[Page]you shall see it nedefull. This medicine before rehersed, is called of the aunciente wryters Diapente, that is to say, a composition of fyue simples, and is praysed to be a soueraine medicine and preseruatiue against all inward diseases, and therfore they woulde haue suche as trauell by the way, to cary of this powder alwayes about with them. There be many other medicines which I leaue to wryte, bycause if I should rehearse euery mannes medicine, my booke would be infinite. I for my parte woulde vse no other than eyther that before expressed, or else Wine and Triacle onely.
Of the diseases in the heade. The .xvi. Chapter.
THe Heade is subiecte to dyuers diseases, according to the dyuers partes thereof: for in the pannicles, or little fyne skynnes, cleauyng to the bones, and couering the braine, doe most properlye breede headeache, and mygram. Againe, in the substaunce of the braine, (which in a horse is very little or none) doe breede the Frenzie, Madnesse, Sleping euill, the taking, and forgetfulnesse. Finally, in the ventricles or celles of the brayne, and in those cunduyets throughe which the sprightes animall doe gyue feelyng, and mouyng to the bodye, doe breede the turnesicke, or staggers, the falling euill, the night mare, the Appoplexye, the Palsie, and the convulsion or crampe. [Page 12] the Catharr or Rheume, which in a horse is called the Glaunders, but firste of headeache.
Of Headeache. The .xvij. Chapter▪
THe headeache eyther commeth of some inward cause, as of some cholericke humor, bred in the panicles of the braine, or els of some outward cause, as of extreme heate, or colde, of some blow or of some vyolent sauour. Eumelus sayth, that it cō meth of rawe disgestion, but Martin sayth, moste commonly of colde. The sygnes be these. The horse will hang downe his heade, and also hang downe his eares, his sight wil be dimme, his eyes swollen, and waterish, and he will forsake his meate. The cure. Let him bloude in the palat of his mouth. Also pourge his heade with this perfume. Take of Garlicke stalkes a handefull, all to broken in short peces, and a good quantitye of Franconcense, and being put into a Chaufingdish of fresh coales, hold the Chaufingdishe vnder the horses nosetrilles, so as the fume may ascende vp into his heade, and in vsing him thus once or twice, it will make him to cast at the nose, and so purge his heade, of all filthe. Pelagonius sayth, yt it is good to poure into his nosetrilles, wyne wherein hath bene sodden Euforbium, Centuarye, and Franconcense.
Of the Frenzy and Madnesse of a horse. The .xviij. Chapter.
THe learned Phisitians do make dyuers kindes, as well of Frenzye, as of Madnesse, whiche are not nedefull here to be recyted, sythe I coulde neuer read in any Authour, nor learne of any Ferrer, that a horse were subiect to the one halfe of them. Absirtus, Hierocles, Eumelius, Pelagonius, & Hipocrates, doe wryte simply de furore & rabie, that is to say, of the madnesse of a horse. But in dede Vegetius in his seconde booke of horseleach crafte, semeth to make foure mad passions belonging to a horse, intituling his Chapters in this sorte, de Appioso, de Frenitico, de Cardiacis, de Rabioso, the effectes whereof thoughe I feare me it will be to no greate purpose, yet to contente suche as perhaps haue reade the Authour as wel as I my selfe: I will here briefely rehearse the same. When some naughty bloude (sayth he) doth strike the fylme or pannicle of the brayne, in one part onely, and maketh the same grieuously to ake, then the beast becommeth Appiosum, that is to saye, as it semeth by his owne wordes nexte following, both dul of minde and of syght. This worde Appiosum, is a straunge word, and not to be found againe in any other Authour, and bycause in this passion, the one syde of the heade is onely grieued, the horse turneth rounde, as thoughe he wente in a Myll. But when the poyson of suche corrupt bloude doth [Page 13] infecte the mid brayne, then the horse becommeth Frentike, and will leape and flyng, and runne against the walles. And if such bloud filleth the vaynes of the stomacke, or breast, then it infecteth as well the heart, as the brayne, & causeth alienation of mind, & the body to sweat, and this disease is called of Vegetius, Passio cardiaca, whiche if Equus Appiosus, chaūce to haue▪ thē he becōmeth Rabiosus, yt is to say, starke madde. For (sayth he) by ouer much heate of the Lyuer, and of bloude, the vaynes and artiers of the heart, are choked vp, for griefe and payne wherof, the horse byteth him self, and gnaweth his owne flesh: thus farre Vegetius. Of two sortes of mad horses I (beleue) I haue seene my selfe here in this Realme. For I saw once a blacke Sweathlande horse (as I toke him to be) in my Lorde of Hunnisdons Stable at Hunnisdon, comming thither by chaunce with my lord Morlay, which horse would stand all day long bytyng of the Maunger, & eate little meate or none, suffring no man to approche vnto hym, by which his doynges, and partly by his colour and complexion. I iudged him to be vexed with a melancholy Madnesse, called of the Phisitians Mauia, or rather Melancholia, which commeth of a corrupt Melancholy, and fylthy bloud or humor, sometyme spread throughout all the vaynes of the body, & sometyme perhaps remayning only in the heade, or else in the splen, or places next thervnto adioyning. The other mad horse was a Roane of Mayster Asheleys, Mayster of the Iewell house, which with his teeth crushed his Maysters ryghte [Page] forefinger in peces, whylest he offered him a little hay to eat, wherby he lost in a maner the vse of hys whole hande, to the great griefe of all his frendes, and also of all the Muses, whiche were wonte to be much delighted with such passing sweete Musicke as that his fine quauering hande coulde sometime make, vpon dyuerse Instrumentes, but speciallye vpon the Virginalles. This horse I say thoughe he coulde eate his meate, drinke his drinke, & slepe, yet if he were neuer so litle offended, he would take on lyke a spright, and both byte and stryke at anye man that came nygh hym▪ yea and would byte him selfe by the shoulders moste tirribly, pulling away lumpes of fleshe, so brode as a mannes hande, and when so euer he was rydden, he was fayne to bee musled with a mussell of Iron, made of purpose to kepe him from byting, eyther his Ryder or him self, whiche no doubt proceded of some kynde of frenzye or madnesse, wherevnto the horse was subiecte, by meanes that hote bloude (as I take it) abounded, ouer much in him. But now as touching the causes, sygnes, and cure of a horses madnesse, you shall heare the opinion of olde wryters, for Martin neuer toke such cure in hande. Abfirtus, and the other Authors before mētioned say, that the madnesse of a horse cōmeth eyther by meanes of some extreme heate, taken by trauelyng, or long standing in hote sunne, or else by eating ouer manye Fitches, or by some hote bloude resorting to the pannycles of the braine, or thorow aboundaunce of Choler, remayning in the vaynes, or else by drynking of some vnholsome [Page 14] water. The sygnes be these, he will byte the Maunger, and hys owne body, and runne vpō euery man that commes nygh hym, he wyll continuallye shake hys eares, and stare with his eyes, and fome at the mouth, and also as Hypocrates sayth, he will forsake his meate, and pyne him selfe wyth hunger. The cure. Cause him to be let bloude in his legges aboundantly, which is done (as I take it) to conuert the bloude from his heade. Notwithstanding it were not amisse, to lette him bloude in the necke & breast vaynes. Then giue him this drinke. Take the roote of wylde Coucumber, and boyle it in harse redde wyne, and put therevnto a little Nitre, and giue it him with a horne luke warme, or if you can get no Coucumber, then take Rewe, and Mynts, and boyle that in the wyne. It were not amisse also, to adde therevnto a handefull of blacke Elleborus, for that is a verye good hearbe agaynst madnesse. Eumelius sayth, that if you giue him mans dong in wyne to drinke thre morninges together, it will heale him, also take of blacke Elleborus two or three handefull, and boile it in a sufficient quantitye of strong Vyneger, and therewith rubbe and chause both his head, and al his body once or twice in a day, for the oftner his heade is rubbed, the better, and often excercyse is verye profitable to all his body. Some againe woulde haue the skinne of his heade to be pearced in dyuerse places with a hote Iron, to let out the euill humors, but if none of all this will preuayle, then the last remedy is, to gelde him of both hys stones, or else of one at the least, for [Page] eyther that wyll heale him, or else nothing. As touchyng the dyet and vsage of a madde horse, the Authors do not agre, for some would haue him kept in a close, darke, and quyet house, voyd from all noyse, which Absirtus saith, wil either make him madder, or else kyll him out of hande. His dyet would be thin, yt is to say, without any prouender, and that day that he is let bloud, & receyueth hys drynke, they would haue hym to faste vntyll Euen, and then to haue a warme washe of Barlye meale, yea me thynkes it were not amisse, to feede him onelye with warme mashes and hay, and that by little at once, vntill he be somewhat recouered.
Of the sleeping euill. The xix. Chapter.
THIS is a disease forcyng the beast continually to sleepe, whether he will or not, taking his memory and appetyte cleane awaye, and therefore is called of the Phisitians, Lethargus: it procedeth of abundaunce of flegme, moysting the brayne ouer much. It is easy to knowe, by the continuall sleeping of the horse. The cure of this disease according to Pelagonius, Vegetius, and others, is in this sort. Let him bloude in the necke, and then giue him this drink. Take of Camomyl, & Motherwort, of eche two or thre handefull, & boyle them in a sufficient quantity of water, and put thervnto a little wheate branne, salte, and Uineger, and let [Page 15] him drinke a pynte of that euerye day, the space of thre or foure dayes together. It is good also to perfume and chaufe his heade, wyth Tyme, and Peniryail sodden together in Uinegar, or with Brymstone and Feathers burned vppon a chaufing dish of coales, vnder his nose, and to prouoke him to neese, by blowing Pepper, and Perithre, beaten to powder, vp into his nosetrils: yea and to annointe the palat of his mouth, with Hony and Mustarde mingled together, and in his drinke which woulde be alwayes warm water, to put Parsely sede, & Fenel sede, to prouoke vrine. His legges also woulde be bathed, and his Houes filled with wheate bran, salte, and Uineger, sodden together, and layd to, so hote as he may endure it, and in any case suffer him nor to sleepe, but kepe him waking, and styrring, by continuall crying vnto him, or pricking him wyth some sharpe thing, that can not passe clene through the skinne, or else by beating hym with a whip, and thus doing he shall recouer.
Of a horse that is taken. The .xx. Chapter.
A Horse is said to be taken, when he is depryued of his feeling, and mouing, so as he is able to sturre no maner of waye, but remayneth in suche state or fourme, as he was taken in. Whiche disease is called of the Phisitians by the Greeke name Catalepsis, and in Laten Deprehensio, [Page] or Congelatio, and of Vegetius, Sederatio, which also calleth those beastes that haue this disease lumenta sideratitia. The Phisitians say, that it commeth of abundance of Flegme, and Choler, mixte together, or else of Melancoly bloud, which is a colde dry humor oppressing the hynder partes of the brayne. But Vegetius sayth, that it cōmeth of some extreme outwarde colde, striking sodenlye into the emptye vaynes, or of some extreme heate, or of rawe disgestion, or else of some greate hunger, caused by long fasting. It is easy to knowe by the discription before mentioned. And as touching the cure, Vegetius sayth, 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 luke warme, if of heate, then to giue it him with water and hony, it of crudite, then to heale him by fasting, if of hunger, then by feeding him well with pease. But Martin sayth, that this disease is called of the Frenche men Surprius, and it commeth (as he sayth) most chiefly of colde, taken after a heate, and he wissheth a horse that is thus taken, to be cured in this sort. First to be let bloude on both sydes of the breast, and then to be put in a heate eyther by continuall sturring, and molesting hym, or else if he will sturre by no meanes, then to bury him all saue the heade, in a warme donghill, and there to let hym lye, vntill his lymmes haue some feeling. And before you so bury him, it shall be good to giue him this drinke. Take of Malinesy thre pyntes, and put thervnto a quarterne of Suger, and some Cynamon and Cloues, [Page 16] and let him drinke it good and warme, and vntyll he be perfectly whole, let him be kepte warme, and often excercysed, and walked vp and downe in the stable, and thinlye dyeted. and drinke nothing but warme water, wherein if you put fome Fenell, and Perslye seede, to prouoke him to vryne, it shall bee the better. And if he cannot dong, let him be raked, and haue a glister made of the broth of Mallowes, and freshe butter.
Of the Staggers. The .xxi. Chapter.
THis is a doosinesse of the head, called of the Latens Vertigo, and of the Italians as I remember, Capistura. It commeth of some corrupte bloude, or grosse and toughe humors▪ oppressing the braine, from whence proceedeth a vaporous sprighte, dissolued by a weake heate, which troubleth al the heade. The sygnes be these: dymnesse of fight, the reeling and staggering of the horse, who for very payne will thrust his heade agaynst the walles, and forsake his meate. The cure according to Martin is thus. Let him bloude in the temple vaynes, and then with a knife, make a hole of an ynche long ouerthwarte his foreheade, hard vnderneath his foretoppe, and rayse the skyn with a cornette, thrusting it vpwarde towardes the headstal, a good handefull, and then put in a teynt dypt in Turpentyne, and Hogges greece molten together, [Page] renuing the taynte euery day once, vntill it be whole, and doe the lyke vppon the rydge of the rumpe, but me thinkes it were better to do the lyke in the powle of his heade, or nape of his necke, for so shoulde the euill humors haue both wayes the easyer and spedyer passage: And as touching hys dyet, let him haue continuallye warme drinke, and mashes, and once a day be walked vp and downe fayre and softly, to excercyse his body.
Of the Falling euill. The .xxii. Chapter.
THis is a kinde of convulsion or Crampe, called of the Latens by the Greke name, Epilepsia, in Italion, il morbo caduco, depriuing the beast at certain tymes and for a certayne space, of the vse of feeling, hearing, and seyng, and of all the other senses. And though it be a disease, that hath bene seldom seene, to chaunce vnto horses, of thys cuntrey, yet it appeareth by Absirtus, and also by Vegetius, & dyuers others, that horses be subiect therevnto. For Absirtus wryting vnto his frende Tiberius Claudius, sayth, that vnto horses chaunceth manye tymes the falling sicknesse. The sygnes wherof are these. The horse wyll fall downe sodenlye, partlye through the resolution of his members, and partly through discention of his synewes, and all his body will quiuer and quake, and sometyme he wyll fome at the mouth. Vegetius agayne wryteth in this sort, [Page 17] by a certain course of the Moone, horses and other beastes many tymes do fall, and dye for a tyme, as well as men. The sygnes whereof are these. Being fallen, their bodyes wyll quyuer and quake, and their mouthes wyll fome, and when a man woulde thinke that they woulde dye out of hande, they rise sodenly vp, and fall to their meate. And by feelyng the grystle of their nosetrilles with your finger, you shall know whether they will fall often or not, for the more colde the gristle be, the oftner, and the lesse colde it be, the seldomer they will fal. The cure. Let him bloude aboundantly in the necke vaynes, and within fiue dayes after, let him bloude agayne in the temple vaynes, and let him stande in a warme and darke stable, and annoynt all hys body, wyth comfortable oyntements, and his heade and eares with oyle de Bay, and lyquid Pitch or Tar, mingled together. And also put some thereof into his eares, and then make a Biggin for him of some softe warme skinne, as of a shepes skinne, or else of Canuas, stuffed vnderneath with woll, and make him this purging drinke. Take of Radishe rootes two ounces, of the roote of the hearbe called in Laten Panax, or Panaces, & of Scammony, of ech one ounce, beate all these thinges together, and boyle them in a quarte of honye, and at sundry tymes, as you shall see it needefull, giue him a good sponefull or two of this in a quarte of Ale luke warme, whervnto would be put thre or foure sponefull of Oyle. It is good also to blow the powder of Motherwort, or of Pyrethrum, vp into his nosetrilles, and if the disease [Page] do continue stil for al this, then it shal be nedefull to pearse the skynne of hys foreheade, in diuers places with a hote yron, and to let out the humors oppressing his brayne.
Of the night Mare. The .xxiii. Chapter.
THys is a disease oppressing eyther man or beast, in the nighte season when he slepeth, so as he can not draw his breath, and is called of the Latens Incubus. It commeth of a continual crudity, or raw disgestion of the stomack, from whence grosse vapors ascending vp into the head, doth oppresse the brayne, and all the sensityue powers, so as they can not do their office, in giuing perfect feeling and mouing to the bodye. And if this disease chaunsing often to a man, be not cured in time, it may perhappes growe to a worse mischiefe: as to the Falling euill. Madnesse, or Appoplexie. But I could neuer learne, that horses were subiect to this disease, neyther by relation, nor yet by reading, but onely in an olde English wryter, who sheweth neither cause nor sygnes how to knowe when a horse hath it, but onelye teacheth howe to cure it with a fonde folishe charme, which bicause it may perhappes make you gentle reader to laugh, as well as it did me, for recreation sake I will here rehearse it. Take a Flynte stone that hath a hole of his owne kinde, and hang it ouer hym, and write in a bill. [Page 18] In nomine patris. &c.
And hang this Scripture ouer him, and let him alone. With suche proper charmes as this is, the false Fryers in tymes paste were wonte to charme the money out of playne folkes purses.
Of the Appoplexie, and Pawlsye. The .xxiiii. Chapter.
THe Appoplexye is a disease, depriuing all the whole body of sense, & mouing. And if it depriue but parte of the body, then it is called of the Latins by the Greeke name Paralisis, in oure tongue a Pawlsie. It procedes of colde, grosse, and tough humors, oppressing the brayne all at once, which may breede partly of crudites and rawe disgestion, and partly by meanes of some hurte in the heade, taken by fall, strype, or otherwyse. As touching the Appoplexye, few or none writing of horsleach craft, do make any mention therof. But of the Pawlsye Vegetius wryteth in this maner. A horse (sayth he) may haue the Pawlsye as well as man, [Page] which is knowen by these signes. He wil go groueling, and sydelyng like a Crabbe, carying his necke awry, as if it were broken, and goeth crokedly with his legges, beating his heade against the walles, and yet forsaketh not hys meate, nor drinke, and his prouender semeth moyst, and weate. The cure. let him bloude in the temple vayne, on the contrary syde of the wrying of his necke, and annoynte hys necke with comfortable oyntmentes, and splent it with splentes of wood, to make it stande right, and lette him stande in a warme stable, and giue hym such drinkes as are recyted in the next Chapter folowing. But if all this profiteth not, then drawe his neck with a hote yron, on the contrary side, that is to say on the whole syde, from the neyther parte of the eare downe to the shoulders, and drawe also a good long stryke on his temple, on that syde, and on the other temple, make a lytle starre in this sort * and from his raynes vnto his mid backe, drawe little lynes in this maner
& that will heale hym.
Of the Crampe or convulsion of the Synewes and Muskles. The .xxv. Chapter.
A Convulsion or Crampe, is a forcible and paynefull contraction or drawing together of the Synewes & Muskles, which doth happē somtimes throughout the whole body, and sometyme [Page 19] but in one part, or member onely. And according as the body may be dyuerslye drawen, so doe the Phisitians and also mine Authours, that write of horseleach crafte, giue it dyuers names. For if the bodye be drawen forwarde, then they call it in Greeke Emprosthotonos, in Laten Tensio ad anteriora. And if the body be drawen backewarde, it is called in Greeke Opisthotonos, in Laten Tensio ad posteriora. But if the body be starke, and strayte, bowing neyther forwarde, nor backewarde, then it is called symplye in Greeke Tetanos, in Laten Distentio, or Rigor. Which names also are applyed to the lyke convulsions of the necke. Notwithstanding Vegetius wryting of this disease, intytuleth his Chapters de Roborosis, a straunge terme, and not to be founde again in any other Authour. A Convulsiō as I sayd before, may chaunce as well to one parte or member of the body, as to the whole body, as to the eye, to the skinne of the foreheade, to the rootes of the tongue, to the Iawes, to the lips, to the arme, hand, or legge, that is to say, when so euer the Synewe or Muskle, seruing to the mouing of that parte, is euill affected, or grieued. Of which Convulsions, though there be manye diuers causes: yet Hipocrates bringeth them all into two, that is to say, into fulnesse, and emptinesse: for when a Convulsion proceedes eyther of some inflamation, of superfluous eating or drinking, or for lacke of due purgation, or of ouer much rest, and lacke of exercyse, all such causes are to be referred to repletion, or fulnesse. But if a Convulsion come by meanes [Page] of ouer muche purging or bleeding, of muche watching, extreme labour, long fasting, or by wounding, or pricking of the Synewes, then all suche causes are to be referred vnto emptynesse. And if the Convulsion procede of fulnesse, it chaunceth sodenly, and all at once. But if of emptenesse, then it commeth by little and little, and laysurelye. Besydes these kinds of Convulsions, there is also chaū cing many times in a mannes fingers, legges, and toes, another kinde of Convulsion, whiche may be called a windye Convulsion, for that it procedes of some grosse, or toughe vapor, entred into the branches of the Sinewes, which maketh them to swel, like a Lute string, in moyst weather, which though it be very paynefull for the tyme, yet it may be sone dryuen away, by chaufyng, or rubbing the membre grieued, with a warme cloth. And this kinde of Convulsion or Crampe, chaunceth also manye tymes to a horses hinder legges, standing in the stable. For I haue seene some my selfe, that haue had one of their hinder legges drawen vppe with the Crampe, almoste to the bellye, so styffe and hard as no man hath bene able to sturre it, neyther coulde the horse him selfe, set it downe to the grounde of a long season, whiche I thinke might be sone remedyed. First by continuall chaufing and frotting his legge, with a good wispe, and then by teying vppe the other hinder legge, or else the forelegge on the sore syde, wherby he shoulde be forced to set downe the payned legge. Thus farre I haue discoursed of the Convulsion of Synewes, and of the causes [Page 20] thereof, according to the opinions of the learned Phisitians. Nowe I will brieflye shewe you, the causes, signes, and cure therof, according to the doctrine of mine Authours that wryte of horseleache crafte. Absirtus sayth, that this disease doth come, eyther by dryuing the horse into a sweate, when he halteth, for that he hath troden vpon some naile, or by taking colde after iourneying, and sweating in Winter season, whereby his lippes are clong togyther, or by long lying & rest after sweating, wherby the Sinewes of his forelegges be nummed, or by hauing some stripe of his priuye mēbers, or by long trauelyng in the colde Mountaynes, where snowe and Ise doth abounde. For Theomnestus wryteth, that commyng out of Paeonia, with the king and his army, and passing ouer the mountaynes, to go into Italye, there fell suche abundance of Snowe, as not onelye many Souldyers dyed, sytting styll on their horses backes, with their weapons in their handes, being so starke and styffe, and cleauing so fast to their Saddelles, as they coulde not easelye bee pulled out of them: but also dyuers Horses in their going were so nūmed, as they could not bowe their legges, yea and some were found starke dead, standing still on their feete, and few horses or none escaped at that tyme, free from the Convulsion of Sinewes, in so much as Theomnestus his own horse which he loued dearlye, was sore vexed therewith. The sygnes to know whether a horse be troubled with the Cōvulsion of the synewes or not, be these. His head and necke will be so stiffe and starke, as [Page] he can bow it no maner of way, his eares wil stand right vp, and his eyes wyll be hollow in his heade, and the fleshye partes therof, in the great corners, will be turned backewarde, his lippes will be clong fast together, so as he can not open his mouth, and his tongue so nummed as he can neyther eate nor drinke, his backebone and tayle will be so stiffe, as he can not moue it one way nor other, and his legges so stiffe, as they wil not bowe, and being layde he is not able to ryse, and speciallye on his hinder legges, but falleth downe on his buttockes, lyke a dogge when he sitteth on the ground, and by meanes of the Convulsion in his backe, his bladder also for neighbourhode sake, suffereth, whereby the horse can not stale, but with great payne. The cure. Put him into a sweate, eyther by burying him all saue the heade in some warme dunghill, or if he be a horse of pryce, carye him into a hote house, where as is no smoke, and let him sweate there. Then annoynt all his body, heade, necke, legges, and all, with oyle of Cypres, and oyle de Baye mingled together. Or else with one of these oyntments. Take of Hogges greace two pound, of Terepenthin halfe a pounde, of Pepper beaten in powder one Dram, of newe Waxe one pounde, of olde oyle two pound, boyle all these together, & being made very warme, annoynt all his body therewith. Or else with this oyntment. Take of new waxe one pounde, of Terepenthin foure ounces, of oyle de Bay as muche, of Opoponax two ounces, of Deares sewet and of oile of Storax, of ech thre oūces, melt al these together, [Page 21] and annoint all his body therewith. It is good also, to bath his heade with the decoction of Fitches, or else of Lupins, and make him this drinke. Take xx. graynes of long Pepper, fynelye beaten into powder, of Cedre two ounces, of Nytre one ounce, of Lacerpitium as muche as a Beane, and mingle al these together, with a sufficient quātity of white wine, and giue him thereof to drinke a quart euery Morning & Euening, for the space of three or foure dayes, or else this drinke. Take of Opoponax two ounces, of Storax three ounces, of Gention three ounces, of Manna Succary, thre ounces, of Mirre one scrupple, of long Pepper two scrupples, and giue him this with olde wine, or make him a drinke of Lacerpitium, Cummin, Annis sedes, Fengreke, Bay buryes, and olde oyle. In olde time they were wonte to let hym bloude in the temples, which Absirtus doth not allowe, saying, that it will cause the Synewes of his lyppes to dry vppe, so as the horse not being able to moue them, shal pine for hunger. As touching his dyet, giue him at the first warme mashes, and such softe meate as he may easelye get downe, and wet hay, bringing him to harder foode by little and little. And in any case, let him be kepte very warme, and rydden or walked once a day to excercyse his legges, and lymmes. Theomnestus cured his horse as he saith, by placing him in a warm stable, & by making a clere fyre without any smoke round aboute him, and the horse not being able to open his Iawes of him self, he caused his mouth to be opened, and put therein soppes dypt in a confertion, [Page] called Entrigon Conditum, and also annointed al his body with a medicin, or oyntment called Acopū, (the making whereof hereafter foloweth) dissolued in Cypres oyle, which made him to fal into a sweat, and being before halfe deade and more, broughte him againe to his feeling, and mouing, so as he did rise and eate his meate.
The receyt of the medicine or oyntment called Acopum.
TAke of Euforbium two ounces, of Castoreum foure ounces, of Adarces, half a pound, of Bdellium thre ounces, of Pepper one pounde, of Foxe greece two ounces, of Opoponax foure ounces, of Lacerpitium three ounces, of Amoniacum halfe a pounde, of Pygions dong as much, of Galbanum two ounces, of Nitrum fiue ounces, of Spumanitrie three ounces, of Ladanum one pounde, of Perethrum, and of Bay buryes, of eche thre ounces, of Cardamomum eyght ounces, of the seede of Rewe halfe a pounde, of the seede of Agnus Castus foure ounces, of Parslye two ounces, of the dryed rootes of Ireos, or Floure de Luce, fiue ounces, of Isoppe and of Carpobalsamū one pound, of oyle of Floure deluce, and oyle de Bay, of ech one pound & a halfe, of oyle of Spiconard three pound, of Oleum Ciprinum, three pounde and halfe, of the oldest oyle Oliue that you can possible get sixe pounde, of Pitche not smelling of the smoke, one pound eyght ounces, of Turpētine one pound, Melte euery one of these [Page 22] that will melte, seuerally by them selues, and then myngle them together, with the rest of the simples beaten into fyne powder, and after that they haue bene a little boyled on the fyre, take it of, & straine it into a fayre vessell, and whensoeuer you will giue your horse any therof, giue it him with wine. And if with long kepyng it waxeth harde, then soften it with oyle of Cypres, so as it may be good & thicke. This confection is both a medicin, & also an ointement, & is called of the old wryters Acopum. Which if it be put into a horses nosetrilles, it will drawe out all noysome humors, and discharge his heade of all griefe, yea this medicine healeth all Convulsions, coldes, & drynesse, or withering of the body, and dryueth away all werynesse, and tyering.
Of colde in the heade. The .xxvi. Chapter.
ACcording as the colde whiche the horse hath taken is newe, or olde, greate, or small, and also according as humors do abounde in his heade, and as suche humors be thicke or thin, so is the disease more or lesse daungerous. For if the horse casteth lyttle or no matter out of his nose, nor hath no very great coughe, but is onelye heauy in his heade, and perhappes lightlye cougheth nowe & than, it is a sygne that he is stopped in the head, whiche we were wont to call the pose. But if his head be full of humors, congealed by some extreme [Page] tolde, taken of long tyme paste, and that he casteth foule, filthye, and stinking matter out at the nose, and cougheth grieuouslye: then it is a sygne, that he hath eyther the Glaunders, or Stranguyllion, Mourning of the Chayne, or Consumption of the Lungs. For all such diseases do breede for the most part of the Rheume, or distillation that commeth frō the head. Of the cures therof we leaue to speak, vntil we come to talke of the diseases in the throte, minding here to shewe you how to heale the Pose, or colde before mentioned. Martin sayth, it is good to pourge his head by perfuming him with Franconcense, and also to prouoke hym to neese, by thrusting two Goose feathers dypt in oyle de Bay vp into his nosetrilles, and then to trotte him vppe and down, the space of halfe an houre, for these feathers will make him to caste immedyately at the nose. Laurentius Russius woulde haue him to be perfumed, with wheate, Peniryall, and Sage, sodden well together, & put into a bagge so hote as may be, which bag would be so close fastned to his heade, that all the sauour thereof, maye ascende vp into his nosetrilles, and his heade also woulde be couered and kept warme: and to prouoke him to neese he would haue you to binde a softe cloute, annoynted with Sope, or else wyth Butter, and oyle de Bay, vnto a stycke, and to thrust that vppe and downe into hys nostrilles so hye as you may conueniently go, & let him be kept warme, and drink no colde water. Yea it shall be good for three or foure dayes, to boyle in his water a lyttle Senegreke, Wheat meale, and a [Page 23] fewe Annis seedes. And euery day after that you haue purged his head, by perfuming him, or by making him to neese, cause him to be trotted vppe and downe, eyther in the warme Sunne, or else in the house, halfe an houre, which woulde be done before you water him, and giue him his prouender.
Of the diseases in the eyes. The .xxvii. Chapter.
HOrses eyes be subiect to diuers griefes, as to be waterish, or bloudshotten, to be dymme of syght, to haue the pyn and webbe, and the haw, whereof some commes of inwarde causes, as of humors resorting to the eyes, and some of outward causes, as of colde, heate, or strype.
Of weping or watering eyes. The .xxviii. Chapter.
THis as Laurentius Russius sayeth, may come sometyme by confluence of humors, and sometime by some stripe, whose cure I leaue to recite, bycause it doth not differ much, from Martins experience here folowing. Take of Pitche, Rosen, and Mastick, lyke quantity, melt them together. Then with a little sticke, hauing a cloute bounde to the ende thereof, and dipte therein: annoynt the temple vaynes on both sydes, a handefull aboue the [Page] eyes, as broade as a Testerne, and then clap vnto it immediatly, a fewe Flocks, of like colour to the horse, holding them close to his heade, with your hande, vntill they stycke faste vnto his heade, then let him bloude on both sydes (if both eyes be infected) a handfull vnder the eyes. Russius also thinketh it good, to washe his eyes once a day, wyth pure whyte wyne, and then to blowe therein a lyttle of Tartarum, and of Pomys stone, beaten into fyne powder.
Of bloudshotten eyes, for a blowe, or ytching, and rubbing in the eyes. The .xxix. Chapter.
MArtin neuer vsed any other medicine, than this water here folowing wherewith he did alwayes heale the foresayde griefes. Take of pure rose water, of Malmesy, of Fenell water, of eche thre sponefull, of Tutia, as muche as you may easely take with your Thombe and Finger, of Cloues a dosen beaten into fyne powder, mingle them well together, and being luke warme, or colde, if you will, washe the inwarde partes of the eye, with a fether dipt therin, twice a day, vntill he be whole. Russius sayth, that to bloude shotten eyes it is good to lay the whyte of an Egge, or to washe them with the iuyce of Selidony.
Of dimnesse of syght, and also for the Pynne and webbe, or any other spot in the eye. The .xxx. Chapter.
IF the Horse be dimme of sight, or hath any pearle growing in his eie, or thin fylme couering the ball of hys eye, then Russius woulde haue you take of Pommis stone, of Tartarum, and of Sal Gemma, of eche lyke wayght, and being beaten into very fyne powder, to blowe a lyttle of that into his eye, continuing so to do euery day once, or twice, vntil he be whole. Martin sayth that he always vsed to blow a little Sandyuoire into the eye once a day, which simple he affirmeth to be of such force, as it wil breake any pearle or webbe in short space, and make the eye very cleare and fayre. Russius amongest a number of other medicins, prayseth most of all the powder of a blacke Flynte stone.
Of the Haw called of the Italians l'vnghia de gli occhi. The .xxxi. Chapter.
THis is a gristle couering sometime more than the one halfe of the eye. It proceedes of grosse, and toughe humors, discending out of the head, which Haw, as Martin sayth, woulde be cut awaye in this sorte. Fyrst pull both the eye lyddes [Page] open with two seuerall threedes, stitched with a nedle to eyther of the lyddes. Then catch holde of the Hawe with the stych of another nedle & threde, and pul it out so farre as you may stay it vpon your fynger, to the intente that you may cutte it rounde the bredth of a penny, and leaue the black behinde. For by cutting away to much of the fatte, & blacke of the eye, the horse many tymes becommeth bleare eyed. And the Haw being clene taken away, squirt a little whyte wyne, or beere, into his eye.
Of Lunatike eyes. The .xxxii. Chapter.
VEgetius Wryteth de Oculo Lunatico, but he sheweth neyther cause nor sygnes thereof: but onelye sayth that the old men termed it so, bycause it maketh the eye sometyme to loke, as thoughe it were couered with white, and sometyme cleare. Martin sayth that the horse that hath this disease, is blinde at certaine tymes of the Moone, in so much as he seeth almost nothing at all during that time, and then his eyes will looke yealowishe, yea and somewhat reddyshe, whiche disease according to Martin is to be cured in this sorte. First vse the playster mentioned before in the Chapter of wateryshe or weping eies, in such order as is there prescribed, and then with a sharpe knyfe make two slittes on both sydes of hys heade, an ynche long, somewhat towardes the nose, a handful beneath the eyes, not [Page 25] touching the vayne: and with a cornet loosen the skinne vpwarde, the bredth of a grote, and thruste therein a rounde peece of Leather, as brode as a twopenny peece, with a hole in the middest, to kepe the hole open, & loke to it once a day, that the matter may not be stopped, but continuallye runne the space of ten dayes, then take the Leather out, and heale the wounde with a little Flaxe dypte in the salue here following. Take of Turpentyne, of Hony, of Waxe, of ech like quantity, and boyle them together, whiche being a lyttle warmed, will be lyquid to serue your purpose, and take not away the playsters from the temples, vntill they fall away of them selues, which being fallen, then with a small hote drawing yron, make a Starre in the middest of eche temple vayne, where the playster dyd lye. Which Starre woulde haue a hole in the middest, made with the button ende of your drawing yron in this sorte.
