer Buls in Colchis which did breth out fire except by that fiction the poets vnderstood the beastly rage of the rich inhabitants The sacrificing of Buls Touching the sacrificing of buls it vvas also the custome of the old Egyptians to sacrifice a Bull vnto Epaphus and their manner was first of all to try him whether it were fit for sacrifice by laying meale before them whereof if they refused to tast they were adiudged not apt for the Temple The Druidae call a generall sacrifice Viscum whereby they affirme all greeuances may be cured Caelius Gâ—raldus Pliny First they prepared a banquet with sacrifice vnder some tree then broght they two white buls fastened togither by the horns and then they gaue a drinke to any barren creature Woman or bruit beast holding religiously that by that drinke they shoulde be made fruitfull and free from al poison Vnto so great a height did the folly of blinde people arise to put religion in euery vnreasonable inuention vnder pretence of any good intention deuised by idolatrous priests As often as they slew and offered a Bul and poured Frankincense and wine vppon the hoast they said The bul is increased with Frankincense and wine but the Ionians did best comfort themselues in their sacrifices where the Bul before his death did lough at the Altar Pausanias and the Messenians did bind their bul which was to be sacrificed to the Ghosts of Aristomene vnto certaine Pillars in his sepulchre if therefore the Bul did shake the pillar while he leaped to and fro to get liberty they took it for a good signe or Omen but if it stood imouable they held it a mournful and lamentable thing It is likewise reported by Varinus that when Agamemnon ignorantly kild one of the harts of Diana in Aulis she was so wroth that she stayed the winds from blowing vpon his nauy so as they could not stirre out of harbour hereupon they went to the Oracle where answere was giuen that the goddesse was to bee pacified with some one of Agamemnons blood therfore Vlisses vvas sent avvay to fetch Iphigenia the dau of Agam from her mother clitemnaestra vnder pretence to be maried to achilles but when she was ready to bee sacrificed the goddesse took pittie on her and accepted a bul in her steede which ought not to bee thought incredible seeing that in holy scripture a Ram was substituted in the place of Isaac They were wont also to sacrifice a bul to Neptune and to al the riuers because of that affinity which they held a bul hath with al Waters and to apollo according to this virgilian verse Taurus Neptuno Taurum tibi pulcher apollo But vnto Iupiter it was vnaccustomed to be offered perhaps because he had often shevved himselfe in that likenesse to rauish and defloure Women Prouerbs of a Buli There be certaine prouerbes of a bul which are not altogither impertinent in this place First it is commonly saide that hee may beare a bul that hath born a calfe wherby is meant that he may be more subiect to filthines in age which was so in youth Quartilla was a woman of most vilde reputation for vncleannes because she said that when she was little she lay with little ones like her selfe and when she grevv bigger Like the Englâ—â—â—â—râ—uerb 〈◊〉 sky fall we shal haue 〈…〉 she applied her selfe to the pleasure of elder men grovving in filthines as she had increased in yeares Likevvise they vvere vvont to say of an absurde or impossible thinge that if a bul could reach his head ouer taygetus hee might drinke of the riuer Eurota and the beginning of this prouerbe was taken of an apothegme of Geradas when his hoast vpon a time did ask him vvhat punishment the Lacedemonians had appointed for adulterers he aunsvvered there vvere no adulterers in Lacedemon and therefore the punishment question vvere friâ—olous his hoast replyed but if there shoulde bee an adulterer there vvhat punishment vvould they appoint for him Marry said Geradus he shold pay such a bul as would reach ouer taygetus to drinke of the Water Eurota whereat the host laughed demaunding where such a bul could be found then said Geradas and vvhere can you find an adulterer in Lacede non so putting off one absurdity vvith another And thus much of the natures and properties of a bul in general In the nexte place before this beast be turned into the Woods vve vvil describe his medicinal vertues and so let him loose The pouder of a buls horn drunk in vvater stayeth a flux of blood and the loosnes of the bellâ— Sextus and Eseulapius say The medicins oâ— Buls that if a buls horne be burned in a place where serpents abide iâ— driueth the navvay The blood of buls mingled vvith barley flovver driueth avvay hardnes in the flesh being dryed cureth apostems in euery part of the body It taketh away spots in the face kileth serpeÌ„ts It is coÌ„mended warm against the gouâ— especially in horses It is not good for to drinke beause it is easily congealed except the little vaynes bee taken out It is accounted among the chiefest poysons and therefore it is thought by Plutarch that Anniball poysoned himselfe by drinking Buls blood being thereunto perswaded by his Seruant for so dyed Themistocles and Psammenitus King of Egypt taken by Cambises was constrained to drinke the blood of a Bull wherevpon immediately he gaue vp the ghost For remedy heereof it is good to beware of vomitting bycause the blood congealed in the stomach into lumps stoppeth the throate wherefore all those things which dissolue Milke in the stomach are also medicinable against the blood of Buls In these cases let the party be first of all purged by glister or otherwise and then annoynt the stomache and belly with barly meale and sweete Water laying it vnto them like a plaister likewise Lupines Oxymell and nitre are Soueraigne in this as all Physitions know The dry leaues of Neppe or Calamach is profitable against this Malady so also are ashes made of the lees of wine burned The fat of a Bull is profitable to many thinges First therefore it must be plucked out warme from the raynes of a Bull and washed in a Ryuer or brooke of running Water Dioscorides pulling out the skinnes and tunicles then melt it in a newe earthen pot hauing cast among it a little salt then set in faire cold Water and when it beginneth to congeale rubbe it vp and downe in the hands wringing out the water and letting it soke in againe vntill it appeare well washed then boyle it in a pot with a little sweet wine and being sodden let it stand all night if in the morning it sauour strong then poure in more Wyne seeth it againe vntill that sauour cease and so all the poyson be remoued and beware of salt in it especially if it be to bee vsed in diseases whereunto salt is an enemy but being
which foolish people haue thought as it were by a witchcraft to cure the euils of their cattell But to let passe these and such like trifles let vs followe a more perfect description and rule to cure all manner of diseases in this cattel whose safegard and health next to a mans is to bee preferred aboue all other and firste of all the meanes whereby their sicknesse is discouered may be considered as all Lassitude or wearisomnesse thorough ouer much labour which appeareth by forbearing their meat or eating after another fashion then they are woont or by their often lying downe or else by holding out their tongue all which and many more signes of their diseases are manifest to them that haue obserued them in the time of their health and on the other side it is manifest that the health of an oxe may be known by his agility life stirring when they are lightly touched or pricked starting and holding their eares vpright fulnesse of their bellie and many other wayes There be also hearbes which increase in cattell diuers diseases as herbs bedewed with Honie bringeth the Murrain the iuice of black Chamaeleon killeth yong kie like the chine blacke Helebore Aconitum or Wolfe-bane which is that grasse in cilicia which inflameth oxen herbe henry and others It is also reported by Aristotle that in a piece of Thricia not far from that citty which is called the cittie of Media there is a place almost thirty furlongs in length where naturally groweth a kinde of barley which is good for men but pernitious for beasts The like may be said of Aegolothros Orobanche and Aestur but I wil hasten to the particular description of their diseases In the first place is the Malis or Glaunders already spoken of in the storie of the Asse The diseases which infeit Oxen Kye which may be known by these signes the oxes haire will be rough and hard his eies and necke hange downe matter running out of the nose his pace heauie chewing his cud little his backe-bone sharpe and his meat loathsome vnto him for remedie herof take sea-onoyns or Garlicke Lupines or cypres or else the foame of oile And if a Beast care hogges-dung they presentlie fall sicke of the Pestilence which infecteth the hearbes and grasse they breath on the waters whereof they drinke and the stals and lodgings wherein they lie The humors which annoy the body of oxen are many the first is a moist one called Malis yssuing at the nose the second a dry one when nothing appeareth outwardlye onely the beast forsaketh his meat the third an articular when the fore or hinder legs of the beast halte and yet the hoofes appeare sound the fourth is Farciminous wherein the whole body breaketh forth into matry bunches byles and appear healed til they break foorth in other places the fift Subtereutanrus when vnder the skinne there runneth a humour that breaketh forth in many places of the body the sixt a Subrenall when the hinder legs halte by reason of some paine in the loines the seuenth a Maunge or Leprosie and lastly a madnesse or Phrenzy all which are contagious and if once they enter into a heard they will infect euery beast if they be not seperated from the sicke and speedy remedy obtained The remedies against the last seuen are thus discribed by Columella First take Oxipanum and sea-holy roots mingled with fennel-seede and meale of beaten wheat rath-ripe put them in spring water warmed with hony nine spoonfuls at a time and with that medicine annoint the breast of the beaste then take the blood of a sea-snaile and for want thereof a common snaile put it into wine and giue the beast in at his nose and it hath bene approued to worke effectuall It is not good at any time to stirre vppe Oxen to running Cursus bonū ant ciet aluū aut febrim inducit for chasing will either moue them to loosenes of the belly or driue them into a feauer the nowe the signes of a feuer are these an immoderat heat ouer the whole body especially about the mouth tongue and eares teares falling out of the eies hollownes of their eyes a heauy and stooping drowzie head matter running out of his nose a hotte and difficulte breath and sometime fighing and violent beating of his vaines and loathing of meat for remedy whereof let the beast fast one whole day then let him be let blood vnder the taile fasting and afterward make him a drinke of bole-wort stalkes sod with oyle and lickquor of fish-sauce and so let him drinke it for fiue daies togither before he eat meat afterward let him eat the tops of Lentils and young small vine braunches then keepe his nose and mouth clean with a spunge and giue him colde water to drinke three times a day for the best meanes of recouery are cold meates and drinkes neither must the beast bee turned out of dores till he be recouered When an oxe is sicke of a cold giue him blacke wine and it will presently helpe him If an Oxe in his meate tast of hens doung his belly wil presently be tormented and swell vnto death if remedie be not giuen for this mallady take three ounces of parsley seed a pint and a halfe of Cummin two pounds of honey beat these togither and put it down his throat warme then driue the beast vp and down as long as he can stand then let as many as can stand about him rub his belly vntil the medicine worke to purgation and Vegetius addeth that the ashes of Elme wood well sod in oyle and put downe the beasts throat cureth the inflamation of hen-dung If at any time it happen that an oxe get into his mouth and throate a horse-leech which at the first will take fast holde and sucke the place she holds be it mouth or throat till she haue kild the beast if you canot take hold on her with the hand then put into the oxes throat a Cane or little hollow pipe euen to the place where the leech sucketh and into that pipe put warme oyle which as soone as the leech feeleth she presently leaueth hold It fortuneth sometimes that an oxe is stung or bitten with a Serpent Adder Viper or other such venimous beast for that wound take sharpe Trifoly which groweth in rocky places straine out the iuice and beat it with salte then scarifie the wound with that oyntment till it be wrought in If a field-mouse bite an Oxe so as the dint of her teeth appear then take a little commin and soft Pitch and with that make a plaister for the wound or if you can get another field-Mouse put her into oyle and there let it remaine till the mēbers of it be almost rotten then bruise it lay it to the sore and the same body shal cure whose nature gaue the wound Oxen are also much troubled with a disease called the hide-bound for remedy whereof when the beast is taken from
his worke and panteth then let him be sprinkled ouer with wine and put peeces of fatte into his mouth if then you perceiue no amendment then seeth some Laurell and therewith heat his backe and afterward with oyle and wine scarifie him all ouer plucking his skin vp from the ribbes and this must be done in the sunshine or else in a very warme place For the scabs take the iuice of Garlicke and rub the beast all ouer and with this medicine may the biting of a Wolfe or a mad dogge be cured although other affirme that the hoofe of any beast with Brimstone oyle Water and Vineger is a more present remedy but there is no better thinge then butter and stale Vrine When they are vexed with wormes poure cold water vpon them afterward annoint them with the iuice of onions mingled with salt If an oxe be wrinched and strayned in his sinnewes in trauell or labour by stumping on any roote or hard sharpe thing then let the contrary foot or legge be let blood if the sinnews swel If his necke svvell let him blood or if his necke be vvinding and vveake as if it were broken then let him blood in that eare to which side the head bendeth When their neckes be bald grind two tiles togither a nevv one and a olde and vvhen the yoake is taken off cast the pouder vpon their neckes and afterwarde oyle and so with a little rest the haire vvill come againe When an oxe hangeth dovvne his eares and eateth not his meat he is troubled vvith a Cephalalgie that is a paine in his head for vvhich seeth Thyme in vvine vvith salt and Garlicke and therevvith rub his tongue a good space also ravv barly steeped in Wine helpeth this disease Sometime an oxe is troubled vvith madnesse for vvhich men burne them betvvixt the hornes in the forehead till they bleed sometime there is a Fly vvhich biting them continually driueth them into madnesse for vvhich they are vvoont to cast brimstone and bay sprigs sod in water in the pastures where they feede but I knovv not vvhat good can come thereby When oxen are troubled vvith fleam put à sprig of black Hellebore throgh their ears wherein let it remain til the next day at the same houre Al the euils of the eyes are for the most part cured by infusion of hony and some mingle therevvith Ammoniacke Salt and Boeticke When the pallat or roofe of their mouth is so swelled that the beast forsaketh meat and bendeth one the one side let his mouth be pared with a sharpe instrument or else burned or abated some other way giuing them greene and soft meat til the tender sore be cured but vvhen the cheekes svvell for remedy thereof they sell them avvay to the butcher for slaughter it falleth out very often that there grow certaine bunches on their tongues vvhich make them forsake their meate and for this thing they cut the toong and aftervvard rub the wound vvith garlicke and salt till al the fleamy matter yssue forth VVhen their vaines in their cheeks and chaps swell out into vlcers they soften and wash them with vineger and lees till they be cured When they are liuer-sicke they giue them Rubarbe Mishroms and Gentian mingled togither For the cough and short breath they giue them twigs of vines or Iuniper mingled with salt and some vse Betony There is a certaine hearbe called Asplenon or Citterach which consumeth the Melts of Oxen found by this occasion in creete there is a Ryuer called Protereus running betwixt the two citties Gnoson and Gortina on both sides thereof there were heards of cattell but those which fed neere to Gortina had no Spleene and the other which fed neer to Gnoson were full of Spleene when the Physitians endeuored to finde out the true cause heereof they found an hearbe growing on the coast of Gortina which diminished their Spleene and for that cause called it Asplenon But now to come to the diseases of their brest and stomack and first of al to begine with the cough which if it be new may be cured by a pint of Barly Meale with a raw Egge and halfe a pint of sod wine and if the cough be old take two pounds of beaten Hysop sod in 3. pints of water beatē Lentils or the roots of onyons washed and baked with Wheate meale giuen fasting do driue away the oldest cough For shortnesse of breath their Neat-heardes hang about their Necke deathes-hearb and harts-wort but if their Liuers or lungs be corupted which appeareth by along cough and leannes take the root of hasell and put it through the Oxes eare then a like or equall quantity of the iuyce of Onyons and oyle mingled and put into a pint of Wine let it be giuen to the beast many daies together If the Oxe be troubled with crudity or a raw euill stomach you shall know by these signes he wil often belch his belly will rumble he will forbeare his meate hanging down his eies and neither chew the cud or licke himselfe with his tongue for remedy whereof take two quarts of warme Water thirty stalkes of Bole-worts seeth them together till they be soft and then giue them to the beast with vineger But if the crudity cause his belly to stand out and swell then pull his tayle downewarde with all the force that you can and binde thereunto Mother-wort mingled with salt or else giue them a glister or anoint a Womans hand with oyle and let hir draw out the dung from his fundament and afterward cut a vaine in his tayle vvith a sharp knife When they be distempered with choler burne their Legs to the hoofes vvith a vvhot Iron and aftervvard let them rest vpon cleane and soft stravv vvhen their guts and intrals are payned they are eased vvith the sight of a Duck or a Drake But vvhen the small guts are infected take fifteene cypres aples and so many gaules mingle and beate them vvith their vvaight of old cheese in foure pints of the sharpest Wine you can get and so diuide it into foure parts giuing to the beast euery day one quantity The excrements of the belly doe depriue the body of all strength and power to labour wherefore vvhen they are troubled vvith it they must rest and drinke nothing for three dayes together and the first day let them forbeare meate the second day giue them the toppes of wilde Olyues or in defect thereof canes or reedes the stalkes of Lantiske and Myrtill and the thirde day a little Water and vnto this some adde dryed Grapes in sixe pintes of sharpe Wine giuen euery day in like quantity When their hinder parts are lame through congealed blood in them whereof there is no outward appearance take a bunch of Nettles with their rootes and put it into their mouthes by rubbing whereof the condersate blood will remoue away When Oxen come first of all after Winter to grasse they fall grasse-sicke and pisse blood for which they seeth together
Rasis which was called Ceroma wherewithall Wrastlers and Prize-players were anointed but when a foolish and heauy man was annoynted they said ironically Bos ad ceroma Againe the folly of this beast appearerh by another Greeke prouerbe which saith that An Oxe raiseth dust which blindeth his owne eyes to signifie that foolish and indiscrete men stirre vp the occasion of their owne harmes The manifold Epithets giuen this beast in Greeke and Latine by sundry authors doe demonstratiuely shew the manifold conditions of this beast as that it is called a Plower Wilde an earth tiller brazen footed by reason of his hard hoofes Cerebrons more brayne then wit horned stubborne horne-striking hard rough vntamed deuourer of grasse yoake-bearer fearefull ouertamed drudges vvry-faced slovv and ill fauored vvith many other such notes of their nature ordination and condition There remaine yet of this discourse of Oxen tvvo other necessary Tractats The naturall vses of the seueral parts of Oxen. the one naturall the other morral That vvhich is natural contayns the seueral vses of their particular parts first for their flesh which is held singular for norishment for which cause after their labour which bringeth leannesse they vse to put them by for sagination or as it is sayd in English for feeding which in all countries hath a seuerall manner or custom How to fattē cattaile Sotion affirmeth that if you giue your cattell when they come fresh from their pasture Cabbage leaues beaten small with some sharpe vineger poured among them and afterward chaffe winowed in a siefe and mingled with branne for fiue daies together it will much fatten and encrease their flesh and the sixth day ground barley encreasing the quantity by little and little for sixe dayes together Now the best time to feede them in the Winter is about the cock-crowing and afterward in the morning twy-light and soone after that let them drinke in the Summer let them haue their first meate in the morning and their second seruice at noone and then drinke after that second meate or eating and their third meate before euening againe and so let them drinke the second time It is also to be obserued that their water in winter time be warmed and in the Summer time colder And while they feede you must often wash the roofe and sides of their mouth for therein will grow certaine Wormes which will annoy the beast and hinder his eating and after the washing rubbe his tongue wel with salt If therefore they be carefully regarded they wil grow very fat especially if they be not ouer aged or very young at the time of their feeding for by reason of age their teeth grow loose and fall out and in youth they cannot exceede in fatnesse bycause of their groweth aboue all heighfers and barren Kye will exceed in fatnesse for Varro affirmeth that he saw a field Mouse bring forth young ones in the fat of a cowe hauing eaten into her body she being aliue the selfe same thing is reported of a Sow in Arcadia A strange report of a fat Cow if true Kye will also grow fat when they are with calfe especially in the middest of that time The Turks vse in their greatest feastes and Marriages to rost or seeth an Oxe whole putting in the oxes belly a whole Sovv and in the Sowes belly a Goose and in the Gooses belly an Egge to note forth their plenty in great and small things but the best flesh is of a young oxe and the worst of an olde one for it begetteth an ill iuyce or concoction especially if they which eate it be troubled vvith a cough or reumy fleame or if the party be in a consumption or for a woman that hath vlcers in her belly the tongue of an oxe or cow salted and slit asunder is accompted a very delicate dishe vvhich the priestes of Mercury sayd did belong to them bycause they vvere the seruants of speech and hovvsoeuer in al sacrifices the beasts tongue vvas refused as a prophane member yet these priests made choise thereof vnder colour of sacrifice to feede their dainty stomacks The hornes of oxen by art of man are made very flexible and straight whereof are made combes hasts for kniues and the ancients haue vsed them for cups to drinke in and for this cause was Bacchus painted with hornes and Crater was taken for a cup which is deriued of Kera a horne In like manner the first Trumpets were made of hornes as Virgill alludeth vnto this sentence Rauco strepuerunt cornua cantu and now a daies it is become familier for the carriage of Gun-pouder in warre It is reported by some husbandmen that if seede be cast into the earth out of an Oxes horne called in old time cerasbola by reason of a certaine coldnesse it well neuer spring vp well out of the earth at the least not so well as when it is sowed with the hand of man Their skinne is vsed for shooes Garments and Gumme because of a spongy matter therein contayned also to make Gun-pouder and it is vsed in nauigation when a shot hath pierced the sides of the ship presently they clap a raw Oxe hyde to the mouth of the breach which instantly keepeth the Water from entring in likewise they were wont to make Bucklers or shieldes of the hides of Oxen and Bugils and the seuen-folded or doubled shield of Aiax was nothing else but a shield made of an Oxe hyde so many times layed one piece vpon another which caused Homer to call it Sacos heptaboeion Of the teeth of Oxen I know no other vse but scraping and making Paper smooth with them their gall being sprinkled among seede which is to be sowen maketh it come vppe quickly and killeth field-mise that tast of it and it is the bayne or poyson of those creatures so that they will not come neere to it no not in bread if they discerne it and birds if they eate corne touched with an Oxes gall put into hot water first of all and the lees of Wyne they wax thereby astonished likewise Emmets will not come vppon those places where there remaineth any sauour of this gall and for this cause they anoynt heerewith the rootes of trees The dung of Oxen is beneficiall to Bees if the Hyue bee annoynted therewith for it killeth Spiders Gnats and drone-bees and if good heede be not taken it will worke the like effect vpon the Bees themselues for this cause they vse to smother or burne this kinde of dung vnder the mouthes of the Hiues in the spring time which so displayeth and disperseth all the little enemy-bees in Bee-hiues that they neuer breed againe There is a prouerbe of the stable of Angia which Angia was so rich in cattell that he defiled the countrey with their dung whereupon that prouerbe grew when Hercules came vnto him he promised him a part of his countrey to purge that stable which was not clensed by the yearely labour of 3000.
Oxen but Hercules vndertaking the labour turned a Ryuer vpon it and so clensed all When Angia saw that his stable was purged by art and not by labour he denyed the reward and because Phyleus his eldest sonne reproued him for not regarding a man so well deseruing he cast him out of his family for euer The manifold vse of the members of Oxen and Kye in medicyne now remaineth to be briefely touched The horne beaten into pouder cureth the cough especially the types or point of the horne which is also receiued against the ptisicke or short breath made into pils with Hony The pouder of a Cowes horne mixed with vineger helpeth the morphew being washed or annoynted therewith The same infused into the Nostrils stayeth the bleeding likewise mingled with warme water and vineger giuen to a Splenetâ—cke man for three dayes together the medcins of the seueral parts of oxen and Kye it wonderfully worketh vpon that passion pouder of the hoofe of an Oxe with water put vpon the kings euill helpeth it and with Water and Hony it helpeth the apostemes and swelling of the body and the same burned and put into drinke and given to a Woman that lacketh Milke it encreaseth milke and strengtheneth hir very much Other take the tongue of a cow which they dry so long till it may be beaten into pouder and so giue it to a woman in white wine or broath The dust of the heele of an oxe or ancle bone taken in Wine and put to the gummes or teeth doe fasten them Rasis and remoue the ache away The ribbes of oxen beaten to pouder doe stay the fluxe of blood Fuâ—nerius and restrain the aboundance of monthly courses in women The ancle of a white cow layed forty daies and nightes into wine and rubbed on the face with white linnet taketh spots and maketh the skinne looke very cleare Where a man biteth any other liuing creature seeth the flesh of an oxe or a calfe and after fiue dayes lay it to the sore and it shall worke the ease thereof The flesh being warme layed to the swellings of the body easeth them so also doe the warme blood and gall of the same beast The broath of beefe healeth the loosnesse of the bellye comming by reason of choler and the broath of cowes flesh or the marrow of a cow healeth the vlcers and chinkes of the mouth The skinne of an oxe especially the leather thereof worne in a shooe burned and applyed to pimples in the body or face cureth them The skinne of the feete and Nose of an oxe or sheepe sod ouer a soft and gentle fire vntill there arise a certaine scumme like to glue from it and afterward dried in the cold windye aire and drunk helpeth or at least easeth burstnesse very much The marrow of an oxe or the sewet helpeth the straynes of sinnewes if they be anointed therewith If one make a small candle of paper and cowes marrow setting the same on fire vnder his browes or eye-lids which are balde without haire and often annoynting the place he shall haue very decent and comely haire grow thereupon Likewise the sewet of oxen helpeth against all outward poyson so in all Leprosies botches and scuruinesse of the skinne the same mingled with Goose grease and poured into the eares helpeth the deafenesse of them It is also good against the inflammation of the eares the stupidity and dulnesse of the teeth the running of the eyes the vlcers and rimes of the mouth and stiffenesse of the neck If ones blood be liquid and apt to runne forth of the body it may be well thickned and retayned by drinking Oxe blood mingled with vineger the blood of a cow poured into a wound that bleedeth stayeth the blood Likwise the blood of Oxen cureth the scabs in Dogs Concerning their Milke volumes may be written of the seuerall and manifold vertues thereof for the Arcadians refused all medicine onely in the spring time when their beasts did eate grasse they dranke cowes Milke being perswaded Pliny A History that the vertue and vigour of al good hearbs and fruits were receiued and digested into that liquor for they gaue it medicinally to them which were sicke of the Prisicke of consumption of an old cough of the consumption of the raynes of the hardnesse of the belly and of all manner poysons which burne inwardly which is also the opinion of all the Greeke Physitians and the shell of a Walnut sod in cow-milke and layed to the place where a serpent hath bitten it cureth it and stayeth the poyson The same being new and warme Gargarized into the throate helpeth the sorenesse of the kernels and all payne in the arteries and swelling in the throate and stomacke and if any man bee in danger of a short breath let him take daylie softe pitch with the hearbe Mummie and harts-suet clarified in a Cup of new Milke and it hath beene proued very profitable Where the paynes of the stomacke come by sadnesse Melancholy or desperation drinke Cow-milke Womans Milke or Asses-milke wherein a flint-stone hath beene sodden When one is troubled with a desire of going often to the stoole and can egest nothing let him drinke cow-milke and Asse-milke sod together the same also heated with gads of Iron or Steele and mingled with one fourth part of water helpeth the bloody flix mingled with a little Hony and a Buls gall with cummin and gourds layed to the Nauell and some affirme that cow-milke doth help conception if a woman be troubled with the white fluxe so that hir wombe be indaungered let her drinke a purgation for hir vpper partes and afterward Asses milke last of all let her drinke cow-milke and new wine for forty daies together if neede be so mingled that the wine appeare not in the milke and it shall stay the fluxe But in the vse of milke the rule of Hipocrates must be continually obserued that it be not vsed with any sharpe ot tart liquor for then it curdleth in the stomack and turneth into corruption The whay of cow-milke mingled with Hony and salt as much as the tast will permit and drunke looseneth the hardnesse of the Belly The marrow of a cow mingled with a little meale and with new cheese wonderfully stayeth the bloody flixe It is affirmed that there is in the head of an oxe a certaine little stone which onely in the feare of death he casteth out at his mouth if this stone be taken from them suddenly by cutting the head it doth make children to breed teeth easily being soone tyed about them If a man or woman drinke of the same water whereof an oxe drunke a little before it wil ease the head-ache and in the second venter of a cow there is a round blacke Tophus found being of no waight which is accounted very profitable to Wommen in hard trauailes of child-birth The Liuer of an oxe or cow dryed and drunke in pouder cureth the fluxe of blood The gall of
Albertus and so oftentimes put it vpon the maime or if neither of these can be performed by the beast himselfe then cure it by casting vpon it the ashes of a dogs heade or burned salte mingled with liquid pitch powred therupon When a dog returning from hunting is hurt about the snowt Blondus by the venemous teeth of some wilde beast I haue seene it cured by making incision about the wound whereby the poysoned blood is euacuated and afterward the sore was annointed with oile of Saint Iohns wort Wood-worms cureth a dog bitten by serpents Plinyus When he is troubled with vlcers or rindes in his skin pieces of Pot-sheardes beaten to powder and mingled with vineger and Turpentine with the fat of a Goose or else waterwort with new Lard applyed to the sore easeth the same and if it swel anoint it with Butter For the drawing forth a thorne or splinter out of a Dogs foote take coltes-foote and Lard or the pouder there of burned in a new earthen pot and either of these applyed to the foot draweth forth the thorne and cureth the sore for by Dioscorides it is said to haue force to extract any point of a Speare out of the body of a man For the wormes which breede in the vlcers of their heeles take Vnguentum Egiptiacum and the iuice of peach leaues There are some very skilfull hunters which affirme that if you hang about the Dogs necke sticks of Citrine as the wood drieth so will the wormes come forth and dy Again for thâ—s euil they wash the wounds with water then rub it with pitch time and the dung of an Oxe in Vineger Tardinus afterward they apply vnto it the powder of Ellebor When a dog is troubled with the maungie itch or Ring-wormes first let him blood in his fore legs in the greatest veyne afterward make an ointment of Quick siluer Brimstone nettle-seed Albertus Rasis and twice so much olde sewet or Butter and therewithal all anoint him putting thereunto if you please decoction of Hops and salt water Some do wash maungy Dogs in the Sea-water and there is a caue in Sicily saith Gratius that hath this force against the scabs of Dogs if they be brought thither and set in the running water which seemeth to be as thicke as oyle Flegme or melancholly doth often engender these euils and so after one Dog is infected all the residue that accompany or lodge with him are likewise poisoned for the auoyding thereof you must giue them Fumitory Sorrel and whay sod together it is good also to wash them in the sea or in Smiths-water or in the decoction aforesaid For the taking awaie of warts from the feet of Dogs or other members first rub and friccase the wart violently and afterward anoint it with salt Oyle Vineger and the powder of the rind of a Gourd or else lay vnto it Alloes beaten with mustard-seed to eat it off and afterward lay vnto it the little scories or iron chips which flie off from the Smithes hotte iron while he beateth it mingled with Vineger and it shall perfectly remooue them Against Tikes Lyce and Fleas annoint the Dogs with bitter Almonds Staues acre or Roots of Maple or Cipers or froth of Oile and if it be old and annoint also their ears with Salt-water and bitter Almondes then shall not the flies in the Summer time enter into them If Bees or Waspes or such Beasts sting a Dogge lay to the sore burned Rue with Water and if a greater Fly as the Hornet let the Water be warmed A Dog shall be neuer infected with the Plague if you put into his mouth in the time of any common pestilence Blondus the powder of a Storks craw or Ventrickle or any part thereof with Water which thing ought to be regarded for no creature is so soone infected with the plague as is a Dogge and a Mule and therefore they must either at the beginning receiue medicine or else bee remooued out of the ayre according to the aduise of Gratius Sed varij mitus nec in omnibus vna potestes Disce vices quae tutela est proxima tenta Woolfe-wort Pliny and Apocynon whose leaues are like the leaues of Iuye and smell strongly will kill all Beasts which are littered blind as Wolues Foxes Beares and Dogs if they eat thereof So likewise will the root of Chamaeleon and Mezereon in water and oyle it killeth Mice Discorides Swine and Dogs Ellebor and Squilla and Faba Lupina haue the same operation There is a Gourd called Zinziber of the Water because the tast thereof is like to Ginger the Flower Fruite and Leafe thereof killeth Asses Mules Dogs and manie other Foure-footed beastes The nuts Vomicae are poison to Dogges except their care be cut presently and made to bleed It will cause them to leape strangely vp and downe and kill him within two houres after the tasting if it be not preuented by the former remedy Theophrastus Chrysippus affirmeth that the water wherein Sperrage beene sodde giuen to Dogges killeth them the fume of Siluer or Leade hath the same opperation If a Dog grow lean and not through want of meat Albertus it is good to fill him twice or thrice with Butter and if that doe not recouer him then it is a signe that the worme vnder his tongue annoieth him which must be presently pulled out by some Naule or Needle if that satisfie not he cannot liue but will in short time perish And it is to be noted that Oaten bread leauened will make a sluggish dog to become lusty agile and full of spirit Blondus Dogs are also many times bewitched by the onely sight of inchaunters euen as infants Lambes and other creatures according to Virgils verse Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos For bewitching spirit entereth by the eie into the hart of the party bewitched for remedy whereof they hang about the necke a chaine of Corrall as for holy hearbs I hold them vnprofitable To cure the watry eyes of Dogs take warme water and first wash them therewith and then make a plaister of meale and the white of an Egge and so lay it thereunto By reason of that saying Eccles 20. cap. Bribes and gifts blind the eies of Iudges Vnicentius euen as a dumbe dog turneth away Correction Some haue deliuered that greene Crow-foote forced into the mouth of a Dog maketh him dumbe and not able to barke When a Dog becommeth deafe the oile of Roses with new pressed wine infused into his eares cureth him and for the wormes in the eares make a plaister of a beaten spunge and the white of an Egge Tardinus and that shall cure it The third kind of Quinancy called Synanche killeth Dogs Pollux Niphus because it bloweth vppe their chaps and includeth their breath The cough is very noisome to Dogs wherefore their keepers must infuse into their Nostrils two cuppes of wine with brused sweete Almonds
