The compleat midwifes practice, in the most weighty and high concernments of the birth of man. Containing perfect rules for midwifes and nurses, as also for women in their conception, bearing, and nursing of children: from the experience not onely of our English, but also the most accomplisht and absolute practicers among the French, Spanish, Italian, and other nations. A work so plain, that the weakest capacity may easily attain the knowledge of the whole art. With instructions of the midwife to the Queen of France (given to her daughter a little before her death) touching the practice of the said art. / Published with the approbation and good liking of sundry the most knowing professors of midwifery now living in the city of London, and other places. Illustrated with severall cuts in brass. By T.C. I.D. M.S. T.B. practitioners.

Author: Chamberlayne, Thomas.1656

THE Compleat Midwifes PRACTICE, In the most weighty and high Concernments of the Birth of Man.

Containing Perfect Rules for Midwifes and Nurses, as also for Women in their Conception, Bearing, and Nursing of Children: from the experience not onely of our English, but also the most accomplisht and absolute Practicers among the French, Spanish, Italian, and other Nations.

A Work so plain, that the weakest capacity may easily attain the knowledge of the whole Art.

With Instructions of the Midwife to the Queen of France (given to her Daughter a little before her death) touching the practice of the said Art.

Published with the approbation and good liking of sundry the most knowing Professors of Midwifery now living in the City of London, and other places.

Illustrated with severall Cuts in Brass.

Exod. 1.17. But the Midwifes feared God.

V. 20. Therefore God dealt well with the Midwifes.

By T.C. I.D. M.S. T.B. Practitioners.

London, Printed for Nathaniel Brooke at the Angell in Cornhill. 1656.

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The expert, and famous, madam LOVYS BOURGEOIS midwife to the Qweene of France.

Sold by N: Brooke at the Angell in Cornhill.

Ro: Vaughan sculp

[Page]

[...]

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THE PREFACE OF Sundry PRACTITIONERS in and about the City of LONDON, &c.

Christian Reader.

IT is high time, there being already published, many Treatises in this kind, for us to discharge our consciences for the good of the Nation, we have perused all that have been in this nature in English, and finde them strangely defficient, so crowded with unnecessary notions, and dangerous mistakes, that we thought it fit to give you warning of them, that for the future the unfortunate practisers, may prevent the almost guilt, of the crying sin of murder.

It is Admirable to us, that our Countrey should be so much deluded, to build all their practice upon such Authors that have not at all conduced to any considerable advantage [Page] in this so necessary usefull Art as the preserving of man-kind; Alas! how many miserable volumes have these late times brought forth. Not to disparage any that have deserved, but in so weighty a concernment as this, we must stand upon our integrity, There hath been a reasonable intention in the publishers of some books, viz. The Birth of man, the most antient, but very much unfurnished; as also the books of child-birth, The expert Midwife, the worst that have been written in that kind, in French; and its almost or miracle to us that Mr. Culpepper, a man whom we otherwaies respect, should descend so low, as to borrow his imperfect Treatise from those wretched volumes, some of which are before mentioned, and we must deale faithfully with you, that, that small peice of his, intituled, The directory for Midwifes, is the most desperately defficient of them all, except he writ it for necessity he could certainely have never been so sinfull to have exposed it to the light.

Now Christian Reader, to give [Page] thee a true information of what we have here done for thy good, we shal not only Justifie from our own experiences, but fully demonstrate from the writings of the best practisers, both of the French, Spanish, and Italians, and other Nations; and we must cleerly confesse, that we are highly obliged to the incomparable labours of that most famous woman of the world, Madam Long Bourgeo, late Midwife to the Queen of France, the praises that we read of all those that ever heard of her, are not so much a flourish as truth, for her reasons are solid experiences, and her witnesses have been all of the most emminent persons of France; and not only of her, but as we have already exprest of the most excellent known men or women of this Art of other Countries; it's upon this account that we break the barriers, and boldly stand the brunt of all censures.

The chief occasion of this book, is to make it a great exemplary, and Schoole, where medicine married to the Midwives industrie, may teach every one the admirable effects of [Page] the Divinity of this art of Midwifery.

And now knowing Reader that the Receipts herein contain'd, which have ever had happy succeses, are not made publicke to the world on any other designe then or the assistance of such persons whom either the want of fortune or opportunity denieth such sudden helps, neither can we be without bleeding hearts, if we but consider how many have been lost by the unskilfulnesse of those that attempted this great work; nor should we have prostrated our reputation and private experiences, but to correct the frequent mistake of most Midwifes, who resting to bold upon the common way of delivering women, neglect all the wholesome and profitable rules of Art, which might concern them in the occult diseases of women, as also of the Anotomical parts of the Body. Thus having discharged our consciences, we have no more to write, but referre you to the book it self, desireing a blessing of God on these our faithful endeavours, we are the hearty well wishers of your good,

I. C.
I. D.
M. S.
T. B.

[Page]

The Contents.

OF the genitals or vessels dedicated to generation in men or women, p. 1.
Of the vessels of preparation, C. 1. p. 2.
Of the Parastatae or vessels where the blood is first changed. C. 2. p. 3.
The use of the preparing vessels, C. 3. p. ib. of the Testicles in generall, c. 4. p. 4.
Of the Tunicles of the stones, c. 5. p. 5.
Of the suspensory muscles, c. 6▪ p. 7.
Of the substance and temper of the stones, c. 7. p. 7.
Of the actions of the testicles, c. 8. p. 9.
Of the Ʋtilitie of the testicles, and their parts, c. 9. p. 10.
of the vessel that cast forth the seed, c. 10. p. 11.
Of the Seminary bladders, c. 11. p. 13.
Of the Kernelly Prostatae, or forestanders, c. 12. p. 14.
of the structure of the Yard, c. 13. p. 15.
of the severall parts, constituting the Yard, c. 14. p. 17.
Of the action of the Yard, c. 15. p. 21.
Of the use of the Yard in general, c. 16. p. ibid.
Of the use of the parts constituting the yard c. 17. p. 22.

Sect. 2.

[Page]Of the Genitals of women, c. 1. p. 25.
Of those parts called Mymphs and Clytoris, c. 2. p. ib.
Of the fleshly knobs, and the greater neck of the womb, c. 4. p. 27.
Of the Hymen, c. 5. p. 28.
Of the vessels that run through the neck of the womb, c. 6. p. 29.
Of the fabrick of the womb, c. [...]. p. 30.
Of the preparing vessels in women, p. 34.
Of the stones in women, p. 35.
Of the different or ejaculatory, c. 8. p. 37.
Of the actions and uses of the Genitall parts in women, c. 9. p. 38.
Of the actions of the Clytoris, c. 10. p. 39.
Of the action and use of the neck of the womb, c. 11. p. ibid.
Of the uses of the vessels running through the neck of the womb, c. 12. p. 40.
Of the actions of the womb, c. 13. p. ib.
Of the utilitie of the womb, c. 14. p. 41.
Of the utilitie of the preparing vessels in women, c. 15. p. 42.
Of the utilitie of the stones, c. 16. p. 43.

Sect. 3.

Of the signs of conception, c. 1. p. 44.
[Page]Whether she hath conceived a Male, c. 2. p. 46
Whether a Female, c. 3. p. 47.
Of the conception of Twins, c. 4. p. ibid.
Of false conception, c. 6. p. 48.
How women with child ought to govern themselves, c. 6. p. 54.
How to govern themselves in the time of their going with child, c. 7. p. 57. &c.

Sect. 4.

Of the mixture of the seed of both Sexes, as also of its substance and form, c. 1. p. 62.
of the three tunicles which the birth is wrapt in, in the womb, c. 2. p. 64.
Of the true generation of the parts, and the increase of them, according to the several daies and seasons, c. 3. p. 65.
Of the nourishment of the birth in the womb, c. 4. p. 69.
Of the condition of the Infant in the womb in the sixth, seventh, and eight moneth, c. 5. p. 71,

Sect. 4.

Of the situation of the child in the womb, p. 72.

Sect. 5.

Of Midwifes, c. 1. p. 75.
[Page]What ought to be observed when shee is neer the time of her lying down, c. 2. p. 76.
How to expell the Collick from women in child-bed, c 3. p. 79.
How the Midwife may know when the pains of travail do seize a woman, c. 4. p. 80.
Of the falling down of the waters, a good while before the woman travails, c. 5. p. 81.
What the Midwife ought to do in time of travaile, c. 6. p. 82.
How to draw forth the Secondines, c. 7. p. 84.
What may be given to a woman in travaile. c. 8. p. 85.
How to put the Womb again in its place. c. 9. p. 86.
Against the extreme losse of blood, which happen to women immediately after their delivery, c. 10. p. ib.
What is done to a woman presently after her delivery, c. 11. p. 88.
Of women that have a great deal of bloud, and purge not neither in their travail nor after, c. 12. p. 90.
For those who have but a little bloud, c. 13. p. 92.
What is to be done to the Infant, c. 14. p. ib.
How to govern women in Child-bed, c. 15. p. 93.
Of the bathings that a woman is to use for the first eight dayes of her lying in, c. 16. p. 95.
[Page]How a woman ought to govern her self, in case she be to be delivered of two children, c. 17. p. 95.
Of the danger that a woman hath to purge her selfe for the first dayes of her lying in. c. 18. 97.
Of the second washing for women, c. 19. p. 98.
What is to be done to Infants as soon as they are born, c. 20. p. 98.
Of the last washing for Women, c. 21. p. 101.
Of an Astringent for Women when they shall have occasion, c. 2 [...]. p. ibid.
To make searcloaths for women, c. 23. p. 102.
To cleanse a woman before she rises, c. 24. p. ibid.
How a woman lying in of her first child, may avoid the gripings of her belly, c. 25. 103.
The Queen of France her Receit, p. 104.
Certain precepts hindering the delay and difficulty of bringing forth. c. 26. p. 105.
How the secondines are to be hastened out. c. 27. p. 108.
Pills for the purpose, p. 111.
Of Cases of Extremity; and first, what is to be done to a woman, who in her travail is accompanied with a flux of bloud, and with convulsions, c. 28. p. 112.
Of ordering the woman after she is delivered, c. 29. p. 129.
[Page]What is to be done to the breast, Belly, and lower parts of the woman in child-bed, p. 131.
An Oyntment, p. 132.
An oynment to keep the milk from clotting, p. 133.
A Fomentation much commended, ibid.
Of the choise of a good Nurse, p. 135.
What is to be done in the extream parts of a child, p. 1. 36.
What is to be done to such children as are troubled with flegme, p. 137.
What is to be done to children that have their Cods full of wind, p. 138.
How to take away the Canker out of the Infants mouth, ibid.
What is to be done to children whose intestines are fallen, p. 139.
To make an oyntment to strengthen the thighs and legs of a child and make him goe. ibid.
Of the relaxations of the Matrix, and the cause, p. 140.
of a disease that happens by reason of the fall of the Matrix. p. 143.
To remedie the fall of the fundament in Infants, p. 144.
of the Diseases of women, and first of the inflammation of the brest, ibid.
of windy Tumours in the breasts, p. 1.
[Page]of the watry tumour in the brests. p. 4.
of the kernell in the breast. p. 7.
of the Scirrhus of the breasts. p. 9.
of the Canker in the breasts, p. 12.
of the greatnesse of the breasts, p. 14.
of the defect, abundance, and coagulation of the Milk, p. 16.
of the Diseases of the neck of the womb: and first of the disease called Tentigo. p. 17.
of the narrownesse of the neck of the womb: p. 19.
of wheales, condilomas of the womb, and of Hemorrhoids, p. 20.
of the Ʋlcers of the neek of the womb, p. 23.
of the womb being out of temper. p. 26.
of then arrownesse of the vessels of the womb. p. 30.
of the puffing up of the womb. p. 31.
of the inflammation of the womb. p. 33.
of the Scirrhus of the womb. p. 36.
of the Dropsie of the womb, p. 38.
of the falling of the womb, p. 40.
of the ascent of the Matrix, as also of the wounds and ulcers of the same. p. 42.
of the paine of the womb. p. 44.
of the suppression of the flowers, p. 46.
of the dropping of the flowers and the difficulty of their comming down, p. 51.
of the discolouring of the flowers, p. 53.
of the inordinate flux of the Flowers, p. 54.
[Page]of the over-abundance of the Courses, p. 56.
of the whites & Gonorrhea in women, p. 59.
of the Green sicknesse, p. 61.
of the suffocation of the Matrix, p. 62.
of barrennesse, p. 66.
of bringing up of children, and their diseases.
of the diseases of the head, p. 71.
Bignesse and swelling of the head in little children, p. 73.
of the diseases of the eyes, ears, and noses in children, p. 75.
of certain ulcers in Childrens mouths, p. 76.
of certain other tumors called Paroulis, and Espoulis, p. 77.
of the two strings under the tongue of a child, p. 78.
of the Coughing children, ibid.
of breeding teeth, p. 79.
of the inflammation of the Navel-string in Infants, p. 80.
of the Worms, ibid.
of the convulsion in Infants, p. 81.
of the swelling of the Hypocondria in Infants, p. 83.
of Costivenesse in children, ibid.
of loosenesse in children, p. 84.
of Burstnesse in children, ibid.
of the inflammation of the Navel, p. 86.
[Page]of the jutting forth of the Navel, p. ibid.
of the stone in the bladder, p. 87.
of the not holding of the Ʋrine, ibid.
of the Intertrigo, p. 88.
of Leannesse, ibid.
of the difficulty that children have to make water, p. 89.
of the inflammation of the Almonds of the eares, p. 90.
of vomiting, ibid.
of the Hicquet, p. 91.
of the pain of the belly in children, ibid.
of the small pox in children, p. 92.
Certain other instructions grounding upon practicall observations, fit to be known by all Midwives, and child-bearing women. &c. p. 95.
A Second observation of a Woman that had been in Travail nine dayes, p. 99.
of a Woman here in Town that bare her Child eleven Moneths and could not be Delivered. p. 101.
of the common opinion, that a woman seven moneths gone, ought to walk very much; and of the accidents that happen thereby. p. 1 [...]3.
of a child which they thought sick of the Epilepsie, occasioned by the sicknesse of the Mother, and of the cause. p. 106.
[Page]of a young woman who being struck upon the belly by her Husband with his foot, was in great pain, & could not be brought to bed without the help of a Chirurgion. p. 108.
of two Deliveries of one Woman. p. 109.
of a Woman that because she would not be ruled in her Lying in, died. p. 111.
of certain Women that bear children and lye in before their time, and others at their full time, who grow big, and full of humors which causeth the death of the child presently after their Delivery, their children being nourished in their Bellies like fish, only with water. p. 113.
The observation of a woman who was thought unable to bear any more Children, yet contrary to expectation was delivered of one, and the reason thereof. p. 114.
A good observation in the choice of Nurses, p. 115.
of a Woman which I laid two several times, and of the difference of her bearing of two children, proceeding from several causes, p. 117.
Instruction of a famous, and dying Midwife to her Daughter, touching the practice of this Art. p. 119.

[Page]

The natural forme of a child lying in y ^e wom [...]

To be sold by N: Brooke at y ^e Angel in Cornhil.

G. F. [...]

[Page 1]

THE COMPLEAT MIDWIFE HER PRACTICE.

Of the Genitals or vessels dedicated to Generation in Men and Women.

THe consideration of these things is so necessary for the purpose of this book, that they require not onely a deep meditation, but the praeeminence to take up the first thoughts of those who would arrive to the knowledg of a thing so much needful to all mankinde. And it may be lawfully feared that many women do miss their design because they know nothing but the outside of things; so that in matters of extremity, because they are ignorant of the structure of the parts, they cannot tell how to go about their work. We shall therefore begin with an easie Anatomy of the privy parts both of men and women, so far as shall be requisite to the gaining of so great a skill.

In the first place therefore we shall begin with man, in whom those things which are called the vessels of preparation are first to be considered.

[Page 2]

CHAP. I. Of the vessel of preparation.

AMong the Spermatic vessels are to be considered first, two veins, and two arteries: these are carried downward from the small guts to the Testicles, and are much bigger in men then they are in women.

The original of these veines is not alwayes the same, for commonly the right vein riseth out of the hollow veine, a little below the source or original of the Emulgent; but the least takes his original from the lower part of the Emulgent it self. Yet sometimes it hath a branch carried to it from the trunk of the hollow vein.

The middle part of these veines runs directly through the Loyns, resting upon the Lumbal Muscle, a thin Membrane only intervening; and thus having gone about half its journey, it branches out and distributes it self to the near adjoyning filmy parts of the body. The uttermost part of these vessels is carried beyond the Midriff to the Stones, yet do they not pass through the Peritonaeum, but descends with a small nerve and the muscle called Cremaster, through the Duplicity of the Midriffe; when it approaches neer the stones it is joyned with an artery; and now these vessels which were before a little severed one from the other, are by a film rising from the Peritoneum closed up, and bound both together, and so twisting up like the young tendrils of a vine, they are carried to the end of the stones.

The arteries which are associated to these veines take their original a little beneath the emulgent vein, [Page]

[Page]

fig: 1.

fig: 2.

Explanation of the first figure.

[Page]A A. The right and left kernel of the reins.
B. The true kidneys.
C C. The Emulgent veines.
D D. The Emulgent Arteries.
E E. The spermatic veines.
F F. The spermatic arteries.
G G. The trunk of the hollow veine.
H H. The trunk of the great Arterie.
I I I I. The Ʋreters.
K K. The vessels that prepare the seed.
M M. The stones withall their tunicles.
N N. The vessels carrying the seed, retorted back into the bladder.
O. The bladder.
P. The neck of the bladder.
Q Q. The two glandulous Forestanders.
R R. The two muscles that erect the yard.
S S. Two other muscles dilating the Ʋreter.
T. The body of the yard.
U. The preputium that covers the nut of the yard.

Explanation of the second figure.

A. The bladder turned downward.
B B. The insertion of the ureters into the bladder.
C C. The neck of the womb which Anatomists [Page] call the sheath which receives many vessels.
E E E E. The two lower round ligaments of the womb cut away.
F F. The blind vessel of the womb annexed here to the uppermost & broad ligament.
G G. The same vessel on the other side separated from the broad ligament.
H H. The deferent or seed carrying vessels on each side ending in the neck of the womb.
I I. The upper and membranie ligament of the womb like the wings of a bat, through which many vessels that arise from the preparing vessels are scattered and diffus'd.
K. The preparing vessels of one side not yet disserend from the 1 membranie or filmie ligament.
L. The preparing vessels on the other side sever'd from the filmie ligament, to shew you their insertion into the stone with its filmes,
M M. The stones, where one is covered, the other is bare.
N N. Many veines and arteries scattered into the neck & bottome of the womb, serving for the purgation of the flowers and the nourishment of the birth.
O O. The nerves scattered through the body of the womb.

[Page 3] whence they descend, downward and a little from their beginning or original they are joyned to these veins, till they are closed together by an Anastomosis or inoculation, ending like a Piramid.

CHAP. II. Of the Parastatae, or vessels where the bloud is first changed.

THese four vessels after many ingraftings and knittings together, seem at length to become onely two bodies, full of little crumplings like the tendril of a vine, white and in the form of a Piramid, resting the right upon the right stone, & the left upon the left stone. These are called Parastatae, which as they stand pierce the tunicles of each stone with certain fibers or extraordinary small veines, which afterwards dispearse themselves through the body of those stones. The substance of these Parastatae is between that of the stones and that of the preparing vessels; for they neither altogether consist of Membranes, neither are they altogether Glandulous or kernelly.

CAAP. III. The use of the preparing vessels.

THe use of those vessels which are called the vessels of preparation is chiefly to attract out of the hollow vein, or left Emulgent, the most pure and exquisitely concocted bloud, which is most apt to be converted into seed; which they contain and prepare, giving unto it a certain rude form of seed in those parts that lie as it were in certain pleights or folds, which they do by a peculiar property bequeathed to them.

[Page 4]

Another use of them is gathered by their scituation, for as they are now scituated, that is to say, the right vein coming from the hollow vein, and the left from the Emulgent, this inconvenience is avoided, that the left vein is not forced to pass over the great artery, and so be in danger of breaking, by reason of the swift motion of the artery. Moreover there being a necessity that male and female should be begot, it is fit that there should be seed proper for the generation of both sexes, whereof some must be hotter and some must be colder; and therefore nature hath so ordered it, that the hotter seed should proceed from the right vein for the generation of man, and the colder from the left for the generation of females. The left vein hath also this property to draw from the Emulgent the more serous and less pure bloud, to the intent that the serous humour might stir up venery by its salt and acrimonius substance; and therefore it is observed that those who have the left stone bigger are most full of seed, and most prone to venery.

The use of the Parastatae is this, to contain the bloud and stay it in their windings and wrinkled bodies, and by power received from the stones to change the colour of the bloud.

CHAP IV. Of the Testicles in general.

THe stones are in number two, very seldome one, and much seldomer three or four. The scituation of the stones in men, is without the Midriff, at the root of the yard under the belly, and that for two causes, to keep men more chaste; it being observed [Page 5] that those creatures which carry their stones within their bodies are more salacious, and bring forth in greater numbers.

Their bigness is not always alike in all creatures, but in men as big as a Pigeons egg, or as a small Hens egg; and commonly the left is bigger then the right.

In the Anatomy of the stones divers things are to be considered. Their Tunicles or the skins in which they are wrapt, as well those which are common to both, as those which are particular to either, next the muscles, then the substance of which they are composed: and lastly the vessels which are dispearsed through the body of the stones.

CHAP. V. Of the Tunicles of the stones.

THe Testicles are wrapt up in divers coverings, about the number of which there hath been great dissention. But they are now reduced to five, whereof two are common, and are called Scrotum, and Dartos, three particular, the names of which are Elytroydes, Erythroides, and Epididymis.

The first of these, which is like a satchel or purse, and is common to both, consists of a skin and a cuticle. This contains the two stones like a purse, and is obvious to the touch. The skin of this part differs from any other part of the skin which covers the body: for whereas that is stretched out and spred close over the whole body, this is more loose, and made to stretch out or to be wrinkled up together as occasion is, that is as the stones either ascend or descend: [Page 6] they ascend commonly in the time of conjunction, they descend in febers, weakness of the Testicles, or by reason of old age.

The second Tunicle.The second is called Dartos, because it is easily separated from the others. In this the testicles lie as it were in a nest, wrapping them about more close then the Scrotum doth. It takes its Originall from the fleshie Pannicle, which though it be thinner hereabouts then in any other part of the body, yet is it full of little Veines and arteries.

The proper Tunicles The proper Tunicles. are first the Elytroides which is also called Vaginalis by reason it supplyes the office of a sheath. It takes its originall from the production of the Peritoneum, for where the spermatic vessells pass, they do not at all bruse the Peritoneum, but carie it downe to the stones, and so constitute or make this Tunicle. To know this Tunicle, and the original of it is very necessary for Physick, because that hollowness which the Processess of the Peritoneum do make for the passage of the spermatic vessels, is somtimes dilated as far as the beginning or source of this Tunicle, and both the small guts and the caule fall down upon the Testicles, which is the cause of that kind of birstness which by the Physitians is called Enterocle. This Tunicle grows to that which is called Dartos, being ioyned to it by many nervous fibres. Underneath this is the Tunicle called Erythroides, or the red Tunicle; so called from the multitude of red veines which are sprinkled up and down in it. It rises from the other membranes and is encompassed without by the first proper tunicle.

The third, and that which immediately compasseth the stones, is that which is called Epididymis: it is white, thick and strong, to preserve the soft and [Page 7] loose substance of the stones. It riseth ftom the Tunicle of the seminal vessels, being the thickest of all the Tunicles, and hath some few veines scattered up and dovne in it.

CHAP. VI. Of the suspensory Muscles.

TO keep the stones from oppressing, or stretching over much the passages of the seminal vessels, Nature hath provided them two Muscles for them to hang by, on both sides one, in form oblonge and slender.

These Muscles derive their original from a thick membrane which is joyned to the hanch bone in the further part of that region, where the hair grows, The original of these Muscels. and is fastened to this bone with certaine fleshie and straight fibers; where the oblique Muscles of the Abdomen or Mideriff end, thence reaching down upon the superiour members of the Testicles, they are extended through the whole length of that round body.

These Muscles are never seen in women being altogether useless, because their stones are not pendent, but are enclosed within their bodies.

CHAP. VII. Of the substance and temper of the stones.

THe substance of the stones is glandulous or kernelly, white, soft, loose, spongy, and hollow; having sundrie vessels dispersed through them.

Now although the substance of the Testicles be most soft and moist, yet doth not this moistness constitute [Page 8] a uniforme or homogeneal body; for the substance of the stones is wholly dissimilar, and full of fibres. These fibres also seeme to be of a different substance from that of the stones, being only cloathed which the flesh of the stones, as the fibres of the Muscles are inwardly nervous, but coverd over which the flesh of the Muscles. These fibres again differ in this, that the fibres of the Testicles are hollow, but the fibres of the Testicles full and substantiall. These fibres are said to come from the spermatick vessels, and thence branch themselves forth through the Testicles, by which that part of the seed which is over and above what serves for the nourishment of the testicles, as drawn forth and kept for procreation.

As concerning the Temper of the stones, they would sooner be thought cold then hot, if that Maxime were true, that all white things are cold, and all red things hot. Nothwithstanding, because nature is known to abhor all coldness in the work of generation; Therefore we must presume to affirme the temper of the stones to be hot, for they always abound with blood, and a pure spirit, that can never be whichout heat: Besides that heat is required for the concoction of this blood; and the changing it into seed; yet is it very temperate, as appeares by the softness of the substance, for as coldness and driness is the cause of hardness, so heat and moisture is the cause of softness.

Nevertheless we are to understand this, that the temper of the stones is not alike in all, for in some they are far colder then in others. And therefore these who have hot testicles are more salacious and prone to venereal actions, having the places neer about [Page 9] much more hairie, and their testicles much harder then others. Those that have their testicles cold, find every thing contrary.

The greatest heat is in the right testicle, because it receives more pure and hotter blood from the hollow veine and the great Artery, the left colder, because it receives a more inpure and serous bloud from the Emulgent veine.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Actions of Testicles.

THe action and use of the Testicles, is to Generate seed, a gift which they obtaine from an inbred qualitie which nature hath bestowed upon them. For the bloud being received by the spermatic vessels, and there beginning to change it's colour, is by and by received by the deferent vessels, or the vessels which carry the bloud so prepared to the Testicles, where it is for a while contained, and afterwards being carried to the stones is by them made seed, and the last work perfected. And it may with more easiness be affirmed, that the seed is generated by the stones, because every like is said to generate its like; now the substance of the Testicles is very like the seed it self, that is white moist and viscous. Whether the stones are the onely efficient causes of the seed, is not here to be disputed, being onely a nice point, and no way profitable; we shall rather with silence adhere to that opinion, which affirmes the function of the testicles to be the generation of the seed, which is the most likely, and proceed to the next.

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CHAP. IX. Concerning the Ʋtilitie of the Testicles and their parts.

THe structure of the Testicles being thus known, It remaines that wee shew you their use. This is first discovered from their situation. For of those creatures that have stones, some have them in their bodyes, as all Fowl, others have them without, though not pendent; others have them hanging downward, as men. Men therefore have their Testicles without their bodys for two causes; first, because it is required that the Testicles of the male should be bigger and hotter then those of the female, so that it were impossibe for them to be contained with the body, because of their quantity. Besides, the seed of the male being the effective original of the creature, and therefore hottest, it is also required that the seed should be more abundant then could be contained in the Testicles, were they placed within the body; for the seminarie passages must have bin less, and the veines themselves would not have afforded such plentie of matter as now they doe.

The motion of the Testicles is also to be considered; by which they move somtimes upward and somtimes downward. The one of these motions which is made upward is voluntary, as being made by the muscles, but the motion downward is a forced motion, not happening without the laxitie of the muscles; the Testicles through their own weight falling downwards. These muscles are called Cremasteres, their use being to draw up the Testicles to shorten the way for the Ejaculation of the seed, as also to [Page 11] keep the vessels from being distended too far by the weight of the Testicles.

The use of the Tunicles is now to be spoken of, and first of that which is outermost, and is called by the Latines Scrotum, being the purse wherein the Testicles are contained. It is made to wrinkle it self up and to let it self loose that it may be large enough for the Testicles when they swell with plenty of seed, and to wrinkle up again when the Testicles, being emptied and so becoming less, are drawn upward. The other coates or tunicles also made for the defence of the stones, but so thin and light, that they should not oppress the stones with their weight; that which is called Erythroides hath many veines for the nourishment of the Adjacent parts. The Epididymis, was made to wrap the testicle round about, lest the Humid matter of the testicle should flow about and consequently be wasted.

CHAP. X. Of the vessels that east forth the seed.

THat passage which comes from the head of the testicles to the root of the yard, is called the Ejaculatorie vessel. This, as I said before, rises from the head of the testicles, and joyning downward to the testicle descends to the bottome, and thence being reflexed again, and annext to the preparing vessel, it returns againe to the head of the testicle, from thence it proceeds upward from the Testicle till it touch the bone of the small guts, still keeping close to the preparing vessel, till it pierce the production of the Hypogastrium. Thence tending downward through the hollowness of the hip, it slydes between [Page 12] the bladder and the streight gut, till it reach the glandulous Prostatae or forestanders, and fix it self at the foot or root of the yard, and there end. It is not all one at the beginning, and at the end, for at the beginning, while it remains among the tunicles of the testicles, it is full of windings and turnings; neer the end it hath many little bladders like to warts.

Now we must understand that these seminarie vessels doe not onely containe the seed, but they perfit and concoct it, having a seminifie or seed-making qualitie, which they borrow from the Testicles. There are other uses of these seminary vessels: for neer the original of this vessel, that is to say, the head of the testicles many small passages, or as it were conduit-pipes, do stretch themselves forward into the body of the testicle, into which the genital seed that remaines is remitted, and also drawn or sucked from those passages; this seminarie passage is at length wound above the testicles, adjoyning all along, but no where incorporated into the body of the Testicle, unless at the bottom, in which place it is thought that the seed doth again insinuate it self into the testicles through those hollow fibres: being thence propagated and continually making supply to the stones.

It is to be noted also, that these vessels while they move to the Root of the yard, do not go by streigth passages, which would be then very short, but by crooked windings and turnings, make the passages as long as may be, that they may have longer time to containe and prepare the seed.

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CHAP. XI. Of the Seminarie bladders.

AT the end of the deferent vessels on both sides, are certain little bladders, knit and joyned together, and placed between the bladder and the right gut; the last of which, together which the seminarie vessels, is terminated in the prostatae or forestanders by a little channel.

These bladders have two several uses, for they doe not only striengthen the seminarie vessels where they end, but also seem to be the stores and magazines of the seed. They are many, that every time a man uses the act of venerie, he may have a new supply of matter from these several vesicles. Thus that which is next the yard being first disburdened, the second is the next time emptied, and so till all the store is spent; and were it not for these vesicles, a man could not lye which a woman more then once.

In these vessels, such is the propensitie of nature to propagate, let the body be never so much emaciated, there is always found a lesser or greater quantitie of seed. They are hollow and round to containe a greater quantitie of seed, they are also full of membranes, that they may be contracted or extended as the plenty of seed requires; they are crooked and full of windings, and turnings, that the seed contained may not easily slip out.

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CHAP. XII. Of the kernelly Prostatae, or forestanders.

THe glandulous prostatae or forestanders: are two little testicles as it were seated at the foot of the yard, a little above the sphinctere of the Urinarie vessels, they are wrapt about with a membrane, which doth also cloath the seminarie vessels and vesiicles: before and behind they seeme more flat, on the sides they are more round, they have a substance like other kernels, loose and spungie, only they differ from them by reason of their whiteness and hardness; they are endued which an exquisite feeling, to stir up a greater desire of copulation. These Glandulae or kernels have certaine pores that open themselves into the Ureter through which the seed, these forestanders being squeezed by the lower Muscles of the yard, distils into the yard.

The use of these kernels is partly to beget an oylie, fat, and slipperie substance, with which the urinarie passage is sometimes anointed, to defend it from the acrimony both of the Seed and Urin, and to keep it always moist.

The other use is taken from the name of Prostatae, which word in the singular number signifies a tutor or defender, for they are there placed to preserve and strengthen the ends of the different vessels, lest by over much distention of the yard, the teminary vessel should be either burst or moved out of their places.

They have a third use, for being placed between the bladder and the right gut, they serve instead of cushions for the vessel to rest upon, and to guard [Page 15] them from all compression: Hence it hapned sometimes that those who are very much bound in their bodies while they strain themselves over-vehemently, do now and then void a kind of seed, which happens by a violent compression of those parts.

CHAP. XIII Of the structure of the Yard.

THe structure of the Yard is not unknown, that is to say, at the root of the share bone in the hinder part of the Hypogastrion or lower part of the belly, where the hair grows, which bone is called Os pubis. Though the greatest part of it is not pendent without, but adjoyning to the podex is scituated near the joyning of the share bone, being fast knit to it in the perinaeum, or space between the cods and the fundament; the other part is pendent and is seen hanging outward. This scituation is most appropriated to the manner of the act of generation, usual and peculiar to men, who do not couple after the manner of beasts. The figure of it is in a manner round, though not exactly, broader in the upper part which is called the back of the Yard.

The Thickness and Longitude of the Yard is so much as is required for procreation, The quantity of it. yet it is not so long as in many other creatures. Yea, and in several men there is a very great diversity, little men being for the most part, best provided in that part; It is also thought, that there is a national difference, as to the bigness of this member; it being a general received opinion, that the often use of Venery doth increase the quantity of it in all dimensions.

The Yard will also be longer, if the Navel strings [Page 16] are not bound up, or knit too close by the midriffe, in children that are newly born; but at some distance from the navel: This happens by reason of the ligament coming fron the navel to the bottom of the bladder; which if it be too much abbreviated, draws up the bladders, and consequently shortens the yard; but if the navel string be left at a longer distance, the Urac hos is inlarged, and consequently the yard hath more liberty to extend it self, and therefore the midwifes are from hence advertised, that they do not spoil the harvest of Generation, by cutting the sithe too short.

The substance of the Yard.As to the substance of the yard, it is not of a bony substance, as in dogs wolphs or foxes; for so it would become always hard and erected, and hinder men from all business but the act of venerie. Neither is it grisly, for so it could neither erect it self, nor flag, when occasion required; neither is it full of veines, for so it could not be emptied and repleted on such a suddain as often happens; besides that tunicle of the veins are so thin that they could not suffer so great a dissention; neither can it be full of Arteries, because it wants a continual pulsation; neither can it consist of nerves, because they having no hollowness cannot be extended and loosened, as it must of necessity happen to the yard. It is therefore necessary that the yard should have such a substance as is not peculiar to any other part of the body. It is therefore to be understood that there do concur to the framing of the yard, two nervous bodies, the passage for the Urine, which is called Urestua, the glary or nut of the yard, four muscles, the vessels and the skin.

Here doth arise a question, why the yard hath not [Page 17] any far; which is in brief this; because that there should be no hinderance to the perfect sence of the yard, which could of necessity not be avoided, if that member were subject to any obesity; the fat being subject to be melted by frication.

CHAP. XIV. Of the several parts constituting the Yard.

AMong the parts that compose the structure of the yard, is that skin w ^ch with its cuticle, and fleshy pannicle, is common not only to this, but to other members; only it hath this peculiar to it self, that it may be reflexed, and drawn back from the nut of the yard. This skin that turns back is called the preputium; because that part in circumcision was cut away, with which prepuce, the nut of the yard is covered.

The Glans or nut of the yard is a fleshy part, soft, thin, repleat with bloud and spirits; The nut of the yard. endued with an exquisite sence; something sharp and acute at the end. This is fastened to the prepuce at the lower part, by a certain ligament, which is therefore called the bridle, or the filet, which commonly is broken in the first venereal assaults, which are for the most part the most furious.

The greatest part of the yard is constituted by two nervous bodies, on both sides one, The two nervous bodies. which terminate both together in the nut. They rise from a twofold original, leaning or resting upon [Page 18] the hip, under the share bone; whence as from a sure foundation they go on till they arrive at the nut of the yard.

They consist of a double substance, the first is nervous, Their substance. hard and thick; the inner part black, loose, soft, thin and spungy. It is called the Nervous pipe. These two bodies are joyned together by a certain membrane, thin, yet nervous, which is strengthened by certain overthwart fibers, being there placed in the likeness of a weavers shuttle: and though in their original they are seperated the one from the other, that there might remain some certain space for the ureter; yet they are joyned together about the middle of the share bone; where they lose about the third part of their nervous substance.

The interiour substance, which is wrapt about by the exteriour nervous substance, The Ureter. hath this worthy observation, that there appears stretched through the whole length of it, a thin and tender artery, proportionable to the bigness of the body; which is diffused through the whole loose substance of the yard, reaching as far the root of the yard. Besides these two, there is another body which lies between these two, as proper, or rather more peculiar to the yard then they are. This is a pipe placed at the inferiour part of the yard, being called the Vreter, though it be a passage as proper to the seed, as to the urine; which is encompassed by the two fore-mentioned bodies. This is a certain Channel produced in length, and running through [Page 19] the middle of those nervous bodies, consisting of the same substance that they do, being loose, thick, soft, and tender; every way equal from the neck of the bladder to the nut of the yard, saving that it is a little wider at the beginning, then it is toward the place where it ends, which is at the head of the glans or nut of the yard.

At the beginning of this Channel there are three holes; one in the middle, The holes of th [...] Ureter. and something bigger then the other two, arising from the neck of the bladder; the other two on both sides one, being something narrower, proceeding from the passage that goes out of the seminary vessels, and conveighs the seed into this channel.

This is further to be noted in this place, that in the channel, where it is joyned to the glans, together with the nervous bodies, Note. there is a little kind of cavern, in which sometimes either putrid seed, or any other corroding humour, as happens in the gonorrhaea, being collected, is the cause of ulcers in that part, the cause of very great pain; and it many times also comes to pass, that there is a certain little piece of flesh which grows out of this ulcer, that oftentimes stops up the passages of the urine.

To the structure of the yard, The Muscles of the Yard. there do moreover concur two pair of muscles, one more short and thick, proceeding from a part of the hip, near the beginning of the yard, and being of a fleshy substance. The use of these two muscles, is to sustain the yard in the erection; [Page 20] and to bend the fore-part of the yard, which is to be inserted into the womb: the other pair is longer, and rises from the sphincter of the fundament, where they are endued with a more fleshy substance, being in length full as long as the yard; under which they are carried downward, ending at the sides of the ureter, about the middle of the yard. Their use is to dilate the ureter, both at the time of making water, and at the time of conjunction; lest it should be stopped up, by the repletion of the nervous bodies, and so stop up the passage of the seed. They are also thought to keep the yard firm, lest it should lean too much to either side, and also to press out the seed out of the prostatae or forestanders.

