RECEIPT BOOK. 57 



reooverv, until the disease is removed which oc- 

 casioned it. — Therefore, methods for the cure of 

 those distempers must be followed, and applications 

 made outwardly for this. But if it be an original 

 disorder, and if the horse have been pampered, or 

 well fed, the cure ought to be begun by bleeding 

 and purging, to lessen the redundancy of humors. 

 Neither should these be too often repeated: But 

 what is wanting in that wav had much better be 

 effectuated by a more spare diet, with daily exer- 

 cise. After moderate evacuations, a rowel may 

 be made on the inside of the thigh, or on the belly; 

 which may be continued for a month, or longer if 

 necessary. In the mean time the cinnabar or an- 

 timonial balls ought to be constantly given. And 

 while these things are doing internally, the legs 

 ehould be frequently rubbed, not with hard instru- 

 ments, but with a good wisp of hay, or a brush. 

 Baths and fomentations, such as may cause the 

 humours to go off by perspiration, or render them 

 fit to return in the circulations, are also to be made 

 use of. For this purpose the following is recom- 

 mended. 



Take wormwood eight handfuls, John's wort, 

 centaury, camomile, of each four handfuls, elder 

 flowers two handfuls, bayberries half a pound: Boil 

 them in two gallons of water till one third is con- 

 sumed, and make a fomentation. 



The horse's legs are to be bathed three or four 

 times a day, with woollen cloths wrung out of the 

 liquor, and applied as hot as he can bear them, ad- 

 ding a little of the spirit of wine or brandy. And 

 if they be much inflamed, as happens when the 

 sinews are affected, a good quantity of the ashes 

 of the green twigs of vines, walnut or oak, may he 



