Chap. IV. T^tfcovering forne Errors^ See ii , 

 CHAP. IV. 



D'lf covering fome Errors In the Methods ufually taken 

 to prevent Difeafes in Horfes^ with the froperejl 

 Means to preferve Health. 



^^Othing is more frequent among Farri- Ply/tc^ unite- 

 ^^ ers, than the adminiftring Phyfick to <'#^'3' '^ ^°^~ 

 Horfes that are found and healthful, in or- >» '^"^'(^ '^^ 

 der to prevent their falling into Difeafes ; ^^^ '^ Health. 

 with this Notion moft People, as well as 

 they, have been prepoflefs'd, infomuch that they have tied 

 themfelves up to Times and Seafons, believing a Horfe 

 can never keep found, if he is not bled at this Time, purg'd 

 at that, and at another Time rowell'd ; fome have Cordial 

 Balls ^ or Drinks^ which they keep as Secrets, and which 

 they affirm will prevent all Manner of Infedtion and Sick- 

 nefs. But I fhall endeavour to fhew what manifeft Abufe 

 there is in all thofe Things, and lay down fome General 

 Rules which may truly be of Service to the Prefervation of 

 Health. 



Tho* Health, in its befl Eftate, is only relative, yet all 

 Creatures may be properly faid to be in Health, when they 

 deep, eat, and digeft, when they move without Pain ; and 

 all this depends upon a regular and uniform Motion of the 

 Blood ; now whatever contributes to keep up that uniform 

 and regular Motion, mull be the Means to preferve Health ; 

 but it is very certain, the Means that are ufed in Time of 

 Sicknefs, to reftore that Regularity in the Blood's Motion, 

 muft be prejudicial in a State of Health, becaufe they 

 muft effed fome Change in the Animal Oeconomy, whicli 

 was not wanting. Thus Bleeding and Purging may be of 

 Ufe to put a Check to a Difeafe, if a Horfe be plethorick 

 and full of Blood, or if a Horfe has any other Signs that 

 require Evacuation ; but then it is to be confidered, that 

 thefe are Difeafes adually begun ; and if a Horfe has none 

 of thefe Signs, the EfFeit that any fuch Evacuations can 

 have upon him, muft be a Leflening the Quantity of his 

 Blood, which is often of bad Confcquence; becaufe the 

 Leflening the Qiiantity of the Blood, gives it a different 

 Motion f;om. what it had before. 



If 



