Chap. 1. Of the straitness and large­ness of the Orifice.

THere are three Diseases in this Part. The straitness, and the largeness, and Yard of a Woman.

The straightness is, when the Cleft is nar­row, [Page 2] that it will not admit a Mans Yard, or with much difficulty, it hinders Child-bearing; and if it be from the first confirmation, it is hard to be cured by Physick: but it is enlarged, either by copulation, or by bringing forth of children. Sometimes it is from an Ulcer, or from astrin­gent Medicines given unadvisedly, that they may appear to be Virgins, when they are not.

Sometimes the cleft is shut up outwardly, and there is only passage for the Urin and the Terms: these Women are called Atretae, that is shut up, and bored, of which Chap. 3. Sometimes it is so close, that neither Terms nor Urin can come forth.

The contrary to this, is largeness of the Cleft, or when there are more holes then Nature hath usually, by often Copulation or Child-bearing. This laxity or largeness causeth Barrenness and falling out of the Womb, as Hippocrates shews in the Nature of Women. And this makes women unpleasant to men.

This is cured by purging after Child-bearing, by Fomentations, Baths, Liniments of Allum water, and the Decoction of astringent Plants.

Take Comfry roots, Bole, Sanguis Draconis, Pom­granate flowers, Allum, Mastich, Galls, each half a dram: make a Powder, and with steeled Water make a Mixture, dip a Pessary therein. Or, Take Oaken leaves, Plantane, each half a handful; Com­fry roots an ounce, Pomegranate peels and flowers, Sumach, each half an ounce; Allum an ounce, boyl them in Water, and foment the Privites.

Sometimes in hard travel, the space between the Fundament and the privy Cleft, is broken into one hole. Eros shews the Cure of it. Some put a long piece of Allum into the Cleft. When [Page 3] there are divers passages in a Womans Privities it is from the first confirmation, De passion, mulier. c. 20. when by Na­tures error, the passage from the straight Gut goes to the Womb.

Chap. 2. Of the Mentula, or Yard in a Woman.

THe Alae or Wings in the Privities of a Wo­man, are of soft spongy flesh, like a Cocks-comb in shape and colour; the part at the top is hard and nervous, and swells like a Yard in Ve­nery, with much spirit. This part sometimes is as big as a mans Yard, and such women were thought to be turned into men.

It is from too much nourishment of the part, The Causes. from the looseness of it by often handling.

It is not safe to cut it off presently: The Cure. but first use Driers and Discussers, with things that a little astringe; then gentle Causticks without causing pain, as burnt Allum, Aegyp­tiacum.

Take Aegyptiacum, Oyl of Mastick, Roses, Wax, each half an ounce If these will not do, then cut it off, or tie it with a Ligature of Silk or Horse-hair, till it mortifie.

Aetius teacheth the way of Amputation, Tetrab­ser. 4. c. 103. he calls it the Nympha or Clitoris, between both the Wings: but take heed you cause not pain or In­flammation. After cutting, wash with Wine, with Mirtles, Bayes, Roses, Pomgranate flowers boiled in it, and Cypress nuts, and lay on an astringent Powder.

Some Excrescences grow like a tail, and fill the Privities: they differ from a Clitoris: for the desire of Venery is increased in that, and the rubbing of the Cloaths upon it, cause lust: but in an Excrescence of flesh, they cannot for pain endure Copulation, but you may cut off this better than a Clitoris, because it is all su­perfluous.

Chap. 3. Of Atretae or Closures, and straitness of the Neck and Mouth of the Womb.

THey are threefold. Is it either in the Ori­fice, or the Neck, or in the middle: it is alwaies hurtful, either to Copulation or the Terms, or to Conception, and Child-bearing.

I saw one that had the first: the Orifice was very little, only fit to purge the Terms, and re­ceive Seed; she conceived, and the Midwives discovered in time of Child-bearing, and the Chirurgion opened it, and she was happily deli­vered: but how the Seed was spent into it, is not to be understood.

Lib. de ab. sana. & morb. cau. cap. 78.Flesh or a Membrane is from evil conformati­on, or a Wound, or Ulcer, of which Benivenius, Fabricus and Hildanus.

The Cleft also may be closed by a Wound or Ulcer, as in a woman who with the French Pox, had all eaten off, and it grew together after, only there was a little passage for Urin.

This is, either when the sides grow together from an Ulcer, or when proud flesh stops it up, which is sometimes in the French Pox.

When it is in the Privities, it is to be seen: The Signs. but when in the Neck or Orifice of the Womb, it is not known, but when the Terms are to flow, or when they copulate: and it is either broken by the force of blood, or there is pain; and being Virgins, they are taken to be with child: for if it last long, the womb swells, and the whole body is blewish.

These either hinder the Terms from the neck of the womb, or from the veins of it. If inflam­mation or ulcer was before, this disease may be suspected to be; if there the closing be by the Membrane, the place is white; if by Flesh, it is red. And it is known by the touch: for the Membrane is harder then Flesh.

The inconveniences are great, The Progno­stick. either in Copulation, Conception, or Child-bearing especi­ally: for the Child cannot get forth without hazard of it self or mother.

It is easier cured when it is from a Membrane only, because it is easily cut or broken; that in the Orifice of the Womb is not to be cured, be­cause the instruments cannot reach it.

Take away that which stops the passage, The Cure. a Membrane that is outward is easily cut: but if it be in the neck of the Womb or be flesh, it is hard. For if the cut be large, there is pain and bleeding, and the wound is hard to be cured, because the neck of the Bladder is easily hurt thereby.

Uvierus teacheth this Operation in his Obser­vations. And Hippocrates in his Book of Sterility shews how a Membrane may be taken away with­out cutting.

If flesh grow from an ulcer after purging, use Driers and Discussers to diminish it, with Fran­kincense, [Page 6] Birthwort, Roses, Pomgranate flowers, Mastick, Mirrh, Aloes &c. as in Chap. 2.

Nicol. Flo­rentius.Some think this Disease may come from dri­ness, but it is incredible. If it come from a hard tumor, soften and dissolve it with Butter, Oyl of sweet Almonds, Lillies, &c.

Chap. 4. Of Pustles and Rough­ness of the Privities.

ROughness and Itching come from Pustles in the neck of the Womb and Privities, with scurff and swellings which itch and pain.

The Causes.They are from an adust humor malignant and sharp, which abounding, evacuate themselves by these loose and moist parts, and their sticking, exasperate the flesh; this is in the French Pox.

The Signs. The Progno­stick. The Cure.They declare it themselves.

It is stubborn, long, and infectious to men, and hard to be cured.

If the adust sharp humors come from the whole body, prepare with Borrage, Fumitory, Succory, Endive, and the like, then evacuate them with Senna, Epithimum, Syrup of Apples, Violets, Roses, Catholicon, Confection Hamech, pills of Fumitory, Tartar.

Let blood if there be fulness, first in the Arm, then in the Ancle: but if it be from the French Pox, first use Guajacum and Sarsa, and the like.

Foment the part often with a hot Decoction of Dock roots, Fumitory, Hops, Pellitory: or use this Oyntment: Take Plantane and Rose-water, each four ounces; Sal gem, Niter, Allum, each three drams; Sublimate a dram and half: boil them [Page 7] to the third part, strain them, and add Verdigreece a scruple: then use gentler means two days after, till the Pustles fall off, and new flesh appear, and then use the Oyntment again.

Let the Diet be to resist evil humors, of good Juice, avoid salt, sharp and sour things.

Chap. 5. Of Condyloma in the Neck of the Womb.

COndyloma is a tubercle or excrescence with heat and pain: for these parts are wrinkled, and when the wrinkles swell, there is a Condy­loma. Sometimes it is without Inflammation and soft, or with Inflammation and hard. It is usual in the Privities and Fundament of such as have the French Pox.

They are from a sharp malignant humour, The Causes. which is alwaies in the Pox, and sometimes they follow hard Clefts or Chaps.

They are pain and burning, The Signs. the skin is wrink­led; and when they are many, they are like a Bunch of Grapes.

They are hard to be cured, The Progno­stick. if they are from the Pox, first cure that, and then they often vanish of themselves.

After general Evacuations proper against the Pox, use Tropicks: The Cure. first see if there be Inflamma­tion, and then abate pain. As, Take Oyl of Lin­seed and Roses, each an ounce; Oyl of Eggs half an ounce; mix them in a Leaden Mortar. Or, Take Pellitory, Mallows, Althaea, each half a handful; Chamomil-flowers two pugils, Linseed and Foenu­greek, each half an ounce. Boil them to a pint, add Oyl of Roses three ounces, inject it with a Syringe.

If there be no Inflamation, use Driers and Re­pellers, as Vervain, Ivy, Acacia, Pomegranate­peels and flowers: for Baths and Fomentations, and after add Discussers, as Chamomil and Thyme.

If it be old and hard first soften it with the same, and after thrice using them, use Digesters and Driers that are strong as a Powder. Take round Birthwort a dram, Savin, Hermodactils burnt, each two drams; burnt Allum two drams, red Lead a dram, Calcitis half a dram; sprinkle it upon the loofe flesh.

Or, Take Aloes, Frankincense, Mirrh, each a dram; Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar a dram and half, Allum two drams, red Lead two drams, Galls half a dram, Turpentine, Oyl of Tartar, each a dram; with Oyl of Roses and Wax, make an Oyntment.

This is very strong: Take Turpentine an ounce, Oyl of Nutmegs two ounces, read Lead two drams, Allum, Vitriol, each a dram; Verdegreece half a dram, Sublimate a scruple, with Wax make an Oyntment, or of Balsom of Mercury.

Tetrab. 4. serm. l. c. 3.If Medicines will not do, the Ancients advise Burning, of which see Aetius.

Chap. 7. Of Warts in the Neck of the Privities of the Womb.

THey are from a gross feculent and malignant humor sent to the skin, & turned to a Node.

The Signs.They are known by their shape: the malig­nant are known by their hardness, and heat, and blewness, filth, and pain.

The Progno­stick.They are often hard to be cured, because the [Page 9] pox is with them, and they are in a place to which Medicines are hard to be applied, and to continue.

The Myrmeciae are not cut off, but they leave a great ulcer, the Thymi and Clavi grow again. Acrochordones once cut, leave no root.

After Universals, and order of diet, The Cure. either use Medicines, or cut or burn them to discuss, then use Sage dried with Figs, Organ, Rue burnt, dry Savin, Frankincense, with Wine and Vinegar, or Snakes skins with Figs: these also dry.

These corrode, eat and burn, as juyce of wild Cowcumbers, with Salt, Milk of Figgs, Sheeps-dung, Goats-gall, with Niter, Aqua fortis, Spirit of Vitriol, Sulphur, Butter of Antimony. Take heed that you hurt not the parts adjacent, but defend them with Bole, sealed Earth, Rose-water and Vinegar; if you put the Corrosives into Nut-shells, change them twice or thrice in a day, and wash the part with a cleansing Decoction, and then cut or burn.

Chap. 7. Of the Haemorrhoids of the Womb.

THe veins that end in the neck of the womb often swell, like the Haemorrhoids; it is from gross blood that comes to these veins out of the time of the terms.

Inordinate flux of terms may occasion it, The Causes. when they flow out of the usual time, they grow thick, and cannot get out of the veins, but swell them.

They are to be touched, The Signs. and with a Speculum matricis to be seen. There is pain and bleeding without order: she is pale and lazy.

The Cure.Correct the blood, purge, and bleed in the arm to derive and revel, of which in the diseases of the womb.

If pain be, abate it by sitting in a Decoction of Mallows, Althaea, Chamomel, Melilot flowers, Moulin, Linseed, Foenugreek; of which also make Fomentations and Oyntments, with But­ter, Populeon, and Opium if there be pain.

Take Populeon, Oyl of Roses, and sweet Almonds, fresh Butter, each half an ounce; Saffron a scruple, with the yelk of an Egg, make an Oyntment. Or,

Take Mucilage of Quinces, Althaea, each half an ounce; Oyl of Roses, and Hens-grease, each a dram; the yelk of an Egg, and Saffron half a dram, mix them in a Leaden Mortar.

If pain be gone or abated, and they bleed not, use Dryers of Bole, Earth of Lemnos, Acacia, Ceruss, froath of Silver, Lead burnt and washed, long Birthwort, Allum, Verdigreece.

If they swell with blood, evaporate it, or fo­ment with the Decoction of Mallows, Althaea, Pellitory, Chamomil-flowers, Moulin, Melilot, seeds of Line and Foenugreek. If they do not good, open them by Fig-leaves rub'd upon them, or by Horsleeches, of which Chap. 2.

If there be proud flesh, take it off, as is shew­ed.

If they bleed gently, let Nature alone to the work, for it is good, and frees from other disea­ses. If the flux be great, and abate the strength, open a vein in the arm divers times, and do as in overflowing of the Terms.

Chap. 8. Of Ulcers in the Neck of the Womb.

THey are seldome cured in the body of the womb, and they are simple and clean, or sor­did and malignant.

Are a flux of sharp humors that lasts long in the Pox and Gonorrhaea. Corrupt after-births, The Causes. and courses after child-bearing detained, inflam­mations turned to imposthumes; these are the internal.

The external are sharp Medicines, hard tra­vel, a great child taken out by force, violent le­chery, wounds, falls, strokes.

Are pain and constant biting that increaseth, The Signs. especially in copulation, or when Wine or Hy­dromel is injected. You may also see it with a [Page 12] Speculum: also there is matter gentle or filthy; if the ulcer go towards the bladder, they piss hot and often: there is pain in the roots of the eyes to the hands and fingers fainting, and a little Fea­ver sometimes.

The external Causes are to be related by the Patient. If it be from the Pox or Gonorrhoea, the signs of them will appear, of which Hippocrates.

They are hard to be cured, because they are in a part fit to receive humors, soft and moist, and that hath consent with many parts. Hence are divers Symptoms: the great, old, and foul are worst, when they corrode, and are hollow, they are seldome cured; they that may easily have Medicines applied to them, are easiest cu­red.

The Cure.First, stop the flux of humors to the part, if it be either from the whole body, or any part. And amend the distemper of the womb, that it may neither breed nor receive bad humors. If the French Pox be with it, resist that first.

If there be pain, first abate that with Milk stee­led, or with three whites of Eggs, and Mucilage of Fleabane, or an Emulsion of Poppy seeds. Or, Take Althaea roots an ounce, Dill seed two drams, Barley a pugil, Faenugreek and Linseed, each an ounce; Fleabane and Poppy-seed, each half an ounce; boyl them in Milk. Of which in pain of the womb.

In a foul ulcer, first use Clensers, as Whey, Barley-water, Honey, Wormwood, Smallage, Orobus, Orris, Birthwort, Mirrh, Turpentine, Allum. As, Take new Milk boyled a pint, Honey half a pint, Orris powder half an ounce. Use it hot often every day.

When that which was injected, is voided, [Page 13] wash with the Decoction of Mallows, and put up this Pessary: Take Eruum and Lentils in powder and Orris, each two drams; with Honey. Or,

Take Diapompholigos, with Frankincense, Ma­stick, Mirrh, as the Ulcer requires.

Of such Fumes: As, Take Frankincense, Ma­stich, Mirrh, Storax calamite, Gum of Juniper, Labdanum, each an ounce: make a powder, or Tro­ches with Turpentine.

If there be suspition of the French Pox, add a little Cinnabar. In a very foul ulcer, and Ae­gyptiacum or Apostolorum, or a little Spirit of Wine. In a creeping corroding ulcer, with Cleansers mix cold, drying and astringent Me­dicines. Allum-water, Plantane and Rose-water, with Pomegranate-flowers boiled, and Pomegra­nate-peels, and Cypress-nuts is also good, and with Aloes.

After cleansing, fill it with flesh, and heal it up. As, Take Tutty washed half an ounce, Litharge, Ceruss, Sarcocol, each two drams; with Oyl of Roses and Wax make an Oyntment.

Or smoke the Privities with Mirrh, Frankin­cense, Gum or Juniper, Labdanum two drams in powder with Turpentine make Troches.

Or use Sulphur, or Allum Baths, and Plai­sters.

Inwardly give vulnerary Potions. As, Take Agrimony, Burnet, Plantane, Knot-grass, each two pugils; China three drams, Coriander-seed half a dram, Currans half an ounce: boil them in Hen-broath, give it twice a day. Or give Turpentine and Sugar for a month, or a dram of Pills of Bdellium often.

If the body consume, give Asses milk, with Conserve of Roses for a month.

Chap. 9. Of Clefts in the Neck of the Womb.

THese are long Ulcers that are small, like those in the hands and feet in Winter; they eat off the skin, & are sometimes deep with hard lips, if old: sometimes they are dry, or sometimes bleed.

The Causes.They come from hard travel, when some parts in the neck of the womb are broken by a great Child, or violent Copulation, or flux of sharp humors that stick in the parts, and corrode.

The Signs.If it be new, it is hidden sometimes and known in Copulation, by pain and bleeding.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.The new are easier cured, then when they are old and callous.

If they come from hard travel, make a Cly­ster of the Decoction of Roses, Plantane, Birth-wort, Bole, Sanguis Draconis, Frankincense or with the white of an Egg, a Pessary.

If from sharp humors: after universaller Eva­cuations, use Topicks that bind without biting, (if the Clefts be not callous) as Oyl of Linseed and Roses, with the yelk of an Egg, and Juice of Plantain mixed in a Leaden Mortar. Or,

Ung. Stpol­lonij apud Gal.Take Oyl of Roses eight ounces, stir it in a leaden Mortar, till it is black and thick, then put in the powders of Litharge of Silver and Ceruss.

If they are callous, make an Oyntment of Oyl of Lillies, Marrow of a Deer, Turpentine and Wax. If they are malignant, cure them as Fistu­laes, of which in the Chapter following.

If there be Itch and pain; Take Diapompholi­gos, Populeon, each an ounce; Sugar of Lead, Cam­phire, [Page 15] each a scruple: make an Oyntment.

Let the Diet be moist, of good Juice, Chick­ens, Veal, Kid, rear Eggs, Mallows, Bugloss, Bo­rage; Abstain from sharp and salt meats.

Chap. 10. Of Fistulaes in the Neck of the Womb.

MAny times there are Ulcers in these parts, because they are soft, and easily corroded, and are hard to be cured.

Some of them are straight, others crooked. Some Simple, others hollow.

If matter stay there, The Causes. it corrodes and makes burroughs, and divides the parts, and makes a Callus; and when the matter is divided, the parts divided cannot unite.

It is known by the figure of the ulcer, The Signs. there is a callous Lip, and a thin evil matter, when it is pressed, flows out: there is no pain, except it reach a sensible part. Sometimes it reacheth the Bladder, and then the urin comes forth at the Fistula. Sometimes the Fundament, and then the dung appears in the Fistula.

A new Fistula is easier cured than an old, The Prog­nostick. and a straight than a crooked. It is scarce to be cured in a Chachochimical old body, when it pierceth into the parts adjacent.

First, use Universals, and good, Diet, The Cure. then see if it may be cured by Medicines, or better left to Nature to evacuate Excrements thereby.

If the last is best, use a pallative Cure, by of­ten purging and sweating twice in a year, and Injunctions and Strengtheners, and lay up a Plai­ster of Diapalma.

If you hope for a Cure, after universals, give drying vulnerary Drinks; of male Fern roots, Centaury, Agrimony, Bettony, Ladies-mantle, &c.

Then use Topicks: first dilate the Orifice (if it be strait) with a Spunge or Gentian roots, then consume the Callus: but first make it soft with Oyl of Lillies, Deers Marrow, Turpentine and Wax.

Three things consume a Callus: Medicines, Cutting and Burning, there in a new strait Fi­stula, use Gentian, black Hellebore, Aegyptia­cum, or Vigo's powder with a pencil. Or, Take Sublimate half a scruple, Rose or Plantane-water fix ounces, set it upon Embers. If it be towards the Womb, take heed of strong Medicines.

If it be callous and foul, burn it either by a Caustick or hot Iron. These are good in the outward of the Neck: then cleanse and heal.

Chap. 11. Of a Cancer in the Womb.

IT is seldom seen, and never cured: but here I shall speak of that in the neck of the Womb, which is ulcerated, or not ulcerated.

The Causes.It is from terms burnt, and hot burnt humors that are black, that flow thither. It is after long scirrhous tumors, that have been immoderately softned. It is first not ulcerated, and when the humors are more corrupt, it is ulcerated.

The Signs.They are hard to be known at first, because it is a tumor without pain, & after there is a prick­ing in it, and a pain in the Groins, Loins, and bottom of the Belly. The tumor is hard, blew, [Page 17] with blew stinking Lips. When it is ulcerated, the Symptoms are all worse, and there is a thin, black, stinking matter. Sometimes much blood that is dangerous, a gentle Feaver, Loathing, trouble of Mind, the Cheeks are red, from the vapors that flie up from the womb.

It is hard to be cured, The Prog­nostick. because mild Medicines are not felt, and strong, exasperate; and the part makes it more hard, because it is neglected at the first, and increaseth.

Let the Physitian prevent ulceration: The Cure. or if it be to hinder the increase of it, let diet be against Melancholy: prepare and purge Melancholy.

This powder for many dayes given, is excel­lent: Take Smaragds, Saphir, and East Bezoar­stone, each a dram; give every day three or four grains with Scabious or Carduus water.

Let the Tropicks not be biting at first. But foment with juyce of Plantane, Nightshade, Purslane, or use Diapompholigos. Or, Take Juyce of Plantane, Nightshade, Purstane, each two ounces; Mucilage of Fleabane an ounce, Oyl of Roses three ounces: stir them in a leaden Mortar. Or, Take Oyl of Roses, of Eggs, each an ounce and half; Sugar of Lead a dram: stir them in a leaden Mor­tar, then add Litharge, Ceruss, each three drams; Tutty a dram, Camphire a scruple. Or,

Take Juyce of Nightshade six ounces, Tutty and burnt Lead, each two drams; Camphire half a dram: stir them long in a leaden Mortar, and add powder of Cray-fish.

Inject a Decoction of Cray-fish: and if pain be great, foment with Mallows, Althaea, Water-lillies, Coriander, Dill, Fleabane Seed, with Saffron in Milk: or make a Cataplasm of the same.

Some use Antimony, Arsenick, &c. which are good in other parts. But this cannot bear them.

A noble Woman had on the right side of her Face an ulcerated Cancer, and when all the French, Italian, German, Spanish Physitians could not cure her, a Barber cured her only with Chickens sliced thin, and laid on often every day.

Chap. 12. Of a Gangrene and Sphacel in the Womb.

SOmetimes the whole Womb is gangrenated, and it is from the Privities that receive ma­ny Excrements apt to corrupt.

The Causes.It is from an Inflammation and Ulcer not well cured, because the part hath many Excrements, which easily quench the natural heat, and then the part mortifies.

The Signs.There is an usual heat in the Neck of the Womb, and a Feaver with horror all over the body, then the colour changeth in the part; it is black and blew, without pulse or sense. When it is cut or pricked, it stinks, and the strength decayes, and the heart faints.

The Progno­stick. Aetius leth. 1. cap. 72. Nichol. Flo­rent. ser. 6. tr. 3. Math. degrad. in 9. Rhasis C. de exitu matricis.It is very dangerous, and worse when it goes to the womb than outwards. Some have had the Womb fall out, and have lived, which besides grave Histories,

We saw at Avinion in an old noble VVoman. Anno 1635.

Stop the putrifaction, take away that which is rotten, by scarrifying if you can, then wash with the Decoction of VVormwood, Lupines, and with Aegyptiacum, and apply this Cataplasm: Take Orobus and Bean flour, each two ounces; Oxymel a [Page 19] pint, boil them, add Lupines, Wormwood, Aloes, and Mirrh.

Cut off the dead flesh, The Cure. strengthen the princi­pal parts, the Heart, lest the Spirits be infected with evil vapors that fly by the Arteries.

Give Conserve of Borrage, Bugloss, Gilli-flow­ers, Diamargariton frigid, Electuary of Gems frigid, Confection of Hyacinths, Syrup of Sor­rel, Pomegranates, Borrage; and apply Epithems to the Heart. In Obser­vatio. Vuierus cured a noble Woman aged twenty five, she had a Pustle in her Privities in the Dog-dayes, from violent Lechery with her Husband, and she used a Cataplasm from a silly Chirurgion, and in few dayes it rotted, grew black, and mortified, and went towards the Fun­dament very fast.

Chap. 1. Of the Knowledge of the Temper of the Womb.

Lib. uterus muliebris. MArk Anthony Ulmus Physitian of Bono­nia, shews the Temper of the Womb: He saith, That a Beard in Women shews that they have a hot Womb, and hot Stones. It comes with the beginning of the Terms, and when the Breasts swell, and is hard to be seen.

Lib. 3. de lui. ani. c. 11. Aristotle saith, That some Women have hairs in their Chin, when their Courses stop, and when they have a hot Womb and Stones.

But there are more certain signs of heat.

[Page 21]1. When hard hair comes forth suddenly, thick, black and long, and large about. If they come forth slow, thin, soft, yellowish, and but few, not spreading, the Womb is cold.

Also when the Terms come forth at 12 years of age, it is a sign of a hot Womb, and when they last long, the blood is red, hot, but not very much. In an old Constitution they come later, and the blood is cold and waterish, and they end sooner. If it be hot and moist, they flow plenti­fully, and last till after fifty. If it be hot and dry, the blood is yellow, thin and sharp, and pricks the Privities.

If it be cold and moist, the blood comes late forth, with difficulty, and it is whitish and thin. If it be cold and dry, the Terms come forth very late, and with difficulty, and seldome continue till forty, and the blood is thick and little.

The third sign is from Lechery: for they who have hot wombs, desire Copulation sooner and more vehemently, & are much delighted there­with: they who are cold, do the contrary. The hot and moist are not tired with much Venery. The hot and dry have great Lust and a Frenzy if they want it: but they are quickly tired, because there are but few Spirits. If it be cold and moist, they are not soon lecherous, and are easily satis­fied; and if they miscarry often, the womb is made colder, and they delight not in the sport: but Copulation doth them good, and makes them more youthful. If it be cold and dry, they desire not a man in a long time, and take no delight; because the Spirits are few.

The fourth sign is from often Conception: for the hot conceive often, and bring forth males or Viragoes, if the seed of the man agrees with it.

the cold doth the contrary.

A hot and moist Womb is very fruitful, if the man be well tempered; and though he be old and weak, yet she will conceive by him. Sometimes they have twins, or over-do, and have a Mole.

Hot and dry are fruitful, but not so much as the former.

Cold and moist are hard to conceive, especially when they are in years; when they are young, and the Seed of the man is hot and dry, they con­ceive males; but seldom well shaped or health­ful: and the woman while she is with Child, is sickly.

A cold and dry Womb is commonly barren; and if they conceive, the Mans Seed is hot and moist, they bring forth Females; and if Males, they are tall, and quickly look old.

Chap. 2. Of the hot Distemper of the Womb.

HEat of the VVomb is necessary for Concep­tion; but if it be too much, it nourisheth not the Seed of the man, but disperseth its heat, and hinders the Conception.

The Causes.This preternatural heat is from the Birth sometimes, and makes them barren. If aftewards, it is from hot causes that bring the heat and the blood to the womb. From internal and external Medicines, too much hot meats and drinks, and Exercise.

The Signs.They are prone to Lust, have few Courses, yel­low, or black, or burnt, or sharp; they have hairs betimes upon their privities; they are subject to the Headach, and there are signs of much Choler, their Lips are dry.

When this distemper is strong, The Prog­nostick. they have few terms, and out of order: they are bad and hard to flow, and in time they are Hypochondriacks, and for the most part barren; and there is some­times a Frenzy of the Womb.