Of the Cancer in the eye. The .xxxiii. Chapter.
THis commeth of a ranke and corrupt bloud discēding from the head, into the eye. The sygnes. You shall see redde pymples, some small, and some greate, both within and without vpon the eye lyddes, and all the eye wyll loke redde, and be full of corrupte matter. The cure according to Martin is thus. First let him bloude on that syde [Page] the necke, that the eye is grieued, to the quantity of a Pottell. Then take of roche Alum, of greene Corporas, of eche halfe a pounde, of whyte Corporas one ounce, and boyle them in three pyntes of running water, vntill the halfe be consumed, then take it from the fire, and once a day washe his eye with this water, being made luke warme, with a fyne linnen cloth, and clense the eye therewith, so as it may loke rawe, contynuing thus to doe euery day once vntill it be whole.
Of diseases incident to the eares, and powle of the heade, and first of an Impostume in the eare. The .xxxiiii. Chapter.
IMpostumes breede eyther by reason of some blowe, or brousing, or else of euyll humors congealed in the eare by some extreme colde. The sygnes be apparant, by ye burning & painfull swelling of the eare and parts therabout. The cure according to Martin, is in this sort. First ripe the Impostume with this playster. Take of Lynesede beaten into powder, of wheate flower, of eche halfe a pynte, of Hony a pinte, of Hogges greace, or Barrows greace one pounde. Warme all these thinges together in an earthen potte, and sturre them continually with a flatte stycke, or sclyce, vntill they be thorowly myngled and incorporated together, and then spreade some of this plaister being warme vpon a peece of linnen cloth, or soft whyte Leather, so [Page 26] broade as the swelling and no more, & lay it warm vnto it, and so lette it remayne one whole day, and then renewe it with freshe oyntment, continuing so to doe vntill it breake: then launce the sore so as the matter may haue passage downewarde, and taynt it to the bottom, with a taynt of Flaxe dipt in this oyntment. Take of Metrosatū, of oyle Oliue, & Turpentine, of ech two oūces: and mingle them together, and make hym a Byggen of Canuas to close in the sore, so as the taynte wyth the oyntement may abyde within, renuing the taynt once a day, vntill it be whole. But if the horse haue payne in his eares without any great swelling or Impostumation, then thrust in a little blacke woll dipte in oyle of Camamyll, and that will heale it.
Of the Powle euill. The .xxxv. Chapter.
THys is a disease lyke a Fistula growing betwixte the eares and the Powle or nape of the necke, and proceedeth of euill humors, gathered together in that place, or else of some blowe or brouse, for that is the weakest and tenderest parte of all the heade, and therefore sonest offended, whiche rude Carters doe little consyder, whylest in their fury they beat their horses vpon that place of the head, with their whipstockes, and therefore no horses be more subiecte to this disease, than Carte horses. And this disease [Page] commeth most in Winter season. The sygnes. You shal perceyue it by ye swelling of the place, which by continuance of tyme will breake of it selfe, rotting more inward than outward, and therefore is more perillous if it be not cured in tyme, and the soner it be taken in hand the better. The cure according to Martin is thus. If it be not broken, rype it with a playster of Hogges greace, layde vnto it so hote as maye be, and make a Byggyn for the powle of hys heade to kepe it from colde, which Biggen woulde haue two holes open, so as his eares may stande out: and renue the playster euery day once vntill it breake, keping the sore place as warme as may be. And if you see that it will not breake so sone as you woulde haue it, then there as it is softest, and moste metest to be opened: take a rounde hote yron as byg as your little fynger, and sharpe at the poynte, and two ynches beneath that soft place, thrust it in a good depenesse vpwarde, so as the poynte of the yron may come out at the rypest place, to the intent that the matter may discende downeward, & come out at the neather hole, whiche woulde be alwayes kepte open, and therefore taynt it with a taynt of Flaxe dypt in Hogges greace, and lay a playster of Hogges greace also vpon the same, renuing it euery day once, the space of foure dayes, which is done chiefly to kill the heat of the fyre. Then at the foure dayes ende, take of Turpintyne halfe a pounde, cleane washed in nine sundry waters, & after that thorowly dryed, by thrusting out the water wyth a felyce on the dyshes side, then put therevnto two [Page 27] yolkes of Egges, and a little Saffron, and myngle them well together: that done, searche the depth of the hole with a wholle quill, and make a taynt of a peece of sponge, so long, as it may reache the bottom, and so big as it may fill the wounde, and annoynt the taynt with the foresayde oyntment, and thrust it into the wounde, eyther with that quill, or else by winding it vp with your finger and thombe, by little and little, vntill you haue thrust it home: and then lay on the playster of Hogs greace made luke warme, renuing it euery day once or twice, vntill it be whole. But if the swelling ceasse, then you neede not to vse the playster, but onelye to taynt it, and as the matter decreaseth, so make your taynt euery day lesser and lesser, vntil the wounde be perfectly whole.
Of the Uyues. The .xxxvi. Chapter.
THe Uyues be certaine kirnels growing vnder the horses eare, proceding of some rank or corrupt bloud resorting to that place. which within are full of little whyte graynes, like whyte salte kirnelles. The Italians call them Viuole, which if they be suffered to growe, Laurētius Russius sayth, that they will grieuously pain the horse in his throte, so as he shall not be able to swallow his meat, nor to breath. They be easy to know, for that they may be felte, and also sene. The [Page] cure according to Martin, is in this sorte. Firste draw them ryghte downe in the mydst with a hote Iron, from the rote of the eare, so farre as the tippe of the eare wil reach, being pulled downe: and vnder the roote againe drawe two strykes on eche syde, lyke an arrowe heade in this forme
then in the midst of the first lyne, launce them with a launcet, and taking holde of the kirnelles with a payre of Pynsons, pull them so farre forwarde, as you may cut the kirnelles out, without hurting the vayne, that done, fill the hole with white salt. But Hierocles would haue them to be cured in this sorte. Take a piece of Sponge sowsed well in strong Uineger, & binde that to the sore, renuing it twice a day vntill it hath rotted the kirnelles, that done, launce it in the nethermoste parte where the matter lyeth, and let it out, and then fill it vp with salte finely brayed, and the nexte day washe all the filth away with warme water, and annoynte the place with Hony and Fytch flower myngled together. But beware you touche none of the kirnelles with your bare finger, for feare of venoming the place, which is very apt for a Fistula to breede in.
Of the cancorous Ulcer in the nose. The .xxxvii. Chapter.
THIS disease is a fretting humor, eating and consuming the fleshe, and making it all rawe within: and not being holpen in tyme, will eate [Page 28] thorow the gristle of the nose. It commeth of a corrupt bloude, or else of sharpe hunger, ingendred by meanes of some extreme cold. The signes be these. He will bleede at the nose, and all the fleshe within wil be rawe, and filthy stinking sauours, and matter will come out at his nose. The cure according to Martin, is thus. Take of grene Corporas, of Alom, of eche one pounde, of whyte Corporas one quarterne, and boyle these in a Pottell of running water vntill a pynte be consumed, then take it of, and put thervnto halfe a pynte of hony: then cause his heade to be holden vp, with a drinking staffe, and squirt into his nosetrilles with a squirte of Brasse, or rather of Elder, some of this water being luke warme, thre or foure tymes one after another, but betwixt euery drinking, giue him libertye to holde downe his heade, and to blowe out the fylthy matter, for otherwyse perhappes you may choke hym. And after this, it shall be good also without holding vp his heade any more, to washe and rub hys nosetrilles with a fyne cloute bounde to a whyte stickes ende, and wet in the water aforesayde, and serue him thus once a day vntill he be whole.
Of bléeding at the nose. The .xxxviii. Chapter.
I Haue seene horses my selfe, that haue bledde at the nose, which haue had neyther sore nor Ulcer in their nose, and therfore I can not choose, but say wyth [Page] the Phisitians, that it commeth by meanes that the vayne which endeth in that place, is eyther opened, broken, or fretted. It is opened many tymes by meanes that bloud aboundeth to muche, or for that it is to fyne or to subtill, and so pearceth thorow the vayne. Againe it may be broken by some vyolent strayne, cutte, or blowe. And finally it may be fretted, or gnawen through, by the sharpnesse of the bloude, or else of some other euyll humor contayned therein. As touching the cure. Martin sayth, it is good to take a pynte of redde Wyne, and to put therein a quarterne of Bole Armeni, beaten into fine powder, and being made luke warme, to poure the one halfe thereof, the first day into his nosetril that bleedeth, causing his heade to be holden vp, so as the lyquor may not fall out: and the next day to giue him the other half. But if this preuayleth not, then I for my parte, woulde cause him to be lette, bloude in the breast vayne, on the same syde that he bledeth at seuerall tymes. Then take Franconcense one ounce, of Aloes halfe an ounce, and beate them into fyne powder, and mingle them thorowlye with the whytes of Egges, vntill it be so thicke as Honye, and wyth soft Hares hayre, thruste it vppe into his nosetrill, fylling the hole so full, as it can not fall out, or else fyll his nosetrilles full of Asses dong, or Hogges dong, for eyther of them is excellent good to restrayne any flux of bloude.
Of the diseases in the mouth, and first of bloody ryftes or Choppes in the palat of the mouth. The .xxxix. Chapter.
THis disease is called of the Italians, Palatina, which as Laurentius Russius sayth, commeth by eating hay or prouender, that is full of pricking seedes, which by continual pricking, and fretting the forrowes of the mouth, doe cause them to rancle, and to blede corrupte and stinking matter, which you shall quickly remedye as Martin sayth, by washing first the sore places with Uinegar & salte, and then by annoynting the same with Hony.
Of the Bladders in a Horses mouth which our olde Ferrers were wont to call the Gigges. The Italians call them Floncelle. The .xl. Chapter.
THese be little softe swellinges or rather postules with black heades▪ growing in the insyde of his lyppes next vnto the great Iaw teeth, which are so paynefull vnto the horse, as they make hym to let his meate fall out of his mouth, or at the least to kepe it in his mouth vnchowed, wherby the horse prospereth not. Russius sayth, that they come eyther by eating to muche colde grasse, or else of pricking, dusty, and filthy prouender. The cure wherof according to Martin, is in this sort. Slytte [Page] them with a launcet, and thrust out all the corruption, & then wash the sore places, with a little Uineger and salt, or else with Alom water.
Of the Lampasse. The .xli. Chapter.
THe Lampasse, called of the Italians Lampastus, proceedeth of the aboundance of bloude, resorting to the firste forrowe of the mouth, I meane that which is next vnto the vpper foreteeth, causing the sayd sorrow to swell so hye as the horses teeth, so as he can not chowe his meate, but is forced to let it fall out of his mouth. The remedy is to cut all the superfluous fleshe away, with a croked hote Iron, made of purpose, which euery smyth can doe.
Of the canker in the mouth. The .xlii. Chapter.
THis disease as Martin sayth, is a rawnesse of the mouth & tongue, which is full of blisters, so as he can not eate his meat. Which proceedes of some vnnaturall heate, comming from the stomacke. For the cure wherof. Take of Alom halfe a pounde, of Honye a quarterne of a pint, of Colombine leaues, of Sage leaues, of ech a handefull. Boyle all these together [Page 30] in thre pintes of water, vntil a pinte be consumed, and washe the sore places therwith, so as it maye bleede, continuing so to do euery day once vntill it be whole.
Of the heate in the mouth and lippes. The .xliii. Chapter.
SOmetime the heate that commeth out of the stomacke, breedeth no canker, but maketh the mouth hote, & causeth the horse to forsake his meate. The cure whereof as Martin sayth, is in this sorte. First turne vp his vpper lippe, and iagge it lightlye with a Launcet, so as it may blede, and then washe both that and all his mouth & tongue, with vineger and salte.
Of the tongue being hurt with the Bytte, or otherwise. The .xliiii. Chapter.
IF the tongue be cut or hurt any maner of way, Martin sayth, it is good first to washe it with Alom water, and then to take the leaues of blacke Brimble, & to chop them together small with a little Larde, that done to bynde it within a little cloute, making it round lyke a ball, then hauing dypt the rounde ende in hony, to rubbe the tongue [Page] therewith: continuing so to doe once a day, vntyll it be whole.
Of the Barbles, or Pappes vnderneath the tongue. The .xlv. Chapter.
THese be two little Pappes called of the Italians Barbole, growing naturally (as I thinke,) in euery horses mouth, vnderneath the tongue, in the neather Iawes, whiche if they shoote out of any length: Russius sayth that they will hinder the horses feeding, and therefore he and Martin also, would haue them to be clipt away, with a payre of sheeres, and that done, the horses mouth to be washed with Uineger and Salte.
Of the payne in the téeth, and gummes, of the Wolfes téeth, and Iaw téeth. The .xlvi. Chapter.
A Horse may haue payne in hys teeth, partly by discent of humors from his heade, downe into his teeth and gummes, which is to be perceyued by the ranknesse & swelling of the gummes, & partly by hauing two extraordinary teeth, called the Wolfes teeth, whiche he two little teeth growing in the vpper Iawes, nexte vnto the great grinding teeth, which are so paynefull to the horse, [Page 31] as he can not indure to chowe his meate, but is forced eyther to lette it fall out of his mouth, or else to kepe it still halfe chowed, wherby the horse prospereth not, but waxeth leane and poore: and he will do the like also, when his vpper Iawe teeth be so farre growen, as they ouerhang the neather Iawe teeth, and therwith be so sharpe, as in mouing his Iawes they cut and race the insydes of his chekes, euen as they were raced with a knife. And first as touching the cure of the payne in the teeth, that cō meth by meanes of some distillation: Vegetius sayth, it is good to rubbe all the outsyde of his gummes with fine Chaulke, & strong Uineger mingled together, or else after that you haue washed the gummes with Uineger, to strow on them the powder of Pomegranate pilles. But me thinkes that besydes this, it were not amisse to stop the temple vaynes, with the playster before mentioned, in the Chapter of weping and waterish eyes. The cure of the wolfes teeth, and of the Iaw teeth according to Martin, is in this sorte. First cause the horse heade to be tyed vp to some Rafter or Poste, and his mouth to be opened with a corde, so wide as you may easelye see euery part therof. Then take a rounde strong Iron toole, halfe a yearde long, and made at the one ende in all poyntes lyke vnto the Carpenters Gouge, wherewith he pearceth his holes to be bored with a Wimble, or Awgor, and with your lefte hande sette the edge of your toole at the foote of the Wolfes teeth, on the outsyde of the Iawe, turnyng the hollow syde of the toole downewarde, holding [Page] your hand steadely, so as the toole may not slippe, nor swarue from the foresayde tooth: then hauing a mallet in your right hande, stryke vpon the head of the toole one prety blow, and therwith you shall loosen the tooth, and cause it to bend inward: then staying the middest of your toole vppon the horses neather Iaw, wrinch the tooth outwarde, with the insyde, or hollow syde of the toole, & thrust it cleane out of his heade, that done, serue the other Wolfes tooth on the other syde in lyke maner, and fyll vp the empty places with salte finelye brayed. But if his vpper Iawe teeth, doe also ouerhang the neather teeth, and so cutte the insyde of his mouth, as is aforesayd, then keping his mouth still open, take your toole and Mallet, & pare all those teeth shorter, running alongst them euen from the first vnto the laste, turning the hollow syde of your toole towards the teeth, so shal not the toole cut the insides of his cheekes, the backe or rounde syde being turned towarde the foresayde cheekes, and that done washe all his mouth with Uineger and salte, and let him goe.
Why the diseases in the necke, wythers, and backe, be declared here, before the diseases in the throte. The .xlvii. Chapter.
HAuing hytherto spoken of the diseases incident to a horses heade, and to all the partes therof. Naturall order requireth [Page 32] that we should now discend into ye throte, as a parte next adiacent to the mouth. But for so much as the diseases in the throte haue not onely affinity with the heade, but also with the Lunges and other inwarde partes, whiche are many tymes grieued by meanes of distillation comming from the head, and through the throte: I will first speake of the diseases incident to the necke, wythers, and backe of a horse, to the intent that when I come to talke of diseases, as Rheumes and distillations doe cause: I may discourse of them orderlye, without interruption
Of the Crycke in the necke. The .xlviii. Chapter.
BYcause a Crycke is no other thing, but a kinde of Convulsion, and for that we haue spoken sufficientlye before, of all the kindes thereof in the Chapter of Convulsion: I purpose not here therfore to trouble you with many wordes. But onely shew you Russius opinion, and also Martins experience therein. The Crycke then called of the Italians Scima, or Lucerdo: according to Russius, yea and according to Martin is, when the horse can not tourne his necke anye maner of way, but holde it still right forth, in so muche as he can not take his meate from the grounde, but by tymes, and that very slowlye. Russius sayth it commeth by meanes of some great wayght layd on the [Page] horses shoulders, or else by ouer much drying vp of the Synewes in the necke. The cure wherof according to Martin, is in this sorte. Drawe him with a hote iron from the roote of the eare, on both sydes of the necke, through the middest of the same, euen downe to the breast, a strawe depe, so as both endes may meete vpon the breast. Then make a hole in his forheade, hard vnder the foretoppe, and thruste in a cornette vpwarde, betwixt the skinne and the fleshe, a handfull deepe, then put in a goose feather doubled in the midest, and annoynted with Hogs greace, to kepe the hole open, to the intent the matter may runne out the space of ten dayes. But euery day during that tyme, the hole muste be clensed once, and the Feather also clensed, and freshe annoynted and so put in agayne. And once a day let him stande vppon the bitte, one houre or two, or be ridden two or thre Myles abrode, by such a one as will beare his heade, and make him to bring it in. But if the Crycke be such, as the horse can not hold his necke strayght, but clene awry, as I haue sene dyuers my selfe: then I thinke it not good, that the horse be drawen with a hote Iron, on both sydes of the necke, but onely on the contrary syde. As for example, if he bende his heade toward the right syde, then to drawe him as is aforesayde, onely on the left syde, and to vse the rest of the cure as is aboue sayde, and if nede be you may splent hym also with handesome staues meete for the purpose, to make his necke stand ryght.
Of Wennes in the necke. The .xlix. Chapter.
A Wen, is a certayne kyrnell like tumor or swelling, the insyde whereof is harde lyke a grystell, and spongious lyke a skinne full of Wrettes. Of Wens some be great, & some be small. Againe some be very paynefull, and some not paynefull at all. The Phisitians say, that they procede of grosse and vicious humors, but Vegetius sayth that they chaunce to a horse, by taking colde, or by drinking of waters that be extreme colde. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take of Mallowes, Sage, and redde Netels, of eche one handfull, boyle them in running water, and put thervnto a little butter, and hony, and when the hearbes be soft, take them out and all to brouse them, and put thervnto of oile of Bay two ounces, and two ounces of Hogges greace, and warme them together ouer the fire, mingling them well together, that done, playster it vpon a pece of Leather, so bygge as the Wen, and lay it to so hote as the horse may indure it, renuing it euery day, in such sort, the space of eyght dayes, and if you perceyue that it will come to no heade, then launce it from the middest of the Wen downewarde, so depe as the matter in the bottom may be discouered and lette out, that done, heale it vp with this salue. Take of Turpentyne a quarterne, and washe it nine tymes in fayre newe water, then put [Page] therevnto the yolke of an Egge, and a little Englishe Saffron beaten in powder, and make a taynt or rowle of Flax, and dippe it in that oyntment, and lay it vnto the sore, renuing the same euerye day once, vntill it be whole
Of swelling in the necke after bloud letting. The .l. Chapter.
THis may come of the Flegme being rustye, and so causing the vayne to rancle, or else by meanes of some colde winde striking sodenlye into the hole. The cure according to Martin, is thus. First annoynt it with oyle of Camomill warmed, and then lay vpon it a lyttle hay wet in colde water, and binde it about with a cloth, renuing it euery day, the space of fiue or syx dayes, to see whether it will grow to a heade, or else vanishe away. If it growe to a heade, then giue it a slytte wyth a Launcet, and open it with a Cornet, that the matter may come out. Then heale it vp, by taynting it with Flaxe dypt in Turpentine, and Hogs greace, molten together, dressing it so once a day, vntill it be whole.
Howe to staunch bloude. The .li. Chapter.
IF a horse be lette bloude, when the sygne is in the necke, the vayne perhaps will [Page 34] not leaue bleeding so sone as a man would haue it, which if any such thing chaunce, then Russius sayth, it is good to binde therevnto, a little newe horsedong, tempred with chaulke, and strong Uineger, and not to remoue it from thence, the space of three dayes, or else to lay thervnto, burnt Sylke, Felt, or Cloth, for all such thinges will staunch bloud.
Of the falling of the Crest. The .lii. Chapter.
THis commeth for the most part of pouertye, and specially when a fatte horse falleth away sodenlye. The cure according to Martin, is thus. Drawe his Creast the depenesse of a strawe, on the contrary syde, with a hote yron, the edge of whiche yron, would be halfe an ynch brode, and make your beginning, and ending, somewhat beyond the fall, so as the first draught may go all the way hard vpon the edge of the mayne, euen vnderneath the rotes of the same, bearing your hande righte downewarde, into the neckewarde, then aunswere that with an other draught beneath, & so farre dystante from the first, as the fall is brode, compassing as it were all the fall: but styll on the contrary side: and betwixt those two draughtes right in the middest, draw a thirde draught, then with a button yron of an ynche about, burne at eche ende a hole, and also in the spaces betwixt the draughtes, make dyuers holes distant thre fingers brode one from an other, [Page] as this figure doth shew you:
that done, to slake the fire, annoynt it euerye day once, for the space of nine dayes, with a Feather dipt in fresh butter molten. Then take of Mallowes and of Sage, of eche one handful: boyle them wel in running water, and washe the burning away, vntill it be rawe fleshe. Then dry it vp with this powder. Take of Hony halfe a pynte, & so muche slect Lyme as will make that hony thycke, lyke paast. Then holde it in a fyre pan ouer the fyre, vntyll it be baken so harde, as it may be made in powder, & sprincle that vpon the sore places.
Of the maunginesse in the Mayne. The .liii. Chapter.
THe Maungynesse procedes of rancknesse of bloude, or of pouertye, of lowsynesse, or else of rubbing where a Maungy horse hath rubbed, and of filthy dust lying in the Mayne, for lacke of good dressing. The sygnes be aparaunt by the ytching and rubbing of the horse, and the scabbes. fretting both flesh, and skinne. The cure according to Martin, is thus. Take of fresh greace one pounde, of Quicksyluer halfe an ounce, of Brimstone one ounce, of Rape Oyle halfe a pynte, mingle them togyther, and sturre them continually in a pot wyth a sclyce, vntill the Quicksyluer be so wrought with the rest, as you shall perceyue no Quicksyluer therin. [Page 35] That done, take a blunt knyfe, or an olde horsecombe, and scratch all the maungy places therwith vntill it be rawe, and bloudy, and then annoynt it with this oyntment, in the sunne shine, if it may be, to the intente the oyntment maye sinke in: or else holde before it a fyre pan, or some brode barre of Iron made hote, to make the oyntment to melte into the flesh. And if you se that within the space of thre dayes after, with this once annointing, he leaue not rubbing: then mark in what place he rubbeth, and dresse that place agayne, and you shall see it heale quicklye.
Of the falling of the haire of the Mayne. The .liiii. Chapter.
IT falleth for the most part, bycause it is eaten with little wormes, fretting the rootes in sunder, whiche according to Martin, you shall remedye in this sorte. Annoynt the mayne, and creast with Sope, then make strong Lye, & washe all the mayne and creast withall, and that will kill the wormes within twice, or thrice washing.
Of griefes in the Wythers. The .lv. Chapter.
TO a horses Wythers, and backe, doe chaunce manye griefes and sorances, whiche as Russius sayth, doe sometyme procede [Page] of inwarde causes, as of the corruption of humors, and somtime of outward causes, as through the galling and pinching of some naughty saddle, or by some heauy burthen, layd on the horses back, or such like. And of such griefes, some be but superficiall blisters, swellinges, lyghte galles, or brousinges: and be easelye cured. Some againe doe pearce to the verye bone, and be daungerous, and specially if they be nigh the backe bone: let vs first then shewe you the cure of the smaller griefes, and then of the greater.
Of Blystringes, or small swellinges in the wythers or backe, and of gallings. The .lvi. Chapter.
WHen so euer you se any swelling ryse, then Martin woulde haue you to bind a little hote horse dong vnto it, and that will asswage it. If not, then to prycke it rounde about the swelling, eyther with a fleame, or else with a sharpe poynted knife, not to deepe, but so as it may pearce the skinne, and make the bloud to issue forth. That done. Take of Mallowes, or else of Smallage, two or thre handfull, and boyle them in running water, vntill they be so soft as pappe. Then strayne the water softlye from it, and brose the hearbes in a Treane dishe, putting thervnto a lyttle Hogs greace, or else Salet oyle, or shepes Sewet, or any other fresh greace, [Page 36] boyle them and stur them together, not frying them harde, but so as it may be softe and souple, and then with a clout lay it warme vpon the sore, renuing it euery day once, vntill the swelling be gone. For this will eyther dryue it away, or else bring it to a head, which lyghtly chaunceth not, vnlesse there be some gristle or bone perished. Russius biddeth you, so sone as you see any swelling rise, to shaue the place with a Rasor, and to lay therevnto this playster. Take a little wheate floure, and the whyte of an Egge beaten together, and spread it on a Linnen cloute, whiche being layd vnto the swelling, two or three dayes, and not remoued, wyll bryng it to a heade, and when you come to take it of, pul it away so softly as you can possibly, and where as you se the corruption gathered together, then in the lowest place thereof, pearce it vpwarde with a sharp yron somewhat hote, that the corruption may come out, and annoynt the sore place euery day once, with freshe butter, or Hogges greace. But if the skinne be only chaufed of, without any swelling, then washe the place with water and salte, or else wyth warme wyne, and sprincle this powder theron. Take of vnsleyet Lyme▪ a quantitye beaten in to fyne powder, and mingle it with hony, vntill it be so thick as Paast, and make rolles or balles therof, and bake them in a fyre panne ouer the fyre, vntill they be so hard, as they may be brought to powder, for this is a very good powder to dry vp any galling or sore. The powder of Mirre or burnt Silk Felt or cloth, or of any olde post, is also good for suche purposes, [Page] but when so euer you vse this powder of Lyme and Hony, let the place he first washed as is aforesaid.
Of greate swellinges and inflamations in a horses Wythers. The .lvii. Chapter.
IF the swelling be very greate, then ye cure according to Martin is thus. First draw rounde about the swelling, with a hote yron, and then crosse hym him with the same yron in this maner
then take a rounde hote yron hauing a sharpe poynte, and thrust it into the swelling place on ech side vpwarde toward the poynt of the Wythers, to the intente that the matter may issue downewarde, at both the holes. That done, taynt both the holes, firste with a taint dipt in Hogges greace, to kyll the fyre, and also annoynt all the other burnt places therewith, continuing so to doe, vntill the swelling be aswaged, renuing the taints euery day once, vntill the fiery matter be fallen away, and then taint him againe with washed Turpentyne, mingled with yolkes of Egges, and Saffron, in such maner, as haue bene beforesayd renuing the taynte euery day once, vntil it be whole. If you see that the swelling, for all this go not away, then it is a sygne of some impostumation within, & therefore it shall be necessarye to launce it, and to let out the corruptiō, then take of hony halfe a pint, [Page 37] of Uerdigreace two ounces beaten to powder, and mingle it together with the hony, then boyle them in a pot vntill it looke red, then being luke warme, make eyther a taynt, or playster, according as the wounde shall requyre, renuing the same euery day once vntill it be whole. But the sore may be so vehemente, that for lacke of loking to in tyme, it will pearse downewarde betwixte both shoulders, towardes the intrayles, which is very daungerous, yea and as Russius sayth, mortall, bycause the corruption of the sore, infecting the Lungs, and heart (which be the vitall partes, and chiefe preseruers of life) the body must nedes decay. And therfore, Martin would haue you to fyll the hole with the salue laste mentioned, & to thrust in after it a pece of sponge, aswel to kepe the hole open, as also to sucke out the corruption, renuing it euery day once, vntyll it be whole.
Of the hornes or harde bones, growing vnder the Saddle syde. The .lviii. Chapter.
THis is a dead skinne like a pece of leather, called of the Italyans Corno, that is to say a horne, for that it is hard vnder hande, and commeth by meanes of some strayt saddle, pinching the horse more on the one syde than on the other: or else on both sydes equally. The cure whereof according to Martin, is in this sort. Annoynt them with fresh butter, [Page] or Hogges greace, vntill they be mollifyed and made so softe, as you may eyther cutte them, or pull them away, and then wash the wound with mans stale, or with whyte wine, and dry it vp with powder of vnslect Lyme.
Of Wennes or knobbes, growing about the Saddle skyrtes. The .lix. Chapter.
THese be great harde knobbes, growing most commonly betwixt two ribbes, aparaunt to the eye, which by their hardnesse, seme to come of some old broose, and are called of the Italians le Curte. The cure whereof according to Martin, is thus. First mollifye them, by annointing them with hote Hogges greace, euery day once or twice, the space of eyght dayes, and if you perceyue that it wil come to no head with this, then launce it from the middle downeward, that the matter may come out: then taint it wyth washed Turpentine, yolkes of egges, & saffrō mingled together, as is aforesaid, renuing the taint euery day once vntil it be whole.
Of the Nauill gall. The .lx. Chapter.
THe Nauill gall is a broose on the backe behinde the Saddle, ryght agaynst the Nauel of the horse, and therof it taketh [Page 38] his name. It commeth eyther by splytting of the Saddle behinde, or for lacke of stuffing, or by meanes of the hynder buckle, fretting that place, or else by some greate wayght layd on his backe: you shal perceyue it by the puffed vp, & spongy fleshe, loking like rotten lightes or lungs, and therefore is called of the Italyans Pulmone or Pulmoncello. The cure wherof according to Martin, is thus. Cut it round about with a sharpe knife or rasor, euen to the bone, leauing no rotten fleshe behinde: that done. Take the whyte of an Egge, and salte beaten together, and lay that playsterwyse vnto the sore, vpon a little toawe, renuing it once a day, the space of two dayes. Then take of hony a quarter of a pynte, and of Uerdigreace one ounce, beaten into powder, & boyle them together in a potte, stirring it styll vntil it loke red, and being luke warme, make a playster with toawe, and clappe it to the wounde, washing and clensing well the wounde firste, with a lyttle warme vineger, or whyte wyne, continuing so to do once a day, vntill it begin to heale, and to skin, then dry it vppe, by sprincling thereon this powder folowing. Take of Hony a quarterne, and as much of slect Lyme as will thicken the honye lyke vnto paast, and in a fyre pan ouer the fyre sturre it styll vntill it be harde baked, so as it may be beaten into powder, but before you throw on the powder, wash the wound first, with warme Ueneger, contynuing so to doe, vntyll it bee perfectelye skynned and whole.
Of the swaying of the backe. The .lxi. Chapter.
THis is called of the Italians Mal feruto, and according to Russius, and Martins opinions, commeth eyther by some greate strayne, or else by heauye burdens. You shall perceyue it, by the reeling and rowling of the horses hinder partes, in his going, whiche will folter many tymes, and sway, sometyme backewarde, and sometyme sydelyng, and be ready to fall euen to the grounde, and the horse being layde, is scante able to gette vppe. The cure according to Martin is thus. Couer his backe with a sheepes skin, comming hote from the sheepes backe, laying the fleshye syde next vnto his backe, and laye a warme howsyng cloth vpon the same, to keepe his backe as warme as may be, and so let it continue, vntill it begin to smell: then take the olde skinne away, and lay a newe vnto it, continuing so to do the space of thre weekes, and if he amende not with this, then drawe his backe with a hote yron ryghte out on both sydes of the rydge of his backe, from the pitche of the buttocke, vnto a handefull within the Saddle, and then agayne ouerthwart, in this sorte. And
let euery line be an ynch dystaunt, one from another, and let not suche strykes be very depe, but so burned as euery one may loke yellow, then lay vpon the burning [Page 39] this charge here folowing. Take of Pitch one pounde, of Rosen halfe a pounde, of bole Armonie halfe a pound made in powder, and halfe a pinte of Carre, and boyle all these together in a potte, stirring it vntill euery thing be molten, and thorowly mingled together, then being luke warme, dawbe all the burning therwith very thycke, and thervpon clap as many Flockes of the horses colour, as you can make to byde on, and remoue it not before it fall away of it selfe, and if it be in Sommer, you may turne him to grasse.
Of weakenesse in the backe. The .lxii. Chapter.
IT doth appeare by Laurentius Russius, that there is an other kinde of weakenesse in the backe, called in Italion le gotte, or morsecatura, de le reni, that is to saye, the fretting or byting of the raynes, whiche as the sayde Russius sayth, procedeth of abundaunce of humors, resorting to that place, whereby all the hinder partes of the horse do lose their feeling and strength, and the horse falleth downe to the grounde: yea & such humors manye tymes resorting to the heart, doe suffocate the same, and in two or three houres do cause the horse to dye. The remedy according to Russius, is in this sorte. Let him bloude abundantly in the necke, and drawe his backe with a hote iron, in such sorte as is declared in the last Chapter. He [Page] sayth also, it is good to make him swim thorowe a Ryuer, and to rowle him vpon the haunches, nigh the huckle bones: and to make the haire to growe agayne, it is good as he sayth, to annoint the place with Hogs greace, and thre leaued grasse stamped together.
Of Hyde bownd. The .lxiii. Chapter.
