BOOK 11. ^iKcl Expert Fcrrier, 77 



cafion may require, let him be at iiand'to help and fupply the 

 Hofe with all "things neceflary. 



Hippophilus- A^lay a man atiain to any k'-'Owledge of the healthy OfExcre- 

 or tndif^oftion of the Horfe by cbferving his Ordure or Excre- n^ents. 



mcnts ? 



Hipfoferus. Yes may he Sir, and that very much ; infbrauch 

 as I would advife all careful Ferriers who have a delire to at- 

 tain reputation by their Art, that before they do adminifter 

 any inward rpedicine, whether purgations, or Cordials •, that 

 ' they be careful firfl (if pofTible) to fee his Ordure : for I do find 

 for the moft p?rt the Ordnre is correfpondent to the food the 

 Horfe eateth, efpecially for the colour ; for if he run at grafs, 

 or be foyled in the Stable, then will hisdmg be evermore green, 

 howbeit of a more bright, and fometimes again of a more dark 

 colour, and it will be rather foluble than hard ; but the indif- 

 ferent colour, and freer from hardnefs is ever belt, and doth 

 make appearance of the more fanity and health of the beafty 

 as alfo that he is thereby the Icfs fubjedt to coftivenefs, and 

 therefore in better ft.te of body. But if his Ordure be very 

 bright and laxative, it is an infallible lign that he hath eaten 

 fome'thing that is againll nature j as a Feather, or fome naugh- 

 ty Worm, fome Spider, or the like unwholfom thing, other- 

 wife he fcowreth of fome inward cold which hath formerly 

 lurked in hhfiomach or body : But if his dnffg at grafs or foil be 

 very hard and coflive, which he putteth forth with round and 

 hard trattles, then is it a great fign that he is very hot in. his 

 W^ and inward parts, which may endanger the Stavers, or. 

 elfedoth fhew that he hath a furfeit, which he got (before his 

 putting forth) through intemperate riding, waihing, raw, on 

 evil food, or the like, whereby the H^rfe is in danger to be- 

 come morfounded, to have the Yellows, or Jaundife, or aFea:. 

 ver, which will otherwife hardly appear in him in. its efletls 

 until his coming into the. Stable, at what time due order mult. 

 be taken for fpeedy prevention. But if your Horfe do feed up- 

 on Straw, then will the colour of his d^^g be yellow and fome- 

 whathard, long, and well compact, all which be tokens ofav 

 healthy and found body ^ but if it be reddiih, and exceeding! 

 dry, it is a fign of enfuing ficknefs, by means of a great di' j-ught. 

 in thQ body-, and fo alfo if it be thin 5 but if it beblackifL^ &nd. 



doth 