renascibus haeret Verunculum dixere mala atque incondita pestis Iam teneris elementa mali causasque recidunt But immediatly it being taken forth they rub the tongue with salt and oyle Columella teacheth that Shepheards of his time took their Dogs tailes and pulled out a certaine nerue or sinnew which commeth from the Articles of the backe bone into their tailes whereby they not onely kept the taile from growing deformed and ouerlong but also constantly beleeued Pliny that their Dogs could neuer afterward fall madde whereunto Pliny agreeth calling it a castration or gelding of the taile adding that it must be done before the dog be forty daies old Some againe say that if a Dog tast of a womans milke which she giueth by the birth of a boy he will neuer fall mad Nemesian ascribeth the cure heerof to Castoreum dried and put into milke but this is to be vnderstoode of them that are already mad whose elegant verses of the cause beginning and cure of a ruad dog I haue thoght good heere to expresse Exhalat seu terra siuus seu noxius aer Causa male seu cum gelidus non sufficit humor Torrida per venas concrescunt semina flammae Whatsoeuer it be he thus warranteth the cure Tunc virosa tibi sumes multumque domabis Castorea adtritu silicis lentescere coges Exebore huc trito puluis lectore feratur Aâ—miscensque diu facies concrescere vtrunque Mox lactis liquidos sensim superadde fluores Vt non cunctantes haustos infundere cornu Inserto possis furiasque repellere tristes Armetia a â—ing of Valentia Albertus prescribeth this forme for the cure of this euill let the Dog be put into the Water so as the hinderlegs doe onely touch the ground and his forelegs be tyed vp like hands ouer his head and then being taken againe out of the water let his haire be shaued off that he may be pieled vntill he bleede then annoynt him with oyle of Beetes and if this do not cure him within seuen daies then let him be knocked on the head or hanged out of the way When a young male Dog suffereth madnesse shut him vp with a Bitch Blondus or if a young Bitch be also oppressed shut her vp with a Dog and the one of them will cure the madnes of the other But the better part of this labor is more needeful to be emploid about the curing of men or other creatures which are bitten by dogs then in curing or preuenting that naturall infirmity Wherefore it is to be remembred that all other poysoned wounds are cured by incision and circumcising of the flesh and by drawing plaisters The cure of a maÌ„ or beâ—st bitten by a mad Dogge which extract the venom out of the flesh and comfort nature and by cupping-glasses or burning yrons as Coelius affirmeth vpon occasion of a miraculous fiction of the Temple doore key of S. Bellinus neere Rhodigium for it was belieued that if a mad man could hold that key in his hand red whot he should be deliuered from his fittes for euer There was such another charme or incantantion among the Apuleians made in forme of a prayer against all bitinges of madde Dogges and other poysons vnto an obscure Saint called Vithus which was to be saide three satterdaies in the euening nyne times together which I haue heere set downe for no other cause but to shewe their extreame folly A foolish charme and prayer to vithus Alme vithe pellicane Littusque polygnanicum Irasque canum mitigas Rictusque canis luridos Oram qui tenes Apulam Qui morsus rabidos leuas Tu sancte rabiem asperam Tu saeuam prohibbe luem I procul hinc rabies procul hinc furor omnis abesto But to com to the cure of such as haue bin bitten by mad dogs First I will set down some compound medicins to be outwardly aplyed to the body secondly some simple or vncompounded medicines In the third place such compounded and vncompounded potions as are to be taken inwardly agaist this poyson Discorideâ— For the outward compound remedies a plaister made of Opponax and pitch is much commended which Menippus vsed taking a pound of Pitch of Brutias and foure ounces of Opponax as Aetius and Actuarius doe prescribe adding withall that the Opponax must be dissolued in vineger and afterward the Pitch and that vineger must be boyled together and when the vineger is consumed then put in the Opponax and of both together make like taynters of splints and thurst them into the wound so let them remaine many dayes together and in the meane time drinke an antidot of sea-crabs and vineger for vineger is alway pretious in this confection Other vse Basilica Onyons Rue Salt ruste of Iron white bread seedes of horehound and triacle but the other plaister is most forcible to be applyed outwardly aboue al medicines in the world For the simple or vncompounded medicines to be taken against this sore are many As Goose-grease Garlike the roote of Wilde roses drunke bitter almonds leaues of chickweed or pimpernell the old skinne of a snake pounded with a male-sea-crab Betony Cabbage leaues or stalkes with persneps and vineger lime and sewet poulder of Sea-crabs with Hony poulder of the shels of Sea-crabs the haires of a Dog layed vpon the wound the head of the Dog which did bite mixed with a little Euphorbium the haire of a man with vineger dung of Goates with Wine Walnuts with Hony and salte poulder of figtree in a scarcloath Fitches in wine Euphorbium warme horse-dung raw beanes chewed in the mouth figtree leaues greene figs with vineger fennel stalkes Gentiana dung of pullen the Lyuer of a Buck-goate young Swallowes burned to poulder also their dung to vrine of a man an Hyaenas skin flower-deluce with hony a Sea hearb called Kakille Silphum with salt the flesh and shels of snayles leeke seeds with salt mints the taile of a field-mouse cut off from her aliue and she â—uffered to liue rootes of Burres with salt of the Sea plantine the tongue of a Ramme with salt the flesh of al Sea-fishes the fat of a sea-calfe and veruine beside many other superstitious amulets which are vsed to be bound to the Armes neckes and brests as the Canine tooth bound vp in a leafe and tyed to the Arme. A Worme bred in the dung of Dogges hanged about the necke the roote of Gentian in an Hyaenaes skin or young Wolfes skin and such like whereof I know no reason beside the opinion of men The inward compound potions or remedies against the bitings of Dogs may be such as these Take Sea-crabs and burne them with twigs of white vines and saue their ashes then put to them the poulder of Gentian roote well clensed and small beaten and as oft as neede requireth take two spoonefuls of the first and one of the second and put them into a Cup of pure and vnmixed wine and so drink it for
foure daies together being well beaten and stirred so as the Wine be as thicke as a Cawdell and there is nothing more forcible then Sea-crabs Hiera Diascincum poulder of Walnuts in warme raine Water Triacle Castoreum pilles spurge-seede and a decoction of Indian thorne with veruine giuen in water These may serue for seuerall compound inward remedies against these poysons and now follow the simple First eating of garlike in our meate drinking of wormwood rams flesh burned and put into wine and so drunk There is an hearb called Alysson by reason of the power it hath against this euill which being bruised and drunke cureth it The liuer of a Boare dried and drunk in wine hath the same operation Iewes lime drunk in water leeks onions in meat dogs blood the head the vaine vnder the tongue commonly supposed to be a worme and the liuer of the dog which hath don the hurt are also prescribed for a remedy of this euill but especially the liuer or rennet of a young puppy the rinde of a Wilde figtree a dâ—am of Castoreum with oyle of roses Centaury or Chamaeleon the roote of a wild rose called Cynorrhodon and Cynosbaton Ellebor the braine of a hen drunke in some liquor sorrel Hony mints and plantine but Pimpinella Germanica is giuen to all cattell which are bitten by a mad Dog Besides many other such like which for breuity sake I omit concluding against all superstitious curing by inchantments or supposed miracles such as is in a certaine church of S. Lambert in a citty of Picardye where the masse priestes when a man is brought vnto them hauing this euill they cut a crosse in his forehead and lay vpon the wound a piece of S. Lamberts stole burning which they say though falesely is reserued to this day without diminution then do they sow vp the wound again lay another plaister vpon it prescribing him a diet which is to drink water and to eat hard Egs but if the party amend not within forty daies they binde him hand and foote in his bed and laying another bed vpon him there strangle him as they thinke without all sinne and for preuentings of much harme that may come by his life if â—ee should bite another This story is related by Alysius and it is worth the noting how murther accompanieth superstitious humane inuentions and the vaine presumptuous confidence of crosse-worshippers and thus much of the madnesse of dogs and the cure thereof in men and beasts In the next place the conclusion of this tedious discourse followeth which is the naturall medicines arising out of the bodyes of dogs and so wee will tye them vp for this time The naturall medicines Whereas the inward partes of men are troubled with many euils it is deliuered for truth that if little Melitaean Dogs or young sucking puppies be layed to the brest of a child or man that hath infectious passions or pains in his entrals the paine wil depart from the man into the beast for which cause they burned them when they were dead Serenus doth expresse this very elegantly saying Qâ—in etiam catulum lactentem apponere membris Conuenit omne malum transcurrere fertur in illum Cui tamen extincto munus debetur humandi Humanos quia contactus mala tanta sequntur Et iunctus vitium ducit de coniuge coniux Amatus If a Whelpe be cut asunder aliue and layed vpon the head of a mad melancholike Woman it shall help her and it hath the same power against the spleene If a woman growe barren after she hath borne children Hippocrates let her eate young Whelp-flesh and Polypus fishe sod in Wine and drinke the broath and she shall haue ease of all infirmities in her stomach and wombe Furnerius Water destilled out of Whelpes causeth that pieled or shauen places shall neuer more haue haire grow vpon them With the fat of whelps bowelled and sod til the flesh come from the bones then taken and put into another vessell and the weake resolute or paralitike members being therewith anoynted they are much eased if not recouered Alysius saith he made experience of puppies sod aliue in oyle whereby he cured his gouty legd horses and therefore it cannot chuse but be much more profitable for a man The skin of a dog held with the fiue fingers stayeth distillations it hath the same operation in gloues and stockins and it will also ease both Ache in the belly head and feet and therefore it is vsed to be worne in the shooes against the gout Pliny The flesh of madde Dogges is salted and giuen in meate to them which are bitten by mad Dogs for a singular remedy The blood is commended against all intoxicating poysons and paines in the small guts and it cureth scabs The fat is vsed against deafenesse of the eares the gout nits in the head and incontinency of vrine giuen with Alumme A plaister made of the marrow of a Dog and old wine is good against the falling of the fundament The haire of a blacke Dog easeth the falling sicknesse the braines of a Dog in linte and Wooll layed to a mans broken bones for foureteene dayes together doeth consolidate and ioyne them together again which thing caused Serenus to make these excellent verses Infandum dictu cunctis procull absit amicis Sed fortuna potens omen conuertat in hostes Vis indigna noue si sparserit ossa fragore Conuentet cerebrum blandi canis addere fractis Lintea deinde superque inductu nectere lauas Saepius succos conspergere pinguis oliui Bis septem credunt reuatescere cuncta diebus The braine-pan or scul of a Dog cloue asunder is aplied to heale the paine in the eies that is if the right eie bee grieued thereunto apply the right side of the scull if the left eie the left side The vertues of a Dogs head made into poulder are both many and vnspeakeable by it is the biting of mad Dogs cured it cureth spots and bunches in the head and a plaister thereof made with Oyle of Roses healeth the running in the head it cureth also tumours in the priuy parts and in the seate the chippings in the fingers and many other diseases The poulder of the teeth of Dogges maketh Childrens teeth to come forth with speed and easie and if their gums be rubd with a dogs tooth it maketh them to haue the sharper teeth and the poulder of these Dogs teeth rubbed vpon the Gummes of young or olde caseth tootache and abateth swelling in the gummes The tongue of a Dogge is most wholesome both for the curing of his owne woundes by licking as also of any other creatures The rennet of a Puppy drunke with Wine dissolueth the Collicke in the same houre wherein it is drunke Rasis Sextus and the vomit of a Dog layed vpon the belly of a hydropick man causeth Water to come forth at his stoole The gall healeth all wheales and blisters after
which is about eleuen foot high and proportionable in bredth which caused Aelianus to Write that one Elephant is as big as three Bugils and among these the males are euer greater then the females In the kingdome of Melinda in Affricke there were two young ones not aboue sixe monthes old whereof the least was as great as the greatest Oxe but his flesh was as much as you shall find in two Oxen the other was much greater Vartomannus The colour and seuerall parts Their colour is for the most part mouse-colour or blacke and there was one all white in Ethiopia The skinne looketh pieled and scabby it is most hard on the backe but softer vnderneath the belly hauing no couering of haire or gristes nor yet helpe by his taile to driue away the flies Of the vse of his skinne Pliny for that euill doth this beast feele in his great body but alway hath creuises in his skinne which by their sauour doe inuite the little flyes to a continuall feast but when by stretching forth they haue receiued the swarmes by shrinking together again they inclose the flies and so kill them so that these creuises in his skin are vnto him insteede of a mane taile and haire yet there are some few haires which grow scattering vppon his hide whereof some haue beene brought out of America into Germany which were two palmes long but not so stiffe as Swines Their skinne is so hard and stiffe that a sharpe sworde or iron cannot pierce it Gillius Their head is very great and the head of a man may as easily enter into their mouth as a finger into the mouth of a Dog but yet their eares and eyes are not aequiualent to the residew of their proportion for they are smal like the wings of a Bat or a Dragon those of the Ethiopian Sambri want eares altogither Their eyes are like the eyes of Swine but very red Pliny they haue teeth of either side foure wherewith they grinde their meate like meale and they haue also two other which hang forth beyond the residue in the males downeward Vartomanus and these are the greater and crooked but in the females vpwarde and they are the smaller and straight the one of them they keepe alway sharpe to reuenge iniuries and with the other they root vp plants trees for their meat of their teeth Aelianus so that nature hath armed both sexes with these for their chiefest defence and with these the females are calued at the first and indued from the mothers belly and appear so soone as they come foorth the males not so quickly but rather after the maner of bores and Sea-horsses Gillius Pliny they hang out of their mouths and grow to be ten foot long whereof they make posts of houses in some countries and cal them Ebora that is young yuory which caused Martial to write thus Grandia taurorum portant qui corpora quaeris An lybicas possint sustinnisse trabes There is a certaine booke extant without the name of the Author written of Iudaea or the holy land wherein the Author affirmeth that he saw an Elephants tooth sold to a Venetian Merchant for six and thirty Duccats it being fourteen spans long and four spans broad and it waighed so heauy that he could not moue it from the ground Vartomanus also saith that he saw in the Isle of Sumatra two Elephants teeth which waighed three hundred six and thirty pounds This is certain that the teeth of those Elephants which liue in the marishes and watry places are so smooth and harde as they seeme intractable and in some places they haue holes in them and againe certaine bunches as big as hail-stones which are so hard as no art or instrument can worke vpon them The Elephants of the mountaines haue lesser and whiter teeth fit to be applied to any worke but the best of all are the teeth of the Campestriall and fielde Elephants Philostratus which are whitest and softest and maye well bee handleth without all paine The teeth of the female are more pretious then of the male and these they loose euery tenth yeare which falling off they bury and couer in the earth pressing them downe by sitting vppon them and then heal them ouer with earth by their feet and so in short time the grasse groweth vpon them for as when they are hunted they know it is for no other cause then their teeth so also when they loose their teeth they desire to keepe them from men least the vertues of them being discouered they which beare them shoulde enioy the lesse peace and security It is admyrable what deuises the people of India and Affrica haue inuented by naturall obseruation to finde out these buried teeth The finding of hidden teeth which vnto vs liuing in the remote partes of the world we would iudge impossible by any ordinary or lawfull course except we should turne vp the earth of a whole country or go to work by diabolicall coniuration Aelianus yet haue they found out this facile ready course In the woods or fields where they suspect these teeth to be buried they bring forth pots or bottels of water and disperse them heere one there another and so let them stand and tarry to watch them so one sleepeth another singeth or bestoweth his time as he pleaseth after a little time they go and look in their pots and if the teeth lie neer their bottels by an vnspeakable and secret attractiue power in nature they draw all the water out of them that are neere them which the watchman taketh for a sure signe and so diggeth about his Bottell till he find the tooth a wonderfull natural secret but if their bottels be not emptied they remoue to seeke in another place These yuory teeth haue bene alway of great estimation among all the Nations that euer knew them the Ethyopians payed for a tribute vnto the king of Persia euery 3. yeare twenty or these teeth hung about with gold and Iet-wood These are sold by waight and there be many which deceiue the world with the bones of fishes insteed hereof but the true yuory is paler and heauier and falling vpon the ground will easily breake whereas the bones of Fishes are more tenatious light and strong It is like to the Chernites wherein Darius was entombed and the Marble called Lapis Coraliticus Corrol stone like vnto this is the Alagi stone and the Paederos Iewell With this yuory they made images and statues for their idoll Goddes as one for Pallas in Athens for Esculapius in Epidaurus of Venus vnder the name of Vrania by Phidius whereupon she was called Elephantina for Apollo at Rome and therefore Pausanias wondereth at the Graecians that spared no cost for the vaine worship of their Goddes for they bought of the Indians and Ethiopians yuory to make their images with more pompe and ostentation besides of yuory they make the hafts of
Eumenes beyond the citty Saba where there is a place called the hunting of Elephants The Troglodytae liue also heereupon the people of Affricke cald Asachae Pliny Solmus which liue in Mountains do likwise eat the flesh of Elephants and the Adiabarae or Megabari The Nomades haue Citties running vpon Charriots and the people next vnto their Territory cut Elephantes in peeces and both sell and eat them Some vse the hard flesh of the backe and other commend aboue all the delicates of the world the reines of the Elephants vaâ—tomanus so that it is a wonder that Aelianus would write that there was nothing in an Elephant good for meat except the trunke the lips and the marrow of his hornes or teeth The skin of this Beast is exceeding hard not to be pierced by any dart whereupon came the prouerbe Culicem haud curat Elephas Indicus the Indian Elephant careth not for the biting of a Gnat to signifie a sufficient ability to resist all euill and that Noble minds must not reuenge small iniuries The diseases 〈◊〉 elephants 〈…〉 It cannot be but in such huge and vast bodies there should also be nourished some diseases and that many as Strabo saith wherefore first of all ther is no creatur in the world lesse able to endure cold or winter for their impatiency of cold bringeth inflamation Also in Summer when the same is hotest they coole one another by casting durty and filthy water vpon each other or else run into the roughest woods of greatest shadow It hath bin shewed already that they deuour Chamaeleons and thereof perish except they eat a wild Oliue When they suffer inflamation and are bound in the bellie either black wine or nothing will cure them When they drinke a Leach they are greeuously pained for their wounds by darts or otherwise they are cured by swines flesh or Dittanie or by Oile or by the flower of the Oliue They fall mad sometime for which I knowe no other cure but to tye them vppe fast in yron chaines When they are tired for want of sleepe they are recouered by rubbing their shoulders with salt Oile and water Cowes milke warmed and infused into their eies cureth all euils in them and they presently like reasonable men acknowledge the benefit of the medicine The medicinall vertues in this beast are by Authours obserued to be these The medicines in Elephants Marcellus The blood of an Elephant and the ashes of a Weasill cure the great Leprosie and the same blood is profitable against all Rhewmaticke fluxes and the Sciatica The flesh dryed and cold or heauy fat and cold is abhominable for if it be sod and stâ—eped in vineger with fennel-seede Isidorvs Rasis and giuen to a Woman with child it maketh her presently suffer abortement But if a man tast thereof salted and steeped with the seede aforesaide it cureth an old cough The fatte is a good Antidote either by oyntment or perfume Albertus it cureth also the payne in the head The Iuory or tooth is cold and dry in the first degree and the whole substance thereof Corroborateth the hart and helpeth conception it is often adulterated by fishes and Dogges bones burnt and by White marble There is a Spodium made of Iuory in this manner Take a pound of Iuory cut into pieces and put into a raw new earthen pot couering glewing the couer with lome round about and so let it burne til the pot be thrughly hardened afterward take off the pot and beate your Iuory into small powder and being so beaten sift it then put it into a glasse and poure vpon it two pound of distilled rose Water and let it dry Thirdly beate it vnto powder againe and sift it the second time and put into it againe so much rose water as at the first then let it dry and put thereunto as much Camphire as will lye vpon three or foure single Groats and worke it altogether vpon a marble stone into little Cakes and so lay them vp where the ayre may not corrupt and alter them The vertue heereof is very pretious against spittyng of bloode and the bloody-flixe and also it is giuen for refrigeration without daunger of byndinge or astriction After a man is deliuered from the lethargye pestilence or sudden forgetfulnesse let him be purged and take the powder of Iuory and Hiera Ruffi drunke out of sweete water This powder with Hony atticke taketh away the spottes in the face the same with wilde mints drunk with water resisteth and auoydeth the Leprosie at the beginning The powder of Iuory burnt and drunke with Goates blood doeth wonderfully cure all the paynes and expell the little stones in the raynes and bladder Combes made of Iuory are most wholsome the touching of the trunke cureth the headache The liuer is profitable against the falling euil the same vertue hath the gall if he haue any against the falling euill The fime by annointing cureth a lowsie skin and taketh away that power which breedeth these vermine the same perfumed easeth Agues helpeth a woman in trauaile and driueth gnats or marsh-flyes out of a house OF THE ELKE AS the Elephant last handled could not liue in any countrey of the world but in the whot Esterne and Sowtherne Regions The place of their abode Bonarus barâ— Balizce so the Elke on the contrary is most impatient of all heate and keepeth not but in the Northerne and cold contries for Polonia and the countries vnder that clymate will not preserue an Elke aliue as it hath byn often tryed by experience Countries breeding Elkes for which cause they are not found but in the colder Northerne regions as Russia Prussia Hungaria and Illiria in the wood Hercynia and among the Borussian-Scythians but most plentifully in Scandinauia which Pausanias calleth the Celtes for all the auncients called the Kingdomes of Germany and the North Celtarum Regiones Countryes inhabited by the Celts The figure of the Elke with hornes The Elke without hornes I find not any vnreconcileable difference among authours concerning this beast Caesars description of an Elke except in Caesar lib. 6. of his Commentaries who by the relation of other not by his owne fight writeth that there are Elkes in the Hercynian wood like vnto Goats in their spotted skins who haue no hornes nor ioynts in their legs to bend withall but sleepe by leaning vnto trees like Elephants because when they are downe on the ground they can neuer rise againe But the truth is that they are like to Roes or Hartes because Goates haue no spotted skins but Deere haue and there may easily be a slip from Caprea a Roe to Capra a Goat and Caesar himselfe confesseth that the similitude is in their spotted skins which are not competible in Goats but in Roes And whereas he writeth that they haue no Horns the error of this relator may be this that eyther he had onely seene a young one before the hornes came forth
in like maneâ— which being burned and brused and giuen in a medicine they doe mightily helpe and recouer the strangury Marcellus It is also reported that Goats horne and the haires being burnt will driue away Serpents and their ashes soked or annoynted is very good against strokes or stiâ—ging of Serpents Plinyus To stay the flux in the belly take the hairs that grow behind on the Goats sitting place and burne them which being tempered with beaten Barly and oile must be perfumed vnder a mans seat Hippocrates Goats flesh being rosted by the fire where dead men are burnt is good for those that haue the falling sicknes The same is a good remedie against the falling sicknes It is good for such to absteine from Hogs flesh beefe or Goats flesh They that drinke goats blood wax pale presently on it Sextus Coelius which is excellent to get out spots of any thing it also very good against those that are intoxicat with poyson and therefore must be drunk with wine and being sod with marrow Marcellus it is good against the same disease so is the male-Goates blood The roote of sinke-foyle drunke in wine helpeth il humors Goats blood also either of the male or of the female Discorides aswageth the inwards and the flowings or laskes of the belly it is good for those that haue the Dropsie being tempered with honye and also sodden with marrow Some vse it against the bloodie Flix and paine of the belly being also sodden with marrow Pliny it is good against the same disease If you mix Goats blood with chisel sleept in broth and a little Rosin put into it whereof make a plaister and lay it to the belly or other parts and it recouereth any paine thereabouts The fat of the male Goat is more faster and therfore good for those that haue the bloody flix Marcellinus The substance of a Goat is fat yet is not the fat of a Goat so moist as a swines but for bitings those that are grieued in their bellie goats fat is better then swines not because it hath more operation in it to expell the greefe but by reason it is thicke whereas the Swines greace will run about like oyle Galen neither is the fat of Kyds so warme and dry as female-Goats neither the male-Goats so fat as the gelded Goats in Latin called Hircus also female-Goats fat is more binding then the â—allow of Oxen but the males fat is good against Scorpions made in a perfume It is also good for those that are poysoned with French green flyes called Cantharides Aetius Being tempered with wax is taketh away the stinging of Serpents it helpeth any biting or wound If a womans breast grieue her after her deliuery of child let her seeth husked Barley and scallions and the fat of a male-Goate whereof let her drinke a little Against the ach of the eies take Goats fat and sheeps togither Pliny with a little warme water Almost euerie greef of the body if it be no wouÌ„d wil be more easily recouerd by plaisters but if the greefe be as it were grounded Gallen or an old greefe let it be burned and vpon the place so scorched put Butter or the fat of a male-Goat it will also recouer and heal kibes and Chilblanes It helpeth the kings euill so doeth the fat of the female-Goates helpe the same disease Collumella The males fat mixed with Arsenicke taketh away the roughnes of the nails it also healeth the nailes of the Leprosie without any paine it expelleth the Cartharidâ—ns being applyed with the iuyce of the grape that groweth on a wilde Vine This goates fat is profitable to helpe any about the straightnes of their mouths or lips being tempred with wax it allaieth sores and blisters Pliny and with pitch and Brimstone it healeth them and being applied with hony and the iuyce of a brambell it cureth the swellings arising in the hands or fingers especially in curing of fellons The fat of a Bull well salted or if it be in an ach or griefe dipt it in oile without salt and so after the same manner is the Male-goats fat vsed which being tempered with roses taketh away the wheales or blisters that riseth in the night being also dropped into the ears of one that is deafe it recouereth him It helpeth the falling sicknes putting thereto as much of the gal of Buls iust of the same weight Aesculapius and seeth it together and then laie it in the skinne of the gall that it touch not the ground and drinke it out of the water It is also good against the stinging of Scorpions being applied with Butter and the meale of Zea warmed and washed with red Wine The broath that is confected of Goats fat sodden Dioscorides is excellent for those that are troubled with the Pthisicke to sup now and then a fewe also it helpeth the cough being tempered with new sweet wine that an ounce may be put in a goblet so mixed with a branch of Rue It being also sodden with husked barly easeth those that haue fretting in the guts The same also sodden with barley flower and wine made of pomegranates and Cheese Marâ—illus let it be giuen to those that are troubled with the bloody flixe and let them take it with the iuyce of husked barly Rasis also saith that the fat of a fierce Lyon is of such singular account that if a glyster be made of it with the water of barly sod either with the water of tosted meale Dioscorides and boyled Sunach and so dissolued with waxe it is a most pretious remedy for the swelling of the inwards But Goats fat doth much help the griefes of the inward parts that nothing commeth forth but cold water Pliny The fat of the Buck-goat many vse being sod with bread and ashes against the bloody flixe and also the she-goates fat being taken out of her back alone being a little cold and then supped vp Other allow the fat to be sodden with Barly flower Cinnamon annise and vineger mixed together The same fat taken so out of the backe mixed with barly bran and Cinnamon annise and vineger Pliny of each of them alike and seeth thereof and being strained giue it the patient that is diseased with the bloody flixe and it shall most speedily help him The same also mixed with Pellitory and Ciprian Waxe may be laide to the gowte Marcellus Also sodden with Goates Dunge and Saffron and layed on the gout it asswageth the griefe The marrow of the Female-goate in the forth place next after the marrow of the Hart the Calfe and the Bull is commended of Dioscorides but the last of all is the sheeps fat The Harts is most renowned of all next the Calues then the Buck-goats and last of all the Female-goats To help the griefe of eies Take the marrow of Goats and annoynt your eies and it
thinner and better blood and therefore it is to be preferred only the measure of the prouender is lefte to the discretion of the horsse-keeper and there is no meate more wholsome for a horsse than barly and chaffe because it wil make him ful of life and also able to indure labor yet not ouer fat In England in many placeâ— they giue their horsses bread made of Fitches beans and pease When one is to make a iourney on horsse-back let him not giue his horse to much prouinder the noone before but somewhat the more hay and bread steeped in wine and also let him serue him sooner at night than ordinary that so the beast may take the more rest There be which refuse to giue horsses wet prouender or steeped bread because they conceiue that it will breed in them loathsomnesse of meat but the truth is a reasonable horsse-keeper preuenteth that mischeefe and besides the meat of a horsse is altogither so drie that the beast himselfe is indangered to be sicke of that disease and therefore it is as safe to giue him moistened foode sometimes as well as to giue him bread mingled with salt Camerarius When a horsse is weary or sweateth let him not drinke nor eat prouender but after he is walked a litle while giue him hay first of al couering him with a large cloath and remember that hay is not to be cast before a horsse as it is out of the reeke but first of all it must be pulled and shaken betwixt the handes for the auoiding of dust and other filth Restrain the horsse as much as you may from eating the litter vnder his feet for euen the best meat so defiled is vnholsome It is also good sometimes to suffer him to picke vp his meat on the ground betwixt his forelegs that will make his necke to grow thinner leanner and more comely Let his necke be fast bound in the stable with a Letherne collar and bind with a manicle his fore-legge to the hinder leg on the contrary side and so shal his legs be preserued in more health because they cannot mooue out of their place but with difficulty Concerning the drinke of horsses something more is to be added in this place and namely brackysh and troubled water such as runneth softly as in great pondes is fittest for horsse because that water being hot and thicke nourisheth better but the swift Water is colder Râ—sâ—ius and therefore more vnholsome but yet in hot times as in Summer the sweet and clearer water is more conuenient if custome bee not against it And because a horsse except he drinke freely can neuer be fat let his mouth oftentimes be washed within with salt and wine and that will make him eat and drinke more liberally and yet the running water is more wholsome for horsses because whatsoeuer is moueably fluent is lesse subiect to poyson then that which standeth still but if a horsse sweat or be weary it is not safe to let him drinke any thing except he first stale for in such cases followeth distention And it is better to turne or lead forth your horsse to water then to bring it vnto them And if at any time necessity cause this to be done then let the Water be very cleare and fresh His stable or lodging ought to be ordered as neither it offend him by cold in winter nor yet thorough heat in Summer for both these extremeties are pernicious and therfore when the weather is extreame colde then must the horsses backe and belly be couered with a cloath and when on the contrary it exceedeth in heat then must his litter be taken away Also in heate he must bee couered with linnen to auiode flies and in cold with woollen to helpe nature likewise it is good toward night to picke cleanse and open his hooues with some artificiall instrument and to thrust into the hollow cow-dung or in defect thereof horse-dung with a little strawe that so he may not shake it out againe but this is not good to be done euerie daye but rather euery second day and it is good to mingle therewith sewet or greace or els a new laide Egge with warme â—shes In auncient time they vsed not to shoo their horsses with yron vntill the daies of Catullus who remembreth this custome saying Ferream vt soleam tenaci in voragine mula So that it seemeth that this deuise was first of al inuented for mules These horsse-shooes ought to be round like his feet and not heauy least the horsses nimblenes be thereby hindered great care must be had in nailing or seting theÌ„ on least the tender and fleshy part of the foot be thereby pierced Pollux Another charge of a horsse-keeper is to keepe his horsses lippes soft tender and gentle so as he may more sencibly feele his bit and for this cause let him often rub them with his hands and warme Water and if neede require with oyle also and in handling of a horsse this must be obserued for a generall rule that neither he come to the horsse right before his face nor behind his taile because both these are dangerous to the rider least by his heeles or mouth hee harme him but on his side he may safely set vpon him or handle his horsse and when he leadeth him he must likewise goe on his side Likewise good and painefull dressing of a horsse is no small meanes to retaine him in in sound and perfect health and therfore he must often be touched with the curry-comb and afterward with a handfull of strawe so as the hand may follow the stroke to lay the haire smooth and their fashion was in old time to brush ouer their horsses with a little tone linnen instrument made like a sword whereby they excusse all dust from the beast and heerein it is wisedome to beginne at the head and mane and so to descende to other parts and to touch the horsses backe gently he may wash the head and mane because it being so bony it is daungerous least the combe offend and greeue the beast except it be layed on very tenderly but it is not good to wash the legges because daily washing softneth the hoofe by sliding downe of the Water and therefore it is sufficient onely to stroke them downe with his hands The neather part also of the belly is not to be kept ouer clean for the more it is clensed with water the more is the horsse pained therein Camerarius when a horsse is dressed it is good to bring him out of the stable that so in the open ayre hee may be tyed in a longer halter and seeme to be at liberty whereby he shall be brought to more cleannesse and tractable gentlenesse standing vppon some smooth stones till all the dust and loofe haires both by the combe and brush be driuen away and in the meane time the stable be emptied and this is to be performed before the horsses watering You must also
regarde the skin wherein the horsses yard runneth be kept cleane for if it be stopped it hindereth vrine and maketh the horsse sicke and when your horsse is in dressing let him haue before him no manner of meat either of hay or prouender Let them be ledde to the Water twice a day and wash therein both legges and belly except in the Winter time wherein it is not safe to wet the beast so often and if there be in them any appearance of sicknesse and infirmity or if you haue any purpose to giue vnto them any kinde of medicine then must you altogether forbeare to Water them Some vse to wash their horsses legges with warme wine-lees to refresh their ioyntes and sinnewes after hard iournies which custome seemeth very allowable Vegetius other vse insteed thereof warme dish-water out of the kitchin and the backes they wash with colde water and salt Vnderneath their tails and neare their yards you shal find them in the Summer time to be much annoyed with flies and therefore it is a needefull part of the horsse-keepers watch-fulnes to looke in those places and driue them away for so his charge will take the better rest And euermore there must be nourished a mutuall beneuolence betwixt the horsse and horsse-keeper so as the beast may delight in the presence and person of his attendant and for this cause he may be kept from hunger wet litter cold in the winter and flies in the Summer and furthermore a dilligent caution must be had that the beast be not prouoked thorough ouer much severity for if the horsse by his keepers violence be often driuen to his racke and maunger to auoid stripes either he hurteth his shoulders or legges by his owne weight or force or else groweth into a trembling at the presence of a man and so neuer yeeldeth any louing obedience or els faleth into some furious and vnreclaimable euill qualities The master therfore ought often to enter into his stable and take a view of his horsses vsage whereby the beast wil quickly take notice of him especially if he haue but one for it is a great follie and peece of ill husbandry to trust Seruantes and not to ouer-see them Cato was wont to say Frons occipitio prior That is As the forehead is before the nape of the necke meaning thereby that nature hath set him highest and formost which should not hide himselfe but take his place vppon him and discharge it for it is not safe or any part of wisdome to see by another mans eies or worke altogether by Deputies Men must also be affraid of lending their horsses for the Germans haue a pretty prouerbe that they will not trust their wiues at great feasts out of their sight for commonly they learne some euill fashion or other more then they had before and so much more horsses after lending returne home againe to their maisters with alteration of strength and quality Of adorning and furnishing horsses I Cannot approue them that cut off their horsses taile or foretop one receiued beginning from an ignorant perswasion of increasing the strength of the Horsses backe The furnitur of a horse his triming and the other from an immagined comelines by triming it with ribben or some deuised knot or that it hindred the horsses sight In the first the beast is wronged and depriued of his helpe againste flies and decency of his hinder parts and in the second nature acused for not adorning the horsses forhead with more gawdy and variable coloured hairs and prouiding a bunch of haire to weaken his eyes but neither of these are tollerable for a wise man once to imagine and therefore I will not spend any more time to confute this vaine adorning of Horsses Let the horsse-keeper take heed that he harme not the beast when he putteth on his bridle for a little negligence quickly bringeth a great offence by touching wringing and oppressing any tender part in the horsses head or mouth He must alway put on his bridle on the left side and if the horsse of his owne accord do not open his mouth to the bit then musthe gently open his mouth with one finger and so put it vppon him and if by that meanes he open not his mouth then presse or wring his lip vpon his great canine tooth which thing causeth any horsse to open his mouth Also it must be regarded that the horsse in leading be not drawne after you for so will he be made hard headed vnwilling to follow againe his cheekes must not be pinched by the bridle least the skin grow sencelesse and also it must not hange long or loose in his mouth for so he will be alway biting his bit and giue lesse obedience to his Rider Camerarius writeth that he hath seene some put salt vpon their bits whereof the horse licking or tasting became more willing to take it into his mouth and for the better performance heereof it is necessary to obserue by often triall what kind or fashioned bittâ— best beseemeth and fitteth the horsses mouth and finding it keepe him thereunto continually and when it is put on neither wring his cheekes or let him rowle it betwixt his teeth The saddle also must be so fastned to his backe as that it may not turne or rowle vpon the same wherefore he which layeth it thereupon most come on the left side and gently without violence or noise set it vpon the beast so as neither girths peytrill sturrops trappings or crupyard fall betwixt the backe and saddle neither couering therewith the horsses wither nor yet touching his hips or loynes First of all let the peytrill on the breast be buckled then the girths in order neere the forelegs not vpon the belly for vpon the belly they wil be sliding off and that is against the rules of riding for Bene equitant qui bene cingunt that is to say they ride well which bind fast and this ought to be done in an open place where both the rider and the horse may haue more liberty wherewithal a generous and great stomacked beaste is much delighted neither must he be tyed or drawne too hard till the rider be seated Looke also often to the girthes that they wring not the sides or pul of the skin Of riding and sitting on horsebacke WHen you are to get vp and mount on horesebacke take hold on the lower part of the bridle neere the bit with the lefte hand with such a distance as may both keepe him from rising nor giue him offence if you take aduantage to get into the saddle and with the right hand take the raines on the toppe of the shoulders and the mane and so hold them as you giue no checke to the Horses mouth in mounting there are other rules for this among riders wherewithall I will not meddle onely it is good to vse your horsse to backing both sadled and bare aswel from the plaine ground as from blocks and risings inuented