HYde bound is when the skinne cleaueth so faste to the horses backe, that a man can not pull it from the fleshe with his hand, which Ruellius calleth Coriago, it commeth for the moste parte of pouerty, or else when the horse after some greate heat, hath bene suffered to stand long in the rayne or wette weather, for that wil cause the skin to shrinke, and to cling to his rybbes. It is knowen by the leannesse of the horse, and gauntnesse of his belly, and by the fast sticking of the skinne vnto his ribbes, when you pull at it with your hande. The cure according to Martin, is thus. Let him bloud on both sydes the bellye, in the flanke vaynes betwixt the flanke, and the girding place, that done, gyue him this drinke. Take a quart of good white wine, or else of good Ale, and put therevnto thre ounces of good Salet oyle, of Comen one ounce, of Annis seedes two ounces, of Lycoras two ounces, beaten all into fyne powder, and giue it him luke warme with a horne. And when he hath dronke, lette one [Page 40] standing at his huckle bone, rubbe him hard with his hande alongst the backe, and ouerthwart the rybbes the space of halfe an houre, that done sette him in a warme stable, and let him stande in litter vp to the belly, and couer all his backe and rybbes with a sacke, first thorowly soked in a Tub of colde water, and then well and harde wrong, and ouer that cast an other cloth, and girde it fast with a sursingle, stuffing him well about the backe with fresh strawe, continuing thus to doe euery day once the space of a weeke, during whiche tyme giue him no colde water, but luke warme, and put therein a little ground mault. The wette sacke will cause the backe to gather heate of it selfe, and the skin to losen from the flesh, and if you will bestow more cost, you may annoynt all his body, with wine and oyle, mingled together, according to the opinions of the olde wryters, whiche no doubte is a verye comfortable thing, and must nedes supple the skinne, and losen it from the flesh.
Of the diseases in the throte and lungs, and why the griefes of the shoulders and hippes be be not mentioned before amongst the griefes of the withers and backe. The .lxiiii. Chapter.
SOme perhappes would loke here that for so muche as I haue declared the diseases of the necke, wythers, and backe, that I should also follow on now, with the [Page] griefes of the shoulders and hippes. But syth that such griefes, for the moste parte doe cause a horse to halt, and that it requireth some skill to know when a horse halteth, whether the fault be in his shoulder, hippe, legge, ioynte, or foote, I thinke it not good to seperate those partes a sunder, specially syth nature hath ioyned them together, that is to say, the shoulders to the forelegges, and the hippes to the hinder legges. And therfore according to natures order, I will treate of them in their proper place, that is to say, after that I haue shewed you all the diseases that be in the inwarde partes of a horses body, not onely aboue the midriffe, as the diseases of the throte, lungs, breast, and heart, but also vnder the Midriffe, as those of the stomacke, Lyuer, Guttes, and of all the rest. And first as touching the diseases of the throte, the Glaunders, and Stranguyllion, to all horses is most common.
Of the Glaunders, and Stranguyllion, so called according to the Italion name Stranguijlione. The .lxv. Chapter.
MOst Ferrers do take the Glaunders and Stranguylion to be all one disease, but it is not so, for the Glaunders is that which the Phisitians call Tonsille, and the Stranguylion is that which they call in Laten Angina, in Greeke Synanchi, and we commonly cal it in English, the Squinācy, [Page 41] or Quinzie Toncille is interpreted by them to be inflamations of the kirnelles called in Laten Glandes, in Italion glandule, whiche lye on eche syde of the throte, vnderneath the rote of the tongue, nigh vnto the swallowing place, of whiche worde glandes or glandule, I think we borrow this name Glaunders, for when the horse is troubled with this disease, he hath greate kyrnelles vnderneath his Iawes, easy to be seene or fealte, payning him so, as he can not easily swallow downe his meate, whiche commeth firste of colde distillation out of the heade. But if such kirnels be not inflamed, they will perhaps go away of them selues, or else by laying a little hote horse dong & straw vnto them, the warmth wherof will dissolue them, and make them to vanishe away. But if they be inflamed, they will not go away, but increase and waxe greater and greater, and be more paynefull euerye day than other, and cause the horse to caste continually filthy and stinking matter, out at his nose. The cure whereof according to Martin, is thus. First rype the kyrnelles with this playster. Take of Branne two handefull, or as much as will thicken a quart of wyne, or Ale: then putte therevnto halfe a pounde of Hogges greace, and boyle them together, and lay it hote to the sore with a clothe, renuing it euery day vntill it be ready to breake: then launce it and let out al the matter, and taynt it with a taynt of Flaxe, dipte in this salue. Take of Turpentyne, of Hogs greace, of eche like quantity, and a little waxe, and melt them together, and renue the taynt euery day vntill it be [Page] whole. Laurentius Russius sayth, that this disease is very cōmon to Coltes, bycause in them doth abounde fluxible moysture, apt to to be dissolued with euery little heate, and so turne to putrifaction, and therefore if the horse be not ouer yong, he woulde haue you first to let him bloude in the necke vayne, and then to lay vnto the sore a ryping playster, made of Mallowes, Linseede, Rewe, Wormewood, ground Iue, oyle of Bayes, and Dyalthea, and to annoynt his throte also, and al the sore place, with fresh butter. And the sore being rype, to launce it, or else to rowle it, that the matter may come forth. But if the kirnelles will not decrease with this, then pull them away by the rootes, & to dry vp the vlcerous place with an oyntmente, made of vnslect Lyme, Pepper, Brymstone, Nitrum, and oyle Oliue. It shall be good also to purge his heade by perfuming him euery day once, in suche sorte as haue bene before declared. And let the horse be kept warme about the heade, and stande in a warme stable, and let him drinke no colde water. But if you see that after you haue taken away the kirnelles, the horse doth not for all that leaue casting fylthy matter at the nose, then it is to be feared, yt he hath some spice of the mourning of the Chyne, for both diseases doe procede of one cause, and therefore I thinke good to speake of it here presentlye.
Of the mourning of the Chyne. The .lxvi. Chapter.
[Page 42] THys word mourning of the Chyne, is a corrupt name, borrowed of the Frenche tongue, wherein it is called Mort deschyen, that is to say, the death of the backe. Bycause many doe holde opinion, that thys disease doth consume the marye of of the backe, for remedy wherof, they vse straunge kinds of cures. For some taking it to be a Rheume, go aboute to stoppe it, by laying Astrictyue, or byndyng charges, vnto the nape of the necke. Some agayne do twyne out the pyth of the backe with a long wyar, thrust vp into the horses heade, and so into his necke & backe, with what reason I knowe not. Well I knowe, that few horses do recouer that haue this disease. Some agayne thinke that the Lungs of the horse be rotten, and that the horse doth caste them out at his nose. But Martin sayth, that he hath cut vp dyuers horses which hath bene iudged to haue died of the mourning of the Chyne, but he coulde neuer finde eyther backe or Lungs to be peryshed, but onely the Lyuer, and most commonly that syde of the Lyuer, whiche aunswereth the nosetrill whereat he casteth, whereof we wyll talke in his proper place, when we come to speake of the diseases in the Lyuer. The Italians doe call this disease Ciamorro, the olde Authours do cal it the moyst Maladye, whereof Theomnestus maketh two differences. For in the one, the matter whiche he doth cast at the nose is whyte, and doth not smell at [Page] all, and in the other, that whiche he casteth is a filthy and stinking corruption. They procede both of colde humors, congealed in the heade, but more abounding in the one, than in the other: by reason perhappes, that the horse was not cured in tyme: for of colde, first commeth the Pose, and the Cough, then the Glaunders, and laste of all the mourning of the Chyne. When the horse casteth matter at the nose, that is not stinking, he maye be easely cured, by such remedyes as haue bene before declared in the Chapter of the Pose. But if the matter be very filthye and stinking, then it is verye harde to cure. Notwithstanding it shall not grieue me to wryte vnto you here, the experience of Theomnestus, and of Laurentius Russius. Theomnestus cure is thus. Take of water and hony called of the Phisitians Hedromel, a quart, and put therevnto thre ounces of oyle, and poure that into his nosetril euery morning, ye space of thre dayes, and if that doe not profite him, then let him drinke euerye day, or once in two dayes, a quarte of olde wyne, mingled with some of the medicine, or rather the precious meat, called of the old wryters Tetrapharmacum, and that will restore him to his former estate. Laurentius Russius sayth, that of all diseases there is none more perillous, nor more to be suspected, than the Rhewine whiche commeth of colde, for horses haue large Cunduits, and are full of moysture, and therfore if colde once enter, it findeth matter inough to worke on, to breede continuall distillation, as well outwardlye at the nose, as inwardly, discending downe to the vital parts▪ [Page 43] in such sorte, as it doth suffocat the same. The sygnes according to the sayde Russius be these. The horse doth cast matter continually at the nose some tyme thin, and sometime thicke, his nosetrils, eares, and all his outwarde partes, will be colde to the feeling, his eyes, head, and all his body heauy, and he will coughe, and haue smal appitite to his meat, and lesse to his drinke, and sometyme he will tremble and shake. His cure is in this sorte. Purge his heade, partly by perfuming him, and partly by making him to neese in such sort, as hath bene before taughte in the Chapter of the Pose, whiche waies of perfuming & purging the head, as they be good, so doth Russius praise these two here folowing to be most excellent. The first is this. Take of the stalkes of vitis Alba otherwyse called Brioni, or wilde Uine, two or three good handfull, and broose them betwixt two stones, and being so brosed, put them into a Linnen bagge, and fasten the bagge to the horses heade, so as he may receyue the scent vp into his nosetrilles, without touching the hearbe with his mouth, and this will cause the humors to come downe abundantlye. The seconde medicine. Take of Euforbiū beaten into fyne powder thre ounces, of the iuyce of Betes one pounde, of Swines bloud halfe a pounde. Boyle all these together vntill they be thorowly myngled, & lyquid lyke an oyntment, and then take it from the fire, and put thervnto one ounce more of Euforbium, and mingle them again thorowly together, and preserue the same in a boxe to vse at nedefull tymes, in this sort. Make two [Page] styffe long rowles, or tampins, of linnen cloutes, or such lyke stuffe, sharpe poynted lyke Suger loues, which tampins are called of the Phisitians in Laten Pessi, and being annoynted with the oyntment aforesayde, thruste them vppe into the horses nosetrilles, and let them abyde therein a prety while, then pull them out, & you shall see such abundaunce of matter, come forth at his nose, as is maruellous to behold. Russius also prayseth very much this medicine here folowing. Take as much of the middle barke of an Elder tree, growing on the water side, as wil fil a newe earthen pot, of a meane syse, putting therevnto as much cleare water, as the potte wyll holde, and let it boyle vntill the one halfe be consumed: & then to be fylled vp againe with fresh water, continuing so to do thre tymes, one after an other, and at the last time, that the one halfe is consumed, take it from the fyre, and strayne it thorow a lynnen cloth. Then take two partes of that decoction, and one part of Hogges greace, or butter, and being warmed agayne together, gyue the horse to drinke thereof one horne full, and poure an other hornefull into his nosetrill that casteth, and when so euer you giue him this medicine, lette the horse be empty and fasting, and kepe him without meate also. two or three houres after. For this is a very good drinke for any sicknesse, that commeth of colde. Moreouer open the skinne of his foreheade, and of his temples, & also of his tayle, with a sharpe hote yron, that the corrupt humors may issue outward. That done. Take hote Bricks, or else a pan [Page 44] freshe burning coales, and holde it nighe vnto hys bellye, and flankes, to the intent they may be thorowly warmed, & being so warmed, annoynt them all ouer, with oyle de Bay, or Dialthea, to defende his body from the colde, and let his head be well couered, and all his bellye kepte warme. Yea and it were good to bathe his heade sometime as Russius sayth with a bathe made of Rhewe, Wormewood, Sage, Ieneper, Bay leaues, and Hysop. And lette his drynke be warme water myngled with wheat meale, yea and to make it the more comfortable, it were good as Russius sayth, to put therevnto some Cynamon, Gynger, Galingale, and such hote spyces. And his meat in Winter season would be none other but sodden corne, or warme mashes, made of ground Mault and wheate Branne: in Sommer season if he wente to grasse, I thinke it woulde doe him most good, so that he go in a dry warm groūd, for by feding alwayes downeward, he shal purge his heade the better as Russius sayth. Thus muche of the Glaunders, & mourning of the Chyne. Nowe we will speake somewhat of the Stranguylion, according to the opinion of the old Authours, though not to the satisfaction perhappes of our Englishe Ferrers.
Of the Stranguylion or Squynancye. The .lxvii. Chapter.
THe Stranguylion called of the Latens Angina, according to the Phisitians, is [Page] an inflamation of the inwarde parts of the throte, and as I sayde before, is called of the Greekes Sinanchi, whiche is as muche to say in Englishe as a strangling, wherof this name Stranguylion as I thinke is deryued, for this disease doth strangle eyther man or beast, & therefore is numbred amongst the perillous and sharpe diseases, called of the Latens Morbi acuti, of which strangling the Phisitians in mannes body make foure differences. The first and worst is, when no part within the mouth, nor without, appeareth manifestly to be inflamed, and yet the pacient is in great perill of strangling. The second is, when the inward partes of the throte onlye be inflamed. The thirde is when the inwarde and outward parts of the throte be both inflamed. The fourth is, when the Muskles of the necke are inflamed, or the inwarde ioyntes therof so losened, as they strayten therby, both the throte, or wesand, or windpipe, for shorte breath is incident to all the foure kindes before recyted, and they procede all of one cause, that is to say, of some Colorick or bloudy fluxion, which commes out of the braunches of the throte vaynes into those partes, and there bredeth some hote inflamation. But nowe to proue that a horse is subiecte to this disease, you shall heare what Absirtus, Hierocles, and Vegetius and others doe say. Absirtus wryting to his frende, a certayne Ferrer or Horsleache, called Aistoricus, speaketh in this maner. When a horse hath the strāguylion, it quickly killeth him, the sygnes wherof be these. His temples will be hollowe, his tongue will swell, & hang [Page 45] out of his mouth, his heade and eyes also will be swollē, and the passage of his throte stopt, so as he can neyther eate nor drinke. All these sygnes be also confirmed by Hierocles. Moreouer Vegetius rendereth the cause of this disease, affirming, that it proceedes of aboundaunce of subtill bloude, whiche after long trauell, wil inflame the inwarde or outwarde muskels of the throte or wesand, or suche affluence of bloude may come, by vse of hote meates after great trauel, being so alteratiue, as they cause those partes to swell in such sorte, as the horse can neyther eate nor drinke, nor drawe his breath. The cure according to Vegetius, is in this sort. First bath his mouth and tongue well with hote water, and then annoynte it with the gall of a Bull, that done, giue him this drinke. Take of olde oyle two pounde, of olde wyne a quarte, nine Figges, and nine Leekes heades, well stampte and brayed together. And after you haue boyled these a whyle, before you strayne them, put therevnto a little Nitrum Alexandrinum, and giue him a quarte of this euery morning, and euening. Absirtus and Hierocles, woulde haue you to let him bloude in the palat of his mouth, and to poure wyne & oyle into his nosetrilles, and also to giue him to drink this decoction of Fygges and Nitrum, sodden together, or else to annoynt his throte within with Nitre oyle, and hony, or else with hony and Hogs dong myngled together, which differeth not much from Galen his medicine, to be giuen vnto man. For he sayth, that hony mingled with the powder of Dogges dong [Page] that is whyte, and swalowed downe, doth remedy the Squinancye presentlye. Absirtus also prayseth the oyntmente made of Bdellinum, and when the inflamation beginneth somewhat to decrease, he sayth it is good to purge the horse, by giuing hym wylde Concumbre, and Nitre to drinke. Let hys meate be grasse, if it may be gotten, or else wet hay, and sprinkled with Nitre. Let his drinke also be luke warme water, with some Barly meale in it.
Of the Cough. The .lxviii. Chapter.
OF Coughes some be outward, and some be inwarde. Those be outwarde whiche doe come of outwarde causes, as by eating a feather, or by eating dusty or sharpe bearded straw, and such lyke things: which tycling his throte, causeth him to Coughe. You shall perceyue it by wagging and wrying his heade in his choughing, & by stamping sometyme with his foote, labouring to get out the thing that grieueth him, and can not. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take a Willow wand, rowled throughout with a fyne Linnen clout, and then annoynte it all ouer with hony, and thrust it downe his throte, drawing your hande to and fro, to the intente it may eyther dryue downe the thing that grieueth him, or else bring it vp, and doe thys twice or thrice, annoynting at euery tyme the sticke with fresh hony.
Of the inwarde and wet Coughe. The .lxix. Chapter.
OF inwarde Coughes some be wet and some be dry. The wet cough is that, which commeth of colde, taken after some greate heate giuen to the horse, dissoluing humors, which being afterwarde congealed, doe cause obstruction and stopping in the lungs. And I cal it the wet coughe, bycause the horse in his coughing, will voyde moystye matter at his mouth, after that it is once broken. The sygnes be these. The horse will be heauy, and his eyes will run a water, and he will forsake his meate, and when he cougheth, he thrusteth out his head, and reacheth with great paine at the first, as though he had a dry cough, vntill the Flegme be broken, and then he will cough more hollow, which is a sygne of amendment. And therfore according to Martins experience, to the intent the Flegme may breake the soner, it shall be necessarye to kepe hym warme, by clothing him with a double cloth, and by litteryng him vp to the bellye with freshe strawe, & then to giue him this drinke. Take of Barlye one Pecke, and boyle it in two or thre Gallons of faire water, vntill the Barlye begin to bruste, and boyle therewith of broused Lycoras, of Annis seedes, of Raysins, of eche one pounde, then strayne it, and to that lyquor, put of hony a pynte, and a quarterne of Sugercandy, and keepe it close in a potte to serue [Page] the horse therewith foure seuerall morninges, and cast not away the sodden Barly with the rest of the strayninges, but make it hote euery day to perfume the horse withall, being put into a bagge, and tyed to his heade, and if the horse will eate of it, it shall doe him the more good. And this perfuming in Winter seasō would be vsed about ten of the clocke in the morning, when the sunne is of some heyght, to the intent the horse may be walked abrode, if the sunne shyne, to excercyse hym moderately. And vntill hys coughe weare awaye, faile not to giue him warme water, with a little ground Maulte. And as his cough breaketh more and more, so lette his water euery day be lesse warmed, than other.
Of the dry Coughe. The .lxx. Chapter.
THis semeth to come of some grosse and tough humor, cleauing harde to the hollowe places of the lungs which stoppeth the wind pipes, so as ye horse cā not easly draw his breath, & if it continue, it wyll eyther grow to the Pursick, or else breake his winde altogether. The sygnes be these. He wil cough both often, dryly, and also vehementlye, without voyding at the nose or mouth. The cure according to Martin, is in this sort. Take a close earthen potte and put therin, thre pyntes of strong Uineger, and foure Egges, shelles and all vnbroken, [Page 47] and foure Garlick heades clene pilled & broused, and set the pot being very close couered, in some warme donghill, and there lette it stande a whole night: and the next morning with your hand take out the Egges, which will be so soft as sylke, & lay them by, vntil you haue strayned the Garlycke and Uineger thorow a fayre cloth, then put to that lyquor, a quarterne of hony, and halfe a quarterne of Sugercandye, and two ounces of Lycoras, & two ounces of Annis seedes, beaten all into fyne powder. And then the horse hauing fasted all the night before, in the morning betwixte seuen and eyght of the clock, open his mouth with a corde, and whorle therein one of the Egges, so as he may swallow it downe, and then immediatelye poure in after it a horne full of the foresayde drynke, being first made luke warme, and then cast in an other Egge, with an other horne ful of drinke, and so continue to do, vntill he hath swallowed vppe all the Egges, and dronke vp all the drinke: and then brydle him, and couer him with warmer clothes thā he had before, and bring him into the stable, and there lette him stande on the bitte, at the bare racke, well littered vp to the bellye, the space of two houres. Then vnbitte him, and if it be in Winter, offer him a handeful of Wheaten straw, if in Sōmer, giue him grasse, and let him eate no hay, vnlesse it be very well dusted, and sprinckled with water, and giue him not much thereof. And therfore you shall neede to giue hym the more prouender, whiche also must be well clensed of all filthe, and dust, and giue him no colde [Page] water, the space of nine dayes. And if you perceyue that the cough doth not weare away, then if it be in Winter, purge him with these pilles. Take of larde two pounde layde in water two houres, then take nothing but the cleene fatte thereof, and stampe it in a morter, and thereto put of Lycoras, of Annis seedes, of Fenegreke, of eche beaten into powder three ounces, of Aloes in powder two ounces, of Agarice one ounce. Knede these together lyke paast, make thereof sixe balles, as big as an Egge. Then the horse hauing fasted ouer nighte, giue him the nexte morning these pilles, one after another, annointed with hony and oyle mingled together, in a Platter, and to the intente he may swallowe them downe whyther he will or not, when you haue opened his mouth, catch holde of his tongue, and holde it faste whilest you whorle in one of the pilles, that done, thrust it into his throte with a rowling pinne, and then let his tongue go vntill he hath swalowed it downe: then giue hym in like maner all the rest of the pilles, & let him stande on the bit warme clothed, and littered the space of thre houres at the least, and after that giue him a little wette hay, and warme water with a little grounde Maulte in it, to drinke, and lette him drinke no other but warme water, the space of a weke. And now and then in a fayre sunnye day, it shall be good to trotte him one houre abroade, to breath him.
Of the fretized, broken, and rotten lungs. The .lxxi. Chapter.
[Page 48] THis procedes as Absirtus and Theomnestus sayth, eyther of an extreeme coughe, or of vehement running, or leaping, or of ouer greadye drinking after greate thrist, for the lungs be inclosed in a very thin film or skinne, and therefore easy to be broken, which if it bee not cured in tyme, doth growe to appostumation, and to corruption, oppressing al the lungs, which of the olde Authors is called Vomica, and Supputatio. But Theomnestus sayth, that broken lungs, & rotten lungs, be two dyuers diseases, and haue dyuers sygnes, & dyuers cures. The sygnes of broken lungs be these. The horse draweth his wind short, and by little at once, he will turne his heade often toward the place grieued, and groneth in his breathing, he is afrayde to coughe, and yet cougheth as though he had eaten small bones. The same Theomnestus healed a frendes horse of his, whose lungs were fretyzed or rather broken as he sayth, by continual eating of salte, with this maner of cure here folowing. Let the horse haue quiet and rest, & then let him bloude in the haunches, where the vaynes appeare most: and giue him to drinke the space of seuen dayes, Barlye or rather Otes, soden in Goates mylke, or if you can get no milke, boyle it in water, and put therein some thicke Collops of Larde, and of Deares sewet, and let him drinke that: and let his common drinke in winter season, be the decoction of wheat meale, and in Sommer tyme, the [Page] decoction of Barly, and this as he sayth will binde his lungs agayne together. Vegetius vtterlye disaloweth letting of bloude in any such disease as this is, and also all maner of sharpe medicins, for feare of prouoking the coughe, by meanes whereof the broken places can neuer heale perfectly. And therfore neyther his medicins nor meate woulde bee harshe, but smouth, gentle, and cooling. The best medicine that may be gyuen him at all tymes is this. Take of Fengreke, and of Lynsede, of ech half a pounde, of Gum dragant, of Masticke, of Mirre, of Suger, of Fytch floure, of eche one ounce. Let all these things be beaten into fyne powder, and then infused one whole night in a sufficient quantity of warme water, and the next day giue him a quart of this luke warme, putting therevnto two or three ounces of oyle of Roses, continuing so to doe many dayes together, and if the disease be new, this will heale him. Yea and it will ease him verye muche though the disease be olde, whiche then is thought vncurable. And in winter season so long as he stā deth in the stable, let him drinke no colde water, & let his meate be cleene without dust, but in Sommer season it were best to let him run to grasse. For so long as he eateth grasse, a man shall scantly perceyue this disease: thus much of broken lungs.
Of putryfied or rotten lungs. The .lxxii. Chapter.
[Page 49] THe sygnes to knowe whether a horses lungs be putrifyed or rottē, according to Theomnestus, are these. The horse wil both eate & drink more gredily than he was wont to do, and he shall be oftner vexed with a dry cough, and in coughing he wil cast little lumps of matter out at his mouth. The cure wherof, according to Theomnestus, is thus. Giue him to drinke euery morning, the space of seuen dayes, the iuyce of Purslen mingled with oyle of Roses, and adde thervnto a little Tragagantū, that hath bene layde before in steepe in Goates mylke, or else in barlye or oten milke, strayned out of the corne. When the Apostume is broken, then a verye strong and euill sauour will come out at his nosetrilles. For remedy whereof, it shall be good to giue him the space of seuen dayes this drinke here folowing. Take of the roote called Costus two ounces, and of Casia, or else of Cynamon thre ounces, beaten into fyne powder, and a fewe Raysins, and giue it him to drinke with wyne. But Vegetius woulde haue him to be cured in this sort, and with lesse cost, I assure you. Take of Franconcense, and of Aristoloch, of eche two ounces, beaten into fyne powder, and giue him that with wine, or else take of vnburnt Brimstone two ounces, and of Aristoloch one ounce and a half beaten into powder, and giue him that with wyne. And he would haue you also to draw his breast with a hote yron, to the intent that the humors may issue forth outwardly.
Of shortnesse of breath. The .lxxiii. Chapter.
A Horse may haue shortenesse of breath, by hastye running after drinking, or vpon a full stomacke, or by the discending of humors vnto his throte or lungs, after some extreme heate dissoluing the sayd humors, which so long, as there is nothing broken, maye in the beginning be easilye holpen. The sygnes be these. The horse will continually pant, and fetch his breath shorte, which wil come very hote out at his nose, & in his breathing he will squese in the nose, and his flankes will beat thicke, yea and some can not fetch their breath vnlesse they holde their neckes right out, and straigth, whiche disease is called of the olde wryters by the Greeke name Orthopnoea. The cure. Let him bloude in the necke, and giue him this drinke. Take of wyne, and of oyle, of eche a pynte, of Franconcense, halfe an ounce, and of the iuyce of Horehound halfe a pynte. It is good also to poure into his throte honye, butter, and Hogges greace molten together, & made luke warme. Tiberius sayth, it is good to giue him whole Egges, shelles and al, steeped and made soft in Uineger: that is to say, the first day thre, the seconde day fyue, and the thirde day seuen, and to poure oyle and wine into his nosetrilles. I for my part would take nothing but Annis seedes, Lycoras and Sugercandy, beaten al into fyne powder, [Page 50] giue him that to drinke, with wine and oyle, mingled together.
Of the Pursicke. The .lxxiiii. Chapter.
THis is a shortenesse of breath, and the horse that is so diseased, is called of the Italians, Cauallo pulsino, or Bolso, whiche I thinke is deriued of the Laten worde Vulsus, by chaunging V. into B. and I thinke differeth not muche from him that hath brokē lungs, called of Vegetius and other olde wryters Vulsus, for suche shortenesse of breath commes eyther of the same causes, or else muche lyke, as of abundaunce of grosse humors cleauing harde to the hollowe places of the lungs, and stopping the winde pipes. And the winde beyng kepte in, doth resort downeward as Russius sayth, into the horses guttes, and so causeth his flankes to beate cōtinually without order, that is to say, more swiftlye, and hyer vp to the backe, than the flankes of any horse that is sounde of wynde. And if this dysease be olde it is seldom or neuer cured, and though I finde many medicins prescribed by dyuers Authours, fewe or none doe contente me, vnlesse it be that of Vegetius, recyted before in the chapter of broken lungs. And if that preuaileth not, thē I thinke it were not amisse according to Russius to pourge him with this drinke here following. Take of mayden haire, of Ireos, of Ashe, of Lycoras, of Fēgreke, [Page] of Raysins, of ech halfe an ounce, of Cardamum, of Pepper, of bytter Almonds, of Baurach, of ech two ounces, of Nettle seede, and of Aristoloche, of eche two ounces, boyle them all together in a sufficiente quantitie of water, and in that decoction dissolue halfe an ounce of Agaricke, and two ounces of Coloquintida, together with two pounde of hony, and giue him of this a pinte or a quart at dyuers times, and if it bee to thicke, make it thinner, by putting thervnto water, wherin Lycoras hath bene soddē, and if nede be, you may also draw both his flanks crossewyse with a hote Iron, to restrayne the beating of them, and also slytte his nosetrilles, to giue him more ayre. And if it be in Sommer, turne him to grasse, if in Winter, lette him be kept warme, and giue hym now and then a little sodden wheate. Russius woulde haue it to be giuen him three dayes together, and also newe sweete wyne to drinke, or else other good wine, mingled with Licoras water.
Of a Consumption. The .lxxv. Chapter.
A Consumption is none other thyng but an exulceration of the lungs, proceding of some fretting or gnawing humor, discending out of the head into the lungs. And I take it to be that disease whiche the olde wryters are wonte to call the dry malady. Whiche perhappes some woulde rather interprete to be the [Page 51] mourning of the Chyne, with whom I intend not to stryue. But thus much I muste nedes say, that euerye horse hauing the mourning of the Chyne, doth continually cast at the nose, but in the dry maladye it is cleane contrary. For all the Authours that wryte therof affyrme, that the horse auoydeth nothing at the nose. And the sygnes to knowe the dry maladye according to their doctryne, be these. Hys fleshe doth cleene consume away, his bellye is gaunt, and the skin therof so hard stretched, or rather shronk vp, as if you strike on it with your hand it will sounde lyke a Tabor, and he wyll be hollowe backt, and forsake his meate, and though he eateth it, (as Absirtus sayth) yet he doth not disgest it, nor prospereth not withall, he woulde coughe and can not but hickingly, as though he had eaten smal bones. And this disease is iudged of al the Authours to be incureable. Notwithstanding, they say all, that it is good to purge his heade with such perfumes as haue bene shewed you before, in the Chapter of the Glaunders, & also to gyue him alwayes Coleworts, small chopt wyth his prouender. Some woulde haue hym to drinke the warme bloude of sucking Pigges newe slayne, and some the iuyce of Leekes, together with oyle and wyne myngled together. Others prayse wyne and Franconcense, some oyle and Rhew, some woulde haue hys bodye to be purged, and sente to grasse.
Of the Consumption of the flesh, and howe to make a leane horse fatte. [Page] The .lxxvi. Chapter.
MArtin sayth that if a horse take a great colde after a heat: it will cause his fleshe to waste, & his skin to waxe hard & dry, & to cleaue fast to his sides, and he shall haue no appetite vnto his meate, and the fillettes of his backe will fall away, and all the fleshe of his buttockes, and of his shoulders, will be consumed. The cure whereof is thus. Take two sheepes heades vnfleaed, boyle them in thre gallons of Ale, or fayre running water, vntyll the fleshe be consumed from the bones, that done, strayne it through a fine cloth, and then put therevnto of Suger one pounde, of Cynamon two ounces, of conserue of Roses, of Barbaries, and of Cheries, of ech two ounces, and mingle them together, & giue the horse euery day in the morning, a quarte thereof luke warme, vntill all be spent: and after euery tyme he drinketh, let him be walked vp and downe in the stable, or else abrode if the weather be warme, and not wyndye, and let him neyther eate nor drinke in two houres after, and let him drinke no colde water, but luke warme the space of fiftene dayes, and let him be fedde by little and little, with such meate as the horse hath moste appetyte vnto. But if a horse be neshe & tender, and so waxe leane without anye apparant griefe or disease, then the olde wryters woulde haue him to be fed now and then with partched wheate, & also to drinke wyne with his water, and to eate continuallye wheate [Page 52] branne mingled with his prouender, vntill he wax strong, and he must be often dressed and trymmed, and laye soft, without the which thinges his meate will doe him but little good. And his meate must be fyne and cleane, and giuen him often, and by little at once. Russius sayth, that if a horse eating his meat with a good appetite, doth not for all that prosper, but is stil leane: then it is good to giue him Sage, Sauyn, Bay buryes, Earth nuttes, and Boares greace, to drinke with wyne: or to giue him the intrayles of a Barble or Tench, with whyte wyne. He sayth also that sodden Beanes mingled wyth bran and salte, will make a leane horse fatte in very shorte space.
Of griefe in the breast. The .lxxvii. Chapter.
LAurentius Russius wryteth of a disease called in Italian Granezza di petto, whiche hath not bene in experience amongst our Ferrers, that I can learne. It commes as Russius sayth, of the superfluity of bloud, or other humors dissolued by some extreme heate, and resorting downe to the breast, payning the horse so as he can not well goe. The cure wherof according to Russius is thus. Let him bloud on both sydes of the breast, in ye accustemed vaynes, and rowel them vnder the breast, and twice a day turne the rowelles with your hande, to moue the humors that they may issue forth, and let [Page] hym go so rowelled the space of .xv. dayes.
Of the payne at the harte called Anticor, that is to say contrary to the heart. The .lxxviii. Chapter.
THis procedes of abundaunce of ranke bloud bredde with good feeding and ouer much rest. Which bloud resorting to the inwarde partes, doth suffocate the hart, and many tymes causeth swellings to appeare before the breast, whiche wil grow vpwarde to the necke, and then it killeth the horse. The sygnes. The horse will hang downe his heade in the maunger, for saking his meate, and is not able to lifte vp his heade. The cure according to Martin, is thus. Let him bloude on both sydes abundantlye in the plat vaynes, and then giue him this drinke. Take a quarte of Malmesy, and put therevnto halfe a quarterne of Suger, & two ounces of Cynamō, and giue it him luke warme. Then kepe him warme in the stable, stuffing him well aboute the stomacke, that the winde offende him no maner of way, and gyue him warme water wyth mault alwayes to drinke, and giue him such meate as he wil eate. And if the swelling do appeare, then besydes letting hym bloude, strike the swelling in dyuers places wyth your fleame, that the corruption may go foorth: and annoynt the place wyth warme Hogges greace, and that will eyther make it to weare away, or else to grow to a heade, if it be [Page 53] couered and kept warme.
Of tyered horses. The .lxxix. Chapter.
BYcause we are in hande here with the vitall partes, and that when horses be tyered with ouer muche labour, their vitall sprightes wax feble, I thinke it best to speak of them euen here, not with suche long discoursing as Vegetius vseth, but brieflye to shewe you howe to refresh the poore horse, hauing nede thereof, which is done chieflye by geuing him rest, warmth, and good feeding, as with warme mashes and plentye of prouender. And to quicken his sprightes, it shall be good to poure a little oyle and Uineger into his nosetrilles, and to giue him the drinke of shepes heades, recyted before in the Chapter of the consumption of the flesh, yea and also to bath his legs with this bath. Take of Mallowes, of Sage, of eche two or thre handfull, and a rose Cake. Boyle these thinges together, and beyng boyled, then put vnto it a good quantity of butter, or of Sallet oyle. Or else make him this charge. Take of bole Armonye, and of wheate flower, of eche halfe a pounde, and a little Rosen beaten into powder, and a quart of strong vineger: and mingle them together, and couer all his legges therwith, and if it be in Sommer turne him to grasse.
Of the diseased partes vnder the mydriffe, and first of the stomacke. The .lxxx. Chapter.
