THE Herds-mans MATE: Or, a GUIDE for Herds-men. TEACHING How to Cure all Diseases in Bulls, Oxen, Cows, and Calves Gathered from sundry good authors, and well approved by the author, in his Thirty Years practise. Also many Cures found out by himself, and never yet written; gathered into this portable Volume, and sent abroad for the good of the Common-wealth, and Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, and all places else where need is. Being very profitable for all those, that either have, or take the charge of keeping this laborious, good, and fruitful kind of Cattle. Gathered and Professed by MICHAEL HARWARD Philom. DUBLIN, Printed by Benjamin took, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty; And are to be Sold by Joseph wild Book-seller in Castle-street. 1673. IMPRIMATUR. Mich: De Laune, Reverendissimo in Christo Patri, ac Michaeli Archiepiscopo Dubliniensi, nec non Hiberniae fummo Cancellario E Sacris. June 6. 1672. To the NATIVES, and others the Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Ireland. The author wisheth health and prosperity here, and eternal happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter. Gentlemen, Neighbours, and Friends, SInce I came into this fertile iceland, I have heard of many men that have sustained great losses by the death and mortality of Cattle; many whereof might have been saved alive, by the skill and industry of a painful and laborious Oxeleech. But I see very few that bestow any pains in that noble Science: And those few almost wholly neglected, by reason that the Natives; and many of our English-Irish lukewarm Protestants, when any disease happens amongst their Cattle, do not look for help till some store of them be dead, and then to save those that are yet alive; they make use of those that have charms, enchanted water, enchanted Rings, and Bells. And so by Diabolical means get help for that time. Not remembering that for saving the life of a beast, they endanger the loss of their precious Souls, unless they repent truly, as I doubt few do. Others drive their Cattle, some 10, some 12, or 16 miles, to force them through a River; which they call a Murren-ford, and some loose more by hasty driving in summer, then by the disease itself. Now to save all this toil, and also the hazarding of your eternal happiness, by using ungodly and Diabolical means, I say to save all this, I have here prescribed you a natural way, a way which God blesseth. If in subordination to him, we make use of those juices, herbs, plants, and minerals, which he hath caused the earth to contain and bring forth: both for food, and to cure all diseases both in man and beast. Now if you get help this way, you may give thanks to God, and say; the Lord is my helper, and deliverer in whom I trust, and to whom I seek in time of trouble, and be hath comforted me. But if you receive help the other way, you may pay the Charmer, and say; I have got help by Satans means, he is my helper, to his ways will I trust, and to his Servants will I seek for help, &c. Friend, what I have painfully gathered, well approved, and prosperously used, I offer to thy view; If thou please to make use of it; thou wilt receive the profit. If thou cast it by and use thy old magical way, I have told thee before what gain thou art like to receive. However like or not like, use or not use, it hurts not me. I have done my duty, and cast my two mites into the Treasury; have given my Talent to the Exchangers, not daring to hid it in the earth, nor lodge it with me in my shrine. M.H. To the courteous Reader, that intends to practise in this most excellent, needful, and necessary Art. FRiend( if I may so call thee) who ever thou art, that readest this small Treatise, if thou do it only for pleasure, it may add some profit also; but much more if thou practise. For, what more pleasure canst thou have in any earthly employment, then to recover thy sickly beast to health by thy labour and industry? wilt thou not receive it as a blessing from Jehovah? and return him thanks with a joyful heart, yea, not thine own onely, but also the sick and fainting beast of thy Neighbours, or friends. If thou be a Gentleman or one of ability to do it freely, thou shalt have the prayers of many; and the bowels of the poor shall bless thee, If thou beest poor,& not in a capacity to give freely, the labourer is worthy of his hire; yet be willing to cure, improve Gods blessings, take pay of the rich: but oppress not the poor and needy, rather give then receive, thou knowest a poor mans cause being so thyself. But what ever thou art, Gentleman, Farmer, or day-labourer; If thou intendest to serve thine own Town, Parish, or country about thee in this pleasant, and charitable employment. Thou are to understand that all. Arts consist of these four parts, viz. Fore-knowledge, Precept, Rule and Commentary; and as in these there is no Redundancy, so there is as little lack; for by fore-knowledge thou must foresee what the disease is, and what remedies to use. By precept thou shalt be taught what to do in all cases, together with Rules for thy orderly pr●ceeding in the work. And by Commentary, thou shalt understand what accidents have, or may happen in any cure, of all these thou shalt be instructed in the following work. And if thou wilt be as careful in learning and practising, as I have been in collecting and composing, no doubt but thou wilt prove a good proficient to thine own profit, and the good of all thy neighbours. But be sure thou have an accurate and ready head, a good memory, and an active and nimble hand, together with resolution and boldness, yet careful and vigilant, not rash nor hasty; if thou wantest these qualifications, thou art not fit to administer physic, much less to perform day chirurgical operation. The signs of all diseases and sorances, I have set down before the cures; be sure to get them ready in thy mind, before thou offer to practise; for it is preposterous to be learning, when thou shouldst be practising. And to make thee prompt and ready in the Arts, it is good for thee to go with some one that doth practise,( if there by any near to thee) and see how he gives medicines, and performs his chirurgical operations, and observe the event, it will much embolden and prompt thee, when thou art to act thyself. Forget not this premonition, but premeditate on it, and what else is requisite and necessary for thy Calling, so go on cheerfully, and the Lord give a blessing to thy labours. When thou art called to a sick beast, be sure to take good heed of these signs following, for they are very bad; and many times death follows in a short time; yea, sometimes immediately. First, if the beasts mouth be could within, and his lips begin to be pale and lank, death is near at hand. Secondly, his eyes sunk down into his head, with a ghastly look, ad a sharp-sented breath, not one of these escapes. Thirdly, the horns being very could, and the beast careless, not taking notice of any thing, death. Fourthly, the beast lying along on the ground groaning, and if you raise him up to sit, he full down again carelessly, present death. Fifthly, if thou put fine hay, grass, or the tops of oats between his jaw-teeth; if he eat it not, a bad sign, and few recover. Sixthly, His nose dry and soft, a bad sign. There are more signs of death, which I will not insert here, but where I treat of the Diseases, unto which they are appropriated. Good signs are, due drops on the top of the beasts nose, his mouth warm, his eyes full as in health, his horns warm, sitting as in health, though sick, the belly not swollen, if he piss or dung being walked, if he chew and eat such meat as is put into his mouth, or between his jaw-teeth, all these are good signs. But if he once chew the Cud, then he is safe for that time, if his disease be acute; but not so in chronical diseases, which are of long continuance, as I will show in their due places. But observe these well, and thou wilt hardly fail in giving judgement of recovery, or death. M.H. Ague in Calves, or other Cattle. THE cause of this disease, is could and wet sitting in their houses, also sitting on much hot dung, and having the could wind blowing on them through a door, or open wall. But for those that are in the fields abroad, the onely cause, is, the intemperature of the Air, being now every hot, and anon very could: So that the cattle are first chafed with heat, and presently chilled with could; And this unequal temper stops the veins and pipes of the liver, whereby its natural operation is hindered, and breedeth raw un-concocted juice, whereby the constitution of the Body is altered, and that is the cause of this Ague or fever in Cattle. The signs are, watering of their eyes, and heaviness of their heads, which they will hang down, and also dribling at their mouths, their veins beating with great heat over all their bodies,( saith Mascall.) But in all my Thirty years practise, I have ever found them hang down their heads, their eyes look dim and waterish, their mouths colder then ordinary, their bodies lank and lennow, and could withall, refusing to eat, or suck if Calves. The Cure. If they be Calves of a good Age, and at grass, them let them blood under the tail, viz. in the vein on the under side the tail, four inches from the Rump, and give to each calf half a pint of water, wherein is boiled one good handful of Colewort leaves, chopped very small, and one pennyworth of Salit-oyl, and a spoonful of Salt, give this quantity to each calf three mornings together fasting, and walk them gently half an hour, and let them not drink in two hours. If you want Cole-wort leaves, then take in their place a good handful of the leaves and roots of plantine, and use them as the other: Also change their pasture, drive them to some place where they may have young and tender heath to eat, and sweet and open Air, if you have not heath, then let them have fresh grass, but not too rank, for that is not so good. If your calves be young and suck, then give them the foresaid Medicine at night after their sucking an hour or more. But loose no blood in this case, but make their house clean, and give them clean straw; for fear by the heat of their dung, and smell thereof, they get the Flux in their bellies; which in this case will be worse to cure then the other disease. In the day time put them out of doors into some fair close, or yard till night, and remember to give your drench three dayes together and it helpeth, often proved. Of the fever in great Cattle. THe causes of this more dangerous fevers, are the same as before, onely there is a greater flux of raw humors engendered, by heat and could intemperately mixed. The Signs. The signs of this fever are, his eyes wax hollow, and are dropping, his head lumpish and heavy, his mouth foaming and lavering, and drawing long his breath, with pain and much groaning, and some time he will sigh. The Cure. To cure this disease, you are to keep him a day and a night without meat or drink, the next morning draw a little blood in the vein under the tail, then about an hour after, you shall give him thirty small Trunchions of Coleworts, sudden in Salit oil, and salt fish water, and make him to swallow it, do this five morning together fasting, and give him the tender branches of Lintile pease, Olive branches or buds of the vine, and rub or chafe and cleanse his lips, and thrice a day give him could water to drink, and keep him in the stall till he be whole and sound, so saith Leonard Mascall. Others say first let the Beast blood in the neck vein, and save the blood in a basin, and stir it well that it clot not together, then take a pint thereof, and a pint of strong bear, and a penny-worth of Salit-oyl, and a good handful of p●antine leaves, and as many colewort leaves, being all chopped very small, set them on the fire and boil them well, then take them of the fire, and being no more then blood warm, give it to the Beast, and walk him an hour after, and use him as is taught before: both these are very good, but my order is as followeth. First I let the Beast blood in the vein under the Tail, then I give him a pint of reasonable strong brine, wherein is boiled a good handful of colewort leaves, or plantine leaves and roots, which of them is soonest got, and stamped small; give it blood warm, and walk him gently an hour after, if he be able, then drive him to some heathy land if you have it, or give him the green leaves of Hazel, or Ash-tree leaves if you can get them, or green cabbage leaves, if he eat not, put a little at a time into his mouth between his jaw teeth, if he eat it there is good hopes: but if he drink clear running water, and eat, or but pick and chire grass the cure is done, often proved. Give this medicine three dayes together, if need so require. But here take notice of an accident, which once happened to me in this cure, in the latter end of April, 1649. I was called six miles from home to medicine a Cow, which was despera●ely sick of a fever, and full of crude homo●s, first I let blood, then gave the medicine, and rolled her dowlap with a root of black Helebour; but she appeared much worse for three hours, then I gave her one quart of strong beer, wherein was boiled one pennyworth of long Pepper and Ginger, and one ounce of aniseed beaten small, and one pennyworth of Salit oil, this troubled her exceedingly, so that she lay down as to die, and the Gentleman her Master gave her for lost, yet her mouth was warm, her horns hot, and due drops did sometime appear on her nose: We left her laid all along and went to Dinner, which was long being many, and it Sunday; when we came forth she sate up, and looked somewhat better, we went to the Church to Evening prayer, that being ended we hasted to our cure, and found she looked very well, we got her on foot, and found her Udder swollen as big as a milk-pale, which I scarified very well, and it run abundance of water and blood, much like to water wherein bloody meat had been washed. I also rolled the udurn just through the skin with strings of hair, in four or five places, to give the peccant humors way to issue forth, which run a main, so we gave her Oats and Hay and left her that night, and by the next morning she had eaten a good part of two great Oat sheaves, and some Hay, and with the loss of her milk recovered: And at the next Easter she was a gallant Beif. This I noted for thy learning, if thou have the like accident. Of the pestilent fever. I call it the pestilent fever, because it is very contagious, as the Pestilence or murrain are, and also to difference it from the other fevers which are more mildred, and not infectious at all. The cause of this violent and contagious fever, is, the infection of the air by the contamination of the could, at such times as there are plenty of hot vapours; yet quickly beaten away with their could Antagonist; now these hot and could vapours are made contagious, or healthful by astral influence &c. If any will have this disease to proceed from corruption of blood, he may be pleased to understand, that nothing corrupts the blood so soon as intemperate Air, by the influence of the malevolent aspects of Stars; If you say it comes by intemperate weather, I answer, the weather is caused by the Aspects. If you will have it caused of great wet and inundation of waters; I answer, great and long wet, and many floods may cause a Rot in Cattle, as I shall declare hereafter, but not this pestiferous disease. The Signs. In this fever the Cattle stand for the most part under Hedges, Bushes, or in dry ditches, with their four feet near together, and hang down their heads, and crouch so that their backs stand up, and they shake and quiver much in their flanks and thighs, and also on their ribs behind their shoulders; their mouths and horns intemperate, sometime very hot, and soon could again, and eateth little or nothing, then the cure is hard, and few being so escape. And truly, our common illiterate Ox leeches in England lose many of this disease, for want of knowledge, and all they can say is, the Cattle are bewitched. The Cure. First divide the sick from the whole, for one will infect many. Then let the sick blood in the neck vein, let them bleed well; but so, as not to weaken them, remember this in all thy cures. The blood will be thin, and of a light read colour, as though it were mixed with white, and it will froth much, the more the worse: also it will quickly turn to water, so that no sign of blood appears but froth onely, then he is far spent, and hath need of speed and help: The Medicines. Take the juice of Camomel one ounce, the juice of Rue half an ounce, and the juice of Colworts three ounces; if ye want Colworts take plantine leaves and roots, boil these juices in a quart of new Beer or Ale a walme or two, then take them from the fire, and put into the Beer so boiled, of Frankincense one dram, and of Cassie one dram, being first desolved in two ounces of the best Treacle, mix it very well together, and give it to your Beast being blood warm, and walk him gently half an hour after, and see that you keep him warm in the house, and keep the house clean and sweet, and give the medicine three dayes together in the morning fasting: Besides what you give the first time. Also take of Castorium one scruple, and of Assafetida as much, desolve these in one good spoonful of the juice of Sage, and two spoonfuls of Aquevite; and with a spoon put it into both his ears, and some black wool after it, also tie his ears with some inkle, or such like, to keep in the medicine, lest with shaking his head he loose it, keep it in his ears three or four dayes, and if it be any where near to be got, then let him drink no water for two or three dayes, but that wherein Eldern Roots have been boiled, they being first cut, or beaten small, for want of Eldern Roots use wheat bran. Be diligent to get these medicines in time, and thou wilt not fail on thy cure. Also thou must not forget to look well to those that are in health, for as many as were in his company are in danger of being infected: therefore to secure them, give to each of them half a pint of urine, wherein a good handful of Hens dung hath been dissolved, and strained out again, and before they go from your hand, give to each beast one spoonful of Tarr, and anoint the tops of their noses with Tarr also. Do this three dayes together, Probatum est. Of the murrain. THe cause of this Infectious disease is the infection of the Air,( as I found once in two Towns in Cheshier, Withinton, and Sithinton, where a dark stinking fog continued three dayes together, in the middle of Summer; and within one week after many of their Cattle were infected with this disease: I was called thither, and found the disease so predominate, that I was forced to go from field to field wit a lantern and Candle to give medicines to sick Cattle) Also is taken by stinking caren lying unburied, or from other infected Cattle; however it makes a quick dispatch, for after it once begins, they are dead within twenty four hours, if help be not found, therefore delay not. The Signs. The ancientest writer I red teacheth many signs to know this disease, which in my practise I have found to signify other diseases: All which I shall insert in their due places, and will here show what I have ever found true. When a beast first beginneth to be sick of this disease, his mouth will run of water, and drivel like as a hungry mastiff, or Hound will; but soon after he will rattle in his throat, and draw his breath very heavily, and forsake his meat; And commonly they begin to swell a little before the knot of the wind-pipe, thence to the end of the jaw bone, to the Cheeks, and so up to their ears; some swell in the dow-lap which is easily cured, and some in other parts, as a Cow in her Udder, or the Cod of a Bull, this curable, the other difficult. When any beast death of this disease, you shall see in taking off the hid, the disease will appear in the swollen place under the skin, like a yallow jellie, and of a bad savour: but in this case be careful, let not him that fleays the dead come near the quick, for fear of infection: and he that drencheth the sick is not to come near the sound, till he change his clothes and wash his drenching horn, want of this care loseth many a beast that might be saved. The Cure. First you must consider whether your beast be curable or not, which you may easily do: For if he be much swollen amongst the veins and sinews in the head and throat, he is not curable. Secondly, if he rattle in his throat, and strive much for wind, not curable, Thirdly, if he foam and froth at the mouth, and his breath stink, not curable. The signs of death I shew'd at the first, you may have recourse to them. Now if you find your beast not curable, yet sat, or in good flesh; then you may kill him and make use of the beef, for his flesh is good all but the swollen place. I have caused some dressed, which have been sold before the other of the same company were drenced. Now for the cure, first if the sickness be but newly begun, and there be no swelling nor rattling in his throat, then let him blood in the neck vein, and let him blood, till the blood that comes be thin and read, not black and thick: This done give him a quart of strong beer, or Ale; wherein is boiled two ounces of Angelica Roots, wild carrot Roots, wild Parsnip Roots, or the Root of the Sea holm, which of these you can first get, and one ounce of Fennel-seed, beat your Roots and seeds small before you boil them, and give the medicine blood warm. Then take half an inch of the Root of black Helebory, and put it into the corner of his dowlap that hangs at his knee, make a hole with an Awl just at the lower edge thereof, where the two skins stick together; scrape the black skin of the Root, before you put it into the hole, leave it in, and it will cause the dowlap to swell and run of water, and so cleanse his whole body. This hath been often proved with good success. Of all the Herbs you use for this disease, there is none like to Angelica, either the Roots or the juice of the green leaves. If the dowlap be