for the ease of man Therefore before you goe to Horssebacke first stroke your Horsse and make much of him with gentle words or other conuenient sound which the Horsse vnderstandeth and so will he stand more willingly til you be on his backe for this thing there is in Plutarch an excellent story of Alexander the great when Bucephalus was first of all presented to his father King Phillip by a Thassalian called Phillonix For when the King was perswaded to go forth into the fielde to try the qualities of this beast which was so highly cōmended for rare partes and valued at such a price as none but a King might yealde for him then the Horsse beganne to snort and kicke and to admit no man to come vnto him within the length of the rains but kept aloft like a wild and vntamed Horsse yealding no obedience to voice or other signes of the riders whereat the King fel exceeding angry and bid them lead away the vnruly and vntamed Horse Alexander being present complained of the ignorance and fearefulnesse of the riders and that they were the cause why such a generous and gallant beast was no better manned At the hearing wherof King Phillip smiled and yet so carried himselfe as though he had not heard the words of his Sonne vntill Alexander repeated his saying the second time whereunto his father replyed what sir Boy will you make your selfe more skilfull then these old cunning riders will you lay on them an imputation of feare and ignorance yes said Alexander I will aduenture to handle this Horsse better then any other yea but saide Phillip what punishment then wilt thou vndergoe if thou faile and performe not what thou hast said What punishment said Alexander why I will giue them the price of the Horsse Whereat the King laughed and strok vp the Wager and so had Alexander the raines of the Horsse deliuered to him who presently turned him about against the Sun-rising that so he might not bee terrified with the shaddow of the beholders and so led him vp and downe softly two or three turnes and at last wan the Horsse to hand which he gently stroked and applauded and when he had gotten perfect intelligence and vnderstanding of the Horsses stomacke he cast off his cloake and addressed himselfe to mount on his backe so holding the raines and bearing his hand and whole body as he did not checke or pinch the Horsses mouth so he inclined him first of al to lay away his stirred and angry minde and afterward paced him to and fro gently which the Horsse indured At last he put Spurs vnto him and made him runne leap carrier and curuet to the terror at the first of all the beholders afterward to their singular admiration and praise of himselfe which caused the company or traine to applaude this fact and forced the old man his father to send forth teares for ioy and when Alexander desended from his Horsse hee could not containe himselfe but he must needes goe kisse and embrace such a Sonne whereby it is manifest that when a man is to ride on a generous spirited Horsse hoshal bend him to endure the burthen by gentlenesse and familiarity so as the beast may still know and loue his rider Likewise when the maister mounteth it is requisit that the seruant be on the other side of the horsse to hold the stirrop for so shall he get vp more surely and set himselfe mor softly Some Horsses are taught to bend their knees to take vp their aged and sick Maisters Xenophon that so they may be the lesse offended in ascending to their backs and this custom saith Pollux did first of al begin among the Persians The ancient Germans were so singularly exercised in Horsmanship that standing vpon the ground and holding a Speare of launce in their handes they mounted without other stirrop or vantage vppon their Horsses backs and not onely when they were ordinarily attired in common garments but then also when they were armed tho Iulius Caesar take from them all glory of chiualry yet now adaies the inuention of Saddles with stirrops is most easie both for Horsse and Horsseman being then better the Pelethronian inuention time When the Rider is in his Saddle and is well seated he must not sit as in a Chaire or chariot bended together but rather keepe his body vpright onely bowing outwardly his knees for so shal he be better able to defend himselfe or offend his aduersary for he must rather seeme to stand then to sit on horsebacke The Rider or maister of Horsses must spare his Horsse in the heate of Summer about Dog daies and in the colde of Winter Russius and neuer at any time to ride past the twylight of the euening The Horsse being empty is more prone to make water then being full and therefore must not be hindered in that desire and alway after his staling ride him not too fast vntil his nerues which were extended to let forth the vrine be contracted setled and drawne together againe If in the winter time a horsse be to passe ouer a foord of water which wil ascend vp aboue his belly let him stale first of al Absirtus least he fall into the strangury and also be a little eased of his loade There is no beast that reioyseth more in celerity and swiftnesse then a horse because so soone as he is turned out of hand he instantly runneth away speedily and doth walke softly as at other times and this is a pleasure to them except when they are prouoked aboue their desires and the counsel of Xenophon when you are to ride fast or for a wager is this bend the vpper part of the body forward stretching out the hand that carrieth the raines now drawing it in and then letting it at length againe and therefore it is good in such cases to vse short raines and if the Horsse in his course stretch forth the raines of his owne accorde then is it a signe of an vnskilfull Rider or of a weake and tireable horsse Pollux Adde not Spurs but in great necessity but guide and prouoke him with voice and riding rod for quick and good metled Horsses are by the Spur made fierce and gentle natured beastes made sluggards like Asses which by often beating seem to neglect and dispise stripes You must also shorten and lengthen your iournies and times of ridings so as they may neither be certaine to the beast nor yet ouer long and specially after a long iourney take a shorter if you ride vpon the same horsse First of all let him be vsed to plaine and equal waies and if he be to leape or goe vppe◠hill it was a precept of the old Graecians that then the Rider must lay the raines in his necke If the Horsse at any time be either more fierce or sluggish then ordinary he may be holp by these meanes Wildenesse and fiercenesse of Horsses is like to anger and rage
number quality and sight of the part or member diseased For if it bee otherwise formed or more or lesse in number or quantity or else otherwise placed then it ought to be then it is not well Secondly sicknesse is knowne by alteration of the quality as if it be too hot or too cold too moist or too dry Thirdly when the action of any member is hurt or letted as when the eie-sight is not perfect it is a manifest signe that the eie is euill affected or sicke Likewise when there breedeth no good blood in the body it is an euideÌ„t token that the liuer is not wel Fourthly sicknesse is known by the excrements that come from the beast as by dung or stale for if his dung be too strong of sent full of whole Cornes or of Wormes too hard or too soft or euill coloured it is a token that he is not well in his body so likewise if his stale be too thicke or too thinne too white or too red it betokeneth some surfet raw digestion or else some griefe in his reynes bladder or stones But Vegetius saith that it is best knowne whether a Horsse be sicke or not or toward sicknesse by these signes heere following for if he be more slow and heauy in his trotting or gallopping harder of Spurre then he was woont to be or spreadeth his litter abroad with his feete often tumbling in the night season fetching his breath short and violently loud snuffling in the Nose and câ—â—ting out vapors at his Nostrils or lyeth downe immediatly after his prouender or maketh long draughts in his drinking or in the night season is now downe and now on foot or if in the next morning he be very hot in his pasternes or betwixt his eares or that his eares hang more then they are wont to doe againe if his eye-sight be dim and his eies hollow in his head his haires standing right vp and his flanks hollow and empty whensoeuer two or three of these signes doe concur together then it is to be thought saith Vegetius that the Horsse is not well and therefore hee would haue him immediatly to bee separated from his companyons that bee whole and to bee placed by himselfe vntill his disease bee perfectly knowne and cured and especially if it bee any contagious disease I haue seene diuers Ferrers heere in England to vse that for the triall of a Horsses sicknesse which I neuer read in any Author that is to feele his stones whether they be hot or cold and to smell at his nostrils and so by the sauour thereof to iudge what sicknesse the Horsse hath Truely I thinke that no euill waie if they can discerne with their sense of smelling the diuersity of sauours that commeth out of his Nostrils and then aptly apply the same to the humours whereof such sauours bee bred and so orderly to seeke out the originall cause of his sickenes But I feare mee that more Ferrers smell without iudgement than with such iudgement and no maruell why sith that few or none be lerned or haue beene brought vp with skilful maisters But from hence forth I trust that my trauaile will cause such Ferrers as can read and haue some vnderstanding already to bee more diligent in seeking after knowledge then they haue bin heeretofore whereby they shall be the better able to serue their countrey and also to profit themselues with good fame wheras now for lacke of knowledge they incurre much slander Of the Feauer and the diuers kinds thereof in a horsse I Thinke it will seeme straunge vnto some to heare that a horsse should haue an Ague or Feauer but it was not strange vnto the men of olde time as to Absyrtus Hierocles Blundevâ—â—e Xenophon Vegetius and such like olde Souldiors thoroughlie experimented in horsses griefes A Feuer according to the learned Phisitians is an vnnaturall and immoderate heat which proceeding first from the hart spreadeth itselfe thoroughout all the arteries and vaines of the bodie and so letteth the actions thereof Of Feauers there be three generall kindes whereof the first is that which breedeth in the spirites being inflamed or heated more than their nature requireth The second breedeth in the humors being also distempered by heat The third in the firme parts of the body being continually hot What spirits and humors be hath beene told you before in the keepers Office Of these three generall kinds doe spring many other speciall kinds as Quotidians Tertians Quartanes Feauers Hectique and very many others whereunto mans body is subiect whereof none of my Authors do treat vnlesse Vegetius who speaketh somewhat of a Feauer Quotidian of a Feauer continuall and also of a feauer Accidentall He speaketh also of Summer Autumne and Winter Feauers without making any great difference betwixt them more then that one is worse than another by reason of the time and season of the yeare so that in effect all is but one Feauer Wherefore according vnto Absirtus opinion I will breefely shew you first the causes whereof it proceedes and then the signes how to know it and finally how to cure the same The Feauer chaunceth sometime by surfetting of extreame labour or exercise as of too much trauelling and especially in hot weather of too swift gallopping and running and sometime by extreame heat of the Sunne and also by extreame cold of the ayre and sometime it breedeth of crudity or raw digestion which many times happeneth by ouer greedy eating of sweet green corne or of such prouender as was not throughly dried nor clensed for after such greedy eating and specially of such meat neuer followeth perfect digestion The signes to know a Feauer be these The horsse doth continually hold downe his head and is not able to lift it vp his eies are euen blown so as hee cannot easily open them yea and many times they be watering the flesh of his lippes and of all his bodye is lush and feeble his stones hange low his body is hot and his breath is very hotte and strong he standeth weakly on his legges and in his going draweth them lazily after him yea hee cannot goe but very softly and that staggering heere and there he will lie downe on his side and is not able to turne himselfe or to wallow he forsaketh his meat both hay and prouender and is desirous of nothing but of drinke which as Absirtus saith is an assured token of a Feauer he also sleepeth but little The cure and diet Let him blood in the face and Temples and also in the pallate of his mouth and the first day giue him no meat but onely warme drinke and that by little and little Afterward giue him continually grasse or else very sweet hay wet in water and let him be kept warme and sometime walke him vppe and downe faire and softly in a temperate ayre and then let him rest and when you see that he beginnes to amend giue him by little and little at once barly faire sifted and
the Horsse bee so sore pained as he cannot swallow downe his meate it shall bee good to giue him lukewarme water mingled with Barly meale or wheat meale and besides that to make him swallow downe seuen sops sopped in wine one after another at one time some vse at the second time to dip such sops in sweet sallet oile Thus far Vegetius Of the Pestilent Ague IT seemeth by Laurentius Russius that Horsses be also subiect to a pestilent feuer which almost incureable Blundevile is called of him Infirmitas Epidimialis that is to say a contagious and pestiferous disease whereof there dyed in one yeare in Rome aboue a thousand Horses which as I take it came by some corruption of the aire whereunto Rome in the chiefe of Summer is much subiect or else corrupt humors in the body ingendered by vnkinde food by reason perhaps that the City was then pestered with more horse-men then there could be conueniently harbored or fed Laurentius himselfe rendereth no cause therof but onely sheweth signes how to know it which be these The Horsse holdeth down his head eateth little or nothing his eyes waterish and his flanks doe continually beat The cure First giue him this glister Take of the pulpe of Coloquintida one ounce of Dragantum one ounce and a halfe of Centuary and Wormwood of each one handfull of Castoreum halfe an ounce boile them in water then being strained dissolue therein of Gerologundinum sixe ounces of salt an ounce and a halfe and halfe a pound of Oyle oliue and minister it lukewarme with a horne or pipe made of purpose Make also this plaister for his head take of Squilla fiue ounces of Elder of Castoreum of Mustard seed and of Euforbium of each two ounces dissolue the same in the iuyce of Daffodill and of Sage and laie it to the Temples of his head next vnto his eares or else giue him any of these three drinks heere following take of the best Triacle two or three ounces and distemper it in good wine and giue it him with a horne or else let him drinke euery morning the space of three daies one pound or two of the iuyce of Elder rootes or else giue him euery morning to eate a good quantity of Venus haire called of the Latines Capillus Veneris newly and fresh gathered but if it be old then boile it in water and giue him the decoction thereof to drink with a horne Martins opinion and experience touching a Horsses Feuer THough Martin haue not seene so many seuerall kindes of feuers to chance to Horsses Blundevile yet he confesseth that a Horsse will haue a feauer and saith that you shal know it by these signes For after the Horsse hath beene sicke two or three daies if you looke on his tongue you shall see it almost raw and scalt with the heate that coms out of his body and he wil shake and tremble reele and stagger when his fit commeth which fit wil keepe his due howers both of comming and also of continuance vnlesse you preuent it by putting the horsse into a heat which would be done so soone as you see him begin to tremble either by riding him or tying vp his Legs and by chasing him vp and downe in the stable vntil he leaue shaking and then let him be kept warm and stand on the bit the space of two houres that done you may giue him some hay by a little at once and giue him warme water with a litle ground mault twice a day the space of three or foure daies and once a day wash his tongue with Alom water vineger and Sage But if you see that all this preuailes not then purge him with this drinke after that he hath fasted al one night Take of Aloes one ounce of Agaricke halfe an ounce of Lycoras and Annis seedes of each a dram beaten to powder and let him drinke it with a quart of white wine lukewarme and made sweet with a little Hony in the morning fasting and let him be chafed a little after it and be kept warme and suffered to stand on the bit meatlesse two or three houres after and he shall recouer his health againe quickly Of sicknesse in generall and the Feuer IN general sicknes is an opposit foe to nature warring against the agents of the body and minde seeking to confound those actions which vphold and maintaine the bodies strength and liuely-hood Markham Who coueteth to haue larger definition of sicknesse let him reade Vegesius Rusius or excellent Maister Blundiuile who in that hath bin admirably well-deseruing plainefull For mine owne part my intent is to write nothing more then mine own experience and what I haue approued in Horsses diseases most auaileable and first of the Feuer or Ague in a Horsse though it bee a disease seldome or not at all noted by our Mechannicall Horsse Farriors who cure many times what they know noâ— and kill wher they might cure knew they the cause yet I haue my selfe seene of late both by the demonstrate opinions of others better learned and by the effects of the disease some two Horses which I dare auouch were mightily tormented with a Feauer though diuers Leeches had thereof giuen diuers opinions one saying it was the bots by reason of his immoderate languishment another affirmed him to be bewitcht by reason of his great shaking heauinesse and sweating but I haue found it and approued it to be a Feuer both in effect nature and quality the cure whereof is thus for the originall cause of a Feuer is surfet breeding putrifaction in the blood then when his shaking beginneth take three new laide Egges breake them in a dish and beate them together then mixe thereto fiue or sixe spoonefuls of excellent good Aqua vitae and giue it him in a horne then bridle him and in some Close or Court chafe him til his shaking cease and he beginne to sweat then set him vp and cloath him warme And during the time of his sicknesse giue him no water to drinke but before he drinke it boile therein Mallowes Sorrell Purslaine of each two or three handfuls As for his foode let it bee sodden Barly and now and then a little Rye in the sheafe to clense and purge him chiefely if he be drye inwardly and grow costiue This I haue proued vneffectlesse for this disease and also much auaileable for any other inward sicknesse proceeding either of raw digestion too extreame riding or other surfet Diuers haue written diuersly of diuers Agues and I coulde prescribe receiptes for them but since I haue not been experimented in them al I meane to omit them intending not to exceede mine owne knowledge in any thing Of the Pestilence THe Pestilence is a contagious disease proceeding as Pelagonius saith somtime of ouermuch labour heate colde hunger aad sometime of sudden running after long rest or of the retention or holding of stale or vrine Blundevile or of drinking colde water whiles the Horsse
somtime spred throughout al the vaines of the body and sometimes perhaps remaining only in the head or else in the spleene or places next adioyning The other mad Horsse was a Roane of Maisters Ashleies maister of the Iewell house which with his teeth crushed his maisters right forefinger in pieces whilest he offered him a little hay to eate whereby hee lost in a manner the vse of his whole hand to the great griefe of al his friends and also of al the muses which were wont to be much delighted with such passing sweete musick as that his fine quauering hand could sometime make vpon diuers instrumentes but especially vpon the Virginals This Horsse I say though he could eat his meat drinke his drink and sleepe yet if hee were neuer so little offended he would take on like a spirit and both bite and strike at any man that came nigh him yea and would bite himselfe by the shoulders most terribly pulling away lumps of flesh so broad as a mans hand and whensoeuer he was ridden he was faine to be musled with a mussell of iron made of purpose to keep him from biting either of his rider or himselfe which no doubt proceeded of some kinde of frenzy or madnes whereunto the Horsse was subiect by meanes that hotblood as I take it abounded ouermuch in him But now as touching the causes signes and cure of Horsses madnesse you shal heare the opinion of old writers for Martin neuer tooke such cure in hand Absirtus and the other Authors before mentioned say that the madnesse of a Horsse commeth either by meanes of some extreame heat taken by traueling or long standing in the hot sun or else by eating ouer many fitches or by some hot bloode resorring to the pannicles of the brain or through aboundance of choler remaining in the vaines or else by drinking of some very vnwholsome water The signes bee these he wil bite the manger and his owne body and run vpon euery man that comes nigh him he will continually shake his eares and stare with his eies and fome at the mouth and also as Hipocrates saith hee will forsake his meat and pine himselfe with hunger The cure Cause him to be let blood in his Legs aboundanly which is doone as I take it to diuert the bloode from his head Notwithstanding it were not amisse to let him blood in the Neck and brest vains Then giue him this drinke take the roots of wild Cowcumber and boile it in harsh red wine put thereunto a litle Nitre and giue it him with a horn lukwarm or if you can get no Cucumber then take Rue Mints and boile them in the wine It were not amisse also to adde thereunto a handfull of blacke Elleborus for that is a very good herbe against madnes Eumelius saith that if you giue him mans dung in wine to drink 3. mornings together it wil heale him also to take of black Elleborus 2. or 3. handfuls boile it in a sufficient quantity of strong vineger therwith rub and chafe both his head and all his body once or twice a day for the oftner his head is rubbed the better and often exercise is very profitable to al his body Some againe would haue the skin of his head to be pierced in diuers places with an hot iron to let out the euill humors but if none of all this will preuaile then the last remedy is to geld him of both his stones or else of one at the least for either that wil heale him or else nothing As touching the diet and vsage of a mad Horsse the Authors doe not agree for some would haue him kept in a close darke and quiet house voyde from all noise which as Absirtus saith will either make him madder or else kill him out of hand His diet would be thin that is to say without any prouender and that daie that he is let blood and receiueth his drinke they would haue him fast vntill euen and then to haue a warme mash of Barly meale yea methinkes it were not amisse to feed him only with warm mashes and hay and that by a little at once vntill he be somewhat recouered Another of the Head-ache Markham THe Head-ache as most are opynionated proceedeth of cold and rast digestion the cure is take a Goose feather annointed with Oyle de bay and thrust it vp into the horsses nostrils to make him neese then take a wreath of Pease-straw or wet hay and putting fire thereunto hold it vnder the horsses nose so as the smoke may ascend vp into his head then being thus perfumed take a knife and pricke him in the pallat of the mouth so as he may licke vp and chaw his own blood which done haue great care in keeping his head warme and doubt not his recouery Of the sleeping euill Blundevile THis is a disease forcing the beast continually to sleepe whether he wil or not taking his memory and appetite cleane away and therefore is called of the Physitians Lethargus it proceedeth of aboundance of flegme moistening the brain ouermuch It is easie to know it by the continuall sleeping of the Horsse The cure of this disease according to Pelagonius Vegetius and others is in this sort Let him bloode in the necke and then giue him this drinke Take of Camomile and Motherwort of each two or three handfuls and boile them in a sufficient quantity of water and put thereunto a little wheat bran salt and vineger and let him drinke a pinte of that euery day the space of three or foure daies together It is good also to perfume and chafe his hed with Time Peniroyall sodden together in vineger or with Brimstone and feathers burned vpon a chafingdish of coales vnder his nose and to prouoke him to neese by blowing pepper and Pyrethre beaten to powder vp into his nostrils yea and to annoint the palate of his mouth with Hony and Mustard mingled together and in his drinke which would be alwaies warme water to put Parsly seede and Fennell seede to prouoke vrine His Legs also would bee bathed and his hooues filled with wheat bran salt and vineger sodden togither and laid too so hot as hee may indure it and in any case suffer him not to sleepe but keepe him waking and stirring by continual crying vnto him or pricking him with some sharp thing that cannot passe through the skin or else by beating him with a whip and this doing he shall recouer Another of the sleeping euill Markham THe sleeping euil in a horsse differeth nothing from that which the Physitians cal the Lethargy in men for it prouoketh the horsse to sleep continually without disisting robbing his memory and appetite of their qualities the knowledge thereof is easily knowne by his drowsinesse and the cure in this sort Let one stand by him and either with fearefull noise or stripes perforce keepe him waking then let him bloode vnder the eies and in the necke and
then take a leafe or two of the best Tobacco which being dryed and beaten to powder with a quill blow it vp into his nostrils and giue him to drinke vineger salt and Mustard mingled well together to which if you put a little Honye it shall not be amisse and also when he drinketh any water put thereto either Fennel-seedes Anny-seedes or Pepper Of a Horsse that is taken A Horsse is said to be taken when he is depriued of his feeling and mouing Blundevile so as he is able to stir no manner of way but remaineth in such state and forme as he was taken in Which disease is called of the Physitians by the Greeke name Catalepsis and in Latine Deprehensio or Congelatio and of Vegetius Sideratio which also calleth those beasts that haue this disease Iâ—â—â—enta sideratitia The physitians say that it commeth of aboundance of Phlegme and choler mixt together or else of melancholy blood which is a cold dry humor opressing the hinder parts of the brain But Vegetius saith that it coms of some extreame outward cold striking sodainely into the empty vaines or some extreame heate or raw digestion or else of some great hunger caused by long fasting It is easie to knowe by the description before mentioned As touching the cure Vegetius saith that if it come of colde then it is good to giue him to drinke one ounce of Laserpitium with Wine and Oyle mixt together and made lukewarme if of heat then to giue it him with water and hony if of crudity then to heaâ—e him by fasting if of hunger then by feeding him well with Pease But Martin saith that this disease is called of the French-men Surprins and it commeth as he saith most chiefly of cold taken after a heat he wisheth a horsse that is thus taken to be cured in this sort First to be let blood on both sides of the breast and then to be put in a heat either by continuall stirring and molesting him or else if he wil stir by no meanes then to bury him all saue the head in a warme dunghil and ther to let him lie vntil his limbs haue some feeling And before you so bury him it shall be good to giue him this drinke Take of Malmsie three pints and put thereunto a quarterne of Suger and some Cinamon and Cloues and let him drinke it good and warme and vntill he be perfectly whole let him be kept warm and often exercised and walked vp and down in the stable and thinly dieted and drink nothing but warme water wherein if you put some Fennell and Parsly seed to prouoke him to vrine it shal be the better And if he cannot dung let him bee raked and haue a glister made of the broath of Mallowes and fresh Butter Another of a Horsse that is taken A Horsse which is bereft of his feeling moouing or stirring is said to be taken and in sooth so he is in that he is arrested by so vallainous a disease yet some Farriors Markham not wel vnderstanding the ground of the disease conster the word taken to bee striken by some Plannet or euill spirit which is false for it proceedeth of too great aboundance of fleme and choler simboliz'd together the cure is thus Let him blood in his spur vains and his breast vaines and then by foulding him in aboundant number of cloaths driue him into an extreame sweat during which time of his sweating let one chafe his legs with oyle de bay then after he hath sweat the space of two houres abate his cloaths moderatly and throughly after he is dry annoint him all ouer with Oyle Petrolium and in twice or thrice dressing him he wil be sound Of the Staggers THis is a dizzinesse of the head called in Latine vertigo and of the Italians as I remember Capistura It commeth of some corrupt bloode Blundevile or grosse and tough humors oppressing the brain from whence proceedeth a vaporous spirit dissolued by a weake heat which troubleth all the head The signes be these dimnesse of sight the reeling and staggering of the Horsse who for very pain wil thrust his head against the walles and forsake his meate The cure according to Martin is thus Let him blood in the temple vaines and then with a knife make an hole an inch long ouerwart his forehead hard vnderneath his fore-top and raise the skinne with a Cornet thrusting it vpward towards the head-stale a good handfull and then put in a taint dipt in Turpentine and hogs greace molten together renewing the taint euery day once vntill it be whole and do the like vpon the ridge of the rumpe but methinkes it were better to do the like in the powle of his head or nape of his necke for so should the euil humors haue both waies the easier and speedier passage and as touching his dyet let him haue continually warme drinke and mashes and once a day be walked vp and downe faire and softly to exercise his body Of the Staggers THe Staggers is a dizy disease breeding frenzy in a Horsse which if it be not instantly helped Markham is mortall the cure is thus Let him blood in the temple vaines and then aply to his temples cloath in the iuyce of Garlike and Aqua vitae mixt together if you crush Garlike and put it in his eares it is excellent or if you slit his forehead and loosening the skin from the bone taint it with Turpentine and Sallet-oyle it will vndoubtedly help him Of the falling euill Blundevile THis is a kind of convulsion or crampe called of the Latins by the Greek name Epilepsia in Italian Il morbo caduco depriuing the beast at certaine times and for a certaine space of the vse of feeling hearing and seeing and of al the other senses And although it be a disease that hath bin seldome seene to chance vnto Horses of this Countrey yet it appeareth by Absirtus and also by Vegetius and diuers others that Horsses be subiect therunto For Absirtus writing to his friend Tiberius Claudius saith that vnto horses chanceth many times the falling sicknesse The signes whereof are these The Horsse will fall down suddenly partly through the resolution of his members and partly through distension of his sinnewes and al his body will quiuer and quake and somtime he wil fome at the mouth Vegetius againe writeth in this sort by a certain course of the Moone horses and other beasts many times do fal and die for a time as wel as men The signs wherof are these Being fallen their bodies will quiuer and quake and their mouths will fome and when a man would thinke that they would die out of hand they rise suddenly vp and fal to their meat And by feeling the gristle of their Nostrils with your finger you shall know whether they wil fal often or not for the more cold the gristle be the oftner and the lesse cold it be the seldomer they wil fal The cure
him out and annoint his body all ouer with Narueoile Turpentine and Deares suet mingled together on the fire and bathe his heade in the iuice of Rue and Camo mile Then giue him to drinke old Ale brewd with Sinamon Ginger Fenecreeke and long Pepper of each three ounces As for his dyet let it be warme mashes sodden wheat and hay thoroughly carded with a paire of wool cards let him be kept verie warme and ayred abroad once a daie at the least If this convulsion be not onely in one member then it is sufficient if euery daye with hard ropes of hay or straw you rub and chafe that part exceedingly and apply there to a little quantity of the oyle Pepper If the convulsion be accidentall proceeding of some hurt whereby the sinnews is wounded or prickt then shal you incontinently take vp the sinnew so wounded searching the wound with great discretion and cut it cleane insunder then shal you endeuor to heale vp the same with vnguents plaisters balms as shall be hereafter mentioned in the chapters of wounds and vlcers of what kind or nature soeuer Of the cold in the head ACcording to the cold which the horsse hath taken is new or old great or small and also according as humors do abound in his head and as such humors be thicke or thin Blundevile so is the disease more or lesse daungerous For if the horsse casteth little or no matter out of his nose nor hath no very great cough but onely heauy in his heade and perhaps lightly cougheth now and then it is a signe that he is stopped in the head which we were wont to call the pose But if his head be ful of humors congeald by some extream cold taken of long time past and that he casteth fowle filthy matter out at the nose and cougheth greeuously then it is a signe that hee hath either the Glaunders or the Strangullion mourning of the cheine or consumption of the lungs For all such diseases doe breed for the most part of the Rhueme or distillation that commeth from the head Of the cures whereof we leaue to speake vntill we come to talke of the diseases in the throat minding heere to shew you how to heale the pose or colde before mentioned Martin saith it is good to purge his head by perfuming him with Frankencence and also to prouoke him to neeze by thrasting two Goose feathers dipt in oyle de Bay vp into his nostrils and then to trot him vppe and downe halfe an houre for these feathers will make him to cast immediatly at the nose Laurentius Russius would haue him to be perfumed with Wheat Penneroyal and sage sodden well togither and put into a bag so hot as may be which bagge would be so close fastened to his head that all the sauour thereof may ascend vp into his nostrils and his head also would be couered and kept warme and to prouoke him to neeze he would haue you to bind a soft clout annointed with sope or els with Butter and oyle de Bay vnto a sticke and to thrust that vp and downe into his nostrils so high as you may conueniently goe and let him be kept warm and drink no cold water Yea it shal be good for three or foure daies to boile in his water a little Fenegreek wheate meale and a few Annis seeds And euerie daie after that you haue purged his head by perfuming him or by making him to neeze cause him to be trotted vp and downe either in the warme Sunne or els in the house halfe an hour which would be done before you water him and giue him his prouender Of the cold in the head THe pose or cold in a horsse is the most generall disease that hapneth and is the easiest perceiued both by stopping ratling in the nose and coughing Markham the cure thereof is in this sort If it be but newly taken by some carelesse regard and immediately perceiued you shal need no other remedy but to keepe him warme euery Morning and Euening after his water to ride him forth and to trot him vp and downe very fast till his cold break and then gently to gallop him a little which moderate exercise with warme keeping will quickly recouer him againe but if the cold hath had long residence in him and still encreaseth then you shall giue him this drinke three daies togither Take of strong Ale one quart of the best Treakle six penniworth of long Pepper and graines of each as much beaten to powder of the iuice of Garlicke two spoonefuls boile all these togither and giue it the horsse to drinke so warme as he may suffer it and then trotte him vp and downe by the space of an houre or more and keepe him warme giuing him to drinke no cold water Of the diseases of the eies HOrsses eies be subiect to diuers griefes as to be waterish or blood-shotten Blundevile to bee dim of sight to haue the pin and web and the haw whereof some comes of inward causes as of humors resorting to the eies and some of outward as of cold heate or stripe Of weeping or watering eies This as Laurentius Russius saith may come sometime by confluence of humors and sometime by some stripe whose cure I leaue to recite because it doeth not differ much from Martins experience heere following take of Pitch Rosen and Mastick a like quantity melt them togither Then with a little sticke hauing a clout bound to the end thereof and dipt therein annoint the Temple vaines on both sides a hand ful aboue the eies as broad as a Testern and then clap vnto it immediately a few flockes of like colour to the horsse holding them close to his head with your hand vntill they sticke fast vnto his head then let him blood on both sides if both sides be infected a handfull vnder the eies Russius also thinketh it good to wash his eies once a day with pure white wine and then to blow therein a little of Tartarum and of Pomis stone beaten into fine powder Of watering eyes WAtering eies commeth most commonly in some stripe or blowe and the cure is thus Lay vnto his Temples a plaister of Turpentine and Pitch molten together Markham then wash his eies with white Wine and afterward blow the pouder of burnt Allome into the same Of bloud-shotten eies also for a blow or itching and rubbing in the eies Martin neuer vsed any other medicine then this water heere following wherewith he did alwaies heale the foresaid griefes take of pure Rose water of Malmesie Blundevile of Fennel water of each three sponfuls of Tutia as much as you can easily take with your thumbe and finger of cloues a dozen beaten into fine powder mingle them together and being luke warme or cold if you will wash the inward part of the eie with a feather dipt therein twice a day vntill he be whole Russius saith that to bloudshotten eies it is