THe olde Authours make mention of many diseases incidente to a horses stomacke, as lothing of meate, spuyng vp his drinke, surfetting of prouēder, the hungry euyll, and such lyke, which fewe of our Ferrers haue obserued: and therefore I will briefly speake, of as many as I think necessary to be knowen, and first of the lothing of meate.
Of the lothing of meate. The .lxxxi. Chapter.
A Horse maye lothe hys meate through the intemperature of his stomacke, as for that, it is to hote or to colde. If his stomacke be to hote, then most commonlye it will eyther inflame his mouth, and make it to break out in blisters, yea and perhappes cause some canker to breede there. The cure of all whiche thinges haue bene taught before. But if he forsake his meate onely for verye heate, whiche you shall perceyue by the hotenesse of his breath and mouth, then coole his stomacke by giuing him colde water mingled with a little vineger and oyle to drinke, or else giue him this drinke. Take of milke, and of wyne, of eche one pynte, and [Page 54] put therevnto three ounces of Mel Rosatum, and wash all his mouth with Uineger and salte. If his stomacke be to colde, chen his haire will stare and stande right vp, which Absirtus & others were wonte to cure, by giuing the horse good wyne and oyle to drynke, and some woulde seeth in the wyne, Rhew, or Sage, some would adde thervnto, white Pepper and Myrre, some woulde giue him Onyons and Roket seede to drinke with wyne, some the bloude of a yong Sowe with wyne. Absirtus would haue the horse to eate the greene blades of wheate, if the tyme of the yeare will serue for it. Columella sayth, that if a horse or any other beast doe loth his meat, it is good to giue hym wyne, and the seede of Gith, or else wyne and stampt Garlicke.
Of casting out his drinke. The .lxxxii. Chapter.
VEgetius sayth that the Horse may haue such a Pawlsy proceeding of colde in his stomacke, as he is not able to kepe his drinke, but many tymes do cast it out again at his mouth. The remedye whereof is to lette him bloud in the necke, and to giue him cordiall drinks, that is to say, made of hote and comfortable spyces, and also to annoynte all his breast and vnder hys shoulders with hote oyles, & to purge his heade, by blowyng vp into his nosetrils, powders that prouoke nesing, such as haue bene taught you before.
Of surfetting with glut of Prouender. The .lxxxiii. Chapter.
THe Glut of Prouender or other meate not digested, doth cause a Horse to haue great payne in his body, so as he is not able to stande on his fete, but lyeth downe, & waltereth, as thoughe he had the Bottes. The cure whereof according to Martins experience is in this sorte. Let him bloude in the necke, then trotte him vp and downe for the space of an houre, and if he can not stale, drawe out his yarde, and washe it with a little white Wine luke warme, and thrust into his yard eyther a broosed Cloue of Garlicke, or else a little oyle of Camamill, with a wax Candle. If he can not doung, then rake his fundament, & giue him this glistre. Take of Mallowes two or three handful, and boyle them in a pottell of fayre running water, and when the Mallowes be soden, then straine it, and put therevnto a quarte of freshe Butter, and halfe a pinte of oyle Oliue, and hauing receyued this glister, leade him vp and downe, vntill he hath emptyed his bellye. Then set him vp and kepe him hūgry, the space of three or foure dayes, and the Hay that he eateth, let it be sprinckeled with water, and let him drinke warme water, wherein would be put a lyttle bran, and whē he hath dronke, giue him the bran to eat, and giue him little or no prouender at all, for the space of eight or tenne dayes.
Of an other kinde of surfetting with meate or drinke, called of vs foundering in the body. The .lxxxiiij. Chapter.
THis disease is called of the olde writers in Greeke Crithiasis, in Latine Hordiatio, it cōmeth as they say by eating of much Prouender, sodenlye after labour whylest the Horse is hote and panting, whereby his meate not being digested, bredeth euill humors, which by little and little do spreade throughe his members, and at length do oppresse all his body, and doe cleane take away his strength, & make him in such case as he can neyther go, nor bow his ioynts, nor being layde is able to rise againe, neyther can he stale but with great pain. It may come also as they say, of drinking to much in trauelling by the way when the horse is hote, but then it is not so daungerous, as when it commeth of eating to much. But how so euer it commeth, they say all, that the humors will immediatelye resort downe into the horses legs, & feete, & will make him to cast his houes: and therfore I must nedes iudgeit to be no other thing but a plaine foūdering, which word foūdering is borowed as I take it of ye Frēch word Fundu, yt is to say moltē. For foūdering is a melting or dissolutiō of humors, which the Italians cal infusione. Martin maketh diuers kinds of foundering, as foundering in the body, which the Frenche men [Page] call most commonlye morfundu, and foundering in the legges, and feete, also foundering before, and foundering behinde, which some Autours do deny, as Magister Maurus, and Laurentius Russius, affirming that there are fewer humors behinde than before, and that they can not easelye be dissolued or molten, being so farre distante from the hearte, and the other vital partes. Whervnto a man might aunswere, that the naturall heate of the heart doth not cause dissolution of humors, but some vnnaturall and accidentall heate, spred throughout all the members, whiche is dayly proued by good experience. For we see horses to be foundered not only before or behinde, but also of all foure legges at once, which most commonly chaunceth, either, by taking colde sodenlye after a great heate, as by standyng still vpon some colde pauemente, or abrode in the colde winde, or else for that perhaps the horse traueling by the way, and being in a sweate, was suffered to stande in some showld water whilest he did drinke, which was worse than his drinking, for in the meane time the colde entring at his fete, ascended vpward, and congealed the humors which the heate before had dissolued, and therby when he cō meth once to rest, he waxeth stiffe and lame of all his legges. But leauing to speake of foundering in the legges, as well before as behind, vntil we come to the griefes in the legges and feete, we intende to talke here onely of foundering in the body according to Martins experience. The signes to knowe if a horse be foundered in his body bee these. Hys [Page 56] haire will stare, & he will be chill and shrugge for colde, and forsake his meate hanging downe the heade, and quiuer after colde water, and after two or three dayes he will begin to coughe. The cure according to Martin is thus. First scoure his bellye with the glistre last mentioned, and then gyue him a comfortable drinke made in this sorte. Take of Malmesey a quarte, of Suger halfe a quartern, of hony half a quartern, of Cynamom halfe an ounce, of Lyckoras and Annis seedes of ech two sponeful, beaten into fine powder, which being put into the Malmesey, warme them togither at the fire so as the hony may be molten, and then giue it him luke warme. That done walke him vp and downe in the warme stable the space of halfe an houre, and then let him stand on the bitte two or three houres without meate, but let him be warme couered & wel littered, and giue him hay sprinckeled with a little water, and cleane sifted prouender by little at once, and let his water be warmed with a little grounde Mault therin. And if you se him somewhat chered, then let him bloude in the necke, and also perfume him once a day, with a little Frankencense, and vse to walk him abrode when the weather is fayre and not windye, or else in the house if the weather bee foule, and by thus vsing him you shall quickly recouer him.
Of the hungry euill. The .lxxxv. Chapter.
[Page] THis is a gredy desire to eate folowing some great emptinesse, or lacke of meate, and is called of the olde authours by the Greeke name. Bulimos, which is as much to say, as a greate hunger proceeding as the Phisitians say at the first of some extreme outward colde, taken by long traueling in colde barren places, and specially where snowe aboundeth, whiche outwarde colde causeth the stomacke to be colde, & the inwarde powers to be feeble. The cure according to Absirtus and Hierocles, is in the beginning to comfort the horses stomacke, by giuing hym bread sopte in wyne, and if you be in a place of rest, to giue him wheate flower, and wyne to drinke, or to make him Cakes or Bailes of flower and wine kneded together, and to feede him with that, or with wine and Nuttes of pyne trees. Hierocles sayth, if anye such thing chaunce by the way whereas no flower is to be had, than it shall be best to giue him wine and earth wrought together, eyther to drinke or else to eate in Balles.
Of the diseases in the Liuer. The .lxxxvi. Chapter.
AL the old Authours speake much of the payne in the Lyuer, but none of them doe declare wherof it cōmeth, or by what menes, [Page 57] sauing that Hipocrates sayth, that some horses do get it by violent running vppon some stony or harde ground. I for my parte thinke that the Lyuer of a Horse is subiect to as many diseases, as the Lyuer of a man, and therefore may be payned dyuerslye. As sometime by the intemperatenesse of the same, as for that it is perhaps to hote or to colde, to moyst or to dry: sometime by meanes of euill humors, as Cholor, or Flegme, abounding in the same, according as the Lyuer is eyther hote or colde: for heate breedeth Cholor, and colde Flegme. By meanes of which intemperature proceedeth all the weaknesse of the Lyuer. It may be payned also sometime by obstruction and stopping, and sometime by harde knobbes, inflamation, appostume, or vlcer bredde therein, sometime by consumption of the substance thereof. The sygnes of heate and hote humors be these, lothing of meate, great thirst and losenesse of belly, voyding dong of strong scent, & leanenesse of body. The sygnes of colde, and colde humors be these: appetite to meate without thirst, belly neither continually loose, nor stipticke, but betwene times, no strong scent of dong, nor leanenesse of body, by which kind of signes, both fyrst and last mentioned and such like, the weakenesse of the Lyuer is also to be learned and sought out. Obstruction or stopping moste commonly chaunceth by trauelling or labouring vpon a full stomacke, whereby the meate not being perfectlye digested, breedeth grosse and tough humors, which humors by vehemence of the labour, are also driuen violently into the small vaynes [Page] wherby the Lyuer shoulde receyue good nutriment, and so breedeth obstructiō and stopping. The signes whereof in mannes body is heauinesse, and distentiō, or swelling, with some griefe in the right syde, vnder the short ribbes, and specially when he labourech immediately after meate, which sygnes I beleue if it were diligently obserued, were easye inoughe to finde in a horse by his heauy going at his setting forth, & often turning his heade to the side grieued. Of an olde obstruction, and speciallye if he humors be Choloricke, breedeth many times a harde knob on the Lyuer, called of the Phisitians Scirrhus, which in mans body may be felt, if the body be not ouer fatte, and it is more casye for him to lye on the righte side, than on the lefte, bycause that lying on the left side, the waight of the knob woulde oppresse the stomacke, and vitall partes very sore, by which sygnes me thinkes, a diligent ferrer may learne, whither a horse hath any suche disease or not. The inflamation of the Lyuer commeth by meanes that the bloude eyther through the abundance, thinnesse, boyling heate, or sharpnesse thereof, or else throughe the violence of some outwarde cause, breaketh out of the vaynes, and floweth into the bodye of the Lyuer, and there being out of his proper vessels, doth immediatelye putrifye, and is inflamed, and therewith corrupteth so muche flesshye substance of the Lyuer as is imbrued withall, and therefore for the most parte the hollow side of the Lyuer is consumed, yea and sometime the full syde. This hote bloudye matter then, is properlye [Page 58] called an inflamation, which by naturall heate, is afterwarde turned into a plaine corruptiō, and thē it is called an impostume, which if it break out & rū, thē it is called an vlcer, or filthy sore. Thus you se, yt of one euil foūtaine may spring dyuers griefes, requyring dyuers cures. And though none of mine Authours, nor any other Ferrer that I know, haue waded thus farre, yet I thought good by wryting thus much, to giue such Ferrers as be wise, discrete, and diligent, occasion to seeke for more knowledge and vnderstanding than is taught them, and mee thinkes that it is a great shame, that the Ferrers of this age should not know much more, than the Ferrers of old time, sith that besides that, the old mens knowledge is not hidden from them, they haue also their owne experience, and time also bringeth euery day newe things to light. But now to procede in discoursing of the Lyuer according to the Phisitians doctrine as I haue begon, I say then of an inflamation in the hollow side of the Lyuer. The sygnes be these. Lothing of meate, great thirste, losenes of belly, easy lying on the right side, & painfull lying on the left. But if the inflamation be on the full syde or swelling syde of the Lyuer, then the Patient is troubled with difficultye of breathing, with a dry Coughe, and grieuous paine, pulling & twitching the winde Pipe, and to lye on the right syde is more painefull than on the lefte, & the swelling also may be felt with a mans hand. But you must vnderstand by the way, yt all these things last mentioned, be the signes of some great inflamatiō for smal inflamations haue no such sygnes but are [Page] to be iudged only by griefe vnder the short ribbes, and long featching of the breath. The sygnes of Appostumation is painefull, and great heate. The sygnes of Ulceration is decrease of the heate, with feablenesse & fainting. For the filthy matter flowing abrode with euil vapours, corrupteth the heart and many tymes causeth death. The sygnes of the consumption of the Lyuer, shall be declared in the next Chapter, and as for the curing of all the other diseases before mentioned, experience muste firste teach it ere I can write it. Notwithstanding I can not thinke, but that suche things as are good to heale the like diseases in mans body, are also good for a horse, for his Lyuer is lyke in substaunce and shape to a mans Lyuer, differing in nothing but onely in greatnesse. And therefore I would wishe you to learne at the Phisitians handes, whiche I am sure first as touching the weakenesse of the Lyuer proceding of the vntemperatenesse therof, wyll bid you to heale euery suche vntemperatenesse by his contrary, that is to say, heate by colde, and drynesse by moysture, and so contrary. And therefore it shall be very necessarye for you to learne the qualities, natures, and vertues of hearbes, drugs, and all other simples, and howe to applye them in time. And for to heale the obstruction of the Lyuer, they will councel you perhaps to make to the horse, drinkes of such simples, as these be, Agrimony, Fumitory, Camamill, Wormewoode, Lycoras, Annis seedes, Smallage, Perslye, Spicknard, Gentian, Succory, Endiue, Sperage, Lupius, the vertues [Page 59] wherof you shal learne in the Herbals: but amōgst all simples, there is none more praysed than the Lyuer of a Wolfe beaten into pouder, & mingled in any medicine that is made for any disease in the Lyuer. The cure of an inflamation consisteth in letting bloude, and in bathing, or fomenting the sore place with such hearbes & oyles, as may mollifie & disperse humors abrode, wherewith some simples that be astringent, would be alwayes mingled, yea and in all other medicins that be applyed to the Lyuer, for any maner of disease. Simples that mollify and disperse be these. Linesede, Fengreke, Camamill, Annis seedes, Melilot & such like things. Simples astringent be these. Redde Rose leaues, Brimble leaues, Wormewode, Plantayne, Myrrh, Masticke, Styrax, and suche like. Appostumes are to be ryped and voyded. Ulcers must be clensed, & scowred downewarde, eyther by the belly, or by vrine, and therefore the vse of suche simples as prouoke vrine in such cases is necessary. The old wryters of Horseleach crafte do saye, that when a horse is grieued in his lyuer, he will forsake his meate, & his body will wast, his mouth will be dry, his tong rough and harshe, yea and it wyll swell, and he wil refuse to lye on that side where his griefe is. The cure whereof according to Absirtus is in this sorte. Let him drinke stampt Ireos with wine allayed with water. He prayseth also an hearbe much like vnto Calamynt called of Plinie Polimonia, or let him drinke Sauery with wine and oyle, I thinke that Agrimony or Lyuer wort is as good as the best of [Page] them. Absirtus woulde haue his body to be chaufed with wine and oyle mixte together, and to be well littered that he may lye softe, and his prouender that should be giuen him, to be styped first in warm water, and nowe and then some Nytrum to be put in his drinke.
Of the consumption of the Lyuer. The .lxxxvij. Chapter.
I Beleue that no inward member of a Horse doth suffer so muche, as the Lungs and Lyuer, and that not so much by continuall, as by vnordinate, and vntimely trauell, labor and exercise, whereby eyther the Horses Lungs or his Lyuer doe moste commonly perishe, and is consumed, yea and sometyme both. Of the consumption of the Lungs, we haue talked sufficientlye before. Therefore let vs shewe you here the causes wherof the consumption of the Lyuer procedeth. The Phisitians say, that it maye come of anye humor, but chiefly and most commonlye of Choloricke matter, shead thorowout the substance of the Liuer, which putrifying by little and little, and laysurely doth at length corrupt, and perishe all the substance of the Lyuer, which thing in mannes body doth first proceede as the Phisitians say, eyther by eating corrupt meates, or else by continual drinking of swete wynes. But me thinkes that the consumption of a horses Lyuer shoulde come by some extreme heate, [Page 60] inflaming the bloud, which afterwarde being putrifyed, doth corrupte and exulcerate the substance of the Lyuer. For after inflamation, as I sayde before commeth appostumation, and then exulceration which is very hard to cure, bycause the substāce of the Lyuer is spongious lyke vnto the Lungs, & whylest the Lyuer is so corrupted, there can be no good digestion, for lacke whereof the body receyueth no good nutriment, and therefore must nedes also languish and consume. The sygnes according to Martin be these. The horse wil forsake his meate, and will stande stretching him selfe in length, and neuer couet to lye downe, and his breath wyll be so strong as no man can abide it, and he will continually cast yealowishe matter at the one nosetrill, or else at both, according as one or both sides of the Lyuer is corrputed, and on that syde that he casteth he will haue vnder hys iawe, euen about the midst thereof a knob or kirnell as muche as a Walnut, which when Martin findeth, he committeth his carcasse to the Crowes, taking him to be past cure. But if he were let bloude in time and had such drinkes giuen him, as are good to comfort and strengthen the Lyuer, he thinketh that the horse might be recouered. I neuer red any medicine for the wasting of the Lyuer as I remember, but this onelye dyet, which I founde in an olde English booke. Let him drinke for the space of three dayes no other thing but warme wort, and let him eate no other meate but Otes baked in an Ouen, and let him stande meatelesse the firste night before you giue him the [Page] wort. But I thinke it were not amisse to put into the worte that he drinketh, euery morning some good confection or pouder made of Agrimony, red Rose leaues, Saccharū Rosaceum, Diarchadon, Abbatis, Diasantalon, Lycoras, and of the Lyuer of a Woulfe, and such other simples as doe comfort & strengthen the Lyuer or else to giue him ye same things with Goates milke luke warme.
Of the diseases in the Gall. The .lxxxviij. Chapter.
IN my opinion the Gall of a Horse is subiect to dyuers diseases as well as the Gall of a man, as to obstruction whereof commeth fulnesse and emptynesse of the Bladder therof, and also the stone in the Gal. But obstruction may chaunce two maner of wayes. First, when the way wherby the Cholor should proceede, from the Lyuer vnto the Bladder of the Gall, as vnto his proper receptacle, is stopped, & thereby the Bladder remayneth empty, whereof may spring dyuers euill accidents, as vomiting, the laxe or bloudy Flyx. Secondlye when the way wherby such Cholor should issu forth of the Bladder of the Gall, downe into the Guttes, is shutte vp, whereby the Bladder is ouer full, and aboundeth with to muche Cholor, whiche causeth heauinesse, suffocatiō, belking, heate, thirst, and disposition to angrynesse. The signes of both kindes [Page 61] of obstruction in the Gall is costluenesse, and yealowishnesse of the skinne infected with the yeallow Iaundis. The stone in the gal which is somewhat blackishe, proceedeth of the obstruction of the cunduyts of the Bladder, whereby the Cholor being long kept in, waxeth dry, and turneth at length to harde grauell, or stones, whereof bycause there is neyther sygnes, nor any grieuous accident knowē to the Phisitians, I leaue to talk any further therof, and the rather for that none of my Authours do make any mention of the Gall at all. Notwithstā ding to giue some lighte vnto the vnlearned Ferrers, and that they may the better vnderstande the inwarde parts of a horse, I thought good to write thus much, thinking it no tyme loste whyle I may profite them any way.
Of the diseases in the Splene. The .lxxxix. Chapter.
THe splene as I said before in the kepers office, is the receptacle of Melā choly and of the dregges of the bloude, and is subiecte to the like diseases that the Lyuer is, that is to say to swelling obstruction, harde knob, and inflamation, for the substaunce of the splene is spongious, and therfore apt to sucke in all filth, and to delate it selfe, wherefore being full, it must nedes swell, which will appeare in the left syde vnder the short rybbes, & such swelling causeth also shortnesse of breath, and specially [Page] when the body doth labour or trauayle. It is painefull also to lye on the ryghte syde, bycause the splen being so swollen oppresseth the midriffe, and speciallye when the stomacke is full of meate, and the Pacient hath worse digestion than appetyte, & is troubled with muche winde, both vpwarde and downewarde. Moreouer the vapour of the humor doth offende the harte making it faint, and causeth all the body to be heauy and dull, and if such swelling be suffered to go vncured, then if it be a Melā choly humor and abounding ouermuche, it waxeth euery day thicker and thicker, causing obstruction not onely in the vaynes, and artires, which is to be perceyued by heauinesse and griefe on the left syde, but also in the splen it selfe, whereas by vertue of the heate it is hardned euery day more and more, and so by little and little waxeth to a harde knob, which doth not onely occupye all the substance of the splen, but also many tymes all the lefte syde of the wombe, and thereby maketh all the euill accydentes or griefes before recited, muche worse than they were. Now as touching the inflamatiō of the splen whith chaunceth very seldom, for so much as euery inflamation procedeth of pure bloude, which seldome entreth into the splen: I shall not nede to make many words, but refer you ouer to the Chapter of the Lyuer, for in suche case they differ not, but proceeding of like cause haue also lyke sygnes, and do requyre lyke cure. The olde wryters say, that horses be often grieued with griefe in the splen, and specially in Sommer season wyth gredy eatyng of [Page 62] sweete greene meates, and they call those horses Lienosos, that is to say splenticke. The signes wherof (say they) are these, hard swelling on the left side, short breath, often groning, and gredy appetite to meate. The remedy whereof according to Absirtus, is to make the horse to sweate once a day during a certaine tyme, by ryding him or otherwyse traueling hym, and to poure into his lefte nosetrill euery day the iuyce of Mirabolaus mingled with wyne, and water, amounting in all, to the quantitye of a pynte. But me thinkes it would do him more good if he dranke it as Hierocles would haue him to do. Eumelius prayseth this drinke. Take of Cumyn seede, and of hony, of ech sixe ounces, and of Lacerpitium as much as a beane, of Uineger a pinte, and put al these into three quartes of water, and let it stande so all night, and the next morning giue the horse to drinke thereof, being kept ouernight fasting. Theomnestus prayseth the decoction of Capers, specially if the barke of the roote thereof may be gotten sodē in water to a Syrop, or else make him a drinke of Garlycke, Nytrum, Horehounde, and wormewode soden in harshe wine, and he would haue the lefte syde to be bathed with warme water, & to be harde rubbed. And if all this will not helpe, then to giue hym the fyre, which Absirtus doth not allowe, saying that the splen lyeth so, as it can not be easly fyered, to doe him any good. But for so much as the Lyuer and splen are members much occupyed in the ingē dring and seperating of humors, many euill accydents and griefes doe take their first beginning of [Page] them, as the Iaūdis called in a horse, the yealows, drynesse of body, and consumption of the flesh, with out any apparaunt cause why, whiche the Phisitians call Atrophia, also euill habit of the body called of them Cachexia, and the Dropsy. But first we wyll speake of the Iaundis or yealows.
Of the yealows. The .xc. Chapter.
THe Phisitians in mans body do make two kinds of Iaundis, that is to say, the yeallow proceeding of Cholor, dispersed thorowe out the whole body, and dying the skin yeallow, and the blacke proceding of Melancholy dispersed like wise thorowout the whole bodye, and making all the skinne blacke. And as the yeallow Iaundis commeth for the most parte eyther by obstruction or stopping of the conduits, belonging to the bladder of the Gall, which (as I sayde before) is the receptacle of Cholour, or by some inflamation of the Lyuer whereby the bloude is conuerted into Cholour, and so spreadeth thorowout the body: euen so the blacke Iaundis commeth by meanes of some obstruction in the Lyuer vayne, that goeth to the splene, not suffering ye splene to do his office, in receyuing the dregges of the bloude from the Lyuer wherein they abounde to much, or else for that the splen is already to full of suche dregs, and so sheadeth [Page 63] them backe agaime into the vaynes. But as for the blacke Iaundis they haue not bene obserued to be in horses as in men, by any of our Ferrers in these dayes that I can learne. And yet the olde writers of horseleach crafte, doe seme to make two kindes of Iaundis called of them Cholera, that is to say the dry Cholor, and also moyst Cholor. The signes of the dry Cholor as Absirtus sayth is great heat in the body, and costiuenesse of the belly, whereof it is sayde to be dry. Moreouer the horse will not couet to lye downe, bycause he is so payned in his body, and his mouth will be hote and dry. It commeth as he sayth by obstruction of ye conduit, wherby the Cholor should resorte into the bladder of the Gall, and by obstruction also of the vrine vessels, so as he can not stale. The cure according to his experience is to giue him a glister made of Oyle, water and Nytrum, and to giue him no prouender before that you haue raked his fundament, and to poure, the decoction of Mallowes mingled with sweete wyne into his nosetrels, & let hys meate be grasse, or else sweete hay sprinckled with Nytre and water, and he must rest from labor & be often rubbed. Hierocles would haue him to drinke the decoction of wilde Coleworts sodden in wine. Againe of the moist Cholor or Iaundis, these are the signes. The horses eyes will looke yeallow, and his nosetrilles wil open wyde, his eares and his flanks wil sweat, and his stale will be yeallow and Choloricke, and he will grone when he lyeth downe, which disease the sayde Absirtus was wonte to heale as he sayth, [Page] by giuing the horse a drinke made of Tyme & Comin of ech lyke quantity stampt together, & mingled with wyne, hony and water, and also by letting him bloude in the pastornes. This last disease seemeth to differ nothing at all from that which our Ferrers call the yeallows. The signes wherof according to Martin be these. The horse will be faint, and sweat as he standeth in the stable, and forsake his meate, and his eyes, and the inside of his lippes and all his mouth within wil be yeallow. The cure whereof according to him, is in this sorte. Let him bloud in the necke vayne, a good quantity, and thē giue him this drinke. Take of white wyne, or of Ale, a quart, & put thervnto of Saffron, of Turmerike, of eche halfe an ounce, and the iuyce yt is wrōg out of a great handefull of Selondine, and being luke warme giue it the horse to drinke, and kepe him warme the space of thre or foure dayes, giuing him warme water with a little branne in it.
Of the euill habit of the body and of the Dropsie. The .xci. Chapter.
AS touching the drynesse and consumption of the fleshe without any apparant cause why, called of the Phisitians as I sayd before Atrophia, I know not what to say more than I haue done already before in the Chapter of Consumption of the flesh, and therefore resorte thyther, and as for the euill habitte of the [Page 64] body which is to be euill coloured, heauy, dull, and of no force, strength, nor lyuelinesse, commeth not for lacke of nutryment, but for lacke of good nutriment, for that the bloud is corrupted with Flegme, Cholor or Melancholy, proceding eyther from the splene, or else through weakenesse of the stomacke, or Lyuer, causing euill digestion, or it may come by fowle feding, yea and also for lacke of moderate exercyse. The euill habit of the body is nexte cosyn to the Dropsye, wherof though our Ferrers haue had no experience, yet bycause mine olde Authors wryting of horse leache craft do speake much therof: I thinke it good here briefly to shewe you their experience therein, that is to say, howe to knowe it, and also howe to cure it. But sith none of them do shew the cause wherof it procedes, I thinke it mete firste therefore to declare vnto you the causes thereof, according to the doctrine of the learned Phisitians, which in mans body do make thre kinds of Dropsyes, calling the first Anasarca, the second Ascites, and the thirde Timpanias. Anasarca is an vniuersall swelling of the body throughe the aboundaunce of water, lying betwixt the skin and the fleshe, and differeth not from the disease last mentioned called Cachexia, that is to say euyll habit of the body, sauing that the bodye is more swollen in this than in the Cachexia, albeit they procede both of like causes, as of coldenesse & weakenesse of the Lyuer, or by meanes that the heart, splen, stomacke, and other mē bers seruing to digestiō, be grieued or diseased. Ascites is a swelling in the couering of the belly called [Page] of the Phisitians Abdomen, cōprehending both the skin, the fat, eyght Muscles, and the fylme or panicle called Peretoneum, throughe the aboundaunce of some wayish humor entred into the same, which be sydes the causes before alleaged, proceedeth moste chieflye by meanes that some of the vessels within be brokē or rather cracked, out of the which though the bloud being somwhat grosse can not issue forth, yet the wayish humor being subtill may run out into the belly, lyke water distilling through a cracked potte. Timpanias called of vs moste commonly the Timpany, is a swelling of the foresayde couering of the belly, through the aboundance of winde entred into the same, whiche winde is ingendred of crudity and euill digestion, and whylest it aboundeth in the stomacke, or other intrayles, finding no issue out, it breaketh in violently through the small conduits amongst the pannicles of the sayd couering, not without great paine to the pacient, & so by tossing to and fro, windeth at length into the space of the couering it selfe. But surely such winde can not be altogether voyd of moysture. Notwithstanding, the body swelleth not so muche with this kinde of Dropsye, as in the other kinde called Ascites. The sygnes of the Dropsye is shortnesse of breath, swelling of the body, euill Colour, lothing of meate, and great desire to drinke, and specially in the Dropsye called Ascites, in which also the belly will sound like a Bottle halfe full of water, but in the Timpany, it will sounde lyke a Tabor. But nowe though mine Authours make not so many kindes of Dropsyes, [Page 65] yet they say all generally that a horse is much subiect to the Dropsye. The sygnes according to Absirtus and Hierocles be these. His belly legges and stones, will be swollen, but his backe, buttockes, and flankes, will be dryed and shronke vp to the verye bones. Moreouer the vaynes of his face and temples, and also the vaynes vnder his tongue will be so hidden, as you can not see them, and if you thrust your finger harde against his body, you shall leaue the printe therof behinde, for the fleshe lacking naturall heate, will not returne againe to his place, and when the horse lyeth downe he spreadeth him selfe abrode not being able to lye rounde togyther on his belly, and the haire of his backe by rubbing will fall away. Pelagonius in shewing the signes of the Dropsye, not much differing from the sygnes of the Phisitians firste recited, seemeth to make two kindes therof, calling the one the Timpany whiche for difference sake may be called in Englishe the winde Dropsye, and the other the water Dropsye. Notwithstanding both haue one cure so farre as I can perceyue, whiche is in this sorte. Let him be warme couered and walked a good while together in the sunne to prouoke sweate, and let all his body be well and often rubbed alongst the haire, and let him fede often on Colewortes, Smallage, and Elming bowes, and of all other things, that may loosen the belly, or prouoke vrine, and let his common meate be grasse if it may be gotten, if not, then hay sprinckled with water and Nitrum. It is good also to giue him a kinde of pulse called Cyche, steeped [Page] a day and a night in water, and then takē out, and layde so as the water may drop away from it. Pelagonius woulde haue him to drinke Parslye stampte with wine, or the roote of the hearb called in Latin Panax, with wine. But if the swelling of the belly wil not decrease for all this, then slitte a little hole vnder his belly a handfull behind the Nauill, and put into that hole a hollow Reede or some other Pype, that the water or wind may go out, not all at once, but by little and little, and at dyuers times, and beware that you make not ye hole ouerwide, least the Caule of the belly fall downe therevnto, and when all the water is cleane runne out, then heale vp the wounde as you doe all other woundes, and let the Horse drinke as little as is possible.
Of the diseases in the guttes of a Horse, and first of the Cholycke. The .xcij. Chapter.
THe Guts of a horse may be diseased with dyuers griefes, as with the Cholicke, with Costiuenesse, with the Laxe, with the bloudy Flixe, and wormes. The Cholick is a grieuous paine in the great Gutte, called of the Physitians Colon, whereof this disease taketh his name, which gut bicause it is very large, and ample, and ful of corners it is apt to receyue dyuers matters, and so becommeth subiect to dyuers griefes. For sometime it is tormented with the abundance of grosse humors, [Page 66] gotten betwixt the panycle of the sayde Gutte, and sometime with winde hauing no issue oute, sometime with inflamation, and sometime with sharpe fretting humors. But so farre as I can learne, a horse is most commonly troubled with the Cholick, that commeth of winde, and therof oure ferrers doe terme it the winde Cholyck. The sygnes wherof be these. The horse wil forsake his meate, & lye downe and wallow, and walter vpon the groūd, and standing on his fete he will stampe for very payne with his forefete, and strike at his belly with his hinder foote, and looke often towardes his belly, which also towards the flankes will swell, and seeme greater to the eie, than it is wont to be. The cure wherof according to Martin is in this sorte. Take a quart of Malmesye, of Cloues, Pepper, Cynamom, of eche halfe an ounce, of Suger halfe a quarter, and giue it the horse luke warme, and annoynt his flankes with oyle of Bay, and then brydle him, and trotte him immediately vppe and downe, the space of an houre vntill he dong, and if he will not dong, then rake him, and if nede be, prouoke him to dong, by putting into his fundament an Onyon pilled and iagged with a knife, crossewise, so as the iuyce therof maye tickle his fundament, and for the space of three or foure dayes let him drinke no colde water, and let him be kepte warme. Russius was wonte to vse this kinde of cure. Take a good bygge Reede a spanne long or more, and being annointed with Oyle, thrust it into the horses fundament, fastning the outwarde ende thereof, vnto his tayle, so as it [Page] can not slippe out, and then hauing first annointed and chaufed all ye horses belly, with some hote oyle, cause him to be ridden somewhat hastely, vppe and downe some hilly ground, and that will make him to void the wind out of his belly, through the Rede, which done, let hym be kepte warme, and fed with good prouender & warme mashes made of wheat meale, and Fenell sede, and let him drinke no colde water, vntill he be whole. Absirtus would haue you to giue him a glister made of wilde Coucumber, or or else of hennes dong, Nytrum, and strong wyne.
Of Costiuenesse, or belly bounde. The .xciij. Chapter.
COstiuenesse is when a horse is bounde in the belly and cannot dong, which may come by glut of prouender, or ouer much feeding and rest, wherof we haue talked sufficiently before, also by winde, grosse humors, or colde causyng obstruction, and stopping in the Guttes. The cure wherof according to Martin is in this sorte. Take of the decoction of Mallowes a quarte, and put therevnto halfe a pinte of oyle, or in stede thereof, halfe a pint of freshe Butter, and one ounce of Benedicte laxatuae, and poure that into his fundamente with a little horne mete for the purpose, that done clap his taile to his fundament, holding it so stil with your hand, whylest an other doth leade him in his hande, and trotte him vppe and downe, that the medicine may [Page 67] worke the better, and hauing voyded all that in his belly, bring him into the Stable, and there let him stande a while on the bitte well couered, & warme littered, and then giue him a little hay, and let his drinke be warmed, it shal not be amisse also to giue him that night a warme mashe.
Of the Laxe. The .xciiij. Chapter.
