Copy 1

Markham's master-piece. Containing all knowledge belonging to the smith, farrier, or horse-leach / [Gervase Markham].

  • Markham, Gervase, 1568?-1637
Date:
1710
    aww.nr unwiiM^' uwiuilwWMWB ... - - ---T ^ and Faint-hearted : The Difeafes to them moft incident, are Inflam¬ mations in the Spleen, Frenzy, Dropjie, and fuch like. They are com¬ monly of better ftrengfh, than thejr will fuffer to appear by their Actions, and are able to endure the ftrength ot any reafonable Medi¬ cine : All cicatrizing and dry fimples are hurtful unto them -y the cold and moift are moil profitable. Having thus fhewed you tliefe four Complexions, Cholerick, Sanguine, Fiegmatlck and Melanrhollyy together with their qualities and ftrengths, you find! underftand now, (hat amongft Farriers there is another Complexion, or fifth Conftitution, winch is called the Compofition or mixture of Complexions : That is, when-foever a Horfe doth participate of all the four Elements equally, and in due proportion, none being greater or lefler than another, and this Complexion of all other is the beft, and moft perfedt, and the Horfe which is of this Complexion, is ever of one of thefe Colours i, that is to fay, either a fair Brown Bay, Dabled or not Cabled, a Cabled Gray, a Black, full of Silver Flair, or a fair Roan, Red or Black. And thefe Horfes are of Nature moft Excellent, moft Temperate, Strongeft, Gentleft, and moft Healthful *, though they may have any Difeaje, yet are they Naturally inclined to no Difeafe : But what Infirmity ioever falleth unto them, is meerly Accidental^ and not through any overflow of Natural diftem- perature. All Medicines muft be compounded for them according to the Nature of the Sichiefs, and the time of their Lavgmjhnent. For if the Si chiefs be Toting and new Bred, then they are able to receive any Well compoied Receipt : But if it be OH, and the inward Powers and Faculties feebled, then jrou muft be careful to help Nature, by adding to every Medicine of what Nature foe ver, fome Simple of Comfort, that, as ill Humours be cl'eanfed, fo Strength may ft ill be repaired and maintained. And thus much for Complexions. CHAP. XI. Of inward Sichicffes, the Caufes and feveral hinds thereof Since I have already parted over all thofe things which have a Natural and perfect working in a Horfe’s Body, and do maintain, uphold and preferve the fame in good State and Health, except accidentally they be encountred and crofled by fome Excels, either in Viet or in Exercifey if fha7l now be meet, that we begin to (peak of the Things, which be contrary and againft Nature, which are all thofe Things, whereby at any time the healthful Eftate of the Horfe's Body is any way impeached ^ and they be three in Number ; that is, the Caujes, the Sichiefs, and the Accidents which follow every Sichiefs. Now
    and of thele Gw/tbr there betwo Aorta, fome Internal, feme External: The ln- ternal be thofe which breed within the Body of the Horfi, as evil Humours evil CMru&icns, and evil Juyce, External are they which communi¬ cate with the outward Parts of the Body, as Heat, Cold, Worms, and 'uch like, of which I lhall fpeak more in the Second Book: And for fo much as I intend at the beginning of every particular Difeafe, to ihew the Can fe oi that D.ftale, I will at this time fpeak no more of that Subject. Now for Sicknefs it felt, which is any thing that is contrary to Nature' V fr -—C r •■"••““"ry1*'-") lllL iUiiu, axMojmg or unnaivs oj an Lmty: Now of thele two latter, 1 intend not to fpeak in this place be- caufe they appertain to Chirurgery, which I referve for the Second Book: But for the Firff kind, which is an evil Temperature, it is taken twofold that is, either fimpleor compound f Simple, when one quality only doth abound or exceed, as to be too modi, or too dry \ Compound, when more qualities than one do grow into excefs, as for a Ho f i t o be too hot, and too dry, or too cold, and too modi. Again, Sicknelfes are faid fome to be long, as Cmfmnptions, Glanders, and fueh like, which linger and wear a Horfg d way by final] degrees; fome ihort, as the Staggers, fellows, Author and fuch like; which as loon as they be perceived, fo foon they be mortal. Now of inward ficknelfes, fome do occupy all the whole Body' fome but particular Parts; thofe which occupy the whole Body are’ Fevers, the