Greetings! In previous issues, we have discussed the various hunting hounds, the kennel’s in which they slept, and the role of the child as they began on their path toward becoming a master huntsman. This issue, I would like to delve into the methods and practices of the period vet. There are many facets to the vet in period, and therefore, here, we will deal mainly with the vet in relations to the hounds, how they were cared for, and some of the beliefs of the vet of this time period. Much of what I have learned deals mainly with the time frame of the 1300-1400’s.
In the medieval times, the Huntsman had to be both apothecary and surgeon. Each Houndsman had a fair amount of knowledge pertaining to the hounds in his care, and therefore, was personally responsible for their health and well being. A Houndsman who ceased to provide the utmost care for the hound’s well being could be jailed in the King’s prison, or worse. Naturally, the death of a hound would be a horrible loss to the Kennel, be it the King’s kennel, or that of a Duke or Count, and often, this loss would be mourned much like if it were the loss of a person. Officiants would offer words of solace, a fine service held, and often, a favored hound would be buried in style.
There were a great deal of daily concerns to the period vet. First and foremost, was Rabies. This has not changed much since then, but our beliefs of the disease certainly have become more accurate. Rabies, in period, was believed to include nine varieties of the disease, none of which had a known cure. Gaston Phoebus, in his “Livre de Chasse” explains: “eny hounde is wood (mad) of eny of the .ix. woodnesse he shal nevere be hool (whole, healed) and hure woodness may nouzt last but .ix. daies that thei ne shal never be hool (healed) but dede.” Among some of the attempted cures for Rabies included washing the hound with nine waves of the sea, and removing the “worme” under the tongue, which, in later texts is found to be actually a large vein.
Bite victims of Rabies would be treated in the same strange manners, though not as surgically invasive as the “worm removal.” These victims, including hounds would suffer the same 9 wave washing, or other, stranger methods which included pastes, made of plasters of rue, goose or pork fat, goat dung, and red wine, and then applied to a wound. Roosters, plucked at the rear, would be placed posterior end first to the wound, as to “suck out the venom” of the bite. If the rooster did not die, then this is a good indication that the bite received was not from a rabid animal. It was finally recognized, however, that to cheat death from a rabid bite, one would certainly need divine intervention rather than medical care. Makes you appreciate modern science a bit more, no?
Aside from dealing with the daily threat of Rabies, bitches would almost always, unless especially saved for breeding, be spayed. Phoebus does not go into great depth on the methods used in spaying, however, one can only imagine that they did not have very good methods of anesthesia. Phoebus believed strongly that a spayed bitch would last much longer than an un-spayed bitch, and in this author’s opinion therefore, the incredible suffering (and no doubt, loss of hounds through shock) was worth it. Phoebus also gives details on how to rid a hound of an unwanted litter, using a mixture of fat and the plant titimal, (Euphorbius Cyparissias) coupled with a day of fasting.
Aside from the near horrible problems we have discussed thus far, the care of a hound after the hunt was much simpler. The Houndsman, acting as vet would need to know simple procedures such as sewing a wound, (which included applying the urine of the slain animal to aid in healing) cleaning feet and toenails of forest debris, tending the hounds food and water requirements (hounds were often fasted to make them “more vicious” the day of the hunt, which, with the deep chested breeds such as the greyhound, we in the modern day know to be a good thing, as running a hound with a full belly can lead to fatalities such as bloat and torsion, or, the flipping of the stomach.) and caring for any small injuries attained by the animal in struggle with its prey.
Finally, aside from simple surgical procedures, the Houndsman would often be known to create an amulet or collar created from herbs and shells to ward off disease and injury. Additionally, a much simpler cure was used, which included the blessing of the hounds at a special mass. Either way, the Period Houndsman as vet did whatever he could to ensure the safety, health and well being of the hounds in his care.
I do hope you have enjoyed this article on period vet care. As the coursing season has come to a close, and our Reign soon turns to our beloved Heirs, so too will I delve into the halls of the library to continue to bring more information on hound use and hunting to your eyes. Thank you for joining me!
And with that, TALLY HO!
Elina, Konigin
Bibliography:
“Livre de Chasse” by Gaston de Foix, called Phoebus
“The Hound and the Hawk: the art of medieval hunting” John Cummings, Phoenix press, 1988.