THe Italians cal this disease Ragiatura, and the horse that hath this disease Cauallo arragiato, or Sforato. It may come through the abū daunce of Choloricke humors discending from the Lyuer, or Gall, downe to the Guttes. But Russius sayth, that it commeth most commonly, by drinking ouer muche colde water immediatelye after prouender, or by sodayne traueling vpon a full stomacke, before his meat be digested, or by hasty running, or gallopping immediatly after water. If this disease continue long it wil make the horse very weake, & feble, so as he shall not be able to stande on his legges. Notwithstanding sith nature feling hir self oppressed, endeuoureth thus to ease hir selfe by expelling those humors that grieue hir, I would not wishe you sodaynely to stop it, least some worse inconuenience grow thereof. But if you see that the horse loseth his fleshe, and waxeth more dull and feble than he was wonte to be, then giue him this drinke often experimented by Martin, and that shall [Page] stoppe hym. Take of Bene flower, and of bole Armeny or eche a quarterne, mingle these things togither in a quart of red wine, and giue it him luke warme, and let the horse rest and be kept warme, and let him drink no colde drinke but luke warme, and put therein a little Beane flower, and let him not drinke but once a daye, and then not ouer much for the space of three or foure dayes.
Of the bloudy Flixe. The .xcv. Chapter.
IT seemeth by the olde wryters that a horse is also subiecte to the bloudy Flixe. For Absirtus, Hierocles, and Democritus say al with one voyce, that the Guttes of a horse may be so exulcerated that he will voyde bloudy matter at his fundament, yea and that his fundament therewith will fall out, whiche disease they call Disenteria, which is as much to say, as a painefull exulceration of the Guttes, vnder the which the olde men, as it seemeth by the wordes of Hierocles and Absirtus, woulde comprehende the disease called of the Phisitians Tenesmus, that is to say a desire to dong often, and can doe but little, and that with great paine: And also an other disease called Procidentia ani, that is to say the falling out of the fundament, which the Phisitians do accoumpt as seuerall diseases. Notwithstanding for somuch as Disenteria and Tenasmus doth spring both of lyke [Page 68] causes, yea and also for that the falling out of the fundament hath some affinity with them, I wil folowe myne Authours, in ioyning them all together in this one Chapter. The Phisitians make diuers kinds of bloudy flix. For sometime ye fat of the slimy filthe whiche is voyded, is sprinkled with a little bloude, sometyme the matter tha voydeth is mixte with the scrapings of the guts, and sometime it is waterishe bloude, like water wherein bloudy fleshe hath bene washed, and sometime bloud myxt with Melancholy, and sometime pure bloud, and by the mixture of the matter you shall knowe in mans body whether the vlceratiō be in the inner small guttes, or in the thicke outwarde guttes, for if it be in the inner guttes, then the matter and bloude wyll be perfectly mixt together. But if it be in the outwarde guttes, then they be not mingled together, but come out seuerally, the bloude most commonly following the matter. Of this kinde is that disease called before Tenasmus, for yt is an vlcer in the right gutte seruing the fundament, and doth procede euen as the Flix, doth of some sharpe humors which being violently driuen, and hauing to passe thorow many croked and narrow wayes, doe cleaue to the guttes, and with their sharpenesse frette them, causing exulceration and grieuous paine. The Flyxe may come also of some extreme colde, heate, or moystnesse, or by meane of receyuing some violent purgation, hauing therin ouer much Scamonie, or such like vyolent simple, or through weakenesse of the Lyuer, or other members seruing to digestion. [Page] Nowe as touching the falling out of the fundament, the Phisitians say, that it commeth through the resolution, or weakenesse of the Muskles seruing to drawe vp the fundament which resolution may come partly by ouer much straining, and partly they may be losened, by ouer much moysture, for whiche cause, children being full of moysture are more subiect to this disease than men. And for the selfe same cause I thinke that horses hauing verye moyst bodyes be subiect therevnto. Thus hauing shewed you the causes of the diseases before recited, I wil shewe you the cure prescribed by the old writers. Absirtus would haue the fundament on the out side to be cutte rounde about, but so as the inwarde ring thereof be not touched, for that were daungerous and would kill the horse, for so muche, as his fundament woulde neuer abide within his body, & that done he would haue you to giue him to drinke the pouder of vnripe Pomgranet shelles, called in Latine Malicorium, together with wine and water, whiche in dede bycause it is astringent is not to be mislyked, but as for cutting of the fundament I assure you I can not iudge what he shoulde meane thereby, vnlesse it be to wyden the fundament, by giuing it long slittes or cuttes on the out side, but wel I know that it may cause more payne, & greater inflamation. And therefore me thinkes it were better in this case to follow the Phisitians preceptes, which is first to consider whither the fundamēt being fallen out, be inflamed or not, for if it be not inflamed, then it shall be good to annoint it firste [Page 69] with oyle of Roses somewhat warmed, or else to washe it with warme redde wyne. But if it be inflamed, then to bath it well, first with a sponge dipt in the decoctiō of Mallowes, Camamil, Linescede, and Fengreke, and also to annoint it wel with oile of Camomill & Dill, mingled together, to asswage the swelling, and then to thrust it in againe faire and softly, with a softe linnen cloth. That done, it shall bee good to bath all the place about with red wine, wherin hath bene sodden Acatiū, Galles, Accorne cuppes, parings of Quinces, and suche lyke simples as be astringent, & then to throw on some astringent powder made of bole Armenye, Frankencense, Sanguis Draconis, Myrrh, Acatium, and such like. Yea and also to giue the horse this drink much praysed of all the olde wryters. Take of Saffran one ounce, of Myrrh two ounces, of the hearbe called in Latin Abrotanum, named in some of our English Herbals Sothernwod, thre ounces, of Parslie one ounce, of Garden Rhew otherwise called herbe grace, thre ounces, of Pirethum, otherwise called of some spittlewort, and of Isop, of eche two ounces, of Cassia which is like Cinamom, one ounce. Let all these things be beaten into fine powder, & then mingled with Chaulk, & strong Uineger wrought into a paste, of which paste make little Cakes, and dry them in the shadow, and being dryed, dissolue some of thē in a sufficient quantity of Barly milke, or iuyce, called of the olde wryters, and also of the Phisitians Cremor Ptisanae, & giue the horse to drinke thereof with a horne: for this medicine, as the Authours [Page] write doth not onely heale the bloudy Flix▪ and the other two diseases before recited, but also if it be giuen with a quarte of warme water, it will heale all griefe and payne in the belly, and also of the Bladder, that cōmeth for lacke of staling. And being giuen with sweete wine, it will heale the byting of any Serpent or mad dogge.
Of the Wormes. The .xcvi. Chapter.
IN a Horses guttes doe breede thre kinds of Wormes, euen as there doth in mans body, though they be not altogether lyke in shape. The first are long and rounde, euen lyke to those that children do most commonly voyde, and are called by the generall name wormes. The seconde are lyttle wormes hauing great heades, and small long tayles lyke an Edle, and be called Bottes. The third be shorte & thicke lyke the ende of a mans little finger, and therefore be called Troncheons: And though they haue dyuers shapes, according to the diuersity of the place perhappes wher they brede, or else according to the figure of the putrifyed matter whereof they brede, yet no doubt they procede all of one cause, that is to say of a rawe grosse and flegmatike matter apt to putrification, ingendred most commonly by fowle feeding, and as they proceede of one selfe cause, so also haue they like signes, & like cure. The signes [Page 70] be these. The horse will forsake his meate, for the Tronchons and the Boltes will couet alwayes to the Maw & payne him sore. He will also lye downe and wallow, and standing he will stampe & strike at his belly with his hinder foote, and loke often towarde his belly. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take of swete milke a quarte, of hony a quarterne, and giue it him luke warme, and walke him vp and downe for the space of an houre, and so lette him rest for that day, with as little meate or drinke as may be, and suffer him not to lye downe. Then the next day giue him this drinke. Take of herbe grace a handefull, of Sauine as muche, and being well stampt, put therevnto a little Brimstone, and a little soote of a Chimney beatē into fyne powder, and put all these things together in a quarte of worte or newe Ale, and there lette them lye in steepe the space of an houre or twoo, then strayne it well through a fayre cloth, and giue it the horse to drinke luke warme, then brydle him, and walke him vp and downe the space of an houre, that done bryng him into the Stable, and let him stande on the bitte two or three houres, and then giue him a little hay. Laurentius Russius sayth, that it is good to giue the horse the warme guttes of a yong Henne, with a little salte three dayes together in the morning, and not to let him drinke vntill it be Noone. Some say that it is good to ryde him hauing hys byt first annointed with dong, comming hote from the man. Some agayne vse to gyue him a quantity of Brimstone, and halfe as much Rosen beaten into [Page] powder & mingled together with his prouender, which he must eat a good while before he drinketh.
Of the payne in the kidneyes. The .xcvij. Chapter.
ME thinkes that the kidneys of a horse shoulde be subiecte to as many griefes as the kydneys of a man, as to inflamation, obstructiō, Appostumes, and Ulcers, and specially to obstruction, that commeth by meanes of some stone or grauel gathered together in the kidneys, wherby the horse cannot stale but with payne, for I haue sene diuers horses my selfe that haue voyded much grauell in their stale, which without doubt did come from the kidneys, but my Authours doe referre such griefes to the bladder, & vrine, and write of no disease but onelye of the inflamation of the kidneys, whiche is called of them Nephritis, and so is it also called of the Phisitians. It commeth as they say by some great straine in leaping ouer some ditch, or else by bearing some great burthen. The sygnes whereof be these. The horse will go rolling behinde and staggering, his stones will shrinke vp, and his stale wil be blackishe and thicke. I thinke this disease differeth not from that which we called before the swaing of the backe, when we talked of the griefes in the backe and loynes, and therfore resorte thither. The cure of this disease according to the best of the [Page 71] olde wryters is in this sorte. Bath his backe and loynes, with wyne, oyle, and Nytrum, warmed together, and after that you haue so bathed him, let him be couered with warme clothes, and stand littered vp to the belly with strawe, so as he may lye softe, and giue him such drinkes as may prouoke vrine, as those that be made with Dil, Fenell, Annis, Smallage, Perslie, Spicknard, Myrrh, & Cassia. Some say it is good to giue him a kinde of pulse called Cyche, with wine. Some againe do prayse Ewes milke, or else Oyle and Deres sewet molten together to be giuen him to drinke, or the roote of the herbe called Asphodelus englyshed by some Daffadill sodden in wine.
Of the diseases belonging to the Bladder and vrine of a horse. The .xcviij. Chapter.
HIerocles sayth that a horse is subiect to three kindes of diseases incident to the bladder or vrine, the first is called Stranguria, the seconde Disuria, the thirde Ischuria. Stranguria otherwise called in Latine Stillicidium, and of our olde Ferrers according to the French name Chovvdepis, is when the horse is prouoked to stale often, and voydeth nothing but a fewe droppes, whiche commeth as the Phisitians say eyther through the sharpnes of the vrine, or by some exulceration of the bladder, or else by meanes of some Appostume in the Lyuer or kidneys, which [Page] Appostume being brokē, the matter resorteth down into the bladder, and with the sharpenesse thereof causeth a continuall prouocation of pissing. Disuria is when the horse can not pisse but with great labour and paine, which for difference sake I wil call from henceforth the paynepisse. It may come some time through the weakenesse of the bladder, & colde intemperature thereof, and sometime through the abundaunce of Flegmaticke, and grosse humors, stopping the necke of the bladder. Ischuria is when the horse can not pisse at all, and therefore may be called the pissupprest, or suppression of vrine whether you will: me thinkes alwayes the shorter a proper name be, the better, and more easy to pronounce. It may come as the Phisitians say, by weakenesse of the bladder, or for that the water cō duit is stopte with grosse humors, or with matter discending from the Lyuer or kidneys, or with the stone, yea and sometymes by meanes of some inflamation, or hard knob growing at the mouth of the Conduit, or for that the sinewes of the bladder is nummed, so as the bladder is without feeling: or it may come by retention, and long holding of the water, most of whiche causes Hierocles also reciteth, adding thervnto, that it may chaunce to a Horse through ouer much rest and Idlenesse, and also by meanes of some extreme cold, and specially in winter season, for the which the warmth of fire is a present remedy. But now mine Authours do not shew for euery one of these three kindes of diseases seuerall signes, but onely say that when a horse can not [Page 72] stale, he will stande as though he woulde stale, and thrust out his yarde a little, and also for very paine stande beating his taile betwixt his thighes. Neyther do they seeme to appoint seuerall cures, but do make a hochepot mingling them al together, some of them praysing one thing, and some an other, for some saye it is good to mingle the iuyce of Leekes with sweete smelling wine and oyle together, and to poure that into his right nosetryll, and then to walke him vp and downe vpon it, and that will make him to stale. Some say it is good to giue him smallage sede, or else the roote of wilde Fenell, sodden with wine to drinke, or to put fiue sharpe Onyons, cleane pilled, and somewhat broused into his fundament, and to chaufe him immediatelye vpon it, eyther by ryding him or other wyse, & that shall cause him to stale presently. It is good also to bath al his backe and Loynes wyth warme water. The scrapinges of the inwarde parts of his owne houes beatē into powder, and mingled with wine, and poured into his ryght nosetryll will make him to stale if you chaufe him vpon it, and the rather as Hierocles saith, if you carry him to some shepes coate, or other place where sheepe are wont to stande, the smell of whose dong and pisse, without any other medicine as he sayth, will prouoke him to stale. Some will gyue the horse white dogs dong dryed and mingled with salt, wine, & Amoniacum to drinke, some Hogs dong onely with wine, & some the dregges of horsepisse with wine, and many other medicins whiche I leaue to reherse for feare of being to [Page] tedious, and specially, sith Martins experience foloweth here at hande, agreing in all pointes with Laurentius Russius cure which is in this sorte. First drawe out his yarde and wash it well in white wyne, and scoure it well, bycause it will be many tymes stopped with dirt, and other baggage together, & hardned like a stone, and then put a little oyle of Camomill into the Cunduit with a waxe Candle and a broused cloue of Garlicke, and that will prouoke hym to stale. And if that will not helpe, then gyue him this drinke. Take of Persly two handefull, of Coriandre one handfull, stampe them and strayne them with a quarte of whyte wyne, & dissolue therin one ounce of cake sope, and gyue it luke warme vnto the horse to drinke, and kepe him as warme as may be, and let him drinke no colde water for the space of fiue or sixe dayes, and when you would haue him to stale, lette it be eyther vpon plentye of strawe, or vpon some grene plotte, or else in a sheps coate, the sauor whereof will greatly prouoke hym to stale as hath bene aforesayde.
Of pissing bloude. The .xcix. Chapter.
PElagonius sayth, that if a horse be ouer much laboured, or ouer charged with heauy burthen, or ouer fat, he will many tymes pisse bloude, and the rather as I thinke, for that some vayne is broken within the horses [Page 73] body, and then clere bloude will come forth many tymes, as the Phisitians say, without any pisse at all. But if the bloud be perfectly mingled together with his stale, then it is a sygne that it commeth from the kidneys, hauing some stone therin, which through vehement labour, doth fret the kydneys & vaynes thereof, & so causeth them to blede, through which whylest the vrine passeth muste nedes be infected, & dyed with the bloud. It may come also by some strype, 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 bloud in ye Palat of the mouth, to conuert the bloud ye cōtrary way. Then take of Tragagāt that haue bene steeped in wyne, halfe an ounce, and of Popy seede one dram and one scruple, and of Styrax as muche, and .xij. Pyneaple kyrnels. Let all these things be beaten and mingled well together, and giue the horse therof euery morning the space of seuen dayes, the quantity of a Hasell nut distempered in a quart of wyne, me thinks that the quantitye of a Walnut were to little for so muche wine. Some write that it is good to make him a drinke with the roote of the hearbe Asphodelus, which some call Daffadyll mingled with wheat flower, & Sumach sodden long in water, and so to be giuen the horse with some wyne added therevnto, or make him a drinke of Goates milke and Oyle, strayning therevnto a little Fromenty. Anatolius sayth, that it is good to giue the Horse three dayes together, sodden Beanes cleane pilled, wherevnto would be [Page] added some Deres sewet and a little wyne.
Of the Colt euill. The .C. Chapter.
THis name Colt euill in my iudgement, doth properly sygnifye that disease which the Phisitians call Priapismus, which is a continuall standing together, with an vnnaturall swelling of the yard proceeding of some winde, filling the artiers, and hollow synewe or pype of the yarde, or else through the abūdance of sede, which do chaūce oft tymes to man, and I thinke sometime to stoned horses. Notwithstāding Martin sayth, that the Colt euill is a swelling of the sheathe of the yarde, and the part of the belly there about, caused of corrupte seede, comming oute of the yarde, and remayning within the sheath where it putrifyeth. And Geldings moste commonly are subiect to this disease, not being able for lacke of naturall heate, to expell their seede any further. For horses as Martin sayth, are seldome troubled with this disease bycause of their heate, vnlesse it be when they haue bene ouer trauayled, or otherwise weakened. The cure according to him is thus. Washe the sheath cleane within with luke warme Uineger, then drawe out his yarde, and washe that also. That done, ryde him into some running streame vppe to the belly, tossing him therein to and fro to allay the heate of the mē bers, [Page 74] and vse him thus two or three dayes and he shalbe whole.
Of the mattering of the yarde. The .Ci. Chapter.
IT commethe at couering tyme when the Horse & Mare both are ouer hote, and so perhaps burn them selues. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take a pinte of whyte wyne, and boyle therein a a quarterne of roche Alome, and squirt thereof into his yearde three or foure squirtfull, one after an other, and thrust the squyrt so farre in as the lyquor may perce to the bottom to scoure away the bloudy matter, continuing thus to doe once a day vntyll he be whole.
Of the sheading of séede. The .Cij. Chapter.
THis disease is called of the Phisitians Gonorrhea, which may come some tyme through abundaunce and rancknesse of seede, & sometyme by the weaknesse of the stones, and seede vessels not able to retayne the seede, vntill it be digested, and thickned. Vegetius sayth that this disease wil make the horse very faint and weake, & specially in sommer season for cure wherof the sayd Vegetius would [Page] haue the horse to be ridden into some colde water, euen vp to the belly, so as his stones may be couered with water, and then his fundament being first bathed with warme water or oyle, he woulde haue you to thruste in your hande and arme euen to the very bladder, and softly to rubbe and clawe ye same, and the partes there aboutes whiche be the seede Uessels. That done to couer him warme that he take no colde, and euery day he woulde haue you to giue the horse Hogges dong to drinke with red wyne, vntil he be whole. I for my part, if I thought that it came of weakenesse as is afore sayde, which I would iudge by the waterishnesse of the seede, & vnlustinesse of the horse, would giue him red wine to drinke, and put therein a little Acatium, the iuyce of Plantain, and a little Mastick, & bath his backe with red wine, & oyle of Roses mingled together.
Of the falling of the Yarde. The .Ciij. Chapter.
IT commeth as I take it thorow the weakenesse of the member, by meanes of some resolution in the muscles & synewes seruing the same, caused at the first (perhaps) by some great strayne or strype on the backe. It may come also by wearynesse and tyering. For remedy whereof Absirtus was wonte to washe the yarde with salte water from the Sea if it might be gotten, if not, wyth water and salt, and if that preuayled not, he would [Page 75] all to pricke the outmost skinne of the yarde wyth a sharpe nedle, but not deepe, and then washe all the prickes with strong Uineger, and that did make the horse as he sayeth to draw vp his yarde againe immediately, yea and this also will remedy the falling out of the fundament. Pelagonius would haue you to put into the pype of his yarde, hony and salte boyled together and made lyquid, or else a quicke Flye, or a graine of Franconsence, or else a cloue of Garlicke clene pilled, and somewhat broused, and also to poure on his backe Oyle, Wyne, and Nytre, made warme & mingled together. But Martins experience is in this sort. First wash the yarde with warme whyte wyne, & then annoynt it with oyle of Roses, & hony mingled together, and put it vp into the sheath, and make him a Codpiece of Canuas to kepe it still vp, and dresse him thus euery day once, vntill he be whole. And in any case let his backe be kept warm, eyther wyth a double cloth, or else with a charge made of bole Armeny, Egges, wheate flower, Sanguis Draconis, Turpentyne, and Uineger, or else lay on a wet sack, which being couered with an other dry cloth wil kepe his backe very warme.
Of the swelling of the Codde and stones. The .Ciiij. Chapter.
ABsirtus sayth that the inflamatiō and swelling of the Cod and stones, commeth by meanes of some wound, or by the stinging of some Serpent, or by fighting one horse with an other. [Page] For remedy whereof, he was wonte to bath the Cod with water, wherein had bene sodden the rootes of wilde Coucumber and salte, and then to annoynt it with an oyntmente made of Cerusa, oyle, Goates greace, and the whyte of an Egge. Some againe would haue the Cod to be bathed in warme water, Nytrum, and Uineger mingled together, and also to be annoynted with an oyntment made of Chaulke, or of potters earth, Oxe dong, Cumyn, water and vineger, mingled together, or else to be annoynted with the iuyce of the hearb Solanum, called of some nighte shade, or with the iuyce of humblocke growing on dong hilles, yea & also to be let bloude in the flankes. But Martin sayth, that ye swelling of the Coddes commeth for the most part, after some sicknesse, or surfeyting with colde, and then it is a sygne of amendment. The cure according to his experience is in this sorte. First let him bloude on both sydes the flanke vaynes. Then take of oyle of Roses, of Uineger, of eche halfe a pinte, and halfe a quarterne of bole Armonie, beaten into pouder. Mingle them together in a Cruse, and being luke warme, annoynt the Coddes therewith with two or three feathers bound together, and the next day ryde him into the water, so as his Coddes may be within the water, giuing him two or three turnes therein, and so returne fayre and softely to the stable, and when he is dry annoynt hym againe as before, continuing thus to do euery day once vntill he be whole. The sayde Martin sayth also that the Coddes may be swollen by meanes of some hurt or [Page 76] euil humors resorting vnto the Codde, and then he would haue you to couer the Coddes, with a charge made of bole Armeny and vineger wrought together, renuing it euery day once vntill the swelling go away, or that it breake of it selfe, and if it breake, then taint it with Mel Rosatum, & make him a breche of Canuas to kepe it in, renuing ye taint euery day once vntill it be whole.
Of incording or brusting. The .Cv. Chapter.
THis tearme incording is borowed of the Italion worde Incordato, whiche in playne Englyshe is as much to say as brusten, and myght be more rightly termed of vs incodded. For when a horse is bursten, his Gutte falleth downe into the Codde making it to swell. The Italians as I take it did call it Incordato bycause the gutte followes the string of the stone called of them Il cordone, or Lachorda, whereof incordato semes to be deryued with some reason. According to which reason we should call it rather instringed than incorded. Notwithstanding syth that incording is alredy receyued in the stable. I for my part am very well content therewith, minding not to contend against it. But now you haue to note, that eyther man or beast may be bursten dyuerslye, and according to the names of the partes grieued. The Phisitians doe giue it diuers names, for you shall [Page] vnderstand, that next vnto the thicke outwarde skin of the belly, there is also an other inward thin skin couering all the Muskles, the Caule, and the guts of the belly, called of the Anotomists, Peritoneum, which skin commeth from both sydes of the backe, and is fastened to the midryffe aboue, and also to the bottom of the belly beneath, to kepe in all the contentes of the neather belly. And therefore if this skin be broken, or ouer sore strayned or stretched, then eyther some parte of the Caule or Guttes slippeth downe, sometime into the Codde, sometyme not so farre. If the gut slippe downe into the Cod, then it is called of the Phisitians by the Greke name Enterocele, that is to say Gutte bursten. But if the Caule fall downe into the Codde, then it is called of the Phisitians Epiplocele, that is to say Caule bursten. But eyther of these diseases is moste properly incident to the male kinde, for the Femall kind hath no Cod. Notwithstanding, they may be so bursten, as eyther Gut or Caule may fall downe into their natures, hanging there lyke a bagge. But if it fal not downe so lowe, but remayneth aboue nygh vnto the priuy members or flankes, which place is called of the Latins Inguen, then of that place the bursting is called of the Phisitians Bubonocele, wherevnto I knowe not what English name to giue, vnlesse I shoulde call it flanke bursten. Moreouer the Codde or flanke may be sometime swollen, by meanes of some waterish humor, gathered together in the same, which is called of the Phisitians Hydrocele, that is to say water bursten, and sometyme the [Page 77] Cod may be swollen, by meanes of some hard piece of fleshe cleauing to the thin skinnes or panicles of the stones, and then it is called of the Phisitians Sarcocele, that is to say flesh bursten. But for asmuch as none of mine Authours, Martin, nor any other Ferrer in these dayes that I know, haue intermedled with any kinde of bursting, but onely with that wherin the gutte falleth downe into the Cod: leauing all the rest aparte, I will onely talke of this. And that according to Martins experience whiche I assure you differeth not much from the precepts of the olde wryters. But first you shall vnderstande, that the gut bursten, and flanke bursten, doth proceede both of one cause, that is to say, by meanes that the skin called before Peritoneum, is eyther sore strayned, or else broken, eyther of which things doe most commonly chaunce to horses, eyther by some strype of an other horse, or else by some strayne in leaping ouer a hedge, ditch, or pale, or otherwise, yea and many tymes in passing a caryer, throughe the vndiscretenesse of the Ryder, stopping the horse sodenly without giuing him any warning, wherby the horse is forced to cast his hinder legges abrode, and so strayneth or bursteth the skin aforesayde, by meanes whereof the gutte falleth downe into hys Codde. The signes be these. The horse will forsake his meat, and stand shoring and leaning alwayes on that syde that he is hurt, and on that syde if you searche with your hande, betwixt the stone and the thyghe vpwarde to the body, and somewhat aboue the stone, you shal finde the gutte it selfe bigge and [Page] harde in the feeling, whereas on the other side you shall finde no suche thing. The cure according to Martin is thus. Bring the horse into some house or place that hath ouer head a strong bawk, or beame going ouertwhart, and strow that place thick with strawe. Then put on foure pastornes with foure rynges on his feete, and fastning the one ende of a long rope to one of those rynges, threde all the other rings with the lose ende of the rope, & so draw all his forefete together, and cast him on the straw. That done, caste the rope ouer the bawlke, & hoyse the horse so as he may lye flatte on his backe, wyth his legges vpward without strugling. Then bath his stones wel with warme water and butter molten together, & the stones being somewhat warme, and wel molified, raise them vp from the body with both your handes being closed by the fingers faste together, and holding the stones in your handes in such maner, worke downe the gut into the body of the horse, by stryking it downewarde continuallye wyth your two thombs, one labouring immediatelye after an other, vntyll you perceyue that syde of the stone to be so small as the other, and hauing so discorded, that is to say returned the gutte into his right place. Take a liste of two fingers brode thorowly annointed with fresh butter, & tye his stones both together with the same so nighe the body as may be, not ouer harde, but so as you may put your finger betwixt. That done, take the horse quietlye downe, and leade him fayre and softly into the stable, wheras he must stande warme, & not be sturred [Page 78] for the space of three weekes. But forget not the nexte day after hys discording to vnlosen the liste, and to take it away, and as well at that time, as euery day once or twice after, to caste a dishe or two of colde water vppe into his Coddes, and that will make hym to shrinke vp his stones, and therby restraine the gut from falling downe, and at the thre wekes ende to be sure: it were not amisse to gelde the stone on that syde away, so shall he neuer be incorded againe on that syde. But let him not eate much, nor drinke muche, and let his drinke be alwayes warme.
Of the botch in the graynes of a horse. The .Cvi. Chapter.
IF a horse be full of humors, and then sodenly laboured, the humors will resort into the weakest parts, and theyr gather together, and brede a botch, and specially in the hinder partes, betwixte the thighes not farre from the Coddes. The signes be these, The hinder legges wil be all swollen, and specially from the houghes vpward, and if you fele with your hād, you shal find a great knob or swelling, & if it be round & hard, it wil gather to a head. The cure according to Martin is thus. First ripe it wt this playster. Take of wheat flower, of Turpentine, & of hony, of ech like quātity, styrring it together to make a stiffe plaister, & with a cloth lay it vnto ye sore, renuing it euery day once, vntil it breake [Page] or waxe softe, and then launce it so as the matter may runne downewarde. Then taint it with Turpentyne, and Hogs grease molten together, renuing it euery day once vntill it be whole.
Of the diseases incident to the wombe of a Mare, and specially of barrennesse. The .Cvij. Chapter.
IT seemeth by some writers that the wombe of a Mare is subiect to certaine diseases, thoughe not so many as the womb of a woman, as to ascent, discent, falling out, convulsion, barrēnesse, aborsement, yea Aristotle and others doe not let to write, that menstruall bloude doth naturallye voyde from the Mare, as from the woman, though it be so little in quātity, as it can not be wel perceyued. But sith none of mine Authours haue writtē therof to any purpose, nor any Ferrer of this time that I know, haue had any experience in such matters, I wil passe them al ouer wt silence, sauing barrēnesse wherof I promised in the breders office to declare vnto you ye causes, & such kind of cure for ye same, as ye old wryters haue taught. A Mare thē may be barren through the vntemperatnesse of the womb or matrix, as for yt it is to hote & fyery, or else to colde & moyst, or to dry, or else to short, or to narrow, or hauing ye necke thereof turned awry, or by meanes of some obstruction or stopping in the matrix, [Page 79] or for that the Mare is to fatte, or to leane, and many tymes Mares go barren, for that they be not well horsed. Well, the cure of barrennesse that cō meth through the faulte of the Matrix or wombe, according to the old wryters is thus. Take a good handeful of Leekes, stampe them in a morter, with halfe a Glasse full of wine. Then put therevnto .xij. flyes called of the Appoticaries, Cantharides, of diuers coulours if they may be gotten, then strayne al togyther, with a sufficient quantitie of water to serue the Mare therewith two dayes together, by pouring the same into hir nature with a horne or glister pype made of purpose, and at the ende of three dayes next following, offer the horse vnto hir that shoulde couer hir, and immediately after that she is couered, wash hir nature twice together with colde water.
An other receyte for the same purpose.
TAke of Nytrum, of sparrows dong, and of Turpentyne, of ech lyke quantity, well wrought together and made like a suppository, and put that into hir nature, and it will cause hir to desire the horse, and also to conceyue. Hipocrates sayth, that it is good also to put a Nettle into the horses mouth that shoulde couer hir.
Of the Itche, Scabbe, and Maunginesse in the tayle, and falling of the tayle. The .Cviij. Chapter.
[Page] IN spring tyme horses be many tymes troubled with the tronchons in their fundament, and then they will rubbe their tayle, and breake the haire thereof, and yet in his tayle perhaps, shall be neyther ytche, scurffe, nor scabbe, wherfore if you rake the horse well with your hand, annointed with Sope, and searche for those tronchons, and pull them cleane oute, you shall cause hym to leaue rubbing: and if you see that the haire doe fall away of it selfe, then it is a signe, yt it is eyther eaten with wormes, or that there is some scurffe or scabbe fretting the haire, and causing such an ytche in his tayle, as the horse is alwayes rubbing the same. As touching the wormes, scurffe, or scabbe, it shall be good to annoynt all the tayle with sope, & then to washe it cleane euen to the ground with strong lye, & that will kill the wormes, and make the haire to grow againe. And if much of the tayle be worne away, if shall be nedefull to kepe the tayle continually wette, with a sponge dipte in faire water, and that will make the haire to growe very fast. But if the horses taile be maungy, then heale that like as you doe the maungynesse of the Mayne before rehearsed. Againe if there breede any Canker in the tayle, (whiche will consume both the fleshe and bone, and as Laurentius Russius sayth, make the ioyntes to fall away one by one.) It shall be good as Martin sayth to washe all his tayle with Aqua fortis or strong water, made in this sort. Take of grene [Page 80] Corporas, of Atom, of eche one pounde, of whyte Corporas a quartern. Boyle all these things together in thre quarts of rūning water, in a very strōg earthen pot, vntyll the one halfe be consumed, and then with a little of this water being made luke warme, washe his tayle with a little clout, or Flaxe bounde to the ende of a sticke, continuing so to doe euery day once, vntil it be whole.
How to know when a horse halteth before, in what parte his griefe is. The .Cix. Chapter.
BEing nowe come to talk of the griefes in the shoulders, legges, hips, houghes, ioyntes, and houes, causing the horse moste commonly to halte: I thinke it good first to shewe you ye way how to finde in what part of his legges, the horse is grieued when he halteth eyther before or behinde. And firste you haue to consider that if a horse halteth before, it must be eyther in his shoulders, in his legges, or in his feete. If it be in his shoulders, and new hurt, the horse wil not lift that legge, but traile it nighe the grounde. If it be olde hurte, he wil cast that legge further from him in his going, than the other, and if he be turned on the sore syde, then he will halte so much the more. If a horse halteth in the legge, it is eyther in the knee, in the shanke, or in the pastorne ioynt, if it be eyther in the knee, or pastorne ioynt, he will not bowe that in his goyng [Page] like the other, but goe very stifly vpon it. If he halteth in the shanke, then it is by meanes of some splent, wingall, or suche apparant griefe, apt to be sene, or felt. If he halt in the foote, it is eyther in the cronet, hele, in the toe, in the quarters, or sole of the foote. If it be in the cronet, the griefe will be apparant, the skin being broken or swollen some maner of way: If in the hele, as by ouer reache or otherwise, then he will treade most on the toe: if vpon any of the quarters, thē going on the edge of a bank or hilly ground, he will halt more, than on ye plaine ground, and by the horses comming towardes you, and going from you vpon suche edge or banke, you shal easely perceyue whether his griefe be in the inwarde quarter or outward quarter. The quarter is to be vnderstande, from the mid houe to the hele. If he halte in the toe which is not commonly sene, then he will tread more vpon the hele. If his griefe be in the sole of the foote, then he will halte all after one sort vpon any ground, vnlesse it be vpon the stones. And to be sure in what parte of the foote the griefe is, it shall be good first to make him go vpon the plaine ground, and then vpon a harde and stony ground, yea and also banky ground. Thus hauing declared vnto you in generall, howe to knowe in what parte a horse is grieued when he halteth before: I thinke it mete first to shew you orderly al the particuler griefes and sorances, whervnto the fore partes of a horse are subiect, together with the causes, sygnes and cure thereof. That done, I will speake of halting behinde, and shew you first generally [Page 81] where the griefe is, and then perticulerly declare vnto you euery griefe incident to the hinder partes of a horse. And lastely I will speake of such griefes and sorances as are commō to both parts, that is to say, as well to the forelegges, and forefete, as to the hinder legges and hinder fete.
Of the griefe and pinching in the shoulder. The .Cx. Chapter.