Use Coolers: The Cure. so that they offend not the Ves­sels that must be open for the Flux of the terms: therefore,

Use inwardly Succory, Endive, Violets, Wa­terlillies, Sorrel, Lettice, Sanders, and Syrups and Conserves made thereof. As,

Take Conserve of Succory, Violets, Waterlillies, Borage, each an ounce; Conserve of Roses half an ounce, D [...]amargariton frigid, Di [...]trio santalon, each half a dram; with Syrup of Violets or Juyce of Ci­trons make an Electuary.

Outwardly use Oyntment of Galens Cooler, Oyntment of Roses, Cerot of Sanders, Oyl of Roses, Violets, Waterlillies, Gourds, Venus-navel to the Back and Loins: or make Cata­plasms of Barley meal, Roses powdered, Violets, Waterlillies, Sanders, with Juyce or water of Plantane, Waterlillies, Succory, Lettice, Oyl of Roses, Violets, Waterlillies.

Baths are good to sit in, and cooling Fomen­tations; and after let her take some of the Coo­lers mentioned. In great heat, use this cooling Pessary.

Take Opium a scruple, Goose grease two scruples, Eras. de pass. mulic. cap. 7. Wax and Honey, each four scruples; Oyl at ounce, whites of two Eggs.

This was from an opinion the Ancients had, that Opium was cold: but take heed of the using it too much, lest the narcotick quality hurt.

Let the Air be cool, her Garments thin: let her meat be with Lettice, Endive, Succory, Barley: [Page 24] give no hot meats nor strong Wine, except it be waterish and thin. Rest is good both in body and mind. She must not copulate, but she may sleep much.

Chap. 3. Of the cold Distemper of the womb.

THis causeth many Evils, and Barrennesse.

They are contrary to those of a hot Di­stemper; The Causes. cold Air, Rest and Idlenesse, and cool­ing Medicines.

The Signs.It is known by their not desire of Lechery, not receiving pleasure in the time of Copulation, when they spend their Seed. The terms are fleg­matick, thick and slimy, and flow not rightly: there is wind in the womb, the Seed is crude, waterish with a Gonorrhoea.

The Prog­nostick. The Cure.It is the cause of Obstructions and Barrenness, and is hard to be cured.

Use things proper to heal the womb, as this Water.

Take Galangal, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mace, Cloves, each two drams; Ginger, Cubebs, Zedoary, Carda­moms, each an ounce; grains of Paradice, long Pepper, each half an ounce: beat them, and put them in six quarts of Wine for eight dayes, then add Sage, Mints, Balm, Motherwort, each three hand­fuls: let them stand eight dayes more, then pour off the Wine, and beat the Herbs and the Spices, and then pour on the Wine, and distil them.

Ano her. Take Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, Ginger, Cubebs, Cardamom, grains of Pa a­dice, each an ounce and half; Galangal six drams, long Pepper half an ounce, Zedoary five drams, [Page 25] bruise them, and add six quarts of Wine, put them in a Cellar nine dayes, daily stirring them; then add Mints two handfuls, then let them stand fourteen dayes, pour off the Wine, and bruise them, and then pour on the Wine again, and distil them.

Quercetan hath an Hysterick, Extract, In phar. doc. restit. cap. 25. a greater and a less; use outwardly Fomentations, Baths, Baggs of hot Roots, as Birthwort, Lovage, Va­lerian, Angelica, Burnet, Masterwort, Calamus, Madder, Elicampane, Orris, and Herbs: as Mug­wort, Balm, Motherwort, Savin, Penny-royal, Calamints, Organ, Dittany, Marjoram, Rue, Bettony, Rosemary, Lavender, Sage, Stoechas flowers, Seeds of Smallage, Parsley, Rue, Car­rots, Anise, Fennel, Cummin, Lovage, Par­sley.

Anoint with Oyl of Lillies, Rue, Angelica, Bays, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace, Nutmeg. Or, Take Labdanum two ounces, Frankincense, Mastick, liquid Storax, each half an ounce; Oyl of Cloves, Nutmegs, each half a scruple; Oyl of Lillies, Rue, each an ounce; with Wax make a Plaister.

A Fume. Take Frankincense, Mirrh, Mastich, each a dram; Bayberries a dram and half, Labda­num two drams, Storax Cloves, each a dram; Gum Arabick and Wine make Troches, or Pessaries of the same.

Let the diet be warming, and the air, the meat of easie concoction, seasoned with Anise, Fennel, Thyme. Avoid Milk-meats and raw Fruits.

Chap. 4. Of the moist Distemper of the Womb.

THis is commonly joyned with a cold Distem­per, and causeth Barrenness, and is from the [Page 26] same causes, as a cold distemper: for commonly cold things do moisten. It is commonly in wo­men that are idle.

The Signs.They that have moist wombs abound in Cour­ses, but they are waterish and thin; the privities are wet, they have the VVhites, and desire not Copulation much, and delight not in it; they retain not the seed: and if they conceive when the child is big, they abort or miscarry.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.If it last long, it is hard to be cured. If it be much, they conceive not.

It is by Driers, and things that cure the cold distemper are good against the moist: because all Healers have a drying power. Use Sulphur Baths and Injections. Beware of Astringents, lest the evil humors be stopt, and the disease increased.

Chap. 5. Of the dry Distemper of the Womb.

IN this the womb is hardned, of it self it is fleshy and soft, and moistned by blood for Conception.

It is sometimes from the birth or old age, when they are past child-bearing. If it be from drying causes, they are barren before they are old.

The Causes.Diseases and Medicines dry the womb, as In­flammations, Feavers, and when blood flows not to it, nor goes to the bottom of it, by reason of the straitness of the Veins, or Obstructions, as in Viragoe's, and such as never conceived: and if they void any blood, it is from the neck of the womb, and not from the bottom.

The Signs.They void little seed, and are slow in Venery, [Page 27] the terms are few, the mouth of the womb is dry, and they are slender, of a dry Constitution; their lower Lip is alwayes chapt, and blackish red.

This distemper is hard to be cured in any part, especially if it be old. The Prog­nostick. The Cure.

Use Moistners; as Borage, Bugloss, Mercury, Mallows, Althaea, Violets, sweet Almonds, Pi­stachaes, Pine-nuts, Jujubes, Dates, Figs, Rai­sins.

Of which are made Syrups, Conserves, Emul­sions, Candies, &c.

Outward Remedies are made of the same, ad­ding Time, Fenugreek-Seeds, Lillies, Brank-ur­sine, Pellitory, &c.

Fomentations are made with Milk; and after bathing anoint the region of the womb and the belly to the privities with oyl of sweet Almonds, Lillies, Lin-seed, Jesamin, fresh Butter, Hens and Goose grease.

Let the Diet be moistning, the Air moist, the meat fatning, of much nourishment and small ex­crement. Leet sleep be a little longer than usual. Great labour, anger, sadness, fasting, do hurt.

Chap. 6. Of Compound Distem­pers, and first of Cold and Moist.

THere is seldom a simple Distemper in the part, and commonly there is matter which feeds it. It is usually cold and moist, which ga­thers excrements of that sort, either in the whole body, or in the womb after the terms.

The Causes.Are all things that breed cold and flegmatick humors in the whole body or the womb.

The Cure.They conceive not, and are of an ill habit of body; the terms seldom flow right, and they have sometimes the whites.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.It is harder to cure than a simple distemper.

The cold humor is in fault; therefore prepare it with Syrup of Mugwort, Mints, Bettony, Hy­sop, with a Decoction proper.

As, Take Fennel roots an ounce, Valerian, Eli­campane, Masterwort, each half an ounce; Penny-royal, Mugwort, Motherwort, Nep, Marjoram, each a handful; Rosemary and Sage-flowers, each two pugils; Siler Montane, Fennel, Anniseed, Parsnep-seed, each a dram: boil them, to ten ounces strained, add Sugar, syrup of Mugwort two or three ounces, Cinnamon-water half an ounce: make a Portion for three doses.

Then purge it with Agarick, Mechoacan, Turbith; and if other humors be mixed with Flegm, add Senna, and the like: or use Pills de tribus Aloephanginae, Mastich, of Hiera with Agarick, Sine quibus. Or, Take Agarick a dram and half, Senna two drams; infuse them in Mug­wort-water: to three ounces strained, add Diaphoe­nicon or Diacarthaemum two drams; strain and add syrup of Mugwort half an ounce, Cinnamon-water half a dram.

After universal Evacuation, use Pessaries. As, Take Mercury, bruise it, and put it in a bag of white Silk; anoint it with Butter or Honey of Roses.

Or, Take Benedicta laxativa three drams, Aga­rick two drams, Gith seed a dram, Pease meal six drams, with juyce of Mercury make Pessaries in a Sarsnet Bag. Or, Take Hiera a dram, Agarick, [Page 11] half a dram, Bdellium a dram, with Honey make a Pessary, or make it with powder of Agarick and Troches of Coloquintida, or five sweats of Guajacum, China and Sarsa. As,

Take Guajacum a pound and eighteen ounces, in­fuse them in twelve pints of water twenty four hours, then boyl them to the consumption of the third part, give six or eight ounces hot in the morning, and let her sweat.

Pour water to the reliques, and boyl them to the consumption of the third part for an ordina­ry drink.

You may use China and Sarsa the same way, and because in a decoction some strength is lost, and so great a quantity is tedious for women, you may distil them and give a less quantity with things proper for the womb.

As, Take Guajacum a pound, or Sarsa eight ounces, Angelica, Elicampane, each an ounce; Mugwort two handfuls, Dittany half a handful, add six pints of water or wine, steep them two dayes, then distil them, and give two ounces of the water.

Let her meat be roasted Birds, Hens, Capons, Partridges, Mutton, sweet Almonds, Raisins. Let her abstain from salt and sharp things.

If these sweats are unpleasant, give them in the third and fourth Chapter internal and external. As, Take Conserve of Marjoram, Rosemary, Bettony, each two ounces; of Balm an ounce, Diamoschu dul­cis, Diamargariton calid, each a dram; [...]ndied Eryngus and Citrons, each half an ounce; with fu­rup of Mugwort make an Electuary; and use Baths to sit in mentioned.

Drying Spaw-waters are good to drink, or to sit in.

Let the diet be as in Chap. 3. and 4. give the [Page 30] flesh of wild Mountain fowl, Pidgeons, Hens, Ca­pons, Mutton roasted and spiced, and old wine, and let her exercise.

Chap. 7. Of the ill shape of the Womb, and first of the straitness of it and its vessels.

THis is a Disease of evil conformation from Nature, when it can be stretched out no further, this makes an abortion in the fourth or fifth month.

But it is wonderful in its natural shape when it will stretch according to the proportion of the child, and after child-bearing be as small as at first.

Chap. 8. Of the opening of the Vessels of the Womb besides Nature.

THis when there is great bleeding.

The Causes.The vessels are opened preternaturally three wayes, by Anastomosis, Diaeresis, and by Diapedesis, as in the Lungs. Anastomosis is from much blood which the Liver doth produce, and send out by the womb, as in some by the Nose.

For the blood being thin, hot, cholerick and sharp, opens the mouths of the vessels, and cau­seth a flux.

Diaeresis is from much blood, when there is great motion, as when there is long copulation with a strong man that hath a great tool, or a hard travel, or abortion, a fall or stroke; also when sharp humors corrode, or sharp pessaries.

The Signs. Diapedesis is from the thinness of the vessels, and loosness and the thinness of the blood, or from much moisture, or use of Baths.

Much blood is a sign the vessels are open, you shall know the causes that open them thus: In Anastomosis the blood drops, and is thin, and [Page 33] there are signs of much blood, or sharp and thin.

If there be a Diaeresis, the blood flows more, and there are clodders, and there were causes that broke the Vessels, as sharp Suppositories.

Diapedesis is known when the woman is of a thin and loose habit of body, the blood thin, or she hath used much bathing.

If the Vessels open from much blood in a sound body, there is less dagger; The Progno­stick. and it is easier cured then in a Cacochymy.

In an Anastomisis give things that thicken with­out slime, as Roses, Mirtles, Medlars, Services, The Cure. Pomegranate-peels and flowers, Sanders, Coral, Harts-horn, Cypress-nuts.

In Diaeresis give things that thicken with slime, Comfry, Plantane, Gum-traganth, whites of Eggs, troches of Amber, Bole, Starch, Rice, Quinces, sanguis Draconis, Sarcocol, and Izing-glass.

But because there are divers causes, and these diseases are not cured but by taking them away; we shall speak of them in the Chapter of immo­derate terms.

Chap. 9. Of a double Womb, the wanting of a Womb, and evil shape of the Womb, and strange things found in it.

Julius Obsequens saith, that one woman had two wombs; and Bauhinus saith, that a Maid had her womb in two parts, as in Bitches.

Columbus saith, that one wanted a womb, Lib. 15. anato. but her privities were as in other women, and part of the neck of it hung out.

Chap. 10. Of the Magnitude of the Womb increased, and first of the Inflation of the Womb.

INflation is a stretching of the Womb with wind: it is called by some a windy Mole. Math. de grad. in 9. Rhasis. See Matthew de gradibus and Thadeus Dun, lib. miscel. c. 8.

This wind is from a cold matter, The Causes. either thick or thin, contained in the Veins of the Womb, which overcomes the weak heat of the womb. It is gathered there by cold meats and drinks, or flows from other parts. Cold Air may be the cause also, if women that lie in expose themselves to it. This wind is contained either in the Cavi­ty of the Vessels of the Womb, or between the Tunicles.

There is a swelling in the region of the womb, The Signs. sometimes reaching to the Navel, Loins and Dia­phragma; and as wind increaseth or decreaseth, it ariseth or abateth. It is different from a Drop­sie, because it is never swollen so high.

And lest a Physitian be deceived, and take it for a Conception; observe the signs of women with child: for if one sign be wanting, you may suspect an Inflation. Also in Inflation the tumor increaseth and decreaseth: but in Conception it [Page 36] still increaseth. Moreover if you strike upon the Belly, there is a noise, but not in Conception.

It differs from a Dropsie in the Womb: for there is no such heaviness, they move more ea­sily, and the Belly is not so swelled, there were causes that bred wind, and things against wind do good.

It differs from a Mole: for there is in that a weight and hardness in the Belly, and when they move from one side to another, they feel a weight that moveth which is not in this, of which Hip­pocrates. 2. De morb. mulier. The feet and the face swell in the hol­low parts; the colour is bad, the terms are stopt, there is wind, &c.

If the wind is without the cavity of the womb, there is more pain and larger, nor is there a noise because the wind is in a straighter place.

The Progno­stick.It is neither a lasting nor a deadly disease, if well look'd after. If it be in the Cavity of the womb, it is easier discussed.

The Cure.Give Hiera, Diaphoenicon, with a little Ca­stor, sharp Clysters that also expel wind. If it be in travel, purge not till she be delivered.

Bleed not, because it is from a cold matter: if it come after Child-bearing, and the terms were not sufficient after, and there is fulness of blood, open the Saphaena.

After these give things mentioned in Tympa­ny, that respect the womb. As, Take Conserve of Bettony, Rosemary, each an ounce and half; can­died Eryngus, Citron-peels candied, each half an ounce; Diacymium, Diagalangal, each a dram; Oyl of Aniseeds six drops, with Syrup of Citrons, make an Electuary.

Or, Take Conserve of Rosemary, Balm, each three ounces; candied Citrons and Oranges, each an ounce; [Page 37] Diacymium a dram, with syrup of Citrons make an Electuary.

Or give the Woman Aqua vitae, or this, Take Angelica roots two ounces, Masterwort, Elicampane, Orange peels, each six drams; Calamints, Penny-royal, Rue, Sage, Rosemary, each a handful; Cummin, Fennel, Aniseed, each half an ounce; Juniper-berries a hand­ful, Zedoary, Galangal, Cubeb, each half an ounce; with good Wine distil them, give a spoonful or two. Apply outwardly a Cataplasm of Rue, Mugwort, Chamomil, Dill, Calamints, Nip, Penny-royal, Thyme, with Oyl of Rue, Cheir, Chamomil, and make Baths of the same, Bags of Milium, Salt, Chamomil-flowers, Melilot, Bayberries, Cummin, Fennel-seed, or lay a Plaister of Bayberries.

Let Clysters to expel wind be put into the womb. As, Take Calamints, Agnus castus, Rue, each half an handful; Anniseeds, Costus, Cinnamon, each two drams: boil them in Wine for half a pint.

Apply a Cupping-glass with much flame to the Breast, and over against the Womb.

Use Sulphur-baths and Spaw-waters inward and outward, for they expel wind.

If it come from cold after Child-bearing, and she is not well purged by her Terms; heat the womb, and purge, and give strong Wine.

Let the Diet be hot, cutting and attenuating, The Diet. with things that expel wind, and little at a time.

Chap. 11. Of the Dropsie of the Womb.

THey are also deceived, and think they are with child, when there is water that swells the womb: Ves. lib. 6. de corp. hum. Fab. Mar. Do de hist. me mira l. 4. c. 21. Tetrab. 6.4. ser 4. c. 79. this is a Dropsie of the womb. This water is either in the Cavity, or between the Coats of the womb, or in its Vessels. Vesalius, Marcellus Donatus shew that water is in the Cavi­ty: for it doth not presently by its plenty or quality force its passage out, because the Orifice is not alwaies open, and Nature gathers it by degrees, and is used to it.

Aetius saith, There are sometimes Bladders of water in the womb. And Christopher Vega saith, that Leonora thought that she had gone 6 months, and then voided sixty Bladders of water, and se­ven pieces of flesh, like that of the Spleen in Membranes.

Lib. 4. ob­ser. cent. 2. obser. 56. The Causes.There is sometimes a Dropsie of the Womb with Conception, as Schenstius and William Fa­bricius saith of his own wife.

Are gathering of water from moistness mixed with the terms, and from an evil Sanguification in the Liver and Spleen from their weakness, or from errors in Diet; or from weakness of the [Page 39] womb, from hard travel, or often mischances, cold air or water, or whatsoever hurts the heat of the womb.

Also stoppage of the terms doth cause gather­ing of water; for the water useth to be evacuated with them. Many take this for the only cause.

Sometimes the tunicles of the womb may be divided in some place, and water may be gather­ed between them.

Hippocrates saith, the terms are fewer, The Signs. 1. De morb. mulier. and cease before the time: the bottom of the Belly swells, and the Paps are soft, without Milk, and she thinks she is with child. By these you know it is a Dropsie.

But because Doctors and Midwives are often deceived, you must distinguish this from other Swellings.

When a woman is sound, and useth a sound man, the womb by degrees swells, and the child moves in its time; but often there is a Dropsie with Conception before or after: therefore in a Dropsie the tumor is equal, according to the largeness of the womb and belly, and not point­ed as in a woman with child.

Secondly, If the woman be in years, and hath not conceived before, and hath a good colour, it is a sign of a Dropsie rather then a Conception. If the tenth month be past, and the child moves not, nor the Breasts swell, but are soft, say, there is Dropsie of the womb. Thirdly, In a true Con­ception, women are better after some months, and the Symptoms abate: but in a Dropsie they increase still.

It is distinguished from a Mole by the weight in the bottom of the Belly.

From an inflation, because the Belly is stretch­ed [Page 40] in that, and sounds being stricken: but is soft in a Dropsie.

It differs from the Dropsie of the Belly, be­cause the Face is pale or wane, in that from the distemper of the Liver, there is thirst; but in the Womb-dropsie she is of a good colour, except the Liver be also bad.

It differs from Inflamation in the womb: for that is with a constant Feaver, and the Symp­toms of it, and from other tumors which are har­der: but in a Dropsie of the womb, if the Belly be pressed, it yields.

You shall know whether it be from the fault in the womb principally, or from some other part, thus: If the Woman be of a good colour, and there were only some diseases and causes that might hurt the womb, as abortion, hard travel, stoppage of terms, or too many of them, then the womb is chiefly affected. But if there be signs of a distemper in the whole body, or in the Liver or Spleen, and the colour is bad, it is consent from other parts.

You shall know whether the water be in Blad­ders or in the Cavity of the womb, thus: If you find the Orifice of the womb closed, and there is little pain, it is in the Cavity. But if the Orifice be open, and there is great pain, it is in Bladders or without the Cavity.

The Progno­stick.If the humor in the womb be not corrupt, this disease is of long continuance, but may be easily cured. It is easier cured in the cavity, then when it is in bladders, and between the tunicles. A woman after Conception having a Dropsie of the womb, her child dieth, and she is in danger.

The Cure.When it is from stoppage of terms and new, and the strength firm, open a Vein in the Legs, otherwise bleed not.

Purge according to the Humor, with respect to the Womb, as in Chap. 6. of a cold Distem­per.

Then purge Water. Take Angelica and Mad­der roots, each half an ounce; Calamints, Penny-royal, Mugwort, Lovage, each a handful; Savin a pugil; boil them in Wine, and sweeten it with Sugar, Or make Broaths with the same. Take Dianisum, Diagalangal, each half a dram; Oyl of Aniseeds, Cloves, each five drops; Sugar three ounces, make Rouls.

Inject into the Womb as in Dropsies. Take Asarum roots three drams, Penny-royal, Calamints, each half a handful; Savin a pugil, Mechoacan a dram, Aniseed, Cummin, each half a dram: boil them, and take six ounces strained; Oyl of Elder and Orris, each an ounce: make a Clyster. Or use Pessa­ries. Take Agarick a dram, Coloquintida half a dram, Guidium ten grains, with Honey and Wool make a Pessary.

Make Fomentations and Baths of Danewort, Mercury Elder, Penny-royal, Organ, Chamomil-flowers, Bayberries, wild Cowcumbers, Broom, Carrot, Rue-seeds. And anoint after with Oyl of Elder, Danewort, Orris, with drops of Oyl of Angelica, Anise, Caraway.

Sulphur Baths are good, and those of Niter, or the Plaister of Bayberries, or Snails to the bot­tom of the Belly. Vomiting and Neesing break the bladders. Give Clysters at the Fundament as in Dropsies. Take Mercury leaves, Danewort, Sol­danella, Mugwort, Motherwort, each a handful; Chamomil, Elder, Broom-flowers, each a dram: boil, and to ten ounces strained, and juyce of Beets, Mercu­ry, Danewort, each six drams; Boys urin an ounce and half, Hiera six drams, Hony half an ounce, make a Cly­ster.

Let the Dyet be drying, as in Chap. 5.

Chap. 12. Of a Tumor in the Womb, from Blood in the Veins.

THis Disease makes women think they are with chiid also. For blood long detained in the Veins about the womb, stretcheth them outwardly, and twisteth them, and the Veins in the substance of the womb are full and stretched, and make it larger. But when the terms flow, it falleth again, except there be a Cachexy or Dropsie.

This is only from stoppage of Terms, and is cured by provoking them.

Chap. 13. Of Inflammation of the Womb.

IF the blood that comes to the womb, get out of the Vessels into its substance, and grow hot and putrifie, it causeth Inflammation, either all over, or in part, before or behind, above or be­low, on the right or left side.

The Causes.Blood is the immediate Cause, which is pure or mixed; therefore the Inflammation, is either an Erysipelas, Oedema or Scirrhus, as Flegm, Melancholy, or Blood abound. Blood is either sent to, or drawn by the womb. By heat or pain it is sent to it, when it aboundeth: or it is hot or thin, and when the blood is moved by hot Air, Exercise, Passions, anger or hot diet.

The Signs.There is a tumor with heat and pain in the re­gion of the womb, with stretching and heaviness in the Privities; and if you put in your finger, [Page 43] you'l feel the heat, and she more pain; there is a Feaver sometimes called Lipyra, when there is cold without, and heat within. The tongue is dry and black, with watching, doting, tossing to and fro, the brests are pufft up and pained. There is head-ach to the roots of the eyes, and a pain in the groyns, hips, midrif, pleura and shoulders: short wind, and like a Pleurisie, with loathing, vomiting, hickets. The belly is bound, the pulse is small, and often and weak, but at first darting and quick. And Hippocrates saith, If the Womb be inflamed, the terms are stopt, 2. De morb. mulier. and the neck of it is like a Spiders web with many small veins, &c.

If it be inflamed before, the pain is about the pubes, and the urin is stopt. If behind, it is in the loyns, and the belly is bound. If it be infla­med in the bottom, the pain is towards the na­vel. If it be from pure blood, the Symptoms are less: if from choler, stronger: the thirst is more, the watching greater; if from melancholy, all are worse.

If it be all over the womb, it is dangerous, The Progno­stick. and few escape it. An Erysipelas in a woman with child is deadly, because there is an abortion, and the Mother dies: the worse the Symptoms, the greater is the danger. And it is safer to discuss an inflamation then to ripen it: if it turn to a Schirrus it is lasting, and makes a Dropsie.

If it be not after abortion or a flux of blood, The Cure. open a vein in the Arm, or cup and sacrifice the shoulders. Bleed not in the foot, least you draw blood more to the womb; but afterwards to de­rive, if it be from terms stopt, you may. Gal. 2. ad glau. c. 2. Galen saith, You may divert the blood by bleeding in the arm, or cupping the breasts, and you may derive it by opening the ankle-vein, and cupping upon the hips.

If there be choler, purge it with Syrup of Ro­ses, Manna, Rhubarb, Diacatholicon; and use not strong movers of the Terms.

Use Alterers and Coolers, as Juleps and Emul­sions, and provoke sleep, and if there be dotage, give Narcoticks.

After the Universals use Repellers and Ano­dines. As, Take Housleek, Purslane, Lettice, Venus-navel, Vine leaves, each half a handful; boyl them in wine, add Barly meal two ounces, Pomegranate-flow­ers two drams, boyl a dram, with Oyl of Roses, make a Pultis. Or, Take Diachylon simple two ounces, juyce of Venus-navel and Plantane, each half an ounce; Oyl of Roses an ounce, Sugar of Lead a dram, make an Oyntment in a leaden Mortar.

Make Injections of the same Herbs, or of Milk and Rose-water. Or, Take Plantane, Venus-navel, Lettice, each a handful; red Roses two pugils, boyl, and add Oyl of Mirtles an ounce, Rose-vinegar half an ounce, make an Injection.

Make Clysters of the same Plants in a small quantity, least they oppress the Womb.

Take Althaea roots and ounce, Mallows, Violets, Lettice, each a handful; Nightshade half a handful, Violets, Roses, each a pugil; sweet Prunes ten, Lin­seed half a dram, boil them in Barly water, to six oun­ces, add Oyl of Roses three ounces, make a Clyster.

An anodine Fomentation. Take roots of Al­thaea, Mallows, and Violets, each a handful; red Roses, Melilot, Chamomil-flowers, each a pugil; boil them for a Fomentation.

Or use a Cataplasm of white Bread and Milk.

In the progress dicuss. As, Take powder of Althaea roots an ounce, Chamomil and Melilot flow­ers, each two drams; Mugwort half an ounce, Barly and Bean flour, each an ounce; boyl them in sharp [Page 45] wine, add Hogs-grease, Oyl of Chamomil and Lillies, each an ounce; make a Cataplasm.

If the inflammation turn to matter ripen it. As, Take powder of Althaea roots, Chamomil-flow­ers, Melilot, Linseed, Foenugreek, each an ounce; Figgs eight, boyl them, add yelks of four Eggs, and half a scruple of Saffron, make a Pultis.

After it is ripe, break it by motion of the bo­dy, coughing, neesing, cupping, or by Pessaries. As, Take Figgs an ounce, Rue half a handful, boyl them soft, add Honey and Leaven, each half an ounce; Pidgeons dung, Orris roots, each half a dram; with wool make a Pessary.

After it is broken, the pain abates, then clense and heal the ulcer as in Sect. 1. c. 8. of an ulcer of the womb. If it break about the bladder give an Emulsion of cold Seeds, Whey, and Syrup of Violets.