Warme al these thinges togither in an earthen pot and stir them continuallie with a flat stick or slice vntill they be thoroughly mingled and incorporated togither and then spreade some of this plaister being warme vpon a peece of linnen cloath or soft white leather so broad as the swelling and no more and lay it warme vnto it and so let it remaine one wholeday and then renewe it with fresh ointment continuing so to doe vntill it breake then lance the sore so that it may haue passage downeward and taint it to the bottome with a taint of flax dipt in this ointment take of Mel Rosatum of oyle oliue and turpentine of each two ounces and mingle them togither and make him a biggen of Canuas to close in the sore so as the taint with the ointment may abide within renewing the taint once a day vntill it be whole But if the horsse haue paine in his eares without any great swelling or impostumation then thrust in a litle blacke wooll dipt in oile of Camomile and that will heale it Of the Poll euill THis is a disease like a Fistula growing betwixt the eares and the poll or nape of the necke and proceedeth of euill humors gathered togither in that place or els of some blow or bruse for that is the weakest and tenderest part of all the head and therefore soonest offended which rude Carters do little consider whilst in their fury they beat their horsses vpon that place of the head with their whippestocks and therefore no horsse is more subiect to this disease then the cart horsse and this disease commeth most in winter season The signes You shall perceiue it by the swelling of the place which by continuance of time will breake it selfe rotting more inward then outward and therefore is more perilous if it be not cured in time and the sooner it be taken in hand the bâ—â—ter The cure according to Martin is thus If it be not broken ripe it with a plaister of hogges greace laid vnto it so hot as may bee and make a biggen for the Poll of his head to keepe it from colde which biggen would haue two holes open so as his eares may stande out and renew the plaister euery day once vntill it breake keeping the sore place as warme as may be And if you see that it will not breake so soone as you woulde haue it then there as it is softest and most meetest to be opened take a round hot yron as big as your little finger and sharpe at the point and two inches beneath that soft place thrust it in a good deepenesse vpwarde so as the point of the yron may come out at the ripest place to the intent that the matter may discend downeward and come out at the neather hole which would be alwaies kept open and therefore taint it with a taint of Rax dipt in hogs greace and lay a plaister of hogges greace also vpon the same renewing it euery day once the space of foure daies which is done cheefely to kill the heat of the fire Then at the foure daies end take of Turpentine halfe a pound cleane washed in nine sundry waters and after that throughly dried by thrusting out the Water with a slice on the dishes side then put thereunto two yolkes of Egges and a little saffron and mingle them well together that done search the depth of the hole with a whole quil and make a taint of a peece of spunge so long as it may reach the bottome and so bigge as it may fill the wound and annoint the taint with the aforesaide ointment and thrust it into the wound either with that quill or else by winding it vp with your finger and thumbe by litle and little vntill you haue thrust it home and then lay on the plaister of hogges greace made luke warme renuing it euery day once or twice vntil it be whole But if the swelling cease then you need not to vse the plaister but onely to taint it and as the matter decreaseth so make your taint euerie daye lesser and lesser vntill the wounde bee perfectly whole Of the Viues Blundevile THe Viues be certaine kirnels growing vnder the horsses eare proceeding of some rancke or corrupt bloode resorting to the place which within are ful of little white grains like white salt kirnels The Italians cal them Viuole which if they bee suffered to grow Laurentius Russius saith that they will greeuously paine the horsse in his throat so as he shal not be able to swallow his meat nor to breth They be easie to know for they may be felt and also seene The cure according vnto Martin is in this sort First drawe them right down in the midst with a hot yron from the root of the ear so far as the tip of the eare wil reach being puld down and vnder the root againe draw two strikes on each side like a broad arrow head then in the midst of the first line launce them with a launcet and taking hold of the kirnels with a paire of pinsons pul them so far forward as you may cut the kirnels out without hurting the vaine that done fil the hole with white salte But Hierocles would haue them to bee cured in this sort take a peece of spunge sowsed wel in strong Vineger and bind that to the sore renewing it twice a day vntil it hath rotted the kirnels that done lance the neathermost part where the matter lieth and let it out and then fill it vp with salt finely braied and the next day wash al the filth away with warm water and annoint the place with honie and fitch-flower mingled togither But beware you touch none of the kirnels with your bare finger for feare of venoming the place which is verie apt for a Fistula to breed in Another of the Viues THe Viues be certaine kirnels growing vnder the horsses eare which come of corrupt blood Markham the cure is diuersly spoke and written of but this is the best mean which I haue tried that if you finde the kernels to enflame and greeue the horsse take a handful of Sorrel and lap it in a Bur-docke leafe and roast it in the hot embers like a warden then being taken out of the fire apply it so hot as may be to the fore-part suffering it to lie thereunto the space of a day and a night and then renew it till such time that it ripen and break the sore which it wil in short space do When it is broken and the vilde matter taken away you shal heale vp the sore place with the yolk of an Egge halfe a spooneful of hony and as much wheat-flower as wil serue to make it thicke plaister-wise which being bound thereunto wil in three or foure daies heale the same Of the Cankerous Vlcer in the nose THis disease is a fretting humor eating and consuming the flesh Blundevile and making it al raw within and not being holpen in time
a straw deep so as both ends may meet vpon the breast then make a hole in his forehead hard vnder the fore-top and thrust in a cornet vpwarde betwixt the skin and the flesh a handfull deepe then put in a Goose feather doubled in the midst and annointed with Hogs-greace to keepe the hole open to the intent the matter may run out the space of ten daies But euery day during that time the hole must be clensed once and the feather also clensed and fresh annointed and so put in again And once a day let him stand vpon the bit one houre or two or be ridden two or three miles abroad by such a one as wil beare his head and make him to bring it in But if the Cricke be such as the Horsse cannot holde his necke straite but cleane awry as I haue seene diuers my selfe then I thinke it not good that the Horsse be drawne with a hot iron on both sides of the necke but onely on the contrary side As for example if he bend his head toward the right side then to draw him as is a foresaid onely on the lefte side and to vse the rest of the cure as is aboue saide and if neede bee you may splent him also with handsome staues meete for the purpose to make his necke stand right Of Wennes in the neck A Wen is a certaine kirnell like a tumor of swelling the inside whereof his hard like a gristle and spongious like a skin ful of wrets Of Wens some be great and some be small Againe some be very painefull and some not paineful at all The Physitians say that they proceede of grosse and vicious humors but Vegetius saith that they chance to a Horsse by taking cold or by drinking of waters that be extreame cold The cure according to Martin is thus take of Mallowes Sage and red nettles of each one handful boile them in running water and put therunto a litle butter and hony and when the herbs be soft take them out and all to bruise them and put thereunto of oile of Bay two ounces and two ounces of Hogs-greace and warme them together ouer the fire mingling them well together that done plaister it vpon a piece of leather so big as the Wen and lay it to so hot as the Horse may endure it renewing it euery day in such sort the space of eight daies and if you perceiue that it will come to no head then lance it from the midst of the Wen downward so deep as the matter in the bottom may be discouered and let out that doone heale it vp with this salue take of Turpentine a quarter and wash it nine times in faire new water then put thereunto the yolk of an egge and a little English Saffron beaten into powder and make a taint or rowle of Flax and dip it in that ointment and lay it vnto the sore renewing the same euery day once vntil it be whole Of swelling in the necke after bloodletting THis may come of the fleame being rusty and so causing the vaine to rankle or else by meanes of some cold wind striking suddainely into the hole The cure according to Martin is thus First annoint it with oyle of Camomell warmed and then lay vpon it a little hay wet in cold water and bind it about it with a cloth renewing it euery day the space of fiue daies to see whether it wil grow to a head or else vanish away If it grow to a head then giue it a slit with a lancet and open it with a Cornet that the matter may come out Then heale it vp by tainting it with Flax dipt in Turpentin and Hogs-greace molten together dressing it so once a day vntil it be whole How to staunch blood IF a Horsse be let blood when the signe is in the necke the vaine perhaps will not leaue bleeding so soone as a man would haue it which if any such thing chance then Russius saith it is good to binde thereunto a little new Horse dung tempered with chalke and strong vineger and not to remooue it from thence the space of three daies or else to lay thereunto burnt silke felt or cloath for al such things wil staunch blood Of the falling of the Crest THis commeth for the most part of pouerty Blundevile and specially when a fat Horse falleth away sodainely The cure according to Martin is thus Draw his Crest the deepnes a straw on the contrary side with a hot iron the edge of which iron would be halfe an inch broad and make your beginning and ending somewhat beyond the fall so as the first draught may go all the way hard vppon the edge of the mane euen vnderneath the rootes of the same bearing your hand right downward into the neckeward then answer that with another draught beneath so far distant from the first as the fal is broad compassing as it were al the fall but stil on the contrary side and betwixt those two draughts right in the midst draw a third draught then with a button iron of an inch about burne at each end a hole and also in the space betwixt the draughts make diuers holes distant three fingers broade one from another that done to slake the fire annoint it euery day once for the space of nine daies with a feather dipt in fresh butter moulten Then take Mallowes and Sage of each one a handfull boile them well in running water and wash the burning away vntill it be raw flesh then dry it vp with this powder Take of hony halfe a pinte and so much vnslect lime as wil make that hony thicke like paast then hold it in a fire-pan ouer the fire vntil it be baked so hard as it may be made in powder and sprinkle that vpon the sore places Of the falling of the Crest THe falling of the Crest is occasioned most commonly through pouerty yet somtimes I haue seen it chance through the il proportion of the crest Markham which being hye thicke and heauy the necke thin and weake vnderneath is not able to support or sustaine it vp how euer it be there is remedy for both if it proceede of pouerty first try by good keeping to get it vp againe but if it wil not rise or that the originall of the disease be in the il fashion of the crest then let this be the cure First with your hand raise vp the Crest as you would haue it stand or rather more to that side from which it declineth then take vp the skin betweene your fingers on that side from which the Crest swarueth and with a sharpe knife cut away the breadth of very neere an inch and the length of foure inches which doone stitche vp the skinne together againe with three or foure stitches and by meanes of strings weights or other deuises keepe the crest perforce leaning on that side applying thereunto a plaister of Deeres sewet and Turpentine boiled together till the sore
and to cling to his ribs It is knowne by the leannesse of the horsse and gantnes of his bely and by fast sticking of the skin vnto the ribs when you pul at it with your hand The cure according to Martin is thus Let him blood on both sides the bellie in the flanke vaines betwixt the flanke and the girding place that done giue him this drinke Take a quart of white Wine or els of good Ale and put thereunto three ounces of good sallet oyle of Cummin one ounce of Annis seedes two ounces of Licoras two ounces beaten al into fine powder and giue it him luke warme with a horne And when he hath drunk let one standing at his huckle-bone rub him hard with his hand along the back and ouerthwart the ribbes the space of halfe an houre that done set him in a warme stable and let him stand in litter vp to the belly and couer all his backe and ribs with a sacke first thoroughly soked in a tub of cold water and then well and hard wroung and ouer that caste another cloath and girde it fast with a surcingle stuffing him well about the backe with fresh straw continuing thus to doe euery day once the space of a weeke during which time giue him no cold water but luke warme and put therein a little ground mault The wet sacke wil cause the backe to gather heat it selfe and the skin to loosen from the flesh and if you will bestow more cost you may annoint all his body with wine and oile mingled togither according to the opinion of the old writers which no doubt is a very comfortable thing and must needs supple the skinne and loosen it from the flesh Of the diseases in the throat and lungs and why the griefes of the shoulders and hippes be not mentioned before amongst the griefes of the withers and backe Blundevile SOme perhaps would looke heere that for so much as I haue declared the diseases of the necke withers and backe that I should also follow on now with the griefes of the shoulders and hips But sith that svch griefes for the most part doth cause a horse to halt and that it requireth some skill to know when a horse halteth whether the fault be in his shoulder hip legge ioynt or foot I thinke it is not good to seperate those parts assunder specially sith nature hath ioyned them togither that is to say the shoulders to the forelegs and the hips to the hinder legges And therefore according to natures order I will treate of them in their proper place that is to say after that I haue shewed al the diseases that be in the inward horses body not onely aboue the midriffe as the diseases of the throat lungs breast and hart but also vnder the midriffe as those of the stomacke liuer guts and of all the rest And first as touching the diseases of the throat the Glaunders and Strangullion to al horses is most common Of the Glanders and Strangulion so called according to the Italian name Stranguiâ—lion MOst Ferrers do take the Glanders and Strangullion to bee all one disease but it is not so for the glanders is that which the Physitians call Tronsillae and the Strangullion is that which they call in Latine Angina in Greeke Synanchi and we commonly call it in English the squinnancy or Qunzie Tronsillae is interpreted by them to be inflammations of the kirnels called in Latine Glandes the Italian Glandulae which lie on both sides of the throat vnderneath the roote of the toongue nigh vnto the swallowing place of which word Glandâ—â— or Glâ—ndulae I thinke we borrow this name glanders For when the horse is troubled with this disease hee hath great kirnels vnderneath his iawes easie to be seene or felt paining him so as he can not easily swallow down his meat which commeth first of cold distilation out of the head But if such kirnels be not inflamed they will perhaps goe away of themselues or else by laying a little hot horse-dung and strawe vnto them the warmth thereof wil dissolue them and make them to vanish away But if they be inflamed they will not go away but encrease and wax greater and greater and be more painful euery daie then other and cause the horsse to cast continually filthie matter at his nose The cure whereof according to Martin is thus First ripe the kirnels with this plaister Take of bran two handfuls or as much as will thicken a quart of wine or Ale then put thereunto halfe a pounde of hogges greace and boile them togither and lay it hot to the sore with a cloath renewing it euery day vntil it be ready to breake then lance it and let out al the matter and taint it with a taint of flax dipt in this salue Take of Turpentine of hogs greace of each like quantity and a little waxe and melt them togither and renew the taint euerie daie vntil it be whole Laurentius Russius saith that this disease is verie common to colts because in them doth abound flexible moisture apt to be dissolued with euerie little heat and to turne to putrifaction and therefore if the horse be not ouer young he would haue you first to let him bloode in the necke vaine and then to lay vnto the same sore a ripening playster made of Mallowes Linseeds Rew Wormwood ground Iuy Oile of Baies add Dialthea and to annoint his throat also and all the sore place with fresh butter and the sore being ripe to lance it or els to rowel it that the matter may come forth But the kernels wil not decrease then pul them away by the rootes and to dry vp the vlcerous place with an ointment made of vnslect lime Pepper Brimstone Nitrum and oile Oliue It shall be also good to purge his head by perfuming him euery day once in such sort as hath beene before declared And let the horsse be kept warm about the head and stand in a warme stable and let him drinke no cold water but if you see that after you haue taken away the kirnels the horsse doth not for all that leaue casting filthy matter at the nose then it is to be feared that hee hath some spice of the mourning of the Chine for both diseases proceed of one cause and therefore I thinke good to speake of it heere presently But first I will set downe a drinke which I haue seene prooued vppon a horse that I thought could neuer haue bin recouered of the same disease and yet it did recouer him in very short space so as he trauelled immediately after many miles without the helpe of any other medicine A drinke for the Strangullion or Glaunders TAke of warm milk as it commeth from the Cow a quart or instead thereof a quart of new Beere or Ale warmed and put thereunto of moulten Butter the quantity of an Egge and then take one head of Garlicke Blundevile first clean pilled and then stamped smal which you
must put into the milke or drinke being made luke warme and giue it the horse with a horne and immediately after the drinke be giuen catch hold of his tongue with your hand and hauing broken two raw Egges either vpon his foreteeth or against the staffe wherewith his head is holden vp cast those broken Egges shels and all into his throat making him to swallow downe the same that doone ride him vp and downe till he beginne to sweate then set him vp couered warme with an old couerlet and straw not suffering him to eate nor drinke for the space of two or three houres after and let his drinke for the space of two or three daies bee somewhat warme whereinto it is good to put a handfull or two of bran or ground malt and in giuing the said drinke it shall not be amisse to poure some thereof into either nostrill Of the mourning of the Chine THis word mourning of the Chine is a corrupt name borrowed of the French toong wherein it is cald Mote deschien that is to say the death of the backe Because many do hold this opinion that this disease doth consume the marrow of the backe for remedy whereof they vse strange kinds of cures For some taking it to be a rheume go about to stop it by laying a strictiue or binding charges to the nape of the necke Some againe do twine out the pith of the backe with a long wire thrust vp into the horsses head and so into his necke and backe with what reason I know not Well I know that few horsses do recouer that haue this disease Some againe thinke that the lungs of the horse be rotten and that the horse doth cast them out at his nose But Martin saith that he hath cut vp diuers horsses which haue been iudged to haue dyed of the mourning of the chine but he could find neuer either back or lungs to be perished but onely the liuer and most commonly that side of the liuer which answeareth the nostrill whereat he casteth whereof we will talke in his proper place when we come to speake of the diseases in the Liuer The Italians do call this disease Ciamorro the olde Authors do cal it the moist malady whereof Theomnestus maketh two differences For in the one the matter which he doth cast at the nose is white and doeth not smell at all and in the other that which he casteth is filthy and sticking corruption They proceed both of cold humors congealed in the head but more abounding in the one then in the other by reason perhaps that the horsse was not cured in time for of colde first commeth the Pose and the cough then the Glanders and last of all the mourning of the chine When the horse casteth matter at the nose that is not stinking he may easily be cured by such remedyes as haue beene before declared in the chapter of the Pose but if the matter be very filthy and stincking then it is very harde to cure Notwithstanding it shall not grieue me to write vnto you heere the experience of Theomnestus and of Laurentius Russius Theomnestus cure is thus Take of Water and hony called of the Physitians Hydromel a quart and put thereunto three ounces of oyle and powre that into his nostrill euerye morning the space of three daies and if that do not profit him then let him drinke euery day or once in two daies a quart of olde wine mingled with some of the medicine or rather the precious meate called of the olde writers Tetraphramacum and that will restore him to his former estate Laurentius Russius saith that of al diseases ther is non more perillous nor more to be suspected thâ—n the rheume which commeth of cold for horses haue large Conduites and are full of moisture and therefore if colde once enter it findeth matter inough to worke on to breede continuall distillation as well outwardly at the nose as inwardly descending downe to the vitall part in such sort as it doth not suffocat the same The signes according to the said Russius be these the horse doth cast matter continually at the nosâ— sometime thinne and sometime thicke his nostrils eares and al his outward parts wil be cold to the feeling his eyes head and all his body heauy and he will cough and haue smal appetite to his meat and lesse to his drinke and sometime he will tremble and shake his cure is in this sort Purge his head partly by perfuming him and partly by making him to neeze in such sort as hath beene before taught in the chapter of the pose which waies of perfuming and purging his head as they bee good so doeth Russius praise these two heere following to be most excellent the first is this Take of the stalkes of Vitis alba otherwise called Brioni or wilde Vine two or three good handfuls and being brused put them into a linnen bagge and fasten the bagge to the horses head so as he may receiue the scent vp into his nostrils without touching the hearb wiâ—h his mouth and this will cause the humors to run downe aboundantly The second medicine Take of Euforbium beaten into fine powder three ounces of the iuice of Betes one pound of Swines blood halfe a pound boile al these togither vntil they bee thrâ—ughly mingled togither and liquide like an ointment and then take it from the fire and put thereunto one ounce more of Euforbium and mingle them againe thoroughly togither and preserue the same in a box to vse at needefull times in this sort Make two stiffe long rowles or tampins of linnen clowtes or such like stuffe sharpe pointed like suger-loues which tampins are called of the physitians in Latine Pessi and being annointed with the ointment aforesaid thrust them vp into the horsses nostrils and let them abide therein a pretty whilk then pul them out and you shal see such abundance of matter â—â—me forth at his nose as is marueilous to behold Russius also praiseth verye much this medicine heere following Take as much of the middle barke of an Elder tree growing on the water side as will fil a new earthen pot of a meane size putting thereunto as much cleere water as a pot wll hold and let it boile vntil one halfe be consumed and then to be filled vppe againe with fresh water continuing so to doe three times one after another and at the last time that the one halfe is consumed take it from the fire and straine it throgh a linnen cloth Then take two partes of that decoction and one part of hogges greace or Butter and being warmed againe togither giue the horsse to drinke thereof one horneful and poure another hornefull into his nostril that casteth and whensoeuer you giue him this medicine let the horse bee empty and fasting and keepe him without meat also two or three hours after for this is a very good drinke for anye sicknesse that commeth of cold Moreouer open the skinne of his
foreheade and of his temples and also of his taile with a sharpe hot yron that the corrupt humours may yssue outward That done take hot brickes or else a pan of fresh burning coales and hold it nigh vnto his belly and flankes to the entent that they may bee thoroughly warmed and being so warmed annoint them al ouer with oyle de Bav or Dialthea to defend his body from the cold and let his head be well couered and al his bely kept warme Yea and it were good to bath his head sometime as Russius saith with a bath made of Rew Wormewoode Sage Iuneper Bay leaues and Hysop And let his drinke be warme water mingled with Wheat meale yea and to make it the more comfortable it were good as Russius saith to put thereunto some Cinamon Ginger Galingale such hot pieces And his meat in Winter season would bee no other but sodden corne or warme mashes made of ground Malt and wheat bran in summer season if he went to grasse I think it would do him most good so that he go in a dry warm ground for by feeding alwaies downeward he shall purge his head the better as Russius saith Thus much of the Glanders and mourning of the Chine Now we wil speake somwhat of the strangullion according to the opinion of the Authors though not to the satisfaction perhaps of our English Ferrers Of the strangullion or Squinancy THe Strangullion called of the Latines Angina according to the Physitians is an inflamation of the inward partes of the throate and as I saide before is called of the Greeks Synanchi which is as much to say in English as strangling wherof this name strangullion as I thinke is deriued for this disease doth strangle euery man or beast and therefore is numbred amongst the perilous and sharp diseases called of the Latines Morbi accuti of which strangilng the physitians in mans body make foure differences The first and worst is when no part within the mouth nor without appereth manifestly to be inflamed and yet the patient is in great perill of strangling The second is when the inwarde parts of the throat onely be inflamed The third is when the inward and outward partes of the throat be both inflamed The fourth is when the muscles of the necke are inflamed or the inward ioynts thereof so loosened as they straiten thereby both the throat or wesand or wind-pipe for short breath is incident to all the foure kinds before recited and they proceede all of one cause that is to say of some collerick or bloody-fluxion which comes out of the branches of the throat-vaines into those parts and there breedeth some hot inflamation But now to proue that a horse is subiect to this disease you shall hear what Absirtus Hierocles Vegetius and others doe say Absirtus writing to his friend a certaine Ferrer or horse-leach called Aistoricus speaketh in this manner When a Horse hath the strangvllion it quickly killeth him the signes whereof be these His temples will be hollow his tong will swell and hang out of his mouth his eies also will be swollen and the passage of his throat stopt so as he can neither eat nor drinke All these signes be also confirmed by Hierocles Moreouer Vegetius rendereth the cause of this disease affirming that it proceedeth of aboundance of subtile blood which after long trauell will inflame the inward or outward muscles of the throat or wisand or such affluence of blood may come by vse of hot meats after great trauell being so alteratiue as they cause those parts to swell in such sort as the Horse can neither eat nor drinke nor draw his breath The cure according to vegetius is in this sort First bath his mouth and tongue well with hot water and then annoint it with the gal of a Bull that done giue him this drinke Take of old oyle two pound of olde wine a quart nine figs and nine Leekes heads well stamped and braied together And after you haue boiled these a while before you straine them put therunto a little Nitrum Alexandrinum and giue him a quarte of this euery morning and euening Absirtus and Hierocles would haue you to let him blood in the palate of his mouth and also to poure wine and oile into his nostrils and also giue him to drinke this decoction of Figs and Nitrum sodden together or else to anoint his throat within with nitre oyle and hony or else with hony hogs dung mingled together which differeth not much from Galen his medicine to be giuen vnto man For he saith that hony mingled with the powder of hogs dung that is white and swallowed downe doth remedy the squanancy presently Absirtus also praiseth the oyntment made of Bdellium and when the inflamation beginneth somwhat to decrease he saieth it is good to purge the horse by giuing him wild Cocumber and Nitre to drink Let his meat be grasse if it may be gotten or else wet hay and sprinkled with Nitre Let his drinke also be lukewarme water with some barly meale in it Of the Cough OF Coughes some be outward and some be inwarde Those bee outward which doe come of outward causes as by eating a feather or by eating dusty or sharpe straw and such like things which tickling his throate causeth him to cough you shal perceiue it by wagging and wrying his head in his coughing and by stamping somtime with his foote laboring to get out the thing that grieueth him and cannot The cure according to Martin is thus Take a Willow wand rowled throughout with a fine linnen clout and then annoint it all ouer with hony and thrust it downe his throat drawing your hand to and fro to the intent it may either driue down the thing that grieueth him or else bring it vp and do this twice or thrice annointing euery time the sticke with fresh hony Of the inward and wet cough OF inward Coughs some be wet and some be dry The wet cough is that commeth of cold taken after some great heat giuen to the Horsse dissoluing humors which being afterward congealed do cause obstruction and stopping in the lungs And I call it the wet cough because the Horse in his coughing will voide moist matter at his mouth after that it is once broken The signes be these The Horsse will be heauy and his eies wil run a water and he wil forsake his meate and when he cougheth he thrusteth out his head and reacheth with great paine at the first as though hee had a dry cough vntill the fleame be broken and then hee will cough more hollow which is a signe of amendment And therfore according to Martins experience to the intent the fleam may breake the sooner it shal be necessary to keepe him warme by clothing him with a double cloth and by littering him vp to the belly with fresh straw and then to giue him this drinke take of barly one peck and boile it in 2. or 3. gallons of
oile of Roses continuing so to do many dayes together and if the disease be new this wil heal him yea and it will ease him very much although the disease be old which is thought vncurable And in winter season so long as he standeth in the stable let him drink no cold water and let his meat be cleane without dust but in summer season it were best to let him runne to grasse for so long as he eateth grasse a man shalscantly perceiue this disease Thus much of broken lungs Of putrified and rotten lungs THe signes to know whether a Horsses lungs be putrified or rotten according to Theomnestus are these The Horsse will eat and drinke greedilyer then he was wont to do he shal be oftner vexed with a cough and in coughing he will cast little lumps of matter out at his mouth The cure whereof according to Theomnestus is thus Giue him to drinke euery morning the space of seuen daies the iuyce of Purslain mingled with Oyle of Roses and ad thereunto a little tragagantum that hath been layed before in steep in Goates milke or else in Barly or Oten milke strained out of the corne When the Apostume is broken then a very strong vile and euill sauour will come out of his Nostrils for remedy whereof it shall be good to giue him the space of seuen daies this drink here following take of the roote called Costus two ounces and of Casia or else of Cinamon three ounces beaten into fine powder and a fewe Raisins and giue it him to drinke with wine But Vegetius would haue him to be cured in this sort and with lesse cost I assure you Take of Frankincense and Aristoloch of each two ounces beaten into fine powder and giue him that with wine or else take of vnburnt Brimstone two ounces and of Aristoloch one ounce and a halfe beaten into powder and giue him that with wine And hee would haue you also to draw his breast with a hot iron to the intent the humors may issue forth outwardly Of shortnesse of breath A Horsse may haue shortnesse of breath by hasty running after drinking or vpon a full stomach or by the discending of humors vnto his throat or lungs after som extreame heate dissoluing the said humors which so long as there is nothing broken may in the beginning be easily holpen The signes bee these The Horsse will continually pant and fetch his breath short which wil come very hot out at his nose and in his breathing he will squise in the nose and his flanks will beate thicke yea and some cannot fetch their breath vnlesse they hold their neckes right out and straight which disease is called of the old writers by the Greeke name Orthopnoea The cure Let him blood in the neck and giue him this drinke take of wine and oile of each a pint of Frankincense halfe an ounce and of the iuyce of Horehound halfe a pinte It is good also to poure into his throate hony butter and Hogs-greace moulten together and made lukewarme Tiberius saith it is good to giue him whole egges shels and all steeped and made soft in vineger that is to say the first day three the second day fiue and the third day seuen and to power wine and and oile into his nostrils I for my part would take nothing but Annis-seedes Licoras and Sugarcandy beaten all into fine powder giue him that to drinke with wine and oile mingled together Of the Pursicke THis is a shortnes of breath and the horse that is so diseased is called of the Italians Cauallo pulsiuo or Bolse which I thinke is deriued of the Latin word Vulsus by changing V. into B. and I think differeth not much from him that hath broken lungs called of vegetius and other old writers vulsus for such shortnesse of breath coms either of the same causes or else much like as aboundance of grosse humors cleauing harde to the hollow places of the lungs and stopping the wind-pips And the wind being kept in doth resort downeward as Russius saith into the Horsses guts and so causeth his flanks to beat continually without order that is to say more swiftly and hier vp to the backe then the flankes of any Horsse that is sound of wind And if the disease be old it is seldome or neuer cured and though I finde many medicines prescrided by diuers Authors fewe or none do content me vnlesse it be that of Vegetius recited before in the Chapter of broken lungs And if that preuaileth not then I thinke it were not amisse according to Russius to purge him with this drinke heere following take of Maiden haire of Ireos of Ash of Licoras of Fenegreeke of Raisins of each halfe an ounce of Cardanum of pepper Blundevile of bitter Almonds of Baurach of each two ounces of nettle seede and of Aristoloch of each three ounces boile them al together in a sufficient quantity of water and in that decoction dissolue halfe an ounce of Agarike and two oun of Coloquintida together with two pound of Hony and giue him of this a pinte or a quarte at diuers times and if it be too thick make it thinner by putting therunto water wherin Licoras hath beene sodden and if neede be you may also draw both his flankes crosse-wise with a hot iron to restraine the beating of them and also slit his Nostrils to giue him more aire And if it bee in summer turne him to grasse if in winter let him be kept warme and giue him now and then a little sodden wheat Russius would haue it to bee giuen him three daies together and also newe sweet wine to drinke or else other good wine mingled with Licoras water Of a Consumption A Consumption is none other thing but an exulceration of the lunges proceeding of some fretting or gnawing humor descending out of the head into the lungs And I take it to be that disease which the old writers are wont to cal the dry Malady which perhaps some wold rather interpret to be the mourning of the chine with whom I intend not to striue But thus much I must needes say that euery Horsse hauing the mourning of the Chine doth continually cast at the nose but in the dry Malady it is contrary For all the Authors that write thereof affirme that the Horsse auoideth nothing at the Nose And the signs be to know the dry Malady according to their doctrin be these His flesh doth cleane consume away his belly is gaunt and the skinne thereof so harde stretched or rather shrunke vp as if you strike on him with your hand it will sound like a Tabar and he will be hollow backt and forsake his meat and though he eateth it as Absirtus saith yet he doth not digest it nor prospereth not withall he would cough and cannot but hickingly as though he had eaten small bones And this disease is iudged of all the Authors to be incurable Notwithstanding they say that it is good to purge