THis commeth eyther by labouring and strayning the horse to yong, or else by some great burthē. You shall perceyue it by the narrownesse of the brest, and by consuming of the fleshe of the shoulders, in so much as the fore part of the shoulder bone will sticke out, & be a great deale higher then the fleshe. And if it be of long continuance, he will be very hollow vpō the brisket towardes the armeholes, and he will go wyder beneath at the feete, then aboue at the knees. The cure according to Martin is thus. Giue him a slit of an inch long with a sharpe knife or Rasor vpon both sydes an ynche vnder the shoulder bones. Then with a Swannes quill put into the slitte, blowe vp firste the one shoulder, and then the other, as bigge as you can possibly, euen vp to the wythers, and with your hand stryke the wind equally into euery place of the shoulders. And when they be both full, then beat all the windy places with a good hasell wand [Page] ouer all the shoulder. Then with a flatte sclise of yron, loosen the skinne within from the fleshe. That done rowell the two slits or cuttes with two round rowels made of the vpper leather of an olde shooe with a hole in the middest, that the matter may issu forth, and let such rowels be thre inches brode, and so put in as they may lye playne and flatte within the cut. Then make a charge to lay vpon the same in this sorte. Take of Pytch, of Rosen, of eche one pounde, of Tarre halfe a pinte, boyle these things all together in a pot, and when it is somewhat cooled, take a sticke with a wollen clout bound faste to the one ende thereof, and dippe it into this charge, and couer or daube all the shoulders therewith. That done, clappe therevnto a pounde of Floxe of such colour as the horse is, or as nighe vnto ye same as may be, & euery other day clense both the woundes and rowels, & put them in againe, continuing thus to doe, the space of .xv. dayes. Then take them out & heale vp the wounds with two taynts of Flax dipt in Turpentine, and Hogs grease molten together, renuing the same euery day once, vntill the wounds be whole. But let the charge lye still, vntill it fall away of it selfe, and let the horse runne to grasse vntill he hath had a frost or two.
Of wrinching the shoulder. The .Cxi. Chapter.
THis commeth sometyme by a fall. and sometime by turning to sodenly in some vneuen ground, or by to rashe running out [Page 82] at some dore, or by some strype of an other horse, or by some sodayne stoppe in passing a Carrier. You shall perceyue it in his going, by trayling his legge vppon the ground, so close vnto him selfe as he can possible. The cure according to Martin is thus. Let him bloude, the quantity of thre pintes on the brest in the plat vaine, receyuing the bloud in a pot, and thervnto put first a quart of strōg Uineger, & halfe a dosen brokē egges, shelles & al, & so much wheate flower as will thicken all that lyquor. That done, put thervnto of bole Armeny beaten into fine pouder one pounde, of Sanguis Draconis two ounces, and mingle them all together, so as the flower may not be perceyued, and if it be to stiffe, you may make it more lyquid or softe, with a little Uineger. Then with your hande daube all the shoulder from the mayne downewarde, and betwixt the forebowels, all against the haire, and let not the horse departe out of that place, vntill the charge be surely fastned vnto the skinne. That done, cary him into the stable, and tye him vp to the racke, and suffer him not to lye downe all that day, & giue him a little meate, dyeting him moderately the space of .xv. dayes, during which time, he may not sturre out of his place, but onely to lye downe, and euery day once refresh the shoulder point with this charge, laying stil new vpō the old, & at the .xv. dayes end, lead him abrode to see how he goeth, and if he be somewhat amended, then let him rest without trauayling, the space of one month, and that shall bring his shoulder to perfection. But if he be neuer the better for all this [Page] that is done: then it shall be nedefull, to rowel him with a leather rowell vpon the shoulder poynt, and to kepe him rowelled the space of .xv. dayes, renning the rowell, and clensing the wound euery other day, and then walke him vp and downe fayre and softly, and turne him alwayes on the contrary syde to the sore, and when he goeth vpright, pull out the rowell, and heale the wound with a taynt of Flaxe dipt in Turpētyne, and Hogges grease molten together. And if all this will not serue, then it shal be nedefull to drawe him chequorwise with a hote yron ouer all the shoulder poynte and also to make him to drawe in a plough euery day two houres at the least, to settle his ioyntes for the space of three weekes or a month, and if any thing wil helpe him these two laste remedies will helpe him, and make him to go right vp agayne.
Of splayting of the shoulder. The .Cxij. Chapter.
THis commeth by some daungerous slyding or slipping, wherby the shoulder parteth from the breast, and so leaues an open rift not in the skin, but in the flesh and filme next vnder the skinne, and so he halteth, and is not able to go, you shall perceyue it by trayling his legge after him in his going. The cure according to Martin is thus. First put a payre of strait pastornes on his forefete, keping him still in the stable, without disquieting him. Thē take of Dialthea [Page 83] one pounde, of Sallet Oyle one pynte, of Oyle de Bays halfe a pounde, of freshe butter halfe a pound. Melte all these things together in a Pipkin, and annoynt the grieued place therwith, and also roūd about the insyde of the shoulder, and within two or thre dayes after, both that place and all the shoulder besydes will swell. Then eyther pricke him with a launcet, or fleame, in al the swelling places, or els with a lyttle sharpe hote yron made in this sorte, the heade whereof would
be an ynch long, to the intente that the corruption may runne out, and vse to annoynt it still with the oyntment aforesayde. But if you see that it will not goe away, but swell still, and gather to a heade, then launce it where ye swelling doth gather most, & is softe vnder the finger & then taint it with flax dipt in this ointment. Take of Turpentine, and of Hogges grease, of ech two ounces, and melt them together, renuing the taynt twyce a day vntill it be whole.
Of the shoulder pight. The .Cxiij. Chapter.
THat is when the shoulder poynt or pitch of the shoulder is displaced, which grief is called of the Italians Spallato, & it cōmeth by reason of some great fal forwarde, rush, or strain. The sygnes be these. That shoulder point wil stick out further then his fellow, and the horse will halte right downe. The cure according to Martin is thus. [Page] First make him to swime in a depe water, vppe and and downe a dosen turnes, and that shall make the ioynt to returne to his place. Then make two tough pinnes of Asshen woode, as much as your little finger, sharpe at the poyntes, eche one fiue ynches lōg. That done, slitte the skin, an ynch aboue the point, and an inche beneath the point of the shoulder, and thrust in one of the pinnes from aboue downward, so as both endes may equallye sticke without the skin. And if the pin of woode will not easely passe through, you may make it way, firste with an yron pin. That done, make other two holes crosse to the first holes, so as the other pin may crosse ye first pyn, right in the midst, with a right crosse, and the firste pyn woulde be somewhat flatte in the midst, to the intente that the other being rounde, may passe the better without stoppe, and close the iuster together. Then take a piece of a little lyne somewhat bigger then a whipcorde, and at one ende make a loope, which being put ouer one of the pins endes, winde the reast of the Lyne good and strait about the pinnes endes, so as it may lye betwixt the pins endes and the skin, and fasten the laste ende with a packe nedle, and a packe threede, vnto the rest of the cord, so as it may not slippe, and to do well, both the prickes and the corde woulde be first annointed with a little Hogges greace. Then bring him into the stable, and let him rest the space of nine dayes, but let him lye downe as lyttle as may be, and putte on a pastorne on the sore legge, so as it may be bounde with a corde, vnto the foote of the maunger, to kepe [Page 84] that leg alwayes whilst he standeth in the stable more forwarde then the other. And at the .ix▪ dayes ende, take out the prickes, and annoint the sore places with a little Dialthea, or with Hogs greace, and then turne him to grasse.
Of the swelling of the forelegs after great labour. The .Cxiiij. Chapter.
GReat labour and heat causeth humors to resort down into the legs, making them to swel. The cure wherof according to Martin is thus. Bathe them with buttered beere, or else with this bath here folowing. Take of mallowes three handeful, a Rose Cake, of Sage one handefull. Boyle them together in a sufficient quā tity of water, and when the Mallows be soft put in halfe a pound of butter, and halfe a pinte of Sallet oyle, and then being somewhat warme, washe the swelling therewith euery day once, the space of thre or foure dayes. And if the swelling will not goe away with this, then take wyne lyes, and Cumin, & boyle them together, & put thervnto a little wheate flower, and charge all the swelling therewith, and walke him often, and if all will not serue, then take vp the great vayne aboue the knee on the insyde, suffering him not to bleede from aboue, but al from beneath.
Of foundering in the forelegges. [Page] The .Cxv. Chapter.
THe cause of this griefe is declared before in the chapter of foūdering in the body whereas I shewed you that if a horse be foundered in the body, the humors wyl immediately resort downe into his legges. Martin sayth within the space of .xxiiij. houres, and then the horse wil goe crowching al vpon the hinder legges, his forelegges being so stiffe, as he is not able to bowe thē. The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sorte. Garter eche legge immediately one handefull aboue the knee, with a list good and harde, and then walke him to chafe him, and to put him in a heate, and being somewhat warmed, let him bloud in both the breast vaynes, reseruing the bloude to make a charge withall in this maner. Take of that bloud two quartes and of wheate flower halfe a Pecke, and sixe egges, shelles and al, of bole Armeny halfe a pound, of Sanguis Draconis half a quartern, and a quarte of strong Uineger. Mingle them all together, and charge al his shoulders, breast, back, loynes, and forelegges therewith, and walke him vpon some hard ground suffering him not to stand still, and when the charge is dry refreshe it againe. And hauing walked him three or foure houres together, leade him into the stable, and giue hym a little warme water with ground mault in it, & then a litte hay and prouender, and then walke him againe eyther in the house, or else abrode, and continue [Page 85] thus to doe the space of foure dayes, and when all the charge is spent, couer him well with a housing cloth, and let him both stande and lye warme, and eate but little meate during the foure dayes. But if you see yt at the foure dayes end he mendeth not a whit, then it is a sygne that the humors lye in the foote, for the which you muste search with your butter, paryng all the soles of the fore feete so thin, as you shall see the water yssue throughe the sole. That done, with your butter let him bloud at both the toes, and let him blede well. Then stoppe the vayne with a little hogs grease, and Turpentyne molten together, and layde vpon a little Flaxe, and then tack on the shooes, and cram the place where you did let him bloude harde with toawe, to the intent it may be surely stopt. Then fill both his feete with Hogges grease and bran fryed together in a stopping pan, so hote as is possible. And vpon that stopping clap a piece of leather, or else two splents to kepe in the stopping. And immediatly after this, Take two Egges, beate them in a dishe, and putte thervnto as much bole Armeny and Beane flower as will thicken the same, and mingle them well together, & make thereof two playsters, suche as may close eche foote round about, somewhat aboue the cronette, and binde it fast with a lyst, or rowler, that it may not fall away nor be remoued for the space of two dayes, but let the sole be clensed, and newe stopped euery day once, and the cronets to be remoued euery two dayes, continuing so to do vntil he be whole. During which tyme, let hym reast vnwalked, [Page] for feare of losening his houes. But if you see that he begin to amende, you may walke him fayre and softly once a day vpon some soft ground, to exercyse his legs and fete, and let him not eate much, nor drinke colde water. But if this foundering break out aboue the houe, which you shall perceiue by the losenesse of the coffin, aboue by the cronette, thē when you pare ye soole, you must take al the fore part of ye sole cleane away, leauing the heeles hole, to the intente the humors may haue the freer passage downewarde, and then stoppe him, and dresse him about the cronet, as is before sayde.
Of the splent as well in the insyde or outside of the knée, as other where in the legge. The .Cxvi. Chapter.
THis soraunce to any mannes feeling is a very gristle, sometime as bigge as a walnut, and sometime no more than a Hasell nut, which is called of the Italians Spinella, and it cō meth as Laurentius Russius sayth, by traueyling the horse to yong, or by oppressing hym with heauy burthen, offending his tender synews, and so causeth him to halt. It is easye to know bycause it is apparant to the eye, and if you pinche it with your thombe and finger, the horse wil shrinke vp his legge. The cure whereof according to Martin is in this sorte. Washe it well with warme water, and shaue of the haire, and lightlye scarifye all the [Page 86] sore place with the point of a Rasor, so as the bloud may issue forth. Then take of Cantharides halfe a sponefull, and of Euforbium, as muche beaten into fine powder, & mingle them together with a spone full of oyle de Bay, and then melte them in a little pan, stirring them wel together, so as they may not boyle ouer, and beyng so boyling hote, take two or three feathers, and annoint all the sore place therewith. That done, let not the horse sturre from the place where you so dresse him for one houre after, to the intent he shake not of the oyntment. Then cary hym fayre and softly into the stable, and tye hym so as he may not reache with his heade beneath the manger, for otherwyse he will couet to byte awaye the smarting & pricking medicine, which if it should touch his lippes, would quickly fetch of the skinne. And also let him stande without lytter all that day and night. The nexte day annoynt the sore place with fresh butter, cōtinuing so to do euery day once for the space of nine dayes, for this shall allay the heate of the medicine, and cause both that, and the crust to fall away of it selfe, and therewith eyther clene take away the splent, or at the least remoue it out of the knee into the leg, and so much dyminishe it, as the horse shall go right vp, and halte no more through occasiō therof. Laurentius Russius would haue the splent to be cured by fyering it longst wyse and ouertwhart. Some againe do make it soft by beating it with a Hasell sticke, and then do sucke it out with a piece of new leather and a hote yron which many tymes diminisheth the splent, and increaseth [Page] the halting. For if a splent be not very well drest, the horse will halte halfe a yeare after, yea and perhappes all his lyfe long.
Of a Malander. The .Cxvij. Chapter.
A Malander is a kind of scabbe growing in the form of lines, or strekes, ouerthwart the bent of the knee, and hath lōg hayres with stubborne rootes, lyke the brystles of a Boare, which corrupteth and cankereth the flesh, lyke the rootes of a childes scabbed head, and if it be greate, it will make the horse to goe stiffe at the setting forth and also to halt. This disease procedes sometyme of a corrupt bloude, but most commonly, for lack of cleane keping, and good rubbing. The cure according to Martin is thus. Fyrst washe it well with warme water, then shaue both haire & scabbe cleane away, leauing nothing but the bare fleshe, wherevnto lay this playster. Take a spone full of Sope, and as much Lyme. Mingle them together, that it may be lyke Paast, and spreade as much on a clowt as will couer the sore, and binde it fast on with a list, renuing it euery day once ye space of two or three dayes, and at the three dayes ende, take away the playster, and annoynt the sore with Oyle of Roses made luke warme, & that shall fetch away the crust or scurfe, bredde by meanes of the playster, which scurfe being taken away, washe the [Page 87] sore place well euery day once with his owne stale, or else with mans vrine, & then immediatly strowe vpon it the powder of burnt Oyster shelles, continuing thus to do euery day once vntill it be whole.
Of an vpper attaynt or ouer reach vpon the backe synewe of the shanke somewhat aboue the ioynt. The .Cxviij. Chapter.
THe Italians cal this sorance Attincto, which is a paynefull swelling of the master synewe, by meanes that the horse doth sometime ouerreach, and strike that synewe, with the toe of his hinder foote, which causeth him to halte. The sygnes be apparant by the swelling of the place, & by the horses halting. The cure according to Martin is thus. Washe the place with warme water, and shaue of al the haire so farre as the swelling goeth, and scarify euery part of the sore place lightly with the point of a Rasor, that the bloud may issue sorth. Then take of Cantharides, and of Euforbium, of eche halfe an ounce, mingle them together with halfe a quarterne of Sope, and with a sclice spread some of this oyntment ouer all the sore, suffering hym to rest there as you dresse him, for one half houre after, and then you may carry him into the stable, and there let him stand without litter and tyed as hath bene sayde before in the Chapter of the splent, and [Page] the nexte day dresse him with the same oyntment once againe, euen as you did before. And the third day annoynt the place with freshe butter, continuing so to do the space of .ix. dayes, & at the .ix. dayes, ende make him this bathe. Take of Mallowes three handfull, a Rose Cake, of Sage a handefull. Boyle thē together, in a sufficient quantity of water. And when the Mallows be soft, put in halfe a pound of butter & halfe a pint of Sallet Oyle, and then being somewhat warme, washe the sore place therewith euery day once, the space of three or foure dayes.
Of a neather taynt. The .Cxix. Chapter.
THis is a little bladder ful of Ielly much lyke vnto a windgal, not apparant to the eye, but to the feling, growing in the midst of the pastorne, somewhat aboue the frushe. It commeth by a strain, or else by some wrinch, or by an ouer reach, and maketh the horse to halte. The signes be these. The neather ioynt towarde the fewterlock will be hote in the feeling, and somewhat swollen. The cure according to Martin is in this sorte. Tye him aboue the ioynt with a list somewhat harde, and that will cause the bladder to appeare to the eye. Then launce it with a sharpe poynted knife, and thruste out all the Ielly. That done, lay vnto it the whyte of an Egge, and a little Salt beaten together, and [Page 88] layd vpon flaxe or toawe, and binde it fast vnto the sore, renuing it once a day the space of foure or fiue dayes, during which time let him rest, and then you may boldely labour him.
Of an ouer reach vpon the heele. The .Cxx. Chapter.
THys is a cutte so as the skin hangs downe at the heele, made with the toe of the hinder fote, and is apparant to the eye, and it will cause the horse somewhat to halte. The cure whereof according to Martin is thus. Cut away the skin that hangeth downe, and binde vnto it a little flaxe dipte in the whyte of an Egge, mingled with a little bole Armeny, renuing it euery day once, the space of three or foure dayes, and that will heale it.
Of false quarters. The .Cxxi. Chapter.
THis is a rifte sometyme in the outsyde, but most commonly in the insyde of the houe, bycause the insyde is euer the weaker parte, which sydes are commonly called quarters, and therof this sorance taketh his name, and is called a false quarter, that is to say a crased or vnsoūd quarter, which name in dede is borowed of the Italians, calling it in their tong Falso quarto. It commeth by euill shooing, and partly by euill paring. The sygnes be these. The horse will for the moste [Page] part halt, and the rifte will bleede, and is apparant to the eye. The cure according to Martin is thus. If the horse halte, then pull of the shooe, and cut so much away on that syde of the shooe where ye grief is, as the shooe being immediately put on againe, the rift may be vncouered. Then open the rift with a rosenette or drawer, & fill all the rift with a rowle of toawe, dipte in Turpentyne, Waxe, and sheepes sewet molten together, renuing it euery day once vntill it be whole. And the rifte being closed in the toppe, drawe him betwixte the haire and the houe with a hote Iron ouerthwart that place, to the intent that the houe may shote al whole downeward, and when the horse goeth vprighte, ryde him wyth no other shooe, vntill his houe be thorowly hardened again. But as touching shooes for false quarters, you shall haue the order of making of them declared vnto you hereafter in the end of this booke.
Of halting behinde, and where the griefe is. The .Cxxij. Chapter.
IF a horse halte behynde the griefe must eyther be in the hyppe, in the stiffle, in the houghe, in the hamme, in the legge, in the neather ioynt, pastorne, or foote, if he halte in the hip of a newe hurt, the horse will goe sydeling, and not follow so well with that legge as with the other. But if it be olde hurte, the sore hippe wil shrinke and be lower then the other, [Page 89] and is best seene when he goeth vp a hill, or vpō the edge of some banke so as the worste legge may goe on the higher syde, for then he will halt so much the more, bycause it is paynefull vnto hym to go so vneuenly wrinching his legge. If the griefe be in the stiffle, then the horse in his going will cast the stiffle ioynt outwarde, and the bone on the inside wyll be farre bigger than the other. If the griefe be in the hough, then it is by meanes of some spauen, or some other hurte apparant to the eye. And the lyke may be sayd of the hamme, wherein may be seene the selandre, or such lyke apparant sorance, causing the horse to halte. If the griefe be eyther in the legge, pastorne, or foote, then you shal finde it by such sygnes as haue bene taught you before. And therfore let vs nowe speake of those sorances, that are properly incident to the hinder legges.
Of a horse that is hipped, or hurt in the hippes. The .Cxxiij. Chapter.
THe horse is sayde to be hipte, whē the hip bone is remoued out of his right place, which griefe is called of the Italians Mal del aucha It cōmeth most cōmonly by some great stripe or strain, slypping, slyding, or falling. The signes be these. The horse wyll halte, and in his going he will goe sydeling, and the sore hyp will fall lower than the other, and the flesh in proces of time wyll consume cleane away. And if it be suffred to runne so long, it [Page] will neuer be restored vnto his pristine estate. The best way as Martin sayth, to make him go vpright: is, to charge his hip & back with pitch & rosen moltē together, and layd on warme, & then some flockes of his own colour to be clapped vpon the same, and so to let him runne to grasse vntill he goe vpright. But the sore hip wil neuer rise agayne so hyghe as the other. If the horse be not hipped but only hurt in the hip, and that newly. Then fyrst take of oyle de Bay, of Dialthea, of Nerual, of swines grease, of ech halfe a pounde, melt them all together stirring thē continually, vntil they be throughly mingled together, and annoynt the sore place against the haire, wyth this oyntment, euery day once, the space of a fortenight, and make the oyntment to synke well into the flesh, by holding a hote brode barre of iron ouer the place annoynted, weauing your hande to and fro, vntil the ointment be entred into ye skinne. And if at the fortenightes ende, you see that the horse amendeth no whitte for this, then slyt a hole downewarde in his skinne, an ynch beneath ye hyp bone, making the hole so wyde, as you may easely thrust in a rowel with your finger, and then with a little brode sclice of yron, losen the skin frō ye flesh aboue the bone, & roūd about ye same, so brode as the rowel may lie flat & playne betwixt the skin & the flesh, which rowell would be made of
soft calues leather, wt a hole in ye midst like a ring, hauing a threde tyed vnto it, to pul it out when you would clense the hole, in this sort, & if the rowell be [Page 90] rowled aboute with flaxe faste tyed on, and annoynted wyth the oyntmente vnder wrytten, it will drawe so much the more. And thruste in the rowell fyrst double, and then spread it abrode with your fynger. That done, taynt it with a good long taint of flax or toawe dipt in a little Turpentine & hogges greace moltē together, and made warme, and cleanse the hole and the rowel euery day once, & also renew the taynt for the space of a fortenight. And before you dresse him, cause him euery day to be ledde vp and downe a foote pace a quarter of an houre, to make the humours come downe, and at the fortenights ende pull out the rowell, and heale vp the wound with the same salue, making ye taint euery day lesser and lesser, vntill it be whole. And so sone as it is whole, draw with a hote yron crosse lynes of eyght or nine ynches long righte ouer the hyppe bone, so as the rowelled place may be in the very mydst thereof, and burne him no deeper, but so as the skinne may looke yeallow, & then charge all that place, and ouer all his buttocke with thys charge. Take of pytch one pounde, of Rosen halfe a pound, of Tarre halfe a pynte. Boyle them together, and then being good and warme, spred it on with a clout tied in a riuen sticke. And then clappe on a fewe flockes of the horses colour, and if it be in Sommer, let the horse runne to grasse a while, for the more he trauayleth at his owne wyll, the better it is for him.
Of stiffling and hurtes in the stiffle. The .Cxxiiij. Chapter.
[Page] THe Horse is sayd to be styffled, when the styffling bone is remoned from his right place. But if it be not remoued nor losened, and yet the Horse halteth by meanes of some grief ther, then we say that the horse is hurt in the stiffle, and not styffled. The styffle cōmeth by meanes of some syde blowe▪ or some greate strayne flypping or slyding. The signes be these. If he be stiffled the one bone wyll sticke out further than the other, and is apparant to the eye. Martin would haue you to cure the styffle in al poynts like vnto the shoulder pight sauing that the pinnes neede not to be so long bycause the stifling place is not so brode as the shoulder, and standing in the stable, let him haue a pastorne wyth a ring vpon his sore legge, and therevnto fasten a corde, which corde must go about his necke, & let it be so much strayned, as it may bring hys sore leg more forwarde than the other, to kepe the bone from starting out. But if the Horse be but hurt in the styffle wyth some strype, or strayne, then the bone will not stand out, but perhaps the place may be swollen. The cure according to Martin is thus. Fyrst annoynt the place with the oyntment mentioned in the laste Chapter before, euery day once the space of a fortenight, and if the Horse amend not wyth this▪ then rowel him with a hearen rowell, or else wyth a quyll, and lette the neather hole be somewhat beneath the sore place, & cleanse the hole euery day, by turning the rowell, continuing styll to annoynt the place with the oyntmente [Page 91] aforesayde, and that shall make him whole.
Of foundering behinde. The .Cxxv. Chapter.
THys haps moste commonly when a horse is very fat, and hath his grease molten wtin him, which is sone done with euery litle heat. You shall perceyue it by his going, for he wyll be afrayde to sette his hinder feete to the grounde, and he wyll be so weake behinde, as he wil stande quiuering and shaking, and couet alwayes to lie downe. The cure according to Martin is thus. Firste garter him aboue the houghes, and then force him to goe a while to put him in a heate, and being somewhat warme, let him bloud in the thigh vaynes, reseruing of that bloude a pottle, to make him a charge in this sorte. Put vnto that bloude, of wheate flower & of beane flower, of eche a quarter of a pecke, of Bole Armenie one pounde, of Sanguis Draconis two ounces, syxe egges, shelles and all, of Turpentine halfe a pounde, of Uinegre a quarte. Mingle all these things together, and therewith charge both his hinder legges, raynes, and flankes, al against the haire. And if the horse can not dung, lette him be raked, and giue him this glister. Take of Mallowes three handfuls, boyle them well in faire water from a pottle to a quarte. Then strayne it, and put therevnto halfe a pound of butter, and of Sallet [Page] oyle a quarter of a pinte, and hauing emptied his belly, gyue him also this drinke to comfort him. Take of Malmesy a quarte, and putte therevnto a little Synamom, Mace, and Pepper, beaten into fine pouder, and of oyle a quarter of a pinte, and giue the horse to drinke of that luke warme with a horne. That done, let him be walked vp & downe a good while together, if he be able to goe: if not, then tye him vp to the rack, and let him be hanged with canuas and ropes, so as he may stande vpon the grounde with his feete. For the lesse he lie, the better, and pare his hinder feete thinne, vntyll the deawe come out, and tacking on the shoes agayne stoppe the houes with branne and hogges greace boyled together, and let both his feete hauing this geare in it, be wrapped vppe in a cloth euen to his pastornes, and there tye the cloute fast. Let his diet be thinne, and let him drinke no colde water, and gyue him in winter wet hay, and in sōmer grasse.
Of the drie Spauen. The .Cxxvi. Chapter.
THe drye spauen called of the Italians Spauano, or Sparauagno, is a great harde knobbe, as bygge as a Walnut, growing in the insyde of the hough, harde vnder the ioynte, nighe vnto the mayster vayne, and causeth the horse to halte, which sorance commeth sometime by kinde, bicause the horses parents perhaps [Page 92] had the like disease at the time of his generation, & somtime by extreme labor, & heat dissoluing humors, which do discend through ye master vaine, continually feding that place with euil nutrimēt, & causeth yt place to swell. Which swelling in cōtinuance of time, becōmeth so hard as a bone, and therfore is called of some ye bone Spauē. It nedeth no signes to know it, bicause it is apparant to the eye, & most Ferrers do take it to be incurable. Notwithstāding Martin sayth, that it may be made lesse with these remedies here following. Wash it with warm water, and shaue of the haire so far as the swelling extendeth, and scarifie the place, so as it may blede. Then take of Cantharides one dosen, and of Euforbium halfe a sponefull, breake them in pouder, and boyle them together wyth a little oyle de Bay, and wyth two or three feathers bounde together, put it boyling hote vpon the sore, and let his taile be tide vp for wyping away the medicine: and then within halfe an houre after, sette him vp in the stable, and tie him so as he may not lie downe all that nyghte, for feare of rubbing of the medicine, and the nexte day annoynt it wyth fresh butter, continuing thus to doe euery day once the space of fyue or syx dayes, and when the haire is growen agayne, drawe the sore place with a hote yron, in this sort. Then
take another hote sharpe yron like a bodkyn, somewhat bowing at the poynt, & thrust yt in at the neather ende of the middle line, and so vpwarde betwixte the skinne and the fleshe an ynch and a halfe. And then taynte it wyth a little [Page] Turpentine and hogs grease molten togither and made warme, renuing it euery day once, the space of nine dayes. But remember fyrst immediatly after his burning to take vp the mayster vayne, suffring him to bleede a little from aboue, and tye vp the vpper ende of the vaine, and leaue the neather ende open, to the intent that he may bleede frō beneath, vntill it ceasse of it selfe, and that shall diminish the Spauen, or else nothing wyll do it.
Of the wette Spauen, or through Spauen: The .Cxxvij. Chapter.
THis is a softe swelling growing on both sydes of the hough, and seemes to goe cleane through the hough, and therefore may be well called a throughe Spauen. But for the most part the swelling on the in side bicause it is cōtinually fed of the maister vaine, is greater than the swelling on the outsyde. The Italians call this sorance La ierda, or gierdone, which semeth to come of a more fluxible humour, & not so viscouse or slimy as the other Spauen doth, and therefore this waxeth not so harde, nor groweth to the nature of a bone, as the other doth, and this is more curable than the other. It neede no sygnes, bycause it is apparant to the eye, and easy to knowe, by the discription therof before made. The cure according to Martin is thus. Firste wash, shaue, and scarifie the place, as before. Thē [Page 93] take of Cantharides, halfe an ounce, of Euforbium one ounce broken to pouder, and of oyle de Bay one ounce. Myngle them well together colde, wythout boyling them, and dresse the sore therewyth two dayes together, and euery day after vntil the haire be growen agayne, annoynt it wyth freshe butter. Then fire him both without and within, as before, wythout taynting him, and immediately take vp the master vayne as before. And then for the space of nine dayes, annoynte him euery day once wyth butter, vntill the fyered place beginne to skale, and then wash it with this bath. Take of Mallowes three handfuls, of Sage one handfull, & as much of redde nettels, boyle them in water, vntill they be softe, and put thervnto a little fresh butter, and bath the place euery day once, for the space of three or foure dayes, and vntil the burning be whole, let the horse come in no wette.
Of the Selander. The .Cxxviij. Chapter.
THis is a kinde of Scabbe breeding in the ham, which is the bente of the hough, and is lyke in all poyntes to the Malandre, proceeding of lyke causes, and requireth like cure, and therefore resorte to the Chapter of the Malander.
Of the Hough bonny. The .Cxxix. Chapter.
[Page]THis is a round swelling bonny, like a Paris ball, growing vpon the very typpe or elbowe of the Hough, & therefore I thought good to cal it the Hough bonny. This sorance commeth of some strype or bruse, and as Martin sayth, is cured thus. Take a rounde yron somewhat sharpe at the ende like a good bygge bodkyn, and let it be somewhat bending at the poynt. Then holding ye sore wyth your left hande, pulling it somewhat frō the synnewes, pearce it with the yron, being fyrste made red hote, thrusting it beneath in the bottom, and so vpward into the ielly, to the intent that the same ielly may issue downewarde out at the hole, and hauing thrust out all the ielly, taynte the hole wyth a taynt of flax dypt in Turpentine, & hogges grease molten together, and also annoynt the outsyde wyth hogs grease made warme, renuing it euery day once, vntyll the hole be ready to shutte vp, making the taint euery day lesser and lesser, to the intent it may heale vp.
Of the Curbe. The .Cxxx. Chapter.
THis is a long swelling beneath the elbow of the hough, in the great synewe behinde, & causeth the horse to halte after that he hath bene a while laboured, and thereby somewhat heated. For the more the synew is strayned, the greater griefe which agayne by rest is eased. [Page 94] This cōmeth by bearing some great wayght whē the horse is yong, or else by some straine or wrinch, wherby the tender synewes are grieued, or rather bowed (as Russius sayth) whereof it is called in Italian Curba a Curuando, that is to say of bowing, for anguish whereof it doth swel, and such swelling is apparant to the eye, and maketh that leg to shewe bygger than the other. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take of wine lees a pinte, and a porringer ful of wheate flowre, of Comin half an oūce and stir them well together, & being made warme, charge the sore place therewith, renuing it euery day once the space of three or foure dayes, and whē the swelling is almoste gone, then drawe it with a hote yron in this sort, and couer the burning
wyth Pytch & Rosen molten together, and layde on good & warme, and clappe thereon some flocks of his owne colour, or so nigh as may be gotten, and remoue them not, vntil they fall away of themselues. And for the space of nyne dayes let the horse rest and come in no wette.
Of the Paynes. The .Cxxxi. Chapter.
THis is a kinde of Scab called in Italian Grappe, which is ful of fretting matterish water, and it breedeth in the pastornes for lacke of cleane keping and good rubbing after the horse hath bene iourneyed, by meanes wherof the sande and dirte remayning in the haire, fretteth [Page] the skinne and flesh, and so breedeth to a scab. And therefore those horses that haue long haire, & are rough about the feete, are sonest troubled with this dysease, if they be not the cleanlier kept. The sygnes be these. His legges will be swollen & hote, and water wyll yssue out of the Scab, which water is so hote and fretting, as it wil scalde of the haire and breede Scabbes, so farre as it goeth. The cure according to Martin is thus. First wash well all the pastornes with beere and butter warmed together, and his legs being somewhat dried with a cloth: clyp away all the haire, sauing the fewterlockes. Then take of Turpentine, of hogs grease, of hony, of eche like quantitie, mingle them together in a pot, and put therevnto a little Bole Armenie, the yelkes of two egges, and as muche wheate flower as wyll thicken the thinges aforesayde, and make it playster like, and for that cause, it had neede to be very wel wrought and stirred together. Then with a slyce strike some of the playster vpon suche a piece of linnen cloth as will serue to go rounde about the pastorne, and binde it faste on with a rowler, renuing it once a day vntill it be whole, and let not the horse be trauayled nor stand wet.
Of Mules, or Kybed héeles, called of the Italians Mule. The .Cxxxij. Chapter.
THis is a kinde of Scabbe breeding behinde, somewhat aboue the nether ioynte, growing ouertwhart the fewterlocke, which [Page 95] commeth most commonly for being bredde in cold ground, or else for lack of good dressing, after that he hath bene laboured in foule mire, & dirty wayes, which dirt lying styll in his legges, fretteth ye skin, and maketh scabbie riftes which are sone bredde, but not so sone gotten away. The anguish whereof maketh the legs sometyme to swell, and specially in winter, and springtime, and then the Horse goeth very styffely, and wyth greate payne. Thys sorance is apparant to the eye, and is cured according to Martin in this sorte. Take a piece of lynnen cloth, and with the salue recyted in the last chapter make such a playster as may couer all ye sore place, and binde it fast on, that it fal not of, renuing it euery day once vntill the sore leaue running, & beginneth to waxe dry, then wash it euery day once with strong water, vntill it be cleane dried vp, but if this sorance be but in breeding, and that there is no rawe flesh, then it shal suffise to annoynt it with Sope two or three dayes, and at the three dayes ende to wash them wyth a lyttle beefe broth or dish water.