Let the diet be cool, with Barley-water warm, Abstain from Wine; to the declination of the di­sease, let the belly still be kept loose.

Chap. 14. Of a Scirrhus and Cancer in the Womb.

AN earthy matter left after an inflammation makes a hard tumor called a Scirrhus, and sometimes it is without an inflammation. It is a proper Scirrhus when there is neither sense nor pain; it is improper when there is a little sense. It is sometimes as big as a mans head; Paraeus l. 23. c. 36. sometimes the whole womb is a Scirrhus, sometimes only part of it.

The immediate Cause, The Causes. is a thick earthy hu­mor, as natural melancholy, when a thick hu­mor [Page 46] is gathered in the womb, there is a Scir­rhus without inflamation aforegoing; this is usual in melancholy women, and such as are not clensed by their terms, or have the Pica or green-sickness, and are fifty years old.

Other humors somtimes breed a Scirrhus after inflamation, when cold astringents have been used disorderly: for when the humor is fixed to the part and hardned. The same may be from hot discussers, which send forth the thin matter in an inflamation, and fasten the thick.

The Signs.The tumor is to be felt, it yields not, and is without pain, the terms flow not at first, or very little, & afterwards there is a great flux of blood. If an inflamation went before, and the part is hea­vy and burthened, it is a Sign of a Scirrhus. She is unweeldy, sloathful; and you may know from what humor it is, by the signs of the humors pre­dominating in the body, and the part pained will shew you in what place it is.

The Progno­stick.A Scirrhus easily turns to a Cancer. And when the terms are stopt, there is a Dropsie of the womb or belly. It is easier cured in the neck then in the womb it self.

The Cure.Moisten and heat the cold and dry humor, with Borage, Bugloss, Fumitory, Succory, Epi­thymum, Polypody. Then purge with Polypo­dy, Senna, black Hellebore, and the like. As, Take roots of Althaea, Lillies, each two ounces; Mal­lows, Violets, Althaea, Brank-ursine, each a handful; Mugwort, Calamints, Chamomil-flowers, each half a handful; Foenugreek and Linseed, each half an ounce; boyl them for a Fomentation, or Bath, or to a Cata­plasm, with Linseed, Foenugreek, each an ounce; Figs six, Orris powder two drams, Saffron half a dram, Hens-grease and Oyl of sweet Almonds as much as is fit.

Or, Take Bdellium, Ammoniacum, Galbanum, each as much as you please: beat them in a Mortar, with Oyl de Been and Lillies, add Mucilage of Foe­nugreek, Linseed, Figs, make a Liniment, or with Wax a Plaister.

Or, Take Oyl of Capers, Lillies, sweet Almonds, Jesamine, each an ounce; fresh Butter, Hens-grease, Goose-grease, each half an ounce; Mucilage of Foenu­greek, Althaea and Oyntment of Althaea, each six drams; Ammoniacum dissolved in Wine an ounce, with Wax make an Oyntment.

Make Injections thus: Take Bdellium dissol­ved in Wine, Oyl of sweet Almonds, Lillies, Cha­momil, each two ounces; marrow of a Veal bone, Hens-grease each an ounce; with the Yelk of an Egg.

In a bastard Scirrhus, you may use Healers and Digesters better, and Ammoniacum, and hotter Fats.

Internal Medicines, are Steel, &c. of which in Obstruction of the Womb, and Scirrhus of the Spleen.

As for Diet, abstain from breeders of gross and slimy humors, and from hot dryers.

Chap. 15. Of the displacing of the Womb, and first of the Ascent of it.

WHen the womb falls out of the Privities, it is called Procidentia uteri; this is ordi­nary, [Page 48] But the ascent or going up of the womb is more unknown. Eustach. rud. lib. 2. pract. c. 5. Many grave Anatomists hold, That the womb doth ascend, if sweet things are applied to the Nose. If to the Privities, that it descends. If stinking Scents come, the womb flies from them, and it is to be seen by breathing altered, and by some meats that the womb gree­dily desires, and catcheth up.

6. De lo. off. c. 5. Galen overthrows this Opinion, and saith, that the womb doth move after a sort, and ascend; but it is very little, and not to be demonstrated: Nor can it arise to the Stomach, it is tied with such strong Ligaments to its place; and when it falls out the Ligaments are extended by moisture, and falling of it down. And there is no reason why the Ligaments, though loose or wet, it should go up so speedily, and come down again. For falling down is by degrees, and it is not soon brought up again. And though it be enlarged in Conception, it is by degrees and equally, not suddenly in one side. Nor as the Ligaments made very loose in Conception, and the bottom of the womb is not tied, the Ligaments being only on the sides.

But this cannot be denied, which women af­firm, that they feel a body or ball moving about the Navel, and a Physitian or Midwife may feel it. Therefore let us inquire what it is, if it be not a womb. That Body which you may feel stir, is the Stones, and that blind Vessel which Fal­lopius found out, which he compared to the great end of a Trumpet, called Fallopius his Trumpet. For the Stones hang, and the body of the Trum­pet is like a Pipe loose and moving, and when they are full and swell with corrupt Seed and Va­pors, they move to and fro, and ascend as high [Page 49] as the navel. And the stones with the Trumpet make this round tumor of the Womb, Antropogo. lib. 2. c. 34. The Causes. which is felt in women, as Riolanus observes.

Whatsoever makes corrupt seed in the stones of a woman, and fills them with evil vapors or wind, is the cause: of which in suffocation of the womb. For the cause is like in both, only in suffoca­tion the Symptoms are worse, because the evil va­pors are then more freely carried by the veins, arteries and nerves, afflict the principal part.

The woman and others may feel a round bo­dy, and she findeth a pain at her heart, The Signs. and short breath, without sleeping or doting, or other Symptoms, and there were causes that disturbed the womb.

It is not dangerous, yet not to be slighted: The Progno­stick. for it may turn to the strangling of the womb, when these evil vapors move to the noble parts.

Let the aim be at the corrupt seed, The Cure. and vapors which must be discussed and evacuated, as in suf­focation of the womb.

Chap. 16. Of falling out of the Womb.

SOmetimes it falls to the middle of the thighs, The Causes. or to the knees almost, or hangs a little out.

The Womb changeth its place, when the liga­ments by which it is bound to the other parts are not in order. There are four, two above broad and membranous that come from the Pe­ritonaeum, and two below that are nervous, round and hollow. Besides, it is bound to the great vessels by veins and arteries, and to the back by nerves.

Now the place is changed when it is down another way, or when the ligaments are loose, and it falls down by its own weight. It is drawn on one side, when the terms are stopt, & the veins and arteries are full, those namely which go to the womb: if it be a mole on the one side, the liver and spleen cause it, by the liver-veins on the right side, or the spleen on the left, as they are filled more or less.

It also falls down by the loosning of the parts, to which it is fastned: but how that can be, it is not clear.

1. 2. De morb. mu­lier. Hippocrates saith, It comes from external causes, as from cold of the feet or loins, from leaping or fear, cutting of wood, or running down a hill, and the like, these make the ligaments moist and loose. Also it may be from cold after child-bearing, getting into the womb when the terms flow, sitting upon a cold stone, and the like.

Platerus.Others say, It comes from the solution of the connexion of the fibrous neck, and the parts ad­jacent, and that is from the weight of the womb descending: this we deny not. But when the li­gaments must be loose or broken. But women in a dropsie could not be said not to have the womb fall down, if it came only from loosness. But the cause in them, is the saltness of the water, which dries more then it moistneth.

The Signs.If there be a little tumor within or without the privities like a skin stretched, or a weight felt about the privities, it is only a descent of the womb: but if there be a tumor like a Goose-Egg, and a hole at the bottom, there is at first a great pain in the parts to which the womb is fastned, as the loyns, the bottom of the belly, and the pri­vities, and the Os sacrum, from the stretching or [Page 51] breaking of the ligaments: but a little after the pain abateth, and there is an impediment in walking. Sometimes blood comes forth from the breach of the vessels, and the dung and urine are stopt, and a Feaver and Convulsion.

When it is near, it is easily cured; when old, The Progno­stick. it is hard to be cured, but not deadly, only it is troublesom and nasty. It hinders conception, and keeps terms from flowing orderly. If it be with pain, Feaver or Convulsion, it is deadly, especi­ally in women with Child. That which comes from corrosion of the ligaments, is dangerous.

First put it up before the air alter it, The Cure. or it be inflamed or swollen. Therefore first give a Cly­ster to remove the excrements. Then lay her up­on her back with her legs abroad, and thighs lift­ed up, her head down, and take the tumor in your hands, and thrust it in without violence.

If it be swollen by alteration and cold, foment it with the Decoction of Mallows, Althaea, Line, Foenugreek-seed, Chamomil-flowers, Bayber­ries: and anoint it with oyl of Lillies, and Hens-grease. If there be an inflammation, Roder a. casuo. de morb. mul. 1. 2. c. 17. put it not up yet. It may be frighted in, by shewing of red hot iron, and acting as if you would burn it.

First, sprinkle upon it the powder of Mastich, Frankincense, and the like. As, Take Frankin­cense, Mastich, each two drams; Sarcocol steept in Milk a dram, Mummy, Pomegranate-flowers, San­guis Draconis, each half a dram.

When it is put up, let her lie with her leggs stretched, & one upon the other, for eight or ten dayes, and make a Pessary like a Pear, of Cork or Spung put into the womb, dipt in sharp wine or juyce of Acacia, with powder of Sanguis Dra­conis, Bole, Mastich, or the Countesses Oynt­ment, [Page 52] with Galbanum and Bdellium.

Apply a Cupping-glass with great flame un­der the navel or paps, or to both kidnies, and lay this Plaister to the back. Take Opopanax two ounces, Storax liquid half an ounce, Frankincense, Mastich, Pitch, Bole, each two drams; with Wax make a Plaister. Or,

Take Labdanum a dram and half, Frankincense, Mastich, each half a dram; wood Aloes, Cloves, Spike, each a dram; Ash coloured Amber-greece four grains, Musk half a scruple, make two round Plaisters to be laid on each side the Navel. Make a Fume of a Snail skin salted, or of Garlick, and let it be taken in by a Funnel.

Use astringent Fomentations of Bramble leaves, Plantane, Horstails, Mirtles, each two handfuls; Wormwood two pugils, Pomegranate-flowers half an ounce, boil them in wine and water. Or inject this with a Syringe. Take Comfrey-roots an ounce, Snakeweed, Pomgranate-flowers, each half an ounce; Rupture-wort two drams, Yarrow, Mugwort, each half an ounce; boil them in red Wine. Then use Sulphur Baths.

To strengthen the Womb: Take Harts-horn, Bayes, each a dram; Mirrh half a dram, make a powder for two doses, give it with sharp Wine. Or, Take Zedoary, Parsnep-seeds, Crabs eyes prepared, each a dram; Nutmeg half a dram: give a dram in powder: but use astringents warily, lest you stop the courses, and cause worse mischief.

If it fall out from evil humors that flow to the womb, and loosen the ligaments, purge the body, and then use dryers, as the decoction of China, Sarsa and Guajacum.

To keep it in its place, make Roulers and Li­gatures, as for the Rupture, and use Pessaries in­to [Page 53] the bottom of the womb, that may force it to remain: Lib. de par­tu Caesar. sect. 6. cap. 3. & 4. of which Francis Rousset hath written at large, and shews that they neither hinder Con­ception, nor bring any inconvenience; nay, that they help Conception, and retain it, and cure this disease perfectly. And Gaspar Bauhinus confirms the same in his Appendix to Rousset.

You may use Circles or Balls instead of Pes­saries. As, Take roots of wild Vine, make round Circles or Balls of them greater or less, as the neck of the womb is. Then, Take Virgins Wax melted with white Rosin or Turpentine, dip the balls in till they are fit, put one in the neck of the womb, that will hold in being just fit: let it not be taken out till it fall out, and then put in another, if she be not cured.

If it gangrene and sphacelate, cut it quite off; Lib. de par­tu Caes. sect. 4. cap. 5. hist. 6. Ibid. sect. 4. cap. 5. if she fear cutting, take it off by Ligature, of which Rousset who shews the way, and saith that it may be cut off without danger of life.

He tells also of the place where you must cut, and in Sect. 4. de partu Caesareo, where the Liga­ture is to be made.

Let the diet be drying, and astringent, and glewing, as Rice, Starch, Quinces, Pears, green Cheese. Avoid Summer-fruits. Let the Wine be astringent and red.

Chap. 17. Of the Rupture of the Womb.

FEw Physitians have seen this, I never read of any; but once I saw it, of which in my In­stitutions, lib. 2. part 1. cap. 9.

Chap. 18. Of Wounds, and breaking of the Womb.

The Signs.IT is seldom wounded, by reason of the divers defences it hath; but sometimes the Chirur­gions wound it in cutting out of the Child: of which Hollerius, inter rara. no. 8. He speaks of a woman with child in Paris, that her childs hand put forth at the Navel, and was so in travel 15 dayes, and both child and mother were safe.

The Progno­stick.It is evident, if it be made by the Chirurgion in cutting out of a Child; and you may know it by the place, if it come otherwise. There is blood and matter that flow out at the neck of the womb. There is more pain when it is in the neck of the womb, then when it is in the bottom.

These wounds are cured, as appears by the Caesarean Birth or cutting: but they are dange­rous, by reason of the strange Symptoms, and the consent of the parts.

The Cure.Use Consolidates or Healers: and if there be pain, Anodines or Pessaries made of Wax-candles dipt in Wound-Oyntments. Or,

Take Wax, Turpentine, Goose-grease, Butter, each a Dram; Honey, Deers-marrow, Oyl of Roses, Bulls-grease, each two drams. Or, Take Fran­kincense, [Page 55] Mastich, Ceruss, Galbanum, each half an ounce: mix them all with white Wine, then add Pompholix an ounce, and with Wax and Oyl of Roses, make an Oyntment.

Make Injections or Clysters for the Womb of the Decoction of round Birthwort, Cypress, boil­ed in steeled Water and sharp Wine, with a lit­tle Hydromel, Agrimony, Mugwort, Plantane, Roses, Schaenanth, Horehound.

Chap. 19. Of Ulcers and Rotten­ness of the Womb.

THough the neck of the womb be only subject to Ulcers, as we shewed: yet the substance of the womb hath been ulcerated, and it hath been observed to rot, when it hath fallen out, and to fall away. As we said of a Woman at Avinion, that after lived some time. And the Examples of Rousset shew, that it may be safely cut off.

Also a child dead in the womb, Lib. de part Caesar. chir. c. 76. may cause an Ulcer, and divers Histories witness in Abucasis, and Alexander Benedictus, Mauritius, Cordaeus, and many others.

How these ulcers and rottenness of the womb are cured, is said in sect. 1. cap. 8. where we spake of Ulcers of the neck of the Womb; and cap. 10. of Fistulaes of the Womb.

Chap. 20. Of the Diseases of the Stones, and Vessels of Procrea­tion in VVomen.

IT is apparent by Histories written by grave and learned Men, that the Stones of Women [Page 56] and their Seed-vessels are many times grievously distempered, when the womb joyned to them is not. Sometimes water is gathered about the stones, In apprend. ad Rousse­tum 2. de partu Caesar. as Gasper Bauhinus, John Schenkins write, and he hath another History, Lib. Obser. 3. from John Heintz, of a Maid that desired a little be­fore she died, that her body might be opened, to testifie her innocency. In which, besides other things remarkable, the stones were found swol­len as big as a head of a young child; blewish and spungy, much water came out of them, and that made her Belly swell, and she taken to be with child: but the truth appeared, and her Chasti­ty testified.

Chap. 1. Of Weakness in the Womb.

THere are many Symptoms from the Womb. Of those in the Womb: the first is weakness, so that it cannot per­form its actions.

The action of the womb is twofold: private and publick. By its private action, it makes its nourishment of blood that comes to it. [Page 58] By its publick action, it serves for generation. If the private faculty be hurt, and the nourishment not well made, there is a superfluous moisture, and then weakness without other faults of the Organ or unity divided.

The Causes.The first Cause is distemper, when the mani­fest qualities are changed, or when the natural heat is suffocated or dispersed; or when the oc­cult qualities are changed. Heat in the womb makes a distemper, if it be too much, by which the womb sucks more then it can concoct; this is not properly weakness: but that distemper is weakness, when the action is either not done, or weakly done. But cold rather makes weakness in the womb, by which it cannot make the suffi­cient quantity of nourishment, hence excrements are heaped up, and it cannot perform its actions. Also a moist distemper makes weakness, by which it can neither keep seed nor child. It is also weak from loosness.

The Signs.Little desire of Venery, and no pleasure there­in, argue weakness of the womb, flux of Seed, often abortion, Part 1. sect. cap. 2. & 3. pain in the Loins and Pubes, when the Terms are coming, farts from the Womb, Head-ach, and the like.

The signs of a cold and moist distemper with or without matter, are already declared.

The Progno­stick.It is a great disease, by reason of the divers Symptoms in women that have conception hurt. It is worst when it comes from dispersing and extinguishing of the natural heat.

The Cure.We have shewed how distempers of the womb are cured: but the dispersing of the Spirits and natural heat, is cured by things that hinder the [Page 59] loss of Spirits, and strengthen the womb, as Spi­ces, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Mace, Diaca­laminth, Aromaticum rosatum, Diaxilaloes, ro­sata Novella, Treacle, Mithridate. Outwardly by Oyl of Lillies, Nard, Lavender: and Astrin­gents when the womb is loose.

Things that help the womb in the whole sub­stance, are in the Chapter of the cold and moist Distemper, as Aqua vitae for Women. Or thus: Take Castor three ounces, Saffron two ounces, extract them singular, add to both Extract of Mugwort two ounces, of Angelica a dram, Magistery of the mother of Pearl a dram, Oyl of Cloves a scruple, of Ange­lica, and of Amber, and of Nutmegs, each half a scruple.

Let her eat meat of much nourishment, and drink good Wine.

Chap. 2. Of the Itch of the Womb.

THis is more in old then young women, and must be distinguished from the Frenzy of the womb: for here is only a desire to scratch the Privities, so that they cannot sleep. Nor is it with desire of Copulation, as in the Fury of the Womb.

It is a salt humor that is serous and adust that causeth it, that is sent to the neck of the womb, The Causes. and the privities. How it comes there, I shewed in Ulcers of the Privities.

It is known by her Relation, and often putting her hand to the Privities.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.It is more troublesome then dangerous, be­cause it hinders sleep.

First, purge the whole Body, and if there are signs of Plethory, and strength permits, bleed in the Arm. Then qualifie the sharp salt humors with cold and moist means, and remove them from the Privities. Foment with a Decoction of Lettice, Plantane, Willow, Dock-roots; and then anoint with Galen's Cooler. Or dip a Pessa­ry in this Oyntment, and put it in. Or, Take Allum, Niter, Sulphur, each six drams; Staphis­acre an ounce, with Rose-vinegar and fresh Butter, make a Liniment.

If these will not Cure, use stronger, as the Oyntment of Elicampane with Quick-silver. Or Take black Sope, Stavisacre, each a dram; quick Brimstone half an ounce, Quick-silver 2 drams, with Rose-vinegar and Hens-grease, make an Oyntment.

Let the meat be of good juyce, cooling and moistning. Take heed of Spices, sharp and salt meats.

Chap. 3. Of pain in the Womb.

THere is pain in the body of the womb, with other diseases sometimes, as the Colick-pains woven in the bottom of the Belly, and in the Loins and Hips; and is called the pain of the Womb. It is often in women with child, as the inflammation of the womb. It is burning and beating, it binds the Belly, and stops the Urin.

The Causes.Solution of unity is the cause of all pains: and this is from the stretching of the Womb and its Vessels, or corrosion. Stretching is from wind, [Page 61] or clotted blood in the cavity of it, and when Na­ture cannot expel it by reason of the straitness of the part, there is pain.

Also pain is from stretching of the vessels be­fore the terms flow, when they are close, and the blood thick, and this pain is increased by exter­nal cold, especially after heat. Sometimes there is a gathering of humors about the womb, when the terms flow, and are foul, and they get into the membranes, and stretch them. The same may be from corrupt Seed, that stretcheth the vessels.

Or from sharpness and corrosion in the neck of the womb, The Signs. when sharp humors flow through it, and twitch it.

The pain is manifest, but let us look at the signs of the causes. If it be from clotted blood, there was a flux of the same, and the pain is fixed about the orifice of the womb. If there were ex­ternal causes, the patient will relate. If it be from Seed, there is suffocation of the Womb.

The greater the cause is, The Progno­stick. The Cure. and the more vehe­ment it works, the more is the danger.

If there be pain, and fear of fainting, look to that before the cause, with Anodynes and Nar­coticks if need be.

If it be from wind, see inflation of the Womb.

If it be from clotted blood, dissolve and eva­cuate it, with hot and attenuating Medicines, made into Fomentations, Baths and Oyntments. It is good to apply Treacle to the region of the Womb, or put it in with Rue and Honey. Or give a Clyster to the Womb, of Rue, Foenugreek-seed, and Oyl of Rue and Orris. Or give Treacle, and Cinnamon-water.

If the vessels of the womb are not open enough [Page 62] for the terms. See in the stoppage of the terms.

If there be wind, make a Clyster thus: Take Mercury, Mugwort, Calamints, Penny-royal, each a handful; Chamomil and Melilot-flowers, each half a handful; Faenugreek and Linseed, each an ounce; boyl them; in a pint strained, dissolve Hiera, Bene­dicta laxativa, each half an ounce; make a Clyster. Give Mugwort, Zedoary-water, Essence of Castor, Treacle, or Womans Aqua vitae, of which before.

Make a Clyster for the Womb, thus: Take Mugwort, Calamints, Bettony, each half a handful; Gith, Cummin, Carrot, Aniseeds, each a dram; Spike, Schoenanth, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, each a dram; boyl them in Wine.

Then fill an Ox bladder half full with Oyl of Lillies and Dill, and apply it to the belly.

Or, Take Oyl of Lillies, Orris, each an ounce; distilled Oyl of Angelica a dram, Goose and Hens grease, each half an ounce; Mucilage of Line and Faenugreek-seed made with Mugwort-water, each three drams; seeds of Cummin, Carrots, Caraway, each a dram; with Wax make a soft Oyntment. Or, Take Pellitory two handfuls, Mercury a handful, beat them, add Chamomil-flowers, Cummin, Anise, Carrots-seeds, each a dram; two yelks of Eggs and Oyl of Lillies, make a Cataplasm for the Belly.

Apply Plaisters to the Navel, and Cupping­glasses with great flame to the Region of the womb; or dry Fomentations of Oats, Milium, Anise, Cummin, Carrot-seed in a Bag. And use Pessaries, as, Take Harts Marrow, Turpentine, Wax, Goose-grease, each three drams; Saffron a dram, yelks of Eggs seven, with Oyl of Lillies, make Pessaries.

If the humors and wind is malignant, mix Scorronera, Bezear seeds, and roots of Angelica, [Page 63] water of Zedoary, Treacle, Mithridate, and the like in Suffocation of the womb.

Chap. 4. Of the Diseases of the Womb, that come from sweet scents and stinks.

THere is a particular Symptom in the womb which breeds great admiration, that it de­lights in sweet scents, and is offended with stinks. And it is certain: for if Musk, Civit, or the like, be but put to the Nose of the woman that is sub­ject to fits of the Mother, they grow sick; and if the same be put to their privities, and stinks to the Nose, the fit of the Mother ceaseth.

It is hard to give the reason of this, many wise Men have given their opinion: but they disagree among themselves, and satisfie me not, neither do I promise to satisfie others, But it is proba­ble to me that the womb is not delighted with scents, as scents: for the privities have no smel­ling, and the sense of smelling doth not reach so far: but the quality by which it is well or ill, is occult, and not to be explained, and to be sepa­rated from the odours.

If any ask what the quality is, I answer, There are many qualities in Nature that are hid from our senses, and yet we cannot deny them, because we see their effects, as the quality in a Dogs Nose, we cannot apprehend but the Dog, perceives it.

But how these qualities come to the womb, Quomodo uterus bene olentia recipiat. is by no other way but by the open way by the pri­vities, by which Spirits get into the womb, and in the suffocation of the womb sweet things pro­fit, [Page 64] because they strengthen it by a peculiar qua­lity to disperse the venemous air, and draw down the spirits and humors. But if they be put to the Nose, Quomodo bene olentia hystericis noceant. the womb consents by the Sympathy of the organ of smelling, and the brain with it.

This is by the Nerves and Arteries, for the heart is presently refreshed with a sweet scent, because it presently pierceth into it being spiri­tual, and there is a great consent of the womb with the brain and the smelling, as is seen by the tryal of Barrenness, by a Fume from Hippocra­tes.

5. Aphor.But we must observe that sweet scents are ac­ceptable to all Wombs, and stinks are not, but the same Symptomes are not in all Women from them; for they who have a Womb of a good constitution with no evil humors in it, endure sweet things well, and delight in them, but they who are unclean, hate sweet things, and osten fall into fits by them, because while the womb is de­lighted with that sweet and hidden quality with which it hath a peculiar Sympathy, the evil hu­mors that lie in the Womb (especially if there be any corruption from Seed) and the Seed also are stirred, and when the Spirits flie up, they take the bad humors with them, and send bad vapors to the heart which cause suffocation, and others Symptoms. But when the same scents are put to the privities, the womb is refreshed with them, and the Spirits are quiet, or move to the scents. And so the humors (if there be any) are still, or else move downward. But stinks on the contrary, by reason of their Antipathy with the Womb, voided by the Spirits, and so the humors move downwards, and often there is an abortion thereby.

What is spoken of sweet Scents, may be un­derstood of all sweet things, and this is our Judgement in a matter so difficult.

Chap 1. Of the Flux of the Terms.

BY Divine providence the blood which is voided every month, is kept in when there is a Child. For if it be its Na­ture, it is not ill, but only superfluous, till they conceive; nor is it more an Excrement then Seed and Milk.

The terms commonly begin at fourteen, and then the hair appears on the privities, the breasts swell, and women begin to be lecherous, and the blood can no longer stay in the Veins, but breaks out at the Veins of the Womb.

In some they begin at twelve, and they are very lustful commonly, and of shorter lives; they continue till fifty; and some till sixty, and then stop. In some they begin at seventeen or eigh­teen. And in some they stop before fifty, accord­ing to the variety of Nature and Diet.

Nature doth not send forth every day what is gathered, but staies till the plenty offends, and doth only once in a month, otherwise it would be filthy and unpleasant, and hinder Conception. Nor do they flow at one time in all exactly: but there are twenty two daies, or at most thirty be­tween the purgings.

In some they last three daies, which was usual in the time of Hippocrates. In some four or five, or more, as their Liver is greater, or their diet is higher or lower.

Hippocrates saith, they should bleed but a pint and half, or two pints: this is is not alike in all, but differs in respect of age and diet.

As for the quality, it must not be too thick nor too thin, but of a middle substance, without scent, of a red colour, yellower in cholerick persons: in melancholick, black; in flegmatick, whiter, and it must flow without any great Symptom.

The passages are the veins of the womb, being double from the double branch on both sides it, the Spermatick and Hypogastrick, that they may evacuate superfluities from all parts.

And from this Description of a natural Flux, you may gather what is preternatural.

Chap. 2. Of the Terms flow­ing too soon.

ORdinarily they begin at fourteen; but ma­ny have had them sooner. A child of eleven daies old had a bloody humor flowing, Her. saxo­nia vidit venetiis ser. 6. part 5. c. 16. from the Privities. Another of five years old had every month a moderate flux. Fernel. reports, that a Girl of eight years old had the terms: but are rare, and for the most part very lecherous, and short lived.

Chap. 3. Of want and stopping of the Terms.