Fcfiilmce, Convuljms, and fuch like : Thofe which occupy Parts or Members, are Colds which annoy the Head ; Surfeits which perplex the Stomach : And fo likewife all outward infirmities proper fo every particular Member ; as Spleens upon the Legs, Spcrvens on the. Hoofs, Pearls in the Eyes, and fuch like ; as lhall be amply Ihewed hereafter, with their feveral Cures. And thus much for Sicknefs and the feveral kinds thereof. CHAP. XII. Of the Signs of Sicknefs, and of what Nature it conjifleth. THE Signs and Faces by which Sicknefs is difeerned, are many and almoft numberlefs : Yet in the befl fort, that I may I will Ihew you fuch and fo many as lhall amply ferve for any Man’s un¬ demanding. Know when firft, that there be according to the Rules in lhyiick, four efpecial ways to judge of inward and outward infirmi- ‘ffo if 7 Accfdents as by the lhape, number, quantity and place ol the Member grieved, for if it carry not his true proportion, or be more or lefs in number or quantity, or out of his proper place, then ® 2 queftionlefs
    Of Cures- Pbyfwal. Lib* fl queftionlefs it is difeafed. Secondly, by alteration of the quality, as when’tis either too hot too cold, too moift, or too. dry Thndly, when any Member of the Body is hindred from doing his Office, as when the Eye cannot fee, or the Foot cannot, tread. And fourthly by Excrements, as by his Dung or Urine. But foraftnuch, as inly {peculation of thefe qualities, many of the ignorant fort may be eit'/r* Amazed, Difira&ed or Deceived, and that my Defire is to give an ab,A lure fatisfadion to all forts of People * I will briefly and plainly (hew you the mod undeceivable figns of all forts of inward ficknefles : as thus: If a Horfe be flower in Labour, or duller to the Spur, than he hath been accuftomed } If lie be fhorter-breathed *, If his Ears hang down more than they were wont-, If his Hair be more flaring; If his Flank be more than ufually hollow •' If he' burn betwixt his Ears, or about his Pafterns * If in Travel his Stomach fail him, or his Mouth, that in labour was ufually wont to be Foaming, become dry all thefe are mod apparent figns of inward Sicknefs. W hen a Horfe holdeth down his Head, which was wont to be of diearful Countenance, it is a fign either of a Fever, Head-ach, or elfe foundring in the Body. If a Horfe be dimm of fight, which was dear lighted,■ it is a fign either of Head-ach, the Staggers, or Sore Byes. When a Horfe turneth his Head backed to the place grieved* if it be to the right fide, it is a fign of Obftm&iom in the Liver : But if he tur¬ neth down to his Belly, then it is a fign either of Cholick, Bots, or Worms. Wffien a Horfe hath Water running from his Mouth, it is a fign of the Staggers, or Wet Cough. If a HorfEsBreath flunks, or foul matter iffues from his Noflrils, it is a fign of an Ulcer in the Nofe or Head but if the matter be white, then it is a fign of Glanders if the matter be black, then it is a fign of the mourning of the Chine-, but if the matter be yellow, then it beto^ kens file Confumption of the Liver : But if he caft little Lumps out of his Mouth, then it betokens the Confumption or Rottennefs of the Lungs. If a Horfe’s Body and Breath be hot, it is a fign of a Fever, and heat of the Stomachy if therewithal he forfake his Meat, it is a fign of Inflammation in his Liver, and either of dry. or moift Tellows. If the Temple of a Horfe s head.be very hollow, it is a fign either of the Strangle or Old Age. Shortnefs of Breath, and a beating Flank, is a fign either of a Fever or a Strangle but if the paflage of the Throat be flopped, it is a fign the film of the Lungs be broken, and the Spleen troubled, or elfe brokeiv wiaded. ^