his head with such perfumes as haue beene shewed you before in the Chapter of the Glanders and also to giue him alwaies Coleworts chopt small with his prouender Some would haue him to drinke the warme blood of sucking pigs new slaine and some the iuyce of Leekes with oile and wine mingling together Others praise wine and Frankincense some oyle and Rue some would haue his body to be purged and set to grasse Of the consumption of the flesh and how to make a leane Horse fat MArtin saith that if a Horse take a great cold after a heat it wil cause his flesh to wast and his skin to wax hard and dry and to cleaue fast to his sides and hee shall haue no appetite vnto his meat and the fillets of his backe wil fal away and all the flesh of his buttocks and of his shoulders will be consumed The cure whereof is thus Take two sheepes heads vnflead boile them in three gallons of Ale or faire running water vntill the flesh be consumed from the bones that done strain it through a fine cloth and then put thereunto of Sugar one pound of Cinamon two ounces of conserue of Roses of Barberries of Cherries of each two ounces and mingle them together and giue the Horsse euery day in the morning a quart thereof lukewarme vntil all be spent and after euery time he drinketh let him be walked vp and downe in the stable or else abroade if the weather be warme and not windy and let him neither eate nor drinke in two houres after and let him drinke no cold water but lukewarme the space of fifteene daies and let him be fed by little and little with such meate as the Horse hath most appetite vnto But if the horse be nesh and tender so wax lean without any apparant griefe or disease then the old writers would haue him to be fed now and then with partched Wheat and also to drinke Wine with his water and eate continually wheate bran mingled with his prouender vntill hee waxe stronge and hee must be often dressed and trimmed and lye softe without the which things his meat will do him but little good And his meat must be fine and cleane and giuen him often and by litttle at once Russius saith that if a Horsse eating his meat with good appetite doth not for al that prosper but is stil leane then it is good to giue him Sage Sauin Bay berries Earth-nuttes and Boares greace to drinke with wine or to giue him the intrals of a Barbell or Tench with white Wine He saith also that sodden Beanes mingled with Branne and Salt will make a leane Horsse fat in very short space Of griefe in the breast Blundevile LAurentius Russius writeth of a disease called in Italian Grauezza di petto which hath not beene in experience amongst our Ferrers that I can learn It coms as Russius saith of the superfluity of blood or other humors dissolued by some extreame heat and resorting down the breast paining the Horsse so as he cannot well go The cure whereof according to Russius is thus Let him bloode on both sides of the breast in the accostomed vaines and rowell him vnder the breast and twice a daye turne the rowells with your hand to mooue the humours that they may yssue forth and let him goe so roweled the space of fifteene daies Of the paine of the heart called Anticor that is to say Contrary to the heart THis proceedeth of aboundance of ranke blood bred with good feeding ouermuch rest which blood resorting to the inward parts doth suffocate the heart and many times causeth swellinges to appeare before the breast which will grow vpwarde to the necke and then it killeth the Horsse The signes The Horse will hang downe his head in the manger forsaking his meate and is not able to lift vp his head The cure according to Martin is thus Let him blood on both sides aboundantly in the plat vaines and then giue him this drinke take a quart of malmesie and put thereunto halfe a quarterne of Sugar and two ounces of Cinamon and giue it him lukewarme then keepe him warme in the stable stuffing him well about the stomach that the wind offend him no manner of way and giue him warme water with mault alawies to drinke and giue him such meate as he will eate And if the swelling do appeare then besides letting him blood strike the swelling in diuers places with your fleame that the corruption may goe forth and annoint the place with warme Hogs greace and that wil either make it to weare away or else to grow to a head if it be couered and kept warme Of tired Horsses BIcause we are in hand heere with the vitall partes and that when the Horsses be tyred with ouermuch labour their vitall spirits wax feeble I thinke it best to speak of them euen heere not with long discoursing as Vegetius vseth but briefely to shew you how to refresh the poore Horsse hauing neede thereof which is doone chiefely by giuing him rest warmth and good feeding as with warme mashes and plenty of prouender And to quicken his spirits it shall be good to poure a little oyle and vineger into his Nostrils and to giue him the drinke of sheeps heads recited before in the Chapter of consumption of the flesh yea and also to bath his Legges with this bath take of Mallowes of Sage of each two or three handfuls and a Rose-cake boile these things together and being boyled then put vnto it a good quantity of butter or of Sallet-oyle Or else make him this charge take of Bole Armony and of Wheat-flower of each halfe a pound and a little Rozen beaten into powder and a quart of strong vineger and mingle them together and couer all his Legs therewith and if it be summer turne him to grasse Of the diseased parts vnder the midriffe and first of the stomacke THe old Authors make mention of many diseases incident to a horses stomacke as loathing of meat spewing vp his drinke surfetting of prouender the hungry euil and such like which few of our Ferrers haue obserued and therefore I wil breefely speake of as many as I thinke necessary to bee knowne and first of the loathing of meate Blundevile Of the loathing of meat A Horsse may loath his meat through the imtemperature of his stomack as for that it is too hot or too cold If his stomacke be too hot then most commonly it will either inflame his mouth and make it to breake out in blisters yea and perhaps cause some cancker to breed there The cure of all which things hath beene taught before But if he forsake his meat onely for very heat which you shall perceiue by the hotnesse of his breath and mouth then coole his stomack by giuing him cold water mingled with a little Vineger and oile to drinke or else giue him this drinke Take of milke and of wine of each one pinte and put
thereunto three ounces of Meâ— Rosatum and wash al his mouth with Vineger and salt If his stomacke be too colde then his haire wil stare and stand right vp which Absirtus and others were wont to cure by giuing the horse good wine and oile to drinke and some would seeth in wine Rew or Sage some would adde thereunto white Pepper and Mirre some woulde giue him Onions and Rocket seed to drinke with wine Againe there be other somewhich prescribe the blood of a young Sow with old wine Absirtus would haue the horse to eat the green blades of wheat if the time of the yeare wil serue for it Columella saith that if a horsse or anie other beaste do loath his meate it is good to giue him wine and the seede of Gith or else Wine and stampt garlicke Of casting out his drinke VEgetius saith that the horse may haue such a Palsie proceeding of cold in his stomack as he is notable to keepe his drinke but many times to cast it out again at his mouth The remedy whereof is to let him blood in the necke and to giue him cordiall drinkes that is to say made of hotte and comfortable spices and also to annoint al his breast and vnder his shoulders with hot oyles and to purge his head by blowing vp into his Nostrils pouders that prouoke neezing such as haue beene taught you before Of surfetting with glut of prouender THe glut of prouender or other meat not digested doth cause a horse to haue great paine in his body so as hee is not able to stande on his feete but lyeth downe and waltereth as though he had the Bots. The cure whereof according to Martins experience is in this sort Let him blood in the necke then trot him vppe and downe for the space of an houre and if he cannot stale draw out his yard and wash it with a little white wine luke warme and thrust into his yard either a brused cloue of Garlicke or else a little oile of Cammomile with a wax candle If he cannot dung then rake his fundament and giue him this glister Take of Mallows two or three handfuls and boile them in a pottle of faire running water and when the mallows be sodden then straine it and put therevnto a quart of fresh Butter and halfe a pinte of oile Oliue and hauing receiued this glister lead him vp and downe vntill he hath emptied his belly then set him vp and keepe him hungry the space of three or foure daies and the hay that he eateth let it be sprinkeled with water and let him drinke water wherein should be put a little bran and when he hath drunke giue him the bran to eate and giue him little or no prouender at al for the space of eight or ten daies Of another kind of surfetting with meat or drinke called of vs foundering in the body THis disease is called of the old writers in Greeke Crithiasis in Latine Hordiatio it commeth as they say by eating of much prouender suddainely after labour whilst the horse is hot and panting Blundevile whereby his meate not being digested breedeth euill humors which by little and little do spread thoroughout his members and at length do oppresse all his body and doe cleane take away his strength and make him in such a case as he can neither goe nor bow his ioyntes nor being laide he is not able to rise againe neither can he stale but with great paine It may come also as they saie of drinking too much in trauelling by the waie when the horse is hot but then it is not so dangerous as when it commeth of eating too much But howsoeuer it commeth they saie all that the humours will immediatelie resorte downe into the horses legges and feet and make him to cast his hooues and therfore I must needs iudge it to be no other thing but a plaine foundering which word foundering is borrowed as I take it of the French word Fundu that is to say molten For foundering is a melting or dissolution of humors which the Italians cal Infusione Martin maketh diuers kindes of foundering as the foundering of the bodie which the French men call most commonly Morfundu and foundering in the legs and feet also foundering before and behind which some Authors doe denie as Magister Maurus and Laurentius Russius affirming that there are fewer humors behind than before and that they cannot easily be dissolued or molten being so far distant from the hart the other vital parts Whereunto a man might answere that the natural heat of the hart doth not cause dissolution of humors but some vnnaturall and accidentall heate spred throughout all the members which is daily proued by good experience For we see horses foundered not only before or behind but also of al foure legs at once which most commonly chanceth either by taking cold sodenly after a great heate as by standing stil vpon some cold pauement or abroad in the cold wind or els perhaps the horse trauelling by the way and being in a sweat was suffred to stand in some cold water whilst he did drinke which was worse then his drinking for in the mean time the cold entering at his feet ascended vpward and congealed the humors which the heat before had dissolued and thereby when he commeth once to rest he waxeth stiffe and lame of his legs But leauing to speak of foundering in the legs as wel before as behind vntil we come to the griefs in the legs feet we intend to talk here only of foundring in the body according to Martins experience The signes to know if a horse be foundered in the body be these His haire wil stare and he wil be chil and shrug for cold and forsake his meat hanging down his head and quiuer after cold water and after 2. or 3. daies he wil begin to cough The cure according to Martin is thus First scour his belly with the glister last mentioned and then giue him a comfortable drink made in this sort Take of Malmsie a quart of Sugar halfe a quartern of hony halfe a quarterne of Sinamon halfe an ounce of Licoras and Annis seedes of each two spoonfuls beaten into fine powder which being put into the Malmsie warme them togither at the fire so as the hony may be molten and then giue it him luke warm that done walke him vp and down in the warme stable the space of halfe an houre and then let him stand on the bit 2. or 3. houres without meat but let him be warme couered and wel littered and giue him hay sprinkled with a little water and clean sifted prouender by a little at once and let his water be warmed with a little ground Malt therein And if you see him somewhat cheered then let him blood in the neck and also perfume him once a day with a little Frankincense and vse to walke him abroad when the weather is faire and not windy or els in the house
the weakenes of the Liuer proceeding of the vntemperatenes thereof wil bid you to heale euery such vntemperatnes by his contrary that is to say heat by colde and drinesse by moisture and so contrary And therefore it shal bee verye necessary for you to learne the qualities natures and vertues of hearbs drugs and al other simples and how to apply them in time And for to heale the obstruction of the liuer they wil counsel you perhaps to make the horse drinkes of such simples as these be Agrimony Fumitory Camomile Worme-wood Licoras Annis seeds Smallage Persly Spiknard Gentian Succorie Endiue Sperage Lupins the vertues whereof you shall learne in the herbals but amongest all simples there is none more praised than the liuer of a Woolfe beaten into powder and mingled in any medicine that is made for any disease in the liuer The cure of an inflammation consisteth in letting blood and in bathing or fomenting the sore place with such hearbes and oyles as may mollifie and disperse humors abroad wherewith some simples that be astrigent would be alwaies mingled yea and in al other medicines that be applyed to the liuer for any manner of diseases Simples that mollifie and disperse be these Linseed Fenegreeke Camomel Annis seedes Meliot and such like things Simples astringent be these Red Rose leaues Bramble leaues Wormwood Plantaine Mirrhe Masticke Stirax and such like Apostumes are to be ripend and voided Vlcers must be clensed and scowred downward either by the belly or by Vrine and therefore the vse of such simples as prouoke vrine in such case is necessary The olde writers of horseleach craft do say that when a horse is greeued in his liuer he wil forsake his meat and his body wil waste his mouth wil be dry his tongue rough and harsh yea and it wil smel and he wil refuse to lye on that side where his griefe is The cure whereof according to Absirtus is in this sort Let him drink stampt Ireos with wine alayed with water Hee praiseth also an hearbe much like vnto Calamint called of Pliny Polymoria or let him drinke Sauerie with wine and oyle I thinke that Agrimony or liuer-woort is as good as the best of them Absirtus would haue his body to be chafed with wine and oile mixt togither and to be wel littered that he may lie soft and his prouender that should be giuen him to be steeped first in warme water and now and then some Nitrum to be put in his drinke Of the consumption in the Liuer I Beleeue that no inward member of a horse doth suffer so much as the lungs and liuer and that not so much by continual as by vnordinate and vntimely trauaile labour and exercise whereby either the horses lunges or his liuer do most commonly perish and is consumed yea and sometime both Of the consumption of the lungs we haue talked sufficiently before therefore let vs shew you heere the causes whereof the consumption of the liuer proceedeth The Physitians say that it may come of anie humour but chiefelie and most commonlie of cholericke matter shed throughout the substance of the liuer which putrifieng by little and little and leisurely doeth at length corrupt and perish all the substance of the liuer which thing in mans body doth first proceede as the physitians say either by eating corrupt meates or else by continuall drinking of sweet wines But methinkes that the consumption of a horses liuer should come by some extream heat inflaming the blood which afterward being putrified doeth corrupt and exulcerate the substance of the liuer For after inflammation as I saide before commeth Apostumation and then exulceration which is very hard to cure because the substance of the liuer is spongeous like vnto the Lunges And whilst the liuer is so corrupted there can bee no good digestion for lacke whereof the body receiueth no good nutriment and therefore must needes also languish and consume The signes according to Martin be these The horse will forsake his meat and wil stande stretching himselfe in length and neuer couet to lie downe and his breath will be so strong as no man can abide it and he wil continually cast yellowish matter at the one nostrill or else at both according as one or both sides of the lyuer is corrupted and on that side that he casteth most he will haue vnder his iaw euen about the midst thereof a knob or kirnell as much as a Walnut which when Martin findeth hee committeth his carcasse to the Crowes taking him to bee past cure But if he were let blood in time and had such drinkes giuen him as are good to comfort and strength the liuer he thinketh that the horse might be recouered I neuer read any medicine for the wasting of the liuer as I remember but this onely diet which I found in an olde English booke Let him drinke for the space of three daies no other thing but warme wort and let him eate no other meat but Oates baked in an ouen and let him stand meatlesse the first night before you giue him the woort But I thinke it were not amisse to put into the wort that he drinketh euery morning some good confection or powder made of Agrimony red Rose leaues Saccharum Rosaceum Diarchadon Abbatis Diasantalon Licoras and of the liuer of a Woolfe and such other simples as doe comfort and strengthen the liuer or else to giue him the same things with Goates milke lukewarme Of the diseases in the Gall. IN my opinion the gall of a horse is subiect to diuers diseases as wel as the gal of a man as to obstruction whereof commeth the fulnesse and emptines of the bladder and likewise the stone in the gall But obstruction may chaunce two manner of waies First when the waie whereby the choler should proceede from the liuer vnto the bladder of the gall as vnto his receptacle is stopped and thereby the bladder remaineth empty whereof may spring diuers euill accidents as vomitting the lax or bloody flix Secondly when the way whereby such choler should yssue forth of the bladder of the Gall downe into the guts is shut vp wherby the bladder is ouer full and aboundeth with too much choler which causeth heauinesse suffocation belching heat thirst and disposition to angrinesse The signes of both kinds of obstruction in the gall is costiuenes and yellowishnes of skin infected with the yellow Iaundis The stone in the gall which is somewhat blackish proceedeth of the obstruction of the conduites of the bladder whereby the choler being long kept in waxeth dry and turneth at length to harde grauell or stones whereof because there is neither signes nor any greeuous accident knowne to the Physitians I leaue to talke anie farther thereof and the rather for that none of mine Authors do make anie mention of the gall at all Notwithstanding to giue some light vnto the lerned Ferrers and that they may the better vnderstand the inward partes of a horse I thought
that which our Ferrers cal the yellowes The signs wherof according to Martin be these The Horse will bee faint and sweat as hee standeth in the stable and forsake his meat and his eies and the inside of his lips and all his mouth within will be yellow The cure whereof according to him is in this sort Let him bloode in the Necke vaine a good quantity and then giue him this drinke take of white wine of Ale a quart and put thereunto of Saffron turmericke of each halfe an ounce and the iuyce that is wroong out of a handfull of Celendine and being lukewarme giue it the Horse to drinke and keepe him warme the space of three or foure daies giuing him warme water with a little bran in it Of the Yellowes THe yellowes is a general disease in horsses and differ nothing from the yellow-iandise in men it is mortall and many horses die thereof the signes to know it is thus Markham pull downe the lids of the horsses eies and the white of the eie will bee yellow the inside of his lips wil be yellow and gums the cure followeth First let him bloode in the palat of the mouth that he may suck vp the same then giue him this drink take of strong Ale a quart of the greene ordure of Geese strained three or foure spoonefuls of the iuyce of Salendine as much of saffron halfe an ounce mix these together and being warme giue it the horse to drinke Of the euill habit of the body and of the dropsie AS touching the drines and consumption of the flesh without any apparant cause why Blundevile called of the Physitians as I said before Atrophia I know not what to say more then I haue already before in the chap. of consumption of the flesh and therefore resort thither And as for the euil habit of the body which is to be euil colored heauy dul of no force strength nor liuelines commeth not for lack of nutriment but for lack of good nutriment for that the blood is corrupted with flegme choler or melancholy proceeding either fro the spleene or else through weakenesse of the stomach or Liuer causing euill digestion or it may come by foule feeding yea also for lacke of moderate exercise The euill habit of the body is next cosin to the dropsie whereof though our Ferrers haue had no experience yet because mine old Authors writing of horselcach-craft do speak much thereof I thinke it good heere briefely to shew you their experience therein that is to say how to know it and also how to cure it But sith none of them do shew the cause whereof it proceedes I thinke it meete first therefore to declare vnto you the causes therof according to the doctrin of the learned Physitians which in mans body do make three kinds of dropsies calling the first Anasarca the second Ascites and the third Timpanias Anasarca is an vniuersall swelling of the body through the aboundance of water lying betwixt the skin and the flesh and differeth not from the disease last mentioned called Cachexia that is to say euill habit of the bloode sauing that the body is more swoln in this then in Cachexia albeit they proceede both of like causes as of coldnesse and weakenesse of the liuer or by meanes that the hart spleene stomack and other members seruing to digestion by grieued or diseased Ascites is a swelling in the couering of the belly called of the Physitians Abdomen comprehending both the skin the fat eight muscles and the filme or panicle called Peritoneum through the aboundance of some whayish humor entred into the same which besides the causes before alledged proceedeth most chiefely by means that some of the vessels within be broken or rather cracked out of the which though the blood being somewhat grosse cannot yssue forth yet the whayish humor being subtil may run out into the belly like water distilling through a cracked pot Timpanias called of vs commonly the Timpany is a swelling of the aforesaid couering of the belly through the aboundance of wind entred into the same which wind is ingendered of crudity and euill digestion and whilest it aboundeth in the stomach or other intrals finding no yssue out it breaketh in violently through the smal cundits among the panicles of the aforesaid couering not without great paine to the patient and so by tossing to and fro windeth at length into the space of the couering it selfe But surely such wind cannot be altogether void of moisture Notwithstanding the body swelleth not so much with this kinde of dropsie as with the other kind called Ascites The signs of the dropsie is shortnes of breath swelling of the body euil colour lothing of meat and great desire to drinke especially in the dropsie called Ascites in which also the belly wil sound like a bottle halfe ful of water but in the Timpanie it wil sound like a Tabar But now though mine authors make not so many kinds of dropsies yet they say al generally that a horse is much subiect to the dropsie The signs according to Absirtus and Hierocles be these His belly legs and stones wil be swollen but his back buttocks and flanks wil be dryed and shrunke vp to the very bones Moreouer the vaines of his face and temples and also the vaines vnder his tong wil be so hidden as you cannot see them and if you thrust your finger hard against his body you shal leaue the print therof behind for the flesh lacking natural heat wil not returne again to his place and when the horselyeth down he spreadeth himselfe abroad not being able to he round together on his belly and the haire of his back by rubbing wil fal away Pelagonius in shewing the signs of the dropsie not much differing from the Physitians first recited seemeth to make two kinds therof calling the one the Timpany which for difference sake may be called in English the wind dropsie and the other the water dropsie Notwithstanding both haue one cure so farre as I can perceiue which is in this sort Let him bee warme couered and walked a good while together in the sun to prouoke sweat and let all his body be wel and often rubbed alongst the haire let him seed vpon Colworts smallâ—ge and Elming boughs and of al other thinges that may loosen the belly or prouoke vrin and let his common meat be grasse if it may be gotten if not then hay sprinkled with water and Nytrum It is good also to giue him a kinde of pulse called Cich steeped a day and a night in water and then taken out and laid so as the water may drop away from it Pelagonius would haue him to drink Parsly stampt with wine or the root of the herb called 〈◊〉 Latin Panax with wine But if the swelling of the belly wil not decrease for al this then slit a litle hole vnder his belly a handful behind the nauil put into that hole a hollow reed
or â—ome other pipe that the water or wind may go out not al at once but by litle and little at diuers times and beware that you make not the hole ouer wide least the caule of the belly fal downe thereunto and when al the water is cleane run out then heale vp the wound as you do al other wounds and let the horse drinke as little as is possible Of the euill habit of the stomacke IF your horse either by inward sicknes or by present surfet grow to a loath of his meate Markham or by weakenesse of his stomak cast vp his meat and drinke this shall be the cure for the same first in all the drinke he drinks let him haue the powder of hot spices as namely of Ginger Annis-seeds Lycoras Sinamon and Pepper then blow vp into his Nostrils the powder of Tobacco to occasion him to neese instantly after he hath eaten any meat for an houre together after let one stand by him and hold at his Nose a piece of sower Leuen steept in vineger then annoint all his breast ouer with the Oyle of Ginnuper and Pepper mixt together Of the diseases of the guts of a Horse and first of the Colike THe guttes of a Horse may be diseased with diuers griefes as with the Collick Blundevile with costiuenesse with the Lax with the bloody-flixe and wormes The collick is a greeuous paine in the great gut called of the Physitians Colon whereof this disease taketh his name which gut because it is very large and ample and ful of corners it is apt to receiue diuers matters and so becommeth subiect to diuers griefes For somtime it is tormented with the aboundance of grosse humors gotten betwixt the panicle of the said gut and sometime with winde hauing no yssue out sometime with inflamation and sometime with sharp fretting humors But so far as I can learn a horse is most commonly troubled with the colike that commeth of wind and therefore our Ferrers do tearm it the wind colike The signes whereof be these The Horse will forsake his meat and lie downe and wallow and walter vpon the ground and standing on his feet he will stamp for very paine with his fore-feet and strike on his belly with his hinder foot and looke often towards his belly which also towards the flanks wil swell and seeme greater to the eie then it was wont to be The cure wherof according to Martin is in this sort take a quart of Malmesie of cloues pepper Sinamon of each halfe an ounce of Sugar halfe a quarterne and giue it the horse lukewarme and annoint his flanks with oyle of Bay and then bridle him and trot him immediately vp and downe the space of an houre vntil he dung and if he will not dung then rake him and if neede be prouoke him to dung by putting into his fundament an onyon pilled and iagged with a knife crosse-wise so as the iuyce thereof may tickle his fundament and for the space of three or foure daies let him drinke no cold water and let him be kept warm Russius was wont to vse this kind of cure take a good big reede a span long or more and being annointed with oyle thrust it into the horses fundament fastning the outward end therof vnto his taile so as it cannot slip out and then hauing first annointed chafed al the horses belly with some hot oyle cause him to be ridden hastily vp down some hilly ground and that will make him to voide the winde out of his belly through the reed which done let him be kept warm and fed with good prouender and warm mashes made of wheat meale and fennell seed and let him drink no cold water vntil he be whole Absirtus would haue you to giue him a glister made of wilde Cucumber or else of hens dung Nitrum and strong wine Of Costiuenesse or belly-bound COstiuenesse is when a horse is bound in the belly and cannot dung which may come by glut of prouender or ouermuch feeding and rest whereof we haue talked sufficient before also by wind grosse humors or cold causing obstruction and stopping in the guts The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sort Take of the decoction of Mallowes a quarte and put thereunto halfe a pinte of Oyle or in stead thereof halfe a pinte of fresh Butter and one ounce of Benedicte laxatiue and poure that into his fundament with a little Horne meete for the purpose that doone clappe his taile to his fundament holding it still with your hand whilest another doth leade him in his hand and trot him vp and downe Blundevile that the medicine may worke the better and hauing voyded all that in his belly bring him vnto the stable and there let him stand a while on the bitte wel couered and warme littered and then giue him a little hay and let his drinke be warmed it shall not be amisse also to giue him that night a warme mash Of the Laxe THe Italians call this disease Ragiatura and the Horse that hath this disease Cauallo Arragiato or Sforato It may come through the aboundance of cholerike humors discending from the Liuer or gall downe to the guts But Russius saith that it commeth most commonly by drinking ouermuch colde water immediately after prouender or by sudden trauelling vpon a ful stomach before his meat be dygested or by hasty running or galloping immediately after water If this disease continue long it wil make the Horse very weake and feeble so as he shall not be able to stand on his legs Notwithstanding sith nature feeling her selfe oppressed endeuoureth thus to ease her selfe by expelling those humors that grieue her I wold not wish you suddenly to stop it least som worse inconuenience grow thereof But if you see that the Horse looseth his flesh and waxeth more dul and feeble then he was wont to be then giue him this drinke often experimented by Martin and that shal stop him take of beane-flower and of bole Armony of each a quarterne mingle these things together in a quart of red wine and giue it him lukwarm and let him rest and be kept warme and let him drinke no cold drinke but lukewarm and put therein a little beane flower and let him not drinke but once a day and then not ouer much for the spece of three or foure daies Of the bloody-flixe IT seemeth by the old writers that a horse is also subiect to the bloody Flixe For Absirtus Hierocles and Democritus say all with one voice that the guts of a horse may be so exulcerated that he wil voide bloody matter at his fundament yea and his fundament therwith will fal out which disease they cal Disenteria which is is as much to say as a painful exulceration of the guts vnder the which the old men as it seemeth by the wordes of Hierocles and Absirtus would comprehend the disease called of the Physitians Tenasmus that is to say a desire to
hogs greace Then bring him into the stable and let him rest the space of 9. daies but let him lye down as little as may be and put on a pasterne on the sore leg so as it may be bound with a cord vnto the foot of the manger to keepe that legge alwaies whilest he standeth in the stable more forward then the other And at the nine daies end take out the prickes and annoint the sore places with a litle Dialthea or with hogs grease and then turn him out to grasse Of the swelling of the forelegs after great labor GReat labor and heat causeth humors to resort down into the legs making them swel The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Bath them with buttered beere or els with this bath here following take of Mallovves 3. handfuls a rose cake Sage one handful boile them together in a sufficient quantity of vvater and vvhen the Mallovves bee soft put in halfe a pound of butter and halfe a pinte of Sallet-oile and then being somewhat vvarme vvash the svvelling thervvith euery day once the space of three or 4. daies And if the swelling wil not go away with this then take Wine lees and Cumin and boile them together and put thereunto a little wheate-flower and charge al the swelling therewith and walke him often and if it will not serue then take vp the great veine aboue the knee on the inside suffering him not to bleed from aboue but al from beneath Of the Foundering in the forelegs THe cause of this griefe is declared before in the Chapter of foundering in the body whereas I shewed you that if a horse be foundred in the body the humors wil immediatly resort downe into his legs as Martin saith within the space of 24. houres and then the horse wil go crovching al vpon the hinder legs his forelegs being so stiffe as he is not able to bow them The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sort Garter each leg immediatly one handful aboue the knee with a list good and hard and then walke him or chafe him and so put him in a heat and being somewhat warmed let him blood in both the breast vaines reseruing the blood to make a charge withal in this manner Take of that bloode two quartes and of Wheate-flower halfe a pecke and sixe Egges shelles and all of bole Armony halfe a pounde of Sanguis Draconis halfe a quarterne and a quarte of stronge Vineger mingle them altogether and charge all his shoulders Breast Backe Loynes and Forelegges therewith and then walke him vpon some hard ground suffering him not to stand still and when the charge is dry refresh it againe And hauing walked him three or 4. houres together lead him into the stable and giue him a little warm water with ground mault in it and then a litle hay and prouender and then walke him againe either in the house or else abroad and continue thus the space of foure daies and when all the charge is spent couer him well with a housing cloth and let him both stand lye warme and eat but little meat during the foure daies But if you see that at the foure daies end he mendeth not a whit then it is a sign that the humor lies in the foot for the which you must search with your butter paring all the soles of the fore-feete so thin as you shall see the water yssue through the sole That done with your butter let him blood at both the toes and let him bleede well The stop the veine with a little hogs-grease and then tacke on the shooes and Turpentine molten together and laid vpon a little Flax and cram the place where you did let him blood hard with tow to the intent it may be surely stopt Then fil both his feet with hogs grease and bran fried together in a stopping Pan so hot as is possible And vpon the stopping clap a piece of leather or else two splents to keepe the stopping And immediatly after this take two Egges beat them in a dish and put therto bole Armony and bean-flower somuch as wil thicken the same and mingle them wel together make therof two plaisters such as may close each foot round about somwhat aboue the cronet and bind it fast with a list or roler that it may not fall away nor be remoued for the space of three daies but let the sole be clensed and new stopped euery day once and the cronets to be remoued euery two daies continuing so to do vntill it be whole During which time let him rest vnwalked for feare of loosening his hooues But if you see that he begin to amend you may walke him faire and softly once a day vpon some soft ground to exercise his legs and feet and let him not eat much nor drink cold water But if this fundering breake out aboue the hooue which you shal perceiue by the loosenesse of the coffin aboue by the cronet then when you pare the sole you must take al the fore-part of the sole cleane away leauing the heeles whole to the intent the humors may haue the freer passage downeward and then stop him and dresse him about the cronet as is before said Of Foundring OF all other sorances Foundering is soonest got and hardlyest cured yet if it may be perceiued in twenty and foure houres Markham and taken in hand by this meanes heereafter prescribed it shal be cured in other twenty and foure houres notwithstanding the same receit hath cured a horse that hath bin foundred a year more but then it was longer in bringing it to passe Foundering commeth when a horse is heated being in his grease and very fat and taketh thereon a suddaine cold which striketh downe into his legs and taking away the vse and feeling thereof The signe to know it is the horse cannot go but wil stand cripling with al his foure legs together if you offer to turne him he wil couch his buttocks to the ground and some Horses haue I seene sit on their buttocks to feede The cure is thus Let him blood of his two breast vaines of his two shackle vains and of his two vaines aboue the cronets of his hinder hooues if the vaines wil bleed take from them 3. pints at least if they wil not bleed then open his neck vain and take so much from thence Saue the blood and let one stand by and stir it as he bleeds lest it grow into lumps when he hath don bleeding take as much wheat-flower as wil thicken the blood the whits of 20. Egges and three or foure yolkes then take a good quantity of Boleaâ— minacke and a pinte of strong vineger incorporate al these wel together and withal charge his backe necke head and eares then take two long rags of cloath and dip in the same charge and withal garter him so straite as may be aboue both his knees of his forelegs then let his keeper take him out to some stony
causie or high-way paued with stone and there one following him with a cudgel let him trot vp and down for the space of an hour or two or more that don set him vp and giue him some meat and for his drinke let him haue a warm mash some three or foure houres after this take off his garters and set him in some pond of water vp to the mid-side and so let him stand for two houres then take him out and set him vp the next day pul off his shooes and pare his feet very thin and let him blood both of his heeles and toes then set on his shooes again and stop them with hogs grease and bran boiling hot and splint them vp and so turne him out to run and he shall be sound Of the splent as well in the inside or outside of the knee as other where in the Legges THis sorance to any mans feeling is a very gristle sometime as big as a Walnut and sometime no more then a Hasel nut which is called of the Italians Spinella Blundevile and it commeth as Laurentius Russius saith by trauelling the horse too younge or by oppressing him with heauy burthens offending his tender sinnewes and so causeth him to halt It is easie to know because it is apparant to the eye and if you pinch it with your thumbe and finger the horse will shrinke vp his leg The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sort Wash it wel with warm water and shaue off the haire and lightly scarifie al the sore places with the point of a rasor so as the bloode may yssue forth Then take of Cantharides halfe a spoonefull and of Euforbium as much beaten into fine powder and mingle them together with a spoonefull of oile de bay and then melt them in a little pan stirring them well together so as they may not boile ouer and being so boiling hot take two or 3. feathers and annoint all the sore place therewith That done let not the Horse stir from the place where you so dresse him for one houre after to the intent he shake not off the ointment Then carry him fair and softly into the stable and tye him as he may not reach with his head beneath the manger for otherwise hee wil couet to bite away the smarting and pricking medicine which if it should touch his lips would quickly fetch of the skin And also let him stand without litter all that day and night The next day annoint the sore place with fresh butter continuing so to do euery day once for the space of 9. daies for this shal allay the heate of the medicine and cause both that and the crust to fall away of it selfe and therewith either cleane take away the splent or at the least remoue it out of the knee into the leg and so much diminish it as the Horse shal goe right vp and halte no more through occasion thereof Laurentius Russius would haue the splent to be cured by fiering it longst wise and ouerthwart I haue seen the splent to be cleane taken away thus first hauing clipt away the haire growing vpon the hard place you must beat it with a good big stick of hasill almost a foot long in which sticke somwhat distant from the one end thereof would be set fast a sharp pricke of a little piece of steele to pricke the sore place therewith once or twice to make the bloode yssue out neuer leauing to beat it first softly and then harder and harder vntil it waxeth soft in euery place to the feeling and to thrust out the bloud partly with the sticke leaning on it with both your hands and partly with your thumbs that done wind about the sore place with a piece of double red wollen cloth holding it so as it may lye close thereunto then feare it vpon the cloth with the flat side of your fearing iron made hot and not red-hot but so as it may not burne through the cloth that done take away the cloth and lay vpon the sore a peece of shoomakers wax made like a little cake so broad as is the sore place and then sear that into his Legs with your searing iron vntill the wax be throughly molten dryed and sunken into the sore that don seare another piece of waxe in like manner into the sore vntill it be dryed vp and then you may trauell your horse immediatly vpon it if you will for he will not halt no more Of the splent A Splent is a sorance of the least moment vnlesse it bee on the knee or else a through Splent both which cannot bee cured A Splent is a spungy harde grissell or bone Markham growing fast on the inside of the shin-bone of a Horsse where a little making stark the sinnewes compels a Horsse somewhat to stumble the cures are diuers and thus they be If the splent be young tender and but new in breeding then cast the horse and take a spoonefull of that Oyle called Petrolium and with that Oyle rubbe the Splent till you make it soft then take a fleame such as you let a horse bloud withall and strike the splent in two or three places then with your two thombes thrust it hard and you shal see crusht matter blood come out which is the very Splent then set him vp and let him rest or run at grasse for a weeke or more others for a young Spleent do thus take a hasell sticke and cut it square and therewithall beate the splint till it be soft then take a blew cloath and lay vppon the splent and take a Taylors pressing yron made hot and rub it vp and downe vpon the cloath ouer the splent and it shall take it cleane away But if the splent be old great and growne to the perfection of hardnesse then you must cast the Horse and with a sharp knife slit down the splent then take Cantharides and Euforbium of each like quantity and boyle them in Oyle debay and with that fill vp the slit and renewe it for three daies together then take it away anoint the place with Oyle debay Oyle of Roses or Tar vntill it be whole Of a Malander Blundevile A Malander is a kinde of scab growing in the forme of lines or strokes ouerthwart the bent of the knee and hath long haires with stubborne rootes like the bristles of a Bore which corrupteth and cankereth the flesh like the rootes of a child as scabbed head and if it bee great it will make the Horse to go stiffe at the setting forth and also to halt This disease proceedeth sometime of corrupt bloode but most commonly for lacke of cleane keeping and good rubbing The cure according to Martin is thus First wash it well with warm water then shaue both haire and scab clean away leauing nothing but the bare flesh whereunto lay this plaister Take a spoonefull of Sope and as much of lime mingle them together that it may be like paast
