Chap. I. Of the T>ifeafes ^/Horses. 5 



Long continued Exerciie, efpecially when it is too vio- 

 lent, occafions a too great Diflipation of the Spirits; and 

 if a Horfe's Stomach is very full, or if he be full of Blood, 

 it brings on innumerable Diforders ; as fliall be obferv'd, 

 when we come to treat of the Difeafes particularly. But 

 the want of proper Exercife is equally pernicious, as it 

 hinders Digeftion, and occafions a too great Diftention of 

 all the Vellels, which caufes Surfeits and other Diftempers. 



A too quick Difcharge of the Dung, before there is a 

 due Separation of the Chyle from the excrementitious 

 Parts, occafions Sicknefs ; for in fuch a Cafe there is ejeft- 

 ed and thrown out the Ufeful with the Ufelefs, whence 

 muft proceed a Refrigeration, and Weaknels of the Body, 

 by reafon of a debilitated Circulation of the Blood. As, 

 on the other Hand, when a Horfe is Coflive, and his Ex- 

 crements retain'd too long, a Plethora^ or Over-fulnefs, 

 will be apt to enfue. But thefe are rather to be accounted 

 Difeafes than Caufes, efpecially in brute Creatures. 



Immoderate Sleep may often be the Caufe of Sicknefs; 

 becaule in Sleep the external Senfes are weak, the nervous 

 Fluid moves flowly, the Heart is feldomer contraded, and 

 the Circulation of the Blood goes on with lefs Brisknefs : 

 Watching produces all the contrary Effedls. 



As for the Paffions and Aifeclions, to which Markham^ 

 and others, have afcribed Difeafes, it is very certain that 

 thefe Creatures have their feveral AfFedtions ; fuch as 

 Love and Hatred, Fear and Anger, which may be accom- 

 pany'd witli a flow or quick Motion of the Blood, as this 

 or that happens to be Predominant ; but thefe being fel- 

 dom Permanent, and of any Continuance in brute Crear- 

 tures, but chiefly adminiller to their common Inftincl of 

 Self-prefervation, there cannot therefore be much attribut- 

 ed to them. 



Befides the above recited Caufes, which are indeed the 

 mod common and ordinary, there are an infinite Number 

 of others, which may bring on Difeafes, as has been al- 

 ready obferv'd ; and fuch are all outward Accidents, as 

 Falls, Bruifes, Wounds, and the like; as alfo unfeafonable 

 Evacuations, and all improper Application of Remedies, 

 which is frequently pradtifed among Farriers for Preven- 

 tion, while Horfes are in a State of Health. But I Ihall 

 take fome Notice of this in a following Chapter, and there- 

 fore proceed to the Signs. 



I X CHAP, 