swollen already, then your cure is, to slit the skin and flay it on both sides from the sore place, so far as you perceive any yellow jelly, or water, or till you come to sound flesh, then rub and chase the fleshy sore very well, with beaten garlic and salt mixed together, to the end it may draw the peccant humour out at that place, that it do not infect the whole body. The like course is to be taken if he swell under the jaws, if he do not rattle in his throat, but if he rattle or wheese no cure. Some bold fool-hardy illiterate Ox-leaches, do flay up the skin, and pare away the corrupted flesh, which is tolerable in the dowlap onely, not near the throat,( where commonly it first appears,) for if you cut a vein or sinew you get a second cure, perchance worse then the first: therefore take heed, I was warned by other mens harms. Truly I never lost any which I so flayed and dressed for this disease, which were many. But whether you flay onely, or flay and cut away the bad flesh, be sure to put a big tent of beaten garlic and salt butter into the new sore, and stitch up the skin so that the tent may tarry in, and the matter may issue out. Also remember to blood and drench this beast as the other, and you must not fail to drench all those that are sound, with Angelica if you can get it, if you cannot get Angelica, then use urine and Hens dung, as is taught for the pestilent fever before. If this disease do first appear in a Bulls cod, he may be cured by gelding and dressing, These are often proved. Give your Cattle meat and drink as is taught before. Of the Garget an ill Disease. Of this Disease I must amply speak, and show the cause and cure for the several kinds thereof: for there is the Garget of the Tongue, the Garget of the Throat, the Garget in the Maw, and the Garget in any out part by some push or stroke given. The Garget in the Throat. THis is caused by corruption of blood, which by the force of the expulsive virtue, is beaten from the vegetable parts,( where it would cause the pestilent fever) to the superficies, and there causeth a swelling. The Signs. It commonly beginneth to swell under the Beasts chaps, and is at first like to a bladder of water; such as a rotten sheep will have, then his lips will wax thick and slimy, and swell back to his throat, and up his cheeks to his ears, as the murrain doth: some begin to swell in the dowlap first, and so it goeth along the throat to the cheeks and ears, and backward to the brisket and belly: And when it is swollen so big that he cannot stoop to eat, then he soon death; And when he is dead and in fleying, the swollen place will appear very like the murrain, but that there will no blisters arise between the flesh and the skin, as doth in the murrain: Also this difference is between them, that these eat till they are hindered by the swelling, and the other do not. Also these live four or five dayes, and some more: but the other die within twenty four hours if remedy be not found, as I told you before. The Cure. If the swelling be but newly begun, either under the chaps, or in the dowlap; it may be quickly cured as followeth. First slit the skin so long as the swelling is, then flay it up on both sides till you come to sound flesh, then rub the sore well with beaten garlic and Salt, and leave a good lump of bruised garlic in the sore, on both sides, then stitch up the skin gently, that it may have room to issue forth, and let him go to his meat as before, for the cure is done, often proved, this is my own way. Others when they have flayed up the skin as aforesaid, do take fair white sifted Ashes of wood, and mix them with the grounds of old stale urine, and stir them well together: then also wash the fleshly sore therewith, some do boil it first, and then wash therewith, both ways are very good. Then close up the skin again, and anoint it with Tar and oil mixed, or ye may lay thereon a plaster of Nettles bruised and mixed with salt, or a plaster of pitch. Moscall. But if he be much swollen, and you be forced to flay a great breadth, then your best and onely cure is, when ye have plastered the sore, then to wrap it with some big woolin cloath to keep it warm, and if it be in wincer keep him in the house the night season, and drive him out in the day. This disease being much swollen either under the chaps, or in the dowlap and breast is not easily helped. Yet some silly practitioners will tell you all will be well in a little time: But in that time it often comes to pass that the beast death. This I have often seen, wherefore my advice is, if he be much swollen, and the beast be fat, then kill him, and cast the infected part away, but the rest is good meat, you may safely eat it, if he be not sat, then act and do your best to recover him. The Garget on the Tongue. THe Garget on the Tongue of a beast ox, or cow, is a certain swelling under the root of his Tongue which will cause his head and face to swell, and to froth also at the mouth, he will then forsake his meat in often gulping in his throat, &c. The Cure. You must cast your beast on some straw for bruising,& then take forth his tongue, and with the point of a sharp knife slit along the middle vein under an inch long, right from the root of his tongue, and there will come forth black blood and water, which cometh from the gull. Then ye shall rub the place with salt and vinegar mixed, and so he will recover and do well again, often proved Masc. Though this Author say often proved, I cannot say one proved. For truly I ever found this the worst of all Gargits, but I was never called to any beast sick of this disease, till the tongue was swollen so big that it hung out of his mouth, and he could not eat at all; and though I used the means prescribed, and caused the beast to be fed with milk, yet mist the cure. Therefore if once a beasts tongue be sore, and swollen as abovesaid, then my advice is, as in the former Gargit, for fear you loose your labour and your beast. What I speak in this case is not by hearsay, but by experience, the cure is hard and tedious. Of the Garget in the Maw. THe Garget in the Maw of a beast, ox or Cow, &c. is an ill disease, and some very hard to cure. The Sign and cause. It is a swelling in the beasts belly, caused by eating green or dry Corn, and drinking much water after his great glut of Corn. It is also caused eating many Crabs, or Acorns; or browsing, and feeding much on green Oak-leaves, and buds in May or June. Now let me speak to each of these a part, as I have found by experience. If your Cattle eat much Oak-brouce in the spring, when it hath young leaves on it; it will lie undigested in the paunche●● and thence goeth into the stomach, where it should be digested and made small even as the dung which they avoid: but there it drieth and baketh together, so hard that it cannot easily be cut a sunder when the beast is dead. Neither can it be mollified with medicine, but with his heat and dryness, burneth and drieth all those small enfolded skins; then nature ceaseth to work, having lost her tools, and the fabric soon falls. The green leaves of yew are of the same nature, if much of them be eaten. Also if your Cattle eat many Crabs, they will set their Teeth on edge, and then they will swallow them whole, and fill their paunches so full as they can hold, and there they lie and rot, and so destroy the beast: For, into the stomach they cannot come, neither is there room for these unbruised bodies to enter in amongst these weak and tender skins. And the like may be said of Acorns, for if they eat many of them and swallow them whole: as commonly they do when their Teeth are edged with Crabs; Then they spirit and gnaw in their maws, and few escape death. And if they do chew them well and swallow none whole, yet by long eating thereof, and little or no grass, they will dry and harden in their stomacks, as is said of the green leaves before. Also there is a Garget in the Maw by eating green or dry corn, which may cause your Cattle to die, if they be not carefully looked into. The Cure. Take a good quantity of whole Mustard-seed, and mix it with strong Wine, or Ale, and give it to the beast. Another, chop and then bruise small a good handful of Gamomile, and then mix it with Wine, and give it to the beast. Another, take a handful of Juniper crops or berries, cut them, and then bruise them all small: then mix it with wine and give it. Another, take penyrial, Rocket, and garden mint, of a like quantity, stamp them together, then put to it a pint of Wine or Ale, and let it stand close covered all night, on the morrow strain it, and give it the beast. Another, take a good handful of the leaves and roots of Avance, wash them, and then lay them to soak all night in Wine or strong Ale, then on the morrow stamp them, and then strain them, and so give it the beast. All these remedies are found good to digest, and also for the cleansing of the maw saith Mascal. These medicines though they are good, yet some of them are hard to get; others long in preparing. I use the first, to which I make this addition as followeth. First I bruise the mustard-seed, but not small; then two or three good spoonfuls of it, I put one ounce of Salit oil, and as much treacle; and I put these in a quart of strong Beer, or Ale, when it is new and working in the vessel, if it may be got so; or the newest I can get, mix it well together, and give to your beast, to each sick beast this much. This you must give many dayes together as you see need, for, it is not once, or twice that will serve: If the disease come by eating green oak browse, Acorns, or Crabs; for, as by long eating thereof, they are brought to this spoiled condition: So by administering physic often, they must be recovered, if at all. I have known some die of this disease( caused by green oak leaves,) when this medicine had digested, the dry and hard substance in the stomach, two or three inches round about the edges, and caused the beast to scour, yet all the middle remained hard: and the many fouldes of skin therein dried, and dead. If this disease be caused by eating oak browse, Acorns, or Crabs, let your Cattle have water at pleasure, for want thereof hastens their death, &c. But, if your Cattle get the Garget, or do swell by eating green Corn, either in the blade, or in the cars before it be ripe: Then give them neither meat nor water till their swelling assuage; but walk them gently in some fair field or lane, and give them the medicine if you please, Probatum est. If your Cattle, either ox, Cow, or any of that kind; yea, Horse or Sheep, do by chance break into your field of dry Corn, or to your ricks of Corn, or threshed Corn in your Barn, especially Barley; Then give them the medicine, but very little water to your beasts, or Horses, for they will drink till they burst their maws: when they have walked and dunged once or twice, let them drink the more. Taking this course, I never failed of my cure. For eating green or dry Corn, whether ox, Cow, Horse or sheep: but I let sheep drink their fill. Sheep cured of this Disease. Once I was called by a Gentlemon to medicine Sheep for this disease, there were four dead, and one in dying, and twenty more sick, and like to die. The cause of their sickness was not known, some said they had eaten some poisonous herbs, others said bewitched, &c. But this gave me no satisfaction, I slit the belly of one open, and found the maw exceeding full of Barley peals: Then I said it was by eating Barley that the sheep were sick, the answer was, that they had destroyed much in the cocks, and had been a week in the Eddish, which was not raled nor gleaned. This by long eating Barley ears, their maws were filled with the chaff, which remained there, when the Corn was digested and gone through them. I gave the foresaid medicine to the twenty sick sheep, to each sheep a quarter of a pint, and they all recovered and did well. So they that were thought to be worth no more then the skins would yield, were within one week after worth Six pound the score. This I note for thy learning, and encouragement, if the like accident happen, &c. Of the windy Garget. THis is a substance of wind between the flesh and the skin, which raiseth all the flesh in small blisters, and bladders; such as deceiful Butchers use to raise their meat with, to make it appear more plump and fair in the eyes of the buyer. This wind raiseth the flesh, and puffs up the skin so fast that you may see it move, as though something were creeping under the skin: and if you rub it with your hand it will rattle like a bladder of wind; and when it is cut open, it appears no otherwise but as beif or veal blown up with wind: and therefore I call it the windy Garget, it is a disease I have not heard of, nor ever see but once, it was a Cow to which I was fetch't six miles, in which time the disease had spread itself all over one side, from the shoulder( where it began) to the Flank and loins, and still went on fast. The Cure. First I slit the skin in many places round about the edges of the swelling, then raised it up with my finger; and put into the sores bruised garlic and salt, to draw out the wind and stop the rising, and as any place arose we made incision, and put in the same as before. There was fetch't an other Ox-leech also, and he thought the cause of this windy swelling was a substance of water lying in her upper belly under her heart, and desired licence to make an issue between two ribs: which being granted he did, and there came forth blood and water a small quantity. But whether his cure, or mine did the work I know not, but the Cow recovered and did well, and that gave us both content. Of the Springs in Cattle THe cause of this disease is blood offending in quantity, and having no other evacuation, openeth the veins in the Arse-gut, and issueth into the drought, and so into the small guts, and stirreth up heat and wind, and stopeth the fundament, so that the beast doth not dung at all, or but very little. The signs of this disease are. His belly will swell much, he will strike his head backward to his belly, and stamp with his feet, and cover much to dung, yet do little, and that mixed with clotted blood. The Cure is. First you must take forth his dung, as far as you can reach with your hand, do it gently for fear of hurting the great gut: Then with a great pipe and a bladder, put a quart of warm Wine and molten butter into his fundament, just as you give a Clister to a man; and hold a handful of rags, or soft hay thereto, to keep it in a good while. When that comes out, put in half a pint of the juice of Plantine and knot-grass, and keep it in as long as you can, do this twice a day for three dayes together. And once a day give him this medicine following. Take plantine a handful, knot-grass as much, and Shepherds purs half a handful, beat them very small, then put them in a quart of strong Beer or Ale, strain out the herbs, and give the beer to your beast with a horn. But if the swelling do not yet fall, then give your beast an ounce of aniseed beaten to powder, and one head of garlic piled and bruised, both boiled in a quart of good Ale, do this three or four mornings together fasting, and walk him gently. Swelling of a Beast, ox, or Cow, &c. by eating of a Tine worm. Swelling by eating venomous Herbs, or any poisonous grass. Also swelling by eating the Conoth worm. SWelling of a beast by eating of a Tine worm is a sore disease, for they will swell as big as the skin will hold. And if remedy be not found, they will die within twenty and four hours. This worm is a small read creature, and round in shape, it hath many feet, and is somewhat bigger then a hogs louse, and doth creep amongst the grass all the summer. The Conoth worm, is a black worm, with many short legs, somewhat longer then half a rye corn, and her body about a singer long, she hath many black hairs thinly scattered all over her, also, she hath two eyes almost as big as a mouse: and if you touch her, she will sprent, and strait hold up her head, and look you in the face, as though she would leap at you. In her body is a yellow poisonous substance, like to the quitter that first comes out of a boil: of which if any beast eat he swelleth, and in twenty four hours death, if remedy be not found. Now because by all these poisons the Cattle swell exceedingly, and there is no sign to know of which it is, neither can I give a true account whether it be caused by any of the three. Therefore I rank them altogether, and will prescribe one excellent remedy for all these poisons, and others also. The Cure. Take Wormwood one handful, Rue half a handful, plantine leaves two handful, Mugwort a handful, and wild carrot leaves a handful, and half a handful of feather-few, beat all these, or so many of them as you can get in a mortar very small, then put them in a pint of urine, stir it well together, and strain out the juice exceeding hard: then put to this juice a quart of strong Beer or Ale, and boil it till a quarter of it be consumed, then take it from the fire, and dissolve in it one ounce of the best Treacle, and two heads of garlic, finely peeled clove by clove, and beaten very small, and half an ounce of myrrh in powder, mix all these well together with the Ale, and being blood warm give it to the beast, and walk him gently an hour after, and let him not eat for an hour and half after, do this two, or three mornings together fasting. Others use for eating of all poisonous herbs, and for eating the field spider also, whereby a beast swelleth) To give the juice of plantine and wild carrots by equal porportion, give it with a little vinegar. Also the juice of mugwort mixed with Ale or Beer and given, others give of Clevers or goose-grass stamped and strained, and given, it is a special remedy against the venom of the field spider and others also. Also the Garden tansy stamped and strained and given with Wine, or the seeds of the great Cow-thistle dried, and made into powder, and given with Wine, or the roots thereof boiled in Wine and given. Likewise garlic stamped together with Ale or Beer and given. Any of these are good alone to be given to a beast, when he is swollen by eating of any venomous thing. And if you take of some herbs two parts together, it will then be stronger& take more effect: but in this case use them with discretion, even as you see cause. Crowling, or crying of the Guts, and freting thereof in Cattle: more properly the Trenches. THe cause of this disease is much Cattar or Rume, falling down from the head upon the Liver: so infeebling the natural heat thereof, that it is not able to concoct the juice of the meat, sent thither by the stomach: but leteth it pass crude and raw into the veins. And thus the whole body is filled with raw juice, which falling on the guts causeth the Trenches. The signs thereof are, much rumbling in the beasts belly: and crying of the guts. Also a flux and scouring. The Cure. Take five Sypress apple, with so may gull nuts, with old wheat the weight of both the other two, then beat them well altogether, and put it into three pints of read Wine, and give the beast by even proportion thereof four mornings: and ye shall not forget to put thereunto( if you can get them) lentile pease, of mints, Pissing of blood called Meand●water. This disease is gotten by some strain, or other hurt in the Reins of the back, whereby they are so weakened, that they are not able to distil the watery substance of blood, sent thither from the liver, but the sucking veins draw it thence, while it is yet raw, like blood and water mixed: or like water wherein bloody flesh hath been washed, and so the water pipes sand it to the bladder, and thence it descends to the spout. The signs are the colour of the urine. The Cure. Take of sharp Tanners owze, before any leather come in it, with the powder made of old Martlemas beef that is lean, mix and stir them well together, and give the beast, this is good and well proved. And the juice of madder given with honeyed water is good. These and many more are taught by Mascal. But I use these two following, which never fail if taken in time. Take of Bolearmonick beaten to powder one ounce, and one handful of the herb called Sundew, or, Rosa-solis, and beat it small, and put these two into a quart of new butter-milk, hot out of the churn, and give it to your beast in the morning fasting, three mornings together, it is a present remedy often proved, not written before. The best of all remedies. Take one ounce of Ising-glass, unwrap it, and chop it small, then put it into a pottle of good new milk, and boil it till half the milk be wasted, then give it to your beast in the mor●… ning fasting, blood warm, do this three mornings together and it helpeth, often proved, and in desperate cases. The herb called Sun-dew, or rosa-solis, is a little low herb, growing in bogs, and mossy base land: the flowers of it grow on small streams about two inches high, and hang at the top of it on bunch, much like the buttons of a band-string: and are in colour white and read mixed. The leaves are about the breadth of ones little finger nail, at the brodest end, and narrowest at the stalk, they are of a read colour mixed with green: and full of small hairs, and have a dewie-moisture( much like to oil) always on them; especially when the Sun shines hot and clear, and they lie on the earth except, grass, or moss held them up. They are in their prime in June, and July, gather them in one of these months, dry them in the shadow, and keep them for winter, pull them up by the stalks, and put them in a dish, for fear you loose the due on them which is of great virtue. Issing-glass, and bole-armonick you may have of any Apothicary. Dew-bolne in Cattle. THis disease in ox, Cow, or other beast, is swelling in the body as much as the skin may hold, this is very dangerous for bursting: it is gotten by eating of the trefoil grass in a dewy-morning,( as some say.) But I am not of their mind: for I constantly see the contrary, in Cattle that eat great store of this grass and swell not: also others that have very little thereof and yet swell, I rather think it to be caused by eating