    If any thing lie on both. Ikies the Forehead, which may be felt beat, it is a fign of the Staggers. If there be any thing fwelling about the Ears,- it is a fign of the Pole-evil : Swelling under the Ear, is a ftjgn of the Fives • and fwelling in the Mouth, a fign either of Canker, Flaps, Lampajfe.. Swelling under the Throat is a fign of the Glanders $. and fwelling about the Tongue-Roots^ a fign of the Strangle: But if there be about the Tongue-Roots, nothing but little final! knots like Wax kernels, t n it is but a fign of cold only. /Welling on the left lick is a fign of fick Spleen, Swelling in the fkl?y and Legs, a fign of the Drcpjie, and fwelling in the Flank, of Cholick only. ' : J a Cough, or to offer to Cough, is a fign either of the Glanders, or v Mourning of the Chine, of a Feather in the Wefand, of the wet or dr Aueh, of the Film broken, of the dry Malady, of a Confumption, or o )u.taring in the Body. Stay is a fign either of a Fever, of the Staggers, or of fwaying in the : But if he flagger or role behind only, then it is a fign- either c ndring.in the Body, or of pain in the Kidneys. Tren. is a fign of a Fever, or of a found ring in the Body: And here is to , oted, that a Horfe which trembleth after the drinking of cold Water, hath during that time of trembling, a very certain Fit of an Ague •, and if any Farrier or other, will but obferve it, he (hall find that the Horfe, after he hath done trembling, will burn and glow in as great Extremity,, at leaft an hour and a half after 5 and Tome Horfes after their burning will fweat alfo. The hollownefs of a Horfe s back is a fign of a dry Malady, e Dfopfie. Hair flaring is a fign either of a cold Stomach, or of foundling in the Body, but generally of a Cold, or want of Cloaths. If a Horfe flale with much pain, it is a fign either of foundring in the Body, the Wind Cholick, or the Stone and if the Urine which comes from him be Fellow, it is a fign of the Glanders * but if it be blackiih or thick, it is a fign of a pain in the Kidneys. Leannefs and Gantinefs, is a fign of Hidebound,for of a Consumption, of the dry Malady, of foundring in the Body, Inflammation of the Liver, the Fellows, Cholick or Worms. Laxativenefs, a loofenefs of the Body, is a fign of a hot Liver. Coftivenefs in the Body, is a fign,of dry Yellows, or of Difeafesin the.Gaul* If
    li a Boife’s Dung-ftink, it is a iigu of a hot Liver v if it have no final 1, then of a cold Liver ; tut if it be indigefted, then either of a Consumption* or of a dry Malady. ' % If a Horfe go ftirr, it is a fign either of Wrenching, Hipping, Stifling, or Foundring either in Body or Legs : If he go crouching behind, and ftifFbefore, then the grief is in his fore Legs, but if he go only weak behind, then is the grief in his hinder Legs only. If a Horfe dtfire Extraordinarily to lye down on his right fide, it is a-fign of heat in the Liver, If on the left fide, then of a Difeafed Spleen, If he be oft up and down, finding no reft, then it is a fign of Eots, Wortos, Cholick or Griping in the Belly : If when he is down, he fpreads him felt abroad, it (hews the Dropfie $ it he groan when he is down, it thews either a tide Sphen, moift 2UW, Cholick, Bots, or film broken * it he be not able to rife when he is down, then either mortal Weahief^ or Poundring in the Body oi Legs, To be troubled with much Wind, is a fign either of grief in the Spleen, or lofs of much Blood. If a Horfe for take his Meat, it is a fign either of a Fever, Head-acb, Strangles, Staggers, Confumption, or dry Malady, x\nticor, Form* dring in the Body,, a hot and confumed Liver, moift Tetiorvs, Cholick, or the Worms $ but if when he forfakes his Provender, he doth as it u^ere chavel, or chaw a little Hay, and in his chawing doth make a certain fharp Noife in his Mouth, as if his Tongue could not well part from the Roof without a kind of thanking, it is then a certain fign that the Horfe is troubled with the falling of the Pailat of the Mouth, a Difeafe which only cometh by overmuch Travelling, or too fore a Burthen. If a Horfe defire to eat much, and drink little, it is a fign of a cold Liver ^ but if he defire to drink much, and eat little, it is then a fign either oi a Fever, rotten Lungs. heat in the Stomach, heat in the Liver, or the dry Yellows. If a Horfe bot-h eat and drink with an Extraordinary greedinefs, it is a fign of rotten Lmgs, or a difeafed Spleen. ^ Lazy, heavy going, contrary to true Nature, is a fign either of a Fever, Sick Spleen, leilows, or elfe OhJiruBions of the Liver. If a Horfe ftrike with his Foot at his Belly, it is a fign of the Cholick? but if when he ftriketh, he Fijks with his Tail alfo, then it is either Bots, or rough Worms. If a Horfe be Scabby and Ulcerous all over his Body, and about his Neck, it is a fign of the Mangy : if it be an Ulcer full of knots creep¬ ing along a Vein, it is the Farcy : If fpreading abroad only in one place, it is a Canker : If the Ulcer be hollow and crooked, it is