The vessel of the Yard.There are vessels also of all sorts in the yard: first of all certain veins appearing in the external parts, and in the cuticle; which branch themselves out from the Hypogastrion. In the middle, betwen the space of the fibres, they send out certain branches from the right side, to the left, and from the left, to the right. These veins swelling with a frothy bloud and spirit, erect the yard. There are also certain nerves which scatter themselves from the pith or marrow of the holy bone quite through the yard, bringing with them the cause of that pleasure and delight, which is perceived in the erection of the yard.

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CHAP. XV. Of the Action of the Yard.

THe main scope of Nature in the use of the yard, was the injection of seed into the womb of the woman, which injection could not be done, till the seed were first moved; neither could the seed be moved but by frication of the parts, which could not be done, till it were sheathed in the womb, nor that neither, till the yard were erected.

This distension is caused by repletion; which is caused by the plentie of seed: Secondly, by superfluitie of wind, which if it be too violent, is the cause of priapisme: A Third cause proceeds from the abundance of urine contained in the bladder. Somtimes the heat of the reines is a cause thereof.

CHAP. XVI. Of the use of the Yard in general.

THe Yard is scituated under the midriff over against the womb. And is also placed between the thighes, for the greater strengthning of it in the act of copulation; Neither is this the only strength which it hath, for at the lower part it appears more fleshie, which flesh is altogether muscly, for the greater strength thereof. Neither [Page 22] is it only contented with this Musclie flesh, it having too muscles also for the same purpose, on both sides to poise it even in the act of erection; which though they are but little, yet are they exceeding strong.

The figure of the yard is not absolutly round, but broader on the upper side, lest it should be hindered by the convexity of the superior part, in the casting forth of the seed.

Concerning the biggness of the yard, it is by most estemed to be of a just length, when it is extended the bredth of nine thumbs.

CHAP. XVII. Of the use of the parts constituting the Yard.

THe first thing in the constitution of the yard, that offeres it self to view, is the skin, which is long and loose, by reason that the yard which is sometimes to be extended, & somtimes to fall downe againe, so requires it. The extremity of the skin is so ordered, that it somtimes covers the glans, and somtimes draws back; that whilst it covers the nut of the yard, it may defend the yard from frication, or provoking the motion of the seed.

Moreover this skin in the act of copulation, shuts up the mouth of the womb, and hinders the ingress of the cold air. Concerning the two nervous bodyes, constituting the substance of [Page 23] the yard; their use is for the vital spirit to run through the thin substance of them, and fill the yard with spirits. Moreover by their thicknesse, they doe prevent the two hastie empting and flying out of the spirits, which are to stay in, for the greater and longer erection of the yard.

The use of the Ureter is for the passage of seed and urine through it. The substance of the Ureter is much the same with the two former bodys; the inside being more thin and loose, the outside more nervous and thick; which is so ordained, that it may be more apt to be erected with the yard. It goes forward from the place where it begins, to the end of the spermatick vessels, and the neck of the blader, and the warty forestanders where There arises a thin and tender membrane, which the Chirurgions ought to take a great deale of care least they break, while they thrust their siringes toward those parts; It is endued with an exquisite sense to stir up pleasure and venereal desire.

As to tbe substance of the Glans, The use of the Glans. it is the same with that of the yard; only it is not envelop'd with any nervous body. For this ought to be repleted and increased, but not hardened; lest it should injure the bone of the womb, by rubbing too hard upon it.

The figure of the Glans is such that at the top where it is most acute, it hath a hole for the issuing forth both of seed and Urine, which part coming to the mouth of the wombe, casts [Page 24] the seed into that concavitie, at which time the neck of the wombe with her overthwart fibres, seems to take hold and embrace the glans; and that it might take the better hold, nature hath framed a round Circle at the bottom of the yard, for that purpose, with a convenient jeting out round about from the body of the yard; by the benefit of which circle, the seed is kept in the womb, and not suffered to flye out. Lastly, the Glans is so constituted, as if all the actions of the yard consisted in the Glans; whether in the act of erection, or copulation; or as to the pleasure which a man perceives that lies all in this place.

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SECT. II.

CHAP. I. Of the Genitals of Women.

AT the lower part of the belly appears the pubes, or the region of the hair. Under this place are as it were lips of flesh, which in women that are ripe for man, are clad with hair at the upper part, because of the heat and moisture of the place; and this part is that which is most properly called the privy member, being the exteriour orifice, into which the yard of the man enters. In the middle it hath a cleft, on both sides of which are two fleshy protuberances, beset with hair, being two soft oblong bodies composed of skin and a spungy kind of flesh.

CHAP. II. Of those parts called Mymphs and Clytoris.

THe Nymphae or wings are a membraine or filmy substance, soft and spungy, and partly [Page 26] fleshy; they are of a ruddy colour, like the comb of a Cock under his throat; they are two in number, though in the beginning they are joyned together by an acute Angle, where they produce a carneous substance, like the preputium which cloaths the Clytoris. Sometimes these wings so far encrease, that there is many times need of incision; a disease common among the Egyptians.

The Clytoris, The Clytoris. is a certain substance in the upper part of the great cleft, where the two wings concur. This in women is the seat of venereal pleasure: It is like the yard in scituation, substance, composition, and erection, and hath something correspondent both to the prepuce, and to the glans in men. Sometimes it grows out to the bigness of the yard, so that it hath been observed, to grow out of the body the breadth of four fingers.

This Clytoris consists of two spungie and sinewy bodies, having a distinct original, from the bone of the pubes. The head of this is covered with a most tender skin, and hath a hole like the glans, though not quite through, in which, and in the bigness it differs only from the yard.

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CHAP. IV. Of the fleshie knobs, and the greater neck of the womb.

PRresently behinde the wings, before we go far inward in the middle of the cleft, there do appear four knobs of flesh, being placed in a quadrangular form one against the other; they are said to resemble Myrtle berries in form. In this place is inserted the orifice of the bladder, which opens it self into the fissure, to cast forth the Urine into the common channel. Now lest any cold air or dust, or any such thing should enter into the bladder after the voiding of the Urine, one of these knobs is seated so, that it shuts the urinary passage. The second is right opposite to the first, the other two collateral. They are round in virgins, but they hang flaging when virginity is lost.

The lipps of the womb being gently separated, the neck of the womb is to be seen, The neck of the womb. in which two things are to be observed; the neck it selfe, or the Channel, and the Hymen, which is there placed: by the neck of the womb, is understood the Channel, which is between the said knobs, and the inner bone of the womb; which receives the yard like a sheath; the substance The substance. of it is sinewie, and a little spungie, that it may be dilated; In this concavitie there are certaine folds or orbicular pleights; these are made by [Page 28] a certain tunicle, so wrinkled, as if a man should fold the skin with his fingers. In virgins they are plaine; in women with often copulation, they are oftentimes worn out, sometimes they are wholy worn out, & the inner side of the neck appeares smooth, as it happens to whores; and women that have often brought forth, or have bin over troubled with their fluxes. In old women it becomes more hard and grisly. Now though this channel be somthing writhed and crooked when it falls and sinkes downe, yet in time of the flowers and copulation, or in time of travel it is erected and extended, and this over-great extension in women that bring forth, is the cause of that great pain in child-bed.

CHAP. V. Of the Hymen.

THe Hymen The Hymen. is a membrane not altogether without blood, neither so tender as the rest, but more ruddie, and scattered up and downe with little veins, & in a circular form; it is placed overthwart, and shuts up the cavity of the neck of the womb. In the middle it hath a little hole, through which the menses are voided. This at the first time of copulation is broken, which causes some pain, and gushing forth of some quantity of blood; which is an evident sign of virginitie; for if the blood do not flow, there is a suspition of a former deflowring.

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CHAP. VI. Of the vessels that run through the neck of the womb.

BEtween the Duplicitie of the two tunicles, that constitute the neck of the womb, there are many veines and arteries that run a long; arising from those vessels, that descend on both sides to the thighs, and are inserted into the side of the neck of the womb: the great quantity and bigness of them deserves admiration; The cause of the largness of the vessels. for they are much bigger then the nature and openness of the place seems to require.

The cause of this is two fold; first because it being requisite for the neck of the bladder to be fil'd with abundance of spirits, & to be extended and dilated for the better taking hold of the yard; there is required a great heat for these kind of motions, which growing more intense by the act of frication, doth consume a great quantitie of moisture, so that great vessels are requisite, and onely able to make that continual supply that is needfull.

There is another cause of the longness of these vessels, which is this; because that the monthly purgations are poured through those veines; for the flowers must not come onely out of the womb, but out of the neck of the womb also: whence it happens, Note. that women with child do somtimes continue their purgations, because that [Page 30] though the wombe be shut up, yet the passages in the neck of the womb are open.

The two holes, or pits, near the lips of the pudendum.This is also further to be noted in the neck of the womb, that as soone as ever your sight is entered within the female fissure, there do appeare to the view, two certaine little holes, or pits, where in is contained a serous humor; which being pressed out in the act of copulation, doe not a little add to the pleasure thereof.

This is the humor with which women doe moisten the top of a mans yard; not the seed but a humor proper to the place, voided out by the womb.

CHAP. VII. Of the fabrick of the womb.

TO the neck of the womb, the wombe it self is adjoyned, in the lower part of the Hypogastrion, where the Hips are widest and broadest; which are greater and broader thereabouts then those of men; which is the reason also that they have broader buttockes then men have.

The womb The womb. is placed between the bladder and the straight Gut; being joyned to the bladder and leaning upon the streight Gut; where it lies as between two cushions; this situation of the wombe was fittest, that so it might have libertie to be stretched or contracted, according to the biggness of the fruit contained in it.

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The figure The figure. of the wombe is round, and not unlike a Gourd that lessens and growes more acute at the one end; the bottome of the womb is knit together by Ligaments of its own, which are peculiar. The neck of the womb is joyned by its own substance, and by certaine membranes to the share bone and the sacred bone.

As to the bigness The bigness. of it, that varies according to the age, constitution of the body, and use of venerie. For it is much greater in women that have brought forth, then in those that are with child, and after the birth, for the most part it exceeds the bigness of the bladder; but in virgins it is for the most part equal to the bladder.

It is of a substance so thick as that it exceeds a thumbs bredth in thickness, which after conception is so far from decreasing, that it increases still to a greater bulk and proportion.

This substance the more to confirme it, is interweaved with all manner of fibres, The fibres. streight, oblique, and overthwart.

The Vessels of the womb are Veins, The veins. Arteries, and Nerves.

There are two little veines which are carried from the spermatick vessels to the bottom of the wombe; and two greater from the Hypogastricks, which go not onely to the bottom, but to the neck. The mouth of these veines pierce as farr as the inward concavitie; in which place the extremities of them are called Acetabula; [Page 32] which in the time of the flowers, gape and open themselves by reason of the great plenty and stream of bloud, that powres it selfe from thence; and therefore they are at that time most conspicuous; In women with Child, that which is called the Liver of the wombe, is joyned to them, that it might draw blood for the nourishment of the child; at which time these veins doe so swell, but especially in the time of neer deliverie, that they are as bigg as the Emulgent veines, or at least half as thick as the Hollow veines.

It hath two Arteries The Arteries. on both sides, the Spermatick, and the Hypogastrick, which every where doe accompany the veines.

The womb hath also divers little Nerves knit together in forme of a net, which are carried not only to the interior part of the bottom of the womb, but also to the neck, and as far as the privities themselves; and that cheifly for sence and pleasure; for which cause there is a great sympathy between the womb and the head.

This is also further to be noted, Note. that the womb in its situation is not fixed and immoveable, but moveable, by reason of two ligaments which hang on both sides, from the share bone, and piercing through the Peritonaeum; are joyned to the bone it self, so that it somtimes happens that through those holes of the Peritonaeum, which give passage to these ligaments being loosned, either the Omentum or Call, or the [Page 33] Entrailes, doe swell outwardly, and cause the burstness either of the Caule, or of the Guts, and sometimes it happens by reason of the loosnes of those ligaments, that the womb is moved with such a force, that it falls down; and in the act of Copulation is moved up and downe; somtimes it moves upward, that some women doe affirme that it ascends as high as their stomach. Now though the womb be one continued body, yet is it divided into the mouth, and the bottom.

The bottom of the womb is called all that which by still assending stretches it self from the internal orifice to the end; being narrow toward the Mouth, but dilating it self by little and little, till it come at the entrailes.

The mouth of the womb, is that narrowness between the neck and the bottom; it is an oblong and transverse Orifice; but where it opens it selfe, orbicular, and round, the Circumference very thick and of an exquisite feeling; and if this mouth be out of order, and be troubled with schirrus, brawn or over-fatness; over-moisture, or relaxation, it is the cause of barrenness. In those that are big with child, there uses to stick to this orifice; a thick viscous glutinous matter, that the parts moistened may be the more easily opened. For in the deliverie, this mouth is opened after a very strange and miraculous manner, so that according to the bigness of the birth, it suffers an equal dilatation, from the bottom of the womb to the privy member.

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CHAP. VI. Of the preparing vessels in women.

THe spermatick preparing vessels, The vessels. are two veins and two arteries, differing not at all from those of men, either in their number, original, action, or use, but only in their bigness and the manner of their insertion. For as to their number, there are so many veins, and so many arteries, as in men. They arise also from the same place as in men, that is to say, the right, from the trunk of the hollow vein descending; the left, from the left Emulgent.

There are two arteries The Arteries. also, on both sides one, which grows from the Aorta; these both bring vital bloud for the work of generation.

As to the Longitude and Latitude of these vessels, they are narrower and shorter in women, only where they are wrinkled, they are much more wreathed and contorted then in men; for the way being shorter in women then in men, nature required that for stretching out of these vessels, that they should be more wrinkled and crankled then in men, that the bloud might stay there in greater quantity, for the preparation of the seed.

These vessels The insertion of the vessels. in women are carried with an oblique course through the small guts to the stones, being wrapt up in fatter membranes; but in the mid-way they are divided into two [Page 35] branches whereof the greater branch goes to the stone, constituting the varicous or winding body, and those wonderful inoculations: the lesser branch ends in the womb; in the sides of which it is scattered up and down, and chiefly at the higher part of the bottome of the womb, for nourishment of the womb and of the birth; and that some part of the flowers may be purged out through those vessels: Now because the stones of women are seated near the womb, for that cause these vessels fall not from the peritoneum, neither make they such passages as in men, neither reach they to the share bone.

CHAP. VII. Of the Stones in Women.

THe stones of women, although they do perform the same actions, and are for the same use as mens, yet they differ from them in scituation, Their scituation. substance, temperament, figure, magnitude, and in their covering.

They are seated in the hollowness of the Abdomen; neither do they hang out as in men, but they rest upon the muscles of the Loynes; and this for that cause that they might be more hot and fruitful; being to elaborate that matter, which with the seed of man engenders man.

In this place arises a question, not trivial; A doubt. whether the seed of woman be the efficient, or [Page 36] the material cause of generation? to which it is answered, that though it have a power of acting, yet that it receives the perfection of that power from the seed of man.

The stones of women differ from mens also, as to their figure, Their figure. because they are not so round and oval as those of men, being in their fore and hinder part more depressed and broad; the external superficies being more unequal, as if a great many knots and kernels were mixed together. There is also another difference, as to the subject, because they are softer and moister then those of men, being more loose and ill compacted.

The bigness and temper.Their magnitude and temperament do also make a difference, for the stones of women are much colder and lesser then mens; which is the reason that they beget a more thin and watry seed.

Their coverings also do make a difference, for mens are wrapt up in divers tunicles, because being pendent outward, they were otherwise more subject to external injuries; but the stones of women have but one tunicle, which though it stick very close to them, yet are they also half cloth'd over with the Peritoneum.

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CHAP. VIII. Of the deferent or ejaculatory vessels.

THe deferent vessels are two blind passages, on both sides one, nothing differing in substance from the spermatick veines. They rise in one part from the bottom of the womb, neither doe they reach from their other extremitie, either to the stone or to any other part, but are shut up, and unpassable, adhering to the womb, just as the the blind gut adheres to the Colon; but winding halfe way about the stones, are every waies remote from them, no where touching them, onely are tied to them with certaine membranes, not unlike the winges of Bats, through which certaine veines and arteries, being produced from the stones, doe run; and end in these passages: where they begin, at the bottom of the womb, they are hollow and large, but as they proceed further on, they grow narrower, till near their end they do again obtain a larger bigness; these two passages thus running from the corners of the womb, to the stones, are taken only to be certaine ligaments, by which the stones and the womb are strongly knit together; and these ligaments in women, are the same things with the Cremasteres in men.

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CHAP. IX. Of the Actions and Uses of the Genital parts in Women.

IN the privie part are seen, the Pubes, the mountaines of veins, the two lipps, the Orifice, under which the two wings lye hid the little knobs of flesh, resembling myrtle berries, the passages of the Urin and the Clytories.

As for the pubes and the Mountains of Venus, they serve for this use, that the great Orifice might be the better shut, and to avoyd compression in copulation; for which cause they are beset with haire, and are covered with a hard kind of fat; the great orifice receives the yard, and gives passage to the Urine and the birth. The use of the wings, or knobs of flesh, like Myrtle berries, are for the defence of the internall parts, shutting the orifice of the neck, least cold aire, dust, or any other annoyances, should hurt it, from without; and while they swell up, they cause titillation and desire in those parts. Lastly, the passages of the Urine being shut up by the knobs of flesh resembling myrtle berries, hinders the unvoluntarie passage of the Urine.

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CHAP. X. Of the action of the Clytoris.

THe action of the Clytoris is like that of the yard, which is erection; which erection is for the motion and attraction of the seed.

CHAP. XI. Of the action and use of the neck of the womb.

THe action of the neck of the womb, is the same with that of the yard; that is to say, erection, which is occasioned divers ways. First, all this passage is erected and made streight, for the better conveyance of the yard to the womb. Then while the whole passage is erected, it is repleated with spirit and vital bloud, whereby it becomes narrower for the more streight embracing of the yard.

The causes of this erection are, first, because if the womb were not erected, the yard could not have a convenient passage into the womb; secondly, it would hinder convenient affrication, without which the seed could not be drawn forth. Lastly, it hinders any hurt or damage which might be done by the violent force of the yard.

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CHAP. XII. Of the uses of the vessels running through the neck of the womb.

FIrst, it is required that there should be a concurrence of divers veins and arteries, for the nourishment of that part; and though that part it self being full of membranes does not require much nourishment, yet by reason that it is to suffer erection, that could not be done but by bloud and spirits, which are contained in these vessels; besides, although the fubstance of this part be of a cold temperament, being notwithstanding still heated by the act of copulation, that heat would soon consume a slender nourishment, which nature hath supplied by the concourse of these vessels. Another cause of the plenty of these veins, is nourishment of the birth, and the exclusion of the flowers.

CHAP. XIII. Of the actions of the womb.

THe first use of the womb is to attract the seed, by a familiar sympathy, just as the load-stone draws iron.

The second use is to retain it, which is properly called conception.

The third is to cherish the seed thus attracted, [Page 41] to altar it, and change it into the birth, by raising up that power which before lay sleeping in the seed, and to reduce it from power into act: The fourth action of the womb is to send forth the birth at the time prefixed; the apt time of expulsion, is when the expulsive faculty begins to be affected with some sence of trouble, that is when the birth afflicts and oppresses the womb with its own weight.

Besides these uses, it hath these moreover to nourish the birth, and to dilate it self, which it doth by the help of veins and arteries, which do fill more and more with matter, as nature requires.

The chiefest action of the womb and most proper to it, The proper actions of the womb. is the retention of the seed; without which, nothing of other action could be performed for the generation of man.

CHAP. XIV. Of the utility of the womb.

FIrst, it is the most fit place for copulation, as being in a place furthest removed from the senses, near which it were not fit to be, by reason of the inconveniencies which would necessarily arise.

It is most fit to receive the birth, as being hollow, in which concavity the birth may increase to its full proportion every way.

It is most fit for the exclusion of the birth, [Page 42] as being placed downward, whereby the birth might help its self with its own weight; and also by reason of the muscles of the Abdomen, which serve for compression, and do help the endeavours of the mother.

CHAP. XV. Of the Utility of the preparing vessels in women.

THe Utilities of these vessels are taken, first, from their original, and from their insertion, the right vein rising from the hollow, and the left from the emulgent, as in men, that the more hot and purer bloud might come from the right vein, for the procreation of males, and the more serous and watry bloud from the Emulgent, for the generation of women.

The vessels also in women are shorter then in men, because the way is not so far to the stones; which brevity of the vessels is lengthened out by the many turnings and windings with which those vessels are endued. In the middle way those vessels divide themselves like a fork, the greater part going to the stones, carrying the matter for seed; the lesser is carried to the womb, where it scatters it self all along the sides of it, for the Nutrition of the womb.

As for the Arteries, they afford the bloud which is more full of spirits to perfect the seed.

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CHAP. XVI. Of the Utility of the stones.

THe use of the stones in women, is the same as in men; that is to say, to prepare the seed, and to make it fit for procreation. They are seated within, that they should not want a continual heat, to cherish them; for the matter of the seed being colder in men then in women, it requires a greater heat, which it would of necessity want, were the stones placed outward, like those of men; and for that cause are they covered only with one tunicle, that the heat of those parts may more easily pass to them. And therefore the stones of women, are softer then those of men, because they should not perfect so substantial a seed; and that the heat of the adjacent parts should not be wholly taken up in the cherishing of them.

Their figure is not exactly round, Their figure. but depressed, that the little Meanders of the veins dispersed through the membrane, from the stones to the deferent vessels, might have more roome to be inserted for the attraction of the seed, out of the whole substance of the stone. The inequality and ruggedness of them makes for the longer stay of the seed in those crooked and winding vessels.

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SECT. III.

CHAP. I. Of the signes of Conception.

Signs of conception. HAving thus shewed you the Anatomy and use of the parts, it will be requisite to discourse of the conception it self, which is the main and chief end of these vessels: And first of the signs of conception.

The signes of conception on the mothers side, are certaine and apparent; first, if after she hath had the company of her husband, she hath received more content then ordinary.

Pains in the head, vertigo, dimness of the eys; all these concurring together, portend conception; the apples of the eyes decrease, the eyes themselves swell and become of a dark colour, the veins of the eyes wax red, and swell with blood, the eyes sink, the eye-brows grow loose, various colours appear in the eyes, little red pimples rise in the face, the veines between the nose and the eyes swell with blood, and are seen more plain; the vein under the tongue looks greenish, [Page 45] the neck is hot, the back-bone cold, the veins and arteries swell, and the pulses are observed more easily; the veins in the breast first look of a black colour, but afterward turn yellowish, the teats looke red; if she drink cold drinke, she feeles the cold in her breast, she loaths her meat and drinke, she hath divers longings, but her naturall appetite is destroyed: continual vomitings follow, and weakness of the stomach, sower belches, wormes about her navel, faintness of the loynes, the lower part of her belly swelling, inward griping of the body, the retention of the seed seaven dayes after the act of copulation; after which act there is a cold and trembling, which seizes the external members; the attractive force of the womb increases, the womb dries up. It is also a certain sign of conception if the Midwife touching with her finger the interiour neck of the womb, shall find it exactly closed, so that the point of a needle will not go between: the womb waxeth round and swels, the flowers cease to flow, for the veins through which they come down, carry the bloud to the nourishment of the birth; the thighs swell with some pain, the whole body grows weak, and the face waxes pale; the Excrements proceed slower out of the body: the Urine is white, a little cloud swimming at the top, and many atoms appear in the Urine. Take the Urine of a woman and shut it up three days in a glass, if she have conceived, at the end of three days there will appear in the Urine certain [Page 46] live things, to creep up and down. Take also the Urine of a woman, and put it in a bason a whole night together, with a clean and bright needle in it, if the woman have conceived, the needle will be scattered full of red speckles, but if not, it will be black and rustie.

CHAP. II. Whether she have conceived a Male.

Conception of a Male.IF she have conceived a male childe, the right eye will move swifter, and look clearer then the left. The right pap will also rise and swell beyond the left, and grow harder, and the colour of the teats will change more suddainly. The milk will increase more suddainly, and if it be milked out and be set in the Sun, it will harden into a clear mass, not unlike pearl. If you cast the Milk of the woman upon her Urine, it will presently sink to the bottom. Her right cheek is more muddy, and the whole colour of her face is more cheerful; she feels less numness: The first motion of the child is felt more lively in the right side for the most part upon the sixtieth day. If her flowers flow the fourtieth day after conception. The belly is more acute toward the navel. As the woman goes she always puts her right leg forward, and in rising she eases all she can her right side sooner then her left.

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CHAP. III. Whether she have conceived a Female.

IF she have conceived a Female Conception of a Female. the signs are for the most part contrary to those aforesaid.

The first motion is made most commonly the nintieth day after conception, which motion is made in the left side; Females are carried with greater pain, her thighs and Genital members swell; her colour is paler, she hath a more vehement longing. Her flowers flow the thirtieth day after conception. Girles are begot of parents who are by nature more cold and moist, their seed being more moist, cold and liquid.

CHAP. IV. Of the Conception of Twins.

IF a woman have conceived twins, Conception of Twins. the signes thereof appears not till the third or fourth moneth after her conception; and then it will appear by the motion of the Infant, and by the extraordinarie swelling of her belly. As to the motion, it is plaine that she doth beare twins if she perceive a motion on the right and left side at the same instant, which she perceives more quick and violent. As for the greatness of the belly, if the woman perceive it bigger then at [Page 48] any other times of her being with child, as also if the two flanks be swelled higher then the middle of the belly; if there doe appeare, as it were, a line of devision from the navel to the groine, making a kind of channel all a long; if the woman carrie her burden with more then ordinary paine: These are commonly the signes of twins.

CHAP. V. Of false Conception.

False Conception.VVOmen doe oftentimes deceive themselves concerning their conception; for they doe many times beleive themselves to be big with child, when it is nothing else but either the retention of their flowers, which doe not fall down according to their accustomed periods of time, or else that which is called the Moon-calfe, which is a lump of flesh, for the most part like the guisern of a bird, greater or lesser, according to the time of its being there, which is most commonly not above foure or five months.

Several sorts of Moles.Of moles there are two sorts; the one is called the true mole, the other is called the false mole. The true mole is a fleshie body, filled with many vessels, which have many white, green, or black lines, or membranes; it is without thought, without motion, without bones, without bowels, or entrailes; receiving its nourishment through [Page 49] certaine veines; it lives the life of a plant, without any figure or order being engendered in the concavitie of the matrix, adhearing to the sides of it, but borrowing nothing of its substance.

Of the false mole Of the false mole. there are four sorts, the windie mole, which is a conflux of wind; the watrie mole, which is a conflux of watrie humours; the Humorous mole, which is a conflux of various humours; the Membranous mole, which is a thin bag filled with blood. All these four are contained in the concavity of the womb.

These moles Sign of moles. are somtimes engendered with the Infant, though they do oftentimes cause the Infant to die, either because it doth deprive the Infant of that nourishment, which goes from the infant to the encrease of that, or else because it hinders the growth and perfection of the Infant. The cause of the fleshy mole doth not always proceed from the mother, for the man doth often contribute to the encrease of it, when the seed of the man is weak, imperfect and barren, or though it be good, if there be too small a quantity of it, which after it is mingled with the seed of the woman, is chok'd by the menstrual bloud, and so not being sufficient for the generation of the Infant, instead thereof produces this little mass of flesh, which by little and little grows bigger, being wrapt about in a caule, while nature strives to engender any thing rather then to be idle.

It happens also when the woman during her [Page 50] monethly purgations receives the company of her husband, her body being not yet purged and void; or else when the woman lies with a great desire and lust with her husband, after she hath conceived, or when she hath retained her monethly courses beyond her time.

The windy mole, The windy mole. is engendered by the weak heat of the matrix, and the parts adjoyning, as the liver and the spleen, which engender a quantity of winde, which fix in the concavity of the matrix.

The watry Mole, The watry mole. is engendered of many confluences of water, which the womb receives, either from the speen, or the liver, or the parts adjoyning, or else from the weakness of the liver which cannot assimulate the bloud which is sent thither, for the nourishment of the thing contained in it; part whereof turns into water, which cannot be voided, but remains in the womb.

That which is called the Humorous mole, is engendered of many moist humours, serosities, or the whites, or certain watry purgations, which sweat forth from the menstruous veins, and are contained in the concavity of the matrix.

The Membranous mole, The membranous mole. is a skin or bag, which is garnished with many white and transparent vessels, filled up with bloud: This being cast into the water, the bloud goes out, and the membrane is seen only to gather like a heap of clotted seed.

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False Conception hath many signes, The signs of false conception. common with the true conception; as the supression of the flowers, depraved appetite, vomitings, swelling of the belly, and of the breasts; so that it is a hard thing to distinguish the one from the other: only these that follow are more properly the signs of false, then true conception. For in false conception, the face is ordinarily puffed up, the breasts, that at the first were swollen, afterwards become every day more then other softer and lanker, and without milk. In fine, the face, the breast, the arms, the thighs and groynes grow lank and meager: The belly waxes hard, as happens to those who are troubled with the Dropsie, and almost of an equal roundness; with many pricking pains, at the bottom of the belly, which have scarce any intermission; which is the cause that they can hardly sleep, being encombered with a heavy and dead burthen. It may be known also by other signs, for in the conception the Male Infant begins to move at the beginning of the third moneth, for the most part, and the female at the beginning of the third or fourth moneth, now where any motion happens, the woman ought to observe whether she have any milk in her breasts or no, if she have milk in her breasts, it is a sign of true conception, if she have not, it is a sign of a false one. Besides, in true conception, the mother shall perceive her child to move on all sides, oftner though to the right flank then to the left, [Page 52] sometimes up, sometimes down, without any assistance; but in false conception, although there be a kind of motion, which is not enliven'd that proceeds from the expulsive faculty of the mother, and not from the mole. The mother shall also perceive it to tumble always on that side she lies, not having any power to sustain it self; beside as she lies on her back, if any one do push gently downward the burthen of her belly, she shall perceive it to lie and rest in the place where it was pushed, without returning thither: Beside that which will confirm it more, is, when after the end of nine moneths the woman shall not come to her travel, but that her belly still swels and is puffed up more and more, all the rest of the parts of the body growing thin and meager, this is a sign of a mole, notwithstanding that many women have been known to go ten or eleven moneths before their delivery.

The signs of the windy mole are these, when the belly is equally stretched and swelled up like a bladder, more soft then when it bears the fleshie mole, and especially near the groynes, and small of the belly; if it be struck on, it sounds like a drum; sometime the swelling decreases, but by and by it swels more and more; the woman feels her self more light, it is engendered and encreases swifter then the fleshie mole, or the watry, and it makes such a dissention of the belly, as if one were tearing it a sunder: For the watery and humorous mole, the signs are [Page 53] almost the same; the belly increases and swels by little and little, as the woman lies upon her back, the sides of her belly are more swelled and distended then the middle, or the bottom of the belly, which grows flatter then, by reason that the water and the humours fall down to the sides of the belly, moving up and down on the belly, as if there were a fluctuation of water there.

This distinction is more to be observed in the watry mole, that the flank and thighs are more stretched and swollen then the humoral, because that the waters flow thither oftentimes, and that which comes forth through natures conduite, is as clear as rock water, without any ill savour: but that which flows out in the humoral distemper is more red, like water wherein flesh hath been washed, and is of an ill savour. This is also to be marked in false conception, that the flowers never come down, and the navel of the mother advances it self little or nothing, both which happen in true conception.

There are besides these above written, certain other tumours which the women do take for moles. These occasion a rotundity and swelling in the belly, which are not discovered till the woman be opened, and then there doth appear, though the body of the womb be clean and neat, without any thing contained in it, at one or both corners of the womb, a quantity of water, contained as it were in little bags; in others are to be seen a heap of kernels and superfluous [Page 54] flesh clustered up together in the womb, which cause it to swell. Yet in these women it hath been observed, that their purgations have been very regular, which hath been a sign that the womb it self hath been in good temper.

There is also another excrescency of flesh, which may be termed a pendent mole, The pendent mole. which is a piece of flesh, hanging within the inner neck of the womb, which at the place where it is fastened, is about a fingers breadth, still increasing bigger and bigger toward the bottom like a little bell: This flesh hanging in the interior neck of the womb, possesses the whole orifice of the privy member, sometimes appearing outward, as big as the fist, as hath been observed in some women. Of the cures of all these we shall treat in due place.

CHAP. VI. How women with childe ought to govern themselves.

IN the first place she ought to chuse a temperate and wholsome air, neither too hot nor too cold, nor in a watry and damp place, nor too subject to fogs or winds, especially the South winde, which is a great enemy to women with childe, causing oft times abortion in them. The North winde is also hurtful, engendring Rhumes and Catarrhs and Coughs, which do often [Page 55] force a woman to lie down before her time. Likewise the winds which carry with them evil odours and vapours, for these being sucked with the air into the Lungs, are the cause of divers diseases.

For her diet Her Diet. she ought to chuse meat that breeds good and wholsome nourishment, and which breeds good juice, such are meats that are moderately drie, the quantity ought to be sufficient, both for themselves, and for their children, and therefore they are to fast as little as may be, for abstinence unless upon good occasion renders the child sickly, and tender, and constrains it to be born before its time, to seek for nourishment, as the over-much diet stuffs it up, or renders it so big, that it can hardly keep its place.

All meats too cold, too hot, and too moist, are to be avoided, as also the use of salads and spiced meats; and the too much use of salt meats, are also forbidden, which will make the childe to be born without nails, a sign of short life. Her bread ought to be good wheat, well baked and levened. Her meats ought to be Pigeons, Turtles, Phesants, Larks, Partrige, Veal, and Mutton. For herbs she may use Lettice, Endive, Bugloss, and Burrage, abstaining from raw Salads: for her last course she may be permitted to eat Pears, Marmalad, as also Cherries and Damsons; she must avoid all meats that are diuretick, and provoke urine, or the termes, and such meats as are windy, as Pease, and Beans. Of Longing. Yet because there are some women that have such depraved [Page 56] stomachs, by reason of a certain salt and sower humor contained in the membranes of the stomach, as that they will eat coles, chalke, ashes, cinders, and such like trash, so that it is impossible to hinder them; to such therefore we can only say thus much, that they ought to forbear as much as in them lies, assuring them that such trash does not only endanger their own health, but the health of the childe. Yet if they cannot command that depraved appetite, let them so provide, though it be by giving some small satisfaction to their depraved longings, that they do not hasten any further inconvenience; for though those strange meats be very contrary to nature, yet the strange desire that they have to them, does not a little avail to the disgestion of them. For her drink, let it be small Ale, though now and then a cup of pure wine does not amiss, to comfort the stomach and the parts dedicated to generation.

Her time of sleep Her sleeping. is best in the night, for the concoction of those meates which she hath eate in the day time: she must avoid, by all meanes, the sleeping after dinner; she may sleep full out nine houres; her sleeping beyond that time is prejudiciall.

She may exercise Her exercise. her self moderately, for violent exercise loosens the Cotyledons, through which the Infant receives his nourishment: the riding in coaches is forbid especially, for the last three months.

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She ought to avoyd great noises, Other precepts. as the noise of Guns, or great bels.

Laughing, crying, if it be immoderate, is extremely hurtfull, as also immoderate anger.

In the first four moneths she ought not to lye with her husband, for that shakes and moves the fruite of her womb, and causes the flowers to descend; she must also abstain in the sixth and eight; but in the seventh and ninth it is not denyed, and is thought to facilitate the delivery.

She ought also to keep her body soluble, which if it should come of it self, she must take loosing syrups to help nature; Assoon as ever they perceive themselves to be with child, they must lay a side their busks, and not straighten themselves any way, for feare of hurting the fruit of their womb, by not giving it its full libertie of growth.

CHAP. VII. How women ought to govern themselves, in the time of their going with childe.

FIrst, that her breasts, Precepts concerning the breasts. after her delivery, may not grow bigge, and swell over-much; as also to a void the danger of two much blood, which being converted into milke, may chance to curd and breed some disease in the breast: Therefore as soon as she perceives her selfe [Page 58] with child, let her cary about her neck, a small neck-lace of gold, though some do more esteem of a neck-lace of steel, or a little ingot of steel, to hang between the two breasts: you may also foment the breasts a quarter of an hour every morning, with the distilled waters of sage, perwincle, or ground-Ivy, making them first luke warme: when the third or fourth moneth of her time is come, Concerning the belly. and that she perceives the Infant begin to move, about which time the belly begins to swell, and to grow big, she may swathe it with a linen swath-band, which she may anoint with some convenient pommatum; this keeps the belly smooth, and from wrinkles, and from hanging down like a tripe.

She may use this liniment, or Pommatum.

℞ the gall of a kidd, and of a sow, of each ℥iij. capon greass and goose greass of each an ounce and an halfe; cut these into little peices, and melt them in an earthen dish, putting therto as much water as will suffice to keep them from burning; then straine it through a linen cloath, and afterwards having washed it in faire water, untill it be very white, add to it of the marrow of a redd deare, about an ounce, then wash it againe in rose water, or some other water of a good sent, and anoint the swath-band therewith.

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Or this,

℞. of the grease of a dog, and the fat of mutton, which is about the kidnyes, of each two ounces; the fat of a whale, about an ounce; oyle of sweet Almonds, about an ounce and a halfe; prepare the greases as above-said, then mingle them with the other things, and wash them in rose water, as before.

Some women that are loath to grease their bellyes with these oyntments, doe carry the skin of a dog, or else the outward and thin pilling of a sheeps skin; take the skin of a dog ready drest, for the making of gloves; wash it a good many times in faire water first, and afterward in rose water, then drye it in the shade, and moisten it in the foresaid oyles.

Take this one more Liniment.

℞. a quarter of a pound of fresh butter, well washed in faire Water; of rose water, and of oyle of sweet Almonds, an ounce; of the seed of a a Whale, half an ounce; melt these altogether, and anoint the belly. These oyntments are to be kept in a Galley-pot, covered over with rose water.

The woman having attained the ninth moneth of her time, and still continuing these oyntments, she may now begin to use more exercise, walking gently before dinner, for the first twelve or fifteen dayes of that moneth; afterwards [Page 60] she may use a more strong exercise, that is for the eight or ten next dayes. In the first days of this moneth it might not be unprofitable to be bathed in the following decoction, for the space of a quarter of an houre, and being afterwards put to bed, to let her selfe be well rubbed, and afterwards anoynted with some good oyntment all about the navill, along the Os sacrum, and the bone of the small guts, and all about her hips and thighs.

You may use this Bath.

℞ of Mallows, marsh-mallows, mother-wort, of each two handfuls; roots of Lillies, three ounces, of Camomil and Melilot flowers, of each a good handful; the seed of Line, Quinces, and Fenugreek, of each an ounce; boyl all these in fair water to make a decoction, and for a half bath.

You may use this Oyntment.

℞ Hens grease, three ounces, the grease of a Duck, an ounce and an halfe, oyle of Linseed, an ounce and an half, fresh butter, two ounces; melt all these together, and then wash them well, either in pellitorie water, or in the water of mugwort, adding thereto two ounces of the muscilage of Marsh-mallows.