SOme Women have them not till eighteen or twenty. Some before, and then they stop [Page 70] for a time without, either giving suck, or being with child. Some have been without them three, five or seven months, and then they came again. This is an evil constitution, or suppression of that which it ought to flow, from the fault of the blood and stoppage of the passages.

The Causes.When Terms are wanting, either blood is wan­ting, or stopt. It is wanting, either because it is not made, or dispersed or turned to other uses, for nature being more sollicitous to preserve the individual person, then to propagate the species, spends it in preserving of the person.

Blood is not made from divers causes: as age, cold constitution of Liver, Heart, or a disease which distempers the bowels. Or often bleeding from great Vessels, or from having many issues, which take from the blood.

It is spent other waies, as before ripe age, and when women are with child, or give suck, or in hot Natures, and fat women, in whom it is turn­ed to fat. It is in vain to provoke Terms in these.

They are either external evident causes of stopping of the Terms, as too great labour, troubles, sadness, fear; but these last do not only waste the blood, but cool and corrupt it, and cause obstructions, 2. Epid. sec. 8. in fine. as Hippocrates speaks of Phatusa the wife of Pytheus.

The proper causes are, the straitness of the passage, or evil conformation of the parts through which it should flow. Or the closing of the womb, of which we spake, but I speak here of the vessels.

The usual cause of obstructions, is thick slimy humors, from the blood too thick, or mixed with melancholy which comes with it to the veins of the womb, and stops them.

This thick blood comes from a cold distem­per of the stomach, liver and spleen, from thick and gross food, and drinking cold water when the Terms flow. Lib. de venae sec. adversus Erasistrat. So thought Galen in his time of the Roman women that drank Snow-water, and had few or no courses.

Straightness is when the body of the womb is made thicker, either by Nature or other causes; as a cold and dry, or hot and dry distemper.

Thirdly, Straitness is from compression of the vessels by a Scirrhus or hardness of the parts ad­jacent, as the straight gut, or by the stone in the bladder, and the womb displaced.

Fourthly, The flesh may grow together by a membrane that grows to the vessels, or a scar af­ter a wound. Or after a mischance, when the veins annexed to the Secundine, grow so toge­ther, that they cannot be opened: of which in the first Question.

They are not the same in women and Virgins: The Signs. for blood stopt in Virgins, goes to and fro, chan­geth the colour, and brings Feavers, especially the white Feaver or Green-sickness.

But in women it goes more to the womb, and brings Symptomes, loathing, vomiting, and Pica.

Galen hath other signs, as heaviness, 8. De lo. aff. c. 5. a lazy pain in the loyns, neck, and behind in the head, that reacheth to the roots of the eyes, from the spreading of the blood stopt through the whole body. This laziness is chiefly in the thighs and leggs, by reason of the veins there consenting with the womb. And are of a green complexion, and hairy, with a beard, and shrill voice.

You may know women with child, from such as want their Terms, only by proper signs. First [Page 72] the women with child keep their colour: but the other are pale and ill-coloured; they are merry, the other sad. 2. Their Symptoms daily grow milder: but in the other they daily grow worse. 3. You may feel the child move. 4. It is per­ceived in a month.

You shall know from what causes the terms are stopt, thus: If the Liver be cold, there is no blood made that is superfluous, and there are signs of a cold Liver, and you may know that blood is not sent to the Womb, when there is no heaviness, pain, or tumor about the Womb, the Liver or Spleen are stopt.

The Progno­stick.If it be from Flegm or Melancholy, which is often, there are signs of their abounding, as lazi­ness, paleness, seldom pulse, crude urin.

Hippoc. de morb. mu­lier. Gal. 6. de loc. aff. c. 5. Hippoc. 5. aphor. 23. Hippocrates saith, That if the Terms stop, there are diseases in the Womb, Tumors, Imposthumes, Ulcers and Barrenness, and diseases in the whole Body, Green-sick­ness, Leucophlegmacy, Dropsie, Vomiting of blood, Heart-ach, Cough. And the longer they have been stopt, the harder they are to be opened. If the blood stopt go out at the Nose, it is good.

If it have great Symptoms, there is fear of death.

You must not give Medicines to move the terms, to extenuate lean persons, nor to such as want blood, and have a weak Liver: but they must be fed high.

Com. in 6. epid. 3. c. 29.First, see if blood abound, and then (after a Lenitive) open a Vein, and let that blood which is in the Veins, be drawn to the Womb. Galen took three pints of blood at three times from a lean Woman, and cured her of an old stopping of the Terms.

You must open the Ankle-veins, the first day [Page 73] the right, the next the left, four or five daies be­fore the time. Or you may cup and scarrifie the Legs.

And bind the parts below, and rub them after general Evacuation, opening of the Haemorrhoids doth hurt, and so do Issues, because they draw from the Womb.

Hiera picra half an ounce, or Pills de Tribus, or Hiera simple, are good first.

Then prepare. As, Take water of Mugwort, Calamints, Maiden-hair, each three ounces; Syrup of the five Roots, and of Mugwort, each two ounces; make it for two Doses. Or, Take opening Roots half an ounce, Madder, Burnet, each three ounces; Mugwort, Bettony, Germander, Calamints, each a handful; red Pease half a handful, flowers of Bu­gloss, Dill, each a pugil: boil and sweeten it with Sugar.

For flegmatick Bodies, take the Decoction of Guajacum, Sassaphras, Dittany for fifteen daies without sweating.

Then evacuate with Agarick, Mechoacan, Turbith, Scammony, Coloquintida, black Helle­bore. As,

Take Agarick two drams, infuse it in Mugwort-water two ounces, Oxymel an ounce, strain, and the Extract of Mechoacan a scruple. Or, Take opening Roots half an ounce, Mugwort, Bettony, each two pugils; Senna half an ounce, Agarick two drams, Fennel and Aniseed, each a scruple; Galangal half a dram, Rosemary-flowers a pugil, infuse them to three ounces and half, add syrup of Senna an ounce and half, Cinnamon-water half a dram.

Or if they drink Wine. Take Turbith, Me­choacan, Agarick, each two drams; Senna an ounce and half, Maiden-hair, Balm, Rosemary, each [Page 74] two pugils; Cinnamon, Galangal, each a dram: hang them in Wine, give six ounces with half an ounce of Manna.

Or, Take Diaturbith with Rhubarb half an ounce, Mechoacan two drams, Agarick a dram, Diar­rhodon, Cinnamon, each half a dram: Steel prepared a dram, with Raisons make an Electuary: give as much as a Walnut.

Or give Pills of Agarick foetida, and so con­tinue purging and preparing, if the matter be stubborn. Or, Take Agarick two drams, Madder a dram, with Syrup of Mugwort, make Pills. Or, Take Aloes three drams, de Tribus one dram, with juyce of Savin make Pills.

If the stomach is foul, give a Vomit, lest it get into the veins.

Par. 1. sec. 2. ca. 2.Then give provokers of the Terms which are hot and thin, about the time they used to flow: they are three degrees in strength, and many sorts of Medicines are made of them

A Powder. Take Cinnamon a dram, Amber a scruple, Saffron half a scruple. Or, Take Troches of Mirrh, of Wall-flowers, each a scruple; Saffron five grains: Or, Take Castor, Penny-royal, each a scruple; with Wine or proper Waters.

Physical Wine. Take Madder-roots an ounce, Orris half an ounce, Balm, Penny-royal, Mugwort, Rosemary, each a handful; Wall-flowers half a pu­gil, Cinnamon an ounce, Galangal half an ounce, with Wine, give four ounces.

Or, Take the Decoction of red Pease. Or, Take Smallage, Fennel-roots each half an ounce; Mug­wort, Bettony, Penny-royal, Balm, each a handful; red Pease half an handful, Juniper-berries half an ounce, Wall-flowers a pugil, boil and sweeten it. Or, Take ten ounces of it with three ounces of Mugwort for three doses.

Quercetan commends this: Take Gromwel-seeds, Anise, Misleto of the Oak, each three drams; Dittany a dram, Saffron a scruple, bruise, and keep them twenty four hours in Wine, then boyl them; give four ounces for three daies together.

Or make the Womans Aqua vitae. Or, Take Balm, Bettony, Penny-royal, Mugwort, Nep, Mo­therwort, Dittany, each four handfuls; Wine thirty pints, distil them, add three handfuls of each herbs, and distil them again, and add Fennel-seed, Calamus, Cinnamon, Cassia lignea, Cardamoms, each half an ounce: distil them again.

Or give Syrup of Calamints, Mugwort. Or, Take water of Penny-royal, Savin, Calamints, each four ounces; Syrup of Mugwort four ounces, Cinna­mon-water an ounce: give it at four times.

Rouls. Take Extract of Savin a scruple, of An­gelica half a scruple, of Elicampane six grains, Oyl of Cinnamon five drops, of Cloves two drops, with Sugar dissolved in Balm-water. Or make an Electuary of Steel six ounces, Cassia lignea, Cinnamon, each two drams; Cloves a dram, Raisins two ounces, with Sugar dissolved in Mugwort-water.

Or, Take Troches of Mirrh a dram, Extract of Gentian and Savin, each a scruple; Castor half a scruple, make Pills: give two scruples, or give eve­ry third day Pills of Hiera.

Use outward Medicines, but provoke not sweat by them.

Take Althaea and Lilly-roots, each two ounces; Birthwort an ounce, Mallows, Mercury, Mugwort, Savin, Motherwort, Calamint, Penny-royal, Marjo­ram, Bayes, each two handfuls; flowers of Chamomil, Lavender, Cheir, each a handful; Foenugreek-seed an ounce, Juniper and Bayberries, each half a handful: boil them in Water, foment with Spunges.

And then anoint with this: Take Oyl of Lillies an ounce, of Lavender-seeds stilled half a dram, Cala­mints and Gith-powder, each a dram; Storax Cala­mite a scruple.

To Virgins that must take no Pessaries, give Fumes, with the head defended; they will open the mouths of the vessels, and cut thick humors.

As, Take Mirrh, Bdellium, Storax, each a dram; Benzoin two scruples, Gallia moschata, Ivet, each half a scruple; with liquid Storax make Troches.

Then use Clysters and Injections into the Womb with Purgers. As, Take Calamints, Penny-royal, each a handful; Gith-seed, Turbith, each a dram; Coloquintida half a dram, boyl it in Wine, inject it into the Womb.

If it be hot after it, inject the Decoction of Mallows with Milk or Barley-water. And be­cause the neck of the womb lies upon the strait gut, give Clysters. Take Lilly-roots an ounce, Orris, Valerian, each half an ounce; Mercury two handfuls, Mugwort, Savin, each a handful; Chamomil, La­vender-flowers, each a pugil; Caraway, Gith-seed, each a dram: boyl, add Hiera and Benedicta laxa­tiva, each half an ounce, Oyl of Cheir two drams, Ele­ctuary of Bayberries half an ounce.

If she be no Virgin, put Mercury bruised in a Bag for a Pessary, with Centuary-flowers. Or Garlick beaten with Oyl of Spike.

Begin still with the mildest, as Mugwort, Mer­cury, Penny-royal, Marjoram, Rue; and then add Mucilages and Juyces to loosen the womb: let not Pessaries lie long, lest they cause a Fea­ver.

If it be from a tumor, provoke not the Terms, but look to the tumor.

Let diet be hot and attenuating, of good juyce, [Page 77] with Parsley, Savory, Rosemary, Cloves, Cinna­mon. Little sleep and much exercise.

Chap. 4. Of Fewness of the Terms.

IT is when they flow less then they use or ought to flow.

The Causes.It is either from the blood, or in the expulsive Faculty in the passages. As if blood be little, the terms are few and slow. If the retentive Faculty is weak, and the expulsive strong, they come at due time, but in small quantity. If the terms are slow, the fault is in the quality of the blood being too thick. Also straitness of the passages may be a cause: for if they be not wide enough, the blood cannot flow freely.

The Signs.The patient will tell the disease: but the cause of it is to be found in the Chapter aforegoing.

Few Terms from little blood is not dange­rous: if they be stopt from thick blood, The Progno­stick. there follow Diseases; as Erysipelas, Scirrhus, or Cancer.

See the Chapter aforegoing for the Cure, The Causes and if it be from thickness of blood, it is often cured by a general purge for the whole Body.

Chap. 5. Of Dropping of the Terms.

THis is a Flux, and lasts long, and there is pain.

The blood flows not conveniently at the due time and manner, and the privities are alwaies wet, as when the urin drops.

Are from the blood and the passages of it, The Causes. and the retentive faculty; as when the blood is too thick and sharp, which stir up Nature to let it out; and because it stretcheth the Membranes, there is pain. Also the weakness of the retentive faculty is a cause.

The women declare it: The Signs. but if it be from thick blood and sharp, and straight passages, there is a stretching pain about the womb. If it be from crudity of blood, and weakness of the retentive faculty, the blood flows without pain, and is not much felt.

It is troublesom to women; and if it last long, The Progno­stick. The Cure. causeth Ulcers and Inflammations.

It is all in mending of the thick and sharp blood, and in opening the passages, which are the two chief causes of it, of which we spake at large.

If blood be superfluous, loose it not, nor [Page 80] open the Ankle-vein, lest you draw it more to the Womb, but take away the Cacochymy.

If it be from weakness of the retentive Facul­ty, strengthen the womb with Dryers and Astrin­gents.

Chap. 6. Of the overflowing of the Terms.

IT is when it is too much or too long, and hurts any Woman, and brings diseases: but a cer­tain proportion of bleeding is not to be defined; but too much is lost when the actions are hurt.

The Causes. Gal. 3. de symp. Cau­sis, c. 2. & 5. aph. com. 57.The immediate Cause is the opening of the Vessels, and the immediate Cause is the blood in quantity or quality offending, or by its force or disorderly motion.

Vessels are opened by Anastomisis, Diapede­sis, Diaeresis or ruption, or by Diaurosis or corro­sion. Anastomosis is from a moist distemper of the Vessels, which loosneth the Orifices: or from external causes, as Baths, hot and moist: or use of Aloes.

The flux is seldom too great from a Diapedesis: for it is but a sweating through. Ruption is from Plethory, when the terms have long been stopped, and then break out, and when the blood is hot by Air, Baths, &c. The outward causes are, falls, strokes, hard travel, great burthens lifted.

Erosion is from sharp blood or humor, or from Medicines that corode; as Pessaries long kept. For this great Flux is chiefly from the Veins in the bottom of the Womb.

The Signs.The Flux of Blood is too great, when the strength abateth, and Cachexy follows, with pale­ness, [Page 81] swollen feet, and the blood that comes from the bottome of the Womb, is blacker and clotted. That from the neck redder and thin­ner.

The signs of the causes. If it be from much blood, there are signs of plethory, and it easily clotted together. If the blood be sharp and cho­lerick, it is putrified in the womb, you shall know waterish blood by its colour, and the signs of that humour abounding: and if you dip a clout in it, and dry it in the shade, you may see it. If the womb be too moist, such causes went before. If it be from breaking of Veins, they will tell you of violence. If it be from corrosion, it is little and slow, sometimes pure, sometimes serous.

It weakneth the whole Body, The Progno­stick. the Liver and Bowels, there is Swounding, the Whites, and paleness, and Dropsie sometimes. That which hath been long, is hard to be cured, and causeth death, and in an old woman it is deadly.

If there be fulness, abate the blood, Indicati­ons. and keep it from flowing to the womb, revel it, repel, cool and astringe it, that it may not flow so fast, and then amend the blood.

If it is from plenty of blood, The Cure. open the Liver-veins in the right Arm; bleed little and often be­cause it makes better revulsion, and weakens not, open the Salvetella if there be weakness, Gal. 5. aph. com. 50. and cup the Back and Breast against the Liver, beneath the Paps, where are Veins from the womb: cup not beneath, but in the Shoulders, or Back and Arm with Scarification: but scarifie not under the Breasts.

Bind and rub the arms and shoulders, and tem­per and thicken the sharp thin humors, with De­coctions and water of Plantane, Purslane, Sor­rel, [Page 82] Knot-grass, Shepheards-purse, Pomegranate-Syrup, and of dried Roses, Sorrel, Purslane, Co­ral, Conserve of Roses, Bole, sealed Earth.

If it be urgent, use Narcoticks, Syrup of Pop­pies, Treacle, Philonium, Laudanum.

If it still continue, it is fed with Choler, there­fore purge it with Syrup of Roses, Manna, Rhu­barb, Senna.

If it be fed with serous blood, help the Reins that do not their duty, and the Liver, and sweat with China.

You must not provoke urin, but use astringents. As, Take the juyce of Ass-dung, Syrup of Mirtles, each half an ounce; Plantane-water an ounce. Give it her, and let her not know what it is.

Decoctions. Take Comfrey-roots, Tormentil, each two drams, Purslane, Plantane, each a handful: boil them, add to six ounces Syrup of Currans, Quinces, Mirtles, each six drams: give it at twice. Or, Take Syrup of Purslane, juyce of Nettles, each two ounces; Purslane-water four ounces, Troches of Am­ber, of sealed Earth, each a dram; Blood-stone half a dram: give two spoonfuls every day.

A Water. Take eight pints of water, with Starch, Barley-meal, and Rice, dried Roses a hand­ful, juyce of Yarrow, Plantane, each half a pint; Comfrey-roots and all three ounces, Horstail, Blood-wort, each half a handful; Pears and Quinces, Pomegranate-flowers, all Sanders, each half an ounce; Mastich an ounce. Distil them, and give two ounces with half an ounce of Syrup of Roses or Pur­slane.

Electuaries. Conserve of Roses two ounces, Quin­ces an ounce and half, Troches of burnt Ivory and sealed Earth, each a dram; Crocus Martis, Bole, red coral prepared, Mastich, each half a dram; with [Page 83] Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary.

Powders. Take Mastich, red Coral prepared each a dram; Pearl, Smaragds prepared, each a scruple; Blood-stone half a scruple, Bole half a dram, make a powder.

Michael Paschal cured many with this Powder. Lib. de cu­rat. morb. cap. 55. Take two Egg-shells, burnt Frankincense, Mastich, each half an ounce; Pearl, red Coral and Amber, each two drams; Blood-stone, Smaragds prepared, each half a scruple; Barley-flour two pugils, whites of four Eggs, with steeled water make Cakes. Give from half a dram to a dram in powder, with Trotter-broath in the morning.

Or give every day a dram of the powder of Mulberry-tree roots. Or, Ex petrafo­res to. Take plump Turtle drawn and pluckt, wash it in Rose-water and red Wine, put an ounce of Mastich in the belly of it, stick it on, and roast it, and bast it with Vinegar of Roses. Then put it into a glass close luted, to be dried in an Oven; then beat all of it to powder. Give a spoonful with Plantane-water, or an astringent Decoction. Anoint the bottome of the Belly, Reins and Groyns, with the dropping of it.

Or make Rouls thus: Take Bole half a dram, Magistery of Coral a dram, Pearl prepared a scruple, Sorrel and Plantane-seed, each half a dram; Aromatiacum rosatum, Traganth, each half a dram: with Sugar dissolved in Plantane-water, make Rouls.

In the use of cold Astringents, take heed you stop not the Veins, and the heat be cooled. If these help not, use Narcoticks, as Troches of sealed Earths, and Amber with Opium: these astringe also.

Use no Pessaries, except the Veins in the neck of the Womb be open. As, Take Snakeweed, [Page 84] Tormentil, each half an ounce; Pomegranate-flow­ers, Plantane-seed, each two drams; Comfry-roots half an ounce, Frankincense, Mastich, each a dram; Acacia, Sanguis Draconis, each two scruples; Blood-stone, Starch, each a dram and half; with the white of an Egg and Gum traganth dissolved in Rose-wa­ter, make Pessaries with red Silk.

Womb-Clysters. Take juyce of Yarrow, Solo­mons-seal, each two ounces; Mucilage of Gum Arabick made in Plantane-water two ounces, make a Clyster.

A Fume. Take Frankincense, Mastich, each two drams; Mirtles, Labdanum, each a dram; red Roses, Pomegranate-flowers, each half a dram; with Gum traganth make Troches to be burnt.

Oyntments. Take Oyl of Mirtles, Quinces, each two ounces; juyce of Plantane, Solomons-seal, Horse-tail, each an ounce; boil the juyces away, add Bole, Plantane-seed, Mirtle-berries, Ceruss, each half an ounce; with Wax make an Oyntment. Or use the Countesses Oyntment to the Loins and Pecten.

Cataplasms. Take Quinces, Pearls boiled in red Wine, add Bole, Mastich, Sanguis Draconis, Aca­cia, make a Cataplasm or a Cerot. Or, Take Sorrel and Plantane-seed, Purslane-seed, Bole, Sanguis Dra­conis, each two drams; Frankincense, Mastich, Mirrh, each three drams; Turpentine an ounce, with juyce of Plantane and Yarrow and Wax, make a Cerot after the Juyces are boiled away.

Fomentations are better than Baths: for they make the humors flow more. Let them be astrin­gent and cool. Or wash the Legs and Hips in cold water. Lay Epithems to the Liver, Oynt­ments, Cerots or Plaisters.

If Choler offend, give Rhubarb and Conserve of Roses to evacuate the Cacochymy.

If blood flow from a vein broken, use Coral, Bole, Mirtles, Comphry, Acacia, Hypocistis: or apply a Pultis of whites of Eggs, and astringent Powders.

If it come from a vessel corroded, use stoppers and glutinaters that are slimy, as Dropwort-roots a dram, with a rear Egg.

Let the diet be as the Physick is. In a flux from plethory, eat little, and that of little nourishment, and in other cases give things to close the vessels. Sleep long, and use little Venery, little or no ex­ercise. Anger hurts, and other passions.

Chap. 7. Of the Terms-flowing with pain and Symptoms.

THe Symptoms are pain in the Loyns or Thighs, Head-ach, biting at the mouth of the Stomach, pain in the Belly and Loyns, faint­ing.

They are as in suppression of Terms, The Causes. but less vehement, and are in them that have not con­ceived. There is obstruction, thick and gross blood, that stretcheth the vessels, and the blood flows not orderly.

A little before the Terms, there is head-ach, The Signs. biting at the stomach, pain in the loyns, and bot­tom of the stomach, with beating at the heart, [Page 86] and fainting. When the pain is from thick blood, it comes forth in clodds, and the pain is worse than before. If it be from wind, it is sudden, and staies not in a place, and there is rumbling in the belly.

The Progno­stick.Take heed it turn not to the stoppage of terms, if it be neglected. It is greater in barren women and Virgins, then in those who have had children.

The Cure.Take away the cause; if they be thick hu­mors, evacuate them after they are prepared: If sharp, temper them. These attenuate blood wa­ter of Grass-roots, Maidenhair, Decoctions of the opening Roots, Syrup of Maidenhair, of the five Roots, Treacle, and the like, in the stoppage of the Terms.

Against pain, use the Fomentations and Oynt­ments in the Chapter of pain of the Womb.

Chap. 8. Of evil discoloured Terms.

THis is called the Terms depraved by bad humors, and so they are voided.

The Causes.Blood is foul, either from evil diet, or evil hu­mors, or stoppage of it. The humors are flegm, choler, or melancholy mixed with it, and then the Terms are either pale, blew, green or black and stinking, or white and flegmatick. They are so from a fault in the stomach. The pale and yel­low are from too great heat in the Liver. The black are from the spleen disordered.

The Signs.That blood which is natural, is different from the bad in colour and substance: it is like that of a new slain sheep, nor thicker nor thinner, and the bad Terms come not seasonably, but sooner [Page 87] or later, of which Hippocrates. Lib. de morb. mu­lier. You may know by the colour what humor predominates, and by the substance. The flegmatick and melancholy are long in coming, and the cholerick waterish Terms come quicker.

The more they differ from the natural state, The Prog­nostick. the worse they are: black and stinking are worst. The mattery are worst of all. If these flow seven, eight or nine daies, she is cured: if they ulcerate the womb, she is barren.

Hippocrates saith, The Cure. 5. Aphor. 36. they must be purged and pre­pared with proper things, as we shewed in the distempers of the womb. But take heed that you move not the Terms when you attenuate: for that will melt the serous humors, and fix them more in the vessels: use neither Vinegar nor sharp things.

After purging, consume the reliques by sweat; if choler be in fault, that must not be sweated out, discuss it with warm Baths and do so in me­lancholy. Use Pessaries, Fomentations and Fumes to the womb.

Give Treacle, Mithridate, or the Decoction of Angelica-roots, if cold humors are the cause.

Chap. 9. Of Terms coming be­fore their time.

THese shew an ill constitution. And it is a depraved excretion of the Terms that comes for the time often: for sometimes they flow sooner, or twice in a month.

The immediate Cause is hurt of the retentive and expulsive faculty, The Causes. so that the blood flows not or sooner or later, or oftner: the cause why they [Page 88] come sooner, is in the blood that stirs up the ex­pulsive faculty in the whole body, or in the womb: sometimes all causes meet; the blood is too much, or too sharp and hot; and if the retentive faculty in the womb be weak, and the expulsive strong and of quick sense, it is sooner.

A fall, stroke or passion are the evident Cau­ses.

The Signs.They will relate it: and the signs of the causes are these: If it be from much blood, there are the signs of plethory; heat, thinness, and sharp humors are known by the distemper of the whole. The weakness of the retentive faculty, and loosness of the vessels is known from a loose and moist habit of body.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.It is not dangerous, but troublesome, and hinders conception.

If they come too soon from hurt in the faculty provoked by too much plethory, Let blood, use a spare diet, and much exercise. If it be from sharp blood, temper it by good diet, and Medi­cines, as in the cholerick distemper of the womb.

Use Baths of Iron-water, that corrects the distempers of the bowels, then evacuate.

If it come from the retentive faculty, and loosness of the vessels, correct the cold and moist distemper with gentle astringents.

If it be from a stroke or fall, cure it as the vessels opened are cured, of which before.

Chap. 10. Of the Terms that come after their usual time.

WHen they stay longer then ordinary, and return without order at no set [Page 89] time: the causes are little and thick blood, strait­ness of the passages, weakness of the expulsive faculty, and dulness. Either of these causes may stop the Terms: but if all meet, the disease is worse.

For if blood be not bred in such a quantity, that may prick Nature forward to expel it, the purging of it is differed, till there be enough to stir up Nature to expel it. If thick humors are in the blood, the passage stopt, and the faculty weak, the Terms must needs be disordered, and the purging of them differed longer.

If it be from want of blood, The Signs. she hath either li­ved poor in diet, or exercised too much, and she finds no inconvenience by the want of her Terms. If it be from gross slimy blood, there are signs of Cachochymy. The weakness of the faculty is known by the cold distemper of the womb.

It is not so dangerous as stoppage of the terms, The Progno­stick. but it is bad enough in a plethorick or cacochy­mical body.

If little blood be, use a fuller diet, The Cure. and exer­cise not. If blood be gross and foul, make it thin, and cut it, and after Preparatives, let the humors mixed therewith, be evacuated. It is good to purge presently after the Terms, and to use Calamints, and to purge often.

Also four or five dayes before the Terms, sca­rifie the ankles, and hold the feet in warm wa­ter, rub the legs, apply Cupping-glasses without Scarification to the inside of the thighs, and use Fumes and Pessaries.

Anoint the bottom of the belly with things to provoke the Terms. If there be a numness, use things against the Palsie.

Chap. 11. Of the Terms voided another way.

SOmetimes they come out at the Nose, or are vomited up, or flow out by the Haemorrhoid veins. 1. De morb. mul. 5. apho. 32. obser. me­dit. c. 15. Lib. 1. de affect. mul. c. 7. The Causes. Hence Hippocrates saith, that a woman that vomits blood, is cured by having her Terms, or by a Bloody-flux. Sometimes they are pissed forth. Dodonaeus saies, That they come out at the eyes like tears sometimes. Amatus Lusitanus saith, they will come forth at the Teats of the breasts, and at the navel, at the little finger, or ring fin­ger every month, as Mercatas observed thrice.