some poisonous herb or grass, except the cattle feed in very rank ground before it have been well nipped with frost: in which case they will swell exceedingly, if the swelling be not caused so. Then there is no difference to be found between this swelling, and that of eating some poisonous thing; for in both there is great store of wind between the great paunch and the back so, that sometimes the hollow above the flank, will be swollen above the back bone; if the wind be in the hollow of the belly, and not in the great paunch it will swell exceeding high, so that by pressing it with your hand, you may perceive it to be in the body: for, on the right side near to the loin, you may press hard with your hand, and feel the great paunch hard, and the skin and flesh puffed up about it, which would not be if the wind were onely in the great paunch. The Cure. Some do chafe and drive him softly up and down to make him to dung, if that do not help, then ye must rak him and take forth his dung, if that serve not, then they strike a hole with a knife in the hollow part of his back above his flank, and there let out the wind with a quill, and so he will recover again: also give him rue, or gard en tanzey, stamped with Wine or Ale to drink, or give him a quart of verjuice, Mascal. But my way of Cure is. First I rak him and take forth his dung, as far as I can reach with my bare arm, and this I do with good heed for fear of hurting the great gut, then I rub the upper part of the gut, towards the back-bone with salt, and so drive him softly up and down half an hour: if he break wind and dung there is good hope of a cure. If he continue sick and swell still, and I perceive a great substance of wind to be betwixt his body and the great paunch and his bowels; Then I take a sharp lancet in my right hand, and with my left hand press down the beasts swollen flank close to the loin on the right side, and if it be possible thrust my four fingers under the edge of the loin: Then thrust your lancet close to your fingers, with the point strait forward as though you would across over the beasts body, between the guts and the loins: thrust or strike your lancet so deep till the wind puff out, then put in a big quill, and stitch it to the skin, one half in and the other out, so that the wind may have free passage to issue out, and let it remain so till the beast be well. Also give your beast every morning one pint of good Ale, and one head of garlic stamped, four or five dayes together. Now if the wind that comes out stink much, and this remedy help not: then make use of the medicines for eating poisonous herbs, prescribed before. But before you give medicines, or loose out the wind, repair to the signs of death, and recovery: and consider whether your beast be curable or not. Also be careful with your lancet for fear of cutting the fat, and kidneys on the loin: or the guts that lie below it on the right side, Also the great paunch on the left side. Reader be diligent to find the cause of swelling in Cattle, for a little mistake here looseth the cure. If Cattle swell by eating young grass in meadows, or any other mawn land, then walk them softly till they dung and they quickly assuage. Blain on the tongue of a beast. THe Blain on the tongue of a beast, is a certain bladder growing above the root of his tongue against the pipe, saith Mascal. But I never found any bladder but on each side the tongue, near the root thereof. The cause of this disease is great chafing, and heat of the stomach: whereby( as some judge) it doth still grow and increase by more heat, for commonly it cometh in the Summer, and not in the Winter, Mascal. But in all my practise I found this disease to be most frequent in the spring, and autumn, very rarely in summer or winter. And for the cause thereof( though Mascal tell me) it is chafing, and fast driving, and for want of water. I am not satisfied therein: for but once this forty years did I see a labouring ox, or drift beast have this disease, neither for want of water: but for the most part it comes to Cowes and other Cattle in March, and April, and the first half of May: when they labour not, nor are driven, and had fair spring water at pleasure; besides standing pools and ditches: which makes me think Mr. Mascal found not the cause of this disease. Now I judge the cause to be, either by eating or drinking some poisonous thing, which poison being over-mastered by the natural balsam of the beasts body, is forced▪ by the expulsive virtue to the thin and weak parts of the internal skin: As the sides of the tongue hear the wind pipe, the Arse gut, the kidneys, and small guts. In these parts it will rise on blisters, and bladders full of wind and yellowish water: and if remedy be not soon found, death followeth immediately. The Signs. If it be on his tongue, he will blow hard, and hold open his mouth, his eyebrows will swell, and his eyes run of water. If he be far spent his eyes will be closed with the swelling of the brows and lids thereof. If it be in the belly or hinder parts, then will the fundament swell, and the flanks: but the surest signs are, swelling of the eyebrows, the eyes running of water, and the loud and troublesome breathing. The Cure. First cast your beast, then take forth his tongue, hold it in your left hand, and with your right hand break the bladders you find at the root thereof, near the wind-pipe, on each side thereof. The blisters, or bladders will be as big as a little egg, if you cannot break them between your finger and your thumb, then cut them with a sharp short knife: or, prick them through with a bodkin, and loose out the offending matter. But take heed of cutting too deep, for spoiling the beasts tongue: Then wash his tongue and mouth with vinegar and salt, or with urine, and make him swallow a new laid egg-shell and all together, and he will quickly recover. But remember to walk your beast softly half an hour after, often proved. When this disease is in the arse-gut, then they use to put up their hand, and break the blisters, and rub it with salt, and so some recover. When it is within his body on the loins, and kidneys, then they cast the beast on his back, and tumble him too and fro, thereby to break the blisters. But there is one short, and sure cure for all these, which never failed me, it is this, as followeth: when you come to a beast that is risen on, in any of the places aforesaid, then take a sharp pointed knife, or lancet, and let the beast blood in the vein under the tail, a shaftment from the rump, and let him be walked gently till his swelling assuage. If he bleed overmuch, you may quickly stry the blood, by laying thereon the spungious dusty-matter that doth fill a dust-ball, or puffin; you may find many of them in old untilled lands that are sandy: or you may tie hares fur in the knot of a shoo-thred, or another small string, and lay the knot on the vein, and tie it fast till it cease bleeding, this must be done with discretion. Milting of a beast. THis is a very sore accident for a beast, and many die thereof: It is breaking, or hurting of the milt. It may be broken or hurt with some blow, or sore stripe,( with goad or staff) or by a push with the horn of another beast, on his side, which makes him to faint and fall down, yea, many die by a great blow along the side, when their bellies are full. The signs of this grief are, he will suddenly lie down in driving, if ye stop never so little. But when any shall so lie down, ye shall not raise him up suddenly again, but ye shall then turn him, and lay him on the other side, and so let him rest a while, to be refreshed again. The cur is. Take of green Ash-tree bark one pound, shave, or scarpe off the outmost dry rind, beat the rest in a mortar very small: then put to it a quart of strong Ale, and let it be close covered for one hour, then strain out the Ale and give your beast to drink, do this three or four mornings together, and he will do well, if the milt be not broken, if it be he is not curable. Want of digestion in Cattle. WHen a beast doth not digest his meat, there is a rawness in his stomach, which is known by his often belching, and his guts make a crowling, his eyes will be full of water, his nerves and sins will be hard and stiff: because he doth not use to rub or lick himself. The Remedies. Take nine pints of warm water, and thirty colewort leaves a little boiled, mix them with some vinegar, and so make him to swallow it down, and all day after ye shall let him eat nothing but that. Also some do give unto the beast three ounces of beaten garlic in a pint of Wine or more, and then do drive him somewhat fast a good while after, use this three or four mornings fasting. barbs in a beasts mouth. THe barbs in a beasts mouth, are certain little teats growing in the sides of his mouth, and every beast hath them. But they hurt not till they grow big and long, and then they trouble him much, by coming between his teeth: and under his tongue, thereby hindering him for chewing his meat. The signs are, his bad and ill savoured eating, also the teats, or chags( as some call them) are long, very big, and of a bluish colour; especially those in the narrow part of his mouth behind his lips: for those will be very big, and long, lying under his tongue, and of colour very black. The cure is. First cause the beasts head to be holden fast, then put your finger between the beasts lips, turn the edge of the lower lip outward, and with a sharp pair of shears, or scisers, clip away these black and blew teats close to the skin, but cut not the skint Then rub the place with salt, and in a day or two he will be well, proved. If the beast have not the barbs nor flux, and d●● not eat his meat well, then give him the juice of garlic and onions with salet oil, hold up his head and pour it into his nostrils: do this three mornings together, and he will be more desirous to eat. Pallet of a beasts mouth inflamed. THis grievance doth so trouble a beast that he cannot well eat his meat, he will sigh often times, standing and weighing more on the one side, then on the other. The remedy is, ye must last him, and then race, or scarify him on the pallet of his mouth, and make him there to bleed well. Then ye shall give him of read fitches wirhout husks, mixed with green leaves, or some other herbs, but give him no dry meat, till he be through whole thereof, saith L. M. This cure pleaseth not me. First, because the pallet is a tender thing, and being cut or hurt doth not heal of a long time. Secondly, a beast is not a reasonable creature, neither can he be held fast by reason of his great strength: Also his mouth is deep, and a knife or lancet sharp; and his throat and wind-pipe near: which being cut are spoiled, or if a vein be cut the fountain of blood very hard to be stayed. And in the third place the passage to the palate is narrow, and it cannot be seen perfectly: Therefore either the acting hand, or the beasts mouth is sure to be spoiled. My cure is, To wash the beasts palate, and his mouth, and the root of his tongue with the whey of an alum posset, as hot as I can abide my hands in it. To do this, tie a bundle of linen rags to the end of a stick, or splint made for the purpose: and let them hang like a fringe over the end thereof, to the end you hurt not the beasts mouth, do this three dayes together: Then wash other three dayes with white Wine vinegar, and the juice of plantine, this a perfect cure, and well aproved. The palate fallen. This is a bad sorance, and hard to be cured. The signs are. The beast will take meat and chew it, but he cannot loose it down, and it will lie on great lumps in the sides of his mouth between his teeth and his cheeks, then he will offer to bite grass, but cannot his mouth being full before, and if you take all clean out of his mouth, then will he eat freely till it be full again, and then cease. To cure this sorance, you must make a piece of wood like to a great spoon, with a handle of a foot long, and as big as your finger: the bit thereof must be two inches broad, and made smooth as a spoon. Then cause the beast to be held fast, and take forth his tongue with your left hand and hold it fast: then let some one anoint the round side of your spoon-bit with pepper and mustard made with white Wine vinegar; Then with your spoon in your right hand, being thus anointed, apply the medicine to the pallet of his mouth which you shall see hang down towards his throat, and thrust it up to the end of the wind-pipe, and hold it there a little while; then loose his tongue, and take forth your spoon, and let him rest half a day: Then look in his mouth again, and if the pallet do still hang down, then dress your spoon as is taught before, and put up the pallet three or four times if need be, and wash his throat very well with strong white Wine vinegar and pepper, proved. If thou be a learner and knowest not this member in a beast, then repair to some Butcher when he slaugtereth a beast, and he will show thee the pallet of the mouth, what it is: and how it covereth the top of the wind-pipe when the meat goeth down, and moveth to and fro, as the beast taketh his wind. Act not before thou understand. Diseases of the eyes. Haw in the eye. THis is a sinewous substance of flesh and skin, growing in the corner of his eye next his nose, and every beast and horse hath it: It doth support and hold the eye in the right place, and as the beast doth stir his eye it moveth over it, and is very useful, yet growing big and hard it doth not hurt but destroy the eye: if remedy be not soon found, if the haws, offend, ye may know by these signs, first if his eye be sore and inflamed, and have not been hurt by stripe o● otherways, it is like the haw doth offend. Secondly, if the haw appear big, and the upper edge thereof be black far on, also if ye see it rub hard on the eye, then it is certain it doth offend. The Cure. For this cure ye must have a good incision needle, with three square; or broad point, let it be three inches long, and so big, that a thread of two or three fold may follow it: it were good to have two of them, and keep them clean and sharp. When you go to use them, put double thread in them both: Then cause your beast to be holden fast, whether it be Horse, ox or Cow: And with the one take up the higher eye-lid, but stitch not to deep, and tie it to his horn, or a Horse to his bridle: so that the eye may stand open. Then with the other needle take up the haw, thrusting the needle through it, a quarter of an inch from the edge thereof: so having drawn the needle through, that you may pull up the haw with the thread, having both the ends in your hand; Then with a sharp knife or scisers ●are away the black and hard edge of the haw, a little above a quarter of an inch deep in the middle, and so less towards the ends: let the piece you take of be one inch long, or less as you see need. This done, loose down the eye-lid that was tied up, and have ready a dishful of fair water, which sup into your mouth, and with both your hands hold open the eye, and spout in the water by a little at a time, to wash the blood clean away: so loose the beast and he shall do well. Now if there be a film, or web grown over the eye( as oft there doth by the rubing of the haw) then you are to use the medicine for the web in the eye, as it is taught hereafter. Web in the eye. THis sonance is a thick fill which covereth the eye, either all or some part of it: some of theso are white, some read, and some black: They may be caused by rheum falling from the brains, and then they are white; if the cause be a stripe, or other hurt, they are first ●ed, and after that blackish. The remedies are. Take white salt, and wrap it in a linen cloath, and then take it in the hot embers, and burn it, then beat it to small powder, and with a goose quill blow thereof into the eye, and then hold your hand thereon a while, and ye shall see it water, and thereupon amend. Also the juice of the herb dragon to anoint the eye, is good against the web therein. And the juice of the wild lettuce doth the like. Also for a sore eye in a beast, ye shall spurt Beer therein, or chew the leaves of ground ivy, and drop it into his eye. And the juice thereof in like manner mixed with a little powder of Ginger. So far Leonard Mascal. But I approve of Markhams, as followeth. First let the beast blood in the temple veins, then take an egg and open it in the crown, and put out half the white, then fill it up again with salt, and then roast it in the hot embers so long and so hard, that you may beat it to a fine powder, which done, dissolve some of that powder in a spoonful of the water of Eye bright, and a spoonful of the juice of house leek, and with the same wash the beasts eyes twice or thrice a day, and it is a present cure. For a stroke in the Eye. TO cure this sore, ye shall take of the juice of Centory herb, and mix it with a little honey, and therewith anoint his eye. Also make a plegit of fine flax anoint it with the medicine, and lay it plaster way on, the beasts eye, and make it fast for being shaken off: if it be in the summer, anoint the outside of your plaster with Tarr, to keep away bees, and flies, this is a good cure. Also for a stroke in the eye, ye shall take the crumbs of wheaten bread or other; and then soak it a little in rose water, or vinegar, and so lay it to his eye and it will help. But if the eye be swollen or inflamed, then take Southrenwood and bruise it with a little vinegar and lay it to. Also the juice of pimper-nell is good against all griefs of the eye●, or to be mixed with other things. Also against watering of Beasts eyes, as oft-times they will run of water. The remedy is to lay on brows or eye-lids the meal of dried Barley, tempered with water and honey; Also the seeds of wild parsnips, or the juice of wild daisies mixed with honey, and so laid on or anointed therewith: which is good against any pain of the eyes. Then anoint it all over with Tarr and oil mixed for fear of bees or flies coming to the honey, Leon. maze. My Cure. For the web, pearl, film or cloud in the eye of Horse or other beast I use the remedies following, which never failed me: neither will fail thee, if thou be diligent in applying them. First I let the beast blood in the eye-veins below the eyes, then with a goose quill I blow into his eyes the fine powder of burnt Egg-shells, and hold the in-side of my hand over the eye a little while to keep it in. Then have ready a salue made of brown Suger-candy, and sweet butter without salt, well beaten together: put the bigness of a common field pease of this salue into his eye, and with your hand over the eye to keep it in till it be melted, then let him go for that time, do this twice a day till he be perfectly well proved. Another, take a ston of blew vitriol, called of some a Celestial ston. Wet the end of this ston in your mouth, and touch or rub the web on the eye therewith, yet so gently, that ye do not hurt the eye. Do this twice a day, and sometimes wash the eye with the juice of house-leek, and Aquevite mixed together, and the juice of true ground juye( if ye know it. It is called of some Ale-hoof, of others maiden-worth, and of some burn-grass, because it is so excellent a cure for burning, or scalding, and it is as good for eye sores.) Wash the eye I say, by spouting the juices, and Aquevite out of your mouth into it: And when ye wash forbear touching with the ston at that time. Do this once in two dayes, and touch with the ston the day between. When the eye begins to mend, ye shall see the web begin to die at the edges, and turn from white to a blackish ●ed colour: Also the web will begin to wear away at the edges first, and so clear the eye upwards, towards the pearl or sight thereof, and at last will grow like a wart or teat of ●ed flesh, just on the pearl of the eye; this teat you may take off, if your hand be active, and your wit acute and ready. First cast your beast, and tie up his eye-lid as I taught for the haw: then with a small nedle and thread take up this teat, and with the thin edge of a groat pare away the teat close to the eye, but beware of touching the film of the eye: Then loose down the eye-lid, and wash and dress as is taught, and it is a perfect cure. And for blood-shoten eyes, inflamed eyes, or eyes that run of water: or for dimness of sight, either in beast or horse, I never found a better remedy, then to spout into the eyes so grieved the juice of house-leek, and the juice of true ground Ivy by equal proportion, and as much Aquavite as both the other: do it as I taught to wash the haw, and fail not to wash the eye twice a day, at night and in the morning till it be well. This remedy hath not a second, for clearing, cooling and comforting, often proved. The turn, or Thurning Disease. THis disease is well known, yet not to all by this name, for some call it the giddy, some the sturdy, others call them mazed beasts. But the disease is one and the same. It is a certain bladder of water, lying amongst the brains of the beast: in some there are two, three or four; And besides the water in them, there are many little white worms as big as a hogs louse: And as this bladder thrives it wasteth the brains on the one side, and presseth the other into a corner of the skull, also the putrefied water which ariseth before the bladder, doth fret, and waer the bone of the skull so thin, that you may press it very easily with your thumb. The cause of this disease is not yet known to any: but some say one thing, and others say another; yet all fabulous, and not worth mentioning in this place. But my opinion is, that it is onely a small substance of raw rheum enclosed in one of those little kernels of the brains: and finding no passage out, neither by the nose, the ears nor eyes doth there putrifie, and soon after by heat and moisture is vivified and becomes many small worms: These are always enclosed in a husk, or cell, and do suck and draw the radical moisture from the brains into this cell wherein they live: and so by degrees the husk fills, and is like a bladder full of water, and the brains wherein it lies, are corrupted