garter him aboue the houghes and then force him to go awhile to put him in a heat and being somewhat warme let him bloode in the thigh vaines reseruing of that blood a pottle to make him a charge in this sort Put vnto that blood of Wheat-flower and of Beane-flower of each a quarter of a pecke of Bole Armony one pound of Sanguis Draconis two ounces six Egges shels and al of Turpentine halfe a pound of Vineger a quart Mingle al these thinges togither and therewith charge both his hinder Legges his Reynes and Flankes al against the haire And if the horse cannot dung lette him be raked and giue him this glister take of Mallowes three handfuls and boile them wel in faire Water from a pottle to a quart Then straine it and put thereunto halfe a pounde of Butter and of Sallet Oyle a quarter of a pinte and hauing emptied his belly giue him also this drinke to comforte him take of Malmesie a quart and put thereunto a little Cinamon Mace and Pepper beaten into fine powder and of Oyle a quarter of a pinte and giue the horse to drinke of that Luke-warme with a horne That don let him be walked vp and downe a good while togither if he be able to go if not then tie him vp to the racke and let him be hanged with Canuas and ropes so as he may stand vppon the ground with his feet For the lesse he lieth the better and pare his hinder feet thin vntill the deaw come out and tacking on the shooes againe stoppe the hooues with bran and hogs greace boiled togither and let both his feet hauing this geere in it be wrapped vp in a cloath euen to his pasternes and there tie the clout fast Let his diet be thinne and let him drinke no colde water and giue him in winter wet hay and in Summer grasse Of the dry Spauen Blundevile THe dry Spauin called of the Italians Spauano or Sparauagno is a great hard knob as big as a Walnut growing in the inside of the hough hard vnder the ioynt nigh vnto the maister vaine and causeth the horse to halt which sorance commeth by kind because the horses parents perhaps had the like disease at the time of his generation and sometime by extreame labour and heat dissoluing humors which do descend thorough the maister vaine continually feeding that place with euil nutriment and causeth that place to swel Which swelling in continuance of time becommeth so hard as a bone and therefore is called of some the bone-Spauen It needeth no signes or tokens to knowe it because it is very much apparant to the eie and therefore most Ferrers doe take it to be incurable Notwithstanding Martin saith that it may bee made lesse with these remedies heere following Wash it with warme water and shaue off the haire so farre as the swelling extendeth and scarifie the place so as it may bleed Then take of Cantharides one dozen of Euforbium halfe a spoonefull breake them into powder and boile them togither with a little oile de Bay and with two or three feathers bound togither put it boiling hot vpon the sore and let his taile be tyed vp for wiping away the medicine and then within halfe an houre after set him vp in the stable and tie him so as he may not lie downe al the night for feare of rubbing off the medicine and the next day annoint it with fresh butter continuing thus to do euery day once the space of fiue or sixe daies and when the haire is growne againe draw the sore place with a hot yron Then take another hot sharpe yron like a Bodkin somewhat bowing at the point and thruste it in at the neather end of the middle-line and so vppeward betwixt the skinne and the flesh to the compasse of an inch and a halfe And then taint it with a little Turpentine and Hogges-greace moulten together and made warme renewing it euery day once the space of nine daies But remember first immediately after his burning to take vppe the maister vaine suffering him to bleed a little from aboue and tie vp the vper end of the vaine and leaue the neather end open to the intent that hee may bleede from beneath vntil it cease it selfe and that shal diminish the Spauen or else nothing wil do it Of the Spauen both bone and blood DOubtlesse a Spauen is an euil sorance and causeth a horse to hault principally in the beginning of his griefe Markham it appeareth on the hinder Legges within and against the ioynt and it will bee a little swolne and some horses haue a thorough Spauen which appeareth both within and without Of the Spauen there are two kindes the one hard the other soft That is a bone-Spauen and a blood-Spauen for the bone-Spauen I holde it harde to cure and therefore the lesse necessary to be dealt withal except very great occasion vrge and thus it may be holpen Cast the horse and with a hot yron slitte the flesh that couereth the Spauen and then lay vpon the Spauen Cantharides and Euforbium boyled together in oile de Bay and annoint his legges round about either with the oile of Roses and with Vngueâ—tum album camphiratum Dresse him thus for three daies togither then afterwarde take it awaye and for three daies more lay vnto it onely vpon Flaxe and vnsleact lime then afterward dresse it with Tarre vntil it be whole The Cantharides and Euforbium wil eat kil the spungy bone the lime wil bring it clean away and the Tarre wil sucke out the poison and heale al vp sound but this cure is dangerous for if the incision be done by an vnskilful man and he either by ignorance or by the swaruing of his hand burne in twaine the great vaine that runnes crosse the Spauen then the horse is spoiled Now for the blood Spauen that is easily helpt for I haue knowne diuers which haue beene but newly beginning helpt onely by taking vppe the Spauen vaine and letting it bleed wel beneath and then stop the wound with Sage and Salt but if it be a great blood Spauen then with a sharpe knife cut it as you burnt the bone Spauen and take the Spauen away then heale it vp with Hogges-greace and Turpentine onely Of the wet Spauen or through Spauen THis is a soft swelling growing on both sides of the hough and seemes to goe cleane through the hough and therefore may bee called a through Spauen But for the most part the swelling is on the inside because it is continually fed of the master vain is greater than the swelling on the outside The Italians cal this sorance Laierda or Gierdone which seemeth to come of a more fluxible humor and not so viscous or slimy as the other Spauen doeth and therefore this waxeth not so harde nor groweth to the nature of a bone as the other doeth and this is more curable then the other It needes no signes because it is apparant
to the eie and easie to know by the description thereof before made The cure according to Martin is thus Firste wash shaue and scarifie the place as before Then take of Cantharides halfe an ounce of Euforbium an ounce broken to powder Oyle de Bay one ounce mingle them wel together colde without boiling them and dresse the sore therewith two daies togither and euery day after vntil the haire be growne againe annoint it with fresh Butter Then fire him both without and within as before without tainting him and immediately take vp the maister veine as before and then for the space of nine daies annoint him euery daye once with Butter vntil the fiered place beginne to scale and then wash it with this bath Take of Mallowes three handfuls of Sage one handful and as much of red nettles boile them in water vntil they be soft and put thereunto a litle fresh butter and bath the place euery day once for the space of three or foure daies and vntil the burning be whole let the horse come in no wet Of the Selander THis is a kind of scab breeding in the ham which is the bent of the hough and is like in al points to the Malander proceeding of like causes and requireth like cure and therefore resort to the Malander Of the hough boonie or hard knob THis is a round swelling boony like a Paris bal growing vpon the tippe or elbow of the hough and therefore I thought good to cal it the hough-boonie This sorance commeth of some stripe or bruse and as Martin saith is cured thus Take a round hot yron somewhat sharpe at the ende like a good bigge bodkin and let it be somewhat bending at the point Then holding the sore with your left hande pulling it somewhat from the sinnewes pierce it with the yron being first made red hot thrusting it beneath in the bottome and so vpward into the belly to the intent that the same ielly may yssue downeward out at the hole and hauing thrust out al the ielly taint the hole with a tainte of Flaxe dipt in Turpentine and Hogges greace moulten together and also annointe the out-side with Hogges greace made warme renewing it euery daye once vntill the hole be ready to shut vp making the taint euery day lesser and lesser to the intent it may heale vp Of the Curbe Blundevile THis is a long swelling beneath the Elbow of the hough in the great sinnewe behind and causeth the horse to halt after that he hath been a while laboured and thereby somewhat heated For the more the sinnew is strained the greater griefe which againe by his rest is eased This commeth by bearing some great weight when the horse is younge or else by some straine or wrinch whereby the tender sinnewes are greeued or rather bowed as Russsius saith whereof it is called in Italian Curba a Curuando that is to say of bowing for anguish whereof it doth swel which swelling is apparant to the eie and maketh that legge to shew bigger than the other The cure according to Martin is thus Take of wine-Leeze a pinte a porringer ful of Wheat flower of Cumin halfe an ounce and stirre them well togither and being made warme charge the sore 3. or 4. daies and when the swelling is almost gone then draw it with a hot yron and couer the burning with Pitch and Rozen moulten together and lay it on good and warme and clap thereon some flockes of his owne colour or so nigh as may be gotten and remoue them not vntil they fal away of themselues And for the space of nine daies let the horsse rest and come in no wet Another of the Curbe Markham A Curbe is a sorance that maketh a horse to halt much and it appeares vpon his hinder legges straight behind vpon the cambrell place and a little beneath the Spauen and it wil be swolne as big as halfe a Walnut the cure followeth Take a small cord and bind his legges hard aboue it and beneath it then beat it and rub it with a heauy sticke til it growe soft then with a fleame strike it in three or foure places and with your thumbes crush out the filthy brused matter then loose the corde and annoint it with Butter vntil it be whole Of the paines Blundevile THis is a kinde of scabbe called in Italian Crappe which is full of fretting matterish water and it breedeâ—h in the pasternes for lacke of cleane keeping and good rubbing after the horse hath beene iournied by means wherof the sand dirt remaining in the haire fretteth the skin and flesh and so breedeth a scab And therefore those horses that haue long haire and are rough about the feet are soonest troubled with this disease if they be not the cleanlier kept The signes be these His legs wil bee swollen and hot and water wil yssue out of the scab which water his hot and fretting as it wil scalde off the haire and breed scabs so farre as it goeth The cure according to Martin is thus First wash wel al the pasternes with Beere and Butter warmed togither and his legs being somewhat dried with a cloth clip away al the haire sauing the fewter lockes Then take of Turpentine of Hogges-greace of hony of each like quantity mingle them togither in a pot and put thereunto a little Bole Armony the yelkes of two Egges and as much Wheat-flower as wil thicken the things aforesaid and make it plaister-like and for that cause it had need to be very wel wrought and stirred togither Then with a slice strike some of the plaister vpon such a peece of linnen cloath as wil serue to go round about the pasterne and bind it fast on with a rowler renewing it once a day vntil it be whole and let not the horse be trauelled nor stand wet Another of the paines PAines is a sorance that commeth of hot ill humors of il keeping it appeareth in the Fetlockes Markham and wil swel in the Winter time and wil send foorth a sharpe water the haire wil stare and the cure is thus Wash them euery day twice or thrice with gun-pouder and Vineger and they wil be whole in one weeke at the most Of Mules or kibed heeles called of the Italians Mule THis is a kind of scab breeding behind somewhat aboue the neather ioynt growing ouerthwat the fewterlock which commeth most commonly for being bred in cold ground or else for lack of good dressing after that he hath bin labored in foule mire and dirty waies which durt lying stil in his legs fretteth the skin and maketh scabby rifts which are soone bred but not so soone gotten away The anguish wherof maketh his legs somtime to swell and specially in winter and spring time and then the horse goeth very stifly and with great pain The sorance is apparant to the eie and is cured according to Martin in this sort Take a piece of linnen cloth and with the salue
recited in the last chap. make such a plaister as may couer al the sore place and binde it fast on that it may not fall off renewing it euery day once vntil the sore leaue running and beginneth to wax dry then wash it euery day once with strong water vntill it be cleane dryed vp but if this sorance be but in breeding there is no raw flesh then it shal suffice to anoint it with Sope two or three daies and at the three daies end to wash them with a little Beefe broath or dish water Of Frettishing FRettishing is a sorance that commeth of riding a horse til he sweat and then to set him vp without litter wher he taketh suddenly cold in his feet chiefely before Markham it appears vnder the heele in the hart of the foot for it will grow dun and wax white and crumbly like a Pomys also in time it wil show by the wrinckles on his hoofe and the hoofe wil grow thicke and brickle he wil not be able to tread on stones or hard ground nor well to trauel but stumble and fal the cure is thus Take and pare his feet so thin as may be then rost two or three Egs in the Embers very hard being extream hot taken out of fire crush them in his foot and then clap a piece of leather theron and splint it that the Egges may not fal out and so let him run and he will be sound Of sorances or griefes that be common to all foure feet HItherto we haue declared vnto you the causes signs and cure of all such griefes as are properly incident either to the forelegs or hinder legs now therefore we speake of those griefes that be common to them both and first of windgals Of Windgalles THe windgall called of the Italians Galla is a bladder full of corrupt ielly Blundevile whereof some be great and some bee small and do grow on each side of the ioynt and is so painfull and especially in summer season when the wether is hot and the waies hard as the horse is not able to trauell but halteth downe right They come for the most part through extreame labor and heat whereby the humors being dissolued doe flow and resort into the hollow places about the neather ioynts and there be congealed and couered with a thin skin like a bladder They bee apparant to the eie and therefore neede no other signes to know them The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Wash them with water and shaue off the haire scarifie them with the point of a rasor and dresse them with Cantharides in the selfesame manner as the splent in the knee was taught before and annoint them afterward with butter vntil the skin be whole And if this will not heale it then draw them with a hot iron like a ragged staffe That done slit the middle line which passeth right downe through the windgall with a sharpe knife beginning beneath and so vpward the length of halfe an inch to the intent you may thrust the ielly out at that hole then lay vnto it a little pitch and rozen molten together and made lukewarme and put a few floxe on it and that will heale him And you may dry vp the windgall in such manner as heere followeth First chop off the haire so far as the windgall extendeth and hauing striken it with a fleame thrust out the ielly with your finger Then take a peece of red wollen cloath and clap it to the place and with a hot broad searing iron seare it so as the iron may not burne through the cloth which is don to dry vp the humors Then hauing taken away the cloth lay vnto the place a peece of shoomakers waxe made like a flat cake about the breadth of a testorn and with your iron not made ouer hot streek softly vpon it too and fro vntill the said wax be throughly melted into the sore Wherupon lay a few flox and let him go Which flocks will afterward fall away of their owne accord Of Windgals WIngals are easie to cure they be little swellings like blebs or bladders on either side the ioint next vnto the feuter-locks as wel before as behind and they come through the occasion of great trauell Markham in hard grauelly or sandy waies The cure is Take Pitch Rozen and Mastick of each like quantity melt them together and with a stick lay it round about the horses legs and whilest it is hot lay flocks theron the nature of this plaister is neuer to come away whilst there is any windgall on the Horses legs but when they are dried vp then it will fall away of itselfe Of wrinching the neather ioynt THis commeth many times by treading awry in some cart root or otherwise The signs be these The ioynt will be swollen and sore and the horse will halt The cure whereof according to Martin is thus take of Dialthea halfe a pounde and as much of Neruall Mingle them together and anoint the sore place therewith chafing it well with both your hands that the oyntment may enter continuing so to do euery day once vntill the oyntment be all spent and let the horse rest But if this will not preuaile then wash it with warm water and shaue away all the haire sauing the fewter-lock Scarifie it and lay to it Cantharides and heale it as you do each splent in the knee Of enterfering BIcause enterfering is to be holpen by shooing wee purpose not to speake of it vntill we come to talke of the order of paring and shooing all manner of hooues Another of Enterfering ENterfering is a griefe that commeth sometimes by ill shooing and somtimes naturally when a horse trots so narrow that he hewes on leg vpon another it appeareth both before and behind betweene the feete against the fet-lockes and there is no remedy but shooing him with shooes made thin and flat on the outside and narrow and thicke within Of the shakell gall IF a horse be galled in the pasterns with shakell locke pasterne or halter anoint the sore place with a little Hony and Verdigrease boiled together vntill it looke red which is a good ointment for all gallings on the withers and immediatly strow vpon the ointment being first laid vpon the leg a little chopt flax or tow and that will stick fast continuing so to do euery day once vntill it be whole Of hurts in the legs that commeth by casting in the halter or collar â—â—undevile IT chanceth many times that a Horsse hauing some itch vnder his eares is desirous to scratch the same with his hinder foote which whilest he reacheth too and fro doth fasten in the coller or halter wherewith the more that he striueth the more he galleth his Legges and many times it chanceth for that he is tyed so long by means wherof being laid and the halter slack about his feet rising perhaps or turning he snarleth himselfe so as he is not able to
Rape oyle a pinte Mingle these thinges well together vntill the Quicke-siluer be throughly incorporated with the rest and hauing annointed all the raw places with this ointment make it to sinke into the flesh by holding and weauing vp and downe ouer it a hot broad barre of yron and then touch him no more againe the space of two or three daies during which time if you see that he rubbeth still in any place then rub that place againe with an old horse-combe to make it raw and annoint it with fresh ointment But if all this will not helpe then with a hot yron and blunt at the point so big as a mans little finger burne all the mangy places making round holes passing only thorough the skin and no further For which intent it shall be needefull to pull the skinne first from the flesh with your left hand holding it still vntil you haue thrust the hot yron thorough it and let euery hole bee a spanne off one from another and if neede be you may annoint those holes with a little sope and let the horse be thinne dieted during his curing time Of the Farcin called in Italian of some Il verme and of some Farcina THis is a kind of creeping vlcer growing in knots following along some veine and it proceedeth of corrupt blood ingendred in the body or else of some outward hurt as of spurgalling or the biting of some other horse or of biting of ticks or of hogs lice or such like causualties Or if it be in the legges it may come by interferring It is easilye knowne partly by the former description and also it is apparant to the eie The cure according to Martin is thus Let him bloud in that vaine where it commeth as nigh the sore place as may be and let him bleed well then fire euery knot one by one taking the knot in your left hand and pulling it so hard as you can from his body to the intent you maye the better pierce the knot with a blunt hot yron of the bignesse of a mans fore-finger without doing the body any hurt let out the mater leauing none vnburnd be it little or much That done annoint euery knot so burned with Hogges-greace warmed euery day once vntill the coares be ready to fall away and in the meane time prepare a good quantity of old Vrine and when you see the coares ready to fal boile the vrine and put therein a little Coporas and salt and a few strong nettles and with that water being warm wash out all the coares and the corruption That done fill euery hole immediately with the powder of slect lime continuing thus to do euery day once vntill the holes be closed vp and if any be more ranker than other fill those with Verdigrease and during this cure let the horse be thinly dieted that is to say with straw and water onely vnlesse it be nowe and then to giue him a loafe or breade For the lower he be kept the sooner he will be whole And in any wise let his necke be yoked in an olde bottomelesse paile or else with short staues to keepe him from licking the sores and the lesse rest he hath the better Or do thus Take a good great Dock-root clean scraped and cutte thereof fiue little rundels or cakes to be vsed as followeth First with a knife make a slit right down in the horses forhed three inches longe then with a Cornet loosen the skinne within the flesh so as you may easily put therein fiue rundels of Docke that is to say two on each side of the slit one aboue another and put the fift rundle in the very midst betwixt the other foure that done fasten to each of the slits two short shoo-makers ends to serue as laces to tie in the foresaide rundles so as they may not fall out and clense the sore euery day once for the vertue of the root is such as it will draw al the filthy matter from any part of the body yea though the Farcin be in the hinder Legges which matter is to be wiped away from time to time and new rootes to be thrust into the the slit according as you see it needefull Of the Farcion THe Farcion is a vilde disease ingendred of ill bloud flegmaticke matter and vnkindly feeding it appeareth in a horse like vnto little knottes in the flesh as bigge as a Hasell Nutte Markham the knottes will encrease daily and inflame impostume and breake and when the knots amount to threescore they wil euery night after breed so many more till they haue ouer-runne the horses bodye and with the poison which is mighty and also strong soone bring gim to his death This disease is very infectious and dangerous for some horses yet if it be taken in any time it is easie to be holpen the cure thereof is in this manner Take a sharpe Bodkin and thrust it through the neather part of his nose that he may bleede or if you will to let him bloude in the necke-vaine shall not be amisse then feele the knots and as many as are soft launce them and let them runne then take strong Lye Lime and Allum and with the same bath all his sores and it shall in short space cure him There is also another manner of curing this disease and that is thus Take a sharpe launce-knife and in the top of the horses forehead iust betweene his eies make a long slit euen to the scull then with a blunt instrument for the purpose lose the flesh from the scalp a pretty compasse then take Carret-rootes cut into little thinne round pieces and putte them betweene the skinne and the scull as many as you can then close vp the wound and once a daie annoint it with fresh Butter This is a most sure and approued way to cure the Farcion for looke how this wound thus made shall rot waste and grow sound so shall the Farcion breake drie vp and be healed because all the poison that feedeth the disease shall be altogether drawne into the fore-head where it shall die and waste away The onely fault of this cure is it will be somwhat long and it is a foule eie-sore vntil it be whole Some vse to burne this sorance but that is naught and dangerous as who so proues it shal find A most approued medicine to cure the Farcion TAke of Aqua-vitae two spoonfuls of the iuyce of hearbe of grace as much Markham mingle them together then take of plegants or Bals of Flax or Toe and steepe them therein and stop them hard into the Horses eares then take a needle and a thread and stitch the tips of his two eares together by meanes whereof he cannot shake out the medicine and vse him thus but three seuerall mornings and it will kill any Farcion whatsoeuer for it hath bin often approued Another medicine of the same SLit euery hard kernell with a sharpe knife and fill the hole with an
ointment made of old Lard Sope and gray Salt for that will eat out the coare and cause it to rot and so fall out of the one accord Of the Canker called of the Italian Il Canero A Canker is a filthy creeping vlcer fretting and gnawing the flesh in gret breadth In the beginning it is knotty much like a Farcine Blundevile and spreadeth it selfe into diuers places and being exulcerated gathereth togither in length into a wound or sore This proceedeth of a melancholy and filthy blood ingendered in the body which if it be mixt with Salt humors it causeth the more painefull and greeuous exulceration and sometime it commeth of some filthy wound that is not cleanly kept the corrupt matter whereof cankereth other clean parts of the body It is easie to be knowne by the description before The cure whereof according to Martin is thus Frst let him blood in those vaines that be next the sore and take inough of him Then take of Alum halfe a pound of greene Coporas and of white Coporas of each one quarterne and a good handfull of Salt boile all these things togither in faire running water from a pottle to a quart And this water being warme wash the sore with a cloath and then sprinkle thereon the powder of vnslecked lime continuing so to do euery day once the space of fifteen daies and if you see that the lime do not mortifie the ranke flesh and keepe it from spreading any further then take of blacke Sope halfe a pounde of Quicke-siluer halfe an ounce and beate them together in a pot vntill the Quicke-siluer be so well mingled with the Sope as you can perceiue none of the Quicke-siluer in it And with an yron slice after that you haue washed the sore with the stronge water aforesaide couer the wound with this ointment continuing thus to do euery day once vntill the Canker leaue spreading abroad And if it leaue spreading and that you see the ranke flesh is mortified and that the edges begin to gather a skin then after the washing dresse it with the lime as before continuing so to vntil it be whole And in the dressing suffer no filth that commeth out of the sore to remaine vppon any whole place about but wipe it cleane away or else wash it away with warme water And let the horse during this cure be as thinly dieted as may be and thoroughly exercised Of the Fistula called of the Italians Fistula A Fistula is a deepe hollowe crooking vlcer and for the most part springes of maligne humors ingendered in some wound sore or canker not throughly healed It is easie to know by the description before The cure according to Martin is thus Firste search the depth of it with a quill or with some other instrument of lead that may be bowed euery way meet for the purpose For vnlesse you find the bottome of it it wil be very hard to cure And hauing found the bottome if it be in such a place as you may boldely cut and make the way open with a launcet or rasor then make a slit right against the bottome so as you may thruste in your finger to feele whether there be any bone or gristle perished or spungy or loose flesh which must be gotten out and then taint it with a taint of flaxe dipt in this ointment Take of hony a quarterne and of Verdigrease one ounce beaten into powder Boile them together vntill it looke redde stirring it continually least it runne ouer and being luke warme dresse the taint wherewith and bolster the taint with a bolster of flax And if it be in such a place as the taint cannot conueniently be kept in with a band then fasten on each side of the hole two ends of Shoomakers thread right ouer the bolster to keepe in the taint which ends may hang there as two laces to tye and vntie at your pleasure renewing the taint euery day once vntill the sore leaue mattering And then make the taint euery day lesser and lesser vntill it be whole And close it vp in the end by sprinckling thereon a little slect lime But if the Fistula be in such a place as a man can neither cut right against the bottome or nigh the same then there is no remedy but to poure in some strong water through some quill or such like thing so as it may goe to the very bottome and dry vp all the filthy matter dressing him so twice a day vntill the horse be whole Of an Aubury THis is a great spungy Wart full of blood called of the Italians Moro or Selfo which may grow in any place of the body and it hath a root like a Cocks stone The cure according to Martin is thus Tie it with a thred so hard as you can pull it the thred will eate by little and little in such sort as within seauen or eight daies it will fall away by it selfe And if it be so flat as you can binde nothing about it then take it away with a sharpe hotte yron cutting it round about and so deepe as you may leaue none of the root behind and dry it with Verdigreace Russius saith that if it grow in a place full of sinnewes so as it cannot be conueniently cut away with a hot yron then it is good to eat out the core with the powder of Resalgar and then to stop the hole with flax dipt in the white of an Egge for a day or two and lastly to drie it vp with the powder of vnslect lime and hony as before is taught Of Wounds VVOunds commeth by meanes of some stripe or pricke and they are properly called wounds when some whole part is cut or broken For a wound according to the Phisitians is defined to be a solution diuision or parting of the whole For if there be no solution or parting then methinkes it ought rather to be called a bruse then a wound And therfore wounds are most commonly made with sharpe or piercing weapons and bruses with blunt weapons Notwithstanding if by such blunt weapons anie part of the whole be euidently broken then it ought to be called a wound as wel as the other Of wounds some be shallow and some be deepe and hollow Againe some chance in the fleshy partes and some in the bonye and sinnewie places And those that chaunce in the fleshy parts though they be verie deepe yet they be not so dangerous as the other and therefore we will speak first of the most dangerous If a horse haue a wound newly made either in his heade or in any other place that is full of sinnewes bones or gristles first Martin would haue you to wash the wounde well with white wine warmed That done to search the bottome of the wound with some instrument meete for the purpose suffering it to take as little winde in the meane while as may be Then hauing found the depth stop the hole close with a clout vntill your salue be
occupy a booke of no smal volume to bee written hereafter by some other perhaps if not by my selfe And in the meane time let this that I haue already written suffice Of the Anticor AN Anticor commeth of superfluity of euill blood or spirit in the artires and also of inflammation in the liuer which is ingendered by meanes of too choise keeping Markham and ouermuch rest which choaketh the vital power and occasion vnnaturall swellings in the brest which if they ascend vpward and come into the necke they are instantly death the cure thereof is in this sort Let him bleed so as he may bleed abundantly then with a sharp knife in diuers places cut the swelling which done set a cupping-glasse theron and cup it till the glasse filled with foule water fall away it selfe then giue the Horse to drinke three mornings together a pinte of Malmesie well stirred with Sinamon Lycoras and a little Bezar stone and during his sicknes let his drinke bee warmed and mingled with either Bran or Malt. Of the Cords THe Cords is a disease that maketh a horse stumble and many times fall and they apeare in a horses forelegs this is the cure thereof Take a sharpe knife and cut a slitte euen at the tip of his nose iust with the point of the grisle open the slit being made and you shall perceiue a white string take it vp with a Bores tooth or some crooked bodkin and cut it insunder then stitch vppe the slit and annoint it with Butter and the horse doubtlesse shall be recouered Of the Millets THe Millets is a griefe that appeareth in the Fetlockes behinde and causeth the haire to shed three or foure inches long and a quarter of an inch in bredth like as it were bare and ill to cure but thus is the cure First wash it well with strong lye and rub it till it bleede then binde vnto it Hony vnslect lime and Deares sewet boiled and mingled together this do for the space of a weeke and it shall be whole Of the Serew A Serew is a foule soraunce it is like a Splent but it is a little longer and is most commonly on the outside of the fore legge as the splint is on the inside the cure is thus Take two spoonefuls of strong Wine-Vinegar and one spoonefull of good Sallet-oyle mingle them together and euery morning bestow one houre in rubbing the sorance with it altogether downeward til it be gone which will not be long in going The medicines arising out of Horses THe Graecians haue written nothing at all concerning wilde horses Pliny because in their country there was none of them vsually bredde or gotten yet notwithstanding the same wee ought to thinke that all medicines or anye other thinges which do proceed from them are more strong in operation and haue in them greater force and power then anye common horses haue as it falleth out in all sortes of other beasts The blood of a horse as Pliny affirmeth doth gnaw into deade flesh with a putrifactiue force the same vertue hath the blood of Mares which haue bin couered by horses Also the bloode of a horse but especially of one which is a breeder doeth verye much make and helpe againste impostumes and small bunches which do arise in the flesh Moreouer it is said that the bloud of a young Asse is very good against the Iaundice and the ouer-flowing of the gall as also the same force and effect is in the blood of a young horse The horse-leaches do vse the blood of horses for diuers diseases which are incident vnto them both by annointing or rubbing the outward parts as also within their bodies Furthermore if one do cut the vaines of the pallet of a horses mouth and let it runne downe into his belly Theomnestus it will presently destroy and consume the maw or belly-worms which are within him When a horse is sicke of the pestilence they draw blood out of the veines in his spurring place and mingling the same vpon a stone with salt make him to licke it vp The blood of a horse is also mingled with other medicines and being annointed vpon the armes and shoulders of men or beasts Vegâ—tius which are broken or out of ioynt doth very much helpe them But a horse which is weary or tyred you must cure after this manner Firste draw some bloude out of his matrixe or wombe and mingle it with Oyle and Wine and then put it on the fire till it bee luke-warme and then rubbe the horse all ouer againste the haires If the sinnewes of horses do wax stiffe or shrink in together it is very necessary that the sicke parts should be annointed with the hot bloode which doeth proceede from him Pliny for horses also which are fed in the field vse their flesh and dung against the biting and stinging of Serpents We do also find that the flesh of horses being well boiled is very medicinable for diuers diseases Furnerius Moreouer it is very vsuall and common with the women of Occitania to take the fat or greace of horses to annoint their heades to make the haire of their heads multiply and increase and certaine later Phisitians do mingle the marrow of a horse with other ointments for a remedy against the crampe The marrow of a horse is also very good to loosen the sinnewes which are knit and fastned together but first let it be boiled in wine and afterwards made cold and then anointed warmly either by the fire or Sun If a horse do labor in what kind of impostume which they vulgarly call the worme either any where as well as in the nose they do open the skin with a searirg yron and doe sprinkle Verdigreace within the horses mouth being brent there being added thereunto sometimes the seed of Hen-bane The teeth of a male horse not gelded or by any labor made feeble being put vnder the head or ouer the head of him that is troubled or starteth in his dreame doth withstand and resist all vnquietnes which in the time of his rest might happen vnto him Albertus Pliny also doeth assent that flower dooeth heale the sorenes of a horses teeth and gums and the clefts and chinkes of a horses feet The teeth also of a horse is verye profitable for the curing of the Chilblanes which are rotten and full of corruption when they are swollen full ripe Marcellus Marcellus saith that the toothe of a horse being beaten and crushed into very small powder and being sprinkled vppon a mans genitall doth much profit and very effectually helpe him but the teeth which were first ingendered in a horse haue this vertue in them that if they should touch the teethe of man or woman who are molested and grieued with the tooth-ache they shal presently find a finall ende of their paine if in the like manner a childe doe kisse the nose or snowt of a horse he shal neuer feele paine in his teeth