Are stoppage of the Terms from straitness of the vessels in the womb, or evil conformation of the womb.

The Progno­stick.It is more troublesome then dangerous, and hinders conception. It is best when they come out at the Nose: for it is a part that Nature useth to disburden her self by.

The Cure.First, Bring the blood to the womb again, and abate it. Open the ankle-vein three daies before she begins to bleed. Or cup the thighs, or rub them. Or use Baths, Fomentations, Oyntments, Womb-Clysters, Pessaries, and the like, mention­ed in Suppression of the Terms.

Chap. 12. Of the Whites.

IT is a foul excretion from the womb, white, and sometimes blew, or green, or reddish, nor at a set time, nor every month, but disorderly, longer or shorter. Before or after the Terms, and when they are stopt. Virgins seldom have this disease, and women with child have it sometimes.

It differs from the running of the reins; for it is in less quantity, whiter and thicker, and at a greater distance. It differs from night polluti­on, which is only in sleep with the imagination of Venery.

The immediate Cause is an excrementitious humor, flegm, choler or melancholy. The Causes. Sometimes it is like waterish blood. It is gathered in the whole body, or in the stomach, liver or spleen. For they who have crudities in the stomach, are subject to this disease. Sometimes the womb alone is distempered after often mischances, or when the womb is very cold and moist.

This matter flows through the veins of the womb, or of the neck of it, which use to carry blood, and Nature abuseth them to carry excre­ments, especially if they are bred in the womb.

The remote causes are whatsoever doth breed bad humors; some have it after strong purges, or long bathing.

Sometimes they are pale, sometimes blew, red, The Diffe­rences. waterish, and green: sometimes slimy, or cold, or sharp, or stinking. In young people it is red­dish.

The face is discoloured, the urin thick, The Signs. there is loathing and heart-ach. If the humor be sharp and corrupt, there is a Feaver. If it be flegma­tick and much, the ligaments of the Womb are loose and it falls out, thus Hippocrates, Lib. de na­tur. mulie­rum. and there are, saith he, swelled eyes, evil colour, and short breathing.

If it be not bred in the womb, the humor is from a Cacochymy. If it be from a fault in ano­ther part, the signs of that will appear. If it come only from the Womb, there will be but little: If from the whole body, there will be more.

The Progno­stick.It is often, long with little inconvenience, but it must be looked to, lest it be worse: for it often breaks ulcers, Cachexy, falling out of the womb, Consumption, Fainting, Convulsions, when the matter is sent to the brain or nerves. And the worse the humor is, the greater is the disease.

The Cure.It must not be suddenly stopt, lest it go to the noble parts.

First, see whether it be from the whole body, or any part, or from the Womb it self. If from the whole body, which is often, make general evacuation, and turn the humors from the womb, and keep a good diet, lest they come again.

I allow not bleeding in the arm, if the terms be stopt; for they cause a Cacochymy, which admits no bleeding. Moreover the mass of blood may be made foul by them, therefore find out whether it comes from Cacochymy or Plethory. And when it is most like to come from Caco­chymy, bleed not.

Therefore if flegm abound, which is most usu­al, after general purging, consume the reliques with Guajacum and Sarsa, and a drying diet, and by provoking Urin, of which hereafter.

If sharp and cholerick humors abound, tem­per them with gentle astringents, as Succory, Endive, Sorrel, to prepare, purge with Rhubarb, Triphera Persica, aggregative Pills, and Pills of Rhubarb. If it be melancholy, do as in melan­choly.

If it be water, cure it as Galen did the Wife of Boethus c. 8. lib. de prognost. ad Posth.

If it be in the stomach, liver, or the like, pre­vent it from increase, and because it is most about the stomach, give a Vomit, but not too strong. Then strengthen the stomach with hot [Page 93] and dry Medicines. If Choler abound, the Di­stemper is hot, and then cool it.

If it come from the Womb, do as I shewed, from what cause soever it is. Baths are good to evacuate and divert, and strengthen, and take away a moist distemper, provided they are pro­per for the Constitution.

Use Dryers and Astringents. As, Take Con­serve of red Roses four ounces, of Succory two ounces, red Coral, Snakeweed, Tormentil-roots, Ivory, each two drams; with Syrup of Mirtles make an Ele­ctuary.

Or, Take red Coral, Bole, sealed Earth, each an ounce; Pearl prepared, a scruple, Mastich half a dram, Cypress-roots two scruples, Mace half a scruple, with Sugar of Roses as much as all, make a powder. Or, Take Diarrhodon a dram, Sanders a scruple, Corian­der two drams, Mastich, Coral, each a dram; with Sugar make Troches.

But use not these Astringents, till the Body be purged, lest the waterish humors be stopt, and the Belly swell: but you may use hot Dryers safely, as Treacle, Mithridate, with Conserve of Roses and Wormwood.

As, Take Conserve of Rosemary-flowers an ounce, Diacorus two drams, Diarrhodon, Aromaticum Ro­satum, each a dram; red Coral prepared a dram and half, Treacle two drams, with syrup of Citron-peels, make an Electuary.

And left the womb be hurt with evil humors, inject the Decoction of Barley, Honey of Roses and Whey, with Syrup of dried Roses. Or of Wormwood, Mints, Motherwort, red Roses, Allum. And then use a Fume of Frankincense, Labdanum, Mastich, Sanders, Nutmeg, red Roses.

Avoid crude and moist things, and Fish, Milk, and all sweet Meats, and Salt. Forbear Suppers, drink red Wine: sleep and wake moderately, lie not upon the Back, lest the Loyns be heated, and the humors sent to the Womb.

Chap. 13. Of a Gonorrhoea.

THe running of the Reins may be in all wo­men that are fit for a man; for it is the flux of natural Seed. It is in men and women from the French Pox: but when stinking humors do flow, it is not properly called a Gonorrhoea.

The Causes.The chief cause is the weakness of the reten­tive faculty, and the loosness and largeness of the Seed-vessels: the Causes of these are shewed in the Gonorrhoea of men.

The Signs.The Woman will declare it, and the greatness and the colour. For if it be white, and little, and thick, and at distance, it is a true Gonorrhoea.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.If it continue, it brings a Consumption, and Barrenness.

The Cure of a Gonorrhoea and night polluti­on is Pract. 3. but I shall add this, if it come from plenty of Seed, The Buds of the Salix or Wil­low, [Page 95] is good with Wine. If it be from weakness of the retentive faculty, give Caster half a scruple, and use Astringents to the Belly, Reins, and Stones; or a Bath of Willow-leaves, Mirtles, Quin­ces, each two handfuls; Rosemary, red Roses, each a handful; Cypress-nuts three ounces. Let her sit in up to the Navel. And apply Bags of the same to the Loyns, Kidnies, Privities; and anoint after with Oyl of Mastich and Mirtles.

Chap. 14. Of strange things voided by the Womb.

THere is matter often voided by the Womb, of which before.

And sometimes stones and gravel breed in the womb, Hippoc. 5. epid. letr. 4. ser. 4. c. 98. as Aetius and Peter Salius Diversus speaks of a Nun, that after a pain that no Medicine could cure, voided a rough stone as big as a Ducks Egg, and then she was at ease: but a foul Flux of the Womb followed, of which she died.

Chap. 1. Of Virginity.

IT is the integrity of Womens Privities not violated by Man: but what are the signs of Virginity, is a Question. I think thus:

Chap. 2. Of the Green-sickness or white Feaver.

THis is in Virgins fit for a man: it is called the Virgins Disease, and the white Feaver not; that there is alwayes a Feaver: but because their Face is like people in a Feaver. It is thus de­fined.

The Virgins Disease, is the changing of the natural colour into a pale and green with faint­ness, heaviness of body, loathing of meat, palpitati­on of Heart, difficult breathing, sadness, swelling of the Feet, Eye-lids and Face, from depraved nou­rishment.

The [...]auses.The first Cause is stoppage of Terms: the next is the gathering of bad humors. For when the way to the womb is stopt, the blood returns to the great Vessels and Bowels, and choaks their heat, and stops the vessels, and spoils the making of blood, and then there are crudities, which be­ing brought to the habit of the body, cannot be united perfectly to the parts, and cause a Ca­chexy, which is the way to a Dropsie and Leuco­phlegmacy, and divers Symptoms. The causes of the obstructions of the Vessels of the Womb, are crude humors, and flegmatick, slimy blood, [Page 101] from evil diet, and drinking of Vinegar, or eating raw Corn, Chalk, Ashes, Lime, Earth, Clay, and the like

There is a pale and green colour, The Signs. the Face is swollen, and the Eye-brows in the morning after sleep especially; the Ankles swell, and the whole Body is loose, and moist from much water: the Legs are lazy, the Pulse is little and often, in the Neck, Temples and Back. The heart beats, the breath is short when they go up stairs, they loath meat. Some have the Pica, or desire to eat absurd things. The terms are stopt, the Hypochondria are swollen. Sometimes they vomit. If vapors fly to the Head, there is thirst and head-ach: and if Melancholy be mixed, the animal actions are hurt.

These are not all in all people: but most are in most, and in some all.

It it often turned to a Dropsie. The Progno­stick. Some after death have had a Scirrhus, hard Liver. Some die sudden­ly, the Heart being oppressed. If the stomach be much afflicted, it is dangerous, and they loath meat much. If it come from the womb alone, it is easier cured.

It is best to begin in the Spring or Summer: The Cure. after a Clyster, open a Vein in the Ankle.

Then heat the thick cold humor, and make it thin; and because it is too much to be purged at once prepare and purge often, and mix attenua­ters and cutters with your purges.

When the humors are above the stomach and Mesentery, it is good to vomit those that can ea­sily vomit, and to give Liver-Physick, or Spleen or Womb-Physick, even as in Le [...]cophlegmacy, see the Chapter of Terms stopt. But in this Dis­ease, alwayes consider the Liver, Spleen and Me­sentery, [Page 102] the obstructions of which are cured with things mentioned.

At first open the obstructions of these parts with some few things that provoke terms, and after give more.

Thus: Take opening Roots an ounce, Madder, Eryngus, Orris, Elicampane, Citron-peels dried, Sarsa, each half an ounce; Mugwort, Agrimony, Germander, each a handful; Savin two pugils, Carthamus-seeds an ounce, Senna two ounces, Me­choacan, Agarick, each half an ounce; Stoechas-flower two pugils, Fennel, Aniseed, Galangal, each two drams: boil them to a pint and half, sweeten it, and add Cinnamon-water three drams. Or infuse them all with Sea-wormwood half a handful, com­mon Wormwood two pugils. Or, Take Agarick, Pills of Rhubarb, each a dram; Quercetan 's Pills of Tartar and of Ammoniacum, each half a dram; Spike a scruple, Oyl of Cinnamon three drops, Ex­tract of Wormwood half a scruple, make Pills: give a scruple an hour before meat. Or, Take juyce of Mercury, clarified Honey or Sugar, each an ounce; add Gith-seed, Senna, each two drams; Mechoacan a dram, make a Mass; or give Conserve of Marigold-flowers.

Steel is an excellent Remedy after Prepara­tives, with proper Drinks or Ingredients. And if the Vessels of the stomach are stopt, give a Vomit, and then gross powder of Steel.

Hoc laudat Mercatus.If the Mesentery be stopt; Take Diarrhodon, Diacurcuma, Agarick, each a dram; Carthamus, seeds two drams, red Dock-roots, Carrot-seed, each a dram and half; Cloves a dram, Steel prepared two ounces, with clarified Honey make an Electuary: give two or four drams. If she vomit, stop it not.

If the Liver be chiefly stopt, let the Steel be [Page 103] finely powdered. And take of it half a pound, add eight ounces of Wine in a glass, set it in the em­bers, stir it, and let it boil twelve simmers, till you see it froath, and grow a little thick; then pour the froath and all into another Vessel. Do thus four times, and then let it be gently boiled, till it be thick as Honey. Then, Take Parsley, Carrot-seed, Diacurcuma, Diarrhodon, each a dram and half; Cinnamon a dram, Steel prepared six drams, with Honey make an Electuary: give three drams, or five after excercise.

If the Spleen be stopt; Take Steel prepared a pound, wash it with Vinegar, then strain it, and lay it on a Clout, and add powder of Cloves half an ounce. Let them stand so a day and a night, then put them in a glassed Vessel, and ten oun­ces of white Wine, Diarrhodon, Harts-tongue, Senna, and Caper-bark, then stir them, then set them in the Sun for a day, or in an Oven. Do this ten daies, till the Steel be melted in the Wine, and little or nothing at the bottom. Give two ounces of this in the morning after purging and exercise.

Or, Take Steel prepared an ounce, Cinnamon, Aniseeds, each two drams; Diamoschu without Musk a dram, Sugar an ounce, make a powder give a dram: drink white Wine and Mugwort-water af­ter it.

Steeled Wine. Take Steel in powder three oun­ces, Cinnamon half an ounce, white Wine three pints. Set them in a close glass eight daies in the Sun, stir them every day. Give six or eight ounces four hours afore dinner, for fifteen or twenty daies, and walk after it.

At first give a Steel-medicine to prepare. As, Take Steel-filings four ounces, put it in an Iron Cru­cible [Page 106] or Ladle, then cast it into two pints of water of Hops, Grass, Madder, Borage, or Spring-water: strain it, and do so seven times. Then, Take so many ounces of new Steel, and cast it into water as before: strain and add Syrup of Violets, Borage, or Honey of Roses four ounces; give three ounces in the morning after ex­ercise. Prepare thus three or four times, and then use stronger.

After Steel use Scorzonera steept all night in Wine, give it in the morning. This hath cured Obstructi­ons in many.

Mercatus. Bezoar-stone, saith Mercatus, opens Obstructions in my Experience, and resists Venom: give six or seven grains.

Steel is best Spring and Fall, purge, and exer­cise before and after it, that it may be better dis­persed. Use Preparatives, Purges, and strengthners often, and for a long time, and change the forms, lost the Patient loath them.

If water spread about the body cool the body, and make it heavy. Use sweats, as Baths natural or artificial, of Mugwort, Calamints, Nep, Dane­wort, Sage, Bayes, Rosemary, Mercury, Ivy, Briony-roots, Orris, Elicampane.

After purging and opening Obstructions, all the Symptoms will vanish; if not, see for the Symptoms of the Womb.

The Diet.Let the Air be temperately hot. The Meat of good juyce, and easie digestion. Pot-herbs and green Fruits must be avoided, Fish, Milk, Lettice. Make Sauce with Sage and Cinnamon. Drink Wine. Let Bread be well leavened, with Fennel-seed. Drink no Water nor Broaths at first and in the declination of the disease; use Exercise and Venery. Let sleep be moderate.

Chap. 3. Of Symptomes from the Womb, and Mother-fits in general.

IT is not to be expressed what miserable diseases Women are subject to: both Virgins and others from the womb, and its consent with other parts. For when terms or blood are stopt, there are great Symptoms; and while they putrifie, or get evil qualities, the Symptoms are grievous, and almost unexpressible.

One woman may have divers Symptoms from [Page 107] the womb at the same time, when the seed and terms are mixed with other humors after they are corrupted, and there is more sometimes, and such noble substance as seed and terms being corrupt­ed, are like poyson. Gal. 6. de loc. aff. c. 5.

The consent with other parts, is from likeness of parts, nearness, or connexion of Vessels. And because the womb is membranous, it hath a great consent with the Membranes and Nerves. Also the parts adjacent are easily infected. And third­ly, it hath consent with all the Body by Veins, Arteries and Nerves.

It consents with the Brain by the Nerves, and Membranes of the Back-marrow. It consents with the Heart by the Arteries; with the Liver by the Veins, which are great in the Womb, and therefore the blood and bad humors go back to the Liver. It consents with the stomach by Ana­stomosis in the Veins of the Mesentery, and by the Arteries through foul humors and vapors go from the womb to the Mesentery and Stomach.

It consents with the Spleen by the Arteries; therefore many Women that had not their terms enough in their youth, and have hot blood, are after Hypochondriack, and a Physitian can scarce distinguish these diseases of the Womb and Spleen, nor cure them severally.

It consents with the Paps by Veins and Nerves, and the Heart, Diaphragma, Head, Brain, and all the Organs of sense and motion; with the Liver, Spleen, Stomach, Belly, Mesentery, Bladder, strait Gut, Back, Hips, Arms and Legs, and causeth Symptoms. As Galen saith the Mother and Histerical passions in one name, Gal. de loc. aff. c. 5. but hath under it innumerable Symptoms.

Chap. 4. Of Suffocation of the Womb.

IN this they seem to be strangled. And there are so many Symptoms at once, that it is impossi­ble to define it by one. Sometimes there is only short breath; sometimes the animal actions are hurt, the whole Body is cold from a malignant vapor sent up from the Womb.

The Causes.The immediate Cause, is a vapour malignant and venomous, sent up by the Arteries, Veins and Nerves that hurt the actions of the parts it goes to. This vapor is like air or wind, thin and little, but very strong, to get presently through the whole Body. It chiefly ascends to the Gullet, and causeth choaking, as eating of Mushrooms, Helle­bore, and other poysons. There is often short difficult breathing, with Heart-ach, Vomiting, and Loathing. If the vapor go first to the heart, the motion of it ceaseth, and there is swounding, and she falls down. If it go to the Brain, the ani­mal actions are hurt.

When seed and terms corrupt in the Womb, with other bad humors, they breed this evil vapor; because they are the best substance, and the beginning of generation, they are worst when corrupted, especially seed to hurt the whole Body.

Gal. cit. 1.Sometimes it is in Women with child, when they have not their after-purging: but evil hu­mors are left, and corrupt in the Womb.

The chief cause of this humor, is in the trum­pet of the womb and stones, the body of which is hollow and loose, the stones being in Bladders, and have hollowness full of water, which in hy­sterical [Page 109] women is yellow and thicker then ordi­nary. Vesal. de corp. human. Fabr. lib. 5. c. 15. This trumpet and the stones are often ta­ken from the womb it self, when they are swollen with corrupt seed, and humors, and wind, and reach to the Navel: of which in the Chapter of Ascent of the Womb.

This disease is breeding sooner or longer, as the matter is more or less, sometimes corrupt hu­mors lie still, and if they be stirred, they send a ve­nom or vapor to the whole body. Now in women subject to this disease, sweet scents to the Nose, or taken in, or anger, will move these humors and va­pors.

They are according to the variety of the Symp­toms and efficient cause, or venomous humors: The Diffe­rences. for corrupt blood especially seed, puts on another Nature.

That Suffocation is at hand, The Signs. it appears by lazi­ness, weakness of the Legs, paleness, sad counte­nance, and the motion of something like a Ball in the Belly, with noise like Frogs, Snakes, or Crows, so that some think it is devillish. There is also Belching, Yawning, Yexing, short Wind, Heart­beating, Loathing, Dulness, Laughter at the coming of the fit, from the vapor getting into the Mem­brane of the Breast, that tickle them: some cry, some both laugh and cry.

These Symptoms increase when the fit comes, and the Jaws are closed, that she seems to be choaked, and sense and motion is gone or depra­ved. Some have Convulsions, some hear what is done about them, but cannot speak: the pulse is less, the whole body is cold, and the Eyes shut, as if they were dead.

When the fit declines, humors flow from the Privities, the Guts rumble, the Eyes open, the [Page 110] Cheeks grow red, and the body warm, the ani­mal actions return, and the Patient sighs, and comes to her self.

It is known to be from corrupt seed, if the terms are in order, and short breath, and low voice, Suffocation and Convulsions, and all Symp­toms are then more vehement, and at the end of the fit there flows a humour like seed out of the privities. It is from the terms, if they be stopt, or flow not orderly; and if there be a disease in the womb, it is neither from the seed nor the terms.

The Progno­stick.1. If there come Swounding, or a great Con­vulsion, or quenching of natural heat, it is dead­ly.

2. Suffocation from corrupt seed, is more dangerous then that which is from the terms mixt with melancholick humors.

3. The longer it lasts, and the worse the Symp­toms, the more is the danger. It ceaseth in young Women when they begin to bear children.

4. The oftner the fit comes, the more you may fear the quenching of the natural heat by weakning of the Heart often; and if she foam at the mouth, she dies.

Chap. 5. Of the Frenzie of the Womb.

IT is a great and foul Symptom of the Womb, both in Virgins and Widdows, and such as have known man. These are mad for Lust, and invite men, and lie down to them, and it differs from salacity, because in that there is no Deli­rium.

It is an immoderate desire of Venery, that makes women almost mad, or a Delirium from an immoderate desire of Venery: it is without a Feaver, and with heat, and tends to madness. There are degrees in it, for modest women have it, but will not for shame declare it, and die of Consumptions. Others will not conceal it, but speak their thoughts bawdily, and follow men, and sollicite them shamelesly, as Hippocrates writes in his Book of Virgins Diseases.

The immediate Cause is plenty of hot and The Causes. [Page 116] sharp Seed against Nature, but next unto that which is natural; it is a little biting, swelling, and forcing Nature to let it out by lechery. The brain is only hurt by consent, and the animal actions by an external error, or too vehement ob­ject. The part first affected, is the womb in the Nymphae, which grows hot, and swells, but the Nymphae are not properly the seat of Venery, but the Clitoris, which was called by the same name anciently.

The heat and sharpness of Seed, is from the heat of the womb that breeds it, from hot humors in the womb and hot blood.

The outward Causes, are hot meats spiced, strong wine, and the like, that heat the privities, idleness, pleasure, and dancing, and reading of bawdy Histories.

The Signs.They find their lust to boyl at first, and for shame will not declare it: they are sad and si­lent, and their eyes turn to and fro with lust, and if any speak of Venery, they blush, and the pulse changeth, when the brain consenteth, reason is perverted, and modesty is overcome, then they prate, are lustful, and angry; sometimes they cry or laugh without a cause: they follow men, and sollicite them for copulation. Some will lie with any one they meet.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.It is a sordid disease, curable at first: but if neglected, it turns to madness.

Let Virgins that have it, before reason is sub­verted, be in company with chast Maidens, or be married And be let blood to abate heat of blood and sharpness of Seed very often, there is no bet­ter remedy.

Then temper and evacuate the humors, if they be adust, and there be madness, use stronger.

Then have a Bath of Lettice, Willow, Water-lillies, Vine-leaves, Purslane, Venus-navel, red Roses, Violets, Water-lillies. Let her sit twice a day in it, and not sweat.

To take away the sharpness of the Seed, use Lettice, Violets, Water-lillies, and things that quench seed by a secret quality, as Agnus castus Seed, Leaves and Flowers of Camphire here­after.

As, Take leaves of Water-lillies, Agnus Castus, Willow, each three handfuls; Ltetice, Purslane, Venus-navel, each a handful; Lettice, Poppy-seed, the four great cold seeds, each half an ounce; Dill-seed two drams, Water-lillies a hundful, Violets half a handful, beat them with juyce of Lemons, distil them after twenty four hours, add to every pint a dram of Camphire, give an ounce. Or, Take Agnus castus leaves, Rue, Willow, each two handfuls; Mints, tops of Dill, each a handful and half; Water-lillies half a handful, Agnus castus seeds, Hemp, Coriander, Lettice-seed, each half an ounce: beat them, and distil them with water, add a pint of juyce of Lemons, recti­fie it to half.

An Emulsion. Take Lettice, and white Poppy-seed, and the four great cold Seeds, each half an ounce; water of Lettice, Water-lillies, Willow, each four ounces; Syrup of Violets two ounces, Magistery of Coral a dram.

An Electuary. Take Conserve of Water-lillies, Violets, of Agnus castus tops, each an ounce; of Roses half an ounce, red Coral, Smaragds, each a dram; Coleworts and Lettice candied, each an ounce; with syrup of Violets and Water-lillies, make an Electuary.

Or make Baths of the same. As, Take tops of Agnus castus, Lettice, Rue, Water-lillies, Dill-tops, boil them, anoint with Oyl of Lillies, Unguent of [Page 118] Roses, with Camphire after that. Or lay a Plaister of Mercury and Marsh-lentils to the Breast and Loins. Lay a Plate of Lead to the Back, and give a Pessary of Juyce of Plantane, Purslane, Gourds.

These that work by an occult quality, are fit­test for Nuns that must not marry: but they that will marry must forbear them, because they cause Barrenness.

Let diet be thin, and of little nourishment, no Eggs, Beef is good, and fresh Fish. Also Lettice, Purslane, Succory. Sleep little, think not of Vene­ry, labour, and avoid idleness.

Chap. 6. Of the Melancholy of Virgins and Widows.

IT is a Delirium with sadness, trouble and wee­ping, sometimes laughing, without a Feaver. [Page 119] It differs from others by the efficacy only of the efficient cause: for it hath divers pains besides sadness, especially on the left side, near the Heart in the Pap: this is by occasion at a distance.

The Cause is a melancholick Vapor from a melancholick blood in the vessels near the Heart, The Causes. that infects the animal Spirits, hurts the Fancy, and so the reason. For melancholick blood aboun­ding in the vessels of the womb, comes back to the great Arteries about the Heart, by the Arte­ries of the womb, and infects both vital and ani­mal Spirits, and causeth trouble of Heart and Delirium, while this blood is quiet in the Arte­ries, there is no vapor that riseth: but when it is heated or stirred up by any cause, the Arteries about the Back and Spleen beat more then ordi­nary, and the vapors arise and trouble the Heart.

They are sad, and full of thoughts, The Signs. and trouble at the Heart, and cannot express their grief; all things are tedious to them: they weep and laugh without a cause: they sleep little, and with trouble and fear: they have a pain on the left side, and sometimes the left Breast: their Jaws are dry. All which are the effects of a me­lancholick vapor, and when that is discussed, all cease. If it be old, it turns to Madness, and then they are first silent, then pratlers, and think they see Ghosts.

At first it is easier cured: but if it last long, The Prog­nostick. and she resist not imagination, and will not re­joyce with her Gossips, it is dangerous. They often despair and desire death, or hang them­selves or drown themselves. If the manners are changed, it turns to madness.

Observe what progress the disease hath made. The Cure. At first if blood be hot, open a Vein often in the [Page 120] Arm, if the terms be not stopt. If they be, bleed in the Ankles some daies before they use to flow.

Let her be merry, and prepare and purge Me­lancholy, thus: Take Borage and Balm-water, each three ounces; Syrup of the Juyce of Borage and Bu­gloss, each an ounce an half. Mix them for two Doses, repeat them sometimes. Then purge Me­lancholy. As, Take Senna six drams, Agarick a dram and half, Borage-flowers and Violets, each a pugil; Citron-peels two drams, infuse them in Rhe­nish wine for six hours, strain them, add Syrup of Violets an ounce. Or, Take Scorzonera-roots two ounces, Borage an ounce, Balm a handful, Senna four ounces, Agarick half an ounce, Citron-peels 6 drams, Zedoary two drams, Cordial-flowers a handful, add half a pint of the juyce of sweet-scented Apples, and of Borage and Bugloss, steep them two daies, then strain them, add Sugar and half an ounce of Cinna­mon, make a Syrup: give two or three ounces.

Also give Cordials, Confection of Hyacinths, Species Exhilerants, and Confection Alkermes, to such as can bear it. Cure it as Melancholy, only the matter comes from the womb; therefore still regard that it dry not the body too much: The Progno­stick. but use a moistning Diet.

Chap. 7. Of an Epilepsie from the Womb.

THis Falling-sickness is worse then from other causes, because there are greater Symptoms: for that malignant vapor doth not only fall into the Nerves, but the Veins and Arteries.

