| Summary: | Jonathan Hill, bookseller, description: trans.: “Comprehensive Guide to Horse Hoof and Hair Care”. 23 ink and brush illus. in the text. 21 folding leaves. 8vo (278 x 184 mm.), orig. wrappers, new stitching. [Japan]: from the final leaf: “copied by Keie (?) Yokohama in 1848 from a manuscript dated 1672.” A fascinating manuscript describing the diseases of horses’ hooves and hair and their care in 17th century Japan. During the Edo period, horses in Japan were not shod; horses occasionally wore straw sandals, but for steep slope work only. This finely written manuscript describes the precepts of horse hoof and hair care of the Ichiwa horsemanship school of the Morioka fiefdom. The beginning of the text describes the anatomy of the hoof (which is called “nail”), how to shape and trim the hoof, how to handle the horse when trimming, etc. There are illustrations in black and highlighted in red of the hoof from the side as well as cross-sections with descriptions of each anatomical part. A number of instruments used in hoof care — files, knives, and picks — are also depicted, with measurements and purpose of each. The author describes a number of diseases which can afflict the hoof including hoof cracks, abscesses, etc. Three-year old miso paste is recommended as a general curative, to be applied to the exterior of the hoof. Other recipes, including blackened mint leaf with sesame, are described. The final three leaves are concerned with the care and beautification of the tails of horses. The author recommends certain shampoos including goji berries and Manchurian wild rice.
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