Lib. I. Of Cures Phyfical, 1 1 



Chap. IX. 0/ the Six Things not Natural, hew they Profit y and hov» 



they Hurt. 



HAving Ipokeii of the Natural things, whereof a Horfe's Body is 

 compounded, it is needful now that we ipeak Ibmething of the 

 other fix which be not Natural, ^o far forth as they concern the Of- 

 fice of the Farriers^ and no farther ; for with other matters we have not 

 to do, The iirft thing then which is not natural, yet preferveth a Horfe's 

 Body in good flate, is the Air, which being pure, iharp, clear, and 

 piercing, giveth great Life and Nourishment to a Horfe : But being con- 

 trary, that is, grofs, thick, and full of putrefaction, it cannot chufe but 

 alter the good habit of his Body, and breed in him many Infirmities : 

 Therefore every Farrier fhall have great refpeft to the Air wherein a 

 Horfe either liveth or was bred in ^ as if a Horfe that was bred in a hoc 

 Air, come to live in a co'd, and through the exchange grow Sick, the Far^ 

 rier fhall by warm Diet, clofe Houle, and moderate Cloathing, bring his 

 Nature to a ftronger acquaintance : Alfo when a Horfe exceedeth in any 

 of the four Qualities, that is, m Heat, Moiflnefs, Coldnefs, or Dri- 

 nefs, it is befl for him to live in that Air, which is contrary to that 

 Quality, wherein he exceedeth. Laflly, in many Difeafes, the change 

 of the Air is mofl wholelome, as fhall be fhewed at large in the particu- 

 lar Difeafes. 



For the Meat and Drink of a Horfe, which is the fecond thing not 

 Natural in a Horfe's Compofition, it is not to be doubted, but whilft 

 it is fweet, clean, and good, as Bread well made and baked, dry Oats, 

 dry Beans, dry Peafe, ftveet Hay, fweet Straw, or fhort Grafs, fo lon^ 

 it nourifheth and preferveth the Horfe^s Body : But if it be fufly, raw, 

 corrupt and unclean, or if he eat Tares, Fitches, Rye, or Barley, then 

 muft he needs be unfbund, and full of Infirmities, Therefore the Farrier 

 fhall be careful to keep him from all fuch Food, as breeds naughty evil 

 Blood. As for his Water, the more pure it is, the better •, and the more 

 muddy, thick, and pleaiant, fb much the more unhealthful. 



Now for this Moving and Refl j that is, either his Travel or Standing 

 ftill, which is the third thing not Natural in a Horfe's Compofition, 

 doubtlefs they be great Prefervers of Horfe's Health : For as mode- 

 rate Exerciles difTolve grofs Humours, ingender Appetite, and add 

 Strength unto the Limbs, fo likewife indifferent Reft caufeth Digeftion, 

 comforteth the Sinews, and maketh the Heart chearful againft enfuing 

 Labour. But on the contrary Part, immoderate Travel or Exercifes, 

 when a Horfe is ridden beyond his Strength, breedeth many dangerous 

 and mortal SicknefTes ^ as the Foundring in the Body, the Confumption' 

 in the Lmgs and Liver, molten Greafe, and fucfi like, befides the pifi^g' 

 of Blood, Manginefs, Farcy, and fuch like : All which inward Difeafes 



C 2 crave 