Of sorances or griefes that be commen to all foure féete. The .Cxxxiij. Chapter.
HYtherto we haue declared vnto you the causes, sygnes, and cure of all such griefes as are porperlye incident, eyther to the forelegges, or hinder legges, nowe therefore we wyll [Page] speake of those griefes that be commō to them both, and first of windegalles.
Of windgalles. The .Cxxxiiij. Chapter.
THe Windegall called of the Italians Galla, is a bladder full of corruptielly, wherof some be great and some be small, and do grow on ech syde of the ioynt, & is so paynful, and specially in Sommer season when the weather is hote, and the wayes harde, as the horse is not able to trauel, but halteth right downe. They come for the most part through extreme labour and heate, whereby the humors being dissolued, doe flowe and resorte into the hollowe places about the neather ioyntes, and their be congeled, and couered with a thin skin like a bladder. They be apparant to the eye, and therefore nede no other sygnes to know them. The cure whereof according to Martin is thus. Washe them with warme water, and shaue of the haire, and scarify them with the point of a Rasor, and dresse them with Cantharides in ye selfe same maner, 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 hote yron in this maner. That done slitte the
middle lyne, whiche passeth right downe, through the windegall with a sharpe knyfe, beginning [Page 96] beneath, and so vpward the length of halfe an ynche, to the intent you may thrust the ielly out at that hole, and then lay vnto it a litle pitch, and Rosen molten together, and made luke warme, and put a fewe floxe on it, and that wil heale him.
Of wrinching the neather ioynt. The .Cxxxv. Chapter.
THis commeth many times by treading awry in some Cart roote or otherwyse. The sygnes be these. The ioynt will be swollen & sore, and the horse will halt. The cure whereof according to Martin is thus. Take of Dialthea halfe a pound, and as much of Neruall. Mingle them together, and annoint the sore place therewith, chafing it well with both your hands, that the oyntment may enter, cōtinuing so to do euery day once, vntill the oyntment be all spent, and let the horse rest. But if this will not preuayle, then washe it wel with warme water, and shaue away all the haire sauing the fewterlocke. Scarifye it, and lay vnto it Cantharides, and heale it as you doe the splent in the knee.
Of enterfering. The .Cxxxvi. Chapter.
BIcause interfering is to be holpen by shooyng, we purpose not to speake of it, vntill we come to talke of the order of paring & [Page] shooing all maner of houes, and therefore resorte thither.
Of the shakell gall. The .Cxxxvij. Chapter.
IF a Horse be galled in the pastornes, with shakell, locke, pastorne, or halter annoynt the sore place, wyth a little hony and verdegrease boyled together, vntill it loke redde, whiche is a good oyntment for all gallings on the wythers, & immediately strowe vpon the oyntment, being first layde vpon the legge, a little chopt flaxe, or toawe, and that will sticke fast, continuing so to do euerye day once, vntill it be whole.
Of hurtes in the legges, that commeth by casting in the Halter, or Coller. The .Cxxxviij. Chapter.
IT chaunceth many times that a horse hauing some ytche vnder his eares, is desyrous to scratch the same with his hinder foote, which whilest he reacheth to and fro, doth fasten in the Coller or halter, wherwith the more that he stryueth, the more he galleth his legges, and many tymes it chaūceth for that he is tyed so long, by meanes whereof, he being layd, and the halter slacke about his feete, in his rysing perpaps or turning he [Page 97] snarleth him selfe, so as he is not able to get vp, but hangeth either by the necke, or legges, which sometymes are galled euen to the harde bone. Russius calleth suche kinde of galling Capistratura, whiche he was wont to heale with this ointment here folowing, praysing it to be excellent good, for the Cratches or any scabbe, broose, or wounde. Take of oyle Oliue one ounce, of Turpētine two or thre ounces, melte them together ouer the fyre, & then put thervnto a little waxe, and worke them well together, and annoint the sore place therwith. Martin sayth it is good to annoynt the sore place with the white of an egge, and Sallet oyle beaten together, and when it commeth to a scabbe, annoynt it with butter being molten vntyll it looke browne.
Of the Cratches or Rattes tayles called of the Italians Crepaccie. The .Cxxxix. Chapter.
THis is a kinde of long scabby riftes growing right vp and downe in the hinder parte from the fewterlocke vp to the Curbe, and cōmeth for lacke of cleane keping, and is easly sene yf you take vp the horses foote, and lift vp the heare. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take of Turpentine halfe a pounde of Hony halfe a pynt of Hogges greace a quarterne, and three yolkes of egges, and of bole armeny a quartern beatyn into powder, of Beane flower halfe a pynt. Myngle all these well together, and make a salue thereof, and [Page] with your fynger annoint all the sore places, sheading the haire as you goe, to the intente you may the easlyer fynde them, and also to make the salue enter into the skinne, and lette the horse come in no wet, vntill he be whole.
Of the Ring bone. The .Cxl. Chapter.
THis is a hard grystle growyng vpon the cronette, and sometyme goeth round about the cronet, and is called in Italyan Soprosso. Laurentius Russius sayth, that it may growe in any other place of the legge, but then we cal it not a Ringbone, but a knot or knob. It cōmeth at the first eyther by some blow of an other horse, or by stryking his owne fote agaynst some stub, or stone, or such lyke casualtye. The payne whereof bredeth a viscouse and slymye humor, whiche resorting to the bones, that are of their owne nature, colde and dry, waxeth hard, and cleaueth to some bone, and in proces of tyme becō meth a bone. The sygnes be these. The horse wyll halt, and the hard swelling is apparant to the eye, being higher then any place of the crownet. The cure according to Martin is thus. Fyrst washe it wel with warme water, and shaue awaye all the haire, so as the sore place maye be all discouered. Then scarify it lightly with the poynt of a Rasor, so as the bloude may issue forth. Then if the sore be brode, take of Euforbium one ounce, of Cantharides halfe an [Page 98] ounce, broken both into fyne powder, and of Oyle de Bay one ounce, and if the sore be but little, the one half of this may serue. Boile these things together, styrring them continually least it runne ouer, and with two or three feathers, lay it boyling hote vnto the sore, and let not the horse sturre from that place for halfe an houre after. Then cary him into the stable, and both vse him & cure him for the space of nine dayes, in such order as hath bene sayde before in the Chapter of the splent. But when the haire beginneth to grow agayne, then fyre the sore place with right lynes from the pastorne downe to the coffin of the houe in this maner, and let
the edge of the drawing yron be as thicke, as the backe of a meate knyfe, and burne him so depe as the skinne may loke yeallowe, that done, couer the burning with Pitche, & Rosen molten together, and clappe thereon floxe of the horses owne colour, or somewhat nighe the same, and about three dayes after, lay againe some of the laste mentioned playster, or oyntment, and also new flox vpon the olde, and there lette them remayne vntill they fall awaye of them selues. But if these ringbones, or knobbes brede in any other place than in the cronette, you shall cure them as is before sayde wythout fyering them.
Of the Crowne scabbe. The .Cxli. Chapter.
[Page]THis is a kind of filthy and stinking scabbe, breeding round about the feete vpon the cronettes, and is an eluyshe and painfull disease, called in Italian Grisaria. It semeth to come by meanes that the horse hath bene bredde in some colde wet soyle, stryking corrupt humors vp to hys feete, and therefore the horse that hath this griefe is worse troubled in winter, than in sommer. The sygnes be these. The haire of the cronettes will be thinne, and staryng lyke bristles, and the cronets wil be alwayes mattering, and runne on a water. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take of Sope, of Hogges grease, of eche halfe a pounde, of bole Armeny a little, of Turpentyne a quarterne, and mingle them well together, and make a playster, and binde it fast on, renuing it euery day once, vntil it leaue rūning, and then wash it with strong vineger being luke warme euery day once, vntyll the sore be cleane dryed vp, and let him come in no wette vntill he be whole.
Of hurtes vpon the cronet by crossing one foote ouer an other, which the Italians call Supraposte. The .Cxlij. Chapter.
MArtin. Washe it well with whyte wine, or with a little stale, and then lay vnto it the whyte of an egge mingled with a little Chimney soote and salte, and that will dry it vp in three or foure dayes, if it be renued euery day once.
Of the quitterbone. The .Cxliij. Chapter.
THis is a harde rounde swelling vppon the cronette, betwixt the heele and the quarter, and groweth most cōmonly on the insyde of the foote, and is called of the Italians Setula, or Seta. It commeth by meanes of grauell gathered vnderneath ye shoe, which fretteth the heele, or else by the cloying or pricking of some nayle euill dryuen, the anguishe whereof loseneth the gristle, and so breedeth euill humors, whereof the quitterbone springeth. The sygnes be these. The horse will halte, and the swelling is apparant to the eye, which in foure or fyue dayes commeth to a heade, wil breake out with matter at a little depe hole like a fistula. The cure according to Martin is thus. First burne about the quitterbone with a hote yron, in maner of a halfe circle, and then with the same yron draw an other right strike through the midst therof in this sorte. Then take of Arsenicke the
quantitye of a Beane beatē into fine pouder, and putte it into the hole thrusting it downe to the bottom with a quill, & stop the mouth of the hole with a little toawe, and binde it so faste with a cloth, and corde, as the horse may not come at it with his mouth, and so let it rest for that day. And the next day, if you see that ye sore loketh blacke within, then it is a sygne that the Arsenicke hath wrought well, and done his part. Then to allay [Page] the burning thereof, taynt the hole with flaxe dipte in Hogs grease, and Turpentyne, molten & mingled together, and couer the taynt with a bolster of toawe dipt also in the oyntment aforesayde, continuing so to doe euery day once vntil you haue gotten out the core. Then shall you see whether the lose gristle in the bottome be vncouered or not, and if it be not vncouered, then feele with your finger, or with a quill, whither you be nighe it or not. And if you be, then rayse the gristle with a little croked instrumēt, and pul it cleane out with a payre of small Nyppers meete for the purpose. That done, taynt it againe with a full taynte dipte in the foresayde Oyntment, to asswage the anguishe of the last dressing, and stoppe it harde, to the intent that the hole may not shrinke together or close vp, and the nexte day take out that taint, and taynt it a new with the salue or oyntement taughte in the Chapter of the shakell gall, renuing it euery day once vntill it be hole, keeping alwayes the mouth of the sore as open as you may, to the intent that it heale not vp to fast, and let not the horse come in any wet, nor trauell, vntill he be perfectly whole.
Of the Graueling. The .Cxliiij. Chapter.
THis is a fretting vnder the foote, most commonly in the insyde, and sometime in the outsyde, and sometyme in both sydes together of the heele. It commeth by meanes of [Page 100] little grauell stones getting betwixt the houe, and calkin, or sponge of the shoe, which by continual labor & treading of the horse, doth eate into the quick, and the rather, if his heele be softe and weake, or that the shoe lye to flatte to his foote, so as the grauell being once gotten in, can not get out againe. The sygnes be these. The horse will halte, and couet to treade all vpon the toe, to fauour his heele. The cure according to Martin is thus. First pare the houe, and get out the grauell with a cornette or drawer, leauing none behinde, for if you do, it wil brede to a quitterbone. That done, stoppe him with Turpentyne and Hogges grease molten together, and layde on with a little toawe or flaxe, and then clappe on the shoe to keepe in the stopping, renuing it euery day once vntill it be whole. And suffer the Horse to come in no wette, vntill he be throughlye hole. If a grauelling be not well stopt to keepe downe the fleshe, it will ryse higher then the houe, and not onely require more busynesse in bolstering it, but also put the horse to more payne.
Of Surbating. The .Cxlv. Chapter.
THis is a beating of the houe agaynst the grounde, called of the Italians Sobatitura, it commeth sometyme by meanes of euil shooing lying to flat to his foote, or by going long barefote, and sometyme by the hardenesse of the ground, and [Page] highe lifting of the horse. And those horses that be flat footed, the coffins whereof are tender & weake, be most commonly subiect to this sorance. The signes be these. The horse will halte on both his fore legges, and goe stifly, and creeping as thoughe he were halfe foundered. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take off his shooes, pare hym as little as may be, and if the shooes be not easy, that is to say, long, large, and hollow inough, then make them so, and tack them on againe with foure or fiue nailes. That done, stoppe his feete with bran, and Hogges grease boyled together, so hote as may be, and also couer all the coffin rounde about with the same, binding all in together with a cloth, and a list fastened about the ioynt, renuing it euery day once, vntill it be whole, & giue the horse during that while warm water, and let him stande dry and warme, and not be trauayled vntill he be whole.
Of a pricke in the sole of the foote, eyther by treading on a nayle, or any other sharpe thing that doth enter into the foote. The .Cxlvi. Chapter.
THe sygnes be these. If a man be on his back whē he treadeth on any such thing, he shall feele that the horse will lift vppe his foote, and couet to stand still to haue helpe. And if it chaunce at any other tyme, the halting of ye horse, and the hurt it selfe will shewe. The cure according to Martin is thus. Pul of the shoe, and pare the foote, [Page 101] and with a drawer vncouer the hole, making the mouth so brode as a two penny piece, then tack on the shoe againe. That done, stoppe it, by pouring into the hole Turpentine and hogges grease molten together, and lay some flaxe, or toawe vpon it, and then stoppe all the horses foote with horsdong, or rather with Cowe dong, if you can get it, & splent it eyther with stickes, or else with an olde shoe sole, so as the stopping may abyde in, renuing it euerye day once vntill it be whole, and let the horse come in no wette. If this be not well cured, or loked to in tyme, it will cause the houe to breake aboue, and to loosen rounde aboute, and perhaps to fal cleane away. But it you see that it begin to breake aboue, then make a greater issue beneath, by opening the hole wyder, and taking more of the sole away, that the fleshe may haue the more liberty. Then take of bole Armeny halfe a quarterne, & of Beane flower, and two egges. Beate them, and mingle them wel together, and make a playster therof vpon toaw, & lay it rounde about the cronet, binde it fast on, & so let it remayne the space of two dayes, & then renew it again, not fayling so to do euery two dayes, vntil you see it wax hard & firme aboue. For this playster being restrictiue, will force the humors to resort all downward, which must be drawē out with Turpē tyne and Hogges grease as before, vntill it leaue mattering, and then dry it vppe with burnt Allom, beaten in powder, and strowed vppon it, with a little flaxe layde againe vpon that, continuing so to do euery day once vntill it be hardened, & let not the horse come in any wet vntil he be whole.
Of the Figg. The .Cxlvij. Chapter.
IF a horse hauing receyued any hurt, as before is sayde by canel, nayle, bone, splent, or stone, or otherwise in the sole of his foote, and be not wel dressed and perfectly cured: there wyll growe in that place a certayne superfluous piece of flesh, lyke a Figge, yea and it wil haue little graynes in it lyke a Fig, and therefore is rightly called of the Italians Vnfico, that is to say, a Figge. The cure whereof according to Martin is thus. Cut it cleane awaye with a hote yron, and keepe the fleshe downe with Turpentine, Hogges greace, and a little Wax layed on with tow or flax, and stop the hole harde, that the flesh rise not, renuing it once a day vntil it be whole.
Of a Retreate. The .Cxlviij. Chapter.
THis is the pricking of a nayle, not well driuen in the shooing, and therfore pulled out agayne by ye smith, and is called of the Italians Tratta messa. The cause of the pricking maye be partly, the rashe dryuing of the Smith, and partly the weakenesse of the nayle, or the hollownesse of the nayle in the shanke. For if it be to weake, the [Page 102] point many tymes bendeth awrye into the quicke, when it should go right forth, agayne, if the shanke be hollow, it slattereth and shiuereth in the driuing, into two partes, whereof, one part raceth the quick in pulling out, or else perhaps breaketh cleane a sunder, and so remayneth still behinde, and this kinde of pricking is worse then a cloying, bicause it will rancle worse, by reason of the flaw, remayning in the fleshe. The signes be these. If the Smith that dryueth such a nayle be so leude, as he wil not looke vnto it, before the horse departe, then there is no way to knowe it, but by the halting of the horse, & searching the houe firste with a hammer by knocking vpon euery clinging. For when you knock vppon that nayle, where the griefe is, the horse will shrinke vp his foote. And if that will not serue, then grope the houe with a payre of Pinsons rounde about, vntil you haue founde the place grieued. The cure according to Martin is thus. First, pull of the shooe, and then open the place grieued with a butter, or drawer, so as you may perceyue by feeling or seing, whether there be any piece of nayle or not, if there be, to pull it cleane out, and to stoppe the hole with Turpentyne, Waxe, and sheepes suet molten together, and so poured hote into the hole, and then laye a little tow vpon it, and clappe on the shoe agayne, renuing it thus euery day vntil it be whole, during which tyme, let not the horse come in any wette, and it muste be so stopped, though it be but prickt without any piece of naile remayning. And if for lacke of looking to in tyme, this Retreate causeth [Page] the houe to breake aboue, then cure it with the playster restryctiue in suche order as is mentioned in the last chapter, sauing one before this.
Of Cloying. The .Cxlix.
CLoying is the pricking of a whole nayle called of ye Italians Inchiodatura, passing through the quicke and remayning still in the same, and is clenchid as other nayles be, and so causeth the horse to halte. The grieued place is knowne, by searching with the hammer and Pinsons as is before sayde. If the horse halte immediatly, then pull of his shoe, and open the hole, vntil it beginne to bleede, and stoppe it with the oyntment aforesayde in the chapter of the Retreate, and clap on the shoe agayne, and the houe maye be so good, and the harme so little, as you maye trauaile him immediatly vpō it. But if it be rancled, then renew the stopping euerye daye once, and let him come in no wette vntill it be whole.
Of lousening the houe. The .Cl. Chapter.
THis is a parting of the houe frō the cronet, called of the Italians, Dissolatura del vnghia, which if it be rounde about, it commeth by meanes of foundering, if in part, then by the anguish, caused [Page 103] by ye pricking of some canel naile pearching the soale of the foote, or by some quitterbone, retreate graueling, or cloying, or suche lyke thing. The signes be these. When it is lousened by foundering then it will breake first in the fore parte of the cronet, right against the Toes, bicause the humor doth couet alwayes to discend towards the toe. Againe, when the pricking of a canell nayle or suche lyke cankered thing is the cause, then the houe wil losen round about, equally euen at the first. But when it procedes of any of the other hurtes last mentioned, thē the houe will breake right aboue the place that is offended, & most commonly will proceede no further. The cure according to Martin is thus. Fyrst, of which soeuer of these causes it proceedes, be sure to open the houe in the soale of the foote, so as the humor maye haue free passage downewarde, and then restrayne it aboue with the playster restrictiue before mentioned, & in suche order as is there written, & also heale vp the wound, as is before taught in the chapter of a pricke in the soale of the foote.
Of casting the houe. The .Cli. Chapter.
THis is when the coffin falleth cleane away from the foote, which cometh by such causes as were last rehersed, and is so apparaunt to the eye, as it needeth no signes to knowe it. The cure according to Martin is thus. Take of Turpentine one pounde, of Tarre, halfe a pynt of [Page] vnwrought Waxe, halfe a pounde of sheepes suet, halfe a pounde, of salet Oyle halfe a pynt. Boyle al these things together, and sturre them continually vntill they be throughly mingled, and compact together. Thē make a boote of leather with a good strong sole meete for the horses foote, to be laced or buckled about the pastorne, & dresse his foote with the salue aforesayde layde vpon flaxe or toaw, and bolster or stuffe his foote with softe flaxe, so as the boote may grieue him no manner of way, renuing it euery daye once vntill it be whole, and then put him to grasse.
Of the houe bounde. The .Clij. Chapter.
THis is a shrinking of all the whole houe. It cōmeth by drought, for that the houes perhaps are kept to drye, when the horse standeth in the stable, & sometyme by meanes of heat, or of ouer straight shooing. The Italians call the horse thus grieued Incastellado. The signes be these. The horse will halte, and the houes will be hote, and if you knocke on them with a hammer, they will sounde hollowe lyke an empty bottell, and if both the feete be not houe bounde, the sore foote will be lesser then the other, in deede, and appeare so to the eye. The cure according to Martin is thus. Pul of his shooes, & shoe him with halfe Mone shooes, called Lunette, [Page 104] the order and shape, whereof you shall fynde hereafter among the other shooes, and rase both the quarters of the houe with a drawer, frō the corownet vnto the sole of the foote, so deepe as you shall see the dew come forth. And if you make two rases on eche syde, it shall be so muche the better, and inlarge the houe the more. That done, annoynt all the houe aboue, next vnto the corownet rounde about, with the oyntment prescribed before, in the Chapter of casting the houe, continuing so to doe euerye day once vntill he beginne to amende, and lette him be ridden vpon some softe wette grounde an houre or two, euery daye once, for the space of a Moneth, and if he goeth not well at the Monethes ende, than take off the halfe shooes, and pare al the soles, frusshes and all, so thinne as you may see the dew come forth, and tacke on a whole shoe and stop all the foote within with Hogges grease, and bran boyled together, and layd hote to the foote, renuing it euery day once, the space of .ix. dayes, to the intent the sole may rise. But if this wil do no good. Then take awaye the sole cleane, and clapp one a whole shoe, and stoppe the foote with nettles, and Salte brayed together, renuing it once a day, but not ouer harde, to the intent the sole may haue liberty to rise, and being growen agayne, let him be shodde with the lunettes, and so sent to grasse.
Of the running Frushe. The .Cliij. Chapter.
[Page]THe Frushe is the tenderest parte of the houe towards the heele, called of the Ilians Fettone, and bicause it is fashyoned lyke a forked head, the French men cal it Furchette, which worde our ferrers, eyther, for not knowing rightly howe to pronounce it, or else perhaps for easinesse sake of pronuntiatiō do make it a monasillable, and doe shortly pronounce it the frushe, in which frush breedeth many tymes a rottennesse or corruption proceding of humors that cōmeth out of the legge, wherby the legge is kept cleane from wynegalles, and all other tumors and swellings, by meanes that the humors haue passage that way. Notwithstanding the discomoditie of this soraunce is greater then the commodytie, bicause it maketh the horses foote so weake and tender, as he is not able to treade vpon any hard ground. The signes be these. The horse wil halt, and specially when the passage of the humor is stopt with any grauel gathered into the Frushe, and not being stopt, it will continually runne, the sauoure whereof will be so strong as a man is not able to abide it, and in some places it will looke rawe. The cure according to Martin is thus. First take off the shoe, and pare awaye all the corrupt places, and make them rawe, so as you may see the water issue out of the raw places. Then tack on the shoe agayne, being first made wyde, & large ynoughe. That done, take of soote one handefull, of salte as muche. Broose them well together in a dishe and put thereunto the whyte of three egges, and temper them altogither, and with a litle toaw [Page 105] dipt therin, stoppe all the foote, and speciallye the frushe, and splent it so, as it maye not fall out, renuing it once a daye, the space of seuen dayes, and then he will be whole. During which tyme, let the horse reast, and come in no wette, at the .vij. dayes ende, leaue stopping him, and ryde him abroade, and alwayes when he cōmeth in, let his sore foote be cleane washed, that no grauel remayne therin, without doing any more vnto him.
Of diseases or griefes indifferently incident to any part of the body, but first of the Leprosie or vniuersall maunginesse called of the olde wryters Elephantia. The .Cliiij. Chapter.
THis is a cankred maunginesse spreding ouer all the body, which commeth of abundance of Melancholye, corrupt, and filthy bloude. The sygnes be these. The horse will be all maungye, and scuruye full of scabbes, and rawe plots about the necke, & euill fauoured to loke on, & alwayes rubbing & scratching. The cure according to Martin is thus. Let him bloude ye first day in the one side of the necke, & within two dayes after on ye other side of the neck, & wtin two dayes after that, in the flank vaynes, & last of al in ye vain vnder ye taile. Then wash al the sore places with salt brine, & rubbing them hard, with a wispe of strawe hard twysted, so as they may blede well, and be all raw. That done, annoynt the places with this oyntmēt. Take of quicke siluer one ounce, of Hogges grease one [Page] pounde, of brimstone beaten into powder a quarterne, of Rape oyle a pinte. Mingle these things well together vntil the quicke siluer be throughlye incorporated with the rest, and hauing annoynted all the rawe places with this oyntment, make it to sinke into the flesh, by holding and weauing vp & downe ouer it, a hote brode bar of yron, & then touch him no more againe, the space of two or thre dayes, during which tyme, if you se that he rubbeth still in any place, then rub that place againe with an olde horsecombe, to make it rawe, and annoint it with freshe oyntment. But if all this will not helpe, then with a hote yron rounde and blunt at the poynt, so bigge as a mans little finger. Burne all the maū gye places, making rounde holes passing onelye through the skin, and no further. For which intent it shall be nedefull, to pull the skinne first from the fleshe, with your left hande, holding it stil vntil you haue thrust the hote yron throughe it, and let euery hole be a span one from an other, and if nede be, you may annoynt those holes with a little Sope, and let the horse be thinne dyeted, during this curing tyme.
Of the Farcyn, called in Italian of some, il verme, and of some Farcina. The .Clv. Chapter.
THis is a kind of creping vlcer growing in knots folowing alongst some vaine, and it procedeth of corrupt bloud ingendred [Page 106] in the bodye, or else of some outwarde hurte, as of spurgallyng, or of the byting of some other horse, or of the biting of tickes, or of Hogges lice, or such like casualtyes. Or if it be in the legge, it may come by enterfering. It is easely knowen, partly by the former discription, and also it is apparant to the eye. The cure according to Martin is thus. Lette him bloud in that vayne where it commeth, as nigh the sore place as may be, & let him bleede well. Then fyre euery knot one by one, taking the knot in your left hande, and pulling it so harde as you can from his body, to the intent you may the better pearce the knot, with a round, blunt, hote yron, of the bignesse of a mans fore finger, without doing the body any hurt, and let the matter out, leauing none vnburned, be it little or much. That done, annoynt euery knot so burned with Hogges grease warmed euery day once, vntill the cores be redy to fal away, and in the meane tyme prepare a good quantity of olde vrine, and when you see that the cores are redy to fall: boyle the vrine, and put therin a little Corporas, and salt, and a few strong Nettles, and with that water, being warme, washe out all the cores, and all the corruption. That done, fil euery hole immediately with the powder of sleict Lyme, continuing thus to do, euery day once, vntil the holes be closed vp, and if any be more ranker then others, fill those with Uerdygrease, and during this cure, lette the horse be thinlye dyeted, that is to say, with straw and water onely: vnlesse it be now and then to giue him a lofe of bread. For the lower he be kept [Page] the soner he will be whole. And in any wyse let his necke be yoked in an olde bottomlesse payle, or else with shorte staues to kepe him from licking the sores, and the lesse rest he hath, the better.
Of the Canker called of the Italians il Cancro. The .Clvi. Chapter.
A Canker is a filthy creping Ulcer, fretting and gnawing the fleshe in great breadth. In the beginning it is knotty, much lyke a Farcyne, and spredeth it selfe into dyuers places, and being exulcerated, gathereth together at length into one wounde or sore. This proceedes of a Melancholy and filthy bloud ingendred in the body, which if it be mixte with sharpe and salte humors, it causeth the more painefull and grieuous exulceration, and sometyme it commeth of some filthy wounde, that is not clenly kept, the corrupt matter whereof cankreth other cleane partes of the body. It is easy to be knowen by the discription before writtē. The cure whereof according to Martin is thus. First lette him bloude in those vaynes that be nexte vnto the sore, and take inough of him. Then take of Alom, halfe a pound, of grene Corporas as much, of white Corporas one quarterne, and a good handefull of salte. Boyle all these things together, in fayre running water from a pottell to a quart, and thys water being warme, washe the sore therwith, with a clout, & then sprincle theron the powder of sleyked [Page 107] Lyme, continuing so to do euery day once, the space of .xv. dayes, and if you see that the Lyme doe not mortify the ranke flesh, and kepe it from spreading any further, then take of Sope halfe a pounde, of quick siluer half an ounce, and beate them together in a pot, vntill the quick siluer be so well mingled with the Sope, as you can perceyue none of the quick siluer in it. And with an yron sclyce, after that you haue washed the sore with the strong water aforesayde, couer the wound with this oyntment, cō tinuing thus to do euery day once, vntill the canker leaue spreading abrode. And if it leaue spreading, and that you see the ranke fleshe is mortifyed, and that the edges beginne to gather a skin. Then after the washing, dresse it with the Lyme as before, continuing so to do vntill he be whole. And in the dressing suffer no filthe that cōmeth out of the sore, to remaine vpon any whole place about, but wype it cleane away, or else washe it away with warme water. And let the Horse during this cure, be as thinly dieted as may be, and throughly exercised.
Of the Fistula, called of the Italians Fistula. The .Clvij. Chapter.
A Fistula is a deepe hollowe crooking Ulcer, & for the most parte springs of maligne humors, ingendred in some wound, sore, or canker, not throughly healed. It is easy to know by the discriptiō before made. [Page] The cure according to Martin is thus. First search ye depth of it with a quil, or with some other instrumēt of Leade, that may be bowed euery way, meete for the purpose. For vnlesse you finde the bottom of it, it wil be very hard to cure. And hauing found the bottom, if it be in such place as you may boldely cut, and make the way open with a Launcet, or Rasor, then make a slit right against the bottom, so wide as you may thruste in your finger, to feele whether there be any bone or gristle perished, or spongye, or loose fleshe, which must be gotten out, & then taynt it with a taint of flaxe, dipt in this oyntment. Take of hony a quarterne, and of Uerdigrease one ounce beaten in powder. Boyle them together vntill it looke-redde, sturring it continually, least it runne ouer, and being luke warme, dresse the taynt therewith, and bolster the taynt with a bolster of flaxe. And if it be in such a place, as the taynt can not cō ueniently be kepte in with a bande, then fasten on eche syde of the hole, two endes of a shoemakers threde right ouer the bolster, to kepe in the taynte, whiche endes may hang there as two laces to tye, and vntye at your pleasure, renuing the taynt euery day once, vntill the sore leaue mattering. And then make the taynt euery day lesser and lesser, vntill it be whole. And close it vp, in the end, by sprincling thereon a little sleict Lyme. But if the Fistula be in suche a place, as a man can neyther cut ryght against the bottome, nor nyghe the same: then there is no remedy but to poure in some strong water, throughe some quil, or suche like thing, so as it [Page 108] may goe to the bottome, and drye vp the filthy matter, dressing him so twise a day, vntil the horse be whole.
Of an Anburye. The .Clviij. Chapter.
THis is a great spongy wert full of bloud, called of the Italians Moro, or Selso, which may growe in any place of the body, and it hath a roote like a Cockes stone. The cure according to Martin is thus. Tye it about with a threde, so harde as you can pull it, and the threde will eate in, by little and little, in suche sorte as within seuen or eyght dayes, 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 sharp hote yron, cutting it round about, and so depe as you leaue none of the roote behinde, and dry it vp with Uerdygrease. Russius sayth, that if it growe in a place full of sinewes, so as it can not be conueniently cut away with a hote yron, then it is good to eate out the core with the powder of Resalgar, and then to stoppe the hole with flaxe dipt in the white of an egge, for a day or two, and lastly, to dry it vp with the powder of vnsleict Lyme, and honye as before is taught.
Of woundes. The .Clix. Chapter.
[Page] WOunds commeth by meanes of some strype or pricke, and they are properly called wounds, when some whole parte is cutte, or broken. For a wounde according to the Phisitians is defyned to be a solution, dyuision, or parting of the hole. For if there be no such solution or parting, then me thinks, it ought rather to be called a brouse, then a wounde. And therfore wounds are most commonly made, with sharp, or pearcing weapons, and brouses, with blount weapons. Notwithstanding, if by such blount weapons, any parte of the hole be euidently broken, then it ought to be called a wounde as well as the other. Of wounds some be shallow, and some be deepe, & hollow. Againe, some chaunce in the fleshye partes, and some in the bonye, and sinewe places. And those that chaunce in the fleshy partes, though they be very deepe, yet they be not so daungerous, as the others, and therfore we will speake fyrst of the moste daungerous. If a horse haue a wounde newely made, eyther in his heade or in any other place, that is full of sinews, bones, or gristles. First Martin would haue you to washe the wound wel with whyte wine warmed. That done, to search the bottome of the wounde with some instrument, meete for the purpose, suffering it to take as little wynd in the meane while as may be. Thē hauing founde the depth, stop the hole close with a clout, vntill your saluebe readye. Then take of Turpētine, of Mel Rosatum, of Oyle of Roses, of ech [Page 109] a quarterne and a little vnwrought waxe, and melt them together, stirring them continually that they maye be well mingled together, and if it be a cutte, make a handesome roule of cleane picked toaw, so long, and so bigge as maye fill the bottome of the wounde, which for the moste parte is not so wyde, as the mouth of the wounde, then make an other roule greater then that, to fill vppe the reast of the wounde, euen to the harde mouthe, and let bothe these roules be annointed with the ointment aforesayde luke warme. But if the hurte be lyke a hole made with some pricke. Then make a stiffe-taynt, suche a one as may reache the bottome, annoynted with the foresayde oyntment, and bolster the same with a little toaw. And if the mouth be not wyde ynough, so as the matter may easely runne forth, if it be in such place, as you maye doe it without hurting any sinew, then gyue it a pretye slitte, from the mouth downewarde, that the matter may haue the freer passage. And in anye wise haue a speciall regarde, that the taynt maye be continually kept in, by one meanes or other, as by binding or staying the same, with the endes of a shoemakers threede, as is aforesayde. And if the hole be deepe, and in such place, as you may not cutte it, then make your taynt of a sponge, and so long as it may reache the bottome, and the taynt being made some what ful, with continuall turning and wrying of it, you shal easely gette it downe, and then dresse the wounde with this, twise a daye, clensyng the wounde euerye tyme with a little whyte Wyne luke warme. For this sponge annoynted with the oyntment aforesayde [Page] will both drawe, and sucke vp all the filthy matter, and make it so fayre within as is possible, & as it beginneth to heale, so make your taynt euery day lesser and lesser, vntill it be ready to close vp, and neuer leaue taynting it, so long as it wyll receyue a taynt, be it neuer so short. For hasty healing of woundes bredeth fistulas, which properly be olde woundes, and therefore muste be cured lyke Fystulas.
Of woundes in the fleshy partes. The .Clx. Chapter.