and become like unto rotten Tallow. The signs are. First the beast doth begin to hold his head aside, so that you may see one horn somewhat higher than the other, after he will stay behind his fellowes, and go much alone: and if you drive or chase him he will not go strait, but turn to the side that is sound, which is the side he holdeth lowest: Also you can scarce drive him in at a gate into a field, but he will pass by on the one side. And at length will turn round so long till he can scarce stand, yea some times till he fall, also if you dri●e him into any great water, he will then turn round and scarce be get out. Yet for all this pain and trouble he hath, he will feed well if the grass be good: but always in danger to be lost by falling into pits or ditches. The cure, if curable. First consider whether he may be cured or not. Secondly, if he be ready for cure. First then if the turn lie in the hinder part of his head he will hold up his nose and turn but little, but in this case he is not curable. Secondly, if it lie under the horn he will hold up that side of his head and is uncurable. If you can feel any part of his fore-head so soft that the bone will yield, being hard prest with your thumb, then he is ready▪ to cur, else not: And as it is a difficult cure when the disease is ripe, so it is dangerous; yea, desperate when it is not ripe, and too late if over ripe, because the beast is then weak, and not able to undergo the hardship of the cure. However, if your beast be fat, or well strike in flesh, it is better kill him then venture his life in the cure, but if he be lean, and not fit for meat, then proceed to the cure as followeth. First cast your beast in a house upon straw or hay, then tie his four feet fast together with a small rope or cord, and cast the end thereof over some beam, that it may be held fast with more ease, then cause his head to be held fast also, and with a pair of sharp scisers clip away the hair of his fore-head and face close to the skull: Then with a sharp pen-knife cut the skin along one side of his fore-head, from the middle of his face, almost to the horn, then do the like on the other side: let your two cuts meet in a point in the middle of his face, and be five, or six inches asunder at the top, so that the skin you raise may be in fashion like half a heart; Then flay up the skin, beginning at the sharp end, till you be above the soft place where the turn lieth, then with a needle draw a strong double thread through the sharp end of the skin you have raised up from the bone, and tie it up to his horn, so that it hinder not your work: this done take away the blood with a linen cloath, then press hard on the skull with your thumb, and where the bone yieldeth most, there cut out a round piece, as broad as an English shilling, do it with the stub of a knife, having a round edge like a half moon, hold the edge of your knife to the bone with your left hand, that when you strike it with a hammer in your right hand, it may cut just through the bone, and guide it to cut round, and through on every side, then take it out and cast it away: Then shall you see a strong yellow skin appear called Dura matter, or Pericranium: It cleaveth fast to the brainpan: Cut this skin with the point of your knife, as large as the hole, in the bone( but take heed of cutting deep for fear of breaking the bladder of water in his head, for then your cure is lost: for, when the water is gon ye cannot find the empty skin and worms; which being left behind destroy the sound brains in short time: yea, if but two or three of those worms remain in the beasts head, they will breed so many bladders, and within two moneths will be ready to cut again, if the beast live.) When this skin is removed there will appear a substance of rotten quitter, much like to the brains, but differing in colour, for the brains are white, mixed with small fiberous veins: but this quitter is yellowish white, and lies in kernels as the brains do, but it is rotten. This you are to stroke away with a small splint made for that use, strok eit gently till you see the bladder appear. Then turn the beasts face downward, and stop his wind by holding your hand fast on his nose, that he may strain out the bladder; but if you see the bladder break and the water run out, then loose his nose quickly,& catch hold on the bladder& the skin before you loose the sight thereof: then hold it fast, and draw it very gently for fear of breaking, and it will come out by leisure and the worms in it: Then hold the beasts face downward again, and power out the blood and water which are in that open head: This done take down the skin you tied up before, and stroke off the blood which is on it, and the skull also: then take one stitch through the sharp end of the skin that is loose, and another through the skin in the middle of his face, just where the other grew before, so lay the loose skin in its old place, and with your hand stroke it strait; and with that one stitch tie it down Then make hast to untie your beast( for fear he take hurt with lying long bound,) and tie a wollen cloth of two or three thickness before his face to keep it warm, make your cloth broad at the top, that it may reach to his Horns, and be tied to them with two strings: Also let his frontlit reach to the top of his nostrils in length, and be tied with two strings under his chin. Then tie him in the house, and give him good hay and oats to eat if it be winter, if in summer get him grass in your meadow, and shake it light in the Sun to whither one day before you give it to your beast; he will eat it the better; keep him in the house fourteen dayes, and give him but little water the first six dayes, only so much as to keep him for taking hurt. Now if any water or wind gather in the hallow of his head( as oft it doth,) it will hold out the skin over the hole in the bone, and raise it on a lump as big as a hens egg: and the beast will droop and not eat his meat; to remedy this, you must raise up the edge of the skin with a pen-knife and let the water run out, holding his head aside: then lay it close together again, do this two or three times as need is; and anoint the sore skin round about the edges with. Tarr and Hogs grease mixed together, and it will both heal and keep away the flies often proved. But be sure to be careful in tending and looking to these sick beasts; for therein is the greatest part of the cure: And let him that desires to undertake this, or the like accurate labour: Repair to some place where he may see the work done once by an active hand, which will be no small help to an ingenious wit. The Wood evil. THis disease makes a quick dispatch with a beast, if remedy be not soon found: The cause thereof is unknown to me, and the disease to any Author I have red for beasts of this kind: But for Horses, and Sheep I red Jervice Maakham, and Leonard Mascal: But neither the cause of the disease, nor the cures laid down by them doth any thing avail in this cure I am now to speak of, and teach what I have got by diligent study, and found true in many years practise. The signs are. Fist, if this disease take a beast in his head, then doth he hold his neck a wry, yea turn it almost double: so that you would think he had a desire to look over his shoulder; Also he will reel too and fro, and still bow his head backward to one side, and if he fall down, then he doth lie on the contrary side, and cast his head back to his shoulder: he doth pant and blow much, and his breath is hot, and his body with extreme pain. Also his breath smells like the hot broth of flesh that hath taken wind, and beginneth to slink: Then if remedy be not soon found he dyes. The cure is. First let him blood on the contrary side to the disease, and let him bleed well, yet beware of too much: Then take a handful of the green leaves of the herb Rue, beat it small in a mortar or dish: then put to it a pennyworth of good Aquavite, then strain out the Aquavite and juice of the herb through a course linen cloath; which done, take a spoon and fill both his ears with the said juice and Aquavite: and put in to each ear a little wool the better to keep in the medicine: also, tie his ears with two strings, else he will shake out the wool and juice both, do this two or three dayes, and it helpeth; often proved. If you cannot get this medicine so soon as need requires: Then let blood as is taught before, and beware of taking so much as to weaken your beast: yet you may let him bleed till it change from black and thick, to thin and more read: Then take him to some pool, pit or pond of water that is deep; tie a long rope about his horns and draw him into the deep water, and swim him a good while, then pull him out and let him rest a while, and see if he hold his head strait tis well; if not swim him again, but not long, then take him out, let him rest a little, then drive him home, and rub, and chafe him with dry straw till he be hot and dry. Then take one scruple of the fine powder of Ginger, and as much powder of pepper, and two scruples of Nutmeg in powder, put these into three ounces of strong Ale, or Beer, mix it well together: and with a spoon, or a little horn for that purpose pour it into his nostrils, and use him as ye have been taught in other, diseases, and he will be well, this I proved twice. But here I must mind you of those things you were warned to be careful of at the beginning, which is the signs of death; which in this disease are, first, if the beast be fallen down and cannot rise, neither stand when he is lifted up. Secondly, if the violence of the disease have broken his neck, as oft it doth. Thirdly, if he be down, and the disease moving violently from place to place, drawing the sinews so extremely, that his flesh doth tremble and quake where the contraction is, and in a little time moves to an other place: and there cause the like pain and trembling; while the poor Creator torments its self, by tossing his head too and fro, and tumbling from side to side, till strength be gon, and he give himself for lost, and so in quiet breath out his last. But if this disease seize on the cheek or jaw-bone, then it will cause the bone to split, and rive into small shivers: also his teeth will rise up out of their places, and lie loose in his mouth: This beast will eat while he is able, and so live ten or twelve dayes and at last die. For this kind of Wood evil I could never find any remedy, all that I could do failed. If this disease take Cattle in the finewes of their legs only, then the remedy is to rub and chafe those sinews with black soap and strong Ale boiled together: do it once a day for nine or ten dayes and it helps, or rub and chafe them with nerve-oyl in like manner both these are proved. The Wood evil in sheep is cured as in other Cattle: And for Horses I refer you to Markhams master piece, page. 76. by him called the general cramp, &c. Of the staggers in Cattle. THe cause of this disease, is blood offending in quaintity, and heat in the fore part of his head, as appears by the signs, for he looks very read about the eyes, and casts his head backward doth reel and stagger. The cure is. First let him blood in the veins on the top of his nose, or in the eye veins under his eyes. The take one dram of fine powder of pepper, and a quarter of a pint of white wine vinegar, mix them well together, and being made blood warm, pour it into his nostrils, into each alike portion, and let him go to meat, the cure is done, probatum est. Of the rot in Cattle. THis disease may be taken by drinking bad water, or for lack of water: Also by feeding on young tender grass that is always wet; by reason of continual rain, and inundation of waters; As it was in the year, 1648, and also in 1655. These two years, by reason of intemperate weather, adn want of food; caused a Rot amongst Cattle: and so many dyed, that some men were impoverished by their loss, whereof many are come over into this Istand-in hope to recover their losses; and remain little better then Servants to their hard and gripping Cheshire-land lords, but this is not my task. The rot in Cattle is of three sorts, whereof, two may rather be called Consumptions then Rots: The first is a dry rot of Consumption of the lights, with a continual coughing. The second is a Consumption of the liver, and blood, by flat worms, such as are in some sheeps livers called flouks. The third is a wet rot how beit, I will speak of the two later first, and then of the other. The Signs are. In the water rot, the Cattle have great bellies full of water: which you may hear chink, if you put your hand to his belly and shake it suddenly, three or four times together: Also some will have poughs under their jaws full of water, his hair will look old and be soft, and the ends of it will be small, and of a dun colour, and his body lean and weak, scarce able to rise. The cure is. To slit the skin in the upper part of his dawlap, two fingers strait downward, then open the sides a finger breadth, and a finger lenghth down. Then take nine green leaves of mugwort,& bind them with a thread together, and put it down into the would, and let an other thread hang down without, that you may thereby draw it up an down the wound, every two or three dayes once or twice. Use this the space of fifteen or sixteen dayes, and within a while ye shall see it swell, and at lenghth it will putrifie and stink, run and rot away skin and all; some will swell before they run of water, which is avoiding so much corruption cleanseth the beast, and maketh him whole again: And give him the juice of Saxifrige in drink, Len. Mascal. Others do peg his dawlap with black Heleborie-root, as I taught for the murrain; and many do very well thereby. Also some illiterate Oxe-leaches make this peging a Catholical medicine, others put a handful of spear Grass-tops chopped with salt into the said wound, and many do amend thereby, others put the green stalks and leaves of master-wort( which they call Sither-grass) into the said wound, and it does well, often proved. And now in the close, and end of these take my way as followeth. First I clip away the hair of the dowlap from the lower corner( which hangs to his knees) strait upwards a finger length, and two inches in breadth. Then I slit the skin across ways, a finger length above the hard corner thereof, till I cut just through one side, but cut no deeper then one skin. The with my finger or a knife, I part the two skins asunder, one finger length upwards his head, and one finger length downward towards his breast. Then I take five or six trounchins of mug-wort stalks being green, each one a finger long, and as big as a Goose-quill: tie them fast together with a strong double thread, just in the middle; and leave the two ends of the thread, each of them three inches long to spare: Then put this bundle of stalks so tied into the wound laying it along the skin, across the slit: Then stitch the lips of the wound together, with one stitch on each side in the middle, and let one end of the spare thread( wherewith the bundle is bound) hang above your stitch, and the other below; to the end you may stir your bundle upwards and downward once a day, as you were taught in the beginning of this cure. Now I use the stalks of master-wort leaves if I can get them in the room of mug-wort if I cannot get it. This wound will run and avoid a brown sanious water like lie, till the beast be found, and then it will yield laudable quitter called pus, then the cure is perfect, probatum est. But you shall have some Cattle with great water bellies, which admit not of this cure: because the water is either in the great paunch, or in the hallow of his belly amongst his guts: in so great abundance, that these foresaid medicines do not help at all. If the water be in his great paunch, ye may know by his continual sco●wring: and your cure is as for the flux of the belly taught before, If the hollow of his belly be full of water, you may know by the stinking thereof, as is said before. And the best remedy is to make incision in the flank in the mid-way between the side of his belly, and the middle thereof: between the Navel of a Cow and her uddern; but beware of the milk veins, and so of an ox or Bullock beware of those great veins in his sides under his belly: they are called the spur-veins in a Horse. I say beware of them, because your incision will be somewhat near to them. Make your orafice or hole in the belly no biggen then to receive a Goose-quill; and thereby loose out the water, two or three quarts at a time, and so the next day, and then a day or two between, and draw water again till you have all: which you may know by the lankness of your beasts belly, and his having more mind to eat then before. You had best cast your beast to make the issue at first, and then you may put in a quill, or the small end of a glister-pipe which is best of all; there is no danger in this way of c●re, but of cutting too deep, and by that means spoiling his guts, there is great bladders of clear water growing on the livers of some of these beasts; which when they break, the water falleth down into the belly: and having no passage out causeth the beasts belly to swell, which ●●ls so full, that he can scarce breath, and at last kills him, if remedy be not found. These bladders do make great se●ts in the liver where they are: yea, some times wear it through, and then the cure is hard, and few escape death, other ways this cure never fails. Signs of the Rot, with Floukes in their livers. These Cattle go softly, though they be young and look well; their hair looks old, is tantum, and they are weak; and the tops of their noses are always dry. If these signs follow a wet and could Summer, and their feeding have been in could and wet land, then be sure it is the Rot and Floukes in their livers, as some Rotten sheep have. The cure for ought I know,( or could ever learn) is yet to find. But they die as Rotten sheep, when grass begins to fail, and they must seed on dry meat, as hay and straw, &c. When one of these beasts is dead, ye shall have little or no blood in him: but his flesh will look white and fair like slaughter meat. But if you cut and slash the liver, you shall see the great veins and pipes thereof, full of read flat worms; some of them as broad as an English groat: and in fashion like a liver. These remain quick long after the beast is dead: yea, I have seen them alive when the beast hath been dead a whole day. If there be any medicine to destroy these vermin and not the beast; It is to give him strong brine half a pint at a time nine mornings together, but let their grass be good that blood may increase, else the cure is lost. Signs of the dry Rot, or lung-sore. This is a grievous disease, and few recover; except they have help in time. A beast that hath this infermity will wax lean and pine away; he hath a common coughing and housing, so that he will hold forth his tongue, and cough, sometimes a quarter of an hour together: he will stand much and eat little, and wax hollow and thin of body; the hair on his back doth stand upright, and his skin cleaves fast to his back and ribs. Then he is very near spent and hard to recover, for his lights are corrupted, and wasted either in whole or in part. I have seen the one half of a beasts lights all full of quitter, or bealing as the vulgar say; yea, as bad corruption as even I see in a boil or sellon: yea some will have all the signs of this dry Rot, but cough not; in this case I see one die, and when he was slit open his lights were hard and gritly as though they had been half sand. The cure is. In the first place so soon as you perceive your beast to cough or hoarse, make no stay to remedy him if possible; for delays are dangerous. First take a quantity of the juice of leeks, with so much Salit oil, and mix it with a pint and half of Wine, and give it him fasting: use this nine mornings together. Also ye shall pierce one of his ears with a little bodkin, and make many holes therein; then ye shall put into the said holes, the burnt-root of some hazell-tree. Some use to setter, or roll their dowlaps with master-wort( which they call Setter grass: or, Diascorides his Heleborie.) They bruise it in a mortar, and put it into the dowlap, as is shewed before with mug-wort. But the best way to rowel with either of these herbs; is as I taught before for the wet Rot: for it doth operate speedily. Also our vulgar Oxe-leeches speak of the lungs of s●me Cattle being grown to their sides; and the signs they give to know it, are the same with the former: only this much more is said, that if he be lung-grown, he will then lather sometimes at his mouth in holding it commonly open, and runeth of water both at his mouth and nose. These signs are common to the lungs sick before shewed, and signify no other disease; and when a beast is in this case the cure is hard, if not unpossible. But the best way I know is to kill him, if he be in so good state as to make meat on, if not you may bestow money and pains to prove the force of medcines; and try practise. The usual remedies are as followeth. Take a handful of lung-wort roots bruise them small in a mortar, put to them a quart of Ale or Beer, wring out the juice, and give it to the beast, do this four or five mornings together, but give him no meat till two hours after. Others do take a quantity of figs, with a handful of Isop bruised together, then boil them a little in a quart of Ale or Beer, then strain it and give it to your beast two or three mornings fasting, but no meat till two hours after. Also take a good handful of pansis, or hearts ease, and stamp it with a quart of Ale or Beer, and then strain it, and give it to the beast three or four mornings, and use him as aforesaid. These are counted special good against the said disease; yet one more and I have done, it is much in use in some Countries. They cut away a round piece of skin in the dewlap, and then with their finger and a little salt, make a hole downward two inches or more; and then fills the said hole with read garlic stamped, and plastered thereon with nettles stamped