The T RE F AC E. 



even brought to its greateft Perfedion, by the noble 

 Perfon whom we have already taken Notice of ; yet 

 we have hardly one who has treated of the Difeafes of 

 Horfes in any tolerable Way. Blundevil^ who was 

 the firfl of any great Repute amongft us, is now al- 

 mod quite forgot. As for Markham and Be Grey^ 

 with others of later Date, they were only Copie'rs 

 from him, as himfelf was alfo a Copier and Tranf- 

 lator from the Italians ; and what thefe Authors have 

 with fo much AlTurance taken from the common 

 Rote^ and added as their own, is, generally fpeaking, 

 the moft Infignificant of any thing they have deli- 

 vered ; fo that it is no Wonder, if the Pracflice of 

 thofe be very abfurd, who tie themfelves up to their 

 Rules. 



The Want of proper Helps is certainly a very great 

 Difadvantage, not only to the Farriers^ but to all 

 thofe who are interelled in Horfes ; for tho' they may 

 pradife with Certainty enough in fome Operations, 

 and in many common Accidents that require only 

 outward Applications, yet they mull needs be at a 

 great Lofs in moft Difeafes, where the Mafs of Blood 

 is afFedled •, 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, theBook 

 (which is chiefly made up of a Parcel of infignificant 

 Receipts) furnifhes them with a Cordial Drink, com- 

 pos'd of fome Spices, or a few Herbs to be boil'd in 

 Ale or White- wine; and if one Drench or two does 

 not make a Cure, they are 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. 



That this is the common and ordinary Way of 

 Pradice among Horfes, every one knows. We can- 

 not however but own, there are many Gentlemen, 

 and alfo fome of the ableft Farriers ^ who have noc 

 A 4 con-^ 