If the woman all her time doe complaine, that she feels little or no motion of the child, let [Page 61] her carry upon her navel this following quilt, which will give strength to the Infant.

℞ powder of Roses, red Corral, Gillow-flowers, of each three ounces and an half, seed of Angelica, two drams, Mastick, a dram and an half, Ambergrease, two grains, Musk, one grain; put all these in a sack of fine Linen, and quilt them together for the use aforesaid. Thus much is to be observed by women with childe, that are in health, and have no other diseases hanging upon them: but of the other diseases incident to women with childe, we shall take a time hereafter to treat.

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SECT. IV. Of the formation of the childe in the womb.

CHAP. I. Of the mixture of the seed of both Sexes, as also of its substance and form.

AFter that the womb, which is the Genital member of the Female Sex, hath received the seed of the Man, she commixes also her own seed, so that there is now but one mixture made, of the seed of both sexes.

Now of the next matter of the birth, there is a difference among the learned, which being unnecessary for this place, we shall let go, and stick close to them, who affirm, that the seeds of both sexes, being confused in the womb, doth make up the first matter of the birth; so that if there were not a mixture of both seeds, it were impossible that any generation could be. Yet though there be of necessity a confusion of [Page 63] both seeds, we deny not but that their qualities are different, for the seed of a man, exceeds the seed of a woman, both in thickness and heat, which is more cold and moist, and therefore more watry. Yet though they differ thus in quality, it is not to be denied, but that the seed of the woman, gives a mutual assistance to the seed of man, in the work of generation.

But it being unquestionable, that the menstruous bloud is the matter of the womans seed, therfore that ye may know the original of it, it is to be understood, that the Menstruous blood, Of the monstruous bloud. is nothing els but an excrement of the third concoction, gathered together every moneth, and purged out: Which purgation being duly made, the woman is then in perfect health of body; but if they come not down according to their accustomed times, and seasons, or do not come down at all, the woman neither can conceive, nor engender.

Thus the seeds of both sexes meeting in the womb, and there mixing together, they are presently enclosed in a little Tunicle, begot by the heat of the womb, and are there as it were, coagulated and curdled together.

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CHAP. II. Of the three tunicles which the birth is wrapt in, in the womb.

FIrst, out of the extreme superficies of the seed, by reason of the more watrie moisture of the womans seed, a thin membrane is generated, which by reason of its moist qualitie, is dilated farther, being at first transparent, but after the birth comes forth, folded up together, and is called the secondines.

But of the superfluous moisture of these two tunicles, are begot two other tunicles, which defend the infant from being cloged with any superfluities, as from the flowers retained, after conception, which serve neither for the nourishment, nor for the increase of the infant. Yet are they retained till the very time of the birth, at which time they are either let out, by the hand of the Midwife, or else bursting the secondine, wherein they are contained, they flow out of themselves.

The second tunicle is that which was anciently called Allancoides, wrapping about all the inferior parts, from the navel downward; this is full of folds and wrinkles; in which the urine, sweat, and other sharp humours, that distill from the infant, almost grown to maturity, are contained and kept to the time of delivery.

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By this second tunicle therefore the infant is delivered, and defended from those humours, least they should either corrode, and hurt the tender skin of the Infant, or else any way defile and foul the Infant.

The third tunicle, with in all these, compasses the whole birth round about, defending it from all sharp exterior humours, being very soft and tender.

CHAP. III. Of the true generation of the parts, and the increase of them, according to the several dayes and seasons.

AFter the womb hath received the Genital seed, and by its heat hath shut them both up, curdled and coagulated together, from the first to the seventh day are generated many fibres, bred by a hot motion, in which not long after, the liver, with its chief Organs, is first formed. Through which Organs, the vital spirit being sent to the seed, within the tenth day forms, and distinguishes the chiefest members. This spirit is let in through certain veins of the secondine, through which the bloud flows in and out, of which the navel is generated. At the same time, in the clotted seed there do appear three white lumps, not unlike curdled milk, out of which arise the liver, the brain and the heart.

Presently after this, a vein is directed through [Page 66] the navel, to suck the thicker sort of the bloud that remains in the seed, for the nourishment of the parts. This vein is two forked.

In the other branch of this vein is a certain bloud collected, out of which the liver is first framed; The Liver framed. for the liver is nothing but a certain mass of bloud, or bloud coagulated and hardened to a substance: and here you may see what a company of veines it hath, which serve both for the expulsive, and attractive faculty. In the other branch are generated those textures of veins, with a dilatation of other veins, as also of the spleen and the guts in the lower part of the belly; by and by all the veins, like branches gathering into one trunk, toward the upper part of the liver, meet all in the concave or hollow vein. This trunk sends other branches of veines, to constitute the Diaphragma, others it sends into the upper part of the backbone, seated about the Diaphragma, as also the lower parts, as far as the thighs.

The Heart formed.Afterwards the heart with its veins, directed from the navel to that part of the seed and carried as far as the back-bone is formed.

These veins suck the hottest and most subtile part of the bloud, out of which the heart is generated in the membrane of the heart, otherwise called the Pericardium, being by nature thick and fleshie, according as the heat of the member requires. Now the hollow vein extending it self, and piercing the interiour part of the right side of the heart, carries bloud thither [Page 67] for the nourishment of the heart; from the same branch of this vein, in the same part of the heart arises another vein, called by some the still vein, because it beats not with so quick a pulse as the others do, ordained to send the most purely concocted bloud in the heart to the lungs, being encompassed with two tunicles, like Arteries. But in the concavity of the left part of the heart, arises a great beating vein, called the Aorta, diffusing the vital spirit from the heart into all the beating veines in the body.

Under the said vein, called the Aorta, in the concavity of the heart, there is another vein, called the veiny Artery, which was therefore framed to carry the cool air from the Lungs, to temper the great heat of the heart.

Now there being many veins, which running from the concavity of the heart, are inserted into the Lungs, therefore by these veins the Lungs are also framed; for the vein which proceeds from the right concavity, produces a most subtile bloud, which is turned into the substance of the Lungs. By the great veins of the heart and liver, the hollow vein, and the Aorta is the whole breast generated, and after that the arms and legs in order.

Within the foresaid time, is generated the last and chiefest part of this substance, that is to say, the brain, in the third little skin of this mass, for the whole mass of the seed being repleat with vital spirits, that vital spirit contracts great [Page 68] part of the Genital moisture into one certain hollowness, where the brain is formed; outwardly it is covered with a certain covering, which being baked and dried by the heat, is reduced into a bone, and so is the Cranium made.

Now the brain is so formed as to conceive, retain, and change the natures of all the vital spirits, whence are the beginnings of reason, and of all the sences; for as out of the liver arise the veins, out of the heart arise the arteries, so out of the brain arise the nerves of a more soft and gentle nature, yet not hollow like veins, but solid. These are the chiefest instruments of all the sences, and by which all the motions of the sences are made by the vital spirit.

After the nerves, is generated by the brain also the pith of the back-bone, which cannot be called marrow: for the marrow is a superfluous substance begot out of the bloud, destined for the moistening, and for the strenghthening of the bones: but the brain and pith of the back-bone take their beginning from the seed, being not destined for the nourishing or strengthening of the members, but to constitute certain private and particular parts of the body, for the motion and use of the sences, that all the other nerves may take their beginning thence; for from the pith of the back-bone, do arise many nerves, by which the body obtaines both sence and motion.

Here is also to be noted, that out of the seed it self are generated gristles, bones, tunicles, for [Page 69] the veins of the liver, the arteries of the heart, the brain with its nerves; besides the tunicles and pannicles, and the other coverings which the infant is wrapt in. Now of the proper bloud of the birth, the flesh is formed; and whatever parts are of a fleshie substance; as the heart, the liver, and the lights. Then are all these nourished by the menstruous bloud, which is attracted through the veins of the navel. This is all distinctly done from the conception unto the eighteenth day of the first moneth, in all which time it is called seed. After which it receives the name of Birth.

CHAP. IV. Of the nourishment of the birth in the womb.

VVHile the birth remaines in the womb, it is cherished up with blood, attracted through the navel, which is the reason that the flowers doe cease alwayes in women, as soone as they have conceived.

Now this blood, presently after conception, is distinguished into three parts; the purest part of it is drawn by the child for the nourishment of its selfe; the second, which is less pure and thin, the womb forces upwards to the breast, where it is turned into Milke.

The third and most impure part of the blood [Page 70] remaines in the matrix, and comes away with the secondines, both in the birth, and after the Birth.

Now the infant being thus formed and perfected in the womb, for the first moneth sends forth its Urine through the passages of the navel; but in the last month, that passage being shut up, through the privie members; yet notwithstanding, while the Infant is in the womb, he voyds nothing out at the fundament, because he hath taken no nourishment in at the mouth. After the fourty fifth day it receives life, and is then called an Infant.

Now though the infant hath by this time obtained sence, yet doth he not move: He most commonly moves in twice the time that he was formed, and in thrice the space after he began his motion, he hastens into the world; as for example, if the Infant were formed in forty five dayes, it will move in ninetie, and be born the ninth month after that, and thus much of the formation and nourishment of the child in the womb.

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CHAP. V. Of the condition of the Infant in the womb in the sixth, seaventh, and eighth moneth.

AFter the third and fourth moneth, the infant is nourished with more plenty of nourishment, until the time of deliverie approach. Now you must observe that a childe born in the sixth month, cannot live, by reason that it is not come to its just perfection; but if it be born in the seventh moneth it will very easily live, because it is come to its full perfection. Now the reason why those that are born in the eight moneth. doe not live, when as those which are born in the seventh doe, is plaine; for in the seventh moneth, the Infant stirs it self, to come forth; so that if it have so much strength, it easily performes its desire, if not, it remaines in the womb, till it have gathered two months more strength. After this motion of the seventh month, if it be not able to come forth, it changes it self into another part of the womb, by which motion, it is so weakened, that if it should be born in the eight moneth, it were impossible that it should live, for it is weakened by a double motion, not only that of the seventh moneth, but also by that motion whereby it strives to go forth in the eight moneth.

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SECT. IV.

CHAP. I. Of the situation of the child in the womb.

COncerning the scituation of the child in the womb, it may be considered either generally, or specially; specially, either as it concerns the male, or the female.

The male is commonly scituated in the right side of the womb, the female in the left.

The general situation of the childe, either male or female, in the womb, is always the same. Which hath been observed and seen to be in this posture, when the infant lies with his back and his buttocks, leaning against the back of the mother, the head enclined, and touching his breast with his chin; resting his two hands upon his knees, his navel and his nose between his two knees, with his two eyes upon his two thumbs; his legs folded backward, and touching his buttocks with each leg.

This figure is the most natural, as being least subject to suffer any accident, being less inconvenient, [Page 73] and less troublesome to the mother.

The most naturall form for the childe to come into the world, is when the head comes forward, the hands being stretched upon the hips.

The things which are the causes of a womans delivery, are three; first, the want of respiration and air, for the infant. The second is the want of nourishment, of which when the infant finds a defect in his mothers womb, he is forced to seek it in another place. The third is the narrowness of the place where the infant lies, so that he is forced to seek room other-where, which makes him to break the membranes wherein he was contained, pressing and constraining the mother by the sharpness of those waters, to do her duty for his release. Now as some say, there are three ways or manners of childrens comming upon the earth; first, when the head comes foremost, and then the woman is easily delivered; the second, when it comes forth a cross, or one side, or the feet foremost, and then the woman suffers much, and either they both dye, or one of them. As for those births which are unnatural, we shall in another place treat of them, and their remedies. In this combate, the infant and the mother suffer very much, by reason that woman is a creature delicate and timorous, and not patient, of much labour; or because that women great with childe live a lazy and sloathful life; and besides that, many times they eat bad victuals, which encrease humours & superfluous excrements, which [Page 74] quantity of humours makes the woman to breath short, which is a thing very troublesome to the infant; for a woman that will expel the birth quickly, ought to keep her breath in, as much as she can.

The third reason of the pain in womens travail, is by reason that the head of a childe is bigger, being compared to the members, then the head of any other creature, which makes a greater opening and dilaceration.

But the women that suffer most pain, are they who were not delivered before, having not been accustomed to the sufferance of that labour; as also elderly women, by reason that the bone of the pubes, the bone of the hip, and the Os sacrum, are not so easily separated, the ligaments being more strong and hard.

Now in the contention which the child makes to issue forth, the head comes first, by reason of the weight, being more heavy then the other members.

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SECT. V.

CHAP. I. Of Midwifes.

ALthough in these dayes there are many unskilful women that take upon them the knowledge of Midwifry, barely upon the priviledge of their age: yet there are many things which ought to be observed in a Midwife, that they are utterly wanting of. Let us therefore consider of the things required in a midwife, in relation both to her person, and her manners: as for her age, Her Age. she ought to be neither too young, nor too old, in a good habite of body, and not subject to diseases, not mishapen in any parts of her body, peculiar in her habits and in her person; her hands must be small, with her nailes pared close, without any rings upon them, in the time of her duty, nor bracelets upon her wrists; she must be cheerfull, pleasant, strong, laborious, and used to travaile; it being required that she should be [Page 76] stirring at all hours, and abiding long time together with her patient.

For her manners, Her manners. she ought to be Courteous, sober, chast, not repining, cholerick, arrogant, or covetous, nor apt to talke of what she sees done in the houses where she hath to doe.

Her Spirit.For her spirit, she ought to be prudent, wary and cunning, oft times to use faire and flattering words.

She ought moreover to know, that God hath given to all things their beginnings, their Increasings, their Estate of perfection, and declination: Therefore the said Midwife, nor any of her assistants, must not do any thing rashly, for to precipitate or hasten nature.

CHAP. II. What ought to be observed, when she is neer the time of her lying downe.

Of women near the time of their lying down.THe hour of the womans Lying down approaching, the woman with child ought to prepare her self in this manner, she must presently call her midwife and assistance to her, it being requisite to have them sooner then later.

Her Bed.She ought to prepare a little bed, or couch, of a moderate hight, as well for the convenience of the midwife, as for the ease of herself, and others that shall be about her to assist her in [Page 77] her travell: This must be situated in a place convenient for people to pass up and downe, neere the fire, and far from doors: It will be requisite for her to have change of linen, as also a little cricket for her to rest her feet on, having more force when her feet are bowed.

When she findes her pains growing, In the time of travail what to do. it will be necessary for her to walke leisurely up and down the chamber, afterwards she may lie downe warme, and then rise and walke againe, expecting the coming down of her waters, and the opening of the womb. For to keep herselfe long a bed, is very troublesome. Though when she is a bedd, notwithstanding that she hath some certaine paines somtimes, yet she may lie and rest herselfe, and now and then take a nap. By which meanes, both the mother and the Infant doe with greater strength endure their succeeding hardship; besides that, her waters do come downe better. If her travel be long, she may take some broth or the yolk of a poched egg, with some bread, or a cup of wine, or distilled water; yet she must have a care left she overcharg her self, either with meat or drink.

It is certain, that all women are not delivered alike; for some lie in their bed, others sit in a chair, being supported and held up by others, or else resting upon the side of the bed, or chair; others upon their knees, being upheld under their arms; but the best, and safest, is to lie in their beds; and for her good and convenient delivery, let the Midwife, and others, observe what follows.

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Certain Rules.First, the woman that is in travail, ought to be laid upon her back, her head being lifted up a little higher, with a pillow, having also a pillow under her reins to sustain her back; under her buttocks and Os sacrum, she must have a larger pillow, to raise them a little, and that her rump may be elevated; for a woman that lies low in those parts, can never be well delivered for the avoiding of which, this scituation is very convenient. Her thighs and knees must be a good way separated the one from the other, with her legs bowed and drawn up toward her buttocks, the soles of her feet, and her heels, being fixed upon a boord, laid thwart the bed for that purpose.

Secondly, To some women they doe use a swath-band, four double, this swath-band must be a foot broad, or more; which being put under her reines, is to be held up streight, by two persons standing on each side, just at the time of her paines; both of them, at the same instant, heaving up both ends, with an exact cavenness; for otherwise, it does more harme then good. It is also requisite, that two of her freinds should hold the upper part of her shoulders, that she may be able to force out the birth with more advantage; And it will not be amiss, for some of her friends to press the upper parts of her belly, so to thrust downe the infant, by little and a little, such a soft compression, will much facilitate the travel and give ease to the womans paines.

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Thirdly, As for the woman herselfe she must be of a good heart, and force her selfe by striving as much as possible she can, stopping her mouth, and keeping her breath, as if she were doing the ordinary deeds of nature.

As for the collick, if it seize women in travaile, you may read the remedies in the following chapter.

CHAP. III. How to expell the Collick from. women in Childbed.

There are some women, who at the same instant that they are in travaile, are taken with fits of the collick, which is often caused by the crudities, and indigestions of the stomach, which doe torment women so extremely, that it exceeds the paine of their travaile; and while this paine lasts, a woman advances nothing toward the end of her travaile, the paine of travaile being hardly to be distinguished from it.

For her ease therefore, the woman ought to take these remedies; two ounces of oyle of sweet Almonds, with an ounce of Cinnamon-water, or else some wind dispelling Glyster, and if the first time suffice not, you may reiterate it; sometimes fomentations, that are proper for the dispelling of winde, are very necessary for this purpose.

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CHAP. IV. How the Midwife may know when the pains of travail do seize a woman.

VVHen the woman begins to cry out, and hath sent for her Midwife, the first thing that the Midwife is to ask, is, when she did conceive? 2. Then is she to look diligently upon the belly of the woman, and to mark it well, for if she do behold the upper parts of the belly sunk and hollow, and the lower parts of the belly full and big, she may then conclude that the child is fallen down. 3. She ought then to ask her some questions concerning her pains; for if they be quick and strong, beginning at the reins, and sliding down all along the belly, without ending at the navel, but still falling down upon the groins, and inwardly at the bottom of the belly, below which is the interiour neck of the womb, these are certain signs that the woman begins to be in labour.

4. But for more certaintie, the midwife may put up her hand, being anointed first with fresh butter, and if she perceive the interior neck of the womb to dilate it selfe, tis a certaine signe that the paines of childbed are upon the woman, or if she perceive any thing to push forwards, her travaile is also undoubtable.

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CHAP. V. Of the falling down of the waters, a good while before the woman travails.

There are some women, who have their waters come from them, a long time before their travaile, sometimes twelve days, sometimes eight dayes, somtimes six, and sometimes foure; though the ordinary time be not aboue three houres before her travaile: they remaining for the most part not above twenty four howers. This is caused by some ruptures of the membranes, where from the beginning of the formation of the child, the humour is contained, rather then by the abundance of humours; and therefore though a woman that hath abundance, and that the membranes containing them, are so strong that they wil not breake suddaine, though the woman shall not travail till they breake, yet the midwife ought not to break them, but rather hold the woman over a vessel of warme water, and also use some softening linniment, to soften the membranes, that so the mother straining the head or other member of the child, may breake them more easily.

But for those women that have these evacuations so long before they travaile, they must refraine going into the aire, for feare of injuring themselves, the passages being open; [Page 82] for though the air cannot hinder the childe from coming forth, by reason of its weight, yet oft times getting within the secondine, it not onely streightens the vessels, and mouthes of the veines, that are at the bottom of the womb, but also causes several convulsions, to the great danger of the woman: but it is an easie thing to remedy these accidents, by keeping close in her chamber, having also a special regard to distinguish, whether they be the waters of the birth, or any Hydropick humour of the Matrix.

CHAP. VI. What the Midwife ought to do in time of travaile.

THe Midwife seeing the birth come naturally, the pains now coming thicker and thicker, the womb also opening to be delivered of its burthen, and the endeavours of the childe being seen to come forth; The Midwife must now encourage her patient, admonishing her to shut her mouth, and to hold her breath, and to strein and endeavour with her lower parts; Neither ought the Midwife be too hasty, either to widen or force the passage of the Infant, or to break the membranes, but to stay till [Page 83] the membranes do burst of their own accord.

And here is to be noted, Note. the ignorance of some women, who for haste to be gone to other women, do tear the membranes with their nail, to the danger, both of the woman, and of the childe, which then remains dry, without that moisture which makes the passages slippery; which must of necessity augment the pain of the woman.

When the head comes forth of the womb, the Midwife must take it gently between her two hands, and then when the pains increase, slipping down her hands under the arm-holes, gently drawing forth the Infant, yet staying her hand always, but when the pains come upon the woman. This must be done with a very delicate and tender hand, lest the child, by any rude or harsh handling, should receive any deformed shape of body.

When the child is come into the world, which is commonly with his face downward, it must be suddenly turned upon his back, lest it should be stifled for want of air. Then let her cut the navel-string, leaving the length of four fingers, tying it with a silk thread, as near the belly as may be: Which done, the childe if it be well, may be laid aside, only care must be had, that the head and the stomach be well covered, and that nothing come upon his face.

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CHAP. VII. How to draw forth the Secondines.

THis childe being thus drawn forth, and in safety, the midwife must now apply her selfe to the drawing out of the secondines, which must be don by wagging and stirring them up and down, and then gently drawing them forth, causing the woman to take salt in both her hands, and to shut them close, and then to blow in them, whereby you shall know whether they be broken or noe: it may be done also by causing her to put one finger in her mouth, to provoke a desire of vomiting, or else by stirring, as when she is doing the ordinary deeds of nature, or as nature it selfe constrained her to doe, before the head of the child was come forth. All this must be don speedily; yet if this be not sufficient, she may take the yolke of an egg raw, or she may take a small draught of raw elder-water, or you may cause her to smell to a peice of Assa Foetida. If she be troubled with winde collicks, or have taken cold, which often times doth breed wind, which is a great hinderance to the coming forth of the secondines. The Midwife ought to chafe the womans belly with her hand, which does not only breake the wind, but causes the secondine to come downe. If this failes the midwife may with her hand dilate [Page 85] the exterior orifice of the womb, drawing it forth gently and by degrees.

CHAP. VIII. What may be given to a woman in travaile.

In the first place hot and violent remedies are to be avoyded, Hot things to be avoided. but in cases of great necessitie; for it many times happens that they are the cause of dangerous fevers.

Two other things are also very dangerovs to a woman in Travaile too much repletion, As also emptiness and fulness. and too much emptiness, for the stomack of a woman with child doth not digest her meat in so short a time as women that are not with child doe; Therfore the midwife ought to informe her self how long it was since she eat, and in what quantitie; and if it were long since she did eate, and that she grow feeble. they may give in the intermissions of her paines some warme cherishing and cordial broths, or the yolke of a potched egg. if her travaile endure long; then to strengthen her and comfort her, she may take a draught of Cinamon water, not exceeding an ounce, or at twice a dram of the confection of Alkermes; dissolved in two spoonfulls of Claret wine; and not more then one of these three things. For if they take too much, as is before said, it causes fevers, and heats the whole body, of which follows many inconveniences; for it stopps the purgations, of which many strange diseases ensue.

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CHAP. IX. How to put the Womb again in its place.

SOme women newly brought to bed, are many times afflicted with greater paines, then those of their travaile, by reason that the womb is not well put into its place, or if it have, the swath-band being loose, it is apt to roule upwards in the belly. This happens to women that are not well purged after their deliverie; for remedie hereof, having put the matrix right into its place, roule up two linen swathes, pretty hard, bringing them also round the hipps; then take whites of eggs, beaten, and a dram of Pepper in pouder, which being spread upon Toe, is to be applyed warme to the navil; then let the bellie be well swathed; this is the only remedy to ease the paine.

CHAP. X. Against the extreme loss of blood, which happen to women, immediately after their delivery.

THere are many women who immediately after their delivery, doe suffer great losse of blood, which proceeds from a great plenitude, [Page 87] or fullness, or by reason that in their travaile, they took too many hot and corosive medicines, or by streining themselves too hard, over-heated the blood, so that after travaile, it runs from them in great quantitie. To remedie this, the woman ought to take often a small quantitie of wine, in a spoon, and if the weakness be much, let her mix half a dramme of Alkermes, with a draught of wine, and take care that she be well swathed upward; for that presses downe and streightens the vessels, and hinders the violent flux: give her also the yolke of an egg to take, for that recalls the natural heat to the stomach, which was dispersed through the whole. It would be necessary also, to spread a long the reines of the woman, and all along the back-bone, by reason of the hollow veine, a napkin dipt in Oxicrat, or water mingled with vinigre. You may also lay upon each groin, a skeine of raw silk moistened in cold water. Take also of that well tempered earth, of which they make the floor of an oven, and steep it in strong vinigre, then spread it upon a linnen cloath, and lay it upon the reines; this moderates the heat of the blood, and stoppes the violent flux of it. Great care must be also had, that all the while the Blood comes from her, she do not sleep, for many times they are taken away in that weakeness when the people thinke they doe not take their rest, but when you see this great flux moderated, you may take away the astringent medicines by little and little, that so the blood [Page 88] may cease running by degrees, lest any bloud should be retained that may chance to doe mischeife.

CHAP. XI. What is to be done to a woman, presently after her delivery.

PResently after a woman is delivered if she have had a sore travail, they ought to cast her into the skin of a sheep flead alive, and put about her reins as hot as may be; Upon her belly also lay the skin of a Hare flead alive, having cut the throat of it afterwards, and rubbed the skin with the bloud, which is to be clapt as warm as may be to her belly.

This closes up the dilatations made by the birth, and chases from those parts the ill and melancholly bloud. These remedies are to be kept on two hours in Winter, and one hour in Summer.

After this swath the woman with a napkin about a quarter of a yard large, having before chafed the belly with oyl of St John's wort. Then raise up the Matrix with a linen cloth many times folded, then with a little pillow about a quarter of a yard long, cover her flanks, then use the swath, beginning a little above the hanches, yet rather higher then lower, winding it pretty tight. Lay also warm cloaths upon [Page 89] the nipples, letting alone those remedies which are proper for the driving back of the milk, which are not so soon to be applied, for the body is now all in a commotion, and there is neither vein, nor artery which doth not beat, wherfore those remedies that chase away the milk, being all dissolving, therefore it is not proper to put such medicines upon the breast during that commotion, for sear that those medicines, should make a stop of any thing hurtful in those parts, and therefore it is better to give ten, or twelve hours for the bloud to settle in; as also for that which was cast upon the Lungs by the agitation of travail, to distil down again into its place.

You may also make a restrictive of the white and yellow of an egg beaten togeiher, with an ounce of oyl of St John's wort, and an ounce of oyl of roses, an ounce of rose water, and an ounce of plantine water, beat all these together very well; in this you may dip a linen cloath folded double, and apply it without warming of it to the breasts, this comforts and eases the pains of that part.

She must not sleep presently, but a matter of four hours after her delivery, you may give her some nourishing broth or candle, and then if she will she may sleep.

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CHAP. XII. Of women that have a great deal of bloud, and purge not, neither in their travail nor after.

SOme women have great superfluity of bloud, and yet purge not at all, neither in their travail, nor afterwards; to which if remedies be not applied, the women do run great hazards and dangers in their lying in, great suffocations of the matrix, and continual feavers; this may be remedied, being first enformed of their natural disposition afore they were with child; knowing that when they had their purgations, they had them in great quantity, and for a good while together, as also when they came, being a gross and thick bloud; and therefore seeing that now they do not purge in great quantity, and that they have divers unquietnesses, weaknesses of the stomach, and pains of the head; wherefore you may give her in the morning, a little syrrup of Maiden-hair, and Hysop water mingled together, and syrrup of Wormwood, with White-wine, in their broths you may boyl Jacines and opening herbs, keeping the belly soluble with Glysters, they must eat no solid meat, she must be well chafed from the groines down to the very ankle-bone, alwayes stroaking and carrying the hand downward; bloud letting [Page 91] also in the foot in the morning is not amiss, as also some fumigation, that Cleanses the matrix, and draws downe the blood; yet care must be had, that these last remedies be not used before the Matrix be put into its place, for feare that these remedies should draw it down too low, but about eight or ten days after the Matrix was put into its place; for cleansing the matrix, you may use this receit.

Take Pellitory, Sanicle, Camomile, Melilot, greene Balm, red Balme, whit Mulleine, Mallowes, Marsh-mallowes, Betony, Margeram, Nipp, March, Violets, Mugwort, take of each a like quantitie, and cut them small, and let them boyle in a new pot, with three pints of good white wine, let the woman take the fume of this receite three times in a day; if she have any gross blood in the matrix, it will undoubtedly bring it down: You may also chafe the womans belly with oyle of violets, this helpes the purgations being once dissolved. The reason why this thick blood stayes in these partes, is, because the woman having it before she was with child, the heate of the womb when she is with Child redoubling, thickens it more, so that when she comes to lye down, it cannot flow, so that it is to be taken away as much as may be with the aforesaid reasons. Mollifying fomentations are also proper for this purpose, while the woman sits over the fumigation.

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CHAP. XIII. For those who have but a little blood.

THose women that have but little bloud, ought not to live in their beds as those who have a great deal. They out to take good nourishment in a little quantity. As eggs well boyled in the shell in a morning: The juyce of Mutton and Veal squeezed out, and Mutton broth, and all these being mingled together, nourish very much, and make very good bloud, as also Pigeons, Partridg, Mutton, Quaile, and such other meats good for the stomach.

CHAP. XIV. What is to be done to the Infant.

THe Midwife having tied up the Navel string, as is beforesaid, she ought next to cleanse the Infant not only in the face, but also over the whole body; anointing the groins, hips, buttocks, thighs, and joynts with oyl of sweet Almonds or fresh Butter, this makes the skin more firm, shuts up the pores of the skin, so that the exteriour air cannot come to hurt it, and besides this, it strengthens all the parts of the bodie.

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It would not be amiss to make a bath or decoction of Roses and Sage in Wine, and with that to wash the Infant every morning.

After the Infant is thus well anointed, and after that well dried and wrapped up, you may give to the Infant a little Sack and Suger in a spoon, or else the quantity of a pease bigness of Mithridate or Treacle dissolved in wine, with a little Carduus water.

CHAP. XV. How to govern women in Child-bed.

THere is great difference in the governing women, in Childbed, for she that thinks to order, an ordinarie labouring, or countrie woman, like a person of qualitie, kills her; and she that thinks to govern a person of qualitie like an ordinarie Countrie-woman, does the same to her: for the stomack and Constitution of the one is tender, and weake, and the Constitution and stomack of the other strong, and lustie; which will not be satisfyed with ordinary viands, for if you give to one of these strong stomachs presently after their delivery, any strong broth or eggs, or a draught of milke, are like mills that allways grind and empty as fast as they pour in, and that that gives one woman, [Page 94] a feaver, keeps another from it; and therfore women in Childbed are to be governed by their several constitutions. As for women that are delicate, and have been accustomed to live delicately, greater care must be taken of them, giving them meats that breed good nourishment, and do not clog the stomach, forbearing also to give her those meats to which she has too great a dislike, agreeing to her humour, provided that the meats which she loves be not hurtful, and giving her for the first eight days of her lying in, boyled meats rather then rosted, as gellies, &c. the juyce of Veal or Capon, but not mutton, it being too feverish, giving her to drink barly water, or else water boyled, wherein is boyled a dram of Cinamon to every pint, and two ounces of sugar dissolved, or if she do not love sugar, Coriander seed water, if she drink wine, let it be two thirds of water to one third of wine, giving her in the morning White wine, and in the afternoon Claret, taking care of eating any thing that may breed any crudities, she may also take at the discretion of those about her, Almond milk now and then. There are some women that cannot be kept from sleeping, and others that cannot sleep at all. It will not be amiss to give to those that cannot sleep, French barly water; the way to make it well, is to let it boyl well, and to take the broth without streining it; neither ought it to be taken after the eight dayes are past, by reason that it nourishes exceedingly, and does not a little obstruct the Liver.

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CHAP. XVI. Of the bathings that a woman is to use for the first eight dayes of her lying in.

TAke a good handful of old or new Chervil, and boyl it in a sufficient quantity of water, then taking it from the fire, add to it a spoonful of Mel Rosatum, or hony of Roses, this draws down the purgations, clenses and heals the parts. The herb it self may serve for a fomentation, to take away any inflamation. There are some that use milk to the purpose aforesaid, affirming that it is a great asswager of the pain; but that having been proved by others, hath been observed rather to engender filth, then to be any way a clearer, by reason that the sharp humour causes it to curdle.

CHAP. XVII. How a woman ought to govern her self, in case a woman be to be delivered of two children.

THe travaile of a woman bringing forth two Infants is more tedious, and it many times happens, that one of the children comes forth very well, and the other comes forth very [Page 96] scurvily; And this is certain, that that which comes forth first, is always the strongest, having the power to goe before the other, and to break the membranes that enveloped it. And ofttimes while the second is born, the other remaines behinde wrapt in such membranes as the former was, so that it remaines a good space behind the other, somtimes two houres, and yet it hath bin very well borne. Now knowing that, that which came first was the stronger, it would not be amiss to assist the other in coming forth, by breaking the membranes that contain the waters, and if that faile, by giving strong Glysters to excite the paine; which were it not many times done, the child would never be able to endure the paine of coming into the world, by reason of its extraordinary weaknes; which is so great somtimes, that the bone of the forehead is devided, and separated down to the nose; although the Infant being born, it joynes together againe, and the Infant does very well, which if it happen, you must have a great care, to bind some kind of soft pillow upon the place, that the aire may not enter in. If the second Child come forth ill, you must not delay to breake the membranes, and to draw the Infant gently out by the feet, for having used all its endeavour to come forth, to keep it there, or to prolong the travaile any longer, is more dangerous then profitable; sometimes two come so suddainely the one after the other, that there seemes to be but one deliverie of both, there being but a little [Page 97] membrane that separates them; In this case holding the first, you must cut the navel string, and bind it about, and tye it about the Hipp, while they draw forth the other Infant, which by a longer stay would be much weakened.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the danger that a woman hath, to purge her selfe for the first days of her lying in.

IT is an ordinary thing for women that lye in, by reason of their bed, to loose the benefit of their bellyes, which hinders the evacuation of their milke, which causes fevers, by sending gross vapours to the head, yet can they not bee freed by any purgation taken in at the mouth, but it would be much to the purpose to take pertinent Glisters which hinder the foresaid evills, causing their breasts to become full, and to be come stiff, taking them as ocasion requires, once in two or three dayes. There are some unskilfull women, that not understanding the ill consequences which may follow, who doe give Sene to women in the first days of their lying in; of which some have bin very ill, and others have dyed. For nature is now weakned, by the travaile, and while it is labouring to restore the body to its former Estate, is not to be disturbed with violent purgations. And therfore [Page 98] Glisters are always most proper. Neither are laxative broths, nor the broth of prunes, nor baked apples fasting for these things doe engender wind, but rather some good suppositories would be more usefull.

CHAP. XIX. Of the second washing for women.

THe second washing for women ought to be with Province roses, put into little baggs and boyld in water and wine, of each a like proportion; and this to be done for the second eight dayes.

CHAP. XX. What is to be done to Infants, assoon as they are born.

IT is an approved Maxime, that as soon as a child is born, you ought to give it a spoonfull of pure wine, for that assists and helps the child to regaine its spirits. Another advantage is this, that the wine cutts the flegme which the Child has in its throat; besides the spirits of the wind rising up to the head comforts, and strengthens it; and them less subject to be drunk; it hinders them also from the Epilepsie, which [Page 99] proceeds from the debilitie of the braine.

This being done, and the Mother fully delivered, you must tie the Navel Veine with a silk well twisted, and many times doubled, and if there be any blood in the veine, you must be sure to emptie it, for feare if it should be left, it should turne into corruption; then it must be well dryed with pouder of rotten wood: you must tye it, two fingers breadth from the belly, and leave it long, three fingers breadths above the tying place, and if it be fatt, you must close it over and aboue, that the veine may be well closed, then wind the string twice about it, knitting as many knots; but if the child be come a fore its time, you need not tye it so strong for feare of cutting it with the silke; but if the Navel veine be full of water and wind, you ought then, having tyed it one time and wrapt a linnen cloth about the end of it, which is still to be held upward, to uncover it againe, about half an hour after, and then to tye it and wrap it about againe, still keeping the end up for feare, that if the veine were not fully closed, that there might be some danger in the bleeding.

Some people give to the Infant Treacle dissolved in wine; but this must be don warily in a very small quantitie, and that not commonly neither.

The Infant must be washed with water and wine luke warm, to clense it; After wards wash the face, as also chafe the throate, the Armes [Page 100] and hands, with oyle of wallnuts, drawn without fire, which some say will keep them from sunburning, then put one hand upon the bone of the forehead, and another upon the bone called the Coronal bone, and softly close up the gap which was made during the time of travaile, closing also the suture one against another exactly; then gently put your finger under the tongue, to see if the Infant have the string or no; and if it have, it may be clipt away with the poynt of a paire of sharp cizers, without danger There are some that thinke they can shape the head and nose of a child as if it were of wax. But let such take notice that have flat nosed Children, rather to let the nose alone, then by squeezing and closing it too much, to render the nose obstructed; for that compressing the Gristles of the nose renders the child liable either to speake alway in the nose, or to lose his smelling, There are some children that are borne with their noses awry, for the help of which you may with your finger moystened in fair water, gently stroke the nose, but lay no stress upon it. That happens by reason that the nose of the child lights upon some bone of the Mother as it was comming into the world.

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CHAP. XXI. Of the last washing for Women.

THe last washing for women, is to be for four days, with Province Roses boyled in wine and Myrrh-water.

CHAP. XXII. Of an Astringent for Women when they shall have occasion.

Take Galls, Cypress nuts, and Pomgranate flowers, Roch Alome, of each two ounces, Province Roses, four ounces, knot grass, a good Handfull; the rind of Cassia, the rind of Pomegranates, Scarlet berries, of each three ounces, the nature or sperm of a whale, one ounce, Rose water, Myrrh water, and Burnet water, of each an ounce and a half, wine and water of a smiths forge, of each four ounces, and a half, then make two little baggs about a quarter of a yard long, and half a quarter of a yard broad, then boyle all these in the foresaid water in a new pot, using the baggs one after another as occasion serveth.

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CHAP. XXIII. To make searcloaths for women.

TAke white wax, halfe apound, the sperme of a whale, and venice turpentine, well washed in rose water, plantaine water, of each an ounce and a halfe, then melt all these together, then mingle with them an ounce of venice white Lead, then order you your cloth as you please, making some for the bellie, and some for the nipples, having first rubbed it over with oyle of Acorns, or the sperme of a whale.

CHAP. XXIV. To cleanse a woman before she rises.

TAke bitter Almonds and peel them, make thereof a past with the powder of Iris and the yolk of eggs, and put it in a little bagg of Tammy, and temper it within the bag, with black wine luke-warm, and afterwards use it upon the places where the sear-clothes have been laid, then wash the places with black wine mingled with orange flower.

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CHAP. XXV. How a woman lying in of her first child, may avoid the gripings of her belly.