horse they will be so venemous and full of poison that if a man or woman be smitten or pricked therewith Rasius they wil neuer cease from bleeding as long as life doth last If a horse be wounded with an arrow and haue the sweat of another horse and bread which hath bene brent being mingled in mans Vrine giuen him to drink and afterwards some of the same being mingled with horse-grease put into the wounde it will in short time procure him ease and helpe There are some which wil assure vs that if a man be troubled with the belly wormes or haue a Serpent crept into his belly if hee take but the sweate of a horse being mingled with his vrine and drinke it it will presently cause the wormes or the Serpent to yssue forth Dioscorides Pliny The dung of a horse or Asse which is fedde with grasse being dried and afterward dipped in wine and so drunke is a very good remedy against the bitings and blowes of Scorpions The same medicines they doe also vse being mingled with the genital of a Hare in Vineger both against the Scorpion and against the shrew-mouse The force is so great in the poyson of a madde Dogge or Bitch that his pargeted Vrine doth much hurt especially vnto them that haue a sore bile vpon them the chiefest remedy therefore against the same is the dung of a horse mingled with Vineger and being warmed put into the scab or sore The dung aswel of Asses as of horses either raw colde or burned is excellent good against the breaking forth or yssues of the blood Marcellus The dung of Horses or Asses being newe made or warme and so clapped and put to a green wound doth very easily and speedily stanche the bleeding If the vaine of a horse bee cut and the blood doe yssue out in too great aboundance apply the dung of the same horse vnto the place where the veine is cut Russius and the bleeding wil presently cease wherefore the poet doth very wel expresse it in these verses following Pellâ—ganius Sine fimus manni cum testis vritur oui Et reprimit fluidos miro medicamine cursus Albertus The same doth also very wel driue away the corruption in mens body which doth cause the blood to stinke if it be well and iustly applyed vnto the corrupt place The same also beeing mingled with oyle of Roses Aesâ—ulapius and new made and so applied vnto the eares doeth not onely driue away the paine but also doth very much helpe for hearing There is another remedy also for the hearing which is this to take the dunge of a horse which is new made and to make it hot in a furnace Marcellus and then to poure it on the middle of the heade against the Vâ—â—la and afterward to tie the aforesaid dunge in a linnen or wollen cloath vnto the toppe of the head in the night time Pliny The dung of a young Asse when he is first foaled giuen in Wine to the quantity or magnitude of a Beane is a present remedy for eyther man or Woman who is troubled with the Iaundice or the ouer-flowing of the gall and the same property hath the dung of a younge horse or Colte when hee is new foaled But the dunge of an olde horse being boiled in faire water Sextus and afterward strained and so giuen to the party to drinke who is troubled with Water in his belly or stomacke doth presently make vent for the same There is also an excellent remedy against the Collicke and stone which is this to take a handfull of the dung of a horse which hath bene fedde with Oates and Barley and not with grasse Empiricâ—s and mingle verye vvell it with halfe a pinte of Wine all which I do gesse will amount vnto the waight of eighteene ounces and then boyle them altogether vntil halfe of them bee boyled or consumed away and then drinke the same by little and little vntil it bee all drunke vp but it will be much better for the party that is troubled to drinke it vp altogether if he be able There is moreouer a very good and easie way by horse-dung to cure the Ague or quarterne feauer which is thus to burne the aforesaid dung Marcellus and to mingle the very dust it selfe thereof in old wine and then beat it vnto small powder and so giue it vnto the party who is troubled therewith to drinke or suck without any water in it and this wil very speedily procure ease and helpe If that a woman supposeth her childe which is in hir wombe to be dead Pliny let her drinke the milt or spleene of a horse in some sweet water not to the smel but to the tast and she wil presently cast the childe The same vertue is in the perfume which is made of a horses hoof as also in the dry dung of a horse There are some which do vse this means against the falling sicknes or the sicknes called Saint Iohns euil Plinyus that is to mingle the water or vrine which a horse doth make with the water which commeth from the Smiths trough and so to giue it the party in a potion There is a very good helpe for cattell which do void blood through their Nostrils or secret parts which is this Empiricus to make a paast of Wheat-flower and beat it and mingle it togither with Butter and Egges in the vrine of a horse which hath lately drunke and afterward to giue that paast or poultes baked euen into ashes to the beast so grieued To prouoke vrine when a mans yard is stopt there is nothing so excellent as the dung or filthe which proceedeth from the vrine which a horse hath made being mingled with wine and then strained and afterwards poured into the nostrils of the party so vexed There are certaine Tetters or Ring-wormes in the knees of horses and a little aboue the hooues in the bending of these parts there are indurate and hardned thicke skins Dioscorides which being beaten into small powder and mingled with Vineger and so drunke are an exceeding good preseruatiue against the falling sicknes Galen the same is also a very good remedy for them which are bitten with any wilde Beast whatsoeuer By the Tetter or Ring-worme which groweth in a horses knees or aboue the hoofes beaten and mingled with oyle and so poured in the eares the teeth of either man or woman which were weake and loose will be made very strong and fast The aforesaid Tetter without any mingling with oyle pliny doth also heal and cure the head-ache and falling sicknes in either man or woman The same also being drunk out of Clarret Wine or Muscadel for forty daies togither doeth quite expel and driue away the collicke and stone If that any man do get and putte vp the shooe of a horse beeing stroake from his hoofe as he trauaileth in his pace
three peeces of woode being thus made ready thou shalt erect a little piller so that the wedge may be downeward whereby the mouse may see the meate euery where and let the meate be hung in the former corner of the piller so if the mouse shall touch the meate he shall bee pressed downe with the fall of the board Mice also by the fall of a cleft board are taken which is held vp with a piller and hauing a little spattular of wood whereon the meate shall lye so made that the piller doth not open being parted except when the mouse commeth to touch the meate and so by that meanes she is taken There is also another manner of mouse-trap vsed among vs which is let there bee a hole made and compassed about with a boord of a foot long and fiue or six fingers broad the compasse whereof must be foure fingers into this hole let there be put a vessell made of wood the length of ones fist but round and very deepe and in the middle of each side of this vessell let there be made a hole wherein there is put in a thread made of yron with meat and let it be compassed about with a small thread which must be fastned ouerthwart the hole and the part of the thread which hangeth downe must be crooked that the meat may be fastned thereto and there must bee a peece of the thread without to the which may be tyed a stronger peece of wood which is the thread whereon the meat is hanged by the which the mouse is taken by putting her head into the vessel to ketch at the meat And also mice are taken otherwise with a great Cane wherein there is a knot and in the top of it let there be made a little bow with a lute string and there sticke a great needle in the middle of the pole of the Cane and let the pole be made iust in the middle and let there be bound a peece of flesh beneath so prepared that when the mouse shall bite and mooue the skin that then the string slippeth downe and so the needle pearceth through his head and holdeth him that he cannot run away But among all the rest there is an excellent peece of workmanship to ketch mice which I will heer set down Take a peece of wood the length of both thy fists one fistbroad and two fingers thicke and let there be cut off about some two fingers a little beyond the middle of halfe the breadth And that breadth where it was cut ought to be more declining and lower after the manner of this letter A. And you must put to the side of this a peece of wood halfe a circle long bending and in the middle part of each side holes pearced through so that the halfe circle may be streight and plainely placed to the foundation of the woode that the trap being made it may rest vpon the same halfe circle and vpon this halfe circle let there be placed iron nailes very sharp so that the instrument by falling downe may couer the irons of the halfe circle as soone as euer they touch the same Furthermore there is another manner of trap when a vessell out of which they cannot escape is filled halfe vp with water and vpon the top thereof Otmell is put which will swim and not sinke making the vppermost face of the water to seeme white and solid whereunto when the mouse commeth she leapeth into the oate-mell and so is drowned And the like may be done with chaffe mingled with oat-mell and this in all traps must be obserued wherein mice are taken aliue that they be presently taken forth for if they make water in the place their fellowes will for euer suspect the trap and neuer come neareâ—t till the sauour of the vrine be aholished Palladius saith that the thicke froth of oyle being infused into a dish or brasen caldron and set in the middle of the house in the night time will draw all the mice vnto it wherein they shall sticke fast and not be able to escape Anatolius Pliny saith that if a mouse be gelded aliue and so let go she will driue away all the residue but this is to be vnderstoode of the Sorex If the head of a mouse be flaied or if a male mouse be flaied all ouer or her taile cut off or if her legge be bound to a post in the house or a bell be hung about her necke and so turned going she will driue away all her fellowes And Pliny saith that the smoke of the leaues of the Ewe-tree because they are poyson will kill mice so also will libbards-baine and henbaine-seede and Wolfe baine for which cause they are seuerally called Myoctonos and the rootes of Wolfe bane are commonly sold in Sauoy vnto the Country people for that purpose In Germany they mingle it with oat-mell and so lay it in bals to kill mice The fume of wall-wort calcauth parcely origanum and deaths-hearb doe also kill mice you may also driue them away with the fume of the stone Haematites and with greene tamarisk with the hoofe of a mule or of nitre or the ashes of a Weasell or a cat in water or the gall of an Oxe put into bread The seede of Cowcumbers being sod and sprinckled vpon any thing mice will neuer touch it likewise wilde coucumber and coloquintida kill mice To keepe mice from corne make morter of the froth of oyle mingled together with chaffe and let them well dry and afterwards be wrought throughly then plaster the wals of your garnery therewith and when they are dry cast more froth of oyle vpon them and afterwards carry in your corne and the mice will neuer annoy it Cato Wormewood laid among cloathes and skinnes defend them from mice And also the water of wormewood sod sprinckled vpon cloathes hath the same operation Tragus Inke tempered with water wherein Wormewood hath beene washed or sod causeth that the Parchment and Paper written therewith shall neuer be eaten or touched with mice Auicen Anatolius and Tarentinus in the discourse of the grauery or barm do write that milk-thistle mingled with hony water and fine flower or mil-dust made into little balles and laied where mice my eat of it doth make them blind if they taste thereof White Hellebore mixed with pottage Paxausus or the seedes of wilde Cowcumber Coloquintida and meale mingled with blacke Hellebore and put into Cheese or bread or any kind of fat meat killeth both Rats and mice So likewise a white camelion sod in broth mingled with water and oyle killeth Dogges swine and mice The iuyce of the roote of the hearbe Camelion mixed with water and oyle draweth mice vnto it and killeth them by tasting thereof if they drinke not presently so also doth Henbane The roots of the bramble Tree mingled with Butter Breade or Honey Elecampaine and sea Onions Scamoney wild Sparradge Arsenicke Mug-wort otherwise cald mouse-wort mingled
that aboue all other creatures they loue Virgins and that vnto them they will come be they neuer so wilde and fall a sleepe before them so being asleepe they are easily taken and carried away All the later Physitians do attribute the vertue of the Vnicorns horne to the Rhinocerots horn but they are deceiued by imitation of Isidorus and Albertus for there is none of the auncient Graecians that haue euer obserued any medicines in the Rhinocerot The Indians make bottels of their skins wherein they put their Lycion or succum medicatum and therefore I wil conclude this story with the riddle of Fraunciscus niger made vpon the excellency of the horne that groweth vpon the nose Dic mihi quae superis sint acceptissima dona Whereunto the answer is made in the next verse Principium nasi Rhinocerotis amant OF THE SHEEPE THe Haebrewes haue diuers names whereby they signifie a sheep al that kind as Zon and Zoneth for which the Septuagints do alwaies render Probata The seueral names sheep or little cattle The Arabians Genas The Chaldeans Ana. The Persians Gospand also Rachel in Haebrew the plurall whereof is Rechelim which signifieth sheepe Kebesch and Kabsa or Kibsa Esay 53. Tahel Neelamah that is a dombe sheep where the Hebrewes haue Rachel there the Chaldes translate Rachlak The Arabians Akalak The Persians Chomeschan thu Kebes and Kibsa signifie a Sheepe male and female vnder a year old and Aijl and Eel for a sheep aboue a year old male female In Leuit. 22. the Chalde translateth for Kebij Imar. The Arabians Egel The Persians Bara and Keseb in Haebrew is the same that Kebesch Seh also signifieth a sheep although it be sometime taken for a Lamb or Kid. Likewise Thalch and Theleh Esa 40. signifieth a Lambe that sucketh And Epiphanius writeth that by the same word the Haebrew Astronomers signified the signe Aries in the Zodiacke The Sarazens at this day call a sheep Ganeme and cattle Garien and the dung of cattle Hara Garien The Graecians call a sheepe Oijs and Probaton the Latins Ouis and by excellency Pecus the Italians Pecora the French Brebis the Spaniards Oueia the Germans Schaff the Illirians Owcze or Skop. These and such like I might adde more concerning the names of this beast and the aboundance of the names thereof in the Haebrew tongue is a notable testimony of the singular account which God himselfe made of this beast The Latins haue so honored it that after it they haue named many of their children stories make mention of most noble and gallant men so called Such was Ouinius Camillus Seuerus Ouinius Fabius Maximus Ouiculus Oilycus Oileus Aiax Oie the wife of Charhippus and many such other if it were necessary to this story to relate them but I will not trouble the Reader with any such vnnecessary circumstances I wil therfore first of al begin with a relation of the sheep of other countries The description of diuers kids of sheep according to their country Strabo so in the end make a more particular discouery of our own at home For the difference of regions do very much enlighten the discription or history of sheep It is reported that about Erythrea one of the Islands of the Gades there is such aboundance of good pasture and hearbs so grateful to sheep that if they be not let blood once in thirty daies they perish by suffocation and that the milke of those sheep yeeldeth no whay wherewithall they make aboundance of cheese although they poure water into it The herbage of that Island is dry yet profitable to catle and milch beasts and from thence came the originall of the fat cattle of Geryon The sheepe of Graecia are lesser then the sheep of Egypt and the Oues Pirrhicae were like Boues Pirrhicae namely of exceeding stature which name was deryued from Pyrrhus their maister and owner Among the Psillians in India their Rams are no greater then our Lambs and Aechylides in his books of husbandry affirmeth that the sheepe of the Isle Chius are very small and yet their Milke maketh very lawdable cheese In Spain their best sheep haue black fleeces at Polentia near the Alpes they are gray or hony-wolled in Asia and Boetica called Erythrea they are red like Foxes and from thence came the tearme of Erythreae Oues At Canusium the sheepe are yellow or Lion tauny and so also at Tarentum Istria and Liburnia yeald sheep hauing wooll which is so course and rough that it may rather seeme to be haire then wooll and therefore neuer fit for fine garmentes nor for any other vse except by the singular art of spinning in Portugal And the like to this is the wooll of the sheep of Piscenae and in Egypt of which latter it is said that if it be dyed againe after it is thred-bare it will endure almost for euer For the ancientes as Homer writeth had the vse heereof although the thread were rough in their workes of Tapistry and this was dressed diuers waies for the French in Europe dresse it one way and the Parthians in Asia another way The sheep of Apulia gaue the name to Lana Italica for excellent wooll and yet was it short and course good for nothing but for clokes to ride in and weare in rainy weatherâ— vnto these I may adde the Calabrian Milesian and Arentinean sheepe yet in the dayes of Varro they couered their sheepe with other skins to keepe the Wooll both from losse and other infection so that it might be the better washed dyed and prepared for these were nourished most of all in houses The French Sheep about Altinas and also those that are scabbed or folded in the plain and barren fields of Parma Mutina The sheep of Heluetia feed in the tops of the Mountaines whiles the Goates keepe beneath among the trees and gather fruits on the sides of the hils The Flemmish sheep haue a soft and curled haire There be in generall two kinds of Sheep one called Tectum the other Colonicum as if you would say house-sheep and field-sheep for the Graecian sheep which before we haue called Tarentinae and were also called Terintinae because of their soft wool liued in houses and they were also called Pellitae but the field-sheepe hauing by nature a greater courser and rougher haire are suffered to lodge abroad in the fieldes Likewise the sheepe of Myletum and Attica and the region Gadilonea reaching to Armenia haue very soft and gentle wooll which thing sildome commeth to passe in Pontus or Capadocia In Scotland also in a place thereof called by Hector Boethius Buthuguhania are great store of sheepe bearing good wooll from whence almost all that country fetch their breed The Sheepe of Ethiopia beare no wooll at all but in stead thereof their haire is rough like Camels haire Amongest the Abidene and the Beudiani both Aelianus and Nicomachus the Sonne of Aristotle do testifie that all their sheepe are blacke and
of the day was ouer hot and not fit for cattel to eat in yet other nations especially Germany and England and these Northern parts of the world may not do so The whole cunning of shephards is excellently described The discription of a sheapheardes eare out of Virgil. for the ordering of their sheepe in these verses following Ergo omni studio glaciem ventosque niuales Quo minus est illis curae mortalis egestas Auertes victumque feres virgea laetus Pabula nec tota claudes foenilia bruma At vero Zephyris cum laeta vocantibus aestas In saltus vtrumque gregem oues capras atque in pascua Mittes Carpamus dum mane novum dum gramina canent Luciferi primo cam sydere frigida rura Inde vbi quarta sitim cali collegerit hora Et ros in tenera pecori gratissimus herba est Ad puteos aut alta greges ad stagna iubeto Et cantu querulae rumpent arbusta cicadae Aestibus at medijs vmbrosam exquirere vallem Currentem ilignis potare canalibus vndam Ingentes tendatramos aut sicubi nigrum Sicubi magna Iouis antiquo robore quercus Tum tenues dare rursus aquas pascere rursus Ilicibus crebris sacra nemus accubet vmbra Temperat saltus reficit iam roscida luna Solis ad occasum cum frigidus aera vesper Littoraque halcyonen resonant acanthida dumi When they returne from their feeding the shepheard must regard that he put them not into the foldes hot and if the time of the yeare bee ouer hot let them not bee driuen to pastures a far off but feed them in those which are neare and adiacent to their folds that so they may easily haue recourse vnto the shaddow they ought not also to bee turned out clustering altogether but disperced abroad by little and little neither must they bee milked while they are hot vntil they be cold a little so likewise in the morning let them be milked so soone as day appeareth and the little Lambs be turned out vnto thē which were shut from them But if their appeare vpon the grasse Spiders-webs or cob-webs which beare vp little drops of water then they must not be suffered to feede in those places for feare of poisoning and in times of heate and raine driue them to the hiest hils or pastures which do most of all lie open to the winds for there shall the cattle feed most temperately They must auoid all sandy places and in the month of Aprill May Iune and Iuly they must not be suffered to feed ouermuch but in October September and Nouember let them haue their full that so they may grow the stronger against the winter time The Romans had a speciall regard to chuse some places for the summering of their sheepe and some place for their wintering for if they summered them in Apulia they wintered them in Samnius and therefore Varro saith the flockes of Apulia betimes in the morning in the summer season are lead forth to feeding because the dewy grasse of the morning is much better then that which is dry in the middle of the day and about noone when the season groweth hot they lead them to shaddowey trees and rocks vntill the coole aire of the euening begin to returne at which time they driue them to their pasture againe and cause them to feed towards the sun rising for this is a general rule among the shepehards Quod mane ad solis occasum vespere ad solis ortum pascantur oues That is That in the morning they feede their sheep towards the sun setting and in the euening towardes the sun rising and the reason of it is Quia infermissimum peccori caput auerso sole passe cogendum Because the head of sheepe is most weake therefore it ought to be fed turned from the sun In the hot countries a little before the sun setting they water their sheep and then lead them to their pasture againe for at that time the sweetenesse seemeth to be renewed in the grasse and this they do after the autumnall equinoctium It is good to feede them in corne fields after haruest and that for two causes First because they are exceedingly filled with such hearbs as they find after the plough and also they tread downe the stubble and dung the land whereby it becommeth more fruitfull against the next year There is nothing that maketh a sheep grow more fat then drinke and therefore we read in holy scripture how Iacob watered his Sheep and the Daughters of Iethro their sheep at what time Moyses came vnto them therefore it is best oftentimes to mingle their water with salt according to these verses At cui lactis amor cytisum lotosque frequentes Ipse manu salsasque ferat praesepibus herbas Hinc amant fluvios magis magis vbera tendunt Et salis occultum referunt in lacte saporem There bee many that trouble themselues about this question namely The reason why the sheepe of England do not drinke for what cause the sheep of England do neuer thirst except they see the water and then also seldom drink yet haue no more sheep in England then are in any other country of the world Insomuch as we thinke it a prodigious thing that sheepe should drinke but the true cause why our English sheepe drinke not is for there is so much dew on the grasse that they neede no other water and therefore Aristotle was deceiued who thinketh that the Northern sheep had mor neede of water then the Southern In Spaine those sheep bear the best fleeces of wooll that drinke least In the Iland of Sephalene as we haue shewed in the story of the Goate all their cattle for want of water do draw in the could aire but in the hotter countries euery day once at the least about 9. or ten at clocke in the morning they water their sheepe and so great is the operation of drinke in sheepe that diuers Authors do reporte wonders thereof as Valerius Maximus and Theophrastus who affirme that in Macidonia when they will haue their sheep bring forth white Lambs they lead them to the riuer Aliatmon and when they will haue them to bring forth black Lambs to the riuer Axius as we haue shewed already It is also reported that the riuer Scamander doth make all the sheep to be yellow that drinke thereof Likewise there are two Riuers in Antandria which turne sheepe from blacke to white and white to blacke and the like I might adde of the Riuer Thrases of the two Riuers of Beotia al which things do not come to passe by miracle but also by the power of nature as may appeare by the History of Iacob when he serued his father in law Laban For after that he had couenanted with Laban to receaue for his stipend all the spotted sheepe the Scripture saith in this manner Then Iacob tooke rods of greene Poplar and of Hayesell
in opinion that both the foode that is receiued inwardly and also the ointments that are applied outwardly will be sufficient meanes to procure aboundance of milke in the Sommer and Winter seasons Now therefore it followeth to entreate likewise of the Wintering of sheepe Of the Wintering and stabling of sheepe for as there is more cost to keepe them in cold weather then in warme so it doth require at our handes some discourse thereof Then it behooueth you to prouide for them warme folds and stables whereof the Poet writeth in this manner Incipiens stabulis edico in mollibus herbam Carpere oueis dum mox frondosa reducitur aestas Et multa duram stipula filicumque maniplis Sternere subter humum glacies ne frigida laedat Molle pecus scabiemque ferat turpeisque podagras Whereby it is euident that the colde Winters doe beget in sheepe diuers and many diseases and for that cause it was the counsell of a wise and learned man that our sheepe should not be turned out to feeding neither in cold or warme weather vntill the frost were dissolued and thawed from off the grasse and earth The Tarentine Graecian and Asian sheepe were wont to be altogether kept in stables within doores lying continually vpon plancks and boords boared through Palladius Pet. Crescent that so their precious fleeces might be the better safe-garded from their owne filth and vrine and three times in the yeare they let them out of their stables to wash them and annoint them with oyle and wine and to saue them free from serpents they burned in their stables and and vnder their cratches Galbanum Ceder-wood womans haire and Harts hornes and of these Tarentine and Graecian sheepe Columella writeth in this manner It is in vaine for any man to store himselfe with those Tarentine sheepe for they aske as much or more attendance and costly foode then their bodies are worth for as all beastes that beare wooll are tender and not able to endure any hardnesse so among all sheepe there are none so tender as the Tarentine or Graecian sheepe and therefore the keeper of them must not looke to haue any playing daies nor times of negligence of sluggishnesse and much lesse to regard his couetous minde for they are cattell altogether impatient of cold being seldome led abroad and therefore the more at home to be fed by hand and if by couetousnesse or negligence one withdraw from them their ordinary foode he shall be penny wise and pound foolish that is suffer a great losse in his cattell for sauing from them a little meate Euery one of them all the Winter long were fed with three pintes of Barley or Pease or Beanes three times a day beside dryed Ewe leaues or vine leaues or hay late mowen or fitches or chaffe Besides there cannot be any milke taken from the dams for at the first yeaning there is no more then to serue the little or least lambes and after a few daies euen while they smell and tast of their dammes belly they were to be killed for want of sucke that euery lambe which was to be preserued for breede might haue two dammes or Ewes to sucke and so the poore Ewe was forced to a double miserie first to loose her yoong one and afterward to lend her paps and milke to a stranger And moreouer they were forced to nourish more males then females for that at two yeare olde they were either gelded or killed to sell their beautifull skins to the Merchants for their wooll was most pretious by reason that neuer or seldome they went abroad to the fieldes Their custodie in the house from serpents and other annoyances is thus described by the Poets Disce odoratam stabulis incendere cedrum Galbaneoque agitare graues nidore chelydros Saepe sub immotis praesepibus aut malat actu Vipera delituit coelumque exterrita fugit Aut tecto assuetus coluber In consideration whereof and of all the paines about the housing of these tender sheepe the Poet teacheth the Shepheard or sheepe-master to kill the serpents and dash out the braines of snakes saying Cape saxa manu cape robora pastor Tollentemque minas sibila colla tumentem Deijce Concerning the auncient formes of their sheepe stables The fashion of sheepe coates or stables I find this to be recorded by the auncients First they made them low and not of any high or loftie building so stretching them out in length and not in heigth that it may be warme in the Winter time for although there be no creature better cloathed by nature then a sheepe yet is there not any more impatient of cold nor more apt to take harme thereby It must not be ouer-broad yet so as the Ewe and her lambe may lye both together and the breathing place not left open at the top of the house or the sides for that wil let in too much ayre but at the doore or porch of their entrance and that very low that so the fresh ayre may quickly easily come to their low heads bodies also their breath the better auoide out of the stable They also had a care to couer all the flower with strawe or dry boared boords or some such other matter whereby they might stand continually dry and warm and also cleane and sweete to the end they might not be annoyed in their owne standings and therefore the floore was made sheluing or falling low on the one side or else of hurdles like baskets to let out their vrine for they often make water and these were often changed cleansed and turned In this stable there ought to be diuisions or partitions wherein in time of necessitie or sicknesse they may easily abide alone and be parted from the residue feede without anoyance of one another and especially that one may not ride another and during the time of Winter they did not let their cattell drinke aboue once a day The manner how in olde time they bought and sold sheepe And these were the cures of the auncients about their flocks of sheepe For vppon them they liued they bought and sold and herein also it is profitable to obserue the ancient manner of their bargaines about these creatures for when a man came and bought sheepe he made this protestation to the seller Tanti sunt mihi emptae To whom the seller answereth sunt Then the buyer draweth his money with these words Sic illasce oâ—es qua de re agitur sanas recte esse vti pecus ouillum quod recte sanum est extra luscam minam â— ventre glabro neque de pecore morboso esse habereque recte licere haec si recte fieri respondes c. First the Buyer saith shall I buye these sheepe for thus much money and so draweth his money to whom the Marchant or seller answereth you shal Then saith the chapman or buyer againe to him do you promise me then that these sheepe
Gentian but narrower leaues and standing vpright the Nearue whereof in the middle is red and it groweth about the waters and therefore I coniecture it may be Water-Sorrell or Water-planton whereof when Sheep haue eaten they fall into a disease called also Duua for there is bred in their liuer certain litle black Worms or Leeches growing in smal bagges or skinnes being in length halfe a finger and so much in breadth wherewithall when the beast is infected it is vncurable and therefore there is no remedy but to take from it the life and that this is true the Butchers themseles affirme how many times they doe find such little Wormes in the Sheepes Lyuer and they say they come by drinking of Fenny or marshy-water And to conclude there is a kinde of Pannicke also whereof when Sheepe haue eaten it destroyeth them and there be other Hearbes which euery common Sheapheard knoweh are hurtfull vnto Sheepe and the beast it selfe though in nature it bee very simple yet is wise enough to chuse his owne foode except the vehement necessity of famine and hunger causeth him to eate poysoned hearbs In cases when their bellyes swell or when they haue Wormes in their belly which they haue deuoured with the Herbs they eat then they poure into their bellies the Vrin of men and because their bellies presently swell and are puffed out with wind the Sheapheards cut off the tops of their eares and make them bleede and likewise beate their sides with their Staffe and so most commonly they are recouered If Sheep chaunce to drink in their heate so as their greace be cooled in their belly which Butchers do find many times to be true then the Sheaphard must cut off halfe the Sheepes eare and if it bleede the beast shall be well but if it bleed not he must be killed and eaten or else he will starue of his owne accord If at any time a Sheep chance to deuoure a leach by pouring in oyle into his throat he shall be safe from danger Of the colds of Sheepe SHeep are knowne to be subiect to cold not onely by coughing after they haue taken it but also by their strength before they take it for the Sheapheards do diligently obserue that when any frost or yce falleth vppon a Sheepe if hee endure it and not shake it off it is a great hazzard but the same Sheep will die of cold but if he shake it off and not endure it it is a signe of a strong sound and healthy constitution Likewise for to know the health of their Sheep they open their eies and if the vaines appeare red and small they know they are sound but if they appeare white or else red and ful they know they are weake and will hardly liue out Winter or cold weather also when they are taken in their hands they presse their backe bone neare the hips and if it bend not they are sound and strong but if they feele it bend vnder their hand they hold them weake and feeble Likewise if a man take them by the head or by the skinne of the Necke if he follow him easily when he draweth him it is a signe of weakenesse and imbicility but if it doth striue and follow with great difficulty then it is a token of health and soundnesse Of Scabs and the causes of them The original cause of Scabs THe true originall of Scabs is either as we haue said already leanenesse or else cold or wet or wounds in the flesh by clipping or to conclude by the heate of the beast in summer not washed off by thornes and prickings of bushes or by sitting vpon the dung of Mules Horsses or Asses Now when this first of al beginneth it is easie for the sheapheard to obserue by these signes and tokens for the tickling or itching humour lying betwixt the skin and the flesh causeth the poore sheep either to bite the place with his teeth or to scratch it with his horne or to rub it vpon a tree or wall or if he can do none of these stamp hard vppon the ground with his forefeet for which it is good presently to separate the sheepe so affected from the flocke The discription and cure whereof is thus expressed by Virgill Turpis oues tentat scabies vbi frigidus hymber Altius ad vivum persedit horrida cano Bruma gelu vel cum tonsis illotus ad haesit Sudâ—r hir suti secuerunt corpora vepres Dulcibus id circo fluuijs pecus omne magistri Per fundunt vdisque aries in gurgite villis Mersatur missusque secundo defluit amni Aut tonsum tristi contingunt corpus amurca Et spumas miscent argenti viuaque sulphura Idaasque pices pingues vnguine ceras Scillamque helleborosque graues nigrumque bitumen Non tamen vlla magis praesens fortuna laborum est Quam si quiâ— ferro potuit rescindere summum Vlceris os alitur vitium viuitque tegendo Dum medicas adhibere manus ad vulnera pastor Abnegat which may be englished in this maner When the poore sheep throgh wet shewers cold winter summers sweate or prickings of thornes doth incurre the filthy disease of scabs then it concerneth his maister to wash him in sweet riuers ouer head and eares yea to cast him in to swimme for his owne life or else to annoint his body after it is clipped with the spume or froth of oyle and of siluer with Brimstone and soft Idean Pitch with wax Hellibor black-earth or the flesh of shrimps or if it be possible to cut off the top of the wound with a knife Of the Scabs of Sheepe the first remedy THis disease the French-men call Letac and of all other it is one of the most contagious for our english prouerbe iustifieth one scabbed sheepe infecteth a whole flocke and Textor writeth thus of it Oues frequentius quam vllum aliud animal infestantur scabie quam facit macies vt maciem exiguitas cibi huic morbo nisi occurratur vnica totum pecus coinquinabit nam oues contagione vexantur That is to say Sheep are more oftentimes infected with scabs then any other creature whereinto they throgh for leanes as they fall into leanesse through want of food and therefore if a remedy be not prouided for this euill one of them infected will defile all the residue for sheep are subiect to contagion for remedy wherof in France they vse this medicine First of all they sheare the sheep and then they mingle together the pure froath of oyle and water wherein Hops haue bin sod and the leeze of the best wine and so let it soke in two or three daies together afterwardes they wash them in sea-sea-water and for want of sea water in salt water and this medicine is approued wherby both scabs and tikes are remoued from the sheep and also the wooll groweth better afterwards then euer it did before but it is better if a man can cure them without shearing
to sprinkle it ouer with sea water and the fat remaining which did swim vpon the top being gathered togither in an earthen vessel to poure the water into the cauldron then must the froath be poured againe into the sea water lastly taken out again this is so often to be done that the fat being consumed there wil not any froath be left remaining the Aesypus then being gathered togither is to be mollified with mens hands if there be any filth therin it must out of hand be taken away and all the water by little and little excluded and being fresh poured in let it be mingled with ones hands vntill the Aesypus being touched with the tongue of any one may lightly bind it but not sauor either sharp or tartly and the fat may seeme very white and then let it be hid in an earthen vessell but let there be great care had that they be done in the hot sun But there are some which vse another manner of way to make the same which is this to clense the fleeces and wash away all filth and presse it forth of the same and boile them in water ouer a soft fire in a brazen vessel then to wash the fat which swimmeth on the top being gathered together with Water and being strained in another platter which may haue some hot water in it to hide or ouercast it with a linnen cloth and lay it forth in the sun vntil it be very white and thick enough Some also do vse another way as this to wash the fat being strained with cold water and to rub it with their hands not much otherwise then women doe a seare-cloth for by that meanes it is made more white and purer There is yet another kind of way to make Aesypus described by Aetius in these words take saith he the greasie wooll which groweth in the shoulder pits of sheepe and wash them in hot water being thick and soft and squize al the filth forth of the same the washing wherof you shall put in a vessell of a large mouth or brim casting afterwards hot water in the same then take the water in a cup or in some other such like instrument and poure it in and out holding it vp very high vntill there come a froath vpon it then sprinkle it ouer with sea water if you shall get any if not with some other cold water and suffer it to stand still when it shall waxe cold take that which shall flow on the top away with a ladle and cast it into any other vessell afterwards hauing put a little cold water in it stir it vp and downe with your handes then hauing poured out that water put new hot water in it and repeate againe the same thing altogether which we haue now taught vntill the Aesypus be made white and fat containing no impute or filthy thing in it at al then dry it in the sun being hid for some certain daies in an earthen vessell and keepe it But all these things are to be done when the sun is very hot for by that meanes it will be more effectual and whiter and not hard or sharp There are moreouer some which gather it after this manner They put new shorne wooll which is very filthy and greasie in a vessel which hath hot water in it and burne the water that it may somewhat wax hot afterwards they coole it and that which swimmeth aboue in the manner of fat they scum it off with their handes and put it away in a vessell of Tinne and so do fill the vessell it selfe with raine water put it in the sun couered with a thin linnen cloth and then we must moysten it again and put vp the Aesypus for it hath strength mollifieng and releasing with some sharpnes but it is counterfeited with wax sewet and Rozen and it is straight waies perceiued for as much as the true Aesypus reserueth the scent of the vnwashed wooll and being rubbed with any ones hands is made like vnto Ceruse or white lead Euen the filth and sweat of sheep cleauing to their wooll hath great and manifold vse in the world and aboue all other that is most commended which is bred vpon the Athenian or Graetian sheep which is made many waies and especially this way first they take off the wooll from those places where it groweth with all the sewet or filth there gathered together and so put them in a brasen vessel ouer a gentle fire wher they boile out the sweat so take of that which swimmeth at the top and put it into an earthen vessel seething againe the first matter which fat is washed together in cold water so dryed in a linnen cloth is scorched in the sun vntill it become white and transparent and so it is put vp in a box of tinne It may be proued by this if it smell like the sauour of sweat and being rubbed in a wet hand doe not melt but waxe white like white lead this is most profitable against al inflammation of the eies and knots in cheeks or hardnesse of skin in them Of this Aesypus or vnwashed wooll the Graetians make great account and for the variety of dressing or preparing it they cal it diuersly somtime they call it Oesupum Pharmaicon sometime Oesupon Keroten Oesupon Kerotoeide sometime Oesupon Hugron and such like Of it they make plaisters to asswage the Hypochondriall inflammations and ventosity in the sides Some vse Aesopus for Oesypus but ignorantly and without reason it is better to let it alone but in the collection heereof it must be taken from the sound not from the scabby sheep But when we cannot come by the true Oesypus then in stead thereof we may take that which the Apothecaries and ointment-makers do ordaine namely Meliloti vnc 4. Cardamomi vnc 2. Hysopiherb vnc 2. with the vnwashed wooll taken frō the hams or flanks of a sheep Myrepsus vseth this Oesipus against all gouts and aches in the legs or articles and hardnesse of the spleene Galen calleth it Ius Lanae and prescribeth the vse of it in this sort Make saith he a playster of Oesypus or ius lanae in this sort take waxe fresh-greace Scammonie old oile one ounce of each of Fenny-greeke sixe ounces then seeth or boile your oile with the ius lanae and Fenny-greeke very carefully vntill it equall the oyle and bee well incorporated together and then againe set it to the fire vntill with the perscription aforesaide and also he teacheth how to make this Ius lanae for saith he take vnwashed wooll and lay it deepe in faire water vntill it be very soft that is by the space of sixe daies and the seuenth day take it and the water together that seeth wel taking off the fat which ariseth at the top and put it vp as is aforesaid these things saith Galen The vse of this by reason it is very hot is to display vlcers and tumors in wounds Dioscorides