with salt, or with yorrow and salt mixed together with vinegar: Then ye shall give him this following. Take of Fenugreek, of Turmerick, and of lung-wort herb stamp all these together in a mortar, and mix them with a quart or more of strong Ale or Beer, and give it to your beast; use it eight or nine mornings, or more as need is: and it will help if he be not too far gon. Of the cough in old Cattle, and Calves. THe cough in Cattle of above two years old, is accompanied with infection of the lungs, for the most part; especially if he begin with a shrill hoarsing, or whiesing in his throat, almost like a fute, or whistle, as fugh, fugh. Then be sure it is from infection of the lights: except he have wanted water long, or eaten much Barley in the ears. Some get the cough by overmuch heat and sudden could; and then they cough loud and strongly, and sometime get up phlegm as people do, &c. But your calves of half a year old, and so forward to two years of age, but specially the younger, get a cough for want of water: and the fault is in their owners for the most part; for when they wean their Calves either from their dams, or cease to give them milk, or whey to drink; then they put them into some graft or yard of good grass, but bad water: or the way to it so bad, that the Calves( being young and fearful) dare not venture to go down to the hole, or pit where it is; but only get some refreshment by dewy mornings; yet not wherewith to cool their thirst, and so heat and dryness causeth a hot rheum to distil from their heads, which falling down upon the wind pipe and lights, causeth a whising cough, which appears commonly in the month of September. The cure for old beasts. Take a pound of hyssop, steep it in two quarts of water, then bruise it very small, mix it with barley flower and so make him to swallow it, and after pour the water,( that the hyssop was steeped and sudden in) into his throat; and with often doing this some are cured. Some give two spoonfuls of pure Tar with a pint of new churn-milk, warm out of the churn, if that cannot be got take warm milk new milked, mix the milk and Tar very well together, and give it the beast in the morning fasting, and let him fast two hours after. Use this nine mornings together, and it helpeth, often proved. G. M. If Calves cough( as is before said) give them strong Ale or Beer, wherein Centorie hath been steeped twelve hours, give it eight or nine dayes, or as you see cause, L. M. Others take for each Calve a handful of meadow-fearn, and beat it very small in a mortar, or dish, then put thereto a pint of new churnmilk, for each calve so much, stir it well together; and give each his part in the morning fasting, do this four or five mornings together, as need is, it is a speedy remedy often proved. description of the Fearn. This small herb, is much like unto Osmund or water Fearn; but the leaves are more jaged, and are very thick set on the stalks: but in order as fearn leaves are: yet the leaf with all his jags is broadest at the bottom, near to the great stream, and ends in a point as fearn doth, it grows in a thick bush; broad at the root, and narrow at the top, and for the most part one in a place. The colour is a black green: it hath flowers of colour like blew and read mixed; and when the flowers fade the seed grows, and is ripe in August; the seeds are in little pods, five or six in one, they are thin flat ones. These seeds spring up the first May after they fall, and that year the leaves trail, and spread on the earth, but the next year it grows up to a bush, flowers, seeds, and dyes root an all. It grows in barren wet meadows, and in corrohs at bog-sides, and is noisome weed to the grass, so much for the description. It is good for use being green, else not; and he that takes notice where it grows, may find the young ones gr●en all the winter. But the best of all cures for the cough in young Cattle; if the lights be not infected, is as followeth. First, cut a piece of skin in the dowlap of your beast, begin to cut two fingers breadth above the hard knot where the two skins grow together: and cut till you come below the knot; so that the skin cut may hang down to the beasts knee like a tongue, and so let it remain. Then give your beast one ounce of the whitest and of prest leek roots, such as you eat; beat them very small, and mix them with a pint of Ale, or Beer, make it blood warm and give it to him in the morning fasting, use this four or five dayes together. If you want leeks take garlic, but then boil it one walm or two. This done you shall perceive your beast to cough less, and less every day, so that with one month or five weeks he will be perfectly whole, often proved. Cud of a beast lost. THe Cud of a beast, is a substance of slimy froth, and chewed grass mixed; it lies in the top of his stomach: all times but when he is at rest, and chewing it; but then it lies on a lump in the side of his mouth. By the chewing of this Cud, the meat which he eateth is digested: and if he loose it he will not chew at all: but mourn, and pine away, if remedy be not found. He may loose it by coughing suddenly when he is chewing; or by hasty driving at the same time, or by long sickness. The signs that it is lost are, as before is shewed; which are the more infallible if he be free from any disease besides. Also the grass he hath eaten will come through him not half digested; or else dry and bake together in the stomach, and cause a Gargit there, and costiveness in the whole body. The remedies are. Some do use to take part of the Cud out of the mouth of an other beast, which is of like nature; as if it be a Cow that wants her Cud, take some of the Cud of another Cow, and give it her to swallow down, and by that means she will do well again: and so the like of other beasts, L. M. The way I use is, to catch the other Cow or ox while they are chewing, before he loose his Cud down, and take some part thereof, out of the side of his mouth, where I see the lump lieth; then I wrap that part in fine sweet hay, or sweet grass, a little quantity, and put it so wraped between the beasts jaw teeth that wanteth his quid; so by chewing that hay or grass, he will immediately chew his Cud, and do well, often proved. Some take a piece of sour leaven, and put it into the beasts mouth to chew, and he will thereby recover again: Also when a beast hath lost his Cud clean, ye may give him lome, or day of a wall mixed with urine, and make him swallow it; or take the crumb of brown bread, and mix it with a little salt, and therewith rub and chafe the tongue of the beast; But if your beast be grown weak with this disease, take forth his tongue, and with a fine lance let him blood, in the vein which is in the middle thereof, on the under side, and give him some part of an other beasts Cud as is taught, or for want thereof, rub his mouth and tongue with Juvenal and salt, and put some between his jaw teeth to set him on chewing, and it fails not to help. Worm in the tail of Beasts. This disease which they call the worm in the tail of a beast is a sharp sanious water, like to lie in colours, it lieth at the top of the fan of the tail, or rather falleth down from the back to that place; but however it frets away the flesh, yea and the bone also, and by little and little creepeth up into the back, and makes it wax lean, and crooked: Also the teeth are loose, and the tail is soft at the top of the fan, and the skin thereof hallow, as though it had no bone in it; yea, many times the bone is almost fretted a sunder, and the beast becometh lean, ill-favoured of body and weak, and if remedy be not found pineth away. The cure is. You shall take the tail in your hand, and feel the softest place, above the knot, where the long hair of the fan groweth, and a little above that place on the inside of the tail, ye shall slit the skin with a sharp knife two inches down right, so done, take a quantity of bruised garlic and salt mixed together, and bind it fast to that place, and let it so remain till it do fall away of itself, and so the beast shall recover and be well again, saith L. M. Goring of a beast to help. THis sorance is a thrust, or push with the horn of an other beast, whereby the skin is broken and a great wound made, often bigger within then it appeareth outwardly. Also, there is an other sort of goring, which the vulgar call panching, but are herein deceived, for a beast cannot be said to be panched, except the great paunch be broken. But this goring I now speak of, is when one beast is pushed or hurt with the horn of another, or by any other accident in the thin part of the belly, so that the inner rym is broken, or torn, yet the outmost skin remains hole, and sound. This is a dangerous bound, for it looseth the small guts out of the belly into the skin, so that it hangs down on a great lump, in some as big as a bag of two gallons, and some less; you may know it from a great impostume, because this comes on a sudden, and is soft in feeling; but the other ariseth softly, and is always hard in feeling. The cure. The remedy for this goring is by incision, putting up the guts, and sowing up the breach with two seams, the one within and the other without the belly, as thou shalt be taught, therefore attend with diligence to the instructions following. First provide a warm house to keep thy beast in for nine or ten dayes: Also let there be some beam over the house, about two yards from the ground, and about half a yard from the wall of the house, in a place where you may have perfect light, yet free from wind; this done, provide a strong hemp rope, that will hold your beast to hang by the hinder feet. Then bring your beast into the house, and with your hand feel where the breach is in his belly; which for the most part is above the place where the guts hang in the skin, and sometimes there is a great breach very easy to be found, and in some beasts it is but small, not easy to be found; yet if you can find it while the beast stands, it is the best: which done, clip off the hair with your scisers, to the end you may cut the skin near that place, as discretion shall led you. Then having good store of straw in the house, cast your beast thereon, and tie his two hindmost legs together with the rope you provided before, tie them a little above the dew-clawes, and put straw or clothes between the rope and his legs, to the end you hurt not the great sinews, and so lame your beast. This done, draw his hindmost legs up to the beam I told you of before; or so high till his shoulder may rest at the flower of the house, then make your rope fast, so that he may hang till your operation be done: tie his two forefeet together, and hold them still, and hold his head fast, and put straw between his back and the wall, that he may hang as easy as impossible: Then clip away the hair where thou will cut the skin, and with a sharp knife made for gelding and inscision only; slit the skin length-wise the beast, make your inscision six or eight inches long, but beware you cut not the guts, which in this case lie between the skin and the flesh; then put up his guts with your hand gently, and take heed of breaking or crushing them; if the breach be but little and narrow, you had need take the more care and hold them up to the breach with one hand, and with the fourth finger of the other put them up, still following the rope, putting that in first which came out last, till thou hast put all the said guts into his belly again, which being put in, will fall into their true place. This done, Take a broad, or a square-pointed needle, so big, that the eye thereof may receive a double thread, so that you may sow with four threads twisted together; then begin your work on this wise. First, put the fourth finger of your left hand into the wound, and hold up the edge thereof between your finger and your thumb; then put your needle into the edge of the broken flesh, near the upper end thereof, and guide your needle so, that it may take the one half of the thickness of that flesh, and also the thin film or skin that is on the inner side; so draw your needle through, and then in like manner, take up the inner film, and half the thickness of the flesh on the other side the wound: then draw the lips of the wound close together with your thread, and tie it gently to remain, but not very hard, neither draw very rashly, for fear of breaking out your stitches: then keeping your finger between the beast● guts and the needle, stitch up all the breach, drawing the lips of the wound close together, so that it may be a fine seam, yet not very hard, for that may cause the flesh to inflame, swell, and corrupt. This seam being sown, and the thread made fast that it get not loose, then sow the out side of the wound also, and take some stitches a good way from the edges of the sore on each side, to the end the seam may be the stronger; but all this while beware of stitching the beasts guts to his side. This done, lad out the blood and water which is in the loose skin, with your hand, and having ready half a pound of mealted butter, pour it therein, but not so hot as to scald; stir it with your hand to every place of the sore, the stitch up the outmost skin, one stitch in a place, through both the edges of the loose skin, and draw them close together; so tie up that stitch: then take another in like manner, one inch from the first, and so on, till the silt you cut be all stitched up, and by leaving an inch, or some more between each stitch, there will be good room left for the matter to issue out, if that seam do hang lowest of the wound; if it do not, then with your penknife or lancet, make an issue in the most dependant place, for the wound to close itself by, make it an inch and quarter long. Then untie your ropes, and loose down your beast; and with your bare hands rub and chafe his legs, till they be hot: get to each leg one, and be sure to rub the sinews well, because they are benumbed, and almost dead with hanging, and must be recovered with this labour of your hands. This done, bolster up your beast with straw, and let him sit and rest an hour, but first give him a quart of strong Ale or Beer made warm, and an ounce of the fine powder of Aniseeds therein. If your beast rise not of his own accord at the hours end, then cause him to rise, and help him, if need be; then take a strong twill-sheet, or any other strong linen cloath, and wrap it about his body, the bight under his belly, and pin or sow the two sides together on his back, let it be wrapped close. This done, give him meat, and keep him in the house fourteen dayes; give him sufficient water twice a day, keep his stall clean, and make his bed soft with straw, and once in two days bathe the sore with molten butter. Open the issue with your finger, and stroke the skin that is hollow with your hand, to drive the quitter that is under it down to the issue. If it be in the Summer, anoint it with Tar, to keep slies from offending, and at the end of fourteen dayes, let him go abroad, and have a care that his fellows abuse him not at the first, and he will do well, often proved. But if your beast be so gored, that his guts come out, trale after him, and some of them be broken; or so hurt, that they are like to perish; then the cure is hard and difficult, yet not always impossible, if your wit be acute, and your hand active. But your best course in this case is, if your beast be fat to kill him: but if he be not in so good state as to make meat on, then take this course which will hardly fail the cure, if he be not very weak, and far spent. The cure is, you must find a convenient place to hang him by the two hindmost feet, and cut open the skin as you see need, and put in his guts, as in the former cure, till you come to the broken place. Then if there be any torn along the guts, or else jaged, that may not be stitched together, for it will not grow: neither will that which is black, could, and dead; in which cases thou must do this. First, lay the two broken ends that should grow together, the one a little over the other in your hand; then cut them both off at once with a pair of sharp scissors, so that the new-cut ends may be joined close together; but first cut the two broken ends off close to the mid-read and cast them away, then with a fine needle& thread, or silk, stitch the two new cut ends together, so that they may gently meet, and not be strained; begin first to stitch at the mid-rise, and so round about the gut till you come to the same place again, and there make fast your thread: But in your stitching remember this, that, as you must not draw your seam too hard, for fear of crushing that tender skin; neither must you leave it too slacken, for fear the dung issue out; for if you miss either way, you are sure to fail in your cure. When you have stitched the gut ends together, with a fine and thick seam, and wiped away the blood and dirt clean; then anoint it with hogs grease and the juice of Cumfray mixed. This done, put the guts into his belly, and stitch up the breach, first the inner-side, then the middle, and then dress with molten butter, and stitch up the out most skin as is taught before, and use the beast as in the former cure: only do this more; that is, give him the juice of Cumfray in strong Ale or Beer to drink, and if he dung and stink two or three dayes, there is no doubt of the cure. But in both these cures be sure of good help, and be quick at thy work, and careful withall. Goring in any other part besides the belly to help. FIrst search the wound to the bottom and sides, and if it be very large within, and have but a narrow orafice,( as often they have,) then cut the mouth of the sore wider; to the end you may put tents into the wound. This done, take one ounce of common Turpentine, two ounces of hogs grease purified, and four ounces of Tar, and one scruple of verdigris in fine powder, mix them very well together till they be a perfect salue; then tent and dress your beast therewith once a day as you were taught for the impostume, and you shall have a perfect cure in a short time, this I have often proved. For a cut with a weapon or hurt. BE sure to search the sore to the bottom, and tent it with rags of clean linen cloath, or fine flax dipped in the foresaid salue made warm; use it once or twice a day, and it is a special cure. But if you fear the tents will not abide in the wound, but work out with the beasts motion; then you are to put a small string to each side of the wound: I mean through the skin at the lips of the wound with your needle, and tie the tents until your time of dressing, and then untie them till you have renewed your tents; use it thus till it need no tents, but to be anointed only, and it helps, often proved. To heal the Closh, or Foundre, in the feet of cattle. THis soreance in the feet of cattle, is taken by some could after a great heat, or by some vehement travail or running, which hath stirred the blood, so that it goeth down to the feet, like the founder of a horse feet; yea, much worse, when this doth happen to a beast, it will suddenly visit the hoof, and you may feel it very hot, and paineth the beast so, that he will not suffer you to touch that place, nor crush the foot. Some have the heated blood lying in their legs, some their fetter-locks, and some in their pasterns, at the top of the hoof round about, causing those parts to swell, and you may feel it very hot: also some will have their feet swollen so, that their claws will straddle, and if you rub between his claws with a hair rope, sawing it to and fro, you shall see a yellow cork or core arise near his heel, which some call the fowle, others the kibe; the fowle, when in the forepart of the foot; and the kibe, in the heel. But all cheese are one and the same sarance, onely some of a more mildred nature, and others more violent, according as the beast is, either choleric, or melancholy; and so will the cure be either facile, or difficult. But the most dangerous of all founders, and hardest to cure, is that which breaks out with deep holes in the joints, just above the hoof. This is a most rebellious sore, and many beasts belamed thereby. The Cure of all these are; First, if the legs be gorged with blood, you shall rub and chafe them with your hands very hard, to heat the blood; then raise and scarify them very well, with the point of a sharp penknife, or lancet; but beware of cutting too deep, for fear of veins and sinews, yet make him bleed well: do the like below the dew-claws, at the top of the hoof, if need be. I use to pare off the ring, which riseth about the hoof at the top thereof, full of hot chafed blood, I pare it even with the hoof, hair and all, whether it be beast or horse, and let it bleed well; then take nettles, and stamp them very small, and mix therewith salt and vinegar, and some gross lint, or fine flax to make it stick together; then spread it on a lin●● cloath, and lay it all over the new-cut places, and renew it twice a day, and it helps: but in all cures of the feet, you must keep your cattle that have this sorance in the house, and their sore feet dry, else the cure will be overlong: but if the founder be broken out in the joint above the hoof, and have deep holes in it, then you must make tents of lint, and rolling them in the said salue, tent the holes once a day, and plaster them as the other; and when the sores cease to be rebellious, and begin to heal and dry, you may heal them up with a salue made of four ounces of Hogs grease, and two ounces of unslackt lime, well mixed and beaten together to a perfect salue: if you cannot get unslackt lime, then buy serice two ounces, and one scruple of verdigris, and make it into a salue, as before; then spread it on a cloath, and lay it on the sore, renew it once a day, till the foot be whole. And for sores between the claws, which they call the kibe, Take a hair rope, and anoint it with Hogs grease, or butter, and rub very well with it between the claws, in sawing to and fro, the foot being held fast: this done, anoint it with soft grease, and if you see any cork therein, let it so remain till it be ripe, and the edges thereof rise, and divide it from the sound flesh, so that you may thrust it out with your finger; which done, rub it with a rope gently, as aforesaid, and lay a plaster thereon of Hogs grease and verdigris, mixed and beaten to a perfect salue, and keep the foot dry, as is before taught, renewing the plaster once a day, till it be whole, probatum est. Warts on the feet of Cattle: CAttle will have warts on their feet sometimes, they grow between the dew-claws and the heel, and are long teats, much like the pains on a horses legs, but very sore, and cause the beast to halt much, and go cripling, if they be on the hinder-feet, as commonly they are. The Cure. First, cast your beast, end tie his legs fast, that he neither hurt you nor himself; then take a pair of fire-tongs, being made red-hot, burn those teats, laying on pitch, and making it fry with your hot tongs, or some other hot iron necessary for that work: the better you burn them, the sooner they will heal; yet burn not through the skin, for fear you touch the sinews and lame the beast. This having cauterised those teats, and made their roots raw, your next work is, to make a plaster of the aforesaid salue, and lay thereon, renewing it once a day, and keep it dry till it be whole. Often proved. Knees of Cattle swollen. IF the knees of any beast be swollen, ye shall first bathe them with white vinegar; then take vinegar, millet, and linseed, beaten to powder, and a little honey and water, and so mix them, and bind that to his knees; and if there be any inflammation of humour, you must scarrifie it with the point of a sharp knife, to let out the chafed blood: then apply to it nettles beaten with salt and vinegar, till it be well, which will not be long If it be well scarified in time, before the blood putrifie, which if it do, then the cure is, to lay it to a cataplasm, made of the fine powder of flax-seed, fenugreek, and barley-meal, boiled in honied-water, to ripen it t and when it is ripe, then lance it, lose out the curruption, and heal it with tarr, turpentine, and Hogs grease, as is taught before. This is well proved. Of the Spaven on the Hough. THis sorance I call the spaven, not as though an ox or cow had any sorance so called, but because it is so like that sorance on a horses legs; for the signs are the same, with that they call the through-spaven: for it is a soft swelling, growing on both sides the hough, and seems as though it went through the same; but for the most part, the swelling is most on the inside, and least on the outside; but on which fide soever it is, the beast goeth lame therewith; and if it be not helped in time, it will wax hard, like the bone-spaven on a horse, and so become incurable. The Cure, if found, is as followeth. First, cut a good long slash in the highest place of the sorance, along the leg; but beware of veins and sinews; then there will appear to you, next under the skin, a soft spungious flesh, like as it were small bladders blown full of wind, which you are to draw up with your hand, and cut them off close to the good flesh; then dress the sore with nettles, and a little salt beaten together, to draw out the corrupt blood, and after heal it with the healing salue, prescribed for cuts and hurts. Proved. For sinews stiff and shrinking. FOR this sorence, you are to chafe and rub his legs, and knees, or hams with salt and oil mixed, till it be well, or rub and chafe them very well with nerve oil once a day, till they be well. The best of all ointments for the sinews and joints of any beasts, is patch grease, with which ye must rub and chase the sinews very well, and hold a hot iron against it, to melt the ointment, and cause it to sink in: do this once a day, for three or four days, then once in three days, till it be well. If the sinews are benumbed with could, by lying in a bog, or otherwise. Then you are to rub his limbs and body very well with dry straw, till he be warm and dry: then rub his sinews with the foresaid oil, and chafe them well, and make a sire near the beast or horse to warm him; also give him two or three quarts of strong Beer or Ale, made blood-warm, to warm and comfort him. Do this, and he will soon recover and rise, if his heart be not perished with lying over long in the could mire or water. Often proved: How to make the foresaid oil. Take a perk of shoe-makers patches, those which they pare off their leather and shoes, and one pint of Train oil, and one pound of sheeps suet rendered. Put these two, and the pieces of leather into two gallons of fair water, and boil them one quarter of an hour: then take it off the fire, and let it stand to cool; and when it is could, the fat will lye on the top of the water: then take it off, and put it into some earthen pot to keep for your use. If you do not use it quickly, you had best to purify it, and keep it in a close pot, till you have need. It is a very present remedy for either man or beast, whose sinews be in any wise hurt or stiff. Often proved. To heal Scabs and Gauls in Cattle. IF your Cattle be scabby, your best way is, to wash and rub them very well with ox piss made warm; rub off the scabs, and when they are dry, anoint them with fresh butter, and beaten garlic, well mixed together. Do this three times, two dayes between eath time, and it helpeth. The Mange on Cattle. THis disease is so like to the mange on a dog, that I can give it no other name; and I have no author that speaks of it, nor many more; and therefore I give it a name like itself. The Signs of this Soranet are. It beginneth commonly on the neck of Calves, or other young Cattle, with small moist hurtls, and the skin is wet as though the beast did sweat, and when that moisture is dry it baketh hard to the skin, and is of a hoary colour; and the next day the moisture issueth out again, and drieth as is said: and so becometh a hoary scab, or scurf; and if it be not remedied in time it will spread all over the beast and kill him in time. Yea, many Calves of a year old die thereof: and all for their masters want of skill and will to remedy them. The remedy is. First to let them blood in the neck vein, and let them bleed well; that is, till you see the blood turn from black and thick, to read and thin. Then take a Gallon of Ox, or Cow piss, and put therein four or five handfuls of Goose dung new made, mix it very well together, then strain, or gather out the dung with your hand, and keep the piss. Then warm some of it, and therewith wash your beast where the mange is; bath it well to soften the hard scurf, and with a Cury-comb, or some other fit instrument, scrape up the scurf clean from the skin, till it look raw, and be ready to bleed; then wash it again and so leave it for that time. Wash and rub off the hard scurf thrice a week, till the scurf die, and the skin continue clean. But if the weather be could when you wash, as oft it is, then you must keep them in the warm house till they be dry. And give them meat good store, for the better you keep them, the sooner you shall have your desired cure, often proved. Flowing of the gull, or yellows. THe flowing of the gull in ox or other beast, is occasioned by overmuch choler, which filleth the gull so full that it flows, and runs all over the body, and so causeth the yellows, or jaundice. The signs thereof are. Yellowness of the eyes within, the skin is yellow, and full of small dust, and scales all over the body, and his ears abound with ear-wax; so that sometimes all the flaps will be wet on the inner-side, almost to the top of the ear, and the beast will refuse to eat, and pine away, and at last die, if remedy be not found. The remedy is. Take a new-laid hens egg, make a hole in the top thereof, and pour out the white, then take fine powder of pepper, and hard soot of a chimney beaten to fine powder, and with equal proportion of soot and pepper fill up the Egg-shell, and mix them very well with the yolk; then add to it so much honey as to fill the Egg-shell very full; and so put the Egg into the beasts mouth, and make him swallow it shell an all: and before he go from your hand, give him half a pint of Urine made warm, do this three mornings together, and it is a perfect cure, often proved. For any beast that cannot piss. IF ox or other beast do tremble and stamp when they should piss, and do it but by drops, or none at all; Then ye shall give him warm water, wherein wheat bran hath been scalded to drink, and it will help him, Maschal. But my cure is, to take two green Onion blades, and beat them small, then put to them so beaten a quart, or three pints of new Beer or Ale, and give it to the beast with a horn, do this three mornings fasting, and it helpeth often proved. hid bound in a beast to help. THis grievance is so called, because the hid sticks fast to his back and sides; so that you cannot pinch it up with your fingers. This grief comes commonly by bad keeping and poverty, it doth sore trouble and torment the beast and makes his hair to stair, and look old, and the beast to look wanderous il-favouredly. The cure is. First let the beast blood, and let him bleed well, that is till you see it alter from black to more read; Then give him of long pepper, Fenugreek, and Aniseed, of each one pennyworth, beaten to very fine powder, and boiled in a quart of strong Beer, when it is boiled ad to it one ounce of Sugar, and one head of garlic, finely piled and beaten small, mix these well together, and give it to your beast blood-warm in the morning fasting, three dayes together; each day so much, and keep him well. Also you must rub and chafe his back and sides very well with your hands, anointing it all along the Ridge, and on both sides with Salit oil; rub it exceedingly, and pull up the skin with your hands to loose it, and hold a hot Iron over it, to cause the oil to sink in. But if you can get Patch grease for this use, it is excellent, do this four or five times, always two or three dayes between, and it helpeth without fail. Lice on Cattle to kill. IT is generally agreed amongst all Artists, that Cattle become lowfie by taking some Surfet, or could after a great heat and rain: But for my part I judge the cause to be unclean keeping in the house, and musty unsound food, and many times for want of food in due time. This stands with reason; for, if a beast be never so lowfie, give him good hay enough, and some oats, or grass sufficient, and he will shake them off, without any other help. The Remedy is, Take a gallon of fair water, and set it on the fire in a kettle, and put therein as much of the fine powder of white Arseneck, as will lye on an English sixpence; boil it a walm or two, then take it from the fire, and while it is yet reasonable hot, wash the beasts neck and shoulders, and all other places where the lice are, in shedding or parting the hair with your fingers, that the water may come to the bottom: Do this twice, and keep your beast tied in the house, till his hair be dry, and it helpeth. Often proved. Another as well proved by me. Take quick-silver one penny worth, and four ounces of Hogs-grease clarified, and one dram of brimstone in fine powder; mix all these ingredients very well together, so long, till you can see none of the quick-silver at all: then clip away a little hair from their horn-roots, and anoint that place with some of this ointment. Also clip away a spot of hair on the top of his shoulders, and another on the lowest part of his dowlap, and anoint these places with the said ointment, and it will kill all the lice on his body. Probatum est. Lice to kill. OR, take a shred of new woollen cloath, of an inch and half broad, and so long, as to reach about his neck: Dress it with the ointment, and stitch it close about his neck like a coller, and so let it remain for the space of a month, and it will kill all the lice of his whole bopy. Probatum est. My Masters, the old ox-leaches teach many ways to kill lice; but I always use these of mine own, because they are easily got, and never fail to do the work. Worms in cattle or calves. CAttle will oft have worms in their bellies, but especially calves, which will annoy them much, and at length kill them, if remedy be not found in time. The signs are these. Ye shall see them run up and down, and not stand or abide long in one place, and sometimes lye down, shake, and quiver, and straightways up again, and about, and some will hold their heads oft towards their sides. The Remedy is, Take a handful of tansy, and a little worm-wood; beat them very small, and mix them with sweet milk, and so give each beast a pint in the morning fasting, three dayes together. If to a calf, give but half a pint at a time. If ye cannot get tansy, wormwood will serve alone; or, Take of the juice of Hore-hound, beaten and stamped, with a quantity of leek-blades; make it in pellets as big as walnuts, with sweet butter, and so give it two or three to a big beast at a time, and one to a calf. looseness of teeth in cattle. IF the teeth of any beast be loose, and yet have no fret in his tail, ye shall cut an inch and a half of the end of his tail, and let him bleed well there, it is a present remedy; or you may scarify his gums with the point of a sharp knife, and make them bleed; then wash them with white-wine vinegar and salt mixed together, and rub them well therewith two or three times, and it helpeth. Often proved. Bones broken or loose; or, sinews to knit. IF any bone of a beast be broken, or out of joint; First, cause an Artist to set them in their right places, and to roll the fracture fast; then take off the herb cumfrey, bruise some of the leaves and roots thereof with a little honey, and lay it too plaister-wayes, and when it is dry and hard, then make a new plaster, and lay to it. Another. Take yarrow and some cumfrey leaves, and stamp them small with swines grease, end plaisterwayes lay them to. This will knit bones and sinews also. Purging of eattle, a thing good. TAke nine or fifteen leaves of small laurel, dry them and make into powder, and mix it with honeyed water, and so give it to your beast in the morning fasting: Or, you may take the green leaves of the said plant, nine or fifteen of them; stamp them with a pint of honeyed water, and a little salt; strain out the juice, and give it to your beast in the morning fasting: this purgeth strongly. Also madder( which Diers use) steeped in milk, and given as beforesaid, purgeth very well, and very safe. Also the leaves of the alder bruised and boiled in water, then strained and the water given, doth purge both choler and phlegm downward, and cleanseth water out of the stomach of either man or beast. Also the berries of the same three, stamped with Ale or Beer, doth the like. Or the inner bark, while it is green, stamped with wine, and so let it stand all night could, being close from the air, and then strain it in the morning; make it blood warm, and give it to your beast. The greater quantity you give of any of these medicines, the stronger they will be to work. Therefore be wise in their use, and when you cause your catcle to purge, keep them warm a night or two; forget not this at your peril. To stop fluxes, time best. THE best purging is, when the moon is in scorpion or Pisces: and the best time to stop fluxes or laxes is, when the moon is in Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn; then to give your beasts drink to stop fluxes, is the best time. Probatum est. Collick-cattle to help. GIve to your ox, or other beast, garlic piled, and beaten small, and so mixed with white wine, or strong Beer, while it is yet new, or working in the fat, and so given is very good, or bruised leeks in the same manner; but be sure to give it three or four mornings fasting, and it will not fail. Gurling or rumbling in the belly. WHen your beast, ox, or cow, &c. hath a rumbling in the belly, and noise in his guts, you shall see him lye down often, and rise up again suddenly, because he cannot rest for pain; also you may hear a noise of wind in his belly. To help this grievance, ye shall give him onions, beaten small and boiled in sweet wine: Or give him of fenelseed, aniseed, and cumminseed, of each half an ounce, beaten very small, and boiled in sweet sack, or very strong ale: also let him blood under the tail, and so he will recover. Proved. Shrew run to help, nature of that mouse. THE shrew is a small mouse, with a very long nose, she is more black than another mouse. If you know her not from other mice, you may obserne the cat; for when she doth catch one of these mice, she doth play with it, and kill it, but eats it not. Her nature is such, that if she run over any limb of man or beast, they suddenly fall lame, as though they were benumbed; and if it run over the back or loins of a beast, then he cannot rise behind, no nor stand when he is helped up, but go on his knees, and draw his hinder part after him, yet eat and drink if it be given him. This I have seen and helped, but herein be not deceived; for a beast that hath his back broken, the great marrow-bones of his thighs broken, or the buckle-bones out of their cups, have the same signs, as I have often seen: but then you may know by feeling those bones, and if they be broken, you may hear them rattle, when he is set on his feet; but if his bones and sinews be sound, yet lame as is abovesaid, then you may safely conclude, that he is shrew-run. The cure is; Tak some boughs or twigs of a shrew-tree, and beat and rub the lame limb, or lame back of the beast, make it smart with beating, and hot with rubbing; Do it two or three dayes, twice a day, and it helpeth; this I have proved true: or, you may carry the beast to a briar that grows at both the ends, and draw him through the boughs thereof under the briar twice or thrice, always the same way. This is said to help, but I have not proved it. If your beast be run over the heart, he will be sick as well as lame in his farther parts; and to remedy this, ye shall cause the beast to eat some tender twigs of the shrew three, by putting them into his grinders, or jaw-teeth, and to beat and rub his body. Also proved. How to make the said shrew-tree. TAke a shrew-mouse alive, hold her by the tail, that she lame not your hand: then let one bore a hole in a three with an auger; make it three or four inches deep, if the three be a big one: then put in the mouse, and drive a pin after her to keep her in, yet so, as not to kill her, but let her die there by famine, &c. The three being thus made, when you have occasion to use it, as before is taught, then break or cut so many of the branches as you will use at once, but let them not touch the earth, till the work you intend be done. The three or trees you are to make use of are, either oak, ash, elm, or withy-sallie; all proved. Tetter on cattle to help. THis is an unseemly scab or scurviness, yet doth little hurt to the beast, for it groweth but on the outward part of his body, and is not above six moneths before it fall away of itself: some are broad, and some grow long, and hang like clusters of grapes, with many kernels and knobs, somewhat hard, and of a hoary colour, and a little inclining to blue. The remedy is; Ye shall mix ointment with tar, and a little gray soap, of all a like quantity, and heat it, and th●n anoint those teters therewith, so often as you see cause, and this will heal it: some sear them with a hot iron, and then anoint them with tar onely; both proved. A medicine for all kind of griefs in cattle. TAke two pennyworth of treacle, a handful of hempseed, a portion of juy-leafs, and elder or box-tree leaves, of fetherfew as much as a tennis ball, of day of a wall that hath no lime in it, and so much of bay-salt; put thereto of urine, and a little soot of a chimney; then stir all these well together, and make it warm, and so give it to each beast three good spoonfuls thereof: and lastly, before they go from you ye shall give to each beast a little tar, or give them in drink the dried flowers of wormwood mixed with some salt. Thus ye may use your sheep and other cattle against all diseases: it assuageth most pains in cattle, or hurtful diseases in them, either in head or body. Blood-pissing by a strain, or tallow melted by hasty driving of a beast. IF an ox fat be melted, he falls away suddenly, and his dung is black, greasse, and stinking; if he be strained, he doth piss and dung blood, and is quickly weak. The remedy is; Ye shall give him four ounces of the cruds of runit in a pint of milk; do this so soon as you spy his grievance: Then keep him from water twenty and four hours, and then give him eight ounces of the foresaid cruds in a quart of sweet milk, and let him not drink of four hours after; yet give him either grass, or green athtree leaves to eat. Pontasie in a beast so help. IF any beast have this disease, he will shake much, and quiver in his flanks, and pant. The cure is; You shall give him a litcle runner, soot, and urine mixed together; give it three or four mornings together, and it helpeth. But in this case be careful, lest the signs deceive you; and the disease prove a fever, either common or pestilential. Blood in the backs of cattle. IF your cattle be troubled with blood in their backs( as sometimes beasts are) then they will go as though they drew their heads aside, or after them. The remedy is; To let the beast blood in the vein, under his tail, and let him bleed well: Then stop the blood either with bruised nettles and salt, or with part of a dust ball, as is taught before, and he will do well. Bulls their diseases, or hurts. BUlls have no diseases; but what are common to other beasts, except in their members of generation; and in these hurts, our old Authors are silent; yet in my practise, I was twice called to cure such hurts. The first was a young bull, whose yard hung out, and was covered all over with mire and dirt, which was dry, and hard baked thereon. The cure was this; First, I washed it with strong beer and butter, boiled together, and made it clean; then I see it was raw and sore; and for the remedy, I dressed it twice a day with swines grease and goose grease mixed together, and within four dayes he drew it up into the