136 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



which may be of use in these days. For instance 

 the following : '' In travell by no means wash nor 

 walke your horse but be sure to rub him clean '' 

 is sound enough advice, though only part of the 

 following sentences can be commended : '' Water 

 him a mile before you come to your Inne, or more, 

 as shall lie in your journey, or if you fail thereof, 

 forbear it till next morning, for water hath often 

 done hurt, want of water never," which to say 

 the least of it is a somewhat curious position to 

 take up. 



Two of Markham's cures may be given as 

 examples of the empiricism which was to be 

 found in high places in the early seventeenth 

 century — an empiricism which found its survival 

 in many ways in some stables until later into the 

 nineteenth century than many people will readily 

 beheve : — 



''Of any Cough or Cold whatsoever, M^et 

 OR Dry, or for any Consumption or 



PUTRIFACTION OF THE LUNGS WHATSOEVER 



*'A Cold is got by unnaturall heats, and too 

 suddain coolings, and these colds engender coughs, 

 putrifaction or rottenness of the Lungs. The cure 

 thereof for them all in generall, is to take a hand- 

 full or two of the white and greenish Mosse which 

 grows upon an old Oke Pole, or any old Oke wood, 

 and boyl it in a quart of milk till it be thick, and 

 being cold turned to jelly, then strain it, and 

 give it to the Horse luke warme every morning 