THere are some women lying in of their first childe, who are troubled much with gripings in the belly, and these women commonly endure pains when their terms come down, by reason of the smalness of the veins which conveigh the bloud into the Matrix; such women have griping in their bellies when they lie in of their first child, which other women are not troubled with, by reason that they have larger vessels; yet although they have them not in their first lying in, it would not be amiss to use some proper remedies, that so they may be never troubled with them, which if they receive not at their first lying in, they will be uncapable of receiving them ever after, for though they may take remedies afterwards to lessen the pain, yet they can never cure it wholly.

Now that which is ordinarily done to women is as soon as ever they are brought to bed, is to give them two ounces of oyl of sweet Almonds drawn without fire, with two ounces of syrrup of Maiden-hair; tis true this is good to make her purgations part away, but not to remedy the griping.

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Some there are that do take two drops of the bloud which comes out of the navel-string of the Infant, and give it mingled to the woman in the foresaid syrrups, though there is much fault to be found with this by reason of the nastiness of it.

Others do boyl a white Chicken, in the which they do put two ounces of Sugar, a dram of fine Cinamon, half a Nutmeg grated, two or three Dates, five or six Cloves, the Fowl being boyled, you may put into it a small quantity of Claret, then boyl it altogether again, letting it boyl till the Fowl be well soaked, then strain it, and give it to the woman as soon as she is laid down; for want of a white Hen you may take a Pigeon, or a red Partridg for want of either; Onely take heed to give her this if she be feverish, because it is something hot.

The seed of Savory taken in warm broth is very good, and it is also very good for those that have the collick.

The Queen of France her Receit.

Take a dram of the root of the greater Consound or Comfrey, one of the kernels of peaches, nutmegs, of each two scruples, yellow Amber half a dram, Amber-grease half a scruple, mingle all this together and give it to the woman as soon as she is laid down, the quantity of a dram mingled in white wine, or if the woman be feverish, in some good warm broth.

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CHAP. XXVI. Certain precepts hindering the delay and, difficulty of bringing forth.

BEing now come to talke of the impediments of the birth, you must know that the birth is hindered by a twofold manner, the one natural, the other not natural; of the unnatural we shall treat of in its place; for the natural take these following directions: But in the first place let the Midwife be very skilful, that she may decline as much as in her lies, all the impediments that may be avoided.

If the birth be hindred by the driness and straightness of the neck of the womb, take a little beaten Hellebore or Pepper, and blow it into the nostrils of the mother. Her mouth must be held close, her breath kept in, and sneesing must be provoked as much as may be, whereby the spirits being forced to the lower parts, may be the more available to force down the childe. You may also give her Shepherds-purse dried in a little broth or wine; also a little quantity of hony mingled with twice as much luke-warm water and give her, will not be unprofitable. The milk also of another woman mixt with maiden-hair, and applied warm to the navel. She may take also oyl of Laurel in wine or warm broth, two grains of Pepper being taken [Page 106] inwardly do not only force out the birth, but also drive out the secondines.

This is also an excellent remedy against a difficult travail.

Take Trochischs of Myrrh one dram, grains of Saffron ten, Cinnamon one scruple, mingle all this with two ounces of Peny-royal water, and give it the woman to drink.

Let her drink it warm, and let her go to her bed for an hour, till she finds the operation of the drink moving her to her labours. If this profit, and that the Infant coming with his head foremost stick in the womb, you may use these pills, of which she may take seven and then rest.

℞ Gum, Bdelium, Myrrh, Savin-seed, Liquid Storax, or Stacte Castor, Agaric, of each half a scruple, Diagridium six grains, mingle all these with Cassia extracted, as much as suffices, and make up pils about the bigness of pease.

You may also use a pessary, as long and as thick as your finger, of pure wool, which must be covered over with silk, and dipt in the juice of Rue, where Scammony hath been dissolved, and so used. If these things prove without effect, she may use this ensuing bath above her belly.

Take of the roote and herb Althea six handfulls, Mallows, Camomile, Melilot, Parsley, of each foure handfulls, Line-seed, and seed of fenugreek, of each two pound, Lavender, and Laurel leaves, of each two handfulls.

Let all these things be boyled to gether in [Page 107] water, where in the woman is to sit, or else to have those parts well wet and moistened with spunges, which being done, and the woman well dryed with warme cloaths, let her be brought to the bed, and anointed with this oyntment.

Take oyle of sweet Almonds, Hens fatt, Oyle of Lillies, Muscilage of Althoea, of each halfe an ounce. Mingle all these with as much wax as is sufficient, and make an oyntment: This being done give her this little doss.

Take two yolkes of egges, and boyle them in ould wine, then mix with them these spices, Cinamon half an ounce, rind of Cassia two drams, or you may leave out the Cassia, and instead thereof put in the more Cinnamon, saffron halfe ascruple, Savine, Betonie, Venus-haire, Dittanie, Fenugreeke, Lawrel berries, Mint, of each one dram: The bone of the heart of a Hart, Pearles prepared, Mingle all these with sugar, and make a thick pouder and give it.

If the secondine come before the child, and hinder the egress of the child, it is to be cut of, and this following pessarie to be put up.

Take Marsh-mallows, with the rootes two hand fulls, Mother wort one handfull, Rue one ounce and a half, Fenugreek, Line-seed, of each an ounce, ten figgs, make of these a decoction, with as much water as is sufficient, and when you have streined it, add this to it, Oyle of Lillies, oyle of Line, of each two ounces, Musk one graine: In this decoction, let the pessary be dipt and put up; she may afterwards use this electuarie.

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℞ Take Myrrh, Castor, Calamum, Arom, of each two dramms, Cinamon, one ounce, saffron halfe a scruple, Mace, Savin, of eace a scruple clarified hony halfe a pound, you may also make an electuary with the water of Thyme, and mother worte, wherein have bin boyled Fenu-greek, Line-seed, Graines of Iuniper, of each one spoonful.

Now after that the woman hath bin weakned with these impediments, you may give her in broth, species Loetificans, or Manus Christi or Diamargaritont

CHAP. XXVII. How the secondines are to be hastened out.

THe secondines afore that the Infant is born, may be many ways hindred; first by the debilitie or weaknes of the Matrix, which happens by the frequent motion and endeavouring of the Infant, as also by reason of the difficultie of the birth, or by reason that the womb doth not continue distended, or because it is many times streightened, by which the womb is so weakned, that by its own force it is not able to expell the secondines; Besides the secondines may inwardly stick close to the womb, which happens many times through the abundance of superfluous humors that are retained in the matrix, by reason of which Glutinous humors, the secondines stick to [Page 109] the Matrix. These are noe way else to be pulled away, but by the hand of the midwife. Thirdly, the secondines are hard to come away, if all the waters come away with the Infant, for then the secondines being left without moisture, cannot come away by reason of the drines of the womb, besides that the Matrix and the neck of the womb are rougher by reason of the driness therof. for these waters render the way slipperie and easie both for the infant and for the secondines, which being slipped away, the womb is to be anoynted with juices and oyles. Fourthly, when the mouth of the Matrix, by reason of the paines of child-bearing, swells, as often happens, unless there be a provident care taken to prevent it. Fiftly, when the neck, of the Matrix is streighter and more close, and for that reason fat women travaile with much more difficultie, Therefore when the secondines doe make any extraordinary stay, the Midwife is to use all her endeavour to make way for them. for that retention causes suffocation and divers other evils, for being long detained, they putrifie and cause an evil smell, which ascending up to the heart, liver, stomach, diaphragma, and so to the brain, cause pains in the head and lungs, shortness of breath, faintness, cold sweats; so that there is great danger, and also Apoplexies, and Epilepsies, are not a little to be feared. Now in all the time of their stay, the women are to be refreshed with convenient food, to add strength to them, giving them sometimes the yolks of eggs [Page 110] boyled in old wine with Sugar, and sprinkled over with Saffron and Cinamon, or some broth made of Capon or Hen, seasoned with Cinamon and Saffron; It may not be amiss to make certain perfumes for the woman to receive up into her womb, made of Saffron, Castor, Myrrh, annd Cinamon, of each the quantity of a bean, and care must be had that the fume pass no further then the Matrix, and this may be done till the fume of these spices shall cease. After this a little sneezing-pouder is to be put into her nostrils composed of Hellebore or such like, the woman shutting her mouth hard, and keeping her breath; If these things prevail not, give her this following potion,

℞ Trochisch of Myrrh ʒ j, ten grains of Saffron, one scruple of Cinamon, Peny-royal two ounces; make of this one draught and give her; after she hath taken this and rested a little while, let a pessary of Hellebore and Opoponax, wrapt up in pure wool, be thrust up into the neck of the womb. This will certainly bring down the seconds, for it is of so great vertue, that it is efficacious in expelling the child which is dead, together with the seconds.

Take Mallows, Hollihock, Wormwood, Mugwort, Calamint, Origanum, an. M. j. make a bath, and let her sit therein up to the navel, and stroke ever downwards with her hands, and give her inwardly Myrrh ℈ i j. Cinamon pouder'd in Nutmeg-water or wine, or drink Calamint or Penyroyal in wine.

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Neither will it be amiss to anoint the Matrix with the oyntment called Basilicon, if this doth nothing avail toward the bringing down of the seconds, and that the woman is in great danger of her life, then with the consent of her husband and kinred, give her seven of the following Pils, which being taken, let her lie still, till the vertue of them do provoke new pains; for they are of so great vertue also, that they do expel the dead child, together with the secondines; yet herein it will not be amiss to consult the skilful Physician.

The Pills are these.

℞ Of Castor, Myrrh, Liquid storax, of each a scruple, the bark of Cinamon, or Cassia, and Birthwort, of each half a scruple, Agaric half an ounce, Diagridion six grains, Saffron, Siler of the mountain, Savin, of each three graines, Thebaic Opium, Assa faetida, of each one grain, mingle all these with as much extracted Cassia as is sufficient, and make of them certain Pils as big as pease, and give them to the woman in a small quantity of Peny-royal-water. It may be also expedient to apply this ensuing plaster.

℞ one part of Coloquintida boyled in water, and as much of the juce of Rue, with these mingle Line-seed, Fenugreek, Barley of meal, of each a spoonful, let them all boyl together, and the plaster made of these must be laid upon all that part, from the navel to the privities.

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CHAP. XXVIII. Of Cases of Extremity, and first, what is to be done to a woman, who in her travail is accompanied with a flux of bloud, and with convulsions.

IN the first place, great care must be had, as to the situation of the woman: The woman in this case must be laid cross her bed where she must be held by some one that hath strength, that she may not slide or move her self in the operations of the Chirurgion. Her thighes must be held hard and wide abroad, with her leggs bent backwards towards her hipps, and her head leaning upon a bolster the reines of her back, and her Crupper, being alittle elevated, with certaine pillows put under neath her thighes; besides this she must be well covered with linnen cloaths, laid upon her stomacke, belly and thighes, to defend her from the cold and wind: Being thus situated, the Chirurgion ought to putt up his hand, being first well opened, with in the neck of the womb, to remove all those clotts of blood, which may lie there to obstruct the passages of the blood. He may then trye if the interior neck of the womb be sufficiently dilated, that he may put in his hand and move the Infant, if it be needfull, which must be done as gently and with as little violence as may be, he must anoynt it on all parts [Page 113] with sweet butter, or good Pomatum, and so opening it by little and a little, he may put his hand quite in; and if the waters are not yet come downe, he may without any difficultie let them forth, and then at the same instant, if the Infant Come with the head forwards, he shall gently turn it, to find out the feet and when he hath found one of them, he shall gently draw it forth, and immediately tye a riband about it with a knott hanging downe ward, then let him put it in a gaine, suffering part of the riband to hang out, that he may more easily be able to find out the other foot, which he shall quickly doe, by thrusting up his hand a long the thigh of the Infant; when he hath found it he shall take the other foot, and draw them both together at an even length, giving the woman now and then some leisure to breath; but urging her still to streine her selfe when she feeles the paines coming on her, then shall the Chirurgion or midwife take a fine linnen cloath, and wrap about the thighs of the child, least by taking it naked, his fingers should slip, in that manner drawing it forth, till it appeare all come forth, observing still that the belly and the face be still kept downward.

Now if the woman have a flux of bloud, and that the neck of the Matrix be open, the Chirurgion ought then to consider, whether the Infant or the secondine come forth first of all, for it oftentimes happens, that the secondines passing toward the mouth of the Matrix, do so [Page 114] stop and obstruct it that they do not give leave for the childe or the waters to come forth, so that some perceiving that softness, are presently of opinion that the mouth of the womb is not open. But this the Midwife or Chirurgion may easily discern by thrusting up the middle finger as high as may be, and feeling therewith the circumference of the neck of the womb, by which they wil soon perceive whether the womb be dilated or no, and whether it be the secondines that present themselves. Now when it is found to be the secondines, and that they cannot easily come forth, the Midwife may with her two fingers widen the passage, that he may have thereby the liberty to put up his hand, and seek for the Infant. Now if the secondines are not placed in the middle, they must be turned a little, as quickly as may be, that you may more conveniently seek for the feet of the Infant, to draw it forth as we have said.

In such a case as this, all care must be had that nothing be broken, and that every thing be brought out whole, for so though the woman should dye, the Midwife or the Chirurgion would be blameless.

If the secondines come first, the best way is to deliver the woman withall the expedition that may be, by reason of the great fluxes of blood that will follow by reason that the veins are opened but here are two things to be considered the first is whether the secondines are much or little come forth; if they are but little advanced, [Page 115] they must be put back with care and diligence and if the head of the child appeare first it must be guided directly toward the neck of the womb; as in the most naturall birth, but if there appear any difficulty in the birth, by reason of the weakness either of the childe or of the mother, then the most convenient way will be to seek for the feet, as we have said before.

Another thing to be observed is, that if the secondine be so far advanced that they cannot be put back, and that the childe follows it close, then are the secondines to be pulled away with all the care and expedition that can be, and to be laid aside without cutting the entrail that sticks to them, for by that you may be guided to the Infant, which whether it be alive or dead, it is to be pulled out by the feet with as much care and quickness as may be; though it is not to be done but in cases of great necessity, for otherwise the secondines ought to come last.

If the childe be dead in the womb of the mother, Of the child dead in the mothers belly. the woman is then to be situated in the same posture, as when she is troubled with a flux of bloud.

If it present it selfe dead, with the head formost, and that ther is little or no hope that the woman may be delivered without assistance, and that her strength begins to faile her, the most certaine and safe way is to put up the hand, for the Chirurgion must then slide up his left hand being hollowed, as when a man strives to hold water in it, causing it to slide in the neck of the [Page 116] womb, along the lower part thereof toward the feet, and that betweene the head of the Infant, and the neck of the Matrix, and having thus opened the womb with his left hand, he shall with his right put up his hook above his left hand, between the head of the child, and the flat of his hand, and fix it in the bone of the temples, toward the eare, or else in the hollow of the eye, or in the Occipital bone, keeping his left hand still in its place; after this gently moving and stirring the head with his left hand, with his right hand holding the hook well fixed, he shall draw the child forth by degrees, exhorting the woman all the while to force and streine her selfe with all her power; and then is the best time to draw forth the child, when the paines shall seize her; now if it happen that he loose his hold in one place, the danger is nothing, for he hath the libertie to fix his instrument better in another place. The head being thus drawn forth, he must with all speed that may be, slip his hands down the childs armeholes, to draw forth his shoulders, and the rest of his body: In the meane while it will be requisite to give the woman a small draught of wine, or a Tost sopt in wine or Hipocras.

Another way.If after these Medicines following adhibited, the child make no hast into the world, but lyes unmoved in the womb, then you may proeeed to instruments after another manner. First of all, as soone as the woman is brought to the bed, let her take this following potion hot, and abstaine [Page 117] from all other meat, and remaine quiet for the space of an houre or two, till she feele the power and efficacy of the medicine.

℞. Seven cut Figs, Fenugreek, Motherwort-seed, and Rue, of each two drams, Water of Penyroyal and mother wort, of each six ounces, boyle all these to the consumption of half, strein them and to the straining add Trochischs of Myrrh one dram, three graines of Saffron, Suger as much as is sufficient; make one draught of this, and spice it with a little Cinamon.

After she hath rested a little upon this, let her again return to her travel, at what time certain perfumes must be made ready of Trochischs, composed of these following spices, to be cast on the coals, and so used as that the perfume may onely come to the Matrix, and no further.

Take Castor, Sulphur, Galbanum, Opoponax, Pigeons dung, Assa-faetida, of each half a dram, mingle all these with the juyce of Rue, and make a Trochisch of them in the form of a filberd.

If these produce no effect, you may use this following Emplaster.

Take Galbanum an ounce and a half, Colocinthis without the grains two drams, the juyces of Rue and Motherwort, new Wax, as much of each as is sufficient, of each make a plaster. Let this be spread upon a cloth to reach from the navel to the privities, and in breadth to both the sides, which she may keep on for the space of an hour or two. A pessary may be also convenient, [Page 118] made of Wooll, and closed over with silk, and then moistned in the following decoction.

Take of Round birth-wort brought from France, Savin and Colocynthis, with grains, Staves acre, black Ellebore, of each half a dram, bruise these together and make a pessary, with as much of the juyce of Rue as is sufficient.

But now if all these things avail not, and that the Midwife is not able to dilate the passage for the infant, then you must have recourse to the Chirurgion; To which purpose she is to be placed in a seat, so that she may turn her crupper as much from the back of the chair as may be, drawing up her legs as close as she can, but spreading her hips abroad as much as may be. Or else if it seem more commodious, she may be laid upon the bed, with her head downwards, with her buttocks raised, and her thighs drawn up as much as can be, then you may go to work either with your speculum matricis, or his Apertory, so that the womb being sufficiently widened by the help of these instruments, the birth may be drawn out by the hands of the Chirurgion, together with the seconds, if possible may be. The womb must then be washed and anointed, the woman then must be laid in her bed, and wel comforted with spices, as also with some comfortable meat and drink. This course must be taken with all dead infants, and also with moles and secondines, which are hindered in their coming forth naturally.

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If by these Instruments the womb cannot be sufficiently widned for the egress of the infants, there are yet other Instruments, by which the womb may be widened with dammage to the mother, and birth be brought forth, such as are Drakes bill, and the long Pincers, by which the womb is not only widened, but the birth taken hold of by them for the more forcible drawing it forth.

If there be any swelling, or inflation, or concrete bloud gathered together in the preputium of the Matrix, under the skin, those tumours either before or after the birth, where the matter appears thinnest and ripest, the midwife may cut with a pen knife and squeeze out the matter; anoynting it afterwards often with a pessary dipt in oyl of roses until it be whole.

If it happen that the child be swollen in the womb, in any part of it, by reason of wind or any watrie humor, yet if it be alive, such meanes are to be used, as may be least to the detriment of the child and of the mother; but if it be dead, in what ever part those humours be, either in the brest arms or legs, the midwife may then put up her hand, and with a little knife for that purpose, cut the swollen, that by letting out of the wind or humour, the child may grow less, and be brought forth with less difficultie.

Many times it happens that the child comes into the world with the feet formost; and the hands dilating themselves from the hipps. In this case the midwife ought to be well furnished [Page 120] with oyntments, helping the egress of the Infant, by anointing and stroking it, least it be carried backward. Having also a great care to take hold of both the armes of the Infant, and keep them close to the hipps, that the child may come forth after its own manner. If by reason of this deduction of the armes, from the sids of the Infant, and the narrowness of the Matrix, it so happen that the child cannot make a total egress, the womb of the woman, and the Infant it self and child, are to be well anointed, sneezing powders being administred to the woman, to helpe her endeavours, the womb is also to be pressed hard with both hands, that the child make no retirement back, but may still move forward.

It happens sometimes that the child comes forward with its feet, with the armes not close to its sides, but extended above its head; which when it comes to pass, the midwife is by no means to receive this birth, unless the child be very small, and the Matrix so wide, that it may afford an easie passage to the child; yet may she not then receive it, till she hath well anoynted both the child and the Matrix. But it would be much more safe and convenient, for both the child and the Mother, to put back the child into the womb, and bring it to its naturall forme, which may be done in this manner; the woman must lye on her back upon her bed, with her head downward, and her buttocks a little elevated, which being done, the midwife shall gently

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[Page] [Page 121] compress the belly of the woman toward the Midwife, thereby to put back the Infant into the womb. But above all things let her take a care that she turn the face of the child toward the back of the mother, raising up the thighs and buttocks of the child, toward the navel of the mother, to bring the child to a more legitimate and natural production.

If the child happen to come forth but with one foot, the arme being extended along the sides, with the other foot turned backward; the woman is instantly to be brought to her bed, and laid in the same posture as we have before told you, and then is the other foot which came forth first, to be put back into the womb; which being done, let the woman rock her self from one side of the bed to the other, (lying alwayes with her head low and her buttocks rais'd) till she apprehend the child to be turned, upon which she may immediately expect her pains with all the assistance that may be given; and in the mean while to be comforted as much as may be with cordial potions, and wholsome medicines.

Many times it happens that the child lies athwart, and fals upon its side, If the child lie athwart which when it comes to pass, the mother is not to be urged to her labour, neither is the birth to be expected after that manner, for it is impossible that the child should be so born without some conversion; and therefore the Midwife is to do all she can to reduce it to a more natural [Page 122] form of birth, by moving the buttocks, and steering the head to the passage; if this succeed not, let her trie by often rocking the woman to and fro, to bring the child to its natural form of being born.

The fifth unnatural form.If it happen that the childe hasten to the birth, with the legs and arms distorted, the Midwife ought not to hasten the woman, but immediately cast her on her bed, where she may direct the woman to roul her self to and fro; or else she may gently stroak the womb of the woman, as she lies till she have reduced the Infant to a better posture; If this profit not, the Midwife must take the legs and close them together, then if she can she must get her hand about the armes of the child, and in the safest way she can direct it to its coming forth: though it be the safest way to turn the Infant in the womb, and by that means compose it to the natural birth.

The sixth form.If the infant come into the world with both knees forward, with the hands hanging down upon the thighs. The Midwife may then put up both the knees, upward, till the feet happen to come forward, and then with her left hand let her take hold of the feet, and keep her right hand about the sides of the childe, and in that posture endeavour the birth of the child; but if that succeed not, let the woman, as is said before, be brought to her bed, and there wallow from side to side, till she have moved the childe into a better posture.

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But when it happens that the child hastens forwards with on arme extended upon the thigh, Of the seventh form. and the other stretched over the head, the feet being stretched out at length in the womb, the Midwife may by no means receive the childe in this posture, but must lay her patient upon the bed, as we have said before; then must the womans belly be gently pressed backward, that the infant may retire into the womb, and if it give not backward of its own accord, the Midwife may with her hand gently thrust back the shoulder, and bring the arm that was stretched back to its right place.

The most dangerous of all those that we have spoken of is this, The eight form. and therefore the Midwife must take great care to put back the Infant in this case into the womb: first of all therefore anoint well her hands, as also the womb of the woman, then if she can let her thrust in her hand near the armes of the Infant, and so move the shoulders that the infant may fall back into the womb; and then to bring it to the natural form, let her thrust up her other hand, and reduce the armes of the infant to the sides of it; If this succeed not, the woman must be laid on her bed, and after a little rest, she must be ordered as before we have said: If this avail not, she must be brought back to her seat, as we have before rehearsed; then must her womb, by the help of those women that assist her, be gently prest downward, and on both sides, while the Midwife having anointed the matrix, and both the [Page 124] armes of the Infant, joyns them as close together as she can, and in that manner receives the Infant. And there is the lesse danger in this form if the Midwife be diligent and the child slender.

The ninth form.If the Infant thrust it self forwards with the buttocks formost, the Midwife must put her hand well anointed, and so by heaving up and putting back the buttocks, strive to turn the head to the passage. Yet overmuch haste must not be made, lest the Infant should fall back into some worse posture; and therefore if it cannot be turned by putting up the hand, the woman must be brought to her bed, and ordered as we have often said before, comfortable things being conveniently ministred to her.

The tenth form.If the child come forward, with the neck bowed and the shoulders forward, with the hands and feet stretched upwards; in this case the Midwife must carefully move the shoulders backward, that she may be able to bring the head forwards, which may be easily done, for the shoulders being removed, the head will soon appear foremost, yet if this suffice not, the woman must be laid on her back upon the bed, and ordered according to the former precepts.

The eleventh formWhen the Infant thrusts forth the hands and feet formost, care must be had to avoid the danger of this mishapen posture, and therfore the midwife must strive by removing the feet, to lay hold on the head, and as much as in her lyes, to direct it to the passage; the hands are also to [Page 125] be removed, unless of their own accords they fall down to the sides. If by this means it cannot be done, the former precepts of converting the child are to be observed.

Sometimes it happens that the childe strives to force its passage in this posture which is very dangerous. First of all therefore, The 12 ^th form. let the midwife anoynt her hands well, and the womb of the woman, which being done let her put up her hand, and seek for the armes of the child, which when she hath found, let her hold them fast till she hath hold of the head also, which she must with all her skill endeavour to bring formost, then let her remove the hands of the Infant, and fix them upon the sides of the Infant. Yet if this doe not availe, it will be the safest way to lay the woman on her bed, and to proceed according to the former precepts, to trye if by that delay she may have the more advantage to proceed as before.

The same method which is to be observed in single birth, The 13 ^th form. is also to be observed in case of twins or of triple birth: for as the single birth, hath but one naturall way, and many unnaturall formes, so is it with the birth of more children; and therfore when it happens, that when twins appeare coming into the world according to the naturall forme, the midwife must observe to receive that first which is nearest the passage, yet be sure not to let go the other, lest it should fall back into the womb, and tumble into some other forme, but the one being born, immediatly [Page 126] to receive the other; this birth is the more easie, in the natural form, because the first child widens the passage for the latter, but in unnatural births there is most difficulty in the passage of the second child. care must be also had in the birth of twins, that the secondines be maturely brought forth, least the womb being delivered of its burden should fall, and the secondine by that meanes be delayed to the damage of the woman in childbed.

The fourteenth form.If there be twins in the womb, and one of them endeavour to come forth with the head formost, and the other with the feet; First of all the Midwife must consider which of the two the woman may be delivered of with most expedition; if the head of the one be less forward then the feet of the second, it will be most convenient to draw that forth by the feet, turning the head of the other a little to the other side, and that being delivered, she must presently lay hold of the head of that which is within, and direct it just to the passage of the womb; which may be done with more ease, by reason of the gap which the formost hath made.

If it happen that in drawing forth the first by the feet, that the other chang its situation, the midwife may then draw forth the other by the feet, as she did the first; and if the head of the first be more forward, then must she put back the feet of the first, and receive that which comes with the head formost.

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If both of them press together to the passage of the womb, the midwife must take great care; and therfore she must put up her hand to see which of them is most forward, as also to try whether it be not some monstrous conception, as two heads upon one body, or two bodies joyned in one, either at the shoulders, or at the sides, which may be known, if she put up her hand gently between the two heads as high as she can, and if she find that they are twins, she may gently put the one to one side, to make way for the passage of the other, which is most advanced, which must be directed just to the orifice of the womb, having a great care that she do not change the situation of the second; and as she feeles the pains of the mother coming on her, she must by all means bring forward the childe, that she would receive, still keeping the other back, with two or three fingers of the left hand: and thus having delivered the first, if the second be not well situated, she must bring the head to the neck of the womb, where it will find the passage open to it, by the delivery of the first.

Now lest the first childe should be in danger of its life, you must take it from the mother, and carefully tie up the navel string, as is formerly mentioned, & also bind again with a large and long fillet, that part of the navel which is fast to the secondines, that they may be the more easily found. Then the second child being born, the Midwife must see if there be not two secondines, [Page 128] for by reason of the shortness of the ligature, it may have happened to retire back againe, to the damage of the woman; and therfore the secondines must be hastened forth as soon as may be, least the womb should close.

If the two Infants have but one body, the better way is to turn the head upwards, and to draw it forth by the feet, then by the head; taking care when you come to the hipps, to draw it forth as quick as may be.

The fifteenth form.The second forme of the unnaturall birth is very dangerous, and therfore requires the greater care of the midwife. First therfore, let her well anoynt the womb of the woman, that the passage may be more slipperie, which being done, let her take hold of the hands of one of the Infants, and keeping them close to the sides, direct the head to the orifice of the womb; that being born, let her proceed in the same manner toward the other. If she cannot come to take hold of either of the Infants armes, she must bring the woman againe to her bed, and trye if by the foresaid Agitation of her body, the infants may be Brought to a more convenient forme of delivery.

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CHAP. XXIX. Of ordering the woman after she is delivered.

IN the first place she must keep a temperate dyet, having a great care not to over fill her selfe after so great an evacuation; and indeed her dyet must be like that of wounded persons; neither are the tales of Nurses to be beleived, who exhort them to fill after so great an emptines, telling them that the loss of bloud must be restored; for these are meer fooleries; for as for that blood which she hath lost, it is but unnecessary blood, such as is usually kept for the space of nine months, which to voyd, is much conducing to her health; besides their nourishment for the first days, must be but slender, for feare of falling into a fever; besides the abundance of milke which it would bring into the brest, where it might be in danger of curdling, or apostematizing, and therfore for the first five days, let her use broths, Panadas, potched eggs. Gellies, abstaining from flesh, or french Barly, In the Morning, broth will be expedient; at dinner, broth or eggs or Panada; and at supper, the same, with some Gellies for her second courses. If she intend to nourse her childe, she may feed more plentifully; and drinke some Barly-water where in some corianders or fennell seed may be put.

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In Italie the persons of most account doe use this water. Take two Capons, the fethers being well pulled of, and the bowels wholly taken out, which you shall boyl in a glaz'd earthen pot, in a sufficient quantitie of water till they be halfe boyled then must they be taken out of the pot, together with the broth; and being cutt to peices are to be put into a Lembick in manner following.

℞. Bugloss, Borache and Time, two good handfulls, and with that cover the bottome of the shell, then lay upon that a row of flesh, then upon that a ranck of leaf gold, with a dram of powder of pearles, and upon that pover the broth, let all this be distilled in Balneo Mariae, drawing forth a pint at a time, which you shall reiterate as often as you have any thing left, to give to the woman in child-bed, for the space of ten or twelve dayes. This water must be drawn six weeks or two months before it be used; If the woman be not troubled with a fever, let her drinke a little white wine or Claret, with twice as much hot water; If she haue a mind to drink between meales or at night, it may be convenient to give her some syrrup of maidenhaire, or any other syrrup that is not astringent, with a little boyled water. After the suspition of fever, or heat of her brests is over, she may be nourished more plentifully, and you may give her, together with her broth, some other meat, as Pullet, Capon, Pigeon, Mutton or Veale, boyled. After the eight day is past; at what [Page 131] time the Womb is well purged and discharged, it will be expedient to give her cold meat in greater quantitie, that she may be enabled to gaine. strength; during all this time, she must rest very quiet, and be free from all manner of disturbance; she must sleep as little in the day time as may be. If she goe not well to the stoole, she may have some such kind of Glyster as this.

℞. of mallows, Marshmallows, and Pelitory of the wall, an. one handfull, Flowers of Camomile, and Melilot, of each a small handfull, Aniseeds and Fenell seeds, of each two ounces, boile these in the decoction of a wethers head, take of this three quartaries and dissolve in them of course suger and common hony, of each two ounces, new fresh butter three ounces; of this make a Glister, and if occasion serve, add to this an ounce of Catholicon.

What is to be done to the Breast, Belly, and lower parts of the Woman in child-bed.

IN the first place you may lay the skin of a hare or sheep for the space of four or five howers, which being taken away, you may then anoynt it with this following oyntment, and then lay a linnen towell all over her belly and hipps, which must be continued on for the first seven days, looking after and turning every morning.

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The Oyntment may be this.

℞ the oyl of sweet Almonds, Camomil and Hipericon, an. one ounce and a half, Spermaceti two ounces, Goats fat one ounce, oyle of Myrtles halfe an ounce, melt all these and make an oyntment to anoynt the belly, Now before the cere cloath be put on, you must apply a little plaister of Galbanum, about the bigness of two or three fingers to the navel, in the middle of which may be put two or three graines of civet, yet so as that the woman may not perceive the sent of it. The cere cloth may be this.

℞. White wax four ounces, Pomatum without musk, Calfes greass, of each an ounce, Spermaceti an ounce and a half, oyle of Hipericon and sweet Almonds, of each one ounce, Venice Turpentine, washed in Pellitory water, halfe an ounce, melt these in Balneo Mariae, and spread them upon a cloath about the bigness of the belly, and when it is coole apply it.

The next care is to be had of the brests, upon these some put round cere cloths, made thus, take six ounces of new wax, oyle of Myrtle, roses and hony of Narbon, of each two ounces, melt these all togethe [...], and make a cere cloth; Let them have holes in the middle for the nipples to goe through.

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This oyntment is also very good to keep the milke from clotting.

℞. Oyntment of Populion one ounce, Galens refrigerating oyntment half an ounce, oyle of roses six dramms, vinegar a small quantitie, melt them together and make an oyntment.

This fomentation is also much commended.

℞. Fennel, Parssely, Petroselinum, Mallows, Althea, of each a small handfull, Laurel and Camomile flowers, of each half a handfull, boyle these according to art, and make a fomentation for the nipples. After this fomentation, anoynt them with oleum rosatum omphacium, and then apply this following plaister.

℞. Venice Turpentine foure ounces, well washed in strong wine and rose water, adding to it two whole eggs, and a scruple of saffron, with as much wax as is sufficient, spread this upon a linnen cloth, and apply it: as for the lower parts, for the three first dayes, they are to be fomented with a certaine fomentation of milke, where in hath bin boyled a few roses, some chervil, and a little plantaine. From the next day to the eight day, you may use this bath; wine and water, of each half a pint, red roses, and flowers of Hipericon, of each two handfulls, Agrimony one handfull, make of this a decoction; after bathing once or twice lay this following [Page 134] oyntment along the lipps of the privities, upon a linnen cloth.

℞ Oyle of Hipericon two ounces, Spermaceti an ounce and a halfe, a little white wax, mix all these together melt them and make an oyntment.

After the eight dayes are past, you may lay upon her belly this following plaister.

℞. Oyle of Hipericon, Camomile, and aniseeds, of each one ounce, oyle of Mastick, an ounce and a half, oyle of myrtles six dramms, Spermaceti two ounces, the fat of the reines of a goat an ounce and a half, Dears suet one ounce, of this make an oyntment to anoynt the belly of the woman in childbed, and then apply this following plaister.

℞. Oyle of myrtles, and Hypericon, of each an ounce and a halfe, oyle of Nippo one ounce, Venice Turpentine, washed in water of Motherwort, four ounces, melt all these together and put them upon a hempen cloath, that may cover all the belly, and lett her weare it the space of eight dayes.

These fifteen days being past, for the space of eight days more, you may lay upon her belly and her hipps, this following plaisters.

℞. Oyle of Mastick, myrtles, Iasmine, and Quinces, of each an ounce and a halfe, oyle of Acornes two ounces, spermaceti one ounce, Venice Turpentine, washed in Plantaine water, half an ounce, wax six ounces, melt all these together, adding powder of Mastick, and Terra [Page 135] sigillata an. halfe an ounce, florentine, Orrice one ounce, spread all these upon a hempen cloath, and lay it on her belly, to be kept there for the space of eight or ten dayes; for the lower parts this fomentation may be needfull.

℞. Leaves of Plantaine, Mulleine, Centinody and Horstaile, an. one handful, Cypress leaves a handfull and a halfe, of the rind of Pomgranates, cypress nuts; and Pomgranate flowers, of each halfe an ounce, red roses, Camomil and Melilot, of each a handfull, roch Alum two ounces, calamus aromaticus, and florentine Orrice, of each three drams, Gilliflowers one dram, make of these two sacks, and boyle them in like quantities of sower wine, and smiths water, for the exteriour mouth of the neck of the womb.

Of the choice of a good Nurse.

THe choice of a good Nurse is very important, and therefore you must first look upon her aspect, and see whether her sight be no way imperfect, as whether she be squint-eyed, or have a down-cast look; you must have a special care that she be not red hair'd, for their milk is extreamly hot; see moreover whether her teeth be sound and white and well set, know whether she come of parents that have been troubled with the consumption; and if she have not, nor be exsumptive herself, you may judg of her stomach, and whether she be subject to [Page 136] catarrhs; you must also take heed that she send no stinking breath, either from her mouth or nostrils, for that corrupts the Lungs of the Infant. Enquire whether neither she nor any of her kindred have been troubled with leprosie, by reason that it is very contagious, or with the Epilepsie or Falling-sickness. And therefore those women that either cannot, or will not nurse their own children, must make use of such women as are most fit to the humour they would have the child to be of, for the nurse is now to be the second mother of the child, from whom the Infants draws all her conditions, be they good be they bad; and it is often seen that children do partake more of the conditions of the Nurse then the Mother, and therefore care must be taken, that the Nurse be good conditioned, good teeth, brown hair, of a healthy generation, that neither she nor her husband may have had the French disease, that she be not peevish nor cholerick, that she have milk in abundance, and a good fleshy breast, that her breast be not over-fleshy, that she be not too fat, and above all, that she be not of too amorous a humour, and desirous to be with her husband, for that is perfect venome to the milk.

What is to be done in the extream pains of the childe.

IF a child have extream throws presently after it be born, you must rub it with Pelitory and [Page 137] fresh butter, or Spinach, or else with Hogs grease, and apply it upon the navel, having first a great care that it be not too hot. Or else make a little cake of eggs and oyl of nuts, and apply in the very same place; if this avail not, give it a little Glyster of milk, the yolke of an egge and a little Sugar, this easeth the pain of the intestines.

What is to be done with those children that are troubled with flegme.

THere are some children born of ill constitution'd women, or else of women that have not used good nourishment in the time of their being with child, who are very full of flegme, these you must lay upon one side, and sometimes upon the other; for if you lay them upon their backs, you may perchance choak them; you must be sure to keep their bellies soluble, causing them to void that bloud kept in the entrails from the time of their being in the womb, by giving it a little suppository of black soap well rubbed in fresh butter, to take away the Acrimony of it, then give it a spoonful of syrrup of violets; this causes the flegm to pass down; if you perceive that the Infant hath not much heat, you may mix with it half the quantity of oyl of sweet Almonds, and half of the syrrup of violets, and continue it, stroaking the stomach and the belly of the Infant with fresh butter, every time that they undress him.

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That which ought to he done to children, that have their cods full of wind.

VVHen Infants have their cods full of wind, ye must examin whether it be with wind or water; if it be water, by rubbing and chafing the skin with fresh butter, the waters will sweat out; if it be wind, the children must be stirred, and swung gently, mingling in their drinke the decoction of aniseeds.

How to take away the canker from the mouths of Infants.

