The farriers new guide: containing first, the anatomy of a horse. Being an exact and compendious description of all his parts; with their actions and uses: illustrated with figures curiously engrav'd on copper-plates. Secondly, an account of all the diseases incident to horses, with their signs, causes, and methods of cure. Wherein many defects in the farriers practice, are now carefully supply'd, their errors expos'd and ammended, and the art greatly improv'd and advanc'd, according to the latest discoveries / the whole interspers'd with many curious and useful observations concerning feeding and exercise, &c., by W. Gibson / [W. Gibson].

Gibson, W. (William), 1680?-1750.

Date:: 1720

Credit: The farriers new guide: containing first, the anatomy of a horse. Being an exact and compendious description of all his parts; with their actions and uses: illustrated with figures curiously engrav'd on copper-plates. Secondly, an account of all the diseases incident to horses, with their signs, causes, and methods of cure. Wherein many defects in the farriers practice, are now carefully supply'd, their errors expos'd and ammended, and the art greatly improv'd and advanc'd, according to the latest discoveries / the whole interspers'd with many curious and useful observations concerning feeding and exercise, &c., by W. Gibson / [W. Gibson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

14/476

$via The:. P R E FAC W they may pradtife with Certainty enough in fom£ Operations, and in many common Accidents that require only outward Applications, yej: they muft needs be at a greatXofs in moft Dift eafes, where the Mafs of Blood is affe&ed; and therefore, we find in all fuch Cafes, their main Recourfe is to Bleeding and Purging, and whether that be proper or not, they neither know themfelves, nor can their Books inform them: And when a Horfe gives Signs of inward Sicknefs, the Book (whiph is chiefly made up of a Parcel of infignificant Receipts) furnifhes them with a Cordial-Drink3 compos’d of fome Spices, or a few Herbs to be boiled in Ale or white Wine; and if one Drench or two does not make a Cure, they afe at a great Lofs what to do next: Having no other Notion of Medicines, but as if they work’d by a Sort of Magick. Thar this is the cpmmon and ordinary Way of Pra&ice among Horfes, every one knows. We cannot however but own, there are many Gen¬ tlemen, and alfo fome of the ableft Farriers,, who have not confin’d themfelves fo much to Cuftom, but have fallen upon better Methods than thofe generally preferib’d,* and we find fe- veral very good Remedies, handed from one to another, which are not to be met with in Books ; but yet, as moft are unacquainted with the Requisites neceffary for the right Admi- niftrationof thefe Remedies, they often prove as Weapons in unskilful Hands, which may eiT ther do Good or Hurt, as they happen to b$ right or wrong apply’d ; and if there be fome who know how to apply then) better than others, ye; while their Methods arq not communicated \ 19 i$

Licence and re-use

Contents