MINOR DISEASES 



IT is not so very long since that most grooms 

 of any standing had in their possession a 

 greater or less number of astounding recipes, 

 warranted to cure any and every disease to which 

 horseflesh is subject. There were balls and 

 blisters and electuaries and drenches and all 

 kinds of abominable compounds. I have some- 

 where in my possession — where, I am unable to 

 say, and except as curiosities they are not worth 

 looking for — four or five books of this description. 

 Most of them, indeed I think I am well within the 

 mark when I say all of them were purchased by 

 my uncle Mr. Watson Dixon, for sums varying 

 from 10/6 to a couple of guineas, from grooms 

 who were out of place or retired and were bought 

 more for the sake of recognising the worth of the 

 vendors than for any value the recipes might have. 

 There were of course some good things in these 

 books, especially in the way of cleaning boot-tops, 

 removing stains from scarlet coats, cleaning 

 leathers, etc., but that was all. If anyone w^ants 

 a specimen of the prescriptions he will find plenty 

 like them in Gervase Markham's Generall Cure 

 of all Cattell. He will find some curious re- 

 medies there, though there are a few hints perhaps 