THere have been known certaine children which have been nourished with cold milk, which hath bin thick and in great quantity, which a few days after its birth, hath heated the mouth of the infant in such a fashion, that it caused a white canker, which presently possessed the tongue, palate, the gums, the throat, and all the mouth, whereupon it was taken with a fever, and it could no longer suck, all the assistance that could be was still applyed, and when no other medicine did avayle, there was found one, a particular remedie, which was, half a handfull of sage, a handfull of cherveil, brused a little, and boyled in a sufficient quantitie of water, a bout a dozen seethings, to which you must add a spoonfull of vinegre, when you have streined it, you must put to it an ounce of mel rosatum, [Page 139] then you must have a little hooked stick, with a little peice of scarlet tyed at the end, then putting the water in a sawcer, dip the end of the stick where the scarlet is tyed, and then rub the place affected gently, and you shall find the cancer to asswage by little and a little.

What is to be done to children whose intestines are fallen.

THere are a great many infants whose great gut fals, which is a thing very easily remedyed at the beginning, and therfore you must put it up againe, first, lay the child with his head lowermost, then you must have a thick cushion, soaked in smiths water, then you must have an emplaister made of the roots of great Consound scraped, and put upon it as an oyntment, then looking to it every day, taking care that it crie but little, and never unbind him but as hee lyes, lest the gut tumble down againe, and so the cure be delayed, as the child grows big the hole lessens, and the Intestine grows big. This is an experienced way.

To make an oyntment to strengthen the thighs and leggs of a child, and make him goe.

TAke Sage, Marjoram, Dwarfe, Elder-bruise them a good while together till you have beaten out a good deale of juice, then put it into a glass viol, till it be full, and stop up the [Page 140] hole, with past and round the sides also, put the said past, put it then in an oven to bake as long as a good bigg loafe, then draw it forth and suffer it to coole, then breake the past which is round the viol, breake the bottle and keep up that which is with in, which you shall find turnd to an oyntment, and when you would use it, you must add to it some of the marrow of the hoofe of an oxe, melting it all together, and when you have so done, you must rub the hinder part of the leggs and thighs of the child. This hath been done to a child whom a famous Physitian, after three yeares having in hand, gave over, saying, that it would never goe.

Of the relaxations of the Matrix, and the cause.

There are many causes of the relaxation of the Matrix, the one proceeding from great fluxes which fal down upon the ligaments thereof, causing them to wax loose; Others come to this disease by some falls, others by reason of carring in their womb too great burdens, others by streining themselves in travaile before their time, and because the orifice of the womb is not open; somtimes, and very often; by reason of the midwifes, who putting up their hands into the womb, teare downe they know not what, which is often times apart of the Matrix, to the bottom of which the secondines adhere, drawing down part of the womb. which they take to be the secondines, which is often times brought [Page 141] also to a worse condition, when the unskilfull women force her to the remedies, for bringing down the secondines, as holding baysalt in her hand, streining to vomit, and the like. For remedie wherof, all these relaxation of the Matrix, by the same remedies, except those which are occasioned by strong fluxes, for in this case other remedies are not sufficient, being that you are to take away the cause of those defluxions, before you can proceed to the cure of the relaxation. Among the rest I will relate one that hath been found very profitable and experienced, which is this astringent. Take Gall nuts, Cypress nuts, and Pomegranate flowers, Roche Alum, of each two ounces, Province Roses four ounces, Centinode, a good big handfull, the rind of Cassia, the rind of Pomegranates, Scarlet Graines, of each three ounces, the nature of a whale, one ounce, Myrrh water, rose water, and sloe water an ounce and a half, thick wine, and smiths water, of each foure ounces and a half; then make two little baggs of a quarter of a yard long, causing them to boyle in the foresaid waters, in a new pot, using one after another as you have occasion, leting it lye upon the bone of the Pubes, passing in between the hipps, chafing her often, and holding her head and her reines low, using in the morning, somtimes a little mastick, in an eg, or somtimes plantaine seed: if the disease be not too old, it may be cured by this meanes, but if it be of a long standing, you must make a pessarie halfe [Page 142] round, and half oval, of great thick cork, peirced through in the middle, tye a little packthred to the end, then cover it over with white wax, that it may doe no hurt, and to make it more thick, this must be dipped in oyle of Olives to make it enter, and it must be streit that it may not easily fall out, and if it be too little, to have an other bigger, & when the woman goes to do her necessary occasions, she must hold it in, least she should force it out; the hole is made that the vapors of the womb may have a vent, and to give way for her purgations to flow, neither must it be taken away till after the purgations are passed, the thicknes causes the matrix to mount up as long, as it is very thick, for the ligaments being close doe then retire. If they be women that beare children, the midwife ought not to suffer them to force themselves, but as nature constraines her, having her own hand ready after the throw, to put back the Matrix with her finger, and when she is brought to bed, lay her low with her head and with her reines, raising her up, with pillows put under her hipps; and for women that are troubled with this disease, they ought not to lace themselves over hard, for that thrusts down the matrix, and makes the woman pouch bellyed, and hinders the Infant form being well situated in her body, causing her to carrie the child all upon her hipps, and makes her belly as deformed, as her wast is handsome.

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Of a disease that happens by reason of the fall of the Matrix.

THere is somtimes a relaxation of the membrane, that covers the rectum Intestinum, when the head of the child, at the beginning of the travaile falls downward, and draws it low; often-times it comes by reason of women with child lacing themselves, which causes such a conflux of wind to these parts, that it seemes to the woman to be the head of the child, in so much that she is hardly able to stand upright, neither can she goe. For remedy hereof, you must keep the woman soluble, giving her Anise and Coriander seeds to dissipate the winds. You must take Sage, Agrimony, Mother-wort, balme, White wormwood, Margerome a little rue, and a little Thyme, and Camomile, and having picked all the above written herbs, you must cut them very small, and having well mingled them put them into a maple platter, and then put hot cinders upon them, and upon those another handfull of herbes, covering the platter with a close cloth, that the woman may receive the smoake; this is a remedie which hath been much approved and experimented.

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To remedie the fall of the fundament in Infants.

TAke of the green shrub wherof they make broomes, and cut it smal, and lay it upon the coales, and set the child over the smoake thereof, and it will certainly cure it.

Of the diseases of women, and first of the inflammation of the brest.

THe inflamation of the brests is a hard swelling, together with a beating paine, redness and shooting. The cheif cause of this is the abundance of blood, drawn up together in that place, though there be somtimes other causes also, as the suppression of the courses, the Haemorrhoids, or a blow received upon the breasts. The signes of it are easie to be known, that is to say, a certain rednes and burning heat, oftimes joyned with a fever. For the cure of this, there are four sorts of remedies; first, as the order of dyet, which must be comforting and moistning, as broth of pullets, where endive, borage, lettice, and purselaine may be boyled also; she may drinke the juce of Pomegranates, or barly water, with aniseeds boyled in it: the use of wine and all sorts of spices are very dangerous, and if the woman goe not freely to the stoole, there is nothing better then a lenitive glyster; she may sleep much, and must not disturb her selfe with [Page 145] any passion. The next way of remedy is by diverting the humours, which is done by frictions, letting bloud in the foot, scarification of the legs, or vesicatories applied to those places, especially if the flowers are stopped or ready to come down; if not, it will be expedient to open a veine in the arme.

You may also prepare the humour to void it out of the place affected, by opening either the middle vein, or the Basilic, or the Vena Saphena, which may be done two or three times, if occasion serve; after bloud-letting, purge, but let this be done with sweet medicines, such are Cassia, Manna, Tamarind, syrrup of Roses, or Violets Solutive, having a little before used certain syrrups, which may asswage and temper the humours. Take syrrup of Roses and Purslain, of each one ounce, Endive water and Plantain water, of each an ounce, give this to the patient; Neither will it be amiss to give her syrrup of Succory, or Endive, or such like, for these syrrups have a cooling and refreshing faculty, especially being mingled with Plantain, or Endive water, or such like, or the decoction of the said herbs; now when the humour is thus prepared, you may give her some gentle purges. As for example, take of the pulp of Cassia, and Tamarinds, of each six drams, of this make a little bolus with some sugar, and give to the patient, or with this potion.

Take of the Leaves of Italian Orach three drams, of Aniseed one scruple, infuse these in four ounces of the foresaid waters. Into this being strained, infuse an ounce of Cassia, and [Page 146] into the streining of this dissolve an ounce of solutive Roses; of this make a potion and give it. The fourth way of cure consists in Topicks, such as may drive back and repress the humour, though care must be had that they be not over strong, lest you thereby do cool the heart too much, and thereupon drive the humour upon the heart it self. And therefore temperate medicines are chiefly to be chosen, and such especially as are able to digest and dissolve the humour: Wherefore it shall not be amiss to apply a linnen cloath dipt in white strong vineger, and a little cold water, which must be applied to the breasts, and often changed. Or else you may dip linnen cloaths also in a decoction of Camomil flowers, and Violet flowers, with a small quantity of oyl of Roses, and a drop of vineger or two; or you may use this fomentation. Take of the juyce of Nightshade & oyl of Roses, of each an ounce and a half, of the decoction of Fenugreek, Camomil and Lineseed two ounces, vineger one ounce.

This medicine you may use by dipping a spunge therein, and so washing and fomenting the breast therewith.

Or you may apply this Cataplasme; take of the leaves of Nightshade and Melilot half a handful of each, let them be boyled & extracted through a course cloth then add to them bean meal two ounces, Oxymel and oyle of sweet Almonds of each one ounce; of this make a Cataplasm and apply it. If the disease be more prevalent, you must use more forcible remedies, and among the rest this fomentation. Take of the leaves of Mallows, Violets, Dill, of each [Page 147] one handful, flowers of Camomil and Melilot of each a small handful and a halfe, boyl these together, adding to them a little wine and oyl of Dill or Mustard; first let the breast be fomented with this, and afterwards with an oyntment composed of equal parts of new butter, oyl of violets and Hens fat. But if these things avail not to dissipate the humour, you must observe whether the inflamation tend either to a suppuration or induration. If you find that it tends to a hardness, you must try all means to hinder it by the way of mollifying plaisters, among which this is not a little experimented: Take the marrow of a Calves leg two ounces, Sheeps grease one ounce, Saffron four scruples, Cumminseed bruised, two scruples, mingle all these and make a plaister. If the inflamation doth not harden, but doth altogether tend to a suppuration, which may be known by these signs; that is to say, the increasing of the tumour, the beating and excessive heat, & pain which rages about those parts so vehemently, that do not admit them to be touch'd. But now the suppuration is to be hastened with hot and moist medicines, which have an Emplastick faculty, for which purpose this is much commended: Take the leaves of Mallows one handful, roots of Althea one ounce, boyl these together, and when they are mashed draw them out, and add to them bean meal and Fenugreek, of each one ounce, the whites of two eggs, myrrh and Assa faetida of each one dram, Saffron one scruple, mingle all these together, and make a Cataplasm for your use; to this you may either add Capons grease, Hogs grease, or fresh butter. [Page 841] If these remedies do not suddenly bring the inflammation to a suppuration, you must then take of the shells of snails bruised, and lay them upon the Cataplasm in such a manner, that the snail shell may come to touch that part of the tumour which is most elevated and pointed, whence it appears, that the matter will first issue; If these remedies avail not, it will be necessary to open the said Apostem, with a Lancet, and this must be done when you are sure that the matter is ready to come forth, which may be known by these signs, when the beating ceases, when the fever, the pain and the heat of the part do begin to diminish, when you perceive the place pointed, and raised and enclining to a blackish colour. When the wound is open, you must first apply to it a digestive, composed of an ounce of turpentine, half an ounce of oyl of Roses and the yolk of an egge. After this you must cleanse it with honey of roses, Turpentine and barly meal, or with the oyntment of the Apostles, or the oyntment called Aegyptiacum, then you may put on the top of the place, the oyntment called Basilicon or Paracelsus plaister which doth digest, cleanse carnifie & cicatrize after a very extraordinary manner. This is furthermore to be observed, that an ulcer in the breast is not easily cured, if the milk be not dried out of the other breast; and therefore the milke is to be dried up by keeping the child from sucking, and by putting upon the breasts of the woman, cloaths dipped in cold water, together with bean barly and vineger, and such like remedies.

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THE COMPLEAT MIDWIVES Practice.

Of windy Tumours in the Breasts.

THe flatuous tumor of the breasts is caused by a thick vapour which rises from the menstruall blood which is retained or corrupted in the Matrix. The causes of which are, first the suppression of the flowers; or when the flowers are not discharged into their proper place, and in their proper time; as also from the corruption of the humours by which are ingendred divers bad fumes and vapours; for this being received into the breasts cause a distention much like a true swelling. The signes by [Page 2] which it is known, is the pain w ^ch it brings along with it, which is sharp and pricking, causing a distention of the part. The heart is not a little out of order, by reason of the windinesses which lie so neer it: and commonly the left breast is most swoln, communicating its pain to the arm, shoulder and ribs of the same side. And these signes differ from those of a Canker; for in this distemper the breast is white and shining by reason of the distention; and if you touch it, it sounds like a Drum. And if you presse it with your hands, you wil finde that it is sweld in all parts alike, and not in one more then another. This is cured first by a good order of diet, taking little victuals, whereby crudities may be avoided that do afford matter to the obstructions, and increase windinesse: for which cause she must also drink little, & that, water boyld with Cinamom, Anis-seed, and rinde of Citrons. The next remedy is by using things which are good to provoke the courses, [among which use this receit; strein Selandine stampt into posset-ale, and drink it four dayes before the new moon, and four dayes after.] And it will not be amisse to let blood three or four times in the year, about the time that the courses ought to begin. For by this means you may provoke the flowers, & hinder the increase either of a Scirrhus, or of a Canker; to which purpose, bathes, frictions, and infections are not a little to be used. In the next place, you must prepare the humours that foment this windinesse both in the Matrix, and in the veins, and that by syrups which do expell flegme [Page 3] and melancholy: after which you must purge your patient; for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sene three ounces, Anis-seed one scruple; let them boyle in foure ounces of Borage water; vvhen it is streined, infuse into it Confection Hamech vvithout Scammony, Colloquint, and Cathol. Dupl. Rheo. of each an ounce and a halfe; when it is streined, dissolve in it one ounce of syrup of Roses solutive: this potion must be given two hours before eating. You may also use this gentle Apozem: Take of the root of Tamarinds, Cypress, Bugloss, of each an ounce and a halfe, flowers of Borage, Epithymi, Sen. of each halfe a handfull, flowers of Balme one handful, Raisins one ounce, Prunes in number twelve, boyle them in a sufficient quantity of vvater: and then in a pint of the vvater dissolve foure ounces of the syrup of Violets; make of this an Apozem clarified according to Art, and sweeten it vvith a sufficient quantity of sugar, giving four or five ounces at a time. In the next place, you may use Topicks to attenuate and resolve; to vvhich purpose you may bathe or soment the breast vvith a sponge dipt in Lye, and then lay upon it a linen cloth dipt and moistned in Aquavitae, and dried in the shade; or else dipt in fresh butter that hath boyled a good while, or in oyle of Lillies, or in oyle both of the root & seed of Angelica; or you may foment the breast vvith this Decoction: Take Wheat-bran two handfuls, leaves of Dill and Melilot of each halfe a handfull, Anis-seed, Fenell and Cumin-seed, of each two drams, Camomill flowers one halfe handfull; boyl [Page 4] all these in a sufficient quantity of water and white wine, and let them boyle to the consumption of the third part. In this decoction you may wet a sponge, and wash or foment the breast therewith. After you have fomented the part, you may put this ointment upon the part affected: Take oyle of Lilies & Elder, of each an ounce and a halfe, of the best Balsam halfe an ounce, powder of burnt lead unwasht, Anis-seed one dram, and as much Wax as is sufficient.

Of the watry tumour of the Breast.

THe watry tumour is ingendred by a thick and watry flegme gathered together in great abundance in the breast and parts adjoyning: and it happens many times that this watry and flegmy substance is not alwayes gathered to one particular place, but also diffused through all the parts of the breast, which causes a generall swelling in that part. This swelling (that we may define it) is a loose and soft tumour without much pain, yeelding to the touch and pressing of the fingers, so that the hole which is made by the pressing of the fingers remains a pretty while after; yet it soon becomes painful, if there be any acrimony joyned with it; or if there be any distention by reason of the press of vapours to that part. This oftentimes happens by reason of the suppression of the courses; sometimes it is occasioned by reason of a clear and watry flegme which discharges it selfe upon these parts. This swelling is easily distinguished [Page 5] from other swellings by reason of the loosnesse and softnesse thereof, and by the pain which is alwayes lesse then in other swellings: and in this kinde of tumour the pain ascends up to the arms and shoulders, and the whole breast is altogether swoln and raised; and this pain comes at certain times, chiefly when the flowers ought to come down, which being once come down, the pain diminishes, by reason that the woman is then throughly purged. Yet notwithstanding there doth remain some certain kind of swelling, which happens not in the windy tumours, by reason that the purgations of the flowers do totally dissipate the matter of those swellings. These flegmy tumours do easily turn into Cankers, and are therefore to be diligently looked after. As to the cure of these tumours, there is required first an orderly diet, which must be drying, her bread must bee well baked and leavened, dried Raisins, parched Almonds, Asparagus, rosted flesh, and small birds. Before meat she may take a little hony of Roses upon a wafer cake. For her drink, let it be the decoction of Anis-seeds, China root, Sassafras, and Sarsaparil. If the retention of the flowers be the cause of this evill, let her then use rather boyled then rosted meats, and then let her boyle them with Sage, Betony and Hysop. All meats made of milk are dangerous, as also sleep after dinner, and unleavened bread.

You may in the next place use things to divert the humor, as frictions and baths: if her flowers are suppressed, let a vein be opened in the feet. Next [Page 6] after you have prepared the humor by the use of syrups, as those of Mint, Worm-wood, Hysop, Licorass, Maidenhaire, hony of Roses, with fenel water, water of Hysop, Marjoram, Rosemary, Betony, Mint, then may you use some purges with those pils called Sine quibus, Agarick pils, and Cochie-pils. If the patient be strong, and not to be worked upon by weak Physick, you may then add two or three grains of Diagridion, or Alandaal Trochisques; these pils are to be used for eight days, half a dram at a time. Another way may be by topicks, to attenuate and resolve: for which purpose the fomentations specified in the foregoing chapters may be very fitly used, being prepared with Vine ashes, or figg-tree ashes, whereto a little Vinegar may be put; though the use of things that drive back the humour are not here to be used; you may also rub and chafe the brest with this Ointment; take of Oyl of sweet Almonds, Oyl of Line seed, of each one ounce, ganders grease of each half an ounce, with a little Diachylon instead of Wax; a plaister of great Diachylon would not be amiss in this Disease; if the Woman feel any paine or heat in her breasts, let her anoint them with Oyl of Roses, a little burnt lead, and a little white wax; or with a little Oleum Omphacinum, and oyl of sweet Almonds tempered together in a mortar. In the dispersing and resolving of the humor you may use baths of alum and sulphur prepared with the decoction of Hysop, Mint, and Sage, and after that such ointments as are most approved for the same purpose, alwaies taking heed of too boisterous [Page 7] Remedies: if you would suppurate or mature the swelling, you must use such Remedies as we have described in the following, and fore-going Chapters, the strongest of which you may here apply, because the matter is more obstinate and tenacious, mingling with them for that purpose other more effective Remedies, as are the Roots of Mallows, marsh mallows, lillies, figgs, goose grease, and the like; when the sore is opened, you must tend it after the same manner as is before rehearsed There are other Remedies either to be taken inwardly, or to be outwardly applied, which serve to fortifie and comfort the stomack, as to take every morning a spoonful of conserve of Rosemary, preserved Orange, or trochisques of Aromaticum: Rosatum, Diagalanga, or diacuminum.

Of the kernels in the Breast.

THe kernels of the breast are little round bodies soft and thin, like a sponge, which sometimes grow hard by reason of the phlegmie humor which is sometimes purely so, and sometimes is mingled with other sharp & acrimonious humors But sometimes it comes to passe, that not only the kernels of the breast are swollen; but also that there do grow others which ought not to be there which may not unfitly be termed a kind of the Kings-evil, being a swelling which proceeds of thick flegme, or else of a thick mattrie blood hardned under the skin; they are caused many times by the detention of the flowers, the bloud [Page 8] often times mounting up into the breast.

The cure of these is undertaken two waies; by softning the hard tumor, and preventing the Canker; and then also a strict diet is to be observed, which must be moderately attenuating, & by keeping themselves warm, which is performed by moderate exercise before meales, as also by using sulphury bathes; but ful Diet, ease, idleness, and meats of hard digestion are very dangerous; and indeed in all respects beside, the cure is the same as is set down in the foregoing Chapter. But if the kernel be swelled up with a sharp humour, those topicks are to be used that are prescribed also in the foregoing Chapter: onely in case the fluxion remain any time, you may mingle those things which do a little more refresh; such are oyl of Roses, and oyl of violets. When the flux of humours ceases, you may then add oyl of Camomil, and Lillies, and other such like things, to dissolve and dissipate the humor. If you find that this kernel is become a kind of Kings Evil, you must then use stronger Medecines; adding to the forementioned purgation a dram and a half of the root of Mechoacan, or three drams of Diaturbith. For topicks you may use such as do soften and dispel, but such as are stronger then these we have expressed in the former Chapter. You must at length when all other waies do fail, use the operation of the hand to take away the root of the disease; but this is not to be done til you have used all other means to soften and dispel the humour, which may perhaps be done by the use of Diachylon, or [Page 9] by a plaister of Melilot, to which you may adde halfe an ounce of Ammoniack, an ounce of Oyl of Lillies, and an ounce and a half of the root of Flower deluce of Florence; neither may this following Plaister be amiss: Take of the roots of Althea two ounces, boile them and straine them, and add to that oyl of Lillies, Ganders grease, of each an ounce, burnt lead, and roots of Iris, of each an ounce and a half; mingle all these together, and make of them an Emplaster: if this avail not, the operation of the hand must be used, in which the skil of the Chirurgion must be very able, and ready.

Of the Scirrhus of the Breasts.

THe Scirrhus of the breasts is a hard swelling without pain: Of this there are two kinds, the one ingendred of a Melancholy, and produced by a feculent and grosse blood, or else from a thick flegme; now this exquisite Scirrhus is without paine, in which it differs from the other; The other is not so exquisite an hardnes, perhaps because it is not yet come to its ful maturity, or else because it hath certain other humours mixt with it. This exquisite kinde of Scirrhus is ingendred, either because the spleen is obstructed, and cannot purge away the melancholy blood, which for that reason abounding in the body discharges and empties it self upon the breasts; or by reason of the suppression of the courses, which causes the feculent and grosse humor to disgorge it self upon [Page 10] the breasts, gathering together in the Veins and flesh of the same. Many times the ignorance of the Chirurgion is the cause of it, when they apply an unreasonable company of refrigerating medicines to the inflammations of the breast, or too many resolving and heating medicines to it in case the breasts be over hard. This Scirrhus is known by its hardnesse without pain, from the unevennesse of the body, and the colour of the part either inclining to black or brown. Now though the cure of these hardnesses be something difficult, yet is there great hopes that they may be overcome; which is to be done two wayes, by mollifying diligently that which is hard, and by taking that away which remains hard and knotty in the breast. And first of all care is to be had to keep good order of diet; to which purpose she must use wheaten bread, reare egges, pullets, capons, partridge, veale and mutton, which must be boyled with Spinage, Bugloss and Borage; she must abstain from Beefe, Venison, Hares flesh and Brawn, from Pease and Beans, and unleavened bread, from all salt and smoked meats; as also from all things that have a sharp biting quality; also she must abstain from all care & sadness, immoderate exercise and going in the winds. If the monthly courses be stopt, you must seek to provoke them gently, which may be done by letting blood in the foot, or to let blood with hors-leeches; in the next place, it will not be amisse to purge well with Sene and Rheubarb, to which you may adde Catholicon, or Triphera Persica, if you find that the disease needs a more [Page 11] strong purgation. Between every purge it will not be amisse to take good cordiall and comfortable things, as confection of Alkermes, Triasantalon, Electuarium de gemmis, conserve of the roots of Borage, conserve of Orange flowers. You may after all this use Topicks, that is to say, such medicines as heat and dry moderatly, being hot in the second degree, and dry in the first; such are sheeps grease, especially that greasie substance that grows upon the flank of a sheep, wax, oyle of sweet Almonds, oyle of Camomil, oyle of Dill, Capons grease, Goose grease, Hogs grease, Bears grease, &c. Veale marrow, Dears marrow, emulsions of Mallows, Lillies, and other things of more force, as liquid pitch, liquid Storax, Galbanum, Cumin seed, Rue seed, Broom flowers, and Dill seed. If this swelling come of a hard flegme, which is known because it yeelds not so much to the touch as the other; you must use the same topicks to this, as to the watry tumour before rehearsed. If melancholy be the cause of it, you may use a fomentation of the leaves of Mallows, and Marshmallows, of each a handful and a halfe, of Fenugreek and Lineseed of each two drams, Cucumbers, Bears foot, of each two ounces; boyle them in as much water as is sufficient, and foment the breast with this twice or thrice a day. After that take this ointment: take of the root of Mallows one ounce, when it is boyled and bruised, take it out, and add to it sheeps grease, and Capons grease, of each two ounces, and with a little Wax make an ointment. This you may use for some few dayes, after which [Page 12] you may, if need require, use this ointment: Take Hysop leaves, Dill leaves, and thyme leaves, of each half a handful, roots of Mallows, and Fenugreek seed, of each half an ounce, boyl them in as much wine and vinegar as is sufficient, til halfe be boyld away; then take of the aforesaid vinegar, Goose grease, Ducks grease, and the marrow of the leg of a Hart, of each two ounces, boyl it to the consumption of half the vinegar; you may add to this two drams of Diachylon, and make it into the form of a plaister: You may also use for this purpose plaisters of Melilot, or Oxycroceum. At length if all remedies faile, the operation of the hand must be the last succour, which we leave to the Chirurgion.

Of the Canker in the Breasts.

THe Canker is a venemous tumour, hard and very much sweld, hot and durable, more exasperated oftentimes by remedies then asswaged. The Canker proceeds from a feculent and grosse humour, vvhich being gathered together in the spleen, is chased away from thence after it growes too hot; vvhich vvhen Nature cannot void, it most commonly in Women empties it self upon the breast, by reason of this cavernous and spongy nature: the matter of it is a hot melancholy blood, and it is known by the crooked vvinding, and retorted veins that are about it, stretching out long roots a good vvay from it, being sometimes blackish, and sometimes inclined to black and blew. It [Page 13] is soft to see to, but it is very hard to the touch, extending the pain as far as the shoulders. It wil sometimes remain for two years together, no bigger then a bean; afterwards it grows to be as big as a nut, then to the bigness of an Egg; and after that increasing daily to a larger size. When the skin breaks, there issues out a great deal of pestilent mattier thin and blackish, and having a very bad smel. The ulcer it self is very unequal, the lips & orifice thereof being sweld with hardness, and inverted; a light fever possesseth the body, and often swoonings. And many times the pestilencie of the humor having corroded a vein, there issues out a great deal of blood. If the canker be ulcerated, or in any inward part of the body, no medicine can prevail; for remedies do more exasperate then help it. To burn it with iron is pestilent; and if it be cut with a penknife, it returns again as soon as it is but skind over. But if it be an exulcerated canker, (which is easily known, & arises from a more sharp matter, for then the flesh is corrupted, sending forth a very noysom mattier, being very irksom to the sight, and accompanied with a gentle Fever, and swooning, and issuing out of blood;) The cure of this is to be done by drying & refrigerating medicines, or by incision to the quick, & expression of the corrupted blood afterwards; after which the wound must be wel cleansed; for which purpose the powder which is called Hartmans blessed powder, is very prevalent. The diet must be of meats that moisten & refrigerate, blood-letting also is profitable, as also preparatiō of the humor w ^th the juice of sweet [Page 14] smelling Apples, and extract of Ellebore, and often purgation with Lapis Lazuli pills; and particularly if the Canker be not ulcerated, you may apply this ointment: Take Litharge one ounce, beat it in a marble mortar with a leaden pestle, incorporating into it two ounces of Rose water and oyle of Roses. In case the pain be great, use this remedy; Take white poppy-seed one ounce, oyle of Roses four ounces, Henbane-seed and Opium of each a dram and a halfe, gum Arabick halfe an ounce, a little wax, of which you may make an ointment. If the Canker be already ulcerated, take this water: Take of the juices of Nightshade, Housleek, Sorrell, Scabious, Honysuckles, Mullein, Figwort, dropwort, Plantain, Linarum, Agrimony, of each halfe a pound, juyce of green Olives one pint, the flesh of Frogs and river Crabs, of each a pound and a half, the whites of six Eggs, Alum three ounces, Camphire one dram; let all these be distilled in a leaden Limbeck, & with the distilled water foment the part affected. Take also Alum as much as a Nut, Hony two peny worth, red wine a pint, seeth them together till the fifth part be spent, strein it through a cloth, and wash the Canker therewith.

Of the greatness of the Breasts.

THe greatness of the breasts is very unsightly, the cause of their greatness is often handling of them, store of windy vapours, and retention of the monthly courses; the cure of them is not to be [Page 15] neglected, because the lesser the breasts be, the less subject they are to be cankered; they are cured by diet first, wherein the use of astringent meats is to be recommended, so that they be not windy by repercussion of the humors and bloud which flow to that part, such are the juice of hemlock, and the anointing of the place with partridge eggs: or you may use this following cataplasm; Take of the juice of hemlock three ounces, of white lead, Acacia and Frankincense, of each three drams, of Vinegar one ounce, mingle all these together, to which you may add powder of spunge burnt, alum, burnt lead, Bole Armoniack, and of these with a sufficient quantity of wax and myrtle make a very profitable ointment. Thirdly, by the discussion of that which is gathered together in that part; for which purpose you may make an ointment in this manner; Take of the mood or lome found in molis Tonsorum, two ounces, oyl of myrtle one ounce, Vinegar half an ounce; or thus, take of the same lome and Bole Armoniack, of each an ounce, white lead two drams, oyl of mastick two ounces and a halfe, of the emulsion of henbane-seed one dram and a halfe, anoint the breast with this, and then upon that put a linen cloth dipt in the decoction of Oke Apples. 4 ^ly By compression of the part, which is done by using a kind of plate of lead upon the breast anointed within side with oyle of Henbane-seed.

[Page 16]

Of the defect, abundance, and coagulation of the Milk.

THe defect of milk arises from a double cause; for either it is a defect in the blood, which is dried up by reason of some hot maladies of the body, either through intemperancie of the Liver through fasting, or too much evacuation. If the deficiency of milk come from these causes, it may be increased again either by prepared chrystal; the leaves also, root and seed of Fenel do avail much in this particular, and the powder of Earth-worms prepared and drunk in Wine, as also the Electuary called Electuarium Zacuthi. There is another cause which proceeds from the Lactifying quality, which is many times so weak, that it can neither attract nor concoct the blood, by reason of some outward refrigerating and astringent qualities, or by reason of some other diseases. The cure of which being looked after in their respective places, much conduceth to the restoring of that defect. The redundance of blood proceeds from too great a plenty of blood, and a strong lactifying quality. In the cure of which the increase of blood is to be impeded, which is done by drying up that humor, and diversion; to which blood-letting conduceth much: Medicines also that drive it back are to be put upon the breasts toward the arms; to which purpose Hemlock boyld in Chervile water and vinegar, avails.

Curdling of the milk is, when the thinner part [Page 17] of the milk exhales, and the more grosse and heavy part stayes behinde, which many times is the cause of tumors, kernels, and Apostems. In this case the infant is not to suck the part affected; though that breast is also to be suckt, for fear lest the milk which is newly generated should be curdled and knotted by that which is there already, and so that part of the coagulated milk may be hindered from putrifying. To the dissolving of the milk it much conduceth to wash the breast with water, wine and vinegar mixt together, as also a Fomentation made of the decoction of Marshmallows, Fenugreek, and melilote, and then anointing them with a liniment of Oyl of Roses, Oyl of sweet Almonds, juice of Parsley, and Vinegar, wherein let the gall of a Hare be first dissolved. Hemlock water in this case also is not a little commended.

Of the Diseases of the neck of the Womb: and first of the Disease called Tentigo.

TEntigo is a Disease in Women, when the Clitoris increases to an over-great measure; the subject of this disease is the Clitoris or nervous peece of flesh which the lips or wings of the privities do imbrace, and which suffers erection in the act of venery; the signes of it are evident, for it hangs below the orifice of the privity as bigg as the neck of a Goose, the causes hereof are a great concourse of humours [Page 18] or nutriment, by reason of the laxity of it, which happens by often handling. The cure is performed by the diminution of the bloud, and drawing out of the other humors. A slender and refrigerating dyet is also necessary, and such things as have a discussive faculty, as the leaves of Mastick tree, and the leaves of Olive tree. In the next place, by taking away the excrescence; to which purpose gentle causticks may be first applyed, as Alum, and the Aegyptiac oyntment, and that lye whereof sope is made, being boyled with Roman Vitriol, to which at last you may add some opium, and form the composition into Trochisques, which being afterwards made into a powder, is to be sprinkled upon the fleshieexcrescence: at length the flesh is to be cut away, either by binding hard, or by section, care being taken that you avoid an inflammation.

There is another disease which is called Cauda, which is a carnous substance proceeding from the mouth of the womb, which sometimes fils up the privy parts, and sometimes thrusts it self outwards like a tayl. The cure of this is the same with the former; onely if it come to section, it may be done either with a horsehair, or a silken thread wound about it, being first dipt in sublimate water; or else with a knife.

[Page 19]

Of the narrowness of the neck of the Womb.

THis narrowness is either of the Womb it self, or of the orifice of the Womb; the signes are the stoppage of the Courses, followed with a depressing and weighty paine. The cause is partly natural from the nativity, and partly varies according to the differences of the disease: the difference is in this, it hapning sometimes that this streightness consists in the exterior orifice, whereby neither the flowers have free passage, neither can she enjoy coition, or conceive with child, because she cannot receive either the man or the seed. Sometimes the narrowness is in the interior orifice of the Womb, into which the flowing retires back again, to the absolute hindrance of conception; sometimes it is occasioned by way of compression, when the Caul being fatter then ordinary lies upon the neck of the Womb. Sometimes the splaying of the thighs, stone in the bladder, or some tumor in the streight gut. Sometimes it happens by the clinging of other parts together, which happens either from the birth, and then either the flesh which appears red, and is soft to the touch intercepts the passage; or else the membrane which seems white feels hard being touched. In the cure of this the use of moist fomentations is very prevalent, and an insection is to be made perpendicularly, [Page 20] great care being taken for feare of hurting the neck of the bladder. The humour is next to be provoked forth, and a Tent dipt in some suppurating plaister is to be put up; the next day it is to be washed with water and honey, and cicatrizing plaisters to be applied; if it come after the birth, it is either occasioned by an ulcer, and then either the sides of the neck cling together, in which case either incision or cauterization is to be used, or else there is a brawnie substance which is to be cut away with a penknife; or else some spungie & luxuriant flesh, in which case drying and discussing Medecines are to be used, as Birthwort Frankincense, Myrrh, and Mastick; afterwards you may apply things to eat it away; and last of all to cut it away by incision.

Of Wheals, condylomas of the Womb, and of the Hemorrhoids.

THe Wheals of the VVomb are certaine risings in the neck of the womb, which by their acrimony excite both paine and itching. The signes of them are an itching, paine, and fall of scurf from that part, for the better searching of which the instrument called speculum Matricis is to be used. The cause of this are certain cholerick, sharp and adust humors, and thick, which falling upon these moist and loose places do there easily make their way. The cure depends upon the consideration of the [Page 21] causes: Among the preparing Medecines syrup of Fumitory is much commended, and Cichorie with a decoction of Lupines. Topicks also are useful that discuss and mitigate the humor, as baths, and insessions, and the washing of the place with wine and Nitre, which is often to be used. These wheals are divided into gentle, and venemous, which are said to be contagious; they are to be washed in a water thus made. Take of Aloes the quantity of a pea; of the flowr of brass the quantity of half a pea; powder these, and mingle them in an ounce of white wine, Plantain-water, and Rose-water, of each an ounce, which is to be kept in a glass vessel.

Condylomas are certaine swelling wrinkles in the neck of the Womb, with pain and heat. There is no need to tel the signes of these, for they are apparent to the eye; the wrinkles are like those which appear in the hand when you close the fist; but are much bigger when the courses flow: they are caused by adust and thick humors; some of these are with an inflamation, which have more paine and heat, and the swelling is hard: In the cure of which you must use insessions, and fomentations that ease paine; sometimes they come without any inflammatiō, which if they be new come are to be dryed up; if they be old, they are first to be softned, afterwards to be digested and dryed up; for which purpose you may use powder of Eggshels burnt, or this Ointment: Take of the [Page 22] Trochisques of steel one dram powderd, mixt with a little Oyl of Roses, and wax, with half an ounce of the juice of Mullein; if this profit not, the warts are to be shaved away with a knife, and an astringent powder laid upon them.

Hemorrhoids of the VVomb are little protuberances like those of the fundament, produced in the neck of the womb through the abundance of feculent blood; the subject is the neck of the womb▪ for where the veins end, there do grow these extuberancies, just as in the Hemorrhoids.

The signes are evident, and easily seen by the help of the Speculum Matricis: the women who are thus affected look pale, and are troubled with a weariness.

The cause is a Feculent bloud, which flowing to these veins before its season and setling there grows thicker, so that it cannot pierce the orifice of the veins. They are cured by a revulsion of the humor, first by letting blood in the arm; secondly, by drawing it to another part, as by letting blood in the heel. Sometimes these Hemmorrhoids are very painful, and are distinguishd from that menstruous effuxion, by the pain which they bring: they are cured by mitigating and asswaging insessions; as also by opiates carefully applyed. Others are without pain, to which the foresaid Remedies may be applied.

Others are open, and do sometimes run moderately, [Page 23] and then nature is to be let alone; or violently, so that thereby the strength of the person is impaired, in which case a vein must be opened in the arm two or three times; purgation is also to be used by Myrobalans, Tamarinds, and Rheubarb; and at length you must apply those things which cease the blood.

Others are termed blinde, out of which there issues no blood; they are cured by blood-letting; the part is to be also softned and fomented with things that soften and open the orifices of the veins, and dispel the humor; such are an Ointment made of the pith of Colocynthis, and Oyl of sweet Almonds, or the juice of Capers mixt with Aloes; neither is the applying of Hors-leeches amiss.

Of the Ʋlcers of the neck of the Womb.

THe signes of these Ulcers is a paine, and perpetual twinging, which increases, if any thing that hath an abstersive quality be cast in; the issuing out of putrid humors, and mattier with blood, if the Ulcer be great, or the flowers come down; often making water, and the water hot; as also a paine in the fore part of the head toward the roots of the eyes; as also some kinde of gentle Fever.

