[The oldest German textbook on internal medicine of horses, edited at the Kayserlich-Köngliche Pferd-Cur und Operations Schul in Vienna in 1770].

The research paper focuses on an ancient German textbook on horse internal medicine, originally published in 1770 in Vienna, and its relation to veterinary science during the 18th century. The manuscript broadly covers internal medicine and pharmacology and includes theories and prescriptions that do not exist in comparable books of the era.

Context and Discovery of the Manuscript

• The research article delves into an old German internal medicine textbook for horses, edited at the Kayserlich-Königliche Pferd-Cur und Operations Schul in Vienna.
• The manuscript went by the title: “Erkandtnus deren innerlichen Krankheiten des Pferds überhaupt”.
• Linked to Ludwig Scotti, the founder of the first school for veterinarians in the German-speaking part of Europe, this textbook is considered as diligent notes from his lectures.

Content of the Manuscript

• The manuscript is divided into two primary sections, internally focused horse medicine and pharmacology.
• The first part dedicated to internal medicine appears to be largely similar in content to Lafosse’s “Guide de Maréchal”.
• The pharmacology section mostly comprises content from Claude Bourgelat’s “Matière médicale”, published in 1766.
• Interestingly, Scotti added his own experiences, theories and prescriptions that were absent in Bourgelat’s book, exhibiting an outcome of his own investigations and expertise.

Significance of the Manuscript

• The manuscript represents the pinnacle of veterinary science in the second half of the 18th century and illustrates the development of veterinary practice during that period.
• Its significance is accentuated when compared to contemporary German literary works such as the books of von Sind and Deigendesch. The profound influence and novelty of Scotti’s work is evident when compared to these contemporaneous texts.