The same malignant vapor that causeth suffo­cation, causeth this: for when it ascends by the [Page 121] Veins and Arteries, it begets other diseases: but when it gets to the Nerves, or to the fountain of them, it causeth the Epilepsie. In some the whole body hath a Convulsion; in others some part only, as the Eyes, Head, Tongue, Hand or Leg, and the outward Senses are diversly taken. Some see not, some hear not, some see and cannot speak: some dote, and think they see strange things, some cry out, and know not why. All lose the sense of Feeling.

If the vapor be not very malignant, they re­turn to their work after the fit, as if they had not been ill.

It is known by what hath been said: for here is not only a Convulsion, as in other Epilepsies: but divers Symptoms, as in Suffocation of the Womb. They seldom foam at the mouth, because the Brain is not so shaken as to cause foaming: nor is the vapor so fixed in the roots of the nerves, but they often do hear.

It is grievous, and hath grievous Symptoms: but it is not so bad as a true Epilepsie. And if you give proper Medicines, it never returns.

Chap. 8. Of pain of the Head from the Womb.

MAny pains come from the Womb: but the chiefest and greatest are in the Head, all over, or on one side, or in the Eyes.

Matter ascends to the Membranes of the Head by the Veins and Arteries from the Womb. The Causes. It is a vapor or humor from blood and humors; some­times bad blood that is thin, goes from the womb-vessels to the great Vessels, and gets to the Head, and to the Membranes there, and causeth a stretching ulcerated, or pricking, or beating pain, when it is carried through the Arteries being full of blood.

They think their Head will be torn, The Signs. and the Membranes, and it is behind in the Head, or when the terms flow, or are disordered, from consent with the womb. If it be from a vapor, there is no heaviness, and it ceaseth presently. If from a humor, there is heaviness.

These pains are great, and cause watching. The Progno­stick. The Cure.

We have spoken of the Head-ach: but here it is from the Womb; therefore consider what hu­mors offend in the womb, and let them be pur­ged, and the distemper of the womb amended as we shewed in the Distemper of the Womb.

There is also a pain in the Loins, because bad humors go from the veins of the womb and Ar­teries to the great Vessels, and so are sent by the Capillar-veins into the Membranes, and stretch them, and cause pain [...] must have pr [...] Purges.

Chap. 9. Of the Diseases of the Heart, and beating of the Arte­ries in the Back and Sides from the Womb.

THe Heart beats, and the Arteries also, as we shewed in the Green-sickness, and it is by evil vapors sent by the Arteries to the Heart from the womb, that arise from the terms and evil humors gathered in the womb: and this is known by other Signs and Symptoms of a di­stempered Womb.

The Cure.To discuss the malignant Vapors from the Heart, give Cordials, as in Chap. 3. Of Palpita­tion of the Heart; as Aqua vitae, Cinnamon-wa­ter, and Epithems, Bags and Liniments.

The Arteries also beat with the Heart, as in Widows on the left Hypochondrion and Back, where there is a great Artery, and the Artery that beats in the back, is part of the great Artery: they which beat in the Hypochondrion are the lesser splenitick and mesenterick branches; there­fore the beating is more in the back then in the Hypochondrion: but both pulsations come from the same cause.

The Causes.The Inflammation of the Arteries is the cause of this beating, when evil humors are sent from the womb into the great branches of the Artery, and there beat, the Heart being over hot. Some­times the motion of this Artery is all the body [Page 125] over, and from a hot humor; the hot humors go to the heart, and cause a feaver: but because there is little putrefaction, it vanisheth presently. If the heat of the humors go to the brain by the ar­teries, there is madness. Some seek the cause in the veins, and say that the arteries suffer from the blood too hot in them.

You may feel it with your hand laid upon the Hypochondrion, The Signs. and there are signs of a distem­pered womb, and melancholy from the womb, if heat continue in the arteries, and go to the whole body, it consumeth it.

It is seemingly a small disease, The Progno­stick. but it is not without danger, because it comes from a bad cause, that weakens the bowels.

It is cured as melancholy from the womb, The Cure. and stopping of the terms, and as Hypochondriack melancholy from the womb which follows.

Chap. 10. Of the Diseases of the Spleen, and the Hypochondriack Disease from the Womb.

SOmetimes the Spleen and the Hypochondria suffer from the womb, so that you may doubt what disease it is.

It is from the womb by the arteries, The Causes. the womb hath two: one from the preparing arteries, ano­ther from the Hypogastrick artery. That from the Hypogastrick goes almost to all parts of the Abdomen, and most branches of the spleen: there­fore when bad blood is bred in the womb, and gets out of the arteries upward to the Hypoga­strick artery, it gets easily from thence to the coeliack artery & to the spleen, and the parts ad­jacent [Page 126] in the abdomen; and the sooner, because Nature useth to send bad humors to ignoble parts. These humors are gathered by suppression of Terms, which though they seem to be only in the veins, yet they get to the arteries by their Anastomosis. Therefore those women that have hot blood, and their terms flowed not orderly in their youth, are splenitick and Hypochondriack in their age.

The Signs.It is known by a pain in the left side and breast to the throat, there is short breath, often belch­ing, the belly is bound: they are sad and solitary. When thin blood grows hot, there is inflammati­on over all the body, and chiefly the face which suddenly vanisheth, and there are other signs of Hypochondriacks. These cannot endure sweet scents to their nose.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.If it be not speedily cured, it turns to worse diseases, as the Schirrhus of the spleen.

The blood is commonly too hot, therefore open a vein, especially when it is from the terms stopt. You may also open the Haemorrhoids, and then purge gently and often with Pills of Tartar by Quercetan, of Ammoniacum of Aristo­lochia or Birthwort by Fernel; or give Steel and things as in the Hypochondriack diseases, lib. 3. part 5. and in the Chapter of Terms stopt, and Melancholy from the Womb.

Chap. 11. Of the Distemper of the Liver from the Womb, and of a Beard growing by consent from the Womb.

THe Womb hath many and great veins more then other parts. If then there be too much blood in them, it easily goes back to the hollow vein, and choaks the heat of the Liver, and so the Liver is distempered according to the humor. It breeds crude and flegmatick bood, which sent over the body, causeth a Cachexy; and what dis­eases come by the Liver, are by consent from the womb, as in stoppage of the Terms and Green-sickness.

Hippocrates speaks of a womans Beard in Phae­tusa the Wife of Pythius, 6 Epid. sec. 8. aph. 45. for hairs have their be­ginning and growth from the reliques of the nou­rishment of the noble parts, that is from the ex­crementitious part of the blood. And if terms be stopt, and vitious humors that use to be evacua­ted with them, are sent over the body, they cause divers Diseases and Symptoms, and among the rest the body of a woman is made hairy, and she hath a Beard, which is rare.

Chap. 12. Of the Diseases of the Stomach that come from the Womb.

SOmetimes from consent with the womb, the appetite is lost, diminished, increased, or de­praved, [Page 128] or there is Hickets, or vomiting, belch­ing, pain or heart-ach.

The Causes.This is when malignant vapors, the way being large, rise from the arteries of the womb, and go to the coeliack artery, and through the Hypoga­strick. And if they are hot, they cause thirst, if cold, they hurt concoction, and many times cause strong symptoms from their malignity and occult qualities, whose causes are not known. Hence it is that women desire absurd things, as these vapors get into divers parts of the stomach.

The Signs.You may know when the stomach is affected by consent from the womb, because the Symp­toms abate and return again, when the vapor comes to the stomach: there are also other signs of the womb distempered, and of the Spleen and Mesentery by the vessels, of which the matter is sent from the womb to the stomach.

The Progno­stick.The Symptoms are worse when they come from the womb, then when they come from the stomach first; nor are they curable, except the womb be first cured.

The Cure.It is to be directed to the womb and stomach. For if it come only by consent, and there is no disease by propriety, when you have cured the womb, the stomach disease vanisheth of it self, if you do but strengthen the stomach.

If the stomach be first affected, look only to that. Therefore first evacuate the humors that stick in the stomach, as we shewed in its Distem­per with matter, or the humors will be infected by the malignant vapors. A Vomit is here pro­per.

To help the Womb, see for the Mother-fits and Suffocation, and for the Chapter of the Di­stemper of the womb with matter, then streng­then [Page 129] the Stomach, thus: Take Aromaticum Rosa­tum a dram, Extract of Angelica half a scruple, Oyl of Cloves, Cinnamon, each five drops; with Sugar two ounces, make Rouls. Or give Pills of Aloes and Mastich often.

Chap. 1. Of the desire of Ve­nery hurt.

THere are two Symptoms in women about copulation. The first lechery lost, when she doth not willingly entertain a man, or cannot long endure him; or if she endures, she finds little or no pleasure, no more than if she were outwardly handled. The other is too great lust as in Frenzy of the womb, when they cannot be satisfied by many men.

Causes.The defect of appetite in lust is from defect of seed, or when it is cold, or there wants Spirits in the Seed-vessels. The causes of want of Seed are Lib. 3. Par. 9. Sect. 2. C. 1. Sometimes it is from [Page 132] evil conformation of the Seed-vessels.

Women discover this to their Husbands that go to the Physitians for counsel. The Signs.

These women have not fruitful feed, The Progno­stick. The Cure. and there­fore are barren.

For that, see Lib. 3. Of Barrenness of Men, where are Liniments and Oyntments for the Loyns and Privities of women; but that she may take more pleasure, let the man anoint the head of his Yard with Civet, or Hens-gall, or the gall of a Pick­rel.

Too much Letchery not of it self hinders Con­ception, but wandring Lust that follows Letchery doth.

The Causes are the same with those of Womb-Frenzy, as plenty of seed, sharpness, and commo­tion, sharpness of seed from hot meat, and Medi­cines that provoke lust, and sharp humors in the womb and seed.

Thus lust or lechery is abated by Medicines that extinguish the plenty of seed, and allay its sharpness.

Chap. 2. Of Barrenness, and want of Conception.

Man or Woman may be lustful, and copulate, and yet there may be no conception, or she may conceive too many, as Twins, or more, or have one conception after another, which is called Superfoetation, or she conceives a Mole or Monster.

Conception is of fruitful seed spent by a man, and mixed with a womans seed to perfection for the making of a child by the retentive and alte­ring [Page 132] faculty of the womb; hence it is necessary that both seeds be fruitful, that is, hot, full of Spirits, and well tempered, and a fit subject for a Soul, and that both spend at a time, and there be mixed and retained together, to produce a child.

Also the sucking of the womb is necessary, and that it should lay it up and embrace it, so that there be no space between the Seed and the Womb. Sometimes the womb greedily snatcheth and embraceth the seed, but doth not keep it, but lets it come forth two or three dayes after, or keeps it to no purpose, and brings it not to action, as in a false conception or mole. Moreover, there must be blood in readiness to get the child, or be­sprinkle it when it is first formed, and to nourish it after.

Therefore if terms be wanting as in girls, or be stopt, or gone as in old Folk, expect no Con­ception. If they flow not by reason of labour and too much exercise, the conception is not hinde­red, if there be but blood enough to form the child. Hence it is, that women that are brought in bed, conceive again before they have their terms.

If all these be right, there is conception, other­wise she is barren, which is an impotency of the womb, that keeps it from sucking in of the seed, or from retaining, or from nourishing it, and bringing it into act.

The Causes.The first is impotency in copulation, from the closing of the womb, of which before: or other evil conformation of the privities, or an ulcer, or tumor in the neck of the womb. The second is the breeding of unfruitful seed, from distemper of the vessels and stones, or too tender and deli­cate [Page 133] a constitution. In men at eighteen, in wo­men at fourteen, and men seldom get children after sixty, and women seldom bear them after sixty.

As for evil conformation to breed seed: Faelix Plat. lib. 1. obser. tit. de vitalis mo­tus defectu. some have wanted Seed-vessels, or they were not in their places. Some women are barren by the first Husband, and have children by the second, be­cause there must be a certain proportion between both seeds: and if they be wanting, they are barren, which proportion is hard to be explained, and almost impossible: for we must not stay in the first qualities, for there are occult qualities in seed, by which they agree or disagree.

The third cause is, when the womb sucks not in the seed, nor receives it in a right manner, as when the attractate faculty is hurt, or hindered by divers distempers of the Womb, or when a woman hates her husband.

Attraction is hindered by tumors or ulcers in the Womb, or by its being displaced, 5. Aph. 46. as Hippo­crates: They who being too fat, and conceive not, the mouth of their Womb is stopt up with the Cawl, and they conceive not till they are lean. But the more probable reason of not conceiving, is the matter of the seed turning into fat.

The fourth cause is, the retension of the seed hurt by a moist distemper, then the Womb is weak, and the fibres are loose, so that it cannot contract it self to retain; and the seed by reason of its sliminess, cannot stick there. Also if the Womb be too thick, not fleshy and soft, and be not sprinkled with blood, as it is in some by birth which makes them barren, and in some after they cease to conceive.

If the orifice of the womb gape after hard tra­vel [Page 134] and abortion, by which the fibres are loosned and weakned, and the retention of the seed hurt. And if a woman after Copulation cough, neese, cry out, dance, or be angry, or frighted, the same may be.

The fifth cause of Barrenness, is the hurt of the altering faculty, which brings in the form and act into seed: for if there be not a due propor­tion between the womb and the seed, there is Barrenness, as Seeds are choaked in Marshy-ground, or die, or are burnt in dry and sandy ground: so mans Seed is suffocated in a moist womb, 5. Aph. 52. and dryed up in a hot. Hippocrates speaks of the true proportion of the womb, as it is fit to cherish this or that seed, thus: Women that have thick and cold wombs conceive not, and they whose womb is too moist: for they quench the seed. Nor do they conceive that have dry and burning wombs: for the seed is corrupted in them for want of nourish­ment. They who are of a mean temper between these, are fruitful.

The last cause of Barrenness, is want of Men­strual-blood, which is necessary for the first for­mation of the child. Therefore Nurses that have much milk conceive, because the blood is carried to the Breasts.

Therefore all these causes are reduced either to impotency in Copulation, or distemper of the Stones and Seed-vessels, or evil conformation, or a cold and moist distemper of the Womb, which cannot attract, detain, and alter the seed; some­times a hot and dry distemper that cannot nou­rish the seed, or from the enlarging of the Orifice after Child-bearing, or from Humors, or being displaced, or the straitness of the Vessels, or want of Terms, or too many.

Hence we may gather, that barrenness is oftner from a fault in the women than the men: for in men there is nothing required but fruitful seed spent into a fruitful womb. But women besides the meeting of their own seed, must receive, retain, and nourish the mans; and afford matter for the forming of the child, in which divers ac­cidents happen, and any of these will cause Bar­renness.

Mark also in these kinds of causes, that some do not properly cause barrenness: but only hin­der Conception for a time, as the closing of the womb, smalness of the privities; these do not simply cause barrenness.

Some bring other external causes, Ioa. Angli­cus cap. de steril. as eating the heart of a Deer, or if she wear Jet about her, or if Harts-tongue be hanged about her bed: if she walk over the Terms of another, or tread upon them unawares, or anoint with them, or put the juyce of Mints into her womb.

Some are born so, from a fault in the womb: The Diffe­rences. others are not simply barren, but in respect of the man, and when they have another Husband, are fruitful. Some are barren till the constitution of the womb be changed. Some bring forth at first, and then by some fault grow barren.

How shall we know that a Women is Barre?

First, see if the fault be in the man or woman, The Signs. Lib. 3. Of Sterility in Men. For women, see if they are apt to Venery or not, or receive the Yard fitly. 2. Search if she hath good seed answer­able to the man, or whether she hath used quen­chers of seed. You may know that she spendeth little or no Seed, if she hath little or no pleasure in the act. Unfruitful Seed is known by a dis­ease in the womb, a cold and moist distemper, [Page 136] the signs whereof are mentioned; a foul body shews the same: for good seed cannot be made of bad blood.

It is hard to find whether the two seeds have the right proportion, or the womb agree with the mans seed. Yet temperate with temperate are very fruitful, because they are both of a good constitution. But intemperate couples are bar­ren: but if one temper be good, it may mend the other, and she may conceive.

If it come from a Medicine that destroys the seed, she will tell. If Inchantment be the cause, though they love: yet they cannot copulate. Or whereas they loved each other, now they fall out without a cause.

Ask the woman how her womb doth attract, retain, and cherish the seed. If it have a tumor, or have matter or not? Whether there be a natu­ral hereditary imperfection? Enquire concerning her Family, if many were barren, whether she hath had hard travel or abortion? Whether the seed comes away presently after, or at a distance, after some dayes; if so, then the womans seed is unfruitful, or there is a distemper in the womb that keeps it from cherishing the seed.

If the Terms be wanting, they are Viragoes, and have hair on their Chins, or they are fat, and seed turns into fat; or they are very lean, because they want blood.

5. Aph. 59. Hippocrates proves Barrenness thus: Put a Fume (saith he) under the coats of a Woman, and let her be close cloathed about, and if the scent come to the Nose, she is not barren; and he bids you put Garlick clean­sed into the womb, and if she smell of it at the mouth she is fruitful.

The Progno­stick.A natural bad disposition that causeth Barren­ness [Page 137] is not curable; Hippocrates saith, 2. Prognos. 3. That Bar­renness from Ulcers is hard to be cured. A wo­man that conceives not from disagreement with her husbands constitution, by another husband, or in time may be cured, or some distemper that causeth sterility may be mended by Physick.

Take away the causes, The Cure. amend the distemper of the womb, whether with matter or without mat­ter, is to be mended, which causeth either no Seed, or that which is unfruitful, or not conveni­ent. See Part I. Sect. 2. Chap. 1.

The Medicines of an occult quality are best. As, Take Rocket-seed, Siler montane, each half a dram; Ivory-shavings, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, each a dram; Musk (in such as may) three grains, white Sanders three drams, make a Powder: give a dram with Wine.

Or, Take Species Diamoschu, Diambra, each a dram; the Matrix of a Hare, a Bores-stones, and the Yard of a Stagg, each half a dram; Nutmeg, Cinna­mon, Cloves, Rocket-seed, wild Parsnep-seed, each a dram; Musk, Amber, each four grains; with Sugar as much as all, give two drams in Wine.

A Confection. Take sweet Almonds, Pistachaes, Pine-Nuts, Hazel-Nuts, each an ounce; Citron-peels, Ginger, Cloves, Cinnamon, each half a dram; Rocket-seed two drams: give a spoonful at bed­time.

Or make this March-pane. Take sweet Almonds four ounces, Pine, Pistachaes, Hazel-nuts, each two ounces; Diambra, Diamoschu, each a dram; Ivory half a dram, Cinnamon half an ounce.

An Electuary. Take Conserve of Rosemary six ounces, Dogs-stones candied two ounces, Orobus, Schinks-reins, Bores-stones, Sows-wombs, Deers-pri­vities, Ivory, Turnep-seed, Fennel, Nettle-seed, Roc­ket, [Page 138] Clary, wild Mustard, each two drams; Pine-nuts, sweet Almonds, each half an ounce; Diamoschu dulcis a dram, Oyl of Nutmeg by expression two drams, with Syrup of Bettony make an Electuary. Or use Triphera without Opium.

Or use Baths, Insessions, Fomentations, Fumes, and Baths after Terms for five days.

Take Briony, Masterwort-roots, Mercury, Mug-wort, Penny-royal, Marjoram, Bayes, Sage, Mother­wort, Juniper-berries and tops, make a Bath.

Or use Sulphur-baths of Allum, Niter, Bitu­men: these do much good.

A Fume. Take Labdanum, Storax calamite, Benzoin, each two drams; Wood Aloes a scruple, Musk six grains, with infusion of Traganth made in Rose-water, make Troches.

Make Pessaries of green Mercury and Mother­wort. Or, Take Mastich, Storax liquid, each half an ounce; Balm, Nep, Mercury, each a dram; Cloves, Nutmeg, each half a dram; Civet half a scru­ple, with Wax make a Pessary. After Baths and Fumes, anoint the Pecten and Navel with this: Take Oyl of Keir half an ounce, Oyl distilled of Mar­joram a scruple, of Cloves half a scruple, of Nutmegs by expression a dram, Storax liquid two drams, Civet and Musk, each six grains; with Wax make a Lini­ment. After bathing, let her have a Bag upon her Belly, of Balm, Calamints, Mints, Motherwort, and Wine. Let her wear Plaisters upon her Loins and Perinaeum, till the week before her Terms. As, Take the Plaister for the Mother an ounce, Sto­rax liquid, Caranna, each two drams; Gallia mos­chata half a dram, Oyl of Cloves half a scruple, of Nutmegs by expression a dram, with Oyl of Keir, make a Plaister. If the Womb be too loose, and slippery, use Clysters of juyce of Mercury, with [Page 139] Honey-baths, Pessaries, Fumes, and other astrin­gent Topicks that strengthen.

If the mouth of the Womb gape, make a De­coction in Wine of Mirtles, Mastich, Wood-Vines, Olives, Wormwood, Cypress-roots, Com­frey, Snakeweed, Cinquefoyl, red Roses, Pome­granate, flowers, foment the Privities: or with powder of Mastich, Frankincense, Allum, Wood-Aloes, make a Fume.

Other Diseases are to be cured, as before shewed.

Let it be to increase seed, of much good juyce. The Diet. In the time of Copulation, avoid passions, anger, sadness, fear. Let love be invited, and if it burn, there will many spirits flie to the Womb and Privities.

Chap. 3. Of Barrenness for the time and Conceiving seldom.

SOme Conceive the seventh, eighth, or ninth year after wedding: some presently, but not after the first any more, or not in many years after.

If Virgins marry afore fourteen, The Causes. they conceive not; or if the constitution of the womb be bad, or the Seed. Some conceive not from the dis­agreementt of Seeds, till their constitution be changed.

They who want Terms, The Signs. or have them disorder­ly, or are sickly, seldom or never conceive with child, or have had hard travel, or a dead child. Some are weakned, so that after the first child, they have no strength to conceive.

All these will be related: whether she be mar­ried [Page 140] too soon, or had hard travel, or aborted, or had a dead child, or a Mole. If these were not, the Seed and Womb have not a just proportion with the mans, but it may be altered by age.

The Progno­stick.If the womb be much hurt after hard travel, or any thing turn in it, or broken, they seldom con­ceive again. And if a woman marry at a ripe age, and have no remarkable Disease, and conceive not presently, she is not to be accounted barren, be­cause some private indisposition hinders Concep­tion, which after may be altered, and she may prove fruitful.

The Cure.A woman that marries too young, after she hath once conceived, and then ceaseth, must use Venery sparingly, till she grow older, that she may recover the strength she lost in her first tra­vel. And if a woman marry at ripe years, and conceives not by reason of the driness of her Womb, let her use Baths, Fomentations, and emollient Pessaries. If she conceive not from weakness, strengthen the Womb, and let her not use Venery often.

If Virgins be sick from seed retained or terms, let them marry. But if there be a fault in the Liver or Spleen, or the whole body, that may be increased by Venery, it is better that they be cured before they be married. And if they cannot be cured, let them not be married.

If the Womb be distempered by Birth or a Disease, cure it as in diseases of the Womb. If it be from a Mole or Flux of blood, cure it as it hath and shall be shewed.

If it be from a dead child, first cleanse it with juyce of Mercury, and then put Treacle or Mi­thridate dissolved into the womb, or with a Pes­sary: or give them outwardly.

Chap. 4. Of Conception, and Forming of the Child.

COnception is an action of the womb, after fruitful seed both male and female is recei­ved, mixed and nourished, and its strength is stir­red up to do its office. Seed and Coema differ; seed is that which comes from both male and female, but Coema is that which is mixed of both, and is called Conception, which produceth a child.

This Conception is presently when two seeds meets in the womb, in less then seven hours after they are spent, if the heat of the Womb preserve them, Nature is not idle a moment, but present­ly falls to conformation. Lib. de genit. Therefore Hippocrates saith, that the beginning of Conception is to be reckoned from the day that the Seed is retained, and if she conceives not from the weakness of the seeds or womb, the seed will fall out in seven days; for Hippocrates saith, Lib. de sep­tim. partu. 3. De hist. ani. c. 3. That Conception and Abortion are judged in the same time, as a disease, health, and death are judged. And Aristotle saith, If seed remains within till the seventh day, there is certain Conception.

As for Formation, the Soul lying in the seed, makes its own house, for all acknowledge a form­ing faculty, and you must then suppose there is a substance from whence this faculty flows. And though Aristotle saith, that seed is a living crea­ture in power; not that there is not the essence of the Soul in the seed, and that it is not a living creature in respect of the first act, but because it is not come to the second act, for want of fit In­struments, which being perfected, it hath the se­cond [Page 142] act and all its operations, which for defect of Organs, it cannot produce.

There are divers opinions of the time of For­mation they are best that say the membranes are first made, which wrap the child with the Navel-vessels, by which it is joyned to the Mothers womb, and receives nourishment for the child. Then all other parts are made sooner or later, as the child requires for dignity or necessity.

We intend here to speak of womens diseases. Therefore there are three things required for the Formation of a Child. 1. Fruitful seed from both parents, in which the Soul remains that hath a forming quality to make its own habitation. 2. The Mothers blood is required to enlarge the Child to perfection. 3. There is required a good constitution of the womb to nourish the seed, and stir the concealed force. If these three be right, there is a child that is sound and perfect, that will be born: but if any of these be wanting, there are Twins or more, and other faults, of which in order.

Chap. 5. Of the Generation of Twins, and many Children.

NAture hath ordained that a woman should conceive but one child, in these and other Countries especially, and that every year; yet in many places she hath more, one had five at every birth, twenty at four lyings in. A Marga­ret the Countess of Holsterne, in the time of the Emperour Henry the Seventh, had three hundred sixty four at one labour. And another Countess in the time of Frederick the Eleventh, had five [Page 143] hundred and fourteen children at once, being Boys: these are so seldom, that they seem in­credible.

I speak nothing of the Causes of such Mon­strous Productions, but of Twins, or Three, The Causes. or Four. It is certain they are got at one time: and this differs from Superfoetation, which is at ma­ny times. And you must not impute it to the di­vers Cells of the womb: for women have no such Cells, but only a Line that divides the left-side from the right; but it comes from the division of the seed into divers parts, and the least forming force in the side is compleat, and makes a child of every part of it. And because the cavity of the womb cannot admit so many parts of seed, being no bigger than a Bean; and if it do admit them, how can the seed be divided at one copulation into so many parts? I suppose that such women have naturally a larger womb, so that much seed is divided. And as Twins are begot at the same time, so they have but one Placenta, or part that receives the Navel-vessels of both, but they have their several Coats.

It is hard to know whether a woman have con­ceived Twins, onely their belly is not even, The Signs. but divided with seams and wrinkles; and the weight is commonly greater, and the motion is not one not alike.

If a woman have two children, and be weak, The Progno­stick. she is in danger in her travel. Twins of one Sex are more lively then of both Sexes. And one is by ex­perience weaker and shorter lived then the other.

Chap. 6. Of Superfoetation.

IT is seldom that a woman hath many children at divers Copulations, but it is sometimes, and is called Superfoetation, that is, a new concep­tion after a former. 5. Aphor. 15. Though Hippocrates writes, That the mouth of the Womb after Conception is so shut, that you cannot put in a Needles point, yet a woman with child may take such pleasure after, that she may a little open the womb to receive seed again, and draw it in, which may form another child.

The Causes.Therefore the Cause is the pleasure the wo­man hath, which opens the womb again to at­tract seed. And it is necessary that the seed re­ceived, be in its proper membrane, and peculiar receptacle.

The Diffe­rences.These come sometimes sooner, sometimes la­ter; sometimes the same day or the following, sometimes longer after. Sometimes they have a third Superfoetation, so that they have two living children, and one mischance.

The Signs.It is known only by the motion of the Infant, when it is conceived long after the first.

The Progno­stick.It is dangerous for the Mother, for fear of abor­tion, and for loss of much blood by two births at no great distance of time.