The cure of this is hard, because of its being in a place of so exquisite sense, and moist, and [Page 24] having such a sympathy with other parts of the body; for the easing of the paine, Chalybeated milk is very much conducing; & to the drying of them up, drying baths are the best and most prevalent Remedy. These differ much, coming either from external causes, as rash physick, hard labour, and violent coiture: or from internal causes; as the corruption of the secundines, the courses reteined, and the uterine flux, a virulent Gonorrhea, the pox, inflammations turned into Apostemes, Humors flowing from other parts of the body, and there setling; all which must be duly considered in the cure; Others are in the outward part, and may be easily come at with medecines: others deep, and must be come at only with injection; for which purpose use this following.

Take whites of four Eggs, beat them wel, and put to them an equal quantity of Rosewater, and Plantain-water as much in quantity as they come to, Camphire, Ceruse, Litharge of gold, and Bole Armoniack, of each a little quantity, green Copperas half as much as of any of them, beat all to powder, mix it, and strein it through a cloth, and make your injection til the part affected be whole; and if there be any paine, sometimes inject a little new warm milk.

Others are more gentle, with a little stinking mattier flowing from them. For the cure of which gentle abstersives are profitable, as hony of Roses with Barly-water, whey with sugar, [Page 25] and the decoction of Lentils: after these gentle astringents must be applied. Others are sordid, with much mattier flowing from them: In which case stronger medecines must be appli'd. Others do eat into the flesh, having a colour'd green & stinking mattier flowing from them. For the cleansing of which Aloes and wormwood are very much commended, or the foresaid injection.

There are another sort of ulcers little and long, which eat the skin of the neck of the womb; they are known by the pain and blood which they produce immediatly after congression; they are seen also by looking into the neck of the womb, being much like Childblains that come upon the hands in Winter-time. They are caused divers wayes, either by a difficult lying in, or by a violent coiture, and cured by an astringent Clyster: or they are produced by some inflammation, or Flux of sharp humors; purgations are here needfull, before Topicks be applied, among which is much commended the grease that fries out of wooden ladles, much used in Kitchins, being held to the fire; as also the ointment called Pomada.

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Of the diseases of the Womb.

Of the Womb being out of temper.

THe intemperance of the womb is when it hath lost its natural temper, and is affected with a preternatural intemperancy arising both from inward and outward causes. The one of these is hot, and is known by the womans pronenesse to Venery, by the small Flux of the monethly courses, by their adustnesse, sharpness, inordinate and difficult flux. (Hence in processe of time they are very hypochondriack) by early growing of the hairs about the privities, by rednesse of the face, and dryness of the lips, and frequent pains of the head, and abundance of cholerick humors in the body; it ariseth either at first from the birth, which causes women to be Virago's, and to be barren; or after their nativity, from outward causes, as the use of hot things, overmuch Venery, and such medicines as bring the heat and blood to the womb. The cure consists in a contrary diet, and cooling medicines, both internal and external, which are to be applied to the back and sides; which must be very moderate, that the heat which is necessary for conception may not be weakened, and the cold and membranous substance of the womb come to any harm; or lest the vessels which serve for the carrying away of the courses [Page 27] should be thickned, and the nerves of the back and sides be any waies mischieved.

The next way of cure is performed by evacuating medicines, namely Rheubarb and solutive syrup of Roses, Manna also profits much; the flower of Vitriol of Venus and Mars taken from three grains to six, and put in any proper syrup, purges the womb.

There is another intemperancy which comes of cold, which is known by a lesser pronenesse to Venery, and little pleasure taken in it, a setling in the courses, with a slimy and phlegmy matter mixed, and an inordinate flowing of them by reason of the plenty of humors collected in the womb, which causes obstructions by reason of abundance of windy vapours in the womb, crudity and watrinesse of the seed, which causes it to flow without any pleasure, a pale colour in the face: it arises from causes contrary to the former; it is cured by contrary diet, by hot medicines applied to the womb, among which the roots of Birthwort, Clove-Gilliflowers, Angelica, and Eringos, are very much commended. The leaves also of Mercury, Baulm, Dittany, Penyroyall, Sage, Rosemary, Mugwort, flowers of Centaurie, Marigolds, Sage, Rosemary, Borage; and sundry spices, as Nutmegs, Cubebs, Saffron and Cinamom. These kinde of compounds are also very usefull, as oyle of Mace, oyle of Amber, oyle of Myrrhe, and of Cinamom.

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There is another intemperancie of the womb, which comes of moisture, and is joyned most commonly with the cold intemperancie: it is known by the plenty of the courses, and by thinnesse and watrinesse of them, as also the moistnesse of the privities by reason of the moistnesse of the excrements, no pleasure in the act of venery, and pronenesse to abortion by reason of the growth of the birth. It hath the same original with the frigid intemperancie, and happens most commonly to women who are lazy and sedentary: it is cured with the same medecines as the former; onely this may be added, that a fume may be made of the shavings of Ivory: and the decoction of Sage being received into those parts before supper is very much commended. Baths of Sulphur do also profit much.

There is another distemper of the womb which is dry, which is discerned by the want of seed, and the defect of the courses, by slownesse to venery, drinesse of the mouth of the womb, by a blackish colour of the lower lip, which is alwayes chapt. It sometimes arises from the very nativity, which causes a dry and lean constitution of body; sometimes through age, and then women cease to bring children; sometimes from inflammations, and such like diseases; sometimes from a defect of blood which ought to moisten the parts; which happens either through a narrownesse and obstruction of the veins, or else because it being [Page 29] voided out at the neck of the womb cannot pierce to the bottom. The cure of this is performed first by a contrary diet, where you must also avoid much labour, watching, hunger, and sadnesse. Secondly, by the use of moistning things, amongst which are most commended Borage, Bugloss, Mercury, Mallows, Violets. Among outward means, Bathes of sweet water, and unctions with oyle of sweet Almonds, oyle of white Lillies, Hens-grease, and the marrows of Calves legs. The cure is the more hard, if the driness have been of any long continuance.

There is another which is a compound distemper, which is most often cold and moist, which is discerned by comparing the signes of the simple distemperatures together. It arises from flegmie humors: The cure is performed by preparing the matter with hot things, by evacuation of the matter with such Medecines as are most proper to purge flegme: as also by a particular pargation of the Womb it self; to which purpose pessaries do very much conduce; as also sulphury and drying baths; as also the use of sudorificks, or things that provoke sweat may be very profitable, as the decoctions of Lignum sanctum, China, Sarsaparilla, and mastick wood.

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Of the narrowness of the Vessels of the VVomb.

THe signes of the narrowness of the vessels of the Womb, are partly the retention of the flowers so that they cannot flow, as also the hindrance of conception, by reason that the passage of the blood is intercepted.

The causes are partly external, as from astringent baths, and Medecines, which is known from the relation of the party affected; it is cured more easily by moistning and mollifying medicines.

The other causes are internal, as from flesh or membrane, clinging to the orifices of the womb, or by a closing up of the orifices of the veins by reason of some violent extraction of the secondines, which is commonly incurable; the only cure which may be tryed is by mollifying applications. Another cause is deduced from obstruction, which arises from certain thick viscous and copious humors flowing from other parts of the body, the heat of those places not being able to attenuate them, or else gather together in the womb it self by reason of the weakness of the heat of that part: it is discerned by the same signs as the cold distemper, there being also a slimy matter which now and then comes down from the womb: It is cured as other obstructions, by sharp and bitter Medicines, and steel wine, as also baths made [Page 31] with opening and mollifying things.

Sometimes this narrowness arises from a compression of the parts, occasioned either by some swelling, or Scirrhus, either within or without the womb; if this be, there do appear manifest signes of swelling: it is an evil for the most part incurable; many times it is occasioned by an over fatness of those parts, which is plain to the sense.

Of the puffing up of the Womb.

THe puffing up of the Womb is a windy swelling of that part, occasioned from a cold, flegmie, and flatulent matter, which is increased through the defect of natural heat in the Womb: This is called the windy mole, it giving hopes of a conception. The signes of this are a distention of the womb not far from the midriff, which is now increased, now diminished; sometimes extending it self to the navel, sometimes to the loyns, and Diaphragma. It differs from the Dropsie, partly because the swelling is not so great, and the party affected is not much troubled with thirst, by the increasing and diminishing of the tumor; and by the upper parts, not being so lean.

It is distinguished from the Dropsie of the womb by the fore-apprehension of the causes that beget those windy vapours, by the sound and less ponderosity, as also by a feeling of an extensive and pricking pain in the womb, [Page 32] and parts adjoyning. It is also distinguished from an inflation of the intestines, because here is no great pain, neither is the Patient hard bound, yet the Flowers are suppressed, and the feet and hollow of the eyes do swel, and the colour of the body is changed, the woman draws her breath short, and is sad, and when she awakes is fain to lift up her head to take breath. It differs from a mole, because there is not that heaviness and ponderosity in the womb; besides, the woman doth not feel the burden of her womb tumble from one side to the other: It is distinguished from conception, by the sound, and by the increasing and decreasing of the swelling, and by the deadness of the motion, not like that of a dead infant: For if the Midriffe be violently compressed, the winde being then compelled to the part adjoyning, there is a kinde of palpitating motion perceived through all the Midriff.

The matter of this distemper is generated either in the womb it self, or by reason of the suppression of the courses, or by the interception of due purgation after delivery. Many times it comes through the veins and seminal vessels. Now the weaknesse of the heat proceeds sometimes from the external aire, sometimes from hard delivery, from the suppression of the courses, from abortion, &c. The cure is performed after the same way that other cures are remedied: among those things that purge, Species Hierae, and Diaphaenicon, with Castor, are most [Page 33] commended; for Fumes, Nutmeg is counted the best; for potions, Nutmegs bruised and boiled with the roots of Mather, and drunk in six ounces of wine, and two drams of sugar. Sometimes this winde gets into the cavity of the womb, and then the neck and orifice of the womb is closed, so that nothing can go forth, when the woman is moved, or when the Midriffe is pressed down with her hand, and then a kinde of noyse and sound is perceived. Sometimes the winde gets into the tunicles of the womb, and then the mouth of the womb may be open; by reason of the shutting up of the windy vapours in a narrow place, there goes a noyse forth, and the pain grows greater, and extends farther. This is more hard and difficult to be cured then that which is in the concavity of the womb.

Of the inflammation of the Womb.

THe inflammation of the womb is a swelling of the same through the putrefaction of blood which is fallen down into its substance, having many symptoms, & now tending to a Scirrhus, now toward an Apostem.

The signes are various; There is a swelling in the womb with heat and pain, and a retraction of the womb to the more inward parts; the neck of the womb appears red, with little veins scattered up and down in it, like the web of a spider. There is sometimes a difficulty [Page 34] of breathing, with some kinde of pleurisie, because the interior tunicle of the womb being extended, which rises from and is joyned to the Peritoneum, the parts also to which that coheres, are stretched. The excrements of the belly and bladder are detained by reason of the heat and drinesse of the belly, and the compression of the passages. Sometimes the whole body of the belly seemeth empty, and filled with water, and the navell hangs forward, and the mouth of the womb is made very slender and close; and upon a sudden a few depraved courses come down: then happens a burning Fever by reason of the great sympathy with the womb and the heart occasioned through the Arteries and great vessels. There is a pain in the breast [...], with a swelling in them, by reason of the consent and agreement between the groyns, the hips, the septum transversum clavicularum, and the fore-part of the head, which is extended to the roots of the eyes; as also from the vapours which rise from the putrified blood to the head, through the arteries that run along through the neck, passing by both parts of the infundibulum into the fore-part of the head.

The cause of this consists in the blood, which is sometimes mixed with choler, and sometimes with melancholy.

The cure is difficult, if the blood in that part be wholly putrified; for that causeth a sordid humor vvhich consumes the patient vvith a [Page 35] continual Fever. If it be an Erisypelas, or St. Anthonies fire, there is no cure at all, because the Birth dies by reason of the excessive heat which causes abortion to follow, which kils the woman; if it turn to a gangreen, it is deadly: it is cured as other inflammations, which may be observed in the following Chapters. Only observe that for revulsion you must not let blood in the vein [...]s of the thighs, for that draws down the blood to the womb; but in the arm, the blood flowing from the liver, and the parts adjoyning. For deriving of the matter, you may cut a vein in the hamm, unlesse the woman be with child, for that wil cause abortion: Refrigerating and moistning topicks, without any binding faculty, may be wel applyed; to which purpose the decoction of Serpillus prepared with Chalybeat water, and outwardly applyed with a sponge, is an excellent Remedy.

These inflammations sometimes affect the whole womb, and sometimes either side of the womb, which causes the heat to descend into the hip, because of the ligaments of the womb which are carried thither; the thigh is difficultly moved, and the groins are inflamed; sometimes the inflammation possesseth the posterior part, which causes the Belly to be bound, and a pain in the loines, and back bone; sometimes it possesseth the forepart, which because it coheres to the Bladder, the urine is suppressed, or made very difficultly; and the paine is extended [Page 36] above the privities: sometimes it possesses the bottom of the womb, which causes such a pain in the lower part of the Belly, that it is hardly to be touched, and the pain extends to the navel.

There is another inflammation which degenerates into a Scitrhus, where all the symptoms are not so dangerous, yet there is a great heaviness perceived in the parts adjoyning. This evil is diuturnal, and commonly ends in the Dropsie; sometimes it turns to an Apostem, swelling til it break: In this case the body is troubled with a shivering, especially towards the evening; when the Apostem is broken, sometimes it empties it self into the concavity of the womb, wherein there is lesse danger; and sometimes into other parts of the body; which causes sometimes a stoppage in the Urine, and sometimes in the belly, with a swelling of the hairy parts, and the feeling of something floating up and down.

Of the Scirrhus of the Womb.

THe Scirrhus of the Womb is a hard swelling of the said part without paine, begot by some thick earthy and feculent humor; the signes, [...]esides others that are general, are these in particular; The flowers at the beginning are either wholly stopt, or flow very sparingly, the evil increasing, there is a great Flux of blood by intervals, the mouths of the veines [Page 37] being opened more then ordinary, or because the Womb is not able to receive, or to retaine its wonted proportion of blood: it is distinguished from the Mole, because in that distemper the Flowers, if they flow, flow inordinately; the breasts swel with milk, which in the Scirrhus grow very lank.

The cause of this is a gross feculent humor, being a thick blood, sometimes Flegmy, sometimes Melancholy, which happens to those who decline in their age; or to those who have been troubled with a squeamishand naught stomach often it arises from an ill cured inflammation, through the use of medecines that cool too much.

The cure is difficult, either because having been dryed for a long time they cannot be softned, or because the natural heat in those places where the Scirrhus is, is for the most part extinct; and then because while the humour is mollifying, if it have conceived any putrefaction, it easily turns to the Canker: for the cure, it is the same as of the Breasts.

It differs either as being in, and possessing the substance of the womb, which causes the womb to lean downward upon the hip, and back, and there begets pain; sometimes possessing the neck of the womb, which is discerned by touching it, and is cured more easily then the former: if it be in the upper part of the neck of the womb, the Woman is hindred in [Page 38] the lower part of the neck of the womb, the streight gut is affected.

Of the Dropsie of the Womb.

THe Dropsie of the womb is a distemper from water collected in the womb, either by some fault in the part it self, or in the parts adjoyning. The signes of this are a loose swelling at the bottom of the Belly, extending it self according to the proportion of the womb; the fewness and naughtiness of the Courses; a moistness, and slenderness of the neck of the womb, softness of the Breast, want of Milk, a shivering in the body, and sometimes a Fever: It differs from an inflammation by the symptoms above related; and from an inflation, in the defect of sound and distention; from a Mole, because in this there is a greater weight perceived at the bottom of the Belly, and the Breasts at the time of delivery are not without Milk. It differs from Conception, because in the Dropsie the swelling is just according to the form of the womb; but in Conception it is alwaies sharper. In women with Child the flowers do not flow; but in this disease there flows such a certain bloody vitious humor, without any order, which ceases quickly. It differs from the Dropsie of the Belly, because the face of the Patient is coloured, unless the liver be any way affected, the want of thirst, and the ascent of the swelling from the lower part to the upper.

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The cause of this is a water gathered there through some defect of the Liver or Spleen, or through some weaknesse in the vvomb; by reason whereof it is not able to concoct or expel the excrements; or through a too immoderate defluxion of the courses, which oppresseth the naturall heat; or through a suppression of them, which suffocates the heat.

The cure is to be performed by the eduction of the water, and strengthening of the womb; for which purpose the use of Antimonial pils is not a little to be commended. Her diet must be of meats that breed good juice; she must drink little; she may use in stead of drink a Ptisane or Barly-broth, made with sassafras, or salsaparil; if her courses be stopt, you may let her blood in the foot: if the repletion be great, then to let her blood in the arm wil not be amisse. Some have commended the decoction of the root of Fugere, to take at meals, and between meals, without any other drink. The use of Clysters is not amisse, and Fomentations are also very necessary, made with the decoctions of Broom, wild Cucumbers, flowers of Camomill, Melilot, with Origan, Cumin, Fenel, Anis-seed, of which you may make severall injections. Ointments also may be useful made of oyle of Lillies, or oyle of Dill: then may you apply upon the belly this plaister: Take of the emplaster of Laurel berries, two ounces; oyle of Camomill and Melilot, two ounces and a half; Pigeons [Page 40] dung and Goats dung, of each half an ounce; mix them all together, and make a plaister, adding thereto a little Venice Turpentine.

Of the falling of the Womb.

THe falling of the womb is the falling of it down below the Abdomen, or Midriffe, proceeding from a loosnesse of the Ligaments.

The generall signes of this are, a pain in the loyns and hairy parts, and of the Os sacrum, or holy bone, to which the womb is fastned; at the beginning the pain is not very great, nor after long continuance, by reason of use: the weight thereof being onely troublesom, which is an impediment to the patient in going; the particular signes do vary, according as the tall is greater or lesse: for in the one the womb descends to the middle of the Hips, and lower; in the latter there is perceived the distention of the skin, and as it were the weight of a good big Egg about the privities.

The cure of this is difficult, if there be the greater falling of the womb, if the woman be in age, if a Fever, Convulsion, or other symptoms happen; if that be in women with child, it is deadly; and sometimes it is corrupted by the ambient aire, and turns into a Gangrene. The cure consists in the reputting of it into its own place; where you must observe first, to stop the inflammation, if there be [Page 41] any; or if there be any swelling caused by the cold aire, you must foment the part first with the decoction of Mallows, Marsh Mallows, flowers of Camomill, and Laurel-berries. If there be any winde or excrement in the gut, you must use Clysters first; it is also to be fomented and anointed with agglutinating and astringent or binding medecines; there is a Fumigation to be made of the skin of a salt Eele dried and powdered. When it is to be put into its place, the woman must be laid with her belly upwards; then must the Midwife, or other party imployed, with a linen cloth dipt in oyle of Roses a litle warmed, gently thrust up the part which is fallen, as gently as may be, turning it a little. Now to keep it up, the woman must be kept lying on her back, with her thighs stretched out, and one laid upon another acrosse; the belly must not be too much bound, lest in the ejection of the excrement the womb should be again precipitated; neither must it be loose, lest the membranes binding the womb should be unloosed: then must you use agglutinating medecines, Pessaries, Fomentations, and Injections; yet great care must be had lest you suppresse the courses. Of this there be some differences, either by reason of the loosnesse of the Ligaments which are foure, which is discerned in that it is generated by degrees, and with lesse pain: It arises either from hard labour, or a ponderosity or heavinesse of the childe, [Page 42] or from the concourse of flegmie humors; it is cured by the evacuation of humours, and by the use of astringent and corroborating Medecines; such as are the decoction of musk of the Oak▪ Harts-horn, Laurel leaves, and the Astringent plaister.

Another cause and difference ariseth from the rupture of the Ligaments; which is discerned by this, that the evil comes suddenly, and is more painful, and is sometimes followed with a flux of Blood; it arises from the heaviness of the Birth, or from a difficult labour, or from Abortion, or a difficult and violent extraction of the secundines.

Sometimes it happens because the ligaments are eaten away, and then tne signes of some ulcer are discerned by the flowing forth of mattier.

Sometimes it happens because the ligaments are eaten away, and then the signes of some ulcer are discerned by the flowing forth of mattier.

Of the ascent of the Matrix, as also of the Wounds and Ʋlcers of the same.

SOme have thought that it is possible for the womb to ascend up to the stomack, which opinion is altogether false; for first it is tied so fast with four Ligaments, that it is impossible for it to move to the upper parts: Besides, suppose it had a naturall motion by the Fibres, yet the womb being so firmly annexed to the right gut, and to the privities, it would necessarily follow that those parts should be also stretched. And though it happen to be [Page 43] stretched and distended by the windy vapours, yet it follows not that therefore it should be moved upward: and whereas women do say that they do somtimes perceive a certain round body moving about the region of the navel, that may rather be said to be the stones, and that blind vessel, then the womb.

Of the wounds of the Matrix this must be noted, that they are very difficult to be cured. Yet the cure is to be assayd five manner of wayes; by the use of things which do evacuate the peccant humor, which is done partly by a good order of dyet, and living in a dry and temperate aire; Longer sleep then ordinary, and the avoiding of exercise in this case is to be observed, and instead thereof to use moderate frictions: all repletions, and a loose Belly are naught; the meat that she eats must be little, and contrary to the humor that offends, as reare eggs, Milk, Chicken Broths, and the meat of them, dry Raisins, Almonds, and Pistaches. For her drink, it ought to be chiefly the decoction of Barly, or liquorice.

In the next place, it will not be amiss to let blood in the Basilick vein: let her take some convenient purge according to the humour which abounds: Vomitings also and frictions may be used, and the provoking of sweat by the decoction of Guaiacum, Sarsaparil, & China root, which are very proper to turn away the humors from the Matrix.

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Sometimes this happens from an intemperancie of the womb, which if it be cold, the womb is not able to concoct sufficient quantity of nourishment, and therefore heaps up together many excrements; if it be moist, it is not able to contain either the blood, or the seed, or the birth, as it should do. The cure of this is above touched in the chapter of Distempers.

There is another difference which is taken from the occult qualities which the womb is seen to have, there being a sympathy and antipathy between that and divers things, as to covet the seed of man, and to love sweet things; and then the affection arises from no evident cause, there being no excesse of coldnesse or moisture to be apprehended. The medecines which are to be applied for the cure of this, must be proper in their whole substance.

Sometimes the difference ariseth in this, that the naturall heat is either suffocated or dissipated; this affection is something dangerous, because it is a difficult matter to restore the naturall heat. In the cure of this restoratives must be notwithstanding used; such are Cinamom, Nutmeg, Species diaxyloaloes Aromaticum Rosatum.

Of the pain of the womb.

THere is no need to give other signes of this then the complaint of the woman; it affects women that are both free, and women [Page 45] that are with childe: It happens sometimes from corroding humours, especially caused by ulcers or vitious flowers. The cure whereof is referred to these heads; sometimes it happens from a distention caused either by some curdled blood sticking in the cavity of the womb, and then there is a copious flux of blood out of the womb, and the pain is fixed chiefly about the orifice of the womb; the right gut and the bladder being affected by reason of the continuall desire of expelling forth the humor. In the cure, first you must seek to dissolve the clotted blood, which is done by the use of Treacle dissolved in wine; and then to evacuation, which is performed with Agaric, Aloes, with the juice of Savine, decoction of Rosemary, with the flowers of Cheiri, in wine. Sometimes it is caused by the menstruous blood, when the vessels are more open, or the blood too thick; which happens through the overmuch use of cold drink, especially when the woman is hot. The cure may be found in the cure of the suppression of the flowers. Sometimes it is caused by other vitious humours collected in the concavity of the womb, or adhering to the other vessels; & then these humours are to be removed with purging and evacuating medecines. Sometimes windy vapours are the cause hereof, arising from the heat of the vitious humours caused by copulation. It is cured by things that discusse the winde; to which purpose it [Page 46] may not be amisse to use a Clyster made of Malmesey and oyle of Nuts, of each three ounces, of Aquavitae one ounce, of oyle of Juniper and distild Rue, of each two drams, & applied warm; or a mixture of spirit of wine, and spirit of Nitre, of each half a dram, or two scruples, exhibited in spirit of wine; Sperma Coeti, with oyle of sweet Almonds, or a plaister of Caranna and Tachamahacca applied to the navel. Sometimes it is occasioned by the retention and corruption of the seed. For the cure, look the Chapter of the suffocation of the Matrix.

Of the suppression of the Flowers.

THe suppression of the Flowers is the retention of the menstrual blood, either by reason of the narrowness of the vessels, or through some corruption of the blood. The signes are evident from the relation of the woman; yet if they are loath to confesse, it may be discerned by this; For in virgins the suppressed blood wanders up and down the veins, and begets obstructions, changing the colour of the body, and causing Fevers. In women, because the blood is carried down to the womb, where it begets many diseases; it is distinguished from retention after conception, because women with child find no alteration of affections of the minde, and retain the native colour of their bodies; and in the third moneth they [Page 47] shal perceive the motion and situation of the Infant; and lastly, the mouth of the Womb is closed up.

The causes of this distemper are the narrowness of the veins, and the vitiousness of the blood. The cure of this must be hastened, because this suppression if it stay long begets many more diseases, as Fevers, Dropsies, Vomiting of blood, and the like; the cure is hard if it be of any continuance, and if it stay beyond the sixt moneth, it is almost incurable; especially if it happen through any perversion of the neck of the womb; for then the Woman is troubled with often swooning, and vomiting of blood, and a paine seizes the parts of the Belly, the back, and the back-bone, which is attended with a Fever, and the excrements of the Belly and bladder are suppressed; a weariness possesses the whole body, because of the diffusion of the retained blood through the whole body, and especially the hips and thighs, because of the sympathy of those parts with the veins of the womb. In the first place, the letting of blood is commended; for the blood which every moneth staies in the body, & sticks in the veins, is to be provoked downward to the womb; and therefore a vein is to be opened in the heel, for so the plenty of blood is diminished, and the motion of the blood is made toward the womb; if necessity requires that it should be done more then once, one day a vein must be opened in one thigh, and another day [Page 48] in the other; and that which is opened for evacuation must be first opened, y ^t which is opened in the hamm or heel, must be done after purgation, 3 or 4 or five dayes before the time that the accustomed evacuations of the Woman ought to come down. Cupping-glasses also are to be applyed first to the more remote places, as to the thighs; and then to the neerer parts, as to the hips, ligatures or bindings and frictions, at the time of the coming down of the flowers, after purgation of the whole Body, are not to be omitted. In the second place the matter is to be prepared, for which purpose, in bodies troubled with flegme, the decoction of Guaiacum, with Cretan Dittany, doth much avail without provoking sweat. In the third place evacuation is to be made at several times. Among evacuating Medecines are commended Agaric, Aloes, with the juice of Sabina, and these pil [...]; Take Aloes Succotrine three drams; the best myrrh one scruple, extract of Calamus Aromaticus, Carduus Benedictus, Saffron, of each three drams; roots of Gentian and Dittany, of each five grains; make them up with syrup of Laurel berries, taking the quantity of one scruple at evening before supper. In the fourth-place, by an obstructing the humour by those things which provoke the flowers; of which these are most to be commended, the decoction of Rosemary with flowers of Cheiri, Peny-royal water twice distilled, and mingled with Cinamom water; Extract of Zedoar, Angelica, [Page 49] and Castor, and the earth which is found in iron mines prepared in the same manner as steel, spirit of Tartar, the fat of an Eele, Colubrina with the distilled water of Savine: and in the fift place, by the discussion of the dreggs and relicks that remaine by sudorificks, or things that provoke sweat, with a potion made of a Chalybeat decoction, with spirit of Tartar, &c.

The differences of this disease arise, partly from the obstruction of the veins of the womb, caused by a cold and thick blood, and thick slimy humors mixed with the blood, and coming either from some hot distemper of the womb, which dissipates the sharp and subtile humors, and leaves behinde the gross and earthy parts; or from the cold constitution of the liver and spleen; especially if at the time of the menstrual flux (at what time the flux of blood is more violent) those subtile humors happen to be dissipated, & then at the time of the monthly purgation the party affected feeleth a great pain in the loyns, and parts adjoyning; and if any thing come down, it is slimy whitish and blackish: the whole Body is possessed with a numness, the colour pale, a slow pulse, and raw urines. The cure is the same with the former, great care being taken of a gross and ill dyet.

There is another difference of this disease when it happens by compression, which arises from external causes, as the Northern wind, and long standing in cold water, which may be knwn from the relation of the sick person. [Page 50] The blood in this case is to be drawn to the lower parts by Frictions and Baths; or from internal causes, as fatnes, or swelling of the womb, or of the lower parts; in which case Medecines must be applyed that asswage the swelling. There is another difference which is in the hardness of the skin, which happens either from the first nativity, and then the disease is not easily taken away; or long after from some cold & dry distemper: concerning which look the former Chapters.

Another difference there is, when there happens a closing up of the skin, which is caused after cicatrising of an Ulcer, or by reason of some skin or membrane growing to the vessels of the womb: or by reason of frequent abortion; after which these veins to which the secundines adhere, do grow together so close that they cannot be afterwards opened.

Another difference of this disease there is, when it happens through want of blood, which is not generated either by reason of external causes, as famine, over much evacuation, issues, and such like; or through internal causes, as a frigid constitution of the principall parts, old age, and fevers; or when it is converted to other uses, as before full growth to the nourishment of the body: in women with child, to the nourishment of the birth: in those that give suck, to the increase of milk: and in fat people, to the augmentation of the fat: or when it is consumed either by externall [Page 51] causes, as overmuch exercise, affrights, terrors, sadnesse, bathes, overmuch sweating, which do consume the serous quality of the blood: or through internall causes, as are hot and dry diseases, or over great evacuations in other parts of the body. Sometimes another difference of this disease proceeds from the drynesse of the blood, which happens to women who in the winter time do too much heat their lower parts, by putting coals under their coats. For the cure thereof you must use refrigerating and moistning medecines.

Of the dropping of the Flowers, and the difficulty of their coming down.

THe dropping of the flowers is, when they are coming down for many dayes together drop by drop.

This happens both from externall causes, as over-hard labour, &c.

And sometimes from the drossinesse of the blood, the passage not being wide enough. For the cure of this, it is convenient to open a vein in the arm, with gentle purging, as in the former chapter.

Sometimes from the weaknesse of the retentive faculty, there being at that time great plenty, thinnesse and serosity of the blood. In this case there is no pain; Medecines that binde and corroborate the stomack here must have place.

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The difficulty of the Flowers is when they come down with pain and trouble, either through defect in the veins, or in the blood. The signes of this are gathered from the relation of the sick person, who is then much troubled with pain in the head, stomack and loyns, and lower parts of the body. And they do either flow altogether, or drop by drop, as in the former disease: it is a disease more incident to maids then married women, because the veins of the womb are lesse open in them then in those who have brought forth children.

It happens sometimes from a corruption of the blood, that is, from the drossiness and thickness thereof, and then the blood clots together; and there is great pain long before the flowers begin to come down. The cure of this is performed by attenuating medecines. Sometimes from the sharpnesse and acrimony of the blood, which proceeds from a mixture of sharp humours with the body, and then the genital parts do itch. It is cured by those medecines that temper the sharpnesse of the humour, as the four greater seeds, violets, and flowers of Nenuphar. Sometimes from windy vapours, and then the pain comes by intervals, and is suddenly exasperated, rumbling up and down; and when the wind is forth the pain ceaseth. The cure hereof is procured by evacuation of the matter, and dispelling of the wind, as is before declared.

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Of the discolouring of the Flowers.

THe discolouring of the Flowers is when their right colour, which ought to be red, declines either to palenesse, whitenesse, greennesse, yellownesse, or blewishnesse, through some defect or vitiousnesse of the blood.

The signes are apparent by the sight of the blood; besides that it is accompanied with an ill smell; many times also it is the cause of Fevers, trembling of the body, loathing of the meat, pain in the stomack, &c.

The differences of this disease consist first in the vitiousnesse of the blood, which is caused through some distemper either of the whole body, or of some part thereof. Sometimes the blood is affected by reason of some stoppage thereof, and then the flowers are suppressed, which causeth pains in the breast, and strong beating of the breast; and if the woman begin to amend, the blood flowes out with a stinking putrefaction, which continues till the eighth day; or it may be, because the blood is fould by the womb, being full of excrements; and then you may perceive the signes of a foul womb.

Sometimes the difference of this disease consists in the mixture of the blood with other vitious humours. The cure consists in preparation and evacuation; but care must be had, that because the thick humours need attenuation [Page 54] and that over-attenuating things, do melt the serous humour, that you therefore do not use over-attenuating things, as vinegar, &c.

Another difference is, when the flowers decline to a whitish colour, which proceeds from abundance of flegme, or from putrefaction, and then ulcers follow in the womb, & barrenness follows; unlesse the womans flowers do happen to flow for seven or eight dayes together, by which the woman is freed from the disease; or else they break out to the parts above the groyn, without any tumour, and burst forth a little above the Hypochondrion, and then the woman seldom lives: or else there wil appear after some few dayes a great swelling in the groyn, without a head of a red colour, because the flesh is there filled up with the blood.

When it inclines to yellownesse or greennesse, the distemper comes of choler; when to a blacknesse and blewnesse, from melanlancholy.

Of the inordinate flux of the Flowers.

THe disorderly flux of the courses is either the coming of them down before their time, or else the stoppage of them for some time after the usuall course of nature. They come down sometimes before their time, partly by reason of internall causes, and partly [Page 55] by reason of external causes, as falls, blows, and such like casualities that open the veins: Or from the expulsive facultie of the womb too much provoked; 1. by the plenty of blood, which is known by this, that the blood which is sent to the womb from all parts is fluid, and of its natural constitution; signes of a Plethora, or fulnesse of blood, are apparent in the woman. It is cured by blood-letting if the blood abound, by good diet, and frequent though gentle exercise. Secondly, it proceeds from the acrimony and sharpnesse of the blood, which is known by the hot temper of the body, the blood it selfe is more thin and yellowish. It must be cured by evacuating medecines, as Rheubarb, and such things as temper the blood, whereof we have already spoken.

It comes also when the retentive faculty of the womb grows lank, which may be known by the looseness of the vessels of the womb, besides a moist & faint habit of the Body: in the cure beware of things which are too astringent; baths where in the force and strength of iron may be effectual may with safety be used. The subsistence and stay of the courses beyond the accustomed time, proceeds from a frustration of the expulsive faculty; as when there is smal store of blood, which is known by this, that the Woman is not troubled with the stay of the Courses; and especially, if she have over-exercised her self, or used a spare dyet before. Secondly, the thickness of the blood, which is [Page 56] known by the whitenes and clammines thereof. In the performance of the cure, you must purge before too much blood be gathered together: next, the Courses are to be attenuated, for the performance of which Calamint and Mercurialis are to be most commended. In this case scarification of the heels is not amiss.

There is another difference of this disease which arises from the weaknes of the expelling faculty, caused either by the frigid distemper of the Womb, of which we have spoken already; or by a kind of numness thereof, of which we shal speak anon.

Of the over-abundance of the Courses.

THe over-much flux of the Courses is either a more abundant, or a more lasting purgation of the Courses, through some defect either in the Blood, or the Womb, or the veins of the womb.

The signs are evident, viz: want of appetite, crudities, a bad colour in the face, a swelling in the feet and rest of the body, a waxing lean of the body; and in brief, a general ill habit of body.

The cure (if it be of any continuance) is difficult; if it happen to an aged Woman, there is none at all. It requires a revulsion or drawing back of the blood, interception, and incrassation or thickning therof, and a closing up of the vessels by astringent medecines. Yet observe [Page 57] that they must be stopt by degrees. To this effect you may take this powder.

R. Of the seed of Hyoscyam. alb. red Coral, of each half a dram, Caphura half a scruple, and give the quantity of half a dram at a time, powder of Amber, Dragons blood, Lap. Haematit. Red Coral, Lettice seed, of each one dram, Balaust two scruples, Bole-armoniack two drams given in three ounces of Plantain water, Asses milk heated with steel. You may externally also apply a girdle made of the bruised leaves of Helleboraster.

Of this disease there are many differences: sometimes it happens from the blood which is derived from the bottom of the Womb, where for the most part lies the blackest and most clotted blood; or from the neck of the womb, which is more red, and fluid. Another difference ariseth from the plenty of blood, which appears by this, that the vessels are either broken, or much opened, especially in those Women who have had a stoppage of their Courses for a time, which presently break out again. The signes of this are evident; that is to say, a fulness of blood in the body; besides that the blood which comes forth, easily curdles.

In the cure, you must have recourse to blood-letting, which if you do for evacuation, it must be done in the hepatick vein: if the Woman be weak, in Salvatella of both hands. In the next place the use of Cupping glasses is to be commended, being applyed with scarification to [Page 58] the back, &c. or without scarification to the Breast, being taken away again when the Woman is troubled with difficulty of breathing. In the third place, ligatures and frictions of the arms are to be used.

Another difference of this disease arises from a sharp blood, which is known by the gnawing of the humor upon the vessels. In the cure you must purge with syrup of Roses solutive, or with leaves of Sene; a pessary of sows dung, and Asses dung, which is made up with Plantain water, and the muscilage of the seed of Quinces, is here of use if need require.

Another difference arises from a serous and watry blood; for either the liver is weakned, or the veins so debilitated, that it cannot attract the serous or wheyie humor in the blood; in this case the blood flows not forth in such a quantity, nor is easily curdled; if a cloth be dipped in it, and then dryed in the shade, it presently discolours. In the cure hereof you must look to the rectifying of the weaknes of the reins and liver with convenient remedies, for which purpose the livers of Foxes, Calves, Hens, &c. are very good.

Sometimes from a rupture of the veins, which proceeds either from a fulness of blood, or from causes that do vehemently stir up the blood, especially from hard labour: if it be needful, you must let blood, and apply conglutinating medecines.

Or from a gnawing of the vessels, which is [Page 59] known by this, that sometimes there flows forth little blood, and that purulent, and full of the wheyie, or serous humour. It arises from a sharp and corrupt blood, and sometimes from the use of sharp medecines. Among the astringent medecines, the root of Filipendula is much to be commended, or a decoction of the same root.

Of the Whites & Gonorrhea in women.

THe Whites is an inordinate eruption of an excrementitious humour collected together through some vitiousnesse of the blood. It affects women chiefly, and sometimes also Virgins, of which there are examples: yet it is more often in women, especially if they be of a moist constitution, and live an idle and delicate life, eating such things as are cold and moist. Old women also are affected herewith through the abundance of flegme, and the weakness of the concoctive faculty.

If differs from the Gonorrhea, because in that the seminal matter is white, and thicker, and flows by longer intervals, and issues forth in a lesser quantity from a nocturnal pollution; for that is joyned with venereal imaginations, and onely happens in the time of sleep. It differs from the discolouring of the flowers; for they, though not exactly, do always observe their times of flowing. Besides, they happen not to women with childe, or such whose [Page 60] courses are stopped. It differs from the putrid humour that issues from the ulcers of the womb, because that is joyned with the signes of an ulcer, and the putrefaction is thicker and whiter; if it be mattrie it is coloured with blood, and issues forth with pain.

