Lib. I. Of Cures Phyjical, lo 



Aloes. Now the ancient Farriers did did ule to Purge their Horfes 

 with the Pulp of Coloquintida, ll>metimes with the Roots of Wild- 

 Cucumbers, and fometimes with the Broth of a fodden VVhelp mixf 

 with Nitrum and fuch like ; but at this Day they are not of our PraOrice, 

 and therefore I wifli him, that for his Experience, flill to make a trial 

 of ftrong Medicines, or know the working of every Simple, (which is 

 a moft Prife-worthy Ambition,) Firft to make his Proofs upon Jades, 

 whofe Lofs he refpe£leth not, and fo by that working to adventure on 

 better Horfes. 



But to return to my former Purpofe : The Farrier who gceth about to 

 Purge a Horfeby Purgation, muft confider the Nature of the Korie's 

 Dileafe, and the Strength of the Horle, and with them jcyn the Nature, 

 Stength and Qiiantity of the M dicine •, he muft alio confider the Cli- 

 mate under which the Horfe is Bred, the time of the Difeafe, the time 

 of die Year, and the time of the Day. For as the Difeafes and the Hu- 

 mours which caufe the Difeafe are fundry, fo they muft be avoided by 

 fundry Medicines, fundry Ways compounded, according as Experience 

 from a continual Fraftice fhall inftruft you ^ wherein you are to obferve 

 Endnote, that Weak, Delicate, and Tender Horfes are not to be purged 

 with that Violence, which Strong, Stubborn and Sturdy Horfes are, and 

 therefore in fuch Cafes, the Quality and Quantity is to be looked unto 

 of every Simple. The Climate is to be refpefted, as whether it be Hot 

 or Cold, and the time of the Difeafe : For Ibme Difeafes muft be purged 

 at the beginning, as Fevers, Peftilence, Yellows, Staggers, and all vio- 

 lent inward Difeafes, and fome not till the Water be thorougly digefted, 

 as Cold, Strangles, and Apofthumations. Now although the Sicknefs pro- 

 ceeds from cold Humours, yet you muft not Adminifter as hot Simples 

 in Summer as in Winter ^ nor in the contrary Cafe fb cold things in Win- 

 ter as in Summer, whereby you fee the Time and the Seafon of the Year 

 is to be repefpefted. Then touching refped of the Day,you are to obferve 

 that Day to be beft that is moft temperate, fince too much heat maketh 

 a Horfe faint, and too much cold doth hinder the Medicine from Work- 

 ing. A little Regard is to be had in the Wind and Weather ; for a 

 moift Day with a South Wind, is to be preferred before a North Wind 

 with a dry Day. Now the beft hour of receiving any kind of Potion,is ever 

 in the Morning, after he hath fafted from Meat and Drink all the Night 

 before, Affoon as your Horfe hath received any Pill or Potion, let him 

 be walked, or gently ridden up and down one hour at the leaft, and then 

 let up and fuffered to ftand on the Bitt two hours after, well littered, 

 cloathed and ftopped •, but if you perceive that he beginneth to grow 

 Sick or 111 (as moft commonly Horfes will) then you fhall fuffer him to 

 lie down, and affoon as his Sicknefs is paft, you ihall offer hiin to drink a 



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