The Cure.It is best to leave the whole work to Nature, and women ought to take heed of Superfoetation; therefore after they have conceived, let them meddle no more.

Chap. 7. Of the ill Formation of the Child.

IN the Formation of the child, there are divers Symptoms. 1. In the weakness of the child. 2. The parts are more or fewer to which you may refer Hermaphrodites. 3. The parts are greater or less, as Dwarffs or Gyants. 4. There is some part out of place or shape, as Histories shew a­bundantly.

You must find the Causes in the seeds, terms, The Causes. womb, and error in Formation: the cause of these is the action hurt of the forming faculty. This is not always from it self, but from the unfitness of the matter, and fault in the place which keeps it from the intention: for actions of active things are not but in a disposed patient. Sometimes there is an extraordinary cause, as imagination, when the Mother is frighted, or imagineth strange things, or longeth vehemently for some meat which if she have not, the child hath a mark of the colour or shape of what she desired, of which there are many Examples.

But I doubt whether all errors in Formation, depend together upon the imagination; for the spirits and humors are troubled by the passions of the mind, and so slow forceable immediately to the womb or other part, and this disturbs the forming faculty in its work. Authoris sententias Also the forming faculty being overcome with plenty of humors, or wanting spirits that are gone another way, may by chance make an ill shape; therefore the passions of the mind are the first causes of errour in Formation, and imagination helps by stirring [Page 146] up the appetite. These are the common errors of Formation.

Others are determinate errors, not simply from the imagination by the passions which have no determination to such a thing; but no other cause can be besides the imagination, but how she di­rects the forming faculty for the producing of such effects, it is hard to be understood, but there must be some imagination, and the forming fa­culty, that it may impart the species sent from the external senses to the forming faculty.

And this is the cause of the consent of the up­per and lower faculties: for the soul is the same in the whole body, and every where fitted with the same faculties, but it doth not exercise all in all parts, but by the proper determinate Organs or Instruments.

And though the child hath its soul, yet while it is in the womb, it depends upon the soul of the mother, as the fruits partake of the life of the tree while they are upon it, therefore it is probable, that whatsoever moves the faculties of the soul in the mother, may move the same in the child: Hence it is, that while the forming operateth in the seed and womb of the mother, if any species be sent to the imagination of the mother which she strongly receives, it may make an impression upon the child, yet every imagination cannot make this impression, but that which makes a great admiration or terror in the mother when the forming faculty is at work, as when she be­holds one with six fingers, she brings forth the like, or when she produceth hair where it should not be, or the likeness of a beast in any limb, or when she seeth any thing cut or divided with a cleaver, she brings forth a divided part, or a Hare-lip.

Chap. 8. Of a Child turned into Stone.

JOhn Albosius Doctor at Senon, and Simeon Pro­varcher of Lingo, Physitian of Senon, writ of this in French and Latin.

I shall give my opinion with others.

Two things are to be observed in this wonder­ful History; First, Why the Child in the time of travail being dead in the womb, did not stink as is usual, or kill the mother suddenly or was not cast out by degrees being rotten? Secondly, By what force the child was turned into Stone?

For the first, The mother lived twenty eight years after she had this Child; therefore it is not credible that the womb was so cold, that it might hinder putrefaction, as some think. It seems more probable to be, that these questions expla­nation depend upon one principle; for the cause that made the stones hardness, kept the child from putrefaction, but what that is, it is obscure.

Many fly to the efficiency of the first qualities, others to driness, others to coldness, others to both. I acknowledge heat, cold and driness to he helping causes for breeding of Stones in mans body; but the chief cause is a Stone breeding juyce, or spirit, of which I have spoken at large.

The principles of Generation were weak in this child, and impure, and this stone breeding juyce, was mixed with the blood in the humors; hence it is, that it was not born alive, as in a mole bred in the womb, which women have till they are old and die with it, and yet it stinks not [Page 148] no more then stones bred in most parts. But there is but this History of such a Birth.

Chap. 9. Of a Mole.

IT is flesh and mass without bones or bowels, gotten of an imperfect conception instead of a child. The Latins call it a Mole from the weight, because it is troublesome to women, as a Milstone in Latin called Lapis Moralis.

The Diffe­rences.Sometimes it is unshapen flesh without bones, only full of veins, with a skin over it, and nothing within, but like the Parenchyma of the bowels. Sometimes it is membranous and fibrous, Pet. Salis diu. in an­not. in alti­marum. without shape. Sometimes it is long, round, or like a quar­ry of glass, or like a brute beast. Some have brought forth three Moles like mens yards.

Some are like congealed blood, or the Placen­ta of the womb, into which the navel-vessels are inserted; some grow and are nourished, and some have an obscure sense. Sometimes they are sent out alone, sometimes with or before the child, of which there are many Histories. Some bring forth Monsters for Moles.

In is from the error of the forming faculty, but the Cause of that is obscure. The Causes. I suppose it is from both seeds, when the forming faculty is weak, and the seed little and not good, and overcome by much blood, and can make only veins and membranes, and not a whole child. Sometimes it is in Widows only from their own seed and blood.

A Mole is sooner bred when the blood is im­pute, and unfit to nourish, and is made when they copulate in the flowing of the terms that are [Page 149] unclean. It is neither from heat nor cold princi­pally, but from the error of the forming faculty.

They are hard to be known before the fourth month, The Signs. then they are known by such as can di­stinguish between the motion of wind and a child. 2. If a woman turn from side to side, it falls like a stone to that side she lies on, and is heavy. If it have any motion, it is trembling and beating, with construction and dilation like a Spunge. If after the time that the child should move, there be no motion, and the belly swells, and there is no sign of a Dropsie, it is a sign of a Mole.

Thirdly, In women with child, there is Milk about the fourth month, but in a Mole the breasts swell, but there is no true milk. 4. They are more pained and faint, and have more pain in their back and groyns.

If it be with a quick child, it is hard to be known, but it is known by its weight in the womb, which she perceives when she gets up to walk, or moves from side to side; some are then strong and well coloured.

It hurts the womb and whole body; The Progno­stick. if it be divided, it is less dangerous: when it is soft, it is cast out the third or fourth month. Sometimes it ulcerates or tears the womb, and causeth great bleeding. Some have been cast out or drawn out without danger: some grow old with them in, Fabr. cont. 2. obs. 55. The Cure. and find no inconvenience but the weight.

To prevent, take heed of Venery in the terms, or before the terms, or when the body is soul or obstructed, or the womb.

When it is, 1. De morb. mulier. take it away presently with things that send forth a dead child. Hippocrates sheweth the Cure in few words, First foment the whole bo­dy, &c.

Therefore if she be plethorick, let blood large­ly in the foot at divers times.

Then purge often with strong Physick. Take Althaea, Lilly-roots, each half an ounce; Althaea, Mercury, Pellitory, Brank-ursine, each a handful; Chamomil, Melilot-flowers, each half a handful; Fae­nugreek and Lin-seed, each six drams; boyl them in Broath to a pint, add sweet Butter, Oyl of sweet Al­monds, Lillies, each an ounce; make a Clyster, repeat it often.

To Con­quer all In­firmities, Study my Sennertus, Platerus, Bartholinus and Riola­nus, of the last Editi­ons.Make Baths, Liniments, Fomentations, (then move the Terms) with Dittany, Birthwort, Brio­ny, &c. Take Briony, Birthwort, each half an ounce, Asarum two drams, Rue, Savin, Mugwort, Dittany, Penny-royal, Motherwort, each half a handful; Elder and Chamomil-flowers, each half a handful; Line and Foenugreek-seeds, each half an ounce; boyl them to a pint, add Hiera an ounce and half, Troches of Al­kandal a dram, Oyl of Rue and Keir, each an ounce and half; make a Clyster, of the residents make a Ca­taplasm for the belly.

Or this Pessary. Take Troches of Mirrh, Galba­num, Opopanax dissolved in Wine, each two drams; Sowbread-roots a dram, white Hellebore half a dram, with juyce of Rue.

Fab. cent. 2. obs. 52.If these will not do, let the Midwife take it out with her hand, if it be half rotten.

Or leave it to Nature which doth it in time.

To stop the flux of blood after a Mole is ta­ken out, use strings against overflowing of the Terms. As, Take Plantane, Shepheards-purse, Brambles, Oak-leaves, red Roses, each a handful, boyl them in steeled Water, then take Barley-bran two ounces, Pomegranate-flowers, Cypress-nuts, Pome­granate-peels, red Roses, Comfrey-roots in powder, each an ounce; Frogs burnt, Bole, Sanguis Draconis, [Page 151] each half an ounce; with the Decoction aforesaid, and a little Vinegar, make a Cataplasm for the Region of the Womb. Take away pain with Anodynes mentioned in pain of the Womb: keep up the strength with meat of a good juyce.

Chap. 10. Of Monsters.

HIstories tells of many Monsters brought forth by women. We spake of Worms, [Page 152] Sect. 2. Chap. 8. They are like Toads, or Mice, or Fish. Par. 7. cap. 12. lij. Gordonius saith, it is usual in Lumbardy. Lycosthenes saith, and others also, That Serpents, Dogs, and other Monsters with parts like brute beasts have been brought forth.

In appen. Franc. Ros. de par. Caes. Gasper Bauhin speaks of one Anne Troporim, which 1575. brought forth two Serpents with her child; In Harvest hot weather, she had drunk water in a Brook in a Wood near Basil, where she thought she drank the Spawn of a Serpent; for a little after that, her belly swelled, and three months after she was big with child, and the Ser­pents grew as the Child did. Her belly was so big that she carried it in a swathing band. She was delivered at last of a lean male child, and (be­cause they suspect Worms or Snakes from the gnawing and strange motion she felt that year,) they put a bason of milk under her, and when they expected an after-birth, out came a Serpent which she saw, and perceived another coming forth, they were an ell long, and as thick as a childs arm. Thus Bauhin, and he speaks of others, if you please to peruse him.

A Monster is that which is either wholly, or in part like a beast, or that which is ill shaped extra­ordinary.

Histories witness, that a Monster may be from humane seed, The Causes. and the seed of a beast. It is sel­dome, for the forming faculty doth not err of it self, but is seduced by the imagination, or fru­strated of its ends, from a fault of the Spirits, the heat or matter. Therefore imagination is the cause of Monsters. For Histories mention, That women with child, by beholding men in vizards, have brought forth Monsters with horns, and beaks, and cloven feet. The same is when Spi­rits [Page 153] or heat, seed or blood, are weak or little.

And though Doctors cannot cure Monsters, yet they are to admonish women with child not to look upon Monsters, and to strengthen their spirits and heat, and to keep the seed and blood right, and not to allow copulation in time of their terms, lest any monstrous Birth should be from much and impure blood.

Chap. 11. Of false Conception, and Swelling.

FAlse Conception or Gravidation is, when the terms are stopt, and the belly swells, and there are signs like those of a true Conception: then they think themselves with child, and as Hippocrates saith, They believe not to the contrary till ten months are past.

The causes are wind in the womb, or water, Causae p. 1. s. 2. c. 10. matter, or thick flegm.

These are bred from sickly seed retained, upon which Nature works in vain: or from a fault in the terms that corrupts the seed, and breeds bad humors. The like appears in Virgins when they begin to have their terms, but it is discovered by pain.

The terms flow not as in a true Conception, The Signs. but in this there is pain of the head, loyns, belly, and groyns, of which Hippocrates saith thus: 2. Prorrhet. They have a false Conception without terms appearing, with a swollen belly, have the head-ach, and there is no milk in their breasts, but what is like water, and very little. Morveover the belly swells sooner then in a true Conception; their colour changeth, their face and feet swell: they loath meat, faint, [Page 154] and have a depraved appetite. The surest sign is the time of child-bearing being past.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.They are commonly barren, or have ulcers in their Privities.

It is cured by evacuation of the matter in the Womb with proper Medicines, as in the Chapter of the Distemper of the Womb with matter, and of Inflation of the Womb and Dropsie.

Chap. 1. Of the signs of Conception.

IF she keep the seed, it is a sign she hath Con­ceived, and a man may know that the seed is kept, if he find in Copulation that his Yard is sucked and drawn by the Womb, and the Privi­ties are not moist. And if she perceives little or no seed to come forth again, and grow chill and quiver, and perceive a twitching in her Womb, from the great delight: and the mouth of the Womb closeth, and the Terms stop.

But they are deceived, when they count o reckon from the stoppage of the terms. For som have their terms twice or thrice after they have conceived, and some have them all along with­out hurt.

The chiefest sign of Conception is, when there is at first loathing of meat, pewking, Pica or pre­ternatural appetite and vomiting. And when they hate that they earnestly affected, or faint when they think of them.

About the fourth month, the child moveth, which is not in a Mole, the breasts after that swell with milk, and the last are the surest signs. From the face and urin there is no certainty.

5. Aphor. 42. & ibi. 48. Hippocrates teacheth us to know whether it be a Male or Female: If she be with child of a Boy, she is better coloured; but pale if of a Girle. And Boys lie on the right side, and Girls on the lest in the Womb.

Chap. 2. Of the Government and Diet of Women with Child.

THe Diet is, either for such as are sound, or as have diseases.

5. Aphor. 12.As for the air, Hippocrates saith, If there be a wet warm winter with Southerly winds, a dry spring with Northern winds, they who conceive in the spring abort upon any small occasion. Or if they bring forth, their children are weak and sickly, or die. Let her avoid all evil scents, as of Rue, Penny-royal, Mints, Castor, and Brimstone. Some can­not bear sweet scents, let them not look upon ter­rible things, nor hear great noise of Guns.

Let meat be easie of concoction; let her eat [Page 157] Quinces to strengthen the child, or sweet Al­monds with Honey, sweet Apples, Grapes. Let her abstain from sharp meats, very bitter or salt, and things that can provoke Terms, as Garlick, Onions, Olives, Mustard, Fennel, Pepper, and all Spices. In the last months Cinnamon is good. Summer fruits are naught for her, and all Pulse. When the child is bigger, let her diet be more, for it is better for Women with child to eat too much then too little, lest the child should want nourishment.

Let her drink moderately of clear Wine, not exercise too much, nor dance, nor ride in a Coach that shakes her; let her not lift any great weights in the first and last months. In the ninth month let her move a little more, to dilate the parts, and stir up natural heat.

Let her abstain from Venery in the first months, lest there be a Mole or Superfoetation, or the child be hurt, but she may use it moderately in the last.

She may bathe in the last months, once in a week to loosen the privy parts. Let her avoid anger, sorrow, fear, and too much mirth.

Let her sleep, rather then to be watchful. Let the belly be kept loose in the first month, with Pruens, Raisons, or Manna in Broth. And let her use Medicines to strengthen the womb and the child.

An Electuary. Take Conserve of Borage, Bugloss and red Roses, each two ounces; of Balm an ounce, Ci­tron-peel, and Chebs Myrobalans candied, each an ounce; Extract of Wood-aloes a scruple, Pearl prepared half a dram, red Coral, Ivory, each a dram; precious Stones, each a scruple; candied Nutmegs two drams, with Sy­rup of Apples and Quinces, make an Electuary.

Rouls. Take Pearls prepared a dram, red Coral prepared and Ivory each half a dram, precious stones each a scruple; yellow Citron-peels, Mace, Cinnamon, Cloves, each half a dram; Saffron a scruple, Wood-Aloes half a scruple, Ambergreece six drams, with six ounces of Sugar dissolved in Rose-water, make Rouls.

Apply strengtheners to the navel: of Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, Mastich, Coral made up in bags, or a Toast in Malmsey sprinkled with powder of Mints.

Chap. 3. Of the Cure of Women with Child in General.

THey have divers chronick and acute diseases; as Feavers, Pleurisie, Quinzies, or Inflam­mation of the Bowels, 4. Aphor. 31. of which Hippocrates, (If a Woman with child have an acute disease, it is deadly.) There is a double danger. 1. In respect of the Feaver which Galen saith will be continu­al. Valer. l. 1. obser. hol. com. ad lib. 5. aph. 30. 2. In respect of the want of nourishment for the child. For if a woman with child be fed, the Feaver increaseth. If she have an Apoplexy, Epi­lepsie, Convulsion, Cramp, she cannot bear it out. But acute diseases are not alwaies deadly in wo­men with child.

They have sometimes intermitting Feavers, Coughs, from which they hardly are freed before they are delivered.

Chap. 4. Of the Symptoms that befal Women with Child in the first Months.

THey are loathing meat, Pica, or evil appetite, pewking, vomiting, belly-ach, flux of the bel­ly, tooth and head-ach, giddiness.

These all come from the stoppage of the terms, especially in a Cacochymy or evil juyce: for it goes to the stomach, and so to the head. First, They loath meat, 5. Apho. 45. which Hippocrates saith, is a sign of Conception. And this is when the child takes the purest blood, and leaves the impure, which gets into the mouth of the stomach, and infects it, and hence comes the loathing of some sorts of meats.

Sometimes this ceaseth of it self; but if there be danger of a Consumption in the mother, lest the child should be in danger for want of food, give a gentle Vomit or Stomach-Pills, with things that strengthen the Stomach. As, Take Conser [...] of red Roses half an ounce, of Bettony an ounce, preserved Quinces three drams, Aromaticum Rosatum half a dram, Pearl prepared half a scruple, with Syrup of green Ginger and Quinces, make an Electuary.

Anoint the stomach with oyl of Mastich, Mints, Quinces, Wormwood, Mirtles, &c. Give astrin­gents and powerful things with meat, and let it be roasted rather then boyled.

Pica is when they desire strange and absurd things, as Coals, Ashes, &c. As she that longed for her husbands flesh, and though she loved him very well; she killed him, eat part, and pow­dered up the rest. Of this disease we spake in the third Book.

Juyce of young Vine-leaves with Syrup of Quinces, is good against this, or the water that drops in May from the Vines. This keeps the child from suffering by the mothers appetite.

Or this Spirit. Take Citron-peels, Oranges, Piony-roots as much as you please, and Malmsey, digest them some dayes, then beat the roots and peels, add more Malmsey, and distil them.

The third is loathing and vomiting, from an evil vapour or humour in the stomach from blood retained. If vomiting give her ease, stop it not, but leave it to nature, it will cease after a month or two. If it be with trouble, give a gentle Vo­mit, or strengthen the stomach, or give a little Rhubarb.

The fourth is pain of the belly, from wind and humors about the womb that go to the guts, dis­cuss them as in Chap. 3. Of the Cholick. Avoid moist Fomentations, give Cinnamon-water, or spiced wine.

The fifth is a loosness which must be suddenly stopt, lest it cause an abortion. First, Hippocr. 5. Aphor. 34. give a gentle cleanser and strengthener, as Rhubarb with sy­rup of Roses solutive, then Quinces at the first course at meals; and Rice, Starch, Almonds, Con­serve of Roses, Quinces. Apply to the navel a Pul­tis of Quinces, Mastich, Nutmegs, Mace, Cloves.

The sixth is the Tooth-ach, from a sharp humor from retention of the terms that goes to the root of some tooth, and hurts the membranes. It cea­seth [Page 164] commonly of it self, yet if it be great, use a Plaister of Mastich and Tacamahacca to the tem­ples, and hold in the mouth the decoction of Fern-roots, Cinquefoyl, Snakeweed, Sage, Mulberry-barks, &c.

The seventh is Head-ach, when the vapors from the terms stopt, ascend and twitch the membranes of the brain, it must be repelled and abated with Lenitives, of which in Lib. 1. Part 3. Sect. 1. Cap. 3. Of Head-ach.

The eighth of the Megrim, from the vapors disturbing the Spirits that go to the head by the veins and arteries, or by the gullet. If it cease not, discuss vapors, and strengthen the brain in­wardly and outwardly as in Vertigo.

Chap. 5. Of the Symptoms in Women with Child in the mid­dle Months.

THey are cough, heart-beating, fainting, watch­ing, pains in the loyns and hips, and bleed­ing.

1. The cough is from a sharp vapor that comes to the jaws and rough artery from the terms, or from a thin part of that blood gotten into the veins of the breast, or falling from the head to the breast. This endangers abortion, and strength fails from watching; therefore purge the humors that fall from the head to the breast, with Rhubarb, Agarick, and strengthen the head as in a Catarrh, and give sweet Lenitives, as in a Cough.

2. Palpitation of heart and fainting, is from vapors that go to it by the arteries, or from blood [Page 165] that aboundeth, and cannot get out at the womb, but ascends and oppresseth the heart. Use Cor­dials as in Syncope inwardly and outwardly.

If it be from too much blood, as in Plethory, open a vein.

3. Watching is from dry sharp vapors that trouble the animal Spirits. Then use Frictions and wash the feet at bed time, and give Syrup of Poppies, dryed Roses, Emulsions of sweet Al­monds, and white Poppy-seeds.

4. There is pain in the loyns and hips from the weight of the child, or from the terms stopt, or growth of the child, that stretcheth the liga­ments of the womb and parts adjacent; if there be Plethory, bleed. If it be from weight of the child, hold it up with swathing Bands about the neck.

5. There is flux of bood at the womb, nose, or Hoemorrhoids from plenty, or from the weak­ness of the child that takes it not in, or from evil humors in the blood, that stir up nature to send it forth. Also the vessels of the Womb may be broken or torn by motion, fall, cough, or trou­ble of mind. This is dangerous, 5. Aphor. 60. of which Hip­pocrates saith, The child cannot be well, if it be from blood only, there is less danger, so it flows by the veins of the neck of the womb, for it takes away Plethory, or take not nourishment from the child.

If it be from the weakness of the child that draws it not, abortion often follows, or hard tra­vel, or she goes beyond her time. If it flow by the inward veins of the womb, there is more danger by the openness of the womb. If it come from evil blood, the danger is alike from Caco­chymy which is like to fall upon both. If there [Page 166] be Plethory, open a vein warily, and use astrin­gents. As, Take Pearls prepared a scruple, red Coral two scruples, Mace, Nutmegs, each a dram; Cinnamon half a dram, make a powder, or with Su­gar, Rouls: or give this powder in Broth. Take red Coral a dram, Pearl half a dram, pretious Stones, each half a scruple; red Sanders half a dram, Bole a dram, sealed Earth, Tormentil-roots, each two scruples; with Sugar of Roses and Manus Christi, with Pearl six drams, make a powder.

You may strengthen the child at the navel. If there be Cacochymy alter the humors, and (if you may) evacuate. You may use Amulets in the hands, and about the neck. In flux of Hae­morrhoids, beware of the pain. Let her drink hot Wine with a roasted Nutmeg.

Chap. 6. Of the Symptomes that are in the last Months.

1. THe Urin is stopt from suppression of the neck of the bladder. Let her then lye down, and let the bladder be fomented with a Bag of Pellitory, Parsly-roots, Mallows, Linseed, and the like, or use the Catheter.

2. The belly is bound from a hot and dry Liver, when the child draws all the moisture to it, or presseth the guts. Let her then use Moistners, as Butter, Mallows, Borage in Broaths; or that Clysters in a small quantity.

3. The veins appear in the hips and legs as varicous only, then keep them from walking, and let their feet be laid upon a stool.

4. The legs swell from serous blood, but this goes away with the After-birth, and is the signs of [Page 167] a female child; but if she cannot walk, foment with Lye made of Vine branches and Wine, or with a Decoction or Organ, Penny-royal, Cha­momile, Calamints. Or,

Take Bean and Lupine-flour, each two ounces; Tar­tar an ounce, Pidgeons-dung half an ounce, with steel­ed-water and juyce of Coleworts, make a Pultis. Rub and wash the feet with salt water in which Chamo­mil, Organ and Dill were boyled.

5. The skin of the belly is cleft with stretch­ing after the fourth month; therefore use loos­ning Liniments to keep off deformity, as marrow of Veal, and Sheeps-legs, Oyl of sweet Almonds, Hens-grease.

6. The water gathered in time of being with Child, between the membranes that hold the Child, comes forth too soon, because the mem­branes are broken by leaping, or a contusion. This makes difficult birth, for that water was to moisten the parts. Therefore let her keep a good diet, and strengthen the child inwardly and out­wardly.

Chap. 7. Of Weakness of the Child.

THis is either from weak seed, or little nourish­ment or bad, and causeth many diseases in the child.

To hinder abortion and death of the child, know rightly the weakness, as Hippocrates saith, 5. Aph. 53. They that will abort, have first breasts that fall away, which is from want of nourishment in the com­mon veins of the womb and breasts, 5. Aph. 52. Hippocrates hath a second sign, which is this: If a Woman [Page 168] with child hath much milk flowing from her breast, her child is weak 3. Hippocr. 5. aph. 56. If the terms flow often, the nourishment is taken from the child. 4. A mo­ther often and long being sick, shews that her child is weak, because her blood is not good, and the bad humors with the blood go to nourish the child, which makes him sick. 5. When the mother hath a flux of the belly, the child is weak. 6. When it begins to move, and is scarce felt, it is weak.

If it be from these causes, take them away, and strengthen the child, first seed the mother high with meats of good juyce, and sweet Almonds steept in Honey, Raisins, Quinces, outwardly thus: Take Malmsey three pints, dissolve it in Oyl of Nutmegs by expression half an ounce, add powder of Cloves, Rue, each half an ounce; Rose, Sage, Marjoram, Penny-royal-water, each a pint; Aqua-vitae three ounces. Dip Spunges in it, and apply them under the left breast, to the arm-pits, hams, pulses, soles of the feet, and when they dry, wet them again.

Chap. 8. Of Crying in the Womb.

CHildren have sometimes cryed in the womb, as Fabricius saith in his Epistle to his Bro­ther James Fincel, and Weinridick of Monsters, writes thus: In this City of Bressa a Child was heard to cry in the Womb three daies before the Tra­vel; when he was a man, he was miserable with po­verty and diseases, till he died. Andreas Libavius writes the same, and others.

Some say, It portends evil to the Mother, or Child, or Countrey.

It is a voice by the expulsion of the air through the rough artery, The Causes. and some air may in the cavi­ties from vapors or spirits, as in eggs when chic­kens pip in them. And if the child have a rough artery, lungs and breasts which are the organs of breathing sound, and the child is strong, there is no hinderance, but it may utter a voice. But some­thing, whatsoever it is, must stir it to make this noise.

Chap. 1. Of Child-bearing in general.

WHen the Child can no longer be contained in so small a place, being grown, and requiring more nou­rishment, it kicks, and breaks the Membranes and Ligaments that held it, and the Womb by an expelling faculty, sends it forth with great straining, and this is called Travel.

It is either natural or not natural, legitimate [Page 171] or illegitimate. The natural is when the child comes with the head forward and heels upwards, with his hands and arms to his thighs, and so the other parts easily follow, then the Amnios is bro­ken, and the water that was laid up in time of being with child flows forth, and moistens the passages, then the child with more force breaks the Acetabula, from which the Secundine is sepa­rated, and the other membranes are broken, and the blood flows into the cavity of the womb, and the child gets out by the expulsive faculty with such force, that it seems to fall rather then be expelled, and the bones of the Privities must needs be divided.

That which follows the birth is above humane capacity, namely, The transmiration of the Navel-vessels, and Lungs, and Heart in the Infant, and why Nature ordered it, of which Galen elegant­ly in the 15th Book, Of the Use of Parts, and 6th Chapter.

There is also a legitimate Birth, when it is ac­cording to the Law of Nature; and an illegitimate, when it is before or after the time.

Hippocrates saith, Lib. de sep­tim. paren. That a Birth in the seventh month is vital and legitimate. And it is sooner from the strength of the faculty and matter fit for formation, yet it is commonly weak, except the seventh month be compleat

Of the eighth month Hippocrates saith thus: None lives that is born in the eighth month, because it cannot bear the two afflictions to follow, but the reason of the Arithmaticians is better, that say, an even month is imperfect.

The ninth or tenth months are the best, Lib. de na­tura pueri Lib. Sapi­ent. as Hippocrates saith; A Child is born in ten months at the farthest, and so says the wisest Solomon. Some [Page 172] say that a child may be born in the 11th month, and Peter Apponensis was so born; and some say, they have been born in the fourteenth and fif­teenth month: but rare things are not to be counted the Law of Nature.

Generally Physitians agree with Hippocrates, though some dissent.

Chap. 2. Of Abortion.

IT is the exclusion of a child, nor perfect nor li­ving, before ligitimate time. This time is defi­ned by Hippocrates, Lib. de carnib. Whosoever Conceiveth, doth it within seven days, but they are properly Abortions that come before the seventh day; and though some are in the fifth and sixth month that have lived, yet that must not derogate from the common Law of Nature.

Some differences of Abortion are from the time and bigness of the child. For that which is cast out is little and round, without distinction of mem­bers at first, like a Grape. Sometimes as long as a finger, and members may be distinguished. And sometimes the child is almost perfect.

The Causes.The immediate Cause, is the expulsive facul­ty stirred up, and that is done by three means from Galen, 3. De na­tur. fac. cap. 12. from the weight, bigness and pain. There are more causes which we shall place in two Ranks. The first is of the manner of the causes that provoke the expulsive faculty. The other is that which findeth out these wayes by all the causes.

The expulsive faculty is first provoked by the child being weak, either from evil seed, or being dead. The child is weak for want of food, and from the mothers diseases, either in her whole [Page 173] body, or in the womb, or parts adjacent that con­sent, as Feavers, Inflammations, Fainting, Convul­sions, Pain, Vomiting, Neesing, Cough that move the spirits and humors, and shake the child, and stir up Nature to expel it.

Also straitness of the womb causeth Abortion, by which means it cannot contain a great child. Also shortness of the Navel-vessels, which Frabri­cius first observed.

The outward causes, are cold air after hot and moist, which gets into the womb, and provokes it, and hurts the child. Cent. 2. obs. 50. The Astrologers add the malignant aspect of the Stars: also too much or too little meat. Great watchings, purging, and flux of blood by the Womb and Haemorrhoids. Also violent motion, as leaping, carrying of bur­dens, strokes on the belly or back. Also passions, as anger, fear, sorrow.

Also bleeding, purging, fasting, smell of brim­stone or ashes, hoofs burnt, or stink of the snuff of a candle.

If the breasts be less, The Signs. or much milk flow from them, or she feel much and often pain about the belly or loyns, that go to the Pubes and Os sa­crum, with a desire of thrusting forth in the womb. If the child change its place, and if it fall lower when it was in the middle of the belly, there is fear of miscarrying.

It is dangerous alwayes, The Progno­stick. because it is with vio­lence, there are also great Symptomes? they are in less danger that have already brought forth a child; therefore the first is most dangerous, and the mouths of the Vessels are torn, and they com­monly become barren. Abortion is most dange­rous in the sixth, seventh and eighth month, be­cause the Infant being greater, causeth greater [Page 174] pain, and breaks the Ligaments worse.

Chap. 3. Of the Signs of Natural Birth, and the manner and govern­ment of such as bring forth.

AT her time of her being to be delivered, let her take heed of astringents and thickners, [Page 176] but let her eat meat of easie concoction, and of good juyce, and sit every fourth day in a hot Bath; Of Mallows, Foenugreek, Linseed, Mugwort and Chamomil-flowers: and after let her back, loyns, belly and privities be anointed with the Muci­lage of Althaea-seed, and Oyl of Lillies, and let the child be strengthned.

But when she hath pains from the navel to the groyns, and in the back, then the ligaments, and vessels are broken, by which the child grows to the womb. And because the Womb violently strains to discharge it; the membranous fibres are extended, and commonly there are very great pains, and throws, or the child will not be born, and it is an evil sign when throws cease, because the expulsive faculty is weakned. And let not the Midwife provoke throws till the time.

When the Membranes are broken, the water flows out, that comes from the urin and sweat of the child, first little, then more, then waterish blood, and the orifice of the womb begins to open to let out the child. And before this time, you must not provoke throws. Then let the Mid­wife put her finger into the orifice of the womb, and she shall perceive something round and hard as an Egg. Let her not lie on her back flat, but with her back up, that she may breathe more freely.

After the child is born, you must press the blood in the Navel-vessels, towards the navel of the In­fant, and take heed that you lose not much blood in cutting of the Navel-string, for it hath destroyed weak children, and you must labour to fetch out the Secundine with the child: and if it be in the womb, anoint your hands with warm Oyl, and put them into the womb, and fetch it out.

Chap. 5. Of Natural hard Tra­vel.

THough Child-bearing since Eves sin is ordain­ed to be painful as a punishment there­of, yet sometimes it is more painful then ordi­nary.

The first is from the mother, The Causes. and the expul­sive faculty. 2. From the Child. 3. From the passage. From the mother, as when the womb is weak, and the mother is not active to expel from weakness or diseases, or want of spirits, of which Hippocrates.

It is from the Birth when they are Twins or more, and both strive to go forth at a time, 5. Aphor. 55. or if the child stick to a Mole, or be so weak that it cannot break the membrane, or if it be too big all over, or in the head only, or if the Navel-ves­sels are twisted about his neck.

It is from the passages when the membranes are thick, the orifice too strait, Fabric. cent. 3. obs. 57. and the neck of the womb is not open sufficiently, as in such as labour of the first child, or are very fat. The passages are pressed and straitned by tumors in the adjacent parts, or when the bones are too firm and will not open, then the mother and child are both in danger, or when the passages are not slippery, or when they are broken too soon by reason of the thin membranes, or the water flows forth sooner then it ought.

You may know hard travel by faint throws, The Signs. that come at a great distance. And you must consider all things concerning the Mother, Womb and child.

The Progno­stick.In hard Travel, the mother and child are in danger, and the Perinaeum sometimes breaks with the skin from the Privities to the Arse-hole. If a woman be four dayes in Travel, the child scarce escapes.

The Cure.All things that move the Terms are good to make easie delivery, As Myrrh, white Amber in white Wine or Lilly-water, two scruples or a dram, some give a drop of Oyl of Amber in Ver­vain-water, or a scruple of mineral Borax, or half a dram, but begin with gentle things, as a spoonful of Cinnamon-water. Or, Take Cassia Lignea, Dit­tany, each a dram; Cinnamon half a dram, Saffron a scruple, make a Powder, give a dram. Or, Take Borax mineral a dram, Cassia Lignea a scruple, Saffron six grains, give it in Sack. Or, Take Cassia Lignea a dram, Dittany, Amber, each half a dram; Cinnamon, Borax, each a dram and half; Saffron a scruple, give half a dram.

Or give some drops of Oyl of Hazel in conveni­ent Liquor, or two or three drops of Oyl of Cin­namon in Vervain-water, some prepare the secun­dine thus: Take the Navel-string and dry it in an Oven. Take two drams of the Powder, Cinnamon a dram, Saffron half a scruple, with juyce of Savin make Troches, give two drams, or wash the Secundine in Wine, and bake it in a pot, then wash it in Endive-wa­ter and wine. Take half a dram of it, long Pepper, Galangal, each half a dram; Plantane and Endive-feed, each a dram and half, Lavender-seed, four scruples, make a Powder.

Or, Take Labdanum two drams, Storax calamite, Benzoin, each half a dram; Musk and Amber-grease, each six grains; make a Powder, or Troches for a fume; Or use Pessaries to provoke the Birth. Take Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar an ounce, [Page 179] Myrrh two drams, Saffron a dram, with Oyl of Orris make a Pessary. An Oyntment for the Pecten and Navel. Take Oyl of Keir two ounces, juyce of Savin an ounce, of Leeks and Mercury, each half an ounce, boyl them to the consumption of the juyce, add Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar half an ounce, Myrrh two drams, Storax liquid a dram, round Birthwort, Sowbread, Cinnamon, each half a dram; Saffron a scruple, with wax make an Oyntment.

Also neesing provoke the Birth and Amulets, 5. Aphor. 35. Levi. Lemn. de oc. nat. mir. lib. 4. c. 12. as a Snakes-skin about her middle, the Eagle-stone bound to her thigh.

If weakness be the cause, refresh her with Wine and sops to the nose, Confect. Alkermes, Diamosc. Diamarg.

If there be Twins, let the Midwife order them with her hands, and help the foremost.

If the passages be not slippery, use an emollient Fomentation, and Oyl of sweet Almonds, Hens or Ducks-grease, &c. If the belly be bound, give a Clyster or Suppository.

When Medicine will not do it, Aetius te­tra. 4. c. 23. break the Mem­brane with the fingers dipt in Oyl, or cut them.

When the Child is still-born, let the Midwife chew Spices, and blow in its mouth, or drop Aqua-vitae in it, or anoint it with Honey.

Chap. 6. Of a vitious disor­derly Birth, or difficulty pre­ternatural.

IF the hand come not forth first, and the hands and feet are upwards, there is an ill birth.

Hippocrates reckons two causes, The Causes. the largeness [Page 180] of the womb, Lib. de nat. pu. and disorderly motion of the mo­ther from pain, also the thickness of the mem­brane, which when it cannot break with the head, it attemps to do with the feet and hands.

The Signs.The Midwife may perceive in what figure the child comes forth.

The Progno­stick.All disorderly coming forth is dangerous to mo­ther and child, but there is least danger when both feet come forth, this is called by the Latins Partus Agrippinus.

The Cure.Let the Midwife reduce it into the cavity of the womb when it comes not forth right, and place it right.

When the feet cannot be thrust upwards, let the Midwife supple the parts with Oyl, and take hold of the arm, and help it, and give neesings.

Let her alwaies labour to put the child in a right posture by moving it with her hand, or ta­king the mother from the bed, and compose her in such a posture as may bring the child into a right posture, and that soon.

Chap. 7. Of a slow Birth.

THis is when the Child is longer coming forth then ordinarily, Epistol. lo. 2. 29. epis. of this Massa writes, That a Venetian Matron conceived of a husband of seventy years of age, and brought forth a child in the fifteenth month blind, and without hands, which lived five months. Consil. 85. ad christ. vuolcken. Cardanus writes, That his father said, he was born in the thirteenth month. And Mercurialis writes thus: That it was never seen or written, that a woman had a live child four years in her belly, &c. but these are rare and miraculous.

The cause is the weakness of the seed, and want of heat in the womb, which makes the ex­pulsive faculty weak.

Chap. 8. Of a Child dead in the Womb.

WHen at the time of Child-birth, there is pain and breaking forth of water, which ceaseth presently without delivery, the child re­maining in the womb, then the mother or child dies, or both.

When the travel is vehement from divers cau­ses, they may also cause no birth, The Causes. for either the more she may lose her strength, and the child not come forth, or both may die.

And if the child be weak, and move little, or the mother may be weak, and the child great, the travel is hard, and both die, or if the child come not forth in a right posture.

Or if the passages are ill proportioned, Fabri. cent. 1. obs. 64. & 67. as when the bones of the Pubes do not give way, or when there is Schirrhus, or other tumor that straitneth the passages there is no delivery.

Or the child dies by a disease for want of nou­rishment, or a fall, stroak, or leap, or passion in the mother.

Search if the child be living or dead, The Signs. for if it be dead, it will hurt the mother by rotting; and if the mother die and child be alive, take it out before the mother be buried.

A child is known to be dead, if the Mother and Midwife perceive no motion, but it is raised by any strengtheners given, and when the mother moves from side to side, it moves like a stone, or [Page 182] when the face and lips of the mother are pale, and her extream parts livid: and the breasts that were plump, are fallen; her breath stinks, water and stinking matter flows from the womb; there is a Feaver, horrour and fainting, or Convulsi­on; or if the Secundine come forth before the Child.

The Progno­stick.If a dead child be not presently taken out, the mother is in great danger: there are great Symp­tomes, and strange diseases, of which see Francis Rousset and others.

The Cure.When the child comes not forth in time, and is alive, it must be taken out by the Midwife or Chyrurgion by cutting the belly and womb, of which in the Chapter following. If it be dead, you must drive, or take it out before it stinks, ei­ther by Medicines or Chyrurgery.

The Medicines are such as stir up the expul­sive faculty, but they must be stronger then be­fore, because the motion of the child ceaseth, as Take Savin, round Birthwort, Troches of Mirrh, Castor, each a dram; Cinnamon half an ounce, Saffron a scruple; give a dram with Savin-water.

Or, Take Borax, Savin, Dittany, each an ounce; Mirrh, Asarum-roots, Cinnamon, Saffron, each half a dram; make a Powder, give a dram.

Purge first, and put her in an emollient Bath, and anoint about the womb with Oyl of Lillies, sweet Almonds, Chamomil, Hens and Goose-grease.

Foment to get out the child with a Decoction of Mercury, Orris, wild Cowcumber, Stoechas, Broom-flowers. Then anoint the Privities and Loyns with Oyntment of Sowbread. Or, Take Coloquintida, Agarick, Birthwort, each a dram; make a powder, add Ammoniacum dissolved in Wine, [Page 183] Ox-gall, each two drams; with Oyl of Keir make an Oyntment.

Or this Pessary. Take Birthwort, Orris, black Hellebore, Coloquintida, Mirrh, each a dram powdered; add Ammoniacum dissolved in Wine, Ox-gall, each two drams. Or make a Fume with Asses-hoof burnt, or Galbanum or Castor, and let it be taken in with a Funnel.

If these will not do, use Chyrurgery. It is done with the hand only, or with instruments, of which Aegineta and Aetius. Lib. 6. c. 23. terrab. serm. 4. cap. 23.

Charles Stephens shews how to use the hand with­out instruments. When you know the child is dead (saith he) place the woman in the best posture, and tye her so very fast, &c. see the rest.

John Bauhin takes the same course out of Schenks Observations. And because the strength faileth, Lib. 5. cap. 2. de disect. part. corpo­re human. refresh her, and abate pain, cherish the torn parts, and prevent Symptomes.

To take away pain, and strengthen the parts, foment with the Decoction of Mugwort, Mallows, Rosemary, Wormwood, Mirtles, St. Johns-wort, each half an ounce; Sperma Ceti two drams, Deers-suet an ounce, with Wax make an Oyntment. Or, Take Wax four ounces, Sperma Ceti an ounce, melt them, dip Flax therein, and lay it all over the belly. In some Coun­tries women will not permit these, but leave all to God.

Chap. 9. Of the Caesarean-Birth.

THe belly and womb are cut sometimes to take out the child, and this is called the Caesarean-Birth, and they that live are called Cae­sar: It is done in three cases. 1. When the child is dead, and the woman alive. 2. When [Page 184] the woman is dead, and the child alive. 3. When both mother and child are alive.

This is seldom, because either Medicines do it, or it is taken out by other Chyrurgery, or the work is left to Nature. Enchirid. consul. me­dic. p. 188. Mathias Cornax hath a History of one that carried a dead child in her belly four years, it was taken out by cutting the womb and belly, and the mother lived, and con­ceived with child after: she fainted not at the time, and the wound grew together without stit­ching; and her terms after came in good order, and she had a lusty Boy till the second of June. The Surgeons that had cut her afore were sent for, and the old orifice was open, and the mother and the women present, would not yield to the second cutting. Therefore her strength failed, and the Chyrurgion took out a compleat child, but it was dead.

There are more Histories of live children cut out of their mothers bellies being dead. And Roderick à Castro saith, Pin. lib. 7. hist. nat. c. 90. Rod. à Ca­stry, lib. 4. de morbis mul. c. 1. Augen. lib. 5. epit. 2. 11. That an Infant cannot live in the Mothers womb being dead, except it be taken out at the very time of her departure, or while there are vital Spirits, because when the motion and life of the mother ceases, the life of the child also ceaseth: yet is his Argument of no force, because the child hath its proper Soul, and if it be well, it may live a while in the womb without benefit from the mother, as it doth when it is delivered. But take heed it be not suffocated in the womb, and keep the mothers mouth open, and let the Midwife never move her hand from the Privities, Lib. 3. de disect. part. cor. hum. c. 1. till the Chyrurgion have taken it out: and you may know that the child is alive, when the mother is dead by its leaping. Charles Stephens shews the way of taking out a dead child.

When a live child is cut out of the belly of a live mother, it is done only lest the mother or child, or both should die.

And this may be done, and both preserved alive, which is plainly demonstrated by Francis Rousset, in his Book of this subject, so that there is no doubt of it. For first he shews the necessity of the Operation, and next the possibility of it, shewing that the muscles of the belly, the Perito­naeum and Womb may be cut without hazard of life.

Thirdly, He confirms by History what he pro­ved by reason, and shews that many wounds of the muscles in the lower belly, Peritonaeum and Womb have been cured.

Fourthly, He propounds many more dangerous cases then the Caesarean Section, which were not deadly in themselves. And then he shews the manner of the operation, and how it is to be done. Therefore have recourse to his works, if thou wilt learn it.

Chap. 1. Of the Government of Women in Child-bed.

PResently after she is delivered, labour to make the After-birth follow, of which in the Chapter following, then compose her in Bed, and give her good Food. Let the Air be temperate, rather hot then cold. Let her beware of Cold that it get not in­to the Womb, it will cause torment and inflam­mations.

If Travel be hard anoint the belly and sides with Oyl of sweet Almonds, Lillies, and warm Wine.

Let her meat be of a good juyce and easie con­coction, Hen-broath, and Chickens, and Capons, Kid, Mutton, Veal, let her drink thin Wine if there be no Feaver, or Cinnamon boyled in wa­ter, the first daies drunk warm: Let there be no noise about her, and let her not rise too soon, avoid passions lest the humors be stirred and fall into some part.

If she cannot or will not suckle her child, turn the milk from the breast by repellers under the Arm-pits, as Unguent of Roses, Cerot of San­ders, dissolved in Vinegar, and to the breasts ap­ply a Cataplasm of Bean and Orobus-flour with Oxymel, or foment the breasts with the decoction of Mints, Dill, Smallage; or lay the leaves bruised upon them.

Before she goes forth, let her bathe with a Decoction of Lilly-roots, Elicampane, Mug­wort, Agrimony, Borage, Rosemary, Chamo­mil-flowers, Stoechas, Faenugreek, Linseed, Ci­tron-peels.

Chap. 2. Of the Secundine or After-birth, or a Mole that is left after Child-bearing.

THese stick in the bottom of the womb, or like a ball to another part, the mouth of the womb being open or closed.

It is not safe to cut the After-birth from the The Causes. [Page 188] Navel till both be come forth, therefore draw it out with breaking of the Navel-string, this is re­tained, because it grows to the sides of the womb, or is swollen by hard travel, or because the Na­vel-string is broken by the Infants straining: or from cold air got in, or from a fright, or from her not having throws fit to exclude it, or because she is impatient, and will not continue in a due posture.

The Signs.The Midwife will declare it, and the purgation is not, the belly swells, there is a Feaver, and hea­viness, and pain in the belly; there is a stink and loathing from stinking vapors, difficult breathing, Suffocation and Convulsion.

The Progno­stick.Many die from the retaining of it if it cannot come forth, when matter flows from the womb, there is hope that they will rot and come away in sixty daies.

The Cure.First let the Midwife draw it gently with her hand, and use sneesing, then burn Partridge-fea­thers to the nose, and Goats-hoofs, as in the suffo­cation of the Womb.

Then use things that expel a dead child, Dit­tany, Oyl of wood Heracleon after Preparatives. Or, Take Marjoram, Chervil, Penny-royal, each a handful; Savin half a handful, Anise and Fen­nel-seed, each half a dram; Lovage and Parsley-roots, each three drams; boyl them in water for three draughts. Or, Take Dittany, Troches of Myrrh, Borax, each half a dram; Saffron, Castor, each a scruple; make a Powder. Or, Take round Birth­wort, two scruples, Myrrh a scruple, make a Powder, give it in Wine.

Make Pessaries of Mugwort, Mercury, Sage, Orris in Powder with Oyl of Keir. Or, Take [Page 189] round Birthwort, Savin, Briony, Ox-gall and Honey, and make a Pessary.

The stronger are of the Decoction of wild Cowcumber, Coloquintida, Staphisacre, Helle­bore, Honey, and gall of an Ox.

Fumes are made of Cassia lignea, Nard, Mug­wort, Savin, Penny-royal, Dittany. Or, Take Myrrh, Castor, Galbanum, each half a dram; Opopa­nax, Cinnamon, each a dram; with Honey make Troches for to be burnt.

Then foment the Belly with the Decoction of those Plants. Or, Take Lupine-meal an ounce, pow­der of Wormwood half an ounce, Mirrh, Rue, each three drams; with Ox-gall and Honey make a Cataplasm.

If it come not forth, give a Womb-clyster of the Decoction of Sage, Mugwort, Mercury, Cala­mints, Penny-royal.

If all fail, inject things to suppurate into the womb, and let it be turned to matter, and come out by degrees, and inject strengtheners into the womb.

Chap. 3. Of the Purgation af­ter Child-bearing diminished or detained.

THis is not alike in all women, for in some women the blood is fresh, in others it is [Page 190] waterish, cholerick, or melancholick: And some bleed more then others, according to the consti­tution and Countrey. It is either not at all, or too much, or too little.

The Causes.When they are stopt or lessened, the vessels are too strait, or the blood flows another way, or it is too thick, or the vessels of the womb are pressed from its position: the blood is drawn away by passions, fears, or goes hastily to the breasts.

The Signs.The just quantity is not to be defined: when it is stopt, the belly swells, the pain is in the bot­tom of the belly and groyns; there is chilness and a Feaver after it, fainting, weak, swift, une­qual pulse; there is soot in the urin. Sometimes the belly inflamed, or she voids blew or black clodds or blood.

The Prog­nostick. Gal. 1. epid. com. 3. t. 21. The Cure.It is bad of it self to have any thing left after Child-bearing, and worse if it staies long, and grows melancholick; therefore it is a cause of many diseases.

First, endeavor to evacuate the blood from the womb by Frictions, Ligatures and Cupping; if they will not do, open a vein in the foot.

Then open the passages with external and in­ternal meats: anoint the Belly with loosning Oyls, or foment thus: Take Lilly-roots, Birthwort, Briony, Angelica, each half an ounce; Mercury, Mug­wort, Penny-royal, Savin, Calamints, each a handful; Tansey, Chamomil, and Elder-flowers, each half a hand­ful; Faenugreek and Linseed, each two drams; bruise them grosly, and put them in a bag, and boyl them in Water and Wine: lay it to the Privities and bot­tom of the Belly.

Give emollient Clysters; and if some dayes are past, purge with Agarick, Rhubarb, Senna. Or, Take Lilly-roots, Althaea, each half an ounce: [Page 191] Birthworts two drams, Pellitory, Mercury, Althaea, each a handful; Calamints, Chamomil, Elder-flow­ers, each two pugils; Foenugreek and Linseed, each two drams; boyl them, to ten ounces strained, add Oyl of Dill, Lillies, each an ounce, Hiera simple half an ounce, Oyntment of Sowbread three drams, make a Cly­ster.

Or give Pessaries that provoke the Terms.

Give things to melt and attenuate the blood. As, Take opening Roots three drams, Bettony, Maiden-hair, Endive, Schoenanth, each two pugils; Anise, Fen­nel-seed, each a scruple; red Pease a spoonful: boyl them to a pint and half, add Cinnamon-water two drams, syrup of the five Roots three ounces; give four ounces.

Chap. 4. Of too great a flux of blood after Child-bearing.

THat is too much which makes weak.

It is blood abounding which hath been ga­thered nine months in the womb. The Causes.

It is thick, or spends the Spirits, and weakens. The Signs. There is loathing of meat, pain the Hypochon­dria, belly-ach, weak and often pulse, dark sight, noise in the ears, fainting and Convulsion.

It is dangerous when long, The Progno­stick. Hippoc. 9. aphor. 55. The Cure. and with fainting and Convulsion. Therefore observe the Pulse, lest she dye suddenly.

See what strength she hath, and stop it not sud­denly. If it be not very great, order a dyet of roast­ed Hens, basted with red Wine, or Pomegranate, of Starch, Almonds, Rice, Quinces, Conserve of Roses, steeled Water, and make Revulsions: use gentle things and strengthen the loose passages.

Anoint the belly with Oyl of Roses, Mirtles, cup under the breasts and sides without scarrification. Apply a Cataplasm of red Roses, Bole and Rose­water to the Liver.

Then use stronger, and give a higher diet often in small quantity, and give Syrups to stop blood. As, Take old Conserve of Roses two ounces, of Tormen­til an ounce, of Quinces without species half an ounce, Bole, red Coral, each half a dram; with syrup of Cur­rans and Coral, make an Electuary.

Anoint the belly with the Oyntment of the Countess, and other Astringents; or use Astringent Fomentations: or let her take into the womb a Fume of Mastich, Frankincense, red Roses, &c.

Then open a vein in the arm, and let blood by degrees. See Sect. 2. Chap. 6. Of Overflowing of the Terms.

Chap. 5. Of the pains after Tra­vel, and torments in the Belly.

THese are not in the body, and bottom of the womb, but in the vessels and membranes, by which the womb hangs, and that goes to the sides and belly.

The Causes.They are from a constant labour in travel, when the bottom of the womb is pricked to send forth from cold air let into it, or clotted blood detained, or sharp blood sticking to the womb, and prick­ing it.

The Signs.They are in the womb it self, you may know if they came from cold by what hath been done, and clotted blood will manifest it self.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.They weaken much, and are very troublesome, therefore they must be abated.

First, take away the cause, or abate the pain, [Page 193] and make that which hurts the womb fit to be evacuated by these Pills.

Take Cinnamon a dram, Saffron a scruple, Diacymi­ni, Diagalangal, Zedoary, each half a dram; make a Powder, give a dram in Penny-royal or Cinnamon-water.

Or, Take of Cummin-seed steept in Spirit of Wine and dried again a dram, Ameos-seed, and Ginger, each half a dram; Cinnamon a scruple, Castor half a scruple, make a Powder. If she faint, add Cordial Waters. As, Take Diacyminum a dram, Diamargariton frigid, Ci­tron-peels, Zedoary, each half a dram; make a Powder.

If she be cholerick, or the humor thin and sharp, cure it as a Cholick from Choler. As, Take Syrup of Violets, Borage, each an ounce; Mucilage of Quince-seeds made with Violet-water half an ounce, water of Borage, Scorzonera, each two ounces: give it at twice.

Extenuate the humors, and loosen the passa­ges outwardly. Take Bean-flour, Faenugreek and Linseed, each an ounce; Chamomil-flowers and Cum­min-seeds, each half an ounce; boyl them in Oyl of Lillies for a Cataplasm.

You may fume the womb with Decoctions of Herbs.

Chap. 6. Of the tearing of the Vulva to the Arse, and coming forth of the Womb, Inflamma­tion, Ulcer, Suffocation, and fal­ling out of the Fundament.

THe tearing is in hard travel, Par. Secti [...] 1. Cap. 1. when the mother is tender, and the child great, of which be­fore.

The womb comes forth from the violent ex­traction of the child or after-birth, which the liga­ments are stretched. Part 1. Sect. 2. Cap. 15. The Cure is mentioned, but you must not hinder the after-flux by astringents, let her therefore rest, and lie on her back, with her feet drawn up, with sweets to her nose, and stinks to the womb, so the womb will be retain­ed, and the flux continued; after this is past, you may use Astringents.

If there be Inflamation from hard Travel, hin­der not the after-flux of blood by Coolers.

If it turn to an ulcer, let the after-flux flow, and then cure it.

Suffocation after Child-bearing, is from the stinking after-blood, which sends up stinking va­pors which kill many. It is cured by Friction of the leggs, Ligatures and Cupping with Scarifica­tion, applying stinks to the nose, as Castor, Par­tridge-feathers burnt, Rue. And applying Sweets to the Privities.

You must cure the falