394 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



tion, and the writers who previously treated of this branch 

 of science, and were altogether silent regarding shoeing, 

 now speak of it and its requirements. 



Foremost among these was the Calabrian, Jordanus 

 RufFus, Master of the Horse [Comes Mare.stalli) to the 

 great Frederick, who lived in the 13th century. This 

 hippiatrist appears to have held high rank at Frederick's 

 Court, for in one manuscript he signs his testament, ' Ego 

 Jordanus, magnus justitiarius Ruffus de Calabria impe- 

 rialis Marescallus major interfui his et subscribi feci.' In 

 the Harleian Codex of the British Museum is a manu- 

 script in the Sicilian language, beginning, ' Izi cominza 

 la libra di manischalchia compostu da lu Maestro Giordano 

 Russo di Galicia, mariscalo del imperatore Federica.' 

 Another codex is in the Damiani library at Venice, a 

 Latin translation of which begins, ' Incipit liber manescal- 

 chiae. Nui Messeri Jordan Russu de Calabria volimo 

 insignari achelli chi avinu a nutricari cavalli secundu chi 

 avimu imparatu nela manestalla de lu imperaturi Federicu 

 chi avimu provatu e avimu complita qusta opira nelu 

 nomu di deu, e di Santu Aloi.' The patron saint of 

 farriers was thus, it appears, invoked to countenance his 

 labours. 



The only good edition to which I have had access, is that 

 published at Bologna in 1561, with the tide, ' II dottisimo 

 libro non piu Stampato delle Malscalzie del Cavallo, del 

 Signor Giordano Rusto, Calaurese.' The work is curious, 

 but by no means despicable ; and his brief remarks on 

 shoeing are sensible enough. After mentioning that it is 

 useful to wash out the horse's mouth and rub it with 

 powdered salt, particularly if the animal does not drink 



