Che Tratta Della Cognizione Dei Cavalli, Delle Lor Malattie, E Dei Rimedj Per Guarirle, Come Pure Delle Loro Purghe, E Di Più Altre Cose Utilissime, E Necessarie Alla Cura, Ed Al Governo Dei Medesimi. Opera Di Tre Peritissimi Autori, Nuovamente Tradotta Dal Francese, Purgata Dagli Errori Dell’Altre Edizioni, E Adorna Di Più Figure. A day in the life of a XVIII century stable master. The Great French Marshal: Treating of the Knowledge of Horses, Their Diseases, and the Remedies for Curing Them, as well as Their Purges and Many Other Most Useful and Necessary Matters for Their Care and Management. A Work by Three Most Expert Authors, Newly Translated from the French, Purged of the Errors of Other Editions, and Adorned with Several Illustrations. Contemporary Quarter Leather Venezia Presso Antonio Zatta Qu: Giacomo Pp. [1] f.e., 311, [1] r.e. Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, spine with five raised bands gilt-ruled, red leather label with gilt title; red edges. Engraved plate opposite the title page (within the pagination) depicting an elegant horse. Ten woodcut illustrations in the text, primarily focused on equine anatomy. Some slight and negligible signs of age. Fine copy. Italian translation of a rare French veterinary manual on horse anatomy, care, and remedies, used by stablemasters in Napoleonic-era Europe when horse care was central to military and agricultural power. It serves as a fascinating artifact for those studying the intersection of agriculture, animal health, and technology at a pivotal moment in European history. The book offers practical guidance highly valued by breeders and veterinarians alike. Publications of this kind were widely used by stablemasters (marescalchi), farriers, and rural veterinarians at the turn of the 19th century. The text blends early veterinary science (anatomical observations, disease classification) with traditional remedies (herbal recipes, magical-seeming cures). This hybrid character is a hallmark of veterinary manuals before the full professionalization of veterinary medicine (the first veterinary schools were founded only in the mid-to-late 18th century). The content covers the cognition and anatomy of horses, including physical structure, behavior, and function; common equine illnesses and their treatments, from colic to limb disorders; methods of horse care such as feeding, grooming, and preventive measures; and therapeutic prescriptions, including medications, poultices, and veterinary remedies. The recipes are especially noteworthy for their use of herbs and natural elements. The anatomical woodcuts enhance its value to historians and collectors of veterinary literature, offering a vivid glimpse into pre-modern veterinary practice. Zatta was one of the most renowned Venetian publishers of the late 18th century, known for high-quality illustrated editions. Reading the medical recipes is both entertaining and revealing, uncovering ancient natural knowledge that continues to fascinate us. The anatomical illustrations enhance the charm of this little gem, an enduring delight for horse lovers of any century.