The cure of this must be hastened, because in a short time it endangers the making of women barren, causing them to be lean, to fall into a consumption, melancholy, the dropsie, fall of the womb, swoonings and convulsions; which is the cause that though it be not hard to be cured in the beginning, yet it is afterwards very difficult: for by this means the whole body accustoms it self to send forth its excrements this way, and the womb being now weakned gathers excrements apace.

Sometimes it proceeds from the whole body, and then you may perceive the signes of an ill humour through the whole body. In the cure of this you must avoid blood-letting, for that the bad humours must not be recalled to defile the blood; besides that the disease is a sufficient weakning and consuming of the body. The humour is discussed by the decoction of Guaiacum and China, and Lentisk wood. For the drying up of the humour the root of Filipendula doth very much conduce. For astringent medecines you may use chiefly the powder of dead mens bones, the ashes of Capons dung in rain-water. The patient must avoid sleeping upon her back, lest the heat of [Page 61] the Lungs should carry the humours towards the womb; Frictions also of the upper parts, for the diversion of the humour.

Sometimes it is caused by the womb it self, and then there will appear signes of the affection of the womb, and the flux is not so great. For the cure of this, suffumigations of Frankincense, Ladanum, Mastick and Santalum are very requisite.

Of the Green-sicknesse.

THe Green-sicknesse is a changing of the colour of the face into a green and pale colour, proceeding from the rawnesse of the humors. The signes of this appear in the face, to which may be added a great pain in the head, difficulty of breathing, with a palpitation of the heart, a small and thick beating of the arteries in the neck, back, and temples; sometimes inordinate Fevers through the vitiousnesse of the humours, loathing of meat, vomiting, distention of the Hypochondriack parts, by reason of the reflux of the menstruous blood to the greater vessels; a swelling of the whole body by reason of the abundance of humours, or of the thighs and legs above the heels, by reason of the abundance of serous humours.

The cause is the crudity and rawnesse of the humour, and quantity withall, arising from the suppression of the courses, through the natural [Page 62] narrownesse of the vessels, or through an acquired narrownesse of the vessels by the eating of oatmeal, chalk, earth, nutmegs, and drinking of vinegar; or from the obstruction of the other bowels. Hence arises an ill concoction in the bowels, and the humours are carried into the habit of the body, or become habitual thereto.

The cure is performed by the letting of blood, especially in the heel; if the disease be of any continuance, by purgation, preparation of the humour being first considered; which is performed by the decoction of Guaiacum, with Cretan Dittany; purging of the humour is performed with Agarick, Aloes Succotrin, with the juice of Savine; for the unobstructing of the humour, prepared steel, the root of Scorzonera, Bezoar stone, and oyle of Chrystall; in diet, vinegar is utterly to be avoided.

Of the Suffocation of the Matrix.

THe signes of the suffocation of the womb, are a wearines of the whole body, with a weakness of the thighs; a palenes and sadness of the face; a nauseousness, though seldom vomiting; oftentimes a loathing and distast of meat, and that sometimes with a grumbling and noise in the belly, and sometimes without.

The signs of the present disease are, that when [Page 63] the vapours are carried up to the heart, and do there stop the vital spirits, a light swooning follows, the pulse changes, & is little, the body grows cold, all the spirits flying up into the heart; the vapour being thrust up to the head and chaps, the chaps are many times set fast, the Patient seeming to be stifled; the motion of the breast and Diaphragme is disturbed and hindred, so that the breath is almost stopt, the Patient living only by transpiration. Sometimes there is joyned with it a kinde of uterine fury, with talking and anger; sometimes it causes other madnesses; sometimes the Woman fals into a dead sleep, which makes her seem as though she were dead.

It differs from the Epilepsie, because in that the convulsive motions are more general; nor is there any memory of those things which hapned about them after the Fit; the pulse is great, & the mouth of the party affected fomes with a froth: it differs from the Apoplexie, because in that the fit comes suddenly without any notice, & the Patient is affected with a kinde of snorting, and there is such a resolution of the parts, that they feel not although they be pricked: from a Syncope, in that there are no signs when the fit wil be, the pulse ceases to the apprehension, & the Patientis troubled with cold sweats. They differ from dead people by sneezing, which may be provoked by putting something for that purpose into the nose.

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The cause of this is a venemous, subtile, and thin vapour, piercing in one moment through the whole body, and carried up from the matter in the womb, corrupted after a peculiar manner either by it self, or from external means; such are perfumes, anger, fear, &c. and not only ascending through the veins, but also through all the other breathing holes, and secret passages of the body.

The cure is doubtful if it have possessed old Women for any time, for it begets weakness, consumes the strength, and shews abundance of humors; or if it possesseth Child-bearing Women, either after a difficult travel, or after an abortion; or if it possesseth Women with child, because it induees a fear of abortion; there is more hope, if the act of respiration be not too much impeded, and if the Fits do not return too often.

The cure regards first the time of the fit, being performed first by means of interception, which may be done by binding the belly under the navel with a girdle made of the skin of a Hart kild in the very act of copulation. Secondly, by keeping the natural spirits awaked and rouzed up, by painful frictions, by pulling the hairs of the privities with violence, and suffumigations made with Partridge feathers burnt, as also Eel-skins, and the application of Assa-faetida and oyle of Tartar to the mouth. Thirdly, by way of revulsion of the humour, by Frictions and Clysters dispelling [Page 65] the windes, and the application of Cupping-glasses with much flame first to the thighs, and then to the hips, putting sweet things into the privities; such as are oyle of Sivet half a scruple, oyle of Nutmegs one scruple. Fourthly, by discussion of the humour, which is performed inwardly by the oyle of white Amber, with the powder of Wall-nut flowers, extract of Castor; externally by an Emplaster of the fat of a black Heifer, Sclarea boyld in butter, adding to it a sufficient quantity of Tachamahacca and Caranna: After the fit is past, evacuation is to be regarded, first with purgation; for which purpose it will not be amisse to use these ensuing pills, Take Siler mountain, penyroyall, madder, the innermost part of Cassia pipe, Pomegranat kernels, Piony roots, and Calamus, of each three drams, Muscus▪ and Spike of India, of each half a dram; then make pils thereof with the juyce of Mugwort, of which she may take every day, or every other day before supper. If the disease proceed from the termes, let the woman affected take an ounce of Agarick powdered in wine or honied water, or a dram of Agnus Castus powdered with an ounce of hony of Roses: the womb is also to be strengthened by the internall and externall application of such things as resist the malignity of the disease; among which are numbred Faecula, Brioniae and Castor. The difference of this disease consists in this, that sometimes it happens that it is occasioned [Page 66] by the retention of the seed, which is known by this, that the symptoms of the disease are more violent; and after the fit is past, there flowes out of the womb a matter like to that of the seed. It is cured by evacuation of the seed, such as are Rue, and Agnus Castus, and anointing with odoriferous salves, especially if the woman be to live without the use of man,

If it come from the suppression of the terms, which is known by the courses being mingled with a melancholy blood, take powdered Agarick, a dram of Piony seeds, or the weight of a dram and a half of Triphera magna.

But to conclude this Chapter, take this for a secret, that for a married Woman in case of the present suffocation, there is nothing better then for the man to anoint the top of his Yard with a little oyl of Gilliflowers & oyl of sweet Almonds together, and so to lye with her; for this assuredly brings down the Matrix again.

Of Barrennesse.

BArrennesse is an impotence to conceive, coming from defect either of the Genitals, or of the blood, or of the menstruous blood.

First, through the defect of the Genitals, either by the closing up of the Orifice of the womb, which may be cut and opened by Art; [Page 67] or through the narrownesse of the parts, for so they wil not admit the yard; or by reason of some Ulcers or Excrescences in the neck of the womb.

Or by reason of some fault in the seed, either the woman being too young, or too old, or through some distemper in the vessels dedicated to generation; and then the woman perceives very little or no pleasure in the act of copulation. The cure of this is referred to the chapter of the Distempers of the womb.

Or when there is not that due proportion of seed which ought to be in both parties, which chiefly arises from the use of those things that extinguish barrennesse, as Mint, Rue, Camphire.

Or from inchantments, and then the man cannot lie with his wife, or though he should, yet cannot emit the seed; against which, it is affirmed that the drinking a draught of cold water that drops from the mouth of a young stone horse as he drinks, and saved in a little vessel, is very potent.

Or when the womb doth not draw the seed which is ejected, and that by reason of some cold and moist distemper; in which case all sorrow, anger, and much sleep, are to be avoided: as also the eating of milk, fresh cheese, and any thing that is made of dough. Neither is she to eat Endive, Spinage, Beets, Lettice, Nuts, Cherries, Purslane, Onions, Garlick, or such like; as much hurtful to hee [Page 68] are much broath, vinegar, and fat flesh. In the next place the womb must be cleansed from over abundance of moisture, such are syrup of Wormwood, with the decoction of Harts-tongue, Fenel, Cumin and Anis-seed.

After this, take once every fourteen dayes a dram of blessed pils, fasting five hours after them.

Take also of these following pils, R. of Ladanum, Agarick, Wax, and sheeps suet try'd, of which you may make pils to take two or three of them every morning; or use this confection: Take shaven Ivory, Ash keyes, yellow and wild Rape-seed, Siler mountain, with red and white Behen, of each one dram, Cinamom, Galangall, long pepper, Cloves and Mace, Balsam wood, Ros [...]mary flowers, Blattae Byzantiae, gentle Marjoram, penyroyal, of each four scruples, Baulme, Buglosse, Citron pils, of each two scruples, Pearls one scruple, Musk two grains, white sugar four and twenty ounces; seeth this with Malmesey, and make thereof a confection.

Or because of some diseases in the parts; where note, that too much fatnesse of the Call doth close the mouth of the womb: such women must not sleep much, especially in the day time; they must use strong Clysters that are warm and dry, and purge often.

Or when the womb doth not attract the seed when it is cast in; which proceeds from a moist intemperance, which is by the loosness [Page 69] of the fibres of the womb, so that the womb cannot contract it self; which is cured as in the moist distemper. Or by reason of the thickness of the womb; for then the blood which increases the seed does not slide down to that place. The cure hereof requires a thin diet, purging and sweating; or by reason of the slipperiness thereof, which happens by reason of the running of the whites in women: The cure whereof consists in the stopping of the whites, which hath been already treated of; or by reason of the gaping of the Orifice, which hath been occasioned either by difficult birth, or by some abortion. The cure is performed by astringent medecines, among which the chiefest are the fomentation of Lentisk and Myrtle; or by reason of some sudden cough or sneezing immediatly after copulation, by which the seed is shaken forth. Or when the womb doth not alter the seed that is cast in, through an immoderate cold distemper.

Sometimes through heat, and then it would be requisite to avoid hot aire, and keeping the parts about the womb compleat, or the eating of hot meats and spices; purge after blood-letting in the Basilick vein of the right hand, with Electuary hom. de Epithymo, & juice of roses, of each two drams and a half, whey four ounces, mix them wel together, and take them in the morning, sleeping one, and fasting four hours upon it. Purge also with Triphera Saracenica and Rheubarb, with potions prepared [Page 70] and mixed with syrup of Roses, Violets and Endive. Take Pistacia, Pingles, Eringus, of each half an ounce, of Saffron a dram, Lignum Aloes, Galangall, Garyophyllata Mace, red and white Behen, Baulme-flowers, of each four scruples, shavings of Ivory, and Cassia rindes, of each two scruples, syrup of Ginger confected twelve ounces, white sugar six ounces; seeth these together with the syrup in 12 ounces of Baulm-water, untill it be all boyled away: when it is cold, put some more water to it and stir them together: and last of all, mix with it a scruple and a half of Musk and Amber: of this conserve let the woman take thrice a day, to wit, in the Morning, an houre before supper, and an hour after dinner.

Or it proceeds from obstruction of the flowers, in which case first let blood in the Basilic vein, then purge with Opoponax, and Hiera Composita, of each half a dram, to be made up in seven pils, to be taken in the morning sleeping upon them an hou [...] and a half, with a draught of sugard water five hours after; Or with a potion of syrup of Vinegar compounded, syrup of Eupatorie, of each thr [...]e quarters of an ounce, Fever Mugwort, and Elecampane roots of each an ounce, and mix them together: then she may put up into the womb a pessary of mu [...]k, Amber, Aloes Wood, and Ash keyes, of each three grains, Saffron half a scruple, Hares-rennet as much as suffices, which being made up like a good big▪ Tent she must keep a whole day in her body.

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Of the bringing up of Children, and of their Diseases.

Of the Diseases of the Head.

THe Diseases common to Children are first certain little ulcerous risings, chiefly in the Head; sometimes in the whole body; they arise from some vitious humor either collected in the womb, or out of the womb, by reason of the badness of the milk containing a serous, salt, and nitrous quality; if there be no ill to be suspected, the humor may be driven forth by giving the Child some syrup of Fumarie, or Harts-horn burnt: the Nurse is to be purged, and the matter offending to be tempered with syrup of Borage, or Fumarie; if there be much corruption under the crust of the scab, the head of the Child is to be bathed with some softning decoction, & then to be anointed with some drying Ointments.

Sometimes they are troubled with an inflammation of the head, with which is joyned a hollowness in the fore-part of the head, and in the eyes; it may arise from the milk, if the Nurse be subject to drink over-much strong drink: in the Cure you must beware of applying things which are too refrigerating.

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They are also many times affected with a kind of Epilepsie, which proceeds sometimes from extraordinary frights, from milk that lies corrupted in the stomack, and sometimes from worms moving themselves in the guts; and sometimes it is the consequent of other Diseases. The cure is to be observed partly in the fit, and partly after the fit: the Smaragd-stone, and the hoof of a wild Alx put into the l [...]f [...] ear are very profitable, and take good effect; Vomiting also, and this Emplaster of white Amber, Frankincense, and Mastick, of each a dram and a half, Galbanum, Opoponax, of each a scruple, Visci of an Oak two drams, Ambergreize six grains, Musk three grains, seed of male Peonie half a dram, Ladanum one dram and a half, a little Oile of Nutmeg, and sprinkled with the dust of Cubebs; the fore-part of the head may be also anointed with Oyl of white Amber. Fears and startings in the Childs sleep, which being occasioned from the putrid vapours which are carried up with the animal spirits, and arise from the stomack; therefore they happen to Infants that suck greedily: in the cure care must be taken that the Child do not fil it self too unreasonably, and provide that good & sound milk may be generated, and that the Children be not put to sleep upon a ful stomack: the stomack of the Child anointed neer the orifice with Oyl of Quinces▪ and mastick, and Oyl of Nutmeggs. Before sleep dissolve a little roll of Diamoschus in [Page 73] milk, and give the Child; and unless the child be over much troubled with heat, you may give it a little Treacle once in a week; overmuch watching or wakefulness, which is occasioned by sharp vapours which arise out of the stomack by reason of the badness of the milk; sometimes it is occasioned by Fevers, and pain of some peculiar parts; there is nothing better then to anoint the soles of the Childs feet with marrow, which hath no danger in it, rather then to give the child stronger Opiates. A looking a squint, which in new-born children is cured by putting a candle opposite to the place where the Child casts its eyes.

Moistness of the ears by reason of the moistness of the head, which gather quantity of humors together: the cure of this must not be over hasty; yet the urine of children distilled, and dropt into the ear, is a very approved Remedy.

Bigness and swelling of the Head in little Children.

SOmetimes in children that are newly born the head grows to an extraordinary bigness, which comes to pass either by reason of abundance of water contained in the same, which water is contained either between the skin and the Pericranium, or between the bone and the pericranium, or between the bone and the membranes called the dura Mater, and the Pia Mater.

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Or by reason of abundance of vapours gathered together between the bones and the skin of the head, which cause the head to grow to such an extraordinary bigness that it causes often times the death of the child.

If water be gathered together between the bone of the head and the membranes of the brain, it causes a giddeness and Epilepsie to the Infant, without being able to take any rest. For the cure of the windy affection you may use fomentations, in case the wind be contained only between the skin and the Pericranium; for which purpose you may take of the leaves of Sage, Betonie, Egrimony, Calamus, and Origan, of each a handful, Anis-seed, and Fenel-seed, of each two drams, Camomil Flowers, Melilot, and Red Roses, of each one handful; boyl all these in common water, adding to it a little wine, and thereof make a Fomentation for the part affected, which may be assisted with a plaister made of Oyl of Anis-seeds, and bitter Almonds, of each one ounce, Oyl of Camomil an ounce and a half, Laurel and Juniper-berries, of each two drams, Anis-seeds, and Fennel-seeds, of each one dram and a half, of the best Wine a pint; boyl them to the comsumption of the wine, adding to the rest half an ounce of Venice Turpentine, and as much wax as is sufficient: As for the watry distemper, though it be difficult to cure, yet you must try this Fomentation to digest the humor: Take Wormwood, Betony, creeping [Page 75] Time, Penyroyal leaves, of each a handful, red Rose leaves, and leaves of Stoechas, a little handful, Cypres Nut, Orange flowers, and Florentine orrice, of each two drams, boyl them all in a lye made of Vine twiggs and stalks; after which you may use this plaister. Take the powder of Betony, Sage, and Wormwood, of each two drams, Oyl of Camomil and Roses, of each 2 ounces, Ʋnguenti comitissae one ounce, as much wax as is sufficient: but if these Remedies profit nothing, the only means left is to open the head.

Of the diseases of the Eyes, Ears, and Noses in Children.

MAny times children are troubled with a light inflammation in their eyes, with a certain gum and thickness which hinders them from opening the eye-lid: the most present remedies are either for the Nurse to wash the eyes with a little of her breast milke, or else with a little Plantain and Rosewater mixt together.

Sometimes the nostrils are so stopt, that they are not able to draw their breath but with much pain. For the cure of which the Nurse must moisten a linen cloth in a little ointment of Roses, or a little very good Pomatum, till the hard matter within be dissolved.

Many times there flows a moist humor from their heads, which happens to those who have [Page 76] moist brains. In the cure of this, it must be the care of the Nurse to cleanse the eares both within and without; afterwards let her drop into them a little oyle of bi ter Almonds, and hony of Roses mixt together.

Of certain Ʋlcers in childrens mouths.

THere do many times grow a certain kinde of ulcers in childrens mouths: For the cure of which the Nurse in the first place must use a good and sound diet, then must the ulcers themselves be rub'd with a little Mel Rosatum, and syrup of violets, with a drop or two of Plantain water; or you may wash them with half an ounce of Rose-water, or Plantain water, in which put half a dram D [...]aigret of vitriol; if they be very red and inflamed, take Brambles, flowers of Pomegranates, Roses, Santall, of each two drams, Alum half a dram, boyle them in water, afterwards strain them to the quantity of three ounces; in which dissolve halfe an ounce of syrup of Mulberries.

If they be white, take Amber, Frankincense wood, Cypresse nuts, Pomegranate flowers, of each two drams, flowers of Roses and Myrtles, of each half a handful; boyl them in water to the consumption of foure ounces, wherein dissolve an ounce and a half of hony of Roses.

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Of certain other Tumours called Paroulis and Espoulis.

PAroulis is a little swelling, red and inflamed, and is ingendred commonly of a hot cholerick blood, or else from a salt flegme that fals down upon the gums, causing not only the gums, but the neck and chaps to be swelled. For the cure hereof you may anoint the gums with this Ointment: Take of Amili 11 drams, powder of Tragacant one dram, burnt Alum one scruple, Rosewater one ounce; if there be any inflammation, rub the gums with a muscilage made of the seed of Quinces, made with Rose-water, and Plantain-water, adding to it a little syrup of Jujubes. If the swelling be obstinate, bring it to a suppuration with figgs, Raisins, Jujubes, Licorass, and French barley wel boyled; when it is opened and lanced, cleanse and dry it with mel Rosatum, syrup of Roses and Cherries.

The Espoulis is a little excrescence of flesh hapning in the lungs between the teeth, but most commonly the great teeth. R. The root of Bugloss an ounce and half, Plantain, Agrimony a handful, whole Barley a smal handful, red Roses half a handful, Pomgranate flowers two drams, four Dates, a dram and a half of Liquoriss; make a decoction and straine it, and then add to it an ounce of syrup of Roses, and Pomgranates to wash the place affected, [Page 78] you also may wash it with this Remedy. Take of the juice of Pomgranates and Quinces, of each half an ounce, juice of Berberies and Lettice, of each two drams, with a little of the decoction of Lentils, and red Roses.

Of the two strings under the Tongue of a Child.

THere is one of these strings or ligaments which appears reaching from the bottom of the tongue, and extending it self to the top of the tongue; this must be cut off first with a pair of cizers, and the place rubbed with a litlittle Mosche salt.

There is another Ligament which rises from the root and extendeth it self to the middle of the tongue, which is more hard and large, which hinders the tongue either from being stretched out, or to be moved in the mouth. The cure hereof belongs wholly to the Chirurgeon.

Of the Cough in Children.

THe Cough in Children comes either from the distillation of some cold and sharp humour distilling from the brain: if the humor be cold, the child is also troubled with a viscous and slimy flegme which lies in the passages of espiration: if the humor flowing down be hot, the face of the Infant will be [Page 79] red; if it come of a cold humor, the child must be kept indifferently warme, giving it a little oyl of sweet Almonds, and sugar candy; it wil not be amiss also to wash the feet of the child in ale wherein certain Cephalick herbs have been boyled, and after that to anoint the plants or soles of his feet with Gooses fat.

The breast of the child may be also rubbed with oyl of sweet Almonds, and fresh butter, and upon this put little linnen clothes something warm. If it be accompanied with any viscous matter or flegme, you may give the Infant a little syrup of Maidenhaire, or syrup of Liquoriss and Hysop mingled together; or give the Infant this water to drink: Take of Rain water, and Fountain water, of each a pint, white sugar one ounce, honey an ounce, Vinegar two drams; boyl them all together, and clarifie them, and let the Infant drink it.

Of breeding Teeth.

IN breeding Teeth the difficulty and paine that the child endures is easily perceived; and whether that be the thing which the child is afflicted with, may be easily guessed at by the time of breeding teeth, which is about the seventh moneth; beside the Infant is perceived to be often putting his fingers in his mouth, and the Nurse perceives the infant to gripe her breasts hard, &c. the place where the teeth are about to break out looks white, watchings, and [Page 80] the sense of a very great paine. The swelling gums are to be anointed with Hares brains boyled, or the fat of it. If they be inflamed, wash them with oyl of Roses, and white wax, and the juice of Nightshade: if they be exulcerated, anoint them with butter that hath no salt in it, with a little honey, and powder of Frankincense.

Of the inflammation of the Navel-string in Infants.

SOmetimes after the binding of the Navel-string, it happens to exulcerate: For the cure use an Emplaster of Pompholyx, or anoint i [...] with oyl of Roses, and a little Populeon.

Of the Worms.

OFtentimes children are extreamly troubled; they are generated of a viscous and flegmie humour; they are sometimes round, and then commonly the children are troubled with a Fever, and grow lean, their appetite fails them, they start in their sleep, they have a dry cough joyned with it, with a stinking breath, and an ill colour in their faces, the eyes hollow and dark, with a kind of irregular Fever, which comes three or four times a night, and they often rub their noses; if they be little worms, they have alwayes a desire to go to the stoole, and their excrements [Page 81] are very purants. If the Infant be young the Nurse must be sure to keep a good dyet, abstaining from all raw fruits, pease and Beans, and all milkie things, and any thing that shall be of a hard concoction: next you may lay a plaister of the mass of Pils sine quibus half a dram, powder of Wormwood one dram, myrrh and Aloes, of each two scruples, meale of Lupines a dram and a half, the gall of an Ox as much as sufficeth; if the Infant be any thing grown, you may give him in a little broth a smal quantity of Harts-horn. You may also give the Child if he be able to take it, a little of the decoction of Pourpied, and the shavings of Harts-horn, adding to it a little of the juice of Citron.

Of the Convulsion in Infants.

THe signes of Convulsion are the hanging backward of the head, insomuch that the hinder part of the head seemeth to touch the shoulders; sometimes the head and the neck hang so far forward, that the chin touches the breast.

The cure of this, if it come of too great abundance of humors, let the aire wherein the child is nursed be hot and dry, and exercise much; let her not sleep long, especially after dinner; and let her dyet be rather drying, then any way moist. If the child do not suck, he must avoid meats that do trouble the head, and fil it [Page 82] with vapours, or slimy meats that may stop the passages of the veins; sweet things are very hurtful, but honey and water wherein a little Sage and Betony have been boiled, it wil not be amiss to give him: if purgation be needful, let the Nurse rather then the child purge, which may be performed with Cassia, or Manna

If the Child be any thing bigg, let his belly be kept loose by giving him a little water wherin Sena hath been steeped for four and twenty hours, tempering therewith a very smal quantity of the juice of Citron; or you may give him a little of the powder of Diacarthamum in the pap of an apple.

If the Convulsion come of driness, or emptines, or by reason of some great evacuation, flux of the belly, vomiting, hunger, or the like, the child must be nursed in an aire more moist then dry, & his dyet must be the same. The best and most approved Remedy is to apply a cautery in the hinder part of the head to the nook of the neck, between the second and third Vertebrae, which may be done to new-born Children; Frictions also of the leggs, backbone and thighs, are very profitable; as also Cupping-glasses applied to the thighs and leggs.

It the Convulsion come by reason of the Worms, you may give him this Clyster. Take of simple Hydromel 4. ounces, new butter one ounce, powdered Aloes half a dram, and make a clyster. Or you may give him two drams of Earth-worms killed, dryed, and [Page 83] powdered, sugar powdered one ounce, and let the child take two drams of it every day in a spoonful of Lettice water.

If any venemous vapour be the cause hereof, let him take six grains of Treacle, or Mithridate in Pourpied water.

Of the swelling of the Hypochondria in Infants.

WHich causeth children by reason of the narrowness of the mouth of the stomack to be troubled with a difficulty of breathing: it ariseth from the greediness of the Infant, which either sucks too great a quantity of milk, or of other meats. The inward cure of this is performed by administring the powder of the root of Orrice, or Paeonie.

Of Costiveness in Children.

THis proceeds from the unskilfulness of the Nurse in the dyeting of the child, or from a cold and dry distemper of the guts, or from the hot and dry distemper of the bowels; in this case the belly may be well loosened with Cassia, or with a liniment composed of new oyl of sweet Almonds, Goose fat, May-butter, Ointment of Dial thea, of each two drams, Colocynth. gr. 16, one scruple of salt, Species Hierae one scruple, Diagridion 4 grains, make of this anointment, and anoint the navel.

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Or it proceeds from a viscous flegme which wraps about and holds the dreggs, which may be remedied by a suppository of Mouse-dung, and Goats suet; or by the use of an Emplaster of Aloes, Buls gall, Myrrh, and May-butter, to be laid upon the navel.

Of Looseness in Children.

LOoseness of the belly happens either in the time of Teeth breeding, or out of the time; in the time of breeding teeth, either by reason of the corruption of the nutriment, or by reason of over-much watching through the pain of the teeth, or by reason of a Fever, and some unnatural heat; it must not be suddenly stopt if it be not overcopious, and that the infant can indure it; the belly must be afterwards cleansed with Roses solutive, and afterwards stopped, great observation being had whether the cause come from a hot or cold distemper.

Of Burstness in Children.

BUrstness happens to children either by reason that the peritonaeum is burst through crying, or falling, or splaying with the thighs: For the cure whereof the child must be kept quiet and stil from crying; upon which after the part affected is wel bound up, you may give the child inwardly of the essence of the greater Consound one spoonful, with two drops of Balsam of sal Gemma. You may also [Page 85] foment the place with a Fomentation made of the roots of the greater Consound, and Osmundi regulis, the bark of Elme, and Fraxi, of each half an ounce, the leaves of Plantain, Mullein, Centinode, Herniar, Horsetail, flowers of Camomil, red Roses, and Meliot, of each a handful and a half, Balust, Cypress nuts, and acrons, of each two drams; put these into two sacks, and boyl them in equal parts of sour wine, and Smiths water, for a Fomentation to be used for a quarter of an hour; then you may lay on a Plaister of the red drying Ointment eleven ounces, powder of Mastick, Olibanum, and Sarcocol, Cypress-nuts, of each one dram, with a little wax and oyl of Mastick to make a plaister, which must be put upon the place affected, and bound down with a little pillow.

Sometimes this burstness proceeds from a watry humor abounding in the Abdomen, which descending into the Codds causeth them to swel; for which you may use with good success this Ointment: Take of Ʋnguent. Comitiss. and the red drying Ointment, of each two ounces, Pigeons dung half an ounce, live Sulphure three drams, powder of Lawrel berries, and mustard-seed, of each a dram, oyle of Dill, and Venice Turpentine of each 3 drams, wax as much as sufficeth: this is also an extraordinary Remedy for the Burstness proceeding from wind.

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Of the Inflammation of the Navell.

THe inflammation of the Navel ariseth when the blood gathers thither by reason of some external hurt; the danger is very great if it should apostemate, and so the guts fall down; and therefore suppuration must be hindred as much as may be.

Of the jutting forth of the Navel.

THis differs from the inflammation, because here the Navel doth not give way to the touch, neither is the colour of the skin changed, neither is there any very great paine or pulse, unless the intestines are very much fallen; it proceeds from the ill binding thereof at first, which is incurable; or when a greater portion then necds of the Navel string is left. Secondly, from a laxation of the Peritonaeum, and then the tumor is equal, nor doth the Navel jut forth very far: in the cure hereof you must let the child abstain from all windy meats and from much crying. Sometimes it is occasioned by the rupture of the Peritonaeum, and then the swelling is hardly perceived when the child lies upon his back, but increaseth and swels forward when he walks, sits, cries and bawls: in the cure of this the mosse that grows upon the wild Prune-tree is very much commended; or [Page 87] you make little Swathbands of Leather, and anoint them with Oxycroceum.

Of the Stone in the Bladder.

THis is known by the coming forth of the Urine by drops and with paine, which is sometimes unmixed, sometimes containing a kinde of serous humor, sometimes dyed with a little blood; it is produced either by the milk which is ingendered of meats that do increase the Stone, or through a hot distemper of the Liver, which attracts the Chylus, and sends it unaltered to the bladder: for the Cure you must use Baths, among which this is commended to anoint the bladder; withall take Oyl of Scorpions, oyl of bitter Almonds, Conies-grease, and Hens grease, of each an ounce and a half, and of the juice of Parietarie; Or take sal Tartar one ounce, parsley-water a pint, mix them through a fine paper rubd over with the rindes of Oranges, and give a smal quantity thereof.

Of the not holding of the Ʋrine.

THis ariseth either from the muscle which shuts the orifice of the Bladder, which is so disposed that it is loosed upon the least exciting of the Urine, and grows so into a habit, that it many times accompanies them to their graves; or from the stone in the bladder, or from the weakness of the sphincter proceeding [Page 88] from a cold & moist distemper; which is cured partly by the good dyet of the Nurse, and partly by convenient Medecines, among which a bath made of Sulphure, Nitre, and the leaves of Oak, is exceeding good.

Of the Intertrigo.

WHen the little skin in the hips is separated from the true skin; it arises first from the sharpness of the Urine, especially in children that are more corpulent, by reason of the dirt which frets the skin, being gathered together in the wrinkles. Bathe the place, and then sprinkle upon it either white Nihili, or anoint it with oyl of Litharge.

Of Leanness.

THis arises either from a subtle kinde of Worms, which are generated in the most musclely parts of the back, and arms, and consume the body; They break forth sometimes like to black haires; if you wash those parts with a Bath mixed with bread and hony, they are taken away either with a Razor, or with a crust of bread. Secondly, it arises from the smal quantity of milk, which is often-times remedied by changing the Nurse.

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Of the difficulty which Children have to make water.

IF the Disease proceed from sharpness of the Urine, the Nurse must use such a way of dyet as is proper for the tempering and cooling of the blood; she must be purged, & let blood, using afterwards cooling & refrigerating broths. If it proceed from any gross humor ingendered in the bladder, the Nurse must abstain from all meats that do breed gross humors, as milky meats, Pease and Beans, and such like.

If the child be troubled with gravel, which may be perceived by the whiteness and rawness of the Urine, with a gravelly setling at the bottom, and the continual pain in making water: if the Child be any thing bigg, let a potion be given him of an ounce and half of sweet Almonds, an ounce of Pellitory water, and two drams of the juice of Limons; use as much of this at a time as is convenient. Or take of this powder, of the blood of a Hare six ounces, of the root of Saxifrage one ounce, burn them in an earthen [...]ot, & if the Infant suck give him a scruple of this powder in a little milk.

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Of the Inflammation of the Almonds of the Ears.

IF the child be very smal. you must wash the throat as neer the root of the tongue as may be with a linen cloth tied to a stick dipped in this gargarisme; take of new extracted Cassia one dram, syrup of dry Roses one dram and a half, with six ounces of the decoction of Coriander. Or you may anoint the neck with oyl of Violets, and Camomil, binding the neck with a little roller well anointed with the same; when the child goes to bed you may give him in a spoon a little syrup of dry'd Roses, of Pavot and Nenuphar mingled together. Oxycroceum alone doth also make an excellent Gargarism.

If they come to a suppuration, you must use this gargarisme. Take of the decoction of Barley, Plantain, Agrimony, Veronicae, Honysuckle and herb Rob six ounces, in which dissolve mel Rosatum, and Sugar-candie, of each half an ounce, to make a gargarism.

Of Vomiting.

IF it proceed from abundance of milk which the child sucks, you must take care that the child suck less, and often.

If it come from any ill humor contained in the stomack, besides that the Nurse must keep a [Page 91] very good dyet, the Infant must be purged, with a smal expression of Rheubarb, giving it afterwards a little Codignac to comfort the stomack, mingling with it a little tablet of Diarrhodium, putting afterwards upon his stomack this plaister: Take of the pulp of condited Quinces two ounces, red Roses, Wormwood, and red Sanders, of each two drams, Oyl of Quinces as much as sufficeth; make a plaister of this, and lay it upon the stomack of the child.

Of the Hicquet.

IF it come from an over-much repletion, it wil not be amiss to make him vomit of whatsoever age he be; or if it be necessary that a greater force should be used, you must try to make him vomit by putting down the throat a Fether dipt in oyl; if from the badness of the Nurses milk, she must be changed for a better; if from the coldness of the stomack, you must use remedies to comfort it, as little tablets of Diarrhodium, of which you must dissolve a scruple in the milk of the Nurse; you must also chafe the stomack of the child with oyl of Wormwood, Mastick, and Quinces.

Of the pain of the Belly in Children.

IF the Disease come from indigestion, and moistness, the little Infant wil vomit, and be troubled with a flux of the belly, and the belly [Page 92] wil be hard. In which cases you may give the infant an ounce of sweet Almonds drawn with out fire, and mingled with a quantity of Sugar-candy, or anoint the belly with this Ointment; Take oyl of Camomil, and oyl of sweet Almonds, of each an ounce and a half, mingle them, and therewith anoint the belly; if wind be the cause, you may mingle a little oyl of rue in the foresaid Ointment.

Of the Smal-Pox in Children.

THe signes of this Disease are paine in the head, accompanied with a Fever, redness about the eyes, a dry Cough, and you shal mark in the skin up and down the body certain little spots, upon the face, back, brest, and thighs; the Smal-pox is dangerous if they come forth with much pain, if they be greenish, blewish, or blackish.

For the cure of this, if the Infant suck, the Nurse must keep a good order of dyet, she may eat broth of Hens with Endive, Cichorie, Bugloss and Borage boyled therein.

Now to make the Smal-Pox come forth the more quickly, if the Child be little, the Nurse must drink this following Potion. Take of Caricarum Pinguium one ounce, peeled Lentils half an ounce, Gum Lacca two drams, Gum Tragacant, and Fenel-seed, of each two drams and a half; make of this a decoction in Fountain-water, and strein it to the quantity of two [Page 93] pints, sweeten this either with sugar, or syrup of Maidenhair; let her drink of this in the morning a good glassful.

Or, you may give the child if it be able to take it, this Julep to be used very often: take of Cordial waters two ounces and a half, syrup of Limons one ounce, mingle it, and use it often; 4. or five hours after give him of powder of Unicorns-horn, and Bezoar. Now to keep this venemous humor from attaching the eyes, temper a little Saffron in a smal quantity of Plantain and Rose-water, and rub the eyelids: or you may anoint them with Tutie: For keeping them from the nose, take Rose-water, and Betonie-water, of each an ounce, Vinegar half an ounce, juice of Pomgranates six ounces, in which steep two drams of Santalum, and two drams of the powder of Citron peel; adde to this six grains of Saffron, and make a medecine for the child to smel often to; the same Medecine wil serve for the ears, by stopping them with a little cotton.

To preserve the mouth, and throat, and tongue, take this gargarism; take whole Barley one handful, Plantain leaves, leaves of Oxalis, Arnogloss, Agrimonie, and Verbena, of each one handful, boyl this to the quantity of six ounces, dissolving in it syrup of dry Roses, and Pomgranates, of each half an ounce, Saffron half a scruple.

To preserve the Lungs, use syrup of Jujubes, Violets, and Nenuphar: when they are fully [Page 94] come out, to make them dye the more quickly, rub the face with oyl of sweet Almonds drawn without fire. Or use this Ointment; take old Lard, cut it in smal pieces, and melt it in a pot, then strein, then beat it, and mingle it with water for your use.

When the Pox is totally dead, take this Remedy to take away the marks. Take Halke the weight of two Crowns, clear cream 2. ounces, mix them together, and with a Fether dipt therein anoint the face of the child two or three daies; this causeth the skin to grow smooth, leaving not a pit in the face.

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[Page 95]

Certain other Instructions grounded upon practical Observations, fit to be known by all Midwives, and Child-bearing Women, &c.