sheathe, amended, and served cows well as before; but how this hurt came was not known. The second Bulls cure. This was a great strong town-bull of three years old, his yard hung out, was very stiff and hard, and exceeding hot and sore, with many scabs thereon; it was thought he took his hurt by serving many kine, it being in the beginning of June, the chief time for cows in Cheshire. But some judged the cause to be one cow, that continued proud two or three dayes. The cure I used was; First, I washed it very well with the juice of chickweed and plantine, and got off the scabs, so that it was raw and did bleed; then I anointed it with swines grease, as the former, not knowing any better at that time. This was done twice a day, though I lived far remote, and within four dayes he drew up his yard, yet was two moneths before he was perfectly well. The reason was the hot weather, serving many kine, and the means used were not so good, as I found since. If thou be called to any the like cure, then take this course following. First, wash the member very well with this water following; Take a quart of Smiths water, that which they cool their hot iron in, one handful of sage, and a good quantity of alum, and three spoonfuls of honey; boil all these together, till half a pint be wasted; then strain and wring out the sage, and keep the water in a cup or glass close stopped. Then take a good quantity of clean linen rags, and burn them to fine ashes, and when you have washed the sore member with the water, then strew it all over with these ashes, and wrap it with a soft and clean flaxen cloath, and tie another course cloath under his belly, and over his back, to hold the other fast for falling away. Do this twine a day, and in a short time he will be well, but keep him in the house from cows, if it be possible. And for a hurt like the first, use the same cure there prescribed. Once I saw a young bull that was strained, and pissed blood, but he dyed the same day, before any help was used; and when he was opened, his bladder was full of blood. In this case I know no other cure, but that for blood-pissing in. If a bulls stones be crushed and broken, the onely cure is to gold him: the manner how to do it I need not teach, its so well known. The like way is to be taken with a horse in such a case. Diseases and hurts of kine; and first, if she cannot calve, to help her. IF you see your cow long in labour, and straining to calve, yet is not able to bring forth, either because the passage is too small; or else, that the calf doth not lye right for the birth: in either of these cases, you are to help her yourself, or procure some one that hath skill to do it. The manner how is this, your cow being laid down on her left side( as always they do in this case) make your arm bare, and wet all your arm and hand in warm water; then set your four fingers ends and thumb close together, and so put it up into her body, and feel if the calf lye right for the birth, which is, if the nose lye towards you, and both the forefeet; if so, then draw the two feet both together, so far, till you may see them; then put up your hand again, and take the calf by the lower chap, or put your fingers between the jaw-bones under his chin, and if you can put up the other hand to his nose, so holding his neck strait, draw it towards you, till its nose be as forward as its feet; then take the feet in your right hand, and the ears in your left hand, and draw it forth. But in all this work, you had best lye on your belly, and lean on your elbows, it is the best and easiest way. Now if the calf lye right, and yet the passage be so narrow, that you cannot draw it forth, as is taught; then take a small cord, and make a running neuse or loop on the end thereof, make it to run very easily, put the loop on your fingers ends, so that you may put it off with your thumb, upon the calfs chap, or over his head, as your need is; then let one or two draw gently at the cord, and yourself to guide the calfs head and feet with both your hands, till you have it; if the passage be not so strait, that it cannot be got by this means, if so, then there is no other nor better way to save the cow alive, than to cut the calfs head in pieces with the stump of a knife, which hath no more of the blade than a man may hid in his hand, besides the haft. Also for this work he must have an iron hook, with an eye at the one end, to tie a cord to, and the point of the hook sharp, to enter the skin of the calf; so he may set the hook on the lower chap of the calf, or what part else he intends to cut, and let one draw gently at the cord and hook, whilst he cuts that part away whereon the hook is fastened, and so to another part, till he have it all. Then give your cow a quart of strong beer, and an ounce of aniseeds beaten to small powder, and mixed with the beer, to which add one handful of meadows, or mugwort leaves, beaten small to comfort her, and cause her to cast her later birth; and if she were not crushed before you took this course, she will mend and do well; often proved. Now if the calf come not the right way, but the shoulder forward, and the head bowed backward to the hip( as oft they do) then set the ball of your hand to its shoulder, and put it up into the cows belly from the birth: then put up your hand to its head, and bring the head down and the foremost feet, and so reduce it to a natural birth, and then draw it as is taught. But if the rump come first( as sometimes it doth) put it up as you did the shoulder, and reduce it to a natural birth if you can, if not, then keep it up from the birth, till you can get forth the two hinder feet: then let some one draw at them, and do you guide the rump with your hands, till you deliver the cow of her burden. This with discretion you must work, and which way soever the calf lies, reduce it to a natural birth, if it be possible; if not, you are well instructed by these two examples. But if you must needs draw a calf, be sure to draw downward, fromwards the cows back, and draw hatd, as need requires, but not rashly; so you shall have your desire, and the cow do well. Probatum est. Note this cure as followeth; Once I was called to a cow, that could not calve in the year 1667, she had lain two dayes, was very big at the birth-place, but no room for the calf to come forth, for the mouth of the matrix was so straight, that I had much pain to force up my middle finger, yet she strained with all her strength; so that if it had been possible to break way on the one side the natural passage: here the cause was desperate, and so the cure must be also; yet all did well, with much care and labour of her Keeper, after the first work was done. The Cure. For the effecting this work, I got a very sharp knife, the blade not above two inches long, held it so between my fingers( they being held strait, yet close together, that I carried it along the neck of the Mother, till I came to the narrow mouth thereof, not hurting the passage at all: Then guiding the knife with my forefinger, and holding the haft with my other fingers and thumb, I cut open the mouth of the Matrix, till I had room sufficient to draw away the Calve: which was then quickly done, and she cast her later birth the same day; and within three weeks got strength to rise her self, and became a good Beif within the year. The Calve had milk of an other Cow, and is now a good Cow, 1670. This cure did well, but I think the better way had been to have cut open her side in the flank on the milking side, and to have taken forth the Calve that way, and sown up the wound as was taught before for a Cow or other beast that was gored, or panched. This is for thy example if need require. To help a Cow of the whetherd, that is, when she hath Calved and cannot Clean. WHetherd, that is, when a Cow hath newly Calved, and hath not cast her Cleaning( as many do( and many die thereof.) To make her cast and avoid the same, ye shall take a good quantity of the juice of mallows, and mix it with Ale and give it to her with a horn, it is well proved. Also the juice of mugwort, given in the same manner is good to cleanse her, and also to bring forth a dead Calve. Also smoked Barley given her to eat, and luke-warm water to drink, all very good and often proved. To get the juice of your herbs tis best to beat them small in a mortar or dish, mix them with your Ale or Beer, wring or strain out the herbs, and so give it to your Cow blood-warm, often proved. Yet when all these fail( as sometimes they do.) Then some use to put up their hand, it being first anointed with soft grease, and loose the cleaning from amongst the rough knots, and burrs of the mother, unto knots or burrs it sticks fast: and pull it away by pieces, then put in a good lump of butter, and so let him go, and she will do well. But if the matrix be much inflamed, yea, very hot and sore, then your best course is to take a good quantity of the juice of plantine, of Chick-weed, knot grass, and hous'-green, or any two of them, beat them small, strain out the juice, and mix it with hogs grease that is not salted,& boil it till the grease be all melted, then let it cool, and with your hand put it into the mother as far as you can: this doth both cool and comfort it very much. Do this two or three dayes, and she will do well: Thou mayest know she mends, if she eat and cease to strain: if she do not leave straining, but avoid stinking brownish matter out of the matrix, there is little hope of life. If this accident happen in winter, when there is not herbs( as oft it doth) then take two ounces of mell rosarum, and half a pint of strong beer, and mix them together, and being blood-warm, put it into a glister bladder, and with the pipe spurt it into the mother. Do this three dayes, and she will be well. Descension, or falling out of the matrix. IT happeneth many times, that a cow with straining to clean( after she hath calved) forceth down the mother, then there is great danger of death, if present help be not found, yea, many do die thereof in the winters nights, before it be espied, it being perished with could. The cure. When the womb of a cow is fallen out, your first work is, to lay a sheet or great cloath under it as she lieth, or to hold under it, if she stand; then take all the cleaning clean off the mother, but do not take off the burrs or knots that stick fast to she ends of the veins thereof, for fear she bleed to death, as I have seen, otherwise those knots must and will come off, before the womb be clean; but it is better to let them rot away,( as they will in time) than run the hazard of her bleeding, which is so hard to stay. The cleaning being clean taken away, take a quart of strong beer, wherein boil four ounces of salt butter, and as hot as you can abide your hands in it, wash the mother therewith, and make it clean. This done, put it up with both your hands, till it be within her body: then having your arm bare to the shoulder, put the matrix into its right place, and be sure that it be all turned, and lye not on lumps; if you do it right, one may feel your hand by laying his hand on the cows belly, before her udder is on the outside: then draw back your hand softly, that you may leave the mother behind you; then put two or three lumps of salt butter into the mother, as far as you can, and be sure you leave her in the right place. Then stitch it up in this manner, to keep in the mother, in case it offer to descend again; Take two little shreds of shoe-leather, of two inches and a half long, and half an inch broad; bure two holes in each of them one inch and a half asunder; then with a great flat-pointed needle, and a strong double thread, as big as a shoe-thread; stitch those two pieces of leather on each side the cows shape, and tie it together, not too close, but that she may make water, and let it remain till she be well, which will be in few dayes; often proved. Note, That the two pieces of leather are to keep the shape from cutting with the thread, and to hold it strait, &c. But Reader, in all this I have taught thee concerning these accidents happening to kine, I suppose thee to have an acute and ready wit, and a nimble and active hand, else not to undertake any of these magnetick works, that require so much agility both of head and hand. But for an help in all these, and any of this kind, I advice thee th repair to some slaughter-man or Butcher, and see him open his slaughtered beefs, especia ly cows; yea, such as have calves in their bellies: mark well how they lye in the matrix, how it grows, and all the parts thereof. Also the guts and their parts, the veins and sinews where, where they lye, and to what use they serve. Use this often in thy practise, for hereby thou mayst become excellent in art. A c●w new calved, sick by drinking could water, how to help. A Cow may be sick with drinking much could water when she hath new calved, and then she must be helped, by giving her hot spices and strong beer. Once I was called to medicine a cow in this case, she calved in May, in very hot weather; she being ●ery fat, was hot and dry, and drunk much could water at a brook, near the place where she calved; by this means her belly swelled, and she did eat nothing all that day, but lay all along on the earth, with her legs stretched out, and was thought to be incurable. Now when I saw in what case she was, and heard by what means she came to it: then I concluded her stomach and inward parts to be stupefied with the could water, and that the remedy must be hot and comfortable, and so it was; for I gave her long pepper, two pennyworth, grains one pennyworth, and aniseed one ounce, all beaten to fine powder, and mixed with two quarts of strong ale, and half a pint of aqua-vitae, and one pennyworth of treacle, and gave it at twice, one hour between the the times; the last was after Sun-setting, and within two hours after, we put her legs close to her body by force, turned her on her belly, and with a little holding she sat up, and held up her head, though weakly, and about midnight, she did eat ivy leaves, being put between her grinders, and so recovered, and did well. But all this while the Butcher was kept there to have dressed her for meat, if I had but said that I doubted of her life. By this example work in the like case, but with discretion, making your medicines stronger or weaker, as you see need. White wast in a Cow to help. THE white wast in a cow doth weaken her very much, and in time will kill her, if remedy be not found: it comes by some strain in the small of her back and loins, whereby the spermatic vessels are so weakened, that they cannot hold and retain the seed, but it falleth down into the womb, there putrefies, and so passeth from her in a white yellowish water, much like to the stinking gunary of a man: all cows haue such like matter pass from them, soon after their calving, till the yard thoroughly cleansed, but not after, it free from this infirmity; neither is that which runneth from the reins so thick and well concocted as this, but thin and raw, and continues long after her calving, and weakens the beast, as is before said; and by these signs ye may know it from her natural cleansing. The cure is; Take one dram of the fine powder of cinnamon, and boil it in a quart of farrow-cows milk, and give it to her with a horn, in the morning fasting, being blood-warm; let her fast two hours after. Do this nine mornings together, and it helpeth; probatum est. Udder of a cow hurt or inflamed. IF the udder or teats of a cow be cut, gored, staked, bitten or torn with a dog, in all these the cure is one and the same. The cure is; Take of the glear fat of bacon, and with the fire tongs made read hot, or any other hot iron, fry out the fat: then to two ounces of that burnt fat, add one ounce of common turpentine, and as much tar; work them to a perfect salue, and if the udder be torn, cut away the loose pieces and jags that hang down, and make the sore even and handsome: then anoint it twice a day with the foresaid salve, and it helps. Proved. But if he be gored with a beasts horn, or staked, then you must take clean linen rags, and make tents of them; roll your tents in the salue, and put them into the wounds, also tie some cloath under her belly, and over her back, to keep in the tents. Do this twice a day, till she be whole. But if her udder be crushed or inflamed, and swell, and be very hot, then your cure is first to scarify it lightly, yet in many places, and lose out the chafed and scalded blood: then, if it be in summer,( as commonly it is) take a good quantity of chickweed, and as much clevers, and the like much of knotgrass; beat them small, and boil them in vinegar, or strong sour beer a good quantity, thicken it with wheat-bran, and make a great pultas; spread it on a cloath, and lay it to the sore udder blood-warm, and as soon as it is dry, renew it. But if it be in winter, when herbs cannot be got, then take Album graecum, a dogs white turd, and mix it with your vinegar; make it thick like pap, spread it on a cloath, and lay it on the sore udder, and when it is dry, renew it. But if it do Imposthumate, and come to ripeness, then lance it in the softest place, thrust out the quitter, and tent it with the salue as is taught before twice a day till it be well. Now in England, they use to rub a cows udder that is hard or swollen, with the fine earth that a mole hath new cast up, and many do mend thereby. AlSo if you take a quick mole, and rub and roll her between your hands till she die, she giveth such a magnetick virtue to your hands, that if you rub and stroke a cows udder that is hard and whetston'd with them, it doth amend in short time. Or, if she give blood with her milk, do stroke her paps, and draw out the blood two or three dayes, and it helps; probatum est. Yea, though thou kill but one mole, as is said in all your life, yet your hands retain the virtue for ever after; this I have often proved. If your cows paps be clapped with intemperate could, and heat of the air, or scratched with briars, or any the like sorance, then your cure is; Take dock-roots that are firm and sound, wash and scrape them clean; then beat them very small, and boil them in fresh butter, and when they are well boiled, strain out the butter into a cup o● dish, and it will be a fine yellow salue, with which salue, let your maids anoint and stroke the cows teats, when she hath done milking, and in so doing three or four dayes, twice a day, they will be whole. Often proved. Milk wanting in a cow new calved. IF your new-calved cow want milk, either through poverty, sickness, want of meat, or that she is naturally a dry bag; if the defect be by poverty, and that poverty be for want of meat, then I hope you know your cure, which is only supply the want. If the poverty come by sickness, then remove the cause by convenient medicine, and the effect ceaseth. If her dryness be natural, it is hard to remedy; yet in all these cases, those things are found most excellent helps. Take aniseeds one ounce, fenel-seeds as much, beat them to fine powder, and boil them in a quart of good ale or beer, and give it her luke-warm. Also boil the leaves of coleworts in water, and give it her to drink, or give her the leaves raw to eat. Or, if she be very poor, give her two quarts of boiled barley to eat every day, and the water it was boiled in to drink; boil fennel seeds therein, or fennel itself: boil your barley till it break, boil it in a good quantity of water to serve your cow most of the day. Use this three week less or more, as you see need; it is an excellent help, yea, the best I ever found. Biting of a ●ad Dog, or other venomous beasts. THE biting of a mad dog, or any other mad beast, venomous beast, or stinging with serpents is poisonous, and destroys the body and lice of man and beast, in one kind or other, as all poisons do, if taken and not soon remedied. But my intended task at this time, is onely to show the signs, and teach the cure for the biting of a mad dog, or any other mad beast; as wolf, fox, cat, or swine being mad, by the poison of a mad dog. These being all poisonous, and many more; some poisonous, and some venomous, causeth me to speak a little of poisonous substances, the better to inform my Readers, I mean the vulgar sort, &c. Venom or poison is of three sorts; 1. Some living creatures are poisonous: 2. Some herbs and plants are poisonous. 