VSe the same oyntmente, and maner of proceeding as before, & if the wounde be very large, then to kepe in the taynt or roules, you shall be fayne to put two or three shoemakers endes on eche side of the sore, leauing them so long as you may tye them together, and lousen them when you wyll, lyke laces.
Of a Hurt with an arrowe. The .Clxi. Chapter.
YF the horse be hurt with an arrowe, taynt the hole with Hogs grease, and Turpentine molten together, renuing it euerye daye once vntyll it be whole.
Of pulling out shyuers or thornes. The .Clxij. Chapter.
MArtin sayth, that if it be not very deepe, Sope being layde vnto it all night, wil make it to appeare, so as you maye pull it oute with a payre of nippers. But if it be verye deepe, then you must open the place with a knife or Launcet, and gette it out, and afterward heale vp the wound, as haue bene taught you before. Russius sayth, ye the rootes of reed being stampt and mingled with honny will draw out any thorne, or sheuer, and so will snayles. as he sayth being stampt and wrought with freshe butter, and if the place be swollen, he sayth it is good to mollyfie it, with a playster made of wormewood, Paretory, Beares foote, Hogges grease, and Honny, which wyll asswage anye newe swelling, that commeth by stripe, or otherwise.
Of Brusings or swellings. The .Clxiij. Chapter.
MArtin. First pricke it with a fleame. Then take of wyne Lees a pynt, as much wheat floure as will thicken it, and an ounce of Comyn. Boyle them together, & laye this somewhat warme vnto it, renuing it euery daye once vntill [Page] the swelling eyther departe, or else come to a heade. And if it doe, then launce it, and heale it vp, as a wounde.
Of sinewes cut, prickt, or broosed. The .Clxiiij. Chapter.
TAke of Tarre and beane floure, and a little Oyle of Roses, and laye it hote vnto the place, and if this doe no good, then take wormes and sallet Oyle fryed together, or else the oyntment of Wormes, which you shall haue at the Poticaries, and one of these will knit it agayne, if it be not cleane a sunder.
How to cure a wounde made with Hargabush shotte. The .Clxv. Chapter.
MArtin. First seeke with an instrument whether ye pellet remaine within or not, and if it do, you must get it out with an instrument meet for the purpose. Then to kil the fire. Take a little vernishe, and thrust it into the wounde with a feather, annoynting it well within with the feather, and after that, stoppe the mouth fayre and softly with a little soft flaxe, to keepe the winde out, and on the outside charge all the swelling with this charge. Take of bole Armenie a quarterne, of Lyneseede beaten into [Page 111] pouder, halfe a pounde, of beane floure as much, and thre or foure egges, shelles and al, and of Turpentine a quarterne, and a quart of Uineger, and mingle them wel together ouer the fyre, and being somewhat warme charge all the sore place with parte therof, and immediatly clap a cloth or a piece of leather vpon it, to kepe the wound from the colde ayre, continuing both to annoynt the hole within with vernish, and also to charge the swelling without, the space of foure or fiue dayes, and at the fiue dayes ende, leaue annoynting of it, and taynt it with a taynt reaching to the bottom of the wound, and dipped in Turpentyne and Hogges grease molten together, renuing it euery day twise, vntill the fyre be throughly killed, which you shal perceiue by the mattering of the wounde, and by falling of the swelling, for so long as the fyre hath the vpper hande, no thicke matter will issue out, but onely a thinne yellowishe water, neyther will the swelling asswage. And then take of Turpentine, washed in nine seuerall waters, halfe a pounde, and put thervnto three yolkes of egges, and a little saffron, and taynt it with this oyntment, renuing it euery daye once, vntill the wounde be whole.
Of burning with Lyme, or any other fyrie thing. The .Clxvi. Chapter.
MArtin. First wash away the Lyme if there be any with warme water. Then kill the fyre, with oyle & water beaten together, [Page] dressing him so euery day vntill it be all rawe, and then annoynt it with Hogges grease, and strowe thereupon the pouder of sleykid lyme dressing him so euery day once, vntil it be whole.
Of the byting of a madde dogge. The .Clxvij. Chapter.
IF a horse be bitten with a mad dog, the venim of his teeth will not only paine hym extremely, but also infect all his bloud, & make him to dye mad. The cure according to the old wryters is thus. Take of Goats dong, of flesh that hath laid long in salte, and of the herbe Ebulus, called of some Danewort, of eche halfe a pound, and .xl. Walnuts. Stampe all these things together, & lay some therof vnto the sore, and this will sucke out the venim, and heale the wounde. It is good also to giue the Horse Treacle, and wyne to drinke, yea, and some would haue the sore place to be fyered wyth a hote yron.
Of hurtes by the Tuskes of a Boare. The .Clxviij. Chapter.
IF a horse be hurt with the tuske of a Boare, laye Vitriol and Corporas thervnto, and the powder of a Dogges heade, being burned, but let the tongue be first pulled out and cast away.
To heale the byting or stinging of Serpents. The .Clxix. Chapter.
LAurentius Russius. Take a good quā tity of the hearbe called Sanicula, stampe it, and distemper it with the milke of a Cow, that is all of one colour, and giue him that to drinke, and that will heale him.
An other medicine for the same purpose.
MAke a playster of Onions, Hony, & salt, stampt, and mingled together, and lay that to the sore place, and giue the horse wine, & Treacle to drinke. Absirtus would haue you to giue him white Pepper, Rhewe, and Tyme, to drinke with wyne.
Of drinking of Horse leaches. The .Clxx. Chapter.
IF a horse chaunce to drinke Horse leaches, they will continually suck his bloud, and kill him. The remedy according to Absirtus, is to poure Oyle into the horses mouth, whiche will make them to fall away and kill them.
Of swalowing downe hennes dong. The .Clxxi. Chapter.
IF a horse swallow downe hennes dong in his hay, it wil fret his guttes, and make him to voyde filthy matter at the fundament. For remedye wherof, Absirtus would haue you to giue [Page] him a drinke made of Smalladge seede, wine, and hony, and to walke him throughly vpon it, that he may empty his belly.
Of Lyce, how to kill them. The .Clxxij. Chapter.
THey be like Geese Lice, but somwhat bigger, they will brede moste about the eares, necke, and tayle, and ouer all the body. They come of pouerty, and the horse will be alwayes rubbing, and scratching, and will eate his meate, and not prosper withall, and with rubbing he will breake all his Mayne, and tayle. The cure according to Martin is thus. Annoynt the place with Sope and quick siluer, well mingled together, and to a pound of Sope, put halfe an ounce of quicke siluer.
How to saue horses, from the stinging of Flyes in Sommer. The .Clxxiij. Chapter.
ANnoynt the horses coate with Oyle, and Bay buryes, mingled together, or tye to the headestall of his collor a sponge dipt in strong Uineger, or sprinkle the stable with water, wherin hearbe grace hath bene layde in stepe. Or perfume the stable with Iuye, or with Calaminte, or with Gith, burned in a panne of coles.
Of bones being broken or out of ioynt. The .Clxxiiij. Chapter.
FEwe or none of our Ferrers do intermeddle with any such griefes, but doe referre it ouer vnto the bone setter, whose practised hand, I must nedes confesse, to be nedeful in such businesse. Notwithstanding, for that it belongeth to the Ferrers arte, and also for that the olde wryters do make some mention thereof, I thought good not to passe it ouer altogether with silence. Albeit, they speake onely of fractures, in the legges beneathe the knee. For they make little mention or none, of bones aboue the knee, taking them to be vncurable, vnlesse it be a rybbe or such lyke. If any bone then be broken in the legge, it is easye to perceyue, by feeling the roughnesse & inequality of the place grieued, one part being higher then an other. The cure whereof, according to Absirtus, and Hierocles, is in this sort. First, put the bone againe into his right place. That done, wrappe it aboute with vnwasht woll, binding it fast to the legge with a smoth linnen rowler, soked before in oyle & Uineger mingled together. And let that rowler be laide on, as euen as is possible, and vpon that, lay agayne more woll, dipte in oyle and Uineger, and then splent it with thre splents, binding them fast at both endes with a thong, & let the horses leg be kepte straight, [Page] and ryght out, the space of .xl. dayes, and let not the bondes be lousened aboue thre tymes in .xx. dayes, vnlesse it shrinke, & so require to be newe drest, and bounde againe. But fayle not euery daye once, to poure on the sore place, throughe the splents, oyle and Uineger, mingled together, & at the .xl. dayes ende, if you perceiue that the broken place be sowdered together, againe with some harde knobbe or gristle: Then lousen the bondes, so as the Horse may goe fayre and softly, vsing from that time forth to annoynt the place with some soft grease or oyntment.
Of bones out of ioynt. The .Clxxv. Chapter.
IF a Horses knee, or shoulder be cleane out of ioynt, and no bone broken. Martin sayth the readyest way is, to bind al the foure legges together, in such sorte as haue bene taught before, in the Chapter of Incording, and then to hoyse the horse somewhat from the ground, with his heeles vpwarde, so shall the wayght and payse of his body, cause the ioynt to shoote in agayne, into his ryghte place, for by thys meanes, he pleasured not long synce a friende, and neyghbour of his, who goyng with his Carte from Saint Albons, towards his house, his Thyller fell, and putte his shoulder cleane out of ioynt, so as he was neither able to ryse, nor being holpen vp, could [Page 114] stande on his legges. To which mischaunce, Martin being called, made no more a doe, but taking hys frendes Carte rope, bounde the horses legges all foure together, and with a leauer thruste betwixte his legges and body, and the one end of the leauer being stayed vppon the Carte whele, they puttyng their shoulders to the other end, hoysed vp the horse cleane from the grounde, the payse of whose bodye, made the bone to returne into his ryght place, with such a loud knack, as it mought be harde a greate way of, and the Horse immediatelye had the vse of of his legge, so as he drewe in the Carte, and went safe home, without complayning therof euer after.
Certayne receytes of playsters, very good for broken bones, taken out of the olde Authours, wryting of horse leache crafte. The .Clxxvi. Chapter.
TAke of Spuma argenti, of Uineger, of eche one pound, of Sallet oyle, halfe a pound, of Amoniacum, and of Turpentine, of eche three ounces, of waxe, of Rosen, of ech two ounces, of Bitumen, of Pitch, and of Uerdygrease, of eche halfe a pound. Boyle the vineger, oyle, and Spuma argenti together, vntill it wax thicke, then put therevnto the pytche, which being molten, take the pot from the fyre, and put in the Bitumen, without sturring it at all, and that being also molten, put in then all the rest, & set the potte againe to the fyre, and let them boyle all [Page] together, vntil they be al vnited in one. That done, straine it, and make it in playster forme, and this is called Hierocles playster.
A nother receyte for broken bones, The .Clxxvij. Chapter.
TAke of liquid Pitch one pound, of wax two ounces, of the purest and fineh part of Frankencense one ounce, of Amoniacum foure ounces, of dry Rosen, & of Galuanum of eche one ounce, of Uineger two pyntes. Boyle first the Uineger and pitch together, then put in the Amoniacum, dissolued first in vineger, & after yt al the reast of the foresayd drugs, and after they haue boyled all together, & be vnited in one, straine it, and make it playster wyse, & this is called Emplastrū slauū, that is to say, ye yealow plaister▪
An oyntment for broken bones. The .Clxxviij. Chapter.
TAke of olde sallet oyle a quart, and put thervnto of Hogs grease, of Spuma nitri, of eche one pound, and let them boile together, vntill it begin to bubble aboue, and let this oyntement be very warme, when you vse it.
HItherto of al the diseases belonging to a horse. Nowe therefore my promise made vnto you, in the beginning of this boke, to speak of those things [Page 115] wherein the cure of all diseases do consist, that is to say, in letting bloude, in taking vppe of vaynes, in purging, and in giuing the fyre, yea, and also order it selfe bindeth me to treate of the sayde things presently, and first of letting bloud.
In howe many vaynes a Horse may be let bloude in, and to what ende. The .Clxxix. Chapter.
AS touching the order, time of the yere, Moone & day and other circumstaunces belonging to letting of bloud, we haue sufficiently spoken alredy in the kepers office, in the xxij. Chapter. It resteth therfore here to shewe you what vaynes should be opened whē the horse is sick of any disease, according to Vegetius opinion. But first, I will rehearse vnto you once agayne, in howe many vaynes a horse maye be let bloude in, and the rather for that in following Vegetius, I lefte out in the .vij. Chapter of the kepers office, the two temple vaynes, which be the two first and principal vaines of the head. A horse then may be let bloud in the two temple vaynes. Item, in the two eye vaynes, which are easie to finde in the face of the horse, somewhat beneath the eyes. Item, in the two pallat vaynes, of the mouthe. Item, in the [Page] two necke vaynes. Item, in the two platte vaynes which be in the breast. Item, in the two forthyghe vaynes. Item, in the foure shakle vaynes before. Item, in the two toe vaynes before. Item, in the two side vaynes, which maye be otherwise called flanck vaynes. Item, in the taile vayn. Item, in the two haunch vaynes. Item, in ye two hough vaines. Item, in the foure shakle vaynes behinde. Item, in the two toe vaynes behind, so that by this accompt a horse may be let bloude in .xxxi. vaynes. Al which vaynes are easie ynough to knowe, bicause that euerye one lyeth in a little gutter, which by feeling softly with your finger, you shall finde immediatly. And Vegetius sayth, that if a horse be payned with any griefe in his heade, ache, heauinesse, frensie, falling euill, or suche lyke, then it is good to lette him bloude in the temple vaynes with a fleame. If his eyes be waterishe, bloude shotten, or grieued, with pinne, webbe, or hawe, then it is good to strike the eye vayne with a fleame. If he haue any heauinesse or wearinesse of bodye, or be diseased in the throte with the stranguillon, quynzy, or swelling of the arters, eyther within or without, then it is good to let him bloude in the mouthe, in the palat vaynes with a cornette. If he be vexed with an ague, or with any other disease, vniuersally hurting his body, then let him bloude in the necke vaynes. If his griefe be in the lungs, liuer, or in anye other inwarde member, then let him bloude in the breast vaynes, which we called before the platte vaynes. If he be grieued in the shoulder, then let him bloud [Page 116] in the forethighe vaynes, aboue the knee with a launcet, and that very warely, bicause that place is ful of sinewes, and if he be grieued in his ioints, thē let him bloude in the shakle vaynes, and that warely, bicause that place is also full of sinewes. And if he be foyled on his forefeete by foundering or otherwise, then let him bloud in the toe vaynes, making waye first with your drawer, or ronet in the houe to come to the vayne. If he be diseased in the kydneys, raynes, backe, or belly, then let him bloud in the flanke vaynes, and in his tayle, if he hath any griefe in his hippes, or houghes, then let hym bloude in the hippe, or houghe vaynes, and if his hynder legges, ioynts, or feete, be grieued, then let him bloude in the shakle vaynes, and toe vaynes, as is before sayde.
The order of taking vp vaynes, and wherefore it is good. The .Clxxx. Chapter.
THe order obserued by Martin is in this sort. First, if the horse be very curst and shrewd, then cast him vpon a dounghill, or some strawe, then hauing found the vayne, yt you woulde take vp, marke well that parte of the skinne which couereth the vayne, & pull that somewhat aside from the vayne, with your leaft them be, to the intent you may slitte it with a rasor, without touching the vayne. And cut no deeper then onely [Page] through the skinne, and that longstwise, as the vayne goeth, and not aboue an ynche long. That done, take away your thombe, and the skinne will returne agayne into his place, right ouer the vaine, as it was before. Then with a cornet vncouer the vayne and make it bare, and being bare thrust the cornet vnderneath it, and rayse it vp, so as you may put a shoemakers threede vnderneath, somewhat higher then the coronet, to knitte the vayne when tyme is, and if your cornet had a hole in the small ende thereof to put in the threade, it shoulde be the easelier done. Then the cornet standing so stil, slitte the vayne longstwayes that it may bleede, and hauing bled somewhat from aboue, then knitte it vp with a sure knot, somewhat aboue the slitte suffering it to bleede onely from beneath, and hauing bled sufficiently, then knitte vp the vayne also beneath the slitte with a sure knot, and fill the hole of the vayne, with salt, and then heale vp the wounde of the skinne with Turpentine, and Hogs grease molten together, and layd on with a little flax. The taking vp of vaynes is verye necessary, and doth ease manye griefes in the legges, for the taking vp of the forethighe vaynes easeth Farcyns, and swellings of the legges, the taking vp of the shakel vaynes before, easeth the quitterbone, and swelling of the ioyntes, scabbes, & cratches. The taking vp of the hinder vaynes, helpeth the farcyn, swellings, & both the spauens. The taking vp of the shakle vaynes behinde, helpeth swelling of the ioints, the paines, and kibed heeles and such like diseases.
Of purging with purgation or Glyster. The .Clxxxiij. Chapter.
PUrgation is defyned by the Phisians to be the emptying or voyding of superfluous humors annoying the bodye with their euill qualitie. For suche humors breede euill iuyce and nutrimēt called of the Phisitians Cachochimia, which, when it wil not be corrected or holpen with good dyet, alteration, nor by the benefite of nature and kindly heate, then it must nedes be taken away by purgation, vomit, or glister. But for so muche, as horses are not wonte to be purged by vomit as mē be, I wil speake here only of glisters, and purgatiōs. And first bicause a horse is grieued with manye diseases in his guttes, and that nothing can purge the guttes so well as a glister, and specially the thicke guttes, I wishe that our ferrers woulde learne to know, the diuersitie of glisters, to what ende they serue, and with what drugges or simples they shoulde be made, for as the disease requireth, so muste the glister be made, some to ease griefes, & to alley the sharpenesse of humors, some to binde, some to lousen, some to purge euil humors, some to clense vlcers, but our ferrers do vse glisters, onlye to lousen the belly, and for no other purpose, yea few or none doe that, vnlesse it be Martin, and such as he hath taught, who is not ignoraunt that a glister is the beginning of purgatiō, for a glister by clensing the guttes, refresheth the vitall partes, and prepareth the way before. And therfore, whensoeuer [Page] a horse is surfeted, and full of euill humors needing to be purged, and specially being paynted in the guttes, I woulde wyshe you to beginne fyrst with a glister, lest by purging him with medicine vpon the sodaine, you sturre vp a multitude of euill humors, which finding no passage downeward, bicause the guttes be stopte, with winde and dregs, doe strike vpwardes, and so perhaps put the horse in great daunger. But now you shall vnderstande that glisters be made of foure things, that is to say, of decoctions, of drugges, of oyles, or such lyke vnctuous matters, as butter or soft grease, and fourthly, of dyuers kindes of salte to prouoke the vertue expulsiue. A decoction is as muche to say, as the broth of certayne hearbes or simples boyled together in water, vntill the thirde parte be consumed, and sometyme in steede of such decoction, it shall be nedefull perhappes to vse some fatte broth, as the broth of Beefe, or of a sheepes heade, or milke, or whay, or some other such lyke lyquor, and that perhaps mingled with hony and suger, according as the disease shall require, the glister to be eyther lenitiue, that is to say, easing payne, or glutinatiue, that is ioyning together, or else abstersiue, that is to say, clensyng, or wyping away filthy matter, of which decoction or broth being strayned, you shal nede to take three pintes, or a quart at the least. And then into that, you may put such drugs, as shall be nedefull, to the wayght of three or foure ounces, according as the simples shall be more or lesse vyolent. Of oyle at the least halfe a pinte, and of salte two [Page 118] or three Dragmes, and then to be ministred luke warme with a horne, or pipe made of purpose, when the horse is not altogether full paunched, but rather emptye, be it in the fore noone or after noone. And as touching the tyme of keping glisters in the body, you shall vnderstand, that to glisters abstersyue, halfe an houre or lesse may suffise, to glisters lenitiue a longer time, if it may be, & to glisters glutinatyue, the longest tyme of all is most nedefull.
Of Purgations. The .Clxxxiiij. Chapter.
PUrgations for men may be made in dyuers sortes and formes, but horses are wonte to be purged onelye with pilles, or else with purging powders, put into Ale, wyne, or some other lyquor. But the simples wherof such pilles or powders be made, would be chosen with iudgement, and aptly applyed, so as you may purge away the hurteful humors, and not the good. Learne first therfore to know with what humor or humors the Horse is grieued, be it Cholor, Fleame, or melancholy, and in what part of the body, such humors do abound, then what simples are best to purge such humors, and with what propertye, qualitye, and temperament they be indued. For some be vyolent, and next cosins to poyson, as Scamony, or Coloquintida. Some againe are gentle, & rather meate than medicines, as Manna, [Page] Cassia, Whay, Prunes, and such lyke. And some againe be neyther to vyolent, nor to gentle, but in a meane, as Rhewbarb, Agaricke, sene Aloes. The olde men did vse muche to purge Horses with the pulpe of Coloquintida, sometyme with the rootes of wylde Coucumbre, and somtyme wyth the broth of a sodden whelpe mingled with Nitrum, and dyuers other things, wherof I am sure I haue made mentiō before in the curing of horses diseases. Notwithstanding, I would not wyshe you to be to rash in purging a horse, after the olde mennes example. For as their simples many tymes be very violent, so the quantityes therof by them prescribed are verye much, & daungerous for any horse to take in these dayes, in the whiche neyther man nor beast as it seemeth, is of suche force or strength, as they haue bene in tymes past. And therfore whensoeuer you would purge a horse of any valew, I woulde councell you to purge hym with suche kindes of purgations as Martin vseth, whereof you haue had examples before in dyuers places. And whensoeuer you lift for knowledge sake, to deale with other simples, to proue them first vpon suche Iades, as may be wel spared. For who so mindeth to purge a horse well, that is to doe him good, and no hurt, had nede to consider many things, as the nature of the horses disease, and the horses strēgth. Also the nature, strength, and quantity of the medicine, that he ministreth, the Region, or Countrey tyme of the dysease, the tyme of the yeare, and the day. For as the diseases, and euill humors causing such diseases be [Page 119] dyuers, so doe they requyre to be purged with dyuers medicines, diuersly compounded, wherin consisteth a point of art to be learned at the Phisitians handes, and not at mine. Againe, weake, delicate, and tender horses, may not be purged in such sort, as those that be of a strong sturdye nature. And therefore in such cases, the qualitie, and quantity of the simples is not a little to be considered, neyther is the hotenesse, or coldenesse of the Region to be neglected, nor the tyme of the disease. For some require to be purged in the very beginning, some not vntil the matter be throughly digested. And though the disease procede perhaps of colde, and colde humors, yet a man may not minister such hote things in Sōmer, as he would do in Winter, nor in ye contrary case, such colde things in Winter, as he would do in Sommer. And therefore the tyme and season of the yere is also to be obserued, yea, & the day, and time of the day. For the more temperate the day be, the better, not an extreme hote day, for making the horse to faynt, nor yet when the wind bloweth cold in the North, for that wil stop and hinder the working of the medicine, but rather in a tēperate moist day, when the winde is in the South, if it may be, for that will further and helpe the working of the medicine, and make the body louse, and soluble. Agayne, for a horse whither you purge him with pilles or drink, it is best for him as Martin sayth, to take them in the Morning, after that he hath fasted from meate and drinke all the nighte before. And hauing receiued his medicine, let him be walked vp [Page] and downe, one houre at the least, and then set vp, and suffered to stande on the bit, two or thre houres without any meate, but in the meane tyme see that he be well littered, and warme couered, and at the thre houres end, offer hym a little of a warme mash made with wheate meale, or with bran, or else with ground mault. Gyue him little meate or none, vntil he be purged, al which things haue bene shewed you before in diuers places, and therefore I thinke it not good to be tedious vnto you with often recitall thereof.
Of Cauterization, or gyuing the fyre aswell actuall as potentiall. The .Clxxxv. Chapter.
FOr so muche as the fyre is iudged of all the olde wryters to be the chiefest remedy, and as it were the last refuge in al diseases almost wherevnto a horse is subiecte. I thought good therefore, to talke of it in thys place, and the rather for that fewe or none of our Ferrers, vnlesse it be Martin or suche as he hath taught, doe knowe howe to gyue the fyre or to what ende it serueth. But fyrst you shall vnderstande, that according to the learned Chirurgians, yea also according to my olde Authours there be two kindes of Cautery, the one actuall and the other potential. The Cautery actuall is that which is done onely by fyering of the grieued place with [Page 120] a hote yron. The potential Cautery is done by applying vnto ye grieued place, some medicin corosiue, putrifactiue or caustique. But we wyl speake first of the actual cautery shewing you wherfore it is good then of what metall and fashion your instruments shoulde be made, and finally, how, and when to vse them. Auicen sayth, that an actuall Cautery moderatly vsed, is a noble remedy to stoppe corruption of members, to rectifie the complexion of the same, and also to staunch bloud. Howe be it you must beware (sayth he) that you touche not the sinewes chordes, or lygamentes, least the member be weakened, or that the cramp ensueth. Vegetius also writing of horseleach craft prayseth the actual cautery very much, speaking in this sort. The actuall cautery (sayth he) byndeth together partes loosened. It doth attenuate parts blowen, & puffed vp, it dryeth vp superfluous moysture, it looseneth, disperseth and deuideth euill matter gathered together into knots, it asswageth olde griefes. It rectifyeth those partes of the bodye that are corrupted by anye maner of waye reducing them to their pristine estate, and suffereth no superfluitie to growe or encrease, for the skin being opened with a hote yron, al kynd of corruption by vertue of the fyre is fyrst digested, and rypened, and then dissolued so as the matter doth issue out at the holes, whereby the member or parte before offended, is nowe healed, and eased of all payne and griefe. Yea, the holes being once closed, and cleane shutte vp, that place is stronger and better knitte together, and couered with a tougher [Page] skin then euer it was before. Now as touching the instruments wherof, & of what fashion they should be made. You shall vnderstande, that Vegetius and the other old wryters would haue them to be made of Copper, praysing that metall to be farre better to burne with then yron. The Chirurgians for mannes body doe prayse Golde and Siluer, but as for the fashion of the yrons, it is to be referred to the kind of sore, and place grieued, wherewith you haue to deale, according to the diuersitie wherof, the instruments are to be made of dyuers fashions, as some lyke searing yrons with sharpe edges, and some with blount & broad edges, some lyke right, & some lyke croked bodkyns, some lyke hookes or sicles, and some with a great button, & some with a small button at the one ende, in making whereof the ferrers iudgement is most needefull, who ought to be so skilfull, as he maye be able to make all maner of yrons that he should occupie, & to alter them according as nede shal require. And therfore I thought good onely here to set forth the shape of the commō drawing yron, and of the button yron, like in forme to those that Martin vseth, referring all the rest to your owne iudgement and specially, sith you haue bene fully instructed before, of what sort they shuld be made meete to serue your tourne in any disease. Nowe as touching the vse of the instruments two things are speciallye to be considered, that is, the heating of the yron, and the bearing of the hande. For the back of the yron may not be redde hote, but onely the edge, for feare of yeelding to much heate, [Page 105] And therefore though it be made redde hote at the fyrst, yet it shall be good before you doe occupy it, to coole the backe of the instrument in water, and as touching the bearing of the hand, the more euenly and lyghtly it be done, the better, and that according as the fynenesse or thicknesse of the skin shall requyre, which is to be iudged by the haire. For if the haire be shorte and fine, then it is a signe of a fine skin, if long and rough, then it betokeneth a thicke skin. The fine skinne requyreth the lyghter hande, and not to be burned so deepe as the thicke skin, yet both must be burned vntil they loke yellow. But the fyne skin will loke yellow with lesser burning than the thicke skin. For the thicke skin with his long haire doth choke the fyre, and therefore requyreth a more heauy hande, yea, and more often heating of the instrument than the thinne skinne doth, and be sure to drawe alwayes with the haire, and not against the haire, in what forme, and with what maner of lynes hath bene taught you before, for those must be made either long, short, deepe, shalow, right, croked, or ouertwhart, according as the disease doth require. You haue learned also how to allay the heate of the fyre, after such drawing. And therefore I haue no more to say here, but onely to admonishe you according to Vegetius precepts, not to fyre any sinewe place, nor bone, that is broken, or out of ioint, for feare of weakning ye whole member, nor to beare so heauie or vneuen hand, as you shoulde thereby deforme, or misfashion any part of the horse, nor to be to hasty in giuing the fyre, but [Page] to attempt first all other conuenyent remedies, and when nothing else will helpe, to make the fyre your laste refuge, and
yet not so muche to neglect it, and abhorre it, lyke ye ignoraunt sort, as you wyll not vse it when nede requireth, for lack whereof, manye horses goe lame, and vncured of dyuers dyseases. Practyse youre selues therefore in giuing the fire at nedeful times with iudgement and discreatyon, so shall you doe it to the Horses benefite, and to your owne great prayse and profite.
Of Cauteris Potentiall. The .Clxxxvi. Chapter.
CAuteris Potentiall as Iohannes vigo saith, are medicines corosyue, putrefactiue, & causticke. This worde corosyue, is deryued of the latten word Corrodo, which is as muche to saye, as to gnawe and frette, and of such coresyues, some be simple and some compound. The simple as Vigo saith, be such as these, Roch alom. as wel burnt as not burnte, sponge of the sea somewhat burnt, Lyme, red Corall, pouder of Mercury. Compound Corosyues be these Vnguentum apostolorum, Vnguentiū aegiptiacum, Vnguentum Ceraceū. Medicines putrefactiue, called of the learned sort Septica, according to Auicen, be those that haue strength to corrupt the complexiō of the member, and to enduce an escharr lyke dead fleshe, causing great payne, yea and feuers, and therefore ought not to be ministred, but to strong bodyes and in strong diseases, as in Carbuncles, cancrous, vlcers, and such lyke, and they be these. Arsnike sublimat, resalgar, and other medicines compound therewith. Siluius also addeth therevnto Sandaracha chrysocolla, and Aconitum, but he doth not agree with Auicen in the discription of the putrefactiue medicynes. For he sayth that they cause little payne or none, neyther be they so hote and drye, as those that are called Escharotica, yt is to say Crustiue, [Page] which be hot in the fourth degre, & do brede a crust and scar and cause great payne, as vnslect lime and the burned dregs of wyne: wherfore it semeth that Auicens discription belongeth rather to the crustiue, than to the putryfactyue medicines. Not withstanding I must needes say that our Chirurgiās, and also ferrers, doe fynde both Arsenik, and Resalgar, to be so sharpe, hot, and burning things, as when they mynister the same to any parte of the bodye, they are forced to allay the sharpenesse thereof, the Chirurgians with the iuyce of Plantan, or Daffadyll, or else of Houseleeke, the ferrers with hogs grease.
Medycynes Caustike that is to say burning, are those whose operation is moste strong, and inclyneth to the nature of fire, and yet more easily allayed as Vigo wryteth, than the medicines putrifactyue, and therefore may be more safely vsed. They be made as he sayth of strong lye, called Capitellum, or Magistra, of Vitriol Romane, Sal vitre, Aqua fortis, of this sort be all those which Vigo calleth the blistring medicines, as Apium, Cantharides, Ciclamine, Onions, strōg Garlicke, Melanacardinum, the stones or graines of vitis Alba, otherwyse called Brionye. Moreouer Vigo maketh euery one of these Cauteris potentiall, to excell one an other, as it were by certayne degrees, saying that Corosiues be weaker than Putrifactiues, and Putrifactiues weaker than Caustick, and therfore Corosiues worke in the vpper part, and in softe fleshe. Putrifactiues in harde fleshe and depe. But Caustickes haue power to breake the skin in harde flesh, and doe enter most deepely. The vse of [Page 107] the most parte of whiche things, hath bene taught you before, in sundry places according to Martins experience. And therefore I leaue to trouble you any further, wishing you that are desirous to know any more of these matters, to reade Taugantius wryting, De piroticis the .xi. Chapter, in his first boke of Surgery. And Siluius de medicament. comp. ratione. And Iohn Vigo wryting of Surgery englyshed but fewe yeares synce. But the olde wryters so farre as I can iudge by the words of Absirtus, Pelagonius, and others that write of Horseleach craft, do apply this worde Causticke, to suche medicins as are astrictiue and bynding, called of Martin and other Ferrers in these dayes, bynding charges, as may well appeare by the composition and vse thereof here following, recyted by Vegetius in this sorte.
The receyte of a Causticke vsed by Chiron to dry vp superfluous moysture, and to bind parts loosned, and to strengthen parts weakned. The .Clxxxvij. Chapter.
TAke of Bitumē Iudaicū, two pound of Bitumen Apolonii two pounde, of the purest part of Frankencēse sixe ounces, of Bdelliū Arabitū ij. oūces, of deares suet ij. pound, of Propuleū two ounces, of Galbanū two ounces, of the drops of Storax two ounces, of cōmon wax two pound, of Resin Cabial one pound, of Viscus Italicus thre ounces, of Apoxima two ounces, of the iuyce of Hysop two ounces, of the droppes of [Page] Armoniacke two ounces, of Pytch one pounde.
A nother Caustick vsed by Pelagonius, to dry vp swellings, bladders, wingals, and splents, in the legges and ioyntes. The .Clxxxviij. Chapter.
TAke of virgin wax one pounde, of Rosen two pounde and a halfe, of Galbanum three ounces, of Asphaltum Iudaicū two pound, of Myrrhe secundary two pounde, of Bitumen one pounde, of Armoniacke syxe ounces, of Costus syxe ounces. Boyle all these things together in an earthen pot, sauing the Asphaltum, Armoniack, and Costū, which being first ground like fine flower, muste be added vnto the other thinges, after that they haue bene boyled and cooled, and then boyled altogether againe, and well sturred, so as they may be incorporated together, and made all one substance. These kindes of emplaysters or oyntmentes, ought in my iudgement, to be called as I sayde before, rather binding charges, then Causticke medicines, bicause there be no suche extreme corosiue or burning symples in these, as are before recyted. Notwithstanding, I referre my iudgement to those that be better learned, and so ende, for feare of being ouer tedious. For if I woulde, I could take very good occasion here to speake of diuers other medicines wherof some are called Anodiua, that is, easing paine and griefe. Martin calleth them Lynoges, which are [Page 123] made of Lynseede, Camomile, softe grease, & suche lyke things, as are hote in the first degree. Some agayne are called Narcotica, that is to say, astonying or bringing to slepe, as those that are made of Opiū, Mandragora, Popye, and suche lyke colde and grosse things. And some are called Sarcotica, that is breeding flesh, as Barlye flower, & Frankencense. And many other kinds of emplaisters, ointmēts, waters, and salues, which would occupye a Booke of no small volume, to be written hereafter by some other perhappes, if not by my selfe. And in the meane tyme, let this that I haue alredy written suffice.