Volume 1

The farrier's dispensatory. In three parts. Containing first, a description of the medicinal simples commonly made use of in the diseases of horses ... Secondly, the preparations of simples, vegetable, animal, and mineral ... Thirdly, a number of useful compositions and receipts suited to the cure of all diseases. To which is also added, a compleat index of all the medicines contained in the book ... with a table of diseases pointing to the remedies proper in each malady / [W. Gibson].

  • Gibson, W. (William), 1680?-1750.
Date:
M.DCC.XXXIV
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The farrier's dispensatory. In three parts. Containing first, a description of the medicinal simples commonly made use of in the diseases of horses ... Secondly, the preparations of simples, vegetable, animal, and mineral ... Thirdly, a number of useful compositions and receipts suited to the cure of all diseases. To which is also added, a compleat index of all the medicines contained in the book ... with a table of diseases pointing to the remedies proper in each malady / [W. Gibson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    As the Materia Mediea of itfelf makes up a compleai Branch of Phyftck, it has therefore been conftdered by the heft Authordijlinfl from other Branches thereof as the only Way to avoid Confufwn, and the propereft Means to arrive at a competent Skill in the Knowledge of Medi¬ cines ; and therefore, fince thofe to whom we owe the moft tifeful Difcoveries of their Virtues and Operations, have conftantly followed this Method *, we do not Jee why the fame Regularity ought not to be ftudied by fuch as lay down Inftrullions for the Cure of Horfes. But tho9 thefe Reafons were alonefuff dent to juftify our prefent Undertakings yet there are others ofnolefs Conference that have encouraged us to its namelys the great Improve¬ ments that have been made in that Branch of Science ; /or, as we are indebted to the loft Age for many ufeful Difcove¬ ries in the Animal Oeconomy, and the Difeafes to which it is obnoxiouss fo we are no lefs beholden to fome late Inquiries, for a more perfect Infight into the Virtues, PropertieSs and Operations of Medicines than to all the proceeding TimeSs whereby many things, formerly of great Accounts are now defervedly laid afide as ufelefs; and thole only are efteemed in Practices that afford us fome Tokens of their Virtue and Efficacy. But if we were yet further to confider the many Inftances wherein all our Authors have erreds or been defective in what relates to MedicineSs it would plainly appears that fuch a Treatife as we now offer to the Publicks is very much wanting; for as moft of the Medicines which are adminiftred to Horfes s have originally been taken from Books of Phy- ftcks h Perfons but little acquainted with that Study ; fo they have neither made a judicious Choices inthevaft Plum¬ bers they have recommended to the Publicks many of them being altogether needlefs and infignifcant ; nor have they affigned the proper DofeSs or laid down the neceffary Cau¬ tions in adminiftring thofe, from which we might expect any tolerable Efficacy. In this laft Refpeffs the beft Authors have even been Marne able in many Cirfumftances, but with Regard to