congeale mixed with Vineger and drunke for three daies together is an excellent remedy against the vomitting or spetting of blood The like force in it hath the blood of a Kidde The bloode of a Lambe mingled with wine doth heale those which are troubled with the falling sicknesse as also those which haue the fowle euill For the conception of a Woman take the yarde and gall of a Bucke a Kid and a Hare with the blood and sewet of a Lamb and the marrow of a Hart and mix them altogither with Nard and oyle of Roses and after her purgation Pliny let them be laied vnder her and this without all doubt wil make her apt to conceiue The skins of Serpents being annointed with water in a bath and mingled with lime and Lambes sewet doth heale the disease called S. Anthonies fire The marrow of a Lambe melted by the fire with the oyle of Nuts and white sugar distilled vpon a cleane dish or platter and so drunke doth dissolue the stone in the bladder and is very profitable for any that pisseth blood It also cureth al paines or griefes of the yarde bladder or reynes The skin of a Lambe being dawbed or annointed with liquid-pitch and applyed hot vnto the belly of any one that is troubled with excoriations of the bowels or the bloody flix wil very speedily cure him if he haue any sence or feeling of cold in him If a Virgins menstrual fluxes come not forth at the due time Hippocrates and her belly is moued it is conuenient to apply lambs skins being hot vnto her belly and they will in short space cause them to come forth A garment made of lamb skins is accounted very good for the corroborating and strengthning of yong men The skins of lambes are more hot then kids skins are more profitable for the confirming of the backe and the reines The little bone which is in the right side of a Toad being bound in a young lambes skin being hot doth heal both quartaine and al other feauers being aplied thereunto The dust of lambs bones is very much and rightly vsed for Vlcers which haue no chops or stars in them The dust of smal cattels dung being mingled with Nitre but especially of lambs hath in them great force to heal cankers the dust of lambs bones is very much commended for the healing and making of greene wounds sound and solide which thing by the Saracens is much verified in regard that at al times they go to war Marcellus Pliny they neuer forget to take of the same along with them The lungs of lambs do very effectually cure those whose feete are wrung or pinched by theyr shoo-soles The lungs of lambs or rams being burned and the dust thereof mingled with oile is very profitable for the curing of kibes or vlcers being applied thereunto It hath the same vertue being raw bound vpon the sore Marcellus The runnet of a lambe is of very great force against al other euil medicines The runnets of smal cattel but especially of a lamb is very effectual against al kinds of poyson The runnets of a kid a lambe and a hind-calfe are conueniently taken against Wolfe-bane drunke in wine The runnet of a hare a kid or a lambe taken in wine to the weight of a dram is very effectuall against the forke-fish cureth the bites or strokes of al Sea-fishes The runnet of a lamb drunk in wine is an excellent cure for the bitings of a shrew Pliny The runnet of a lamb drunk in water is accounted for a safegard to young children who are vexed with thicke and concrete milke or if the default shal happen by curded milke it wil be soone remedyed by a lambes runnets giuen in Vineger A Lambs runnet hid or poured into water doth speedily cohibit the bleeding of the nose when nothing else can stay it The gal of smal Cattel but especially of a Lamb being mixed with hony are thoght to be very medicinable for the curing of the falling sicknes The places which are infected by cankers being anointed ouer with the gal of a lamb are very speedily and effectually healed There is also by the Magicians deliuered vnto vs a speedy means for the curing of the melt which is this to take a Lamb new born instantly to pluck him in pieces with ones hands Marcellus and when the melt is pulled out to put it hot vpon the melt of the party so grieued and bind it on fast with swadling cloathes and continually to say I make a remedy for the melt then in the last day the same being taken from his body to put it to the Wall of the beâ— wherein the diseased party is wont to lye it being first daubed with durt that it might the better stick and to signe the durt with seuen and twenty markes saying at euery mark I make a remedy for the melt this remedy being done three times it will heale the diseased party although he be very weake and full of danger But this is the opinion of the Magicians which I here set downe that they should rather see their folly then beleeue knowing them to be meere fopperies For making the wool to grow slower the gelders of cattel anoint the bloud which commeth from the stones of gelded Lambes which being anointed doth profit very much for haires being pulled away as also against poison Pliny The dung of Lambes before they haue tasted of any grasse being dryed in the shaddow and rubbed to powder and applyed in the manner of a plaister doth heale and ease al kindes of paines in the chaps or iawes And thus much for the medicines of the sheepe OF THE STREPSICEROS THere is in Creete neare the Mountaine Ida Bellonius a kind of sheep called by the Sheapheardes Strepsiceros which is not different from the vulgar sheep except onely in the hornes for they bend not like other but stand straight and vpright like the Vnicorne and beside are circled about with certain round speeres like a Goates horne This liueth in flockes and we haue here beside the figure of the beast expressed a double form of their hornes and forepart of their head the figure of a Harpe being fastened to one of them as it was presently drawen The description whereof was taken by Docter Cay of England in these words following The hornes of this Strepsiceros are so liuely expressed by Pliny and so fitly fitted to beare Harpes that they seeme not to aske any further narration of words I will therefore onely adde this they are hollow within and long about two Roman feet and three palmes if you measure them as they are straight but if you take their scantling and length as they crooke a little then are they about three foot long they are in breadth where they ioyne to the head three Roman fingers and a halfe and their whole compasse in that place is about two Roman palmes and a halfe In the
be no appearance of these vpon their tongue then the chap-man or buyer pulleth of a bristle from the backe and if blood follow it is certaine that the Beast is infected and also such cannot well stand vppon theyr hinder legs Their taile is very round For remedy hereof diuers daies before their killing they put into their wash or swill some ashes especially of Hasell trees But in France and Germany it is not lawfull to sel such a Hogge and therefore the poore people do onely eat them Howbeit they cannot but engender euill humours and naughty blood in the body The rootes of the bramble called Ramme beaten to powder and cast into the holes where swine vse to bath themselues do keepe them cleare from many of these diseases and for this cause also in ancient time they gaue them Horse-flesh sodden and Toads sodden in water to drinke the broath of them The Burre pulled out of the earth without yron is good also for them if it be stamped and put into milk and so giuen them in their wash They giue their Hogges heere in Englande red-lead red-Oker and in some places red-loame or earth And Pliny saith that he or she which gathereth the aforesaid Burre must say this charme Haec est herba argemon Quam minerua reperit Suibas his remedium Qui de illa gustauerint At this daie there is great-praise of Maiden-haire for the recouery of swine also holy Thistle and the root of Gunhan and Harts tongue Of leannesse or pyning SOmetime the whole heard of swine falleth into leannes and so forsake their meat yea although they be brought forth into the fielde to feede yet as if they were drunke or weary they lie downe and sleepe all the day long For cure whereof they must be closely shutte vp into a warme place and made to fast one whole day from meat and water and then giue them the roots of wilde Cucumber beaten to powder and mixed with Water let them drinke it and afterward giue them beanes pulse or any drie meat to eat and lastlie warme water to procure vomit as in men whereby their stomackes are emptyed of al thinges both good and bad and this remedy is prescribed against all incertaine diseases the cause whereof cannot be discerned and some in such cases doe cut off the tops of the tailes or their eares for there is no other vse of letting these beastes bloode in theyr vaines Of the Pestilence THese beasts are also subiect to the Pestilence by reason of earth-quakes sudden infections in the aire and in such affection the beast hath sometime certaine bunches or swellings about the necke then let them be seperated and giue them to drinke in water the roots of Daffadill Quatit agros tussis anhela sues Ac faucibus angit obesis tempore pestis Some giue them night shade of the wood which hath great stalkes like cherry twiggs the leaues to be eaten by them against all their hot diseases and also burned snailes or Pepper-woort of the Garden or Lactuca foetida cut in peeces sodden in water and put into their meate Of the Ague IN auncient time Varro saith that when a man bought a Hogge he couenaunted with the seller that it was free from sicknes from danger that he might buy it lawfully that it had no maunge or Ague The signes of an Ague in this beast are these WHen they stop suddenly standing stil and turning their heads about fal downe as it were by a Megrim then you must diligently marke their heads which way they turne them that you may let them bloode on the contrary eare and likewise vnder their taile some two fingers from their buttockes where you shall finde a large veine fitted for that purpose which first of all we must beat with a rodde or peece of wood that by the often striking it may be made to swell and afterwardes open the saide veine with a knife the blood being taken away their taile must be bound vp with Osier or Elme twigges and then the swine must be kept in the house a day or two being fed with Barly meale and receiuing warme water to drinke as much as they will Of the Crampe VVHen swine fall from a great heat into a sudden colde which hapneth when in their trauel they suddenly lie downe through wearinesse they fall to haue the Crampe by a painefull convulsion of their members and the best remedye thereof is for to driue them vp and downe till they wax warme againe and as hot as they were before and then let them bee kept warme stil and coole at great leisure as a horsse doth by walking otherwise they perish vnrecouerably like Calues which neuer liue after they once haue the crampe Of Lice THey are many times so infested and annoied with lice that their skinne is eaten and gnawne through thereby for remedy whereof some annoint them with a confection made of Cream Butter and a great deale of salt Others again annoint them after they haue washed them all ouer with the Leeze of wine and in England commonly the country people vse staues-aker red-Oaker and grease Of the Lefragey BY reason that they are giuen much to sleepe in the summer time they fall into Lethargies and die of the same the remedy whereof is to keepe them from sleepe and to Wake them whensoeuer you finde them asleepe Of the head-aches THis disease is cald by the Graecians Scotomia and Kraura and by Albertus Fraretis herewith all swine are many times infected and their eares fall downe their eies are also deiected by reason of many cold humors gathered together in their head whereof they die in multitudes as they do of the pestilence and this sickenesse is fatal vnto them if they be not holpen within three or foure daies The remedie whereof if their be anie at al is to hold Wine to their Nostrils first making them to smel thereof and then rubbing it hard with it and some giue them also the roots of white Thistle cut smal and beaten into their meat but if it fall out that in this paine they loose one of their eies it is a signe that the beast wil die by and by after as Pliny and Aristotle write Of the gargarisme This disease is called by the Latins Raucelo and by the Graecians Brancos which is a swelling about their chaps ioyned with Feauer and Head-ach spredding it selfe all ouer the throat like as the squinancy doth in a man and many times it begetteth that also in the swine which may be knowne by the often moouing of their feet and then they dy with in three daies for the beast cannot eat being so affected and the disease creepeth by little and little to the liuer which when it hath touched it the beast dieth because it putrifieth as it passeth For remedy hereof giue vnto the beast those things which a man receiueth against the squinancy and also let him blood in the root of his tongue I mean in
an equall quantity of Hogs-Greace Goats sewet sod both together it will be cured by laying it vnto it And thus much for the remedies of Swines greace towards beastes The huskes of Beanes being beaten small to powder and mixed with swines greace is very profitable against the paine of the hippes and the Nerues Some Physitians take the greace of Swine the fat of Geese the sewet of Bulles and the Oesypus or sweat of sheepe and annoint therewithall gouty Legges but if the paine remoue not then doe they adde vnto it Waxe Mirtle Gum and Pitch and some vse it mixed with old Oyle with the stone Sarcephagys sinck-foyle beaten in wine with lime or ashes This swines greace beaten in water with cumin is prescribed by Simeon Sethi against the gout It remedieth the falling of the haire and the paine in the heads of women mingled with one forth part of gals and the like vertue it hath with wilde Roses Lingulaca and Hippocampinus with Nitre and vineger When the corners of ones eies are troubled with wormes by annoynting them with the fat of a Sow with pig beating them together both within and without you shall draw all the Wormes out of his eyes When one hath paine in his eares whereby matter yssueth forth let him beate the oldest Lard he can in a Morter and rake the iuyce thereof in fine wooll then let him put that wooll into his eare making it to worke through warme water and then infuse a little more of the iuyce of that Lard and so shall he worke a great cure in short time And generally the fatte of Geese Hennes Swine and Foxes are prepared for all the paynes in the eares If there arise any bunch in the Necke or throate seeth Lard and Wine together and so by gargarising that Lyquor it shall bee dispersed according to the verses of Serenus Inrigore ceruicis geminus mulcebitur vnguine poples Hinc longam paritur neruos medicina sequetur And it is no maruaile that the vertue of this should go from the knees to the Nerues seeing that Pliny affirmeth that from the anointing of the knees the sauour goeth into the stomack ther is so great affinity or operation of Rue vpon the stones that in ancient time they were wont to cure burstnesse by annoynting the cods with wilde Rue and Swynes Greace Also this Greace with rust of Iron is good against all the imperfectious in the seate Butter Goose-greace and Hogges-greace are indifferently vsed for this infirmity Also this is vsed to keepe Women from abortementes that are subiect thereunto being applyed like an eye-salue In the diseases of the matrix especially Vlcers they first of all dip Spuuges or Wooll in warme Water and so clense the places infected and afterwards cure it with Rozen and Swynes Grease mingled together and often vsing it in the day and night by way of an oyntmnet but if the exulceration be vehement after the washing they put Honny vnto the former confection and some make a pâ—â—fume with Goats Horne Galles Swynes Greace and Gumme of Cedars And. Fernerius saith that Lard cut small and beate in a Morter of stone like paast in a Limbecke of Glasse rendereth a white Water which maketh the haire yellow and also the face comely If a man be poysoned with Hemlocke hee cannot auoyde it better then by drinking salt Wine and fresh Greace A decoction heereof is good against the poyson of Beuprestis and against Quickesiluer The sewet of a Sowe fed with greene Hearbes is profitable to them that are sicke of a consumption of the lunges according to this verse of Serenus Porderit veteris saeui pila sumpta suilli This may also be giuen them in Wine either raw or decocted or else in pilles to be swallowed downe whole if it be not salted and the fift day after they prescribe them to drinke out of an Egge-shell Liquid Pitch binding their sides breasts and shoulder bones very hard It is also vsed for an old Cough after it is decocted the waight of a groat being put into three cuppes of Wine with some Hony It is giuen also to them that haue the flixe especially olde Lard Honny Wine being beaten together till they bee all as thicke as Hony whereof the quantity of a Hasell-Nut is to be drunke out of Water Also morsels of Swynes-Grease Butter and Hony being put downe into a Horsse throate cureth him of an old Cough and finally a peece of this Greace being old moystened in olde Wine is profitable to a Horse that hath beene ouerheated in his iourney When Calues bee troubled with belly Wormes take one part of Swynes-Greace and mingle it with three partes of Isope afterwardes thrust it downe into the throates of the Calues and it shall expell the wormes When the tongue and Chappes waxe blacke by a peculiar sicknesse of the mouth which the Physitians call Morbus epidemius it is most wholesome to rub the tongue with the inner side of the rines of Bacon and so draw out an extreame heate and it is said if a man be deepely infected whose tongue is thus rubbed the said Bacon rine being eaten by any Dog will procure his death The fat of Wolues and the marrow of Swyne is good to anoint bleare-eyes withall By swallowing downe the marrow of Svvine the appetite to carnall copulation is encreased The ashes or powder of Hogs bristles vvhich are taken out of plaisterers pensils wherwithall they rub Walles and mixed with Swynes Grease doth ease the paine of burnings and also stayeth the bleeding of vvoundes and the falling dovvne of the seate being first of all vvashed in Wine and dryed Pitch mingled therevvithall The powder of the cheek-bones of Svvyne is a most present remedy for broken bones and also for vlcers in the legges and shinnes The fat of a Boare is commended against Serpentes and so also is the liuer of a Bore pigge when the Fibres are taken from it if the weight of two pence be drunke in wine The braine of a Sow tosted at the fire and laide to a Carbuncle either disperseth or emptieth it Likewise the blood and braines of a Bore or a sow or Bore-pig being mixed with honey doeth cure the Carbuncles in the yard and the braines alone openeth the gums of children to let out their teeth as Serenus writeth Aucteneris cerebris gingivis illine porci There are naturally in the head of a Hogge two little bones that haue holes in them one in the right part and another in the left Now if it happen that a man find these bones by chaunce either one or both of them let him lay them vp safe and whensoeuer he is trobled with the Head-ach let him vse them hanging them about his necke by a silken thrid that is to say if his head ake on the right side let him hange the right bone and if on the left the left bone These things I report vpon the credit of Marcellus Galen also writeth that if the
being mingled together and dropped in the eares is very profitable for all paines therein The body of a man being annointed with the gall of a bore doth stirre him vp to carnal copulation The gall of a bore being mingled with suet and applyed vpon euery ioynt of the body doeth immediately cure all paines of the gout We haue declared also many things in the medicines of the Sow concerning the remedies of the gall of a bore The stones of a boare being eaten is very good against the fauling sicknesse or the stones of a bore being taken in Mares milke or water is also very effectual against the same disease The hoofes of a bore being burned to ashes and sprinkled vppon drinke and so taken doeth very much helpe those that cannot easily make water The hooues of a bore being burned and beaten to powder and giuen in drinke is very effectuall against the stopping of vrine The hooues of a bore or sow being burned and giuen to drinke in wine is very much commended for those that cannot holde their vrine in their sleepe The dung of a sow which liueth in the woods belng dryed and drunke in water and wine doth stay the voiding of blood and doth ease also old paines of the sides And againe being taken in Vineger it doth stay al ruptures and convulsion and also being mingled with the sirrup of roses it doth remedy or helpe those places which are out of ioynt The dung of a Bore being new made and hot is a speciall remedy against the flux of blood which yssueth forth of the Nostrils The dung of a Bore being mingled in Wine and applyed after the forme of an emplaister do presently draw away and make sound any thinge which cleaueth to the Body It being also brused and sodden with hony and afterwards kneaded like Dow and so applyed to the ioynts doth ease all paines that arise therein An emplaister made of the dung of a Bore is very profitable against all venemous bitings for it draweth forth the poison All other vlcers are filled vppe and clensed with the dung of a Bore except those which arise in the thighes The dung of a bore dried and beaten to pouder and sprinkled vpon drinke doth cure all paines of the sides Againe it beeing dryed and beaten to pouder and administered in wine doth not onely cure the paine in the Spleene but also the paine in the kidnies The dung of a bore being burned to the ashes Pliny Marcellus and giuen to drinke in wine doth ease all paines in the knees and legges The dung of a bore new made and annointed vpon those places that are out of ioynt is verie profiable for them The dung of a field-bore mixed with brimstone and taken in Wine and strained Pitch is very commendable for paines in the Hips The dunge of a bore being mingled with wine and afterwardes strained and giuen to drinke about the measure of two little cuppefuls at a time doth speedily helpe those which are trovbled with the Scyatica It also being sodden in Vineger and Honey doeth mittigate all paines that rise in the feet or anckles The dung of a Bore burned to ashes and sprinckled vpon wine luke-warm and so giuen to drinke doth helpe all those that are troubled with the bloody flixe The rest of the remedies which concerne the dung of a Bore thou shalt finde in the medicines of the sow The vrine of a Bore mingled with hony and Water and so taken in a speciall remedy for those that are troubled with the fauling sicknesse Againe the vrine of a Bore being taken in sweet Vineger doth driue out those things which are dried in the bladder The vrine of a Bore being kept in a glasse doeth cure all diseases and paines in the eares but it is especially profitable for those which cannot hear The vrine of a Bore being kept in a glasse Sextus and made luke-warme and dropped into the eares is a speciall remedy for all Apostumes that are therein The vrine of a Bore which is kept long is farre more profitable if so be that it bee kept in a vessell of glasse Againe the vrine of a Bore being dryed in smoake and moistened with hony and so poured into the eares doth cure the deafenesse of the eares The vrine of a Bore and oile of Cypresse each of them being equally mingled and made Luke warme is also good for the same disease The vrine of a wilde Bore also is of the same force and vertue The bladder of a wilde Bore doth stay the incontinency of the vrine if it be eaten rosted or boiled The blather of a Goate being burned to powder and giuen to drinke in water and wine is very good and profitable for those which cannot make water easily The vrine of a Bore being drunken doth helpe those that are troubled with the stone in the bladder but it is more effectual if it be first of all mingled with the dung The bladder of a Bore moistned with the vrine Sextus and hung vp vntill the waterish humor commeth foorth and then boiled and giuen to those which are Truculent with the Stranguri is verie profitable and good for them Marcellus The bladder of a boare being dried and giuen in drinke is very profitable for those which are troubled with paines in the bladder and wringinges of the guts The vrine of a tame Bore hung vp in the smoke in the bladder of a sow and mixed with drinke is verye profitable for those that are troubled with the Strangury The vrine of a Bore or at least wise the bladder being giuen in drinke hath cured those which haue bin troubled with the Hidropsey as some do say The vrine of a Bore being taken in drinke is very good for those that are troubled with he stone Now forasmuch also as hunters are hurt by some I thought it good to set down what remedies is fit for them Therefore the woundes made of them are daungerous because they are not onely deepe but also large and great and it is also impossible to bring them to agluttination with medicines for the lips of the wounds which is made by contusion are cut off and burned They vse a mutuall gnashing and striking of their teeth together as it were against a whetstone to take reueng vpon those which pursue and followe them Therefore they cause a certaine scab to grow vpon the lips of the wound wherefore it is meet to vse a suppuratiue and not a gluttinatiue maner of cure in them It is meet to vse in running and moist vlcers not hot things but cold both in Winter and Summer For it is an easie matter for a Boare to hurt a Horsse in the inside of his knee in the time of his hunting which doth breed to a waterish vlcer and there doth also follow a swelling To this cold things is to be applyed and it is to be cured by anointing it with a medicin which is called Diachalcanthes or
being anointed vppon those whose ioyntes are broken Some of the later writers were wont to mingle the fat of the woulfe with other ointments for the disease of the goute Some also doe mingle it with other ointments for the paulsey It doth soften also the Vula being anointed thereon The same also being rubbed vppon the eies is very profitable for the bleardnesse or bloudshot of the eies Plinie Sextus The head also of a woulfe is very good for those that are weake to sleepe vppon beeing layed vnder ther pillowe The head of a woulfe being burned into ashes is a speciall remedie for the loosenes of teeth The right eie of a woulfe being salted and bound to the body doth driue away all agues ad feauers The eie of a woulfe being rubbed vppon the eie doth diminish all diseases that rise in the sight of the eie and it doth also take away al markes or prints being made with hot irons The right eie of a wolfe also is profitable for those that are troubled with stiches on the right side of the belly and the left eye of a wolfe for pains on the left side The right eie of a wolfe is very good against the bitings of dogs Also the eye of a wolfe is much commended for those that are lunaticke by the bitinges of dogges The teeth of a wolfe being rubbed vpon the gums of young infants doth open them whereby the teeth may the easier come forth Slundus Againe the gums of children are loosened with the tooth of a Dog being gently rubbed theron but they are sooner brought forth with the teeth of a Wolfe Some men do commend the tongue of a wolfe to bee eaten of those that are troubled with the falling sicknesse The artery which springeth in the throat of a wolfe being taken in drink is a most certaine cure against the Squincy The throat of a Wolfe taken in drinke is very much commended for those that are troubled with the falling sicknesse The lungs or lights of a Wolfe being sodden and dryed and mingled with pepper and so taken in milke is very profitable for those that are puffed vp or swollen in the belly The heart of a wolfe being burned and beaten to powder and so taken in drinke doth help those that are sicke of the falling sicknesse Take one ounce of the gum of an Oake and halfe an ounce of the gum of a peare tree and two drams of the powder made of the top of a Harts horne and one dram of the hart of a wolfe al which being mingled togither and made into medicine is alwaies vsed for the cure of al vlcers but it wil be more effectual if thou dost adde thereto the hinder part of the skull of a man beaten to powder The Lyuer of a wolfe is of no lesse vertue then the lungs or lights which I haue manifested in the medicines of the Foxe The liuer of a Wolfe helpeth or profiteth those that are sick of the falling sicknesse The liuer of a wolfe being washed in the best white and so taken is very good for those diseases that arise in the liuer The liuer of a wolfe mixed in the medicine made of Liuerwort is very much commended for the diseases in the liuer Galen also doth say that he hath holpen those which haue bin diseased in the liuer only vsing the medicine made of Liuerwort and he saith if he did apply any other medicine thereto it did little or nothing at all profit him The Lyuer of a Wolfe is very profitable for those that are troubled with the skurfe in the mouth The Lyuer or laps of a wolfe is much vsed for those that are troubled with diseases in the liuer but you must dry it and afterwards beat it to powder and so giue the party so affected one dramme of it in sweet wine The liuer laps of a Wolfe saith Marcellus being dryed and beaten to powder and a little part of it mingled in like portions with the powder made of Fene greeke of Lupines Wormewood and of the Hearbe called Herba mariae and so mingled that it may be about the quantity of a cup full and so giuen him that day which hee is not troubled with the feauer but if he shall be troubled with it let him take it in water for the space of three dayes and after hee hath drunke it let him lie for the space of halfe an houre with his armes spread abroad and afterwardes let him walk very often but eate very sildome and let him be sure he keepe himselfe for the spact of those three daies well ordered and from drinking any cold drinke or eating any salor sweet thing and within a little space after he shall bee freed from that disease The liuer laps of a Wolfe being wrapped in bay leaues and so set to dry at the Sunne or at the fire and being dryed beate it to powder in a Morter first taking away the leaues very warily which being powdered you must keepe it in a cleane vessell and when you giue it him to drinke you must adde thereto two leaues of Spoonewort with tenne graines of pepper beaten very small and as much clarified Hony as is needfull and also made hot with a hot burning Iron and mingled very diligently in a Morter which being so warmed you must giue him to drinke sitting right vp in his bed that after he hath taken the potion he may lye downe on his right side for the space of an houre Auicen drawing his knees together and after that hee hath done so let him walke vp and downe for the space of an houre and this will likewise cure him of the same disease Auicen doth set downe a medicine concerning the cure of the hardnesse of the Liuer which is take Opium Henbane Oyle made of Beauers stones Myrrhe Saffron Spicknard Agrimony the Lyuer of a Wolfe and the right Horne of a Goat burned Dioscorides of each equall partes and make thereof a Medicine The Lyuer of a Wolfe being made in the forme of a dry electuary and giuen as a lozeng doth also very much profit against the diseases of the liuer Gugir a Phylosopher doth affirme Galen Pliny that the Lyuer of all liuing Beastes doth very much profit against all paines of the Lyuer The Liuer of a Wolfe being througly dryed and drunke in sweete VVine doth mitigate all griefes or paines of the Lyuer The Liuer of the same beast to the quantity of a penny taken in a pinte of sweete VVine is very medicinable for the curing of all paines in the Liuer whatsoeuer The Liuer of a VVolfe being taken in hot VVine doth perfectly cure the cough If an intollerable Cough doth vex any man let him take of the liuer of a wolfe either dried or burnt as much as he shall thinke conuenient and therewith let him mingle VVine Honny and warme water and afterward drinke the same fasting euery day to the quantity of foure spoonefuls and hee shall in
the veine vnder the tongue bathing his throate with a great deale of hot Water mixed with Brimstone and salt This disease in hogges is not knowne from that which is called Struma or the Kinges euill at the first appearance as Aristotle and Pliny write the beginning of this disease is in the Almonds or kernels of the throate and it is caused through the corruption of water which they drinke for the cure wherof they let them bloud as in the former disease and they giue them the yarrow with the broadest leaues There is a hearbe called Herba impia all hoary and outwardly it looketh like Rosemary some say it is so called because no beast will touch it this being beaten in peeces betwixt two tiles or stones groweth marueilous hot the iuyce thereof being mixed in milke and Wine and so giuen vnto the Swyne to drink cureth them of this disease and if they drinke it before they be affected therewith they neuer fal into it and the like is attributed to the hearb Trimity and Viola Martia likewise the blew flowers of Violets are commended for this purpose by Dioscorides Of the kernels THese are little bunches rising in the throate which are to bee cured by letting bloud in the shoulder and vnto this disease belongeth that which the Germans cal Rangen and the Italians Sidor which is not contagious but very dangerous for within two daies the beast doth dye thereof if it bee not preuented this euill groweth in the lower part or chap of the swines mouth where it doth not swel but waxing white hardeneth like a peece of horne through paine whereof the beast cannot eate for it is in the space betwixt the sore and hinder teeth the remedy is to open the Swines mouth as wide as one can by thrusting into it a round bat then thrust a sharp needle through the same sore and lifting it vp from the gum they cut it off with a sharp knife and this remedy helpeth many if it be taken in time some giue vnto them the roots of a kind of Gention to drinke as a speciall medicine which the Germans for that cause cal Rangen crute but the most sure way is the cutting it off and like vnto this there is such another growing in the vpper chappe of the mouth and to be cured by the same remedy the cause of both doth arise from eating of their meate ouer hot and therefore the good Swineheard must labour to auoid that mischiefe the mischiefe of this is described by Virgill Hinc canibus blandis rabies venit quatit aegros Tussis anhela sues as faucibus angit abesis Of the paine in their lunges FOr all maner of pain in their lungs which come by the most part from want of drink are to haue lung-wort stamped and giuen them to drinke in water or else to haue it tyed vnder their tongues two or three daies together or that which is more probable because it is dangerous to take it inwardly to make a hole in the eare and to thrust it into the same tying it fast for falling out and the same vertue hath the roote of the white Hellibor but the diseases of the lunges are not very dangerous and therefore the Butchers saith that you shall sildome find a Swyne with sound lungs or Liuers sometime it falleth out that in the lightes of this beast there wil be apparant certain white spots as big as halfe a Wallnut but without danger to the beast sometimes the lightes cleaue to the ribs and and sides of the beast for remedy whereof you must giue them the same medicines that you giue vnto Oxen in the same disease Sometimes there appeare certaine blathers in the liuer of water which are called water-gals sometimes this is troubled with vomiting and then it is good to giue them in the morning fryed pease mingled with dust of Iuory and brused salt fasting before they go to their pastures Of the diseases in the Spleene BY reason that this is a deuouring beast and through want of Water it is many times sicke of the Spleene for the cure whereof you must giue them Prewnes of Tameriske pressed into water to be drunke by them when they are a thirst this disease commeth for the most part in the summer when they eat of sweet and greene fruites according to this verse Strata iacent passim seuia quaeque sub arbore porna The vertue of these Prewnes of Tameriske is also very profitable agaynst the diseases of the Melte and therefore it is to be giuen to men as well as to Beastes for if they do but drinke out of pots and cups made out of the wood of the tree Tameriske they are easily cleared from all diseases of the Spleene and therefore in some Countries of this great tree they make hog-troughes and mangers for the safegard of their beastes and where they grow not great they make pots and cups And if a Hog do eat of this Tameriske but nine daies together at his death hee shall be found to bee without a Spleene as Marcellus writeth When they become loose in their bellies which happeneth to them in the spring time by eating of greene Hearbes they either fall to bee leane or else to dye when they cannot easily make water by reason of some stoppage or sharpnesse of Vrin they may be eased by giuing vnto them spurge-seed And thus much for the diseases of Swine For conclusion whereof I will adde heereunto the length of a Swynes life according to Aristotle and Pliny if it be not cut off by sicknesse or violent death for in their daies they obserued that Swyne did liue ordinarily to fifteene yeares and some of them to twenty And thus much for the natvre of Swyne in generall The medicines of the Hogge The best remedy for the bitings of venomous Serpents is certainly beleeued to be this to take some little creatures Aâ—â—us as pigs Cocks Kyds or Lambes and teare them in pieces applying them whiles they are hot to the wound as soone as it is made for they will not only expell away the poyson but also make the wound both whole and sound For the curing of Horsses which are troubled with the inflammation of the lungs Take a sucking pig and kill him neare vnto the sicke horse that you may instantly poure the blood thereof into his iawes and it wil proue a very quick and speedy remedy The panch of a sucking pig being taken out and mingled with the yolke which sticketh to the inner parts of the skin Marcellus and moystned both together doth very much ease the paine of the teeth being poured into that eare â—n which side the griefe shall lye The liquor of swines flesh being boiled doth very much help against the Buprestis The same is also a very good antidote against poyson and very much helpeth those which are troubled with the gout Cheese made of Cowes milke being very old so that it can scarce be eaten