3. Some minerals and metals are poisonous. And as the venoms and poisons are many, so they have sundry ways of workings, yet all to the destruction of man, and all human nature. For, whether nature be the matter, form, or whole frame of man. These poisons corrupt all the materials of the body of man or beast, both the humours, the spirits, and the solid parts; and that these may be corrupted by poison, no man doubteth; yet some may perhaps say, How comes it to pass that some are not hurt by poisons? To this I answer; That some men have such a strong constitution of Nature, that hardly any poison inwardly taken,( unless it be a great quantity) will hurt them, neither the biting of venomous beasts so soon as others; and some are so subject to vomit, that they cast up poison before it can corrode or operate. Now, of living creatures that are poisonous, and of the divers and sundry workings of poisons, of so many as I have seen or red of: First, The Dragon kills by his sting, though he bite not, nor suck the blood. Secondly, The Crocodile is poison, as some say: others say, his flesh is very good meat. However, if he catch either man or beast, he is sure to eat that. Thirdly, The touch of the Viper causeth the body to swell, and die suddenly. Fourthly, The poison of the Asp causeth sleep, and the head to swell. Fifthly, The biting of Hemorrhous draweth the blood from all parts of the body. Sixthly, Dipsas with his double head, makes thirsty, and so kills. Seventhly, The Newt poisoneth the water. Eighthly, The bite of the Prester, causeth the mouth of the wounded to foam, and gape wide. Ninthly, The Seps his biting consumes the bones, and dissolves the body. Tenthly, The Basilisk is said to kill by fight onely( and that I believe, as I do the story of the Phoenix, the Salamander, the Fly perausta, and slow boots) These are a fearful brood, yet strangers in these our temperate Islands. venomous Creatures in England, Scotland, and Wales. First, Of the Adder; If this Ell-like creature sting any man, the part becometh of a leady colour; and if it be not remedied with speed, the poison ascends to the heart, and the wounded member rots; and if good help be not found, loss of life or limb ensues. Secondly, the Slow worm, or Blind worm, it is very venomous, the stingings of it are very small, and scarce appear to the eye; the wounded part is read, and the whole body becometh inflamed; and if present help he not found, death is at hand. Thirdly, of the Toad, it is a most venomous creature, and poisoneth the part of the body she toucheth, maketh it inflame, swell, and to stand on dew-drops: Of all poisons it is the sweetest in the mouth, and thee most deadly; for it kills in less than three hour●●, being either eaten or drunken. Fourthly, There are Askers which are very poisonous, they are of two kinds, one living on the land, and the other in the water. Also there are Effs in the hot Chiltern country, which are venomous; of these I onely heard, but see them not. And there are snakes, which are small little creatures, with four feet, very like to an Asker, but very swift in running; but I know no hurt in them; there are many of them in this land, they keep commonly in the bogs. Also there are Hornits, Wasps, Bees, and Ants, whose stingings are not very hurtful, yet venomous, if they bite or sting. And the Spider, and Connought worm poisonous, and yet S. Patrick left them behind when he driven the venomous creatures out of this land. poisonous Plants and Herbs, of which there are many that poison and destroy the body of man; some by inflaming and blistering the inward parts being eaten, or the juice of them drunk. Some causing the eyes to start out; also causing raving and death; and some causing death by sleeping. And the like may be said of Minerals,( but I forbear to describe them, for fear the envious should make use of them to accomplish their mischievous desires.) But the poison of the mad dog is contrary to all other poisons, as I shall make it appear. Of all the poisons that I have red of, there is none that work upon the rational senses, but only wolfs bane, and that I judge to be, by the excessive pain it causeth. The poison of Asps and Opium kill by sleep, they so stupefy the sensitive parts. But the poison of the Dog doth so destroy both the rational and sensitive parts, that they grow so mad, as that they regard nothing but to fight, bite, scratch, and destroy any they can, neither regarding friend or foe, neither doth man or beast either eat or sleep, when he is mad by this kind of poison, neither take any rest till he be cured by death; and few escape, except they get help in time. Signs to know a mad Dog by. If the dog be your own, and you observe him bite and snap his fellows, and not play at all, neither grin nor snarl much when he biteth; or if he bite or snap you, or your people, or Cattle, not being urged thereto; neither was accustomend to do so before: and eat little, and sleep not, but is in continual motion; yet barks not at strangers as before, but snaps them, all these are suspicious signs. Also if you see a strange dog run about gapeing, and driveling at the mouth, holding down his tail always, and hanging out his tongue also if he hurt not, nor take notice where other dogs have file, or use to piss, and do the like there; or if he snatch and bite any thing and do not bark, or if other dogs shun him, or stand a loof and bark at him, all these are signs that he is mad. The cause of dogs going mad is black choler, or, melancholy adust, which getting the mastery in their bodies, through vehement heat overcometh the senses, and makes him mad; for the strength of this burnt choler infecteth his brain, and so from thence to the tongue and teeth, and maketh them venomous. Therefore if either man or beast be bitten with such a mad dog, he is in danger to go mad also. But of this I need not speak, it is so well known. And as the biting is perilous, so is the slaver also, and may causg madness without biting. This slaver is easily taeken, as by a mad dogs touching ones lips with his mouth, or one dog another, and so of othe-creatures; for the skin of the lips of man or beast is tender, more soft and spungious than or ther parts, and very apt to take this kind opoyson. Also if the slayer of a mad dog fall in water, it infecteth the same; or on grass, it infecteth it. And if any beast drink of the infected water, or eat of the grass before it be cleansed, they are in danger to go mad; and if one of these mad beasts bite either man or beast, they are in the like danger. Whatsoever is bitten by a mad dog, or receiveth his slaver, is in danger to go mad, though some sooner, and some later, according to the constitution of their bodies, the vehemency of the venom, and the quantity received. In some it lies hide a year, in some two or three moneths, and in some two or three dayes: yea, I was credibly told of one, that took this poison onely by the touch of the lips, and fell stark mad the same night; yea, bit his wife in bed, and she went mad, and both dyed in three dayes time. The man that told me this, was one that came to me for the medicine to help one that was bitten with a mad dog. He said, There was a young man, and his wife, going to visit her father and mother, met a mad dog, which assaulted a grey-hound they had; the man having no weapon but a pocket knife, as this man said, pulled it out, and stabbed the mad dog, and killed him; put up his knife, not heeding to make it clean; but being set at his supper, saw his knife soul with blood, and slaver of the dog, he wet it in his mouth, and dried it on his shirt, after his supper, went to bed, had a sleep, but wakened mad, bit his wife, who told of his killing the dog, after he had bitten her, and before she was mad. If this were true, as he solemnly protested it was, it was a lamentable case: but the truth is, there were many people and cattle bitten, and dyed in the years 1658, 1659, and 1660, in which years a multitude of dogs ran mad, also wolves and foxes, and many foxes were killed by cowherds and others, not being able to make any escape for madness. One mad fox came to my house in the day-time, but not known to be mad, was killed by my dogs; he bit a maistiff, and a curbitch, and they both run mad, not being medicined, because we did not think the fox to be mad. Also there came a mad wolf-bitch into the Town of Lemonahan, in the Kings County, and Barony of Ga●i-castle, in the day-time, and bit hogs and sheep, and one cow, and they all dyed for want of help. Also the said wolf bit one young maid, about Eight or Nine years old, pulled the top of her head bare, so that the bone was uncovered a hands breadth or more. Also he set upon a man that came to save the child, bit him by the arm, by the nose and lips; he caught the wolf in his arms, cried out for help, fell down with the wolf, yet held her fast, and one of his Neighbours knocked the wolf in the head with an axe, and so ended the quarrel. This man and the child came both to me for physic, had the medicine twice, got salue for the wounds, and both recovered, and did well. Signs of going mad in them that are bitten with a mad dog. IF man, woman, or child be bitten with a mad dog, and begin to go mad, you may know by these signs following: First, they begin to wake much, and cannot sleep nor rest, but are disquiet in mind, and compliance of it, yet know not the cause: if they get any sleep, it is accompanied with fearful dreams; they sigh, and are angry without cause, and some in this case do bark like dogs, and are ashamed to be seen of others, and are in fear of water, and regard not whether they eat or drink, or not: their eyes are fiery read, and they have a fiery countenance. All these, or any of them are doubtful signs, and ye had need to make hast with the c●re; but if any one be bitten with a dog, he or she may know if the dog be mad at the first, and get help with speed, and not stay for these fearful signs. How to know the dog is mad, I will ●each in the next page.. Signs of a beast bitten with a mad dog, and begin to go mad. A beast being bitten with a mad dog, or that hath licked up his slaver with his grass, or drunk it with his water( for all is one) doth first begin to bellow softly, as though he were merry; ye●, scrape and set his head aside at his fellows, as though he would play with them: his eyes are read, and stare wide open, and he looks furiously; soon after he grows more wild, roars aloud, scrapes on ditch-banks, and roots them with his nose, and prokes them with his horns, fights with his fellows, leaves his merry beginning, and lows amain, and doth neither eat, drink, nor sleep, but low continually, and in few days dyes. And what is here said of a beast, bull, ox, or cow, the like signs are found in a horse; for, he begins with play in his manner, and after falls to fighting, biting, pawing, running and ramping, and neither eat nor sleep till he die: and as the vulgar say, a beast, ox, or cow hath the lowing Evil when mad: So they say, a horse hath the mad staggers, when in this case. Also swine do the like, begin with mirth, and end with madness. But these are the worst to cure; therefore if you know they are bitten, make hast with their cure; for, if you stay for these signs, it is too late, and one mad swine will poison a whole herd in a day, and they will all go mad, if remedy be not found with speed. Sheep will go mad also, if bitten by a mad dog, or mad hog; but they are the most mildred of all creatures in this case, and swine the most dangerous, for they cease not biting, whatever they come near, if once mad. Truly I saw once in Cheshire, a company of swine, wherein four were mad; and when we had got the whole herd into a house, no man durst venture in to separate the sound from the sick, they were so fierce. Also cats, goose, ducks, and hens will go mad, if bitten with a mad dog. Note also, that whether man or beast becometh mad this way, and biteth any other creature, it will go mad also: and that poultry will go mad, I have seen it myself. And Dr. red in his Treatise of wounds, tells me, That Boctius in Tracta venen. writeth, that he saw a man killed by a mad house cock. Signs that the dog is mad. If your own dog bite you, or any of your own people, or do snap your cattle, be sure he is mad, except you tread on him, or otherways hurt him; or, that he be a wrangling cur, and use to bite and snatch, as some do. But if you see a strange dog bite, or snatch your cattle, or bite yourself, he being from home, and have not hi●… master, or some of his garments; or some of his people to tend, and you approach too near him; if none of these be, be sure he is mad, and you had best seek for remedy with speed. Now of the cure. Those that have written of this malady, have prescribed many remedies, both for the healing of the wound, and to preserve from madness; and for the first, their cure will do well, for any salue that will help the biting of a sound dog, will also cure the biting of a mad dog But for the latter, that is, remedies to preserve from going mad, they prove clouds without rain, for the most part. This is well known to the whole country, who see men remediless in this case, and die miserable, when they have wasted their coin in seeking remedy at Doctors, and their friends wait for their recovery, till they wish to have them die out of their misery. For this cause I have not inserted any of their remedies in this Treatise, but onely that which I bought dear, and have found true; yea, it did not fail me these thirty years, being taken in time; but the sooner it is taken after the biting, the better, experience teacheth this. The cure for man or beast. When man, woman, or child is bitten with a mad dog, wolf, or fox, or any other mad beast, the liver of the same dog or beast being taken and roasted, and so eaten by the party that is bitten, is a present remedy; often proved. It is also as good for dogs, or any other beast that is bitten with a mad dog; but if the liver cannot be gotten, as seldom it can; then this following medicine hath not a second. Take of To●mentil roots clean washed& scraped two ounces, beat them very small in a mortar or dish, then put them into a quart of strong new beer or ale, and work them well together by stirring; then strain out the beer through a coarse linen cloath, into a cup or dish; then put to the said beer so strained, one dram of Castorium, and as much Assasetida, and one scruple of Lignum Aloes, all made into fi●e powder. Mix the ale and these very well together, and let the patient drink one half at night, going to bed, and the other half in the morning, and fast two hours after; this dose is for strong people. But for them that are weak, or children, give half so much or less at a time. Give according to the age and strength of your patient; if the taste do offend the patient, sweeten it with sugar or aniseeds; but if they have been long neglected, and begin to be mad, then let them blood in the common vein, and take a good quantity of the blood, if they be strong, and give a bigger dose of the medicine, and more times, as you see need. If they refuse to take the medicine( as sure they will) then hold them fast, and with a splint made for that purpose, open their mouths, and pour in the medicine with a spoon, or other convenient instrument, but take heed, lest they bite you, for if they do, you are in much danger, and must take a medicine yourself, or go mad; yea, sooner than if you were bitten with a dog. Take care of weak and old folks, and young children in letting of blood, and take but little, for fear of a sincop, and death come in the place of a cure. The cure for swine and dogs. If either swine or dog be bitten with a mad dog, or any other mad beast, give the same quantity of the medicine as is taught before, with sweet milk; if they will not eat it, then pour it into their mouths, but beware of biting; and if they begin to be mad before you begin your cure, its better to kill them, than to trouble and endanger yourself with them. If any hound, grey-hound, setting-dog, tumbler, or spaniel, which is much worth in his masters esteem, be bitten, and begin to go mad, and refuse to eat, then hold him fast, so that he bite not, and open his mouth with a staff, and pour in a pint or more of the medicine made very strong, and keep him safe tied in a dark place: give it three or four times, as at night and morning, two dayes together; if he do once begin to eat, then it is sure he recovers, and so of all other beasts. For the cure of great beasts and horses, take this example following; but for a horse, put one pennyworth of treacle into your medicine. The cure of a young ox or bullock, that began to be mad. In August 1663, I had a young ox began to be mad, being bitten, as I thought, but how long before I know not, neither found any hurt on his body; however, the signs of being mad by the biting of a mad dog, were evidence enough that it was so; for he began to roar, and scrape on the earth, run at ditch-banks, fight with his fellows, and would neither eat nor drink. He was first heard to roar gently on Saturday night at Nine a clock, but I supposed it to be a bullock that was in the company, and used to bellow on that wise, therefore took the less heed, and did not look them till the next morning; but on Sunday morning, I found him as abovesaid, got help, and brought him home, let him blood in the neck-vein, and took a great quantity. Then I gave him four ounces of tormentil-roots made clean and beaten, as is before taught, and one dram of castorium, and as much assafetida, and one scruple of lignum aloes, all beaten small, as before is taught, and very well mixed with three pints of strong beer, and so kept him fast tied in the house where he scraped with his feet, broke the wall with his horns, and was unquiet that day. Then at night I gave him half a pint of hempseed beaten small, and mixed with three pints of strong beer to make him sleep. The next morning, I gave him the first medicine again; soon after he began to eat, at night I put him forth, after he had eaten grass all day, and drank water in a pail very well, yet he continued to bellow and scrape, and to stare very wildly. I took him in again, gave him the first medicine, and kept him close from much light till Tuesday night, then driven him to his fellows, he being perfect well, and so continued. When thou hast need, follow this example, with any beast whatsoever. If there be any wounds with biting, you may heal them as other dogs bitings are healed; for this medicine is onely to preserve them from going mad. With this onely medicine I cured four men, and five women, since the year 1657, viz. two of the men, and one woman, after they had got what help they could, both by physic, Priests charms, and were cast into the sea, and yet were not cured, but began to be troubled in their minds, and could not sleep, yet had present help by this medicine. Also the man and the maid that were bitten with the mad wolf in Lemanahan, and dogs many, and some swine. But they are the worse to cure, if once they begin to be mad, there's no help, but kill them. For small cattle give a little dose; as to a calf, a quarter of a pint; to a sheep, four or five spoonfuls; to any kind of poultry, one spoonful. In the year 1652, I was called to see a heifer that was mad, at a friends house in Cheshire, where I then lived, but she was past cure. And they had a mad gander also, both bitten by a small house dog of their own, but I was called too late to have a cure of either. Adder stinging to help, though not in Ireland. THE adder is an eal-like serpent, not known in Ireland, yet many in England; and when a beast or horse is stung with one of them, the place will inflame, swell, and ranckle, and so pain the beast, that he will soon die thereof, if remedy be not found. Signs of Adders stinging are; THE wounded member swells suddenly, is excessive hot, and the beast hath ragious pain, doth swell at the place, and is restless, and eats very little, and few are helped of this sorance. The remedy is, Take three or four pound of the tender buds of an ash three, or the crops, or the green bark thereof, which ever you make use of, beat very small, and mix the ewith three pints of salad oil, and as much sack, or very strong ale; then strain it, and give it to the beast at six times in three days, morning and evening. Also take of the said ash three buds or bark, beat it small with salt, and lay it to the venomed place, or the great but roots beaten with salt, and laid to it, is very good. An Alphabetical Table, of all the Diseases, and Sorances treated of in this Book, as followeth. A. ADder stinging, though not in Ireland, page.. 109 Ague in Calves, or other cattle, page.. 1 B. Barbs in a beast's mouth, page.. 37 Biting with a mad dog to cure, page.. 107 Blain on the tongue to help, page.. 33 Blood in beast's backs, page.. 93 Bones broken, or loose to knit, page.. 87 Bulls their diseases cured, page.. 93 C. COugh in cattle cured, page.. 62 Conoth worm nature cure, page.. 24 Closh, or founder in the feet, page.. 75 colic in cattle cured, page.. 88 Crowling, or crying of the Guts, page.. 26 Cut with a weapon, or hurt, Cud of a beast lost, page.. 65 D. due bolne in cattle cured, page.. 30 E. EYes, their diseases and hurts, Haw in the eye, discript.& cure, page.. 40 Web in the eye cured, page.. 42 Stroke in the eye cured, page.. 43 My own cure for all these, page.. 44 F. fever in cattle to help, page.. 3 fever pestilent to help, page.. 5 Flux of the belly remedied, page.. 27 Flux of blood to stay, ibid. Fluxes to stop, page.. 88 Flowing of the gull to help, page.. 82 G. GArget in the throat cured, page.. 12 Garget on the tongue cured, page.. 14 Garget in the maw, in beast's horns, or sheep, page.. 15 Garget of wind cured, page.. 19 Garget got by hurts remedied, page.. 21 Garget got by biting of a dog helped Garget in sheep cured, page.. 19 goring of a beast remedied, page.. 68 goring in any out part, not the belly, page.. 74 Gurling or rumbling in the belly, page., 87 H. HIde-bound in a beast to help, page., 83 I. IMposthums, often cured, K KIne, diseases proper to them cured, page., 95 If a cow cannot calve to help her, ibid If she cannot clean to help her, page., 99 Falling out of the Matrix cured, page., 100 New calved sick with drinking page., 102 White wast in a cow to help, page., 103 Uddern of a cow hurt or inflamed, page., 104 Milk wanting in a cow new calved, page., 106 Knees of cattle swollen to help, page., 78 L. LIce on cattle to kill, page., 84 Loose teeth to fasten, page., 80 Lungs grown, a bad disease to cure, M MAd dog biting, often cured, page., 107 Mange on cattle cured, page., 81 Milting of a hest, page., 36 murrain amongst cattle to cure, page., 8 P. PAntasie in a beast to cure, page. 92 Pallet of the mouth inflamed, page. 38 Pallet fallen to remedy, page. 39 Piss, if cannot do it help, page. 83 Pissing of blood helped, page. 92 Purging things good for it, page. 87 Q QUid of a beast lost to recover, R. ROt in cattle to help, page. 54 Rot with flouks in their livers; page. 59 Rot dry, or lung grown bad, ibid S. Scabs or gauls on cattle to help, page. 81 Sineues to knit, page. 79 Shrew-run to help, often proved page. 89 Springs, a swelling in the belly by blood, page. 23 Swelling by eating a tine-worm, swelling by eating venomous herbs, or poisonous grass, page. 24 Spaven on the hough to cure, page. 79 Staggers in cattle to cure, page. 54 Signs to know a mad dog, page. 111 T. TUrn, or turning diseases, page. 45 Tetter on cattle to cure, page. 91 Trenches to cure, page. 26 W. WArts on the feet of cattle cured, page. 77 Want of digestion remedied, page. 36 Wood-evil, or cramp cured, page. 51 Worm in the tail to cure, page. 67 Worms in cattle, or calves, page. 86 FINIS.