IN the yeare One Thousand six hundred and Ten, a young Lady whom I was wont to bring to bed, passing by my house came in to me, and told me that she was four moneths gone, and that she perceived the Infant to stir; about a moneth after she came to see me, and told me that she was in much pain, for that she had not perceived the Infant to stir in two dayes, and that therefore she believed that it was dead, by reason of a certain very great fright which she had had; for at the time that she was frighted she perceived the childe to move, but after that never, and her belly began by little and little to wax less, and about three weeks after she had that reflux of milk that Women use to have that lye in; when this was gone she had no grievance; yet seeing her often, and knowing her to be bigg with child, she asked me my advice, to know what she should do. Whereupon I asked her if any ill vapours rose up into her mouth? she told me [Page 96] no. If she had not lost her appetite? she answered that she never had a better in her life; her heart was light, her body in good temper, so that there was nothing that troubled her but an apprehension she had that the child was dead; whereupon I made her try all means to make the Infant stir; but she notwithstanding felt nothing, only she perceived that something did heave a little upon the operation of the Remedies, which was nothing but the Matrix, which▪ being now distempered and grown cold, did as it were answer the hot Remedies, testifying thereby some good which it received thereby: I advised her to be patient, and to wait Natures leisure, which is provident enough of it self, telling her that I had seen an Infant which had lain a long time in the Womb without budging, which for all that was not dead, although you could not perceive in the Woman any thing but the signs of a dead child. I had oftentimes brought the Lady to bed, and she stil had very good deliveries, and very sound children, of a good colour; so that I believing her to be of a sound constitution, thought that if the Infant were dead, that Nature which was very strong in her would expel it in time convenient, and that she should not be forced, not having given any testimony of defect; resolving also when her Reckoning was out, if then Nature shewed it self weak, that we would consult her Friends, and Physitians. Many of her Friends told me that they doubted that she [Page 97] was deceived in thinking her self to be with Child; to which I answered, that they might be confident that it was so; in brief, she was brought to bed sixteen weeks after the fright which she had. Now here ariseth a great doubt, whether the Child dyed at the hour of her being scared, by reason that it did not move in all the time. A reason that the child was not dead, may be because that the Gentlewoman had not her milk til within three weeks afterward; and yet I cannot but think that it dyed at the same time; for certainly by that fright the vital spirits were ravished from it, and the blood of the Arteries retired to the heart of the Mother, not being distributed to the Infant, but at the good pleasure of Nature; the course of which being stopped, it retired to its first source, through which the child suffering a suffocation, gave a violent motion; and now after the Fright was come to her self, and that Nature would have returned to finish her work, she was not received, because the vital faculties of the Infant were extinct; and notwithstanding all this the Mother not ceasing to retain the menstrual blood as she was accustomed, that finding it self stopped, and stil increasing without that use made of it that was wont, it made a reflux to the breasts, which flowd down again in five or six dayes; for the Infant coming to decrease in the Womb, now way was made for them, which came not down for all that but in the Delivery and after, which was in this [Page 98] manner: At the end of the sixteenth week after the fright, she had pains in the night; she thinking to indure them wel enough til morning, in the morning caused me to be sent for. I came to her finding with her a Physitian, and sundry others of her acquaintance. The Physitian that expected me had ordered her a Clyster to give her, if I thought it to the purpose; I found her pale, cold, and yet in a sweat, with so little pulse that I esteemed her dead; I touched her, & found she had been in Travail, which had been too long neglected; I called presently for a plain silver dish, into which I squeez'd the juice of half a Citron, and set it upon a Chafing-dish of coals; being warmed, I caused her to take it, this restored Nature a little, and stirred up her pains, and then I assisted her; notwithstanding some of the waters ran down: after her first throw the leggs and thighs of the Child came forth▪ now finding the Infant to be dead, and seeing that she was troubled with no more throws, I was afraid of drawing it forth, for fear it might be rotten: I did give her a Clyster without moving her, the force of which bringing the Child away, she was delivered of a dead Infant all over of a leaden colour, without any ill vapour; the Secundines sound and fair as you shal see, her purgations as clear as could be, and she had as good and as happy a Lying in as any Woman in the world; all which time she had not the appearnce of any Milk at all. Hence we may admire [Page 99] the effects of Nature which are wonderful. But in such cases Women must be sure in due time and place; for if a Woman do resist her paines, and doth not put her self in a right posture, she runs a great hazard of her life.

A Second Observation of a Woman that had been in Travail nine dayes.

BEing called to the Labour of a Woman that had been in Travail nine or ten dayes, of whom there was little hope, I went, and there found the Woman almost dead, her eyes open and fixed, her nose shrunk in, her breath smelling like a charnel-house; and she took nothing down into her stomack that she did not instantly vomit up again; she had drunk up above two pints of water in an hour, and by her bed there was a whole sea of those things that she had vomited up. They gave her cold water, and the yelk of an Egg sometimes, though it came up again at the same instant; she felt no paine of the Infant; but finding her Womb was open, and her waters beginning to come down, I found that she had been in Travail, only Nature was oppressed, and had not had any good assistance, so that the Infant was retired back again which stifled the Mother, and provoked her vomiting; upon which I gave my advice, and though I thought my self come a little too late, yet I resolved to do what lay in the power of my Art; and therefore I resolved to give [Page 100] her a good strong Clyster to awaken Nature, and to bring the Infant lower, which it did according to our hopes; afterwards to drink a smal quantity of Rhubarb-water which stayed with her; a little after I gave her the yelk of an Egg which stayed with her also, causing her to drink nothing but Rhubarb-water; and at every hours end I gave her the yelk of an Egg, which did also stay with her; by this time Nature began to strengthen it self, and the paines of the Infant came again; and in less then two hours after the Clyster, and other nourishment given, when I saw her pretty wel, and that Nature strove to expel the Infant, I gave her half a dram of Confection of Alkermes in a little Wine; and a little while after I caused her to take another Clyster, into which I put a little Hiera, and a little Benedictus, which finished the work; for She was then delivered of a very lusty child, which lived about two dayes: I came thither about noon, and the was brought to bed before 9. at night. I wrote this thus particularly, to let you know that oft-times for want of knowing where the mischief lies, the Remedies are mis-applyed; and indeed a Woman Travayling in the ninth moneth ought chiefly to be succored with Clysters.

[Page 101]

Of a Woman here in Town that bare her Childe elevent Moneths, and could not be Delivered.

BEing called to a Woman in this Town that thought her self three moneths and a half gene, which is one of the Termes of time wherein commonly the Moles and false births are delivered, having then some loss of blood and paine, I was sent for, and judged it to have been some imperfect Conception, and therefore I used all the meanes that art imposeth to assist her, yet could she not expel it for all these long paines: whereupon finding some strange apprehensions in her I wondered; for in all the time of my practice I never knew such a thing as that dangerous in my life. But I afterwards found this apprehension to come from a certain accident that had hapned to a Sister of hers, who being with child carried it very wel to the end of the ninth moneth, at the end of which she began to be in paine, as if she would have cryed out; the paines were great and long, which they were not at all astonished at by reason that it was her first childe; yet were not these paines accompanied with any signes of Labour, as the opening the exterior orifice of the Womb; and they continued thus for the space of two dayes and two nights; many Medicines were used to facilitate the birth, but to no purpose; and now she felt not the child stir [Page 102] any more. And now it was concluded that she had mistaken her time; and now being at rest for four or five dayes, and growing weary of the City she went into the Country, and being returned without taking notice that she had received any harm, she was taken with the same paines as before, which continued a day and a night, and then ceased as before; this was adjudged to be certain paines of the colick: after this she endured one moneth longer in her former estate, which was now the eleventh moneth compleat; at the end of which she felt some little pain like throws, which presently affected her heart, upon which she was laid upon her bed, and they brought her Wine; but at the very instant she dyed, without having any time to cal for assistance: seeing her dead, they perceived upon the right side of her belly a very black mark about the breadth of a dollar; being opened they found the child all putrified. Hence we must observe that in Women that are bigg with child, who have frequent pain, and nothing coming forth, the Matrix that should open rather shutting it self closer, whether it be at the time or no, you must imagine these to be clysters that expel wind, which are to be reiterated as occasion requires; which rule if it had been observed in this Woman, she nor the Fruit of her Womb had not perished in that manner.

[Page 103]

Of the common opinion, that a Woman seven moneths gone ought to walk very much; and of the accidents that happen thereby.

IT is a common error among Midwives vvhich is not to be passed by, that a Woman vvith child vvhen she hath gone seven months of her time, is to vvalk much; upon a conceit that exercise is very proper for her; for that they say doth loosen the child from the reins, and facilitates the birth; I confess as to facilitating of the birth it may something avail; only I must add this also, that it is better to dravv avvay the child then to break it; and moreover it is better to be something longer in Travail then to incur 2. or 3. evils vvhich ordinarily happen; the first is, that the Child in the end of the eleventh moneth doth make certain indeavours to free it self from the belly of the Mother; and vvithout doubt his first indeavour is to turn himself in the belly of the Mother; for the Infant turns himself a good vvhile before the time of Labour; and therefore I say exercise is very dangerous: the first reason is, because by pushing dovvnvvard the belly is dilated, and especially in such as carry their children lovv; and besides, oft-times the head drags dovvn all the body of the Womb, and loosens the ligaments in such a sort, that after Delivery it can hardly be put into its place again. Besides [Page 104] the children having their heads between the bones of the Mother, by much walking of the Mother they come to be bruised, so that the Infants do many times dye, and no man is able to give a cause why; for the branches of veins which are for the nourishment of the brain open in an instant, letting out the blood which is contained in them; and when the corruption is ingendred, there follows immediatly Fevers, and corruption of the Infant: At other times Women coming to sit upon a hard seat do bruise the head of the Infant, which causes like accidents; and in all these accidents none but the Midwife is to blame, unless the belly it self be spoiled. This they say is the fault of the Nurse who did not apply Remedies fit to restore the fault. I must confess that Remedies do much avail to the recovery of the fore-said malady, and do much avail to the healing of that disease, & marring of the belly; but to restore it to such an estate as it was in before, I say it is a thing impossible for Medecines to perform; for the skin which is once separated cannot be closed again without a scar; I would now not only blame those that assist them, but by putting the actions of people before them, shew them where lies the fault, and what reason I have so to do: I must confesse that false accusations have made the most able Midwives timorous, for they lye liable to so many causes of detraction, that all that are either but indifferent good, or else not good, are [Page 105] all accused alike, if any thing fall out amiss with the Patient, as if they were the absolute causes of the evil, or that it lay absolutely in their power to hinder it: it happens also many times that a Midwife worthy of that name doth deliver a Woman from death, and yet in the place of much praise she incurs many times much blame; so that they are oftentimes constrained (to avoid the scandal) to advertise the of their ill procedures, and to give place to those that know not how to do things with that sweetness and judgement. The fault is no where but in the ignorance, scandal, and ingratitude of Women toward those of this Calling. Besides, there are a company of young Women that because they have had one child, do give themselves a great deal of liberty to talk of these things. Cries one, I like not these Midwives that handle me; I wil change mine cries another for that trick also; so that many out of a kind of fear have a greater desire and wil to be complacent then to do wel; and so [...]itting with their hands before them entertaine their Patients with discourse, who for all that feeling their paines, are constrained to thrust forward, upon which the head of the Infant coming first, for the most part the womb serves for a Head-band, which comes forth before it: whereas might the Midwife be permitted to touch the Patient, they might put back the womb, and prevent many accidents that happen in lyings in, which happens sometimes to [Page 106] be a total relaxation of the Matrix; of which when the Women complain to their complacent and flattering Midwives, They reply, why Mistress you know I did not touch; and besides I am not in fault if you have been touched; this is the fruit of their reproaches: You will say there are abundance of Country Women that the Midwife never toucheth at all, and they do not know scarcely whether a Woman lye in or no, unless they see the Infant appear; but they are not free from the disease whereof I speak; for I have seen so great a company of them that I have been afraid to behold them. This comes say the Midwives because they touched them not, and that it is occasioned either because the Infant is too bigg; or they say it is a burstness, or the coming down of the great gut; the most subtile put up a clew of thread, the others a ball of wax, which easeth a little while, but comes out again every hour.

Of a Childe which they thought sick of the Epilepsie, occasioned by the sickness of the Mother, and of the cause.

ONe day there came to me a Gentlewoman to desire me that I would give her something for her Daughter that was sick of the Mother: when her Mother related what she ailed, [Page 107] I desired to see her, I saw her, and she had in one hour two several fits, which was an affrightment, attended with very much yawning, after which she remained in a very great weakness; all which time the mouth of the child was drawn more to one side then the other; the eyes when she was out of the fit were open and fixed in one place; I inquired of the Mother, at what age her Daughter came to be first troubled with it; who answered, that she had been in this Town for something more then a year, and that before that time she was never troubled with any such thing: I gave her the best counsel that I could; and first of all bid her to carry her again to the place where she was first nursed, using some few Remedies that were convenient; which prospered so wel, that after she came thither she had but one fit, though she had them so frequently before. Of this no other cause can be given, but that the place where she lived for that year being thicker then that where she was nursed caused in her a stirring of the humors, with which the mother was continually afflicted, she being disposed naturally to that kind of disease.

[Page 108]

Of a young Woman who being struck upon the belly by her Husband with his foot, was in great pain, and could not be brought to bed without the help of a Chirurgeon.

I Will here relate a thing which I have seen in a young Woman, that if the like accident should happen, the same Remedies may be applyed. There came a Woman to me to declare to me a disease with which she was troubled, defiring me to do my utmost, for that hitherto she could not lye in without the help of a Chirurgeon, who had already killed two of her children. I knowing what an ill Husband she had, and that he had given her a blow upon the belly with his foot▪ and had broken the Peritonaeum, which was the reason that part of her guts hung down upon the share- [...]bone like the bagg of a bagpipe; to which place being bigg the Womb jutted out, so that when the time came, the Infant had not liberty to turn it self; so that the Midwife seeing she could not have the child without losing the Woman, was feign to make use of the Chirurgeon. I considered her disease, and ordered her to carry a swatheband, such a one as VVomen with child carry to support their bellies, onely made a little more hollow; and I caused her to wear it as they that are burst do wear half slopps, lying smooth with cushionets within, and never to [Page]

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fig: 3

fig 4

Explanation of the third figure.

[Page] THis figure contains the birth at full, maturity, ready to come forth in the truest posture.
AAAA, the parts of the midriff dissected.
BBBB, the body of the womb dissected into four parts.
CCCC, the Membranes or Filmes, called Chorion and the Amnios, dissected likewise into four parts.
D, the Birth in its naturall posture.

Explanation of the fourth Figure. This Figure contains the Navel vessels, and the films or covering of the infant.

AAAA, the muscles of the midriff the peritoneum, and the skin it self dissected into four parts.
B, the Liver of the Infant.
C, the urinary vessels.
D, the hole of the Liver into which the Navel veine doth passe.
E, the Ʋmbilical or Navel vein it self.
FF, the two Navel arteries tending downwards to the small gut arteries.
G, the passage for the urine proceeding from the bottom of the bladder.
[Page]H, the umbilicall vessels taken out of the body of the Infant to shew how they are joyned together.
I, the membrane that involves the Navel vessels.
KKKK, the guts or intrales of the Infant.
LLL, the Navel vessels extended from the children to the birth.
M, the place where the branches of the Navel vessels are first collected into one Trunk.
NN, A branch of the Navel vessels scatterd through the fleshy part of the Chorion.
OOO, A branch of the Navell arteries.
PPPP, the conjunction of the umbilicall veine and artery.
QQQQ. the extremities of the Navel veins and Arteries, ending the fleshy parts of the Chorion.
RRRR, the membraine called the Chorion.

[Page 109] rise without this whether bigg or no; which she did, and stil does, and bears as fine children, and lies in as wel as any other woman.

Of two Deliveries of one Woman.

THere was a Woman who being come to a sufficient age became big: she causeth two of the best Midwives of the Country to assist her in her Lying in; the hour being come, they did as art commanded them, which was, the Child coming wel into the vvorld, to keep her in a good situation, to cause her to eat things vvhich vvere only to the purpose, to keep her moderately vvarm, & then to bring her pains to a good issue. I excuse the passion and impatience of Friends, but I vvould not do any thing against my duty for complacency; a fault that is soon committed, but not so easily repented of; This Woman vvas pretty long, as most Women are of their first Children, in vvhich time her Husband altogether impatient, & seeing her to doubt the report of the Midvvives, therefore said he, here is a Chirurgeon hard by, vvho may be sent for to resolve the doubt of the Midvvives; he sent for him just about the hour that the Woman vvas to be brought to bed: The Chirurgeon vvhen he came savv that the child vvas ready to come forth. The Midvvives vvho had given vvay to the Chirurgeon, thinking to take their place again as [Page 110] soon as he had touched her, to make his report, were deceived; for he seeing the business ready to be done, told her Husband that it was necessary for him to operate, but that he would proceed with so much industry that he would not only bring forth a sound & a lusty child, but moreover that he would render his Wife also in a safe condition. The Midwives when they would have spoken were put to silence. The Gentlewoman vvas presently delivered, and he stayed but a litle while to receive: thus the Midwives that had attended long, and all the while of the Travail were despised, and put off, and the Chirurgeon extolled and praised, and wel rewarded, with several most obliging and curteous invitations. About a year after he was entertained upon the former score like a Prince; the hour of her Labour came again, and the Gentleman was gone to visit some of his friends, having such a confidence in the Chirurgeon, that he set his minde at rest for any danger. The labour of this child was not like the labour of the other child; for it came with the feet foremost; and when the whole body was come forth, the head could not be got forth: he had brought with him no instruments, thinking that this Delivery would have been like the other; but seeing himself at a stand, he sent to a Chirurgeon not far off for an instrument: in the mean time he sent into the kitchen for the ladle, with the hook at the end thereof, to draw forth the child; he drew so [Page 111] wel; that he drew away the life of the childe, and without seeking any further for any body to saddle his horse, or bidding any body farewel, he fled his wayes. This may be an instruction to those that are so ready to entertaine Mountebanks, and Empericks; then vvhom there are no men more prodigal of the life of another for money.

Of a Woman that because she would not be ruled in her Lying in, dyed.

I Was one day called to the Labour of a Woman vvhich had good Deliveries of her Sons, and Daughters, at their due time, although her deliveries of Boyes vvere alwaies more difficult then those of her Daughters; being come to her I found her vvalking in the Chamber with her leggs bare in a season that was not over-hot. I caused her to be put into her bed to vvarm her again, but she vvould by no means indure it; although I prayed her, she vvas angry with me, and told me this vvas not the rule, to be constrained; the Mistriss and the Nurse combined against me, the night approached; the waters being come dovvn I feared the ill success of this business, that her disease vvould be irrecoverable by reason of her self-vvilness: I desired her Husband to use his endeavour, but he could do no more vvith her then I: about midnight I prayed her to go to bed again, and to vvarm her self, and unless she could do so I [Page 112] could do nothing: she told me I understood nothing in respect of a certain Surgeon, who whē she had such a kinde of Labour before, only toucht her with his finger, and delivered her, & that she would have him: I was content, & so she sent for him; he came very confidently, but his work vvas not at so easie a pass as formerly: he put a good large Table Napkin before him, trussing it up to his elbows, saying he was as able to deliver her as before; she would no more see me after his arrival: the Chirurgeon to whom I represented (after his arrival) all that I had understood and seen, and the fear which I had of her, told me that all would be well. At day break a neighbour of mine calling me away, I desired her Husband to let me go; but he vvas unvvilling, unless I vvould promise to come again, vvhich I did; and as soon as the door vvas open, one of the servants told me another Midvvife vvas sent for; her Husband desired me again, that since the Chirurgeon failed of his skil, I would use my skil; but it was too late, for the Chirurgeon left them, and the Woman dyed. See here hovv ill a thing it is to be opinionated, for I could easily have delivered her if she vvould have been ruled by me.

[Page 113]

Of certain Women that bear Children and lye in before their time, and others at their full time, who grow bigg, and ful of humors, which causeth the death of the child presently after their Delivery, their children being nourished in their Bellies like fish, only with water.

I Knew a Gentlewoman who had lain in three times, but yet none of her children lived: I desired her to take a Physitian that might give advice both to her and me, and to ordain her some remedies, and a government of dyet to keep her from suffering the like accidents for time to come: we chose a Physitian, who prescribed certain Tablets or Trochisques to take from the time she began to grow bigg, until the time of her Delivery, twice a week; as also to take the water of Indian Bul-rush, and of Sarsaparilla, to mix in her drink, or broth, as often as she would, having a due regard to the heat of her blood: she observed every tittle of his directions, which made her to bear a Son alive sound and healthful; she continued these Remedies four years together; but the next time she grew big with childe she thought that Nature of it self would be sufficient: I counseled her to the contrary, but she he arkned not; so that when her Time came▪ she was brought to bed of a dead child. I shal give you the Receit of the Tablets, and of the Water, for the benefit of Women that are subject to an ill Delivery [Page 114] by reason of the great quantity of waters, which hindreth the child from turning in the womb: the water is made in this manner. R. Two pints or 2 pints and a half of water, put therein half an ounce of the root of Indian Bulrush, and an ounce of Sarsaparilla; put this in the drink, and let it infuse one night; mix it with the drink, or else drink it pure. The Tablets are made of this fashion. R. Mace, Saunders, Rhubarb, Pearl, and Coral, Sene, of each 25 grains, with one ounce and half of sugar; let every Tablet weigh 6 drams.

The observation of a VVoman who was thought unable to bear, any more Children, yet contrary to expectation was delivered of one, and the reason thereof.

THere are certain Women who have the neck of the Womb long and hardned, by a cold humor that fals down thereon, and renders them uncapable of conceiving. One I have heard of who was afflicted with this disease, and voided a great great deal of putrified blood, by a certain fumigatio that I taught her was cured. I can say this of a certainty, that after this Woman had voided this putrefaction she came to see me with a very lusty child, and was bigg of another; for being discharged of the burden of putrified blood, she found her self marvelously free for conception; for the [Page 115] Matrix that began to be ulcerated was now fortified, and strengthened again, and the natural heat began to take possession there again.

A good Observation in the choice of Nurses.

THere be two sorts of Nurses which I have found; the one is of such Women as are of an ill humor, or juice; which humors settle all in the milk, for that is the place where these fluxes discharge themselves; these Women are in a better condition being Nurses, then when they are not Nurses; and being not Nurses are subject to pains sometimes in the arms, and sometimes in the shoulders, sometimes in one of their leggs, or Thighs; or else they are subject to the watring of the eyes, or swelling in the corner of the eye or nose: these are good Nurses as long as children are fat; but the fat is soft, and the Infants dul & sottish, giving no great signs of vivacity; coming to bear teeth are very sickly, and do ordinarily dye, by reason of the flux, that pusheth out too great company of teeth at once. The children that escape this are more il juic'd in their infancy, then are their Fathers and Mothers in their old age. If the flux that afflicts them be salt, the milk is of a blackish and blewish colour; if it be of choler, it is more dangerous then the other, for that is very dangerous and venemous to the children. There is another sort of Nurses more dangerous then these I have now spoken [Page 116] of, who presently after they have lain in, that is, three or four, or five, or six moneths, are taken with their purgations, a thing which never happens to good Nurses: for this is the course of Nature, that all the blood which is retained is dedicated to the nourishment of the Infants. This is caused by an immoderate heat which is in their blood; and to say truth, as soon as ever this happens. the Infant must be taken away, for they are more apt to conceive then to nurse; and if they continue Nurses, they do but ruine the children; this is too much experimented, and I speak this to save the lives of a great many children, when seeing them suck I have discovered their want of milk; so that I may say, there dies a third part of the children, for want of taking care in this particular, which seem fat and in good case.

This is the cause of great cholicks, and vvindinesses in children, vvhich kils them in a moment; for the least Fever that takes them carries them avvay. B [...]side this, there are some whose milk is so little, but vvithall so thick, that it sticks upon the tongue, palate, and throat, which causes as it were a vvhite canker, vvhich is more and more heated by reason of their forcible drawing in vain, & possesseth all the throat, vvhereby they are hindred frō sucking. These Nurses wil milk after this a drop or two out of their breasts, crying look ye the child cares not for sucking. I never knew more abuse in any thing then in Nurses; for let them [Page 117] make vvhat excuse they vvill, it is nothing but necessity that reduceth them to be such, although the greatest part do say that it is to get acquaintance: yet vvhen they have a childe, vvhether they have milk or no, yet they desire not to part vvith it, no more then they do to drown themselves; vvhereby the Parents are often deceived. And therefore the mothers ought to have a great care, and to make it their business to surprize the Nurses at their ovvn houses, that if there be any miscarriage, they may find it out. And indeed it is very reasonable that the cause of these poor creatures that cannot complain should not be neglected, and these she-murderers be made known, that they may not go unknown.

Of a VVoman which I laid two several times, and of the difference of her bearing of two children, proceeding from several causes.

I VVas called to lay a Woman, who said she was gone her ful time; she had the same pains that Women are wout to have in the time of Travail, but her waters came not down; at one forcible throw she cast forth a great membrane like a hoggs bladder, all united within and without, only that it had divers branches of veins, as you shal see in a bladder; which I presently cut, and found therein a little Infant wel shaped swimming in black waters: it had gone its ful time, and was so lean that it resembled [Page 118] a meer picture; it had the Navel-string holding fast to the bladder, where it is to be supposed those smal branches of the veins do end; here as I guess, as long as it found any bloud, it lay languishing; but that beginning to fail it dyed, and presently voided those excrements that were contained in the Intestines, which being mingled in the waters made them black: and as for the Woman her self, she was the fullest of humor that ever I saw in my life. Another time I brought the same VVoman to bed, who was delivered of a child that came the ordinary way into the world with the head formost; now I perceiving her in Labour, found nothing at first but a certain softness, as if the waters were coming down; afterwards I perceived a certain bag with hair, a thwart which I saw certain great knobs or heads; the Infant being come forth was not yet formed; the face and the head were like vizards more then any face; it had the form of a nose, but it was so [...]t like wool: the head was ful of water, and those knobs which appeared were nothing but the futures of the head, which the too great abundance of water had disjoynd: in the hands it had nothing but hair in stead of bones, and the toes were of the same; the VVoman her self was said to be extreamly cholerick, and moist.

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Instructions of a famous, and dying Midwife to her Daughter, touching the practice of this Art.

DAughter, if the excellencies of what is to be known in this world are to be found not in one, but in several Countrics, certainly they are most able to instruct who have had the greatest experience, and longest travel in the world; which is the reason, that in this small Treatise I have not tyed my self up to the rules solely of my own Nation, but have searched the studies also of other Nations, that thou mayest be bettered not only by my experience, but by the labour of others.

In the first place therefore I exhort thee to be diligent, and to leave nothing unsearched that may tend to the advantage of thy practice. And to this end be alwaies learning to the last day of your life; which that thou mayst not cease to do, be alwayes humble; for those that are proud and obstinate never gain upon the hearts of those that are knowing in secrets. Be sure thou never make trial of any new Remedy or Receit, either upon poor or rich, if thou best not assured of the quality and operation thereof; and that it can do no hurt, whether it be applyed outwardly, or taken inwardly. Hide none of those good Receits which thou knowest, either from Midwives, or Physitians; for otherwise they wil esteem them as little as those of Mountebanks, as if thou hadst but one cure [Page 120] like them for all Diseases, and yet didst bragg as they do of doing wonders, yet stil conceal their Receits. Thou must speak freely of that which thou knowest, and give a reason for what thou sayest. Be not negligent, but so increase thy Talent, that people may say you are better then ever your Mother was: I must tell thee, thou hast taken a matter of great importance into your hand, and that in this Art there are two wayes easie to take; the one, to save thy credit, and the other to lose it. Above all things, you must beware (for any treasure in the world) of adhering to one vice, such as they are guilty of who give Remedies to cause abortion: for those that do ill, and those that seek a damnable remedy, are wicked in a high degree. But it is a higher degree of wickedness for those that are no way ingaged in the business, for lucres sake to kil both the body and soul of an infant. This I do not speak, that thou shouldest refuse to give Remedies upon just occasions; but to take heed how you be cheated by subtile persons who shal tel you fine stories of the diseases of their Wives or Daughters, which they may say are very honest, hoping from you some Receits to effect their wicked designes: send them to the Physitians, for you may give them a lawful excuse in saying that such matters do not belong to your charge. Never keep the cawl called Amnios, which covers the head & shoulders of the childe, for Sorcerers to make use of.

[Page 121]

If you are sent for to any house, inform your self of what condition they are; and whether they be rich, or whether they be the poorest creatures in the world, serve them with like pains and affection; and if you finde them to be very poor, take nothing; for to them a little is a great deal: visit them also afterwards with diligence, that for the smal time wherein they keep their bed you may be assisting to them, in strengthning and recovering of their healths. I charge thee Daughter, that in all thy life thou never receive a Woman into thy house to lye in; for that is but a kind of Panderism clothed in some pretence of charity; neither doth thy profession oblige thee to do it; if it chance to be a Woman that is not wholly betaken to whoredom, that there is some hopes of recovering her from that lost condition, if then she desire you, out of a belief of your sufficiency or secrecy, you may then go to her in an honest place. You must comfort her if she be afflicted, and to put her in the right way, exhorting her never to commit the like again; but to receive such persons into your house is but a means to encourage evil, as the receivers of stollen goods are a means to encourage thieves; And so the Midwives that bring such a stench to their house do assist & abet the evil which they do, whilest they know where to discharge themselves of the like burthen again. At the first when I took upon me this Calling, I took two into my house, the one of quality, the other of an ordinary condition; I saw them [Page 122] sometimes in such fits of despair, that I could hardly bring them out of them again; Those from whom the evil came, upon whose account I had received them, came now and then to see them, because they brought them maintenance; I was continually faign to keep watch with them, for fear they should do any evil in the house: And I must needs say I had better have kept a herd of swine. Such unrests as these ought not to enter into the brest of a Midwife; for her minde ought to be free & at peace. Beside, that a custome of laying VVomen of an ill life spoils the reputation of a VVoman, and oft-times endangers the health also. To confirm which, I knew an honest understanding Midwife that laid a Courtezan that seemed to ayle nothing at all; but she having an inveterated Pox, she gave it to the old Midwife upon her right hand, upon which there came a red Bubo; for all which she being unwilling to leave off her Calling, she spoiled after that above thirty Housholds; for the Husbands got the Pox from their wives, and the children from their Mothers.

Now let me tel thee Daughter, that thou oughtest not to take it ill to see the condition of Midwives despised; neither let this hinder thy studies in the perfection of this Art, which are not to be comprehended by those that despise it: neither be dismayed if thou seest people in this condition, that do not deserve to be; for this doth not at all diminish the honour [Page 123] of those that are good: for it comes from hence to pass, because they that receive them for mony do as stablers do, put the good and bad hortes together; the good horses are in no danger o be hurt by the Jades, but the Jades are in hazard of being kickt and spoild by the good Horses.

Never think of any thing else but of doing wel, & serving those that shal call thee according to their own liking, if that which they desire be not prejudicial to them; but if that which they desire be to their hurt, be sure that thou discharge thy self of them, and especially excuse thy self to the assistants, that thou mayst perswade them to reason. A sweet disposition in a Midwife is much more commendable then a rigorous; the pain of Child-bearing is a very hard labour, which you must consider, and accordingly conform thy self to the humor of the Patient, knowing your self to be called to comfort and assist her.

Mark wel entring into a house in what condition the Patient is; if the evil be at hand you must incourage her, and prepare your self with those things that are necessary; and first you must see that the bed be wel made for the woman that is to be brought to bed, and then to put on her little smock, and wastcote, and other linen necessary; and if she be so opinionated as that she wil not, tel her how much you do it for the better; and how great a paine it [Page 124] will be afterwards; content her though, for you must make of a bad market no more then you can. You ought to give order for things to be had from the Apothecaries with her consent; or if she be young, with the consent of her friends. You must take order also that some good broth be made for her to take in the time of her Travail, if it should chance to be long; and also two hours after her being brought to bed. Above all things I charge thee, that what ever business thou maist have there, that thou go not about them too hastily. For there is nothing so nauseous to be seen, as the improvident actions of over-busie Women. Never be dismayd if every thing go not wel, for fear disorders the senses; and a person that keeps her wits together, without suffering them to be scattered by fear, is capable of giving assistance in weighty affairs, and especially where things are done with leisure; for in such cases Nature helps marvelously, when we are most at a stand. There is a great necessity of prudence, especially in the Age wherein we live. There is now no need of Coloquintida to render any thing, good in it self, bitter and disagreeable to the taste. There are few Women now a dayes that do give that respect, or have that kindness for them as in former ages; for then when their Midwife dyed, they shewed a great deale of sorrow, and prayed God that now they might [Page 125] have no more Children: which though it were not well done, yet it shewed their affection. Now a dayes Women use them as meer Hirelings. There is a great deal of artifice to be used in the pleasing of our Women, especially the young ones, who many times do make election of men to bring them to bed. I blush to speak of them, for I take it to be a great piece of impudence to have any recourse to them, unless it be in a case of very great danger. I do approve it, I have approved it, and know that it ought to be done, so that it be concealed from the Woman all her life long; nor that she see the Chirurgeon any more: for it is very inconvenient to Husbands, that (unless in cases of very great danger) such th ngs concerning their own Wives should be communicated to any other men but themselves.

To this purpose shal I tel thee Daughter, that being called to the Labour of a friend where were none but two or three of her acquaintance, they asked me what I thought of the labour: to which I answered, that the child did not come wel, but that I would do the work with the assistance of God without danger to the child, or to the Mother; they desired me that I would let a Chirurgeon see her; for their satisfaction I consented to it, provided that she might not see him; for I was fearful lest she should dye with apprehension and shame; I perswaded her to slide down toward the fee [...] of the bed: I put the bolster upon the middle of the bed, and darkned the room on that side where he was to come; at the feet he touched her, and she was brought to bed without any other assistance save that of God [Page 126] and Nature. Since these injuries have been put in fashion, there have been observed greater hazards and dangers in lying in then before, which might be remedied by persons capable of their profession, if they might be let alone. But this detraction is so much in request, that among some kinde of people there is much adoe to make them believe the truth, and especially where they cannot get great advantage by so doing; and truly Honorable persons which I have had the honour to serve make other Women seem monstrous to me. You shall come into some houses where there are certain persons that hold such false lights to the Mistriss of the house, that she sees quite contrary to that which is real; which persons if they are not humored, your busines will be there soon dispatched. Take great heed of coming there, for it may chance to gain you nothing but a great deal of care. There are some Women that have no children, at which they are very much troubled; which is so notwithstanding that they might easily be helped, if they would tel an understanding Midwife where the defect lay.

As concerning those who are sent for to lay Women in the Country, I must say this, that as for those that are not very wel experimented they may incurr many hazards by reason of their ignorance, and the multiplicity of accidents that may happen; and for those that are knowing, to leave their Patients in the City is a thing that may displease and wrong many, and run the hazard of being no more entertained among them, to their own ruine; neither is there any certainty of a Woman that wil run rambling into the Country. My last advice is, that thou do wel, and in so doing fear nothing but God, that he may bless thee, and thy endeavours.

FINIS.

Now Published▪ that excellent and practical peece Intituled▪ Adam in Eden, Of the knowledge of all our English Plants, with their [...]ignat [...]res, physically applyed to the body of Man, that every man may be his own Physitian, in Folio, by W. C. M. D.▪ [...]nd others.

[Page]

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Author: Chamberlayne, Thomas.1656

Of the Genitals or vessels dedicated to Generation in Men and Women.

CHAP. I. Of the vessel of preparation.

CHAP. II. Of the Parastatae, or vessels where the bloud is first changed.

CAAP. III. The use of the preparing vessels.

CHAP IV. Of the Testicles in general.

CHAP. V. Of the Tunicles of the stones.

CHAP. VI. Of the suspensory Muscles.

CHAP. VII. Of the substance and temper of the stones.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Actions of Testicles.

CHAP. IX. Concerning the Ʋtilitie of the Testicles and their parts.

CHAP. X. Of the vessels that east forth the seed.

CHAP. XI. Of the Seminarie bladders.

CHAP. XII. Of the kernelly Prostatae, or forestanders.

CHAP. XIII Of the structure of the Yard.

CHAP. XIV. Of the several parts constituting the Yard.

CHAP. XV. Of the Action of the Yard.

CHAP. XVI. Of the use of the Yard in general.

CHAP. XVII. Of the use of the parts constituting the Yard.

SECT. II.

CHAP. I. Of the Genitals of Women.

CHAP. II. Of those parts called Mymphs and Clytoris.

CHAP. IV. Of the fleshie knobs, and the greater neck of the womb.

CHAP. V. Of the Hymen.

CHAP. VI. Of the vessels that run through the neck of the womb.

CHAP. VII. Of the fabrick of the womb.

CHAP. VI. Of the preparing vessels in women.

CHAP. VII. Of the Stones in Women.

CHAP. VIII. Of the deferent or ejaculatory vessels.

CHAP. IX. Of the Actions and Uses of the Genital parts in Women.

CHAP. X. Of the action of the Clytoris.

CHAP. XI. Of the action and use of the neck of the womb.

CHAP. XII. Of the uses of the vessels running through the neck of the womb.

CHAP. XIII. Of the actions of the womb.

CHAP. XIV. Of the utility of the womb.

CHAP. XV. Of the Utility of the preparing vessels in women.

CHAP. XVI. Of the Utility of the stones.

SECT. III.

CHAP. I. Of the signes of Conception.

CHAP. II. Whether she have conceived a Male.

CHAP. III. Whether she have conceived a Female.

CHAP. IV. Of the Conception of Twins.

CHAP. V. Of false Conception.

CHAP. VI. How women with childe ought to go­vern themselves.

CHAP. VII. How women ought to govern themselves, in the time of their going with childe.

She may use this liniment, or Pommatum.

Or this,

Take this one more Liniment.

You may use this Bath.

You may use this Oyntment.

SECT. IV. Of the formation of the childe in the womb.

CHAP. I. Of the mixture of the seed of both Sexes, as also of its substance and form.

CHAP. II. Of the three tunicles which the birth is wrapt in, in the womb.

CHAP. III. Of the true generation of the parts, and the increase of them, according to the several dayes and seasons.

CHAP. IV. Of the nourishment of the birth in the womb.

CHAP. V. Of the condition of the Infant in the womb in the sixth, seaventh, and eighth moneth.

SECT. IV.

CHAP. I. Of the situation of the child in the womb.

SECT. V.

CHAP. I. Of Midwifes.

CHAP. II. What ought to be observed, when she is neer the time of her lying downe.

CHAP. III. How to expell the Collick from. women in Childbed.

CHAP. IV. How the Midwife may know when the pains of travail do seize a woman.

CHAP. V. Of the falling down of the waters, a good while before the woman travails.

CHAP. VI. What the Midwife ought to do in time of travaile.

CHAP. VII. How to draw forth the Secondines.

CHAP. VIII. What may be given to a woman in travaile.

CHAP. IX. How to put the Womb again in its place.

CHAP. X. Against the extreme loss of blood, which happen to women, immediately after their delivery.

CHAP. XI. What is to be done to a woman, presently after her delivery.

CHAP. XII. Of women that have a great deal of bloud, and purge not, neither in their travail nor after.

CHAP. XIII. For those who have but a little blood.

CHAP. XIV. What is to be done to the Infant.

CHAP. XV. How to govern women in Child-bed.

CHAP. XVI. Of the bathings that a woman is to use for the first eight dayes of her lying in.

CHAP. XVII. How a woman ought to govern her self, in case a woman be to be deliver­ed of two children.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the danger that a woman hath, to purge her selfe for the first days of her lying in.

CHAP. XIX. Of the second washing for women.

CHAP. XX. What is to be done to Infants, assoon as they are born.

CHAP. XXI. Of the last washing for Women.

CHAP. VI. How women with childe ought to govern themselves.

CHAP. XVII. How a woman ought to govern her self, in case a woman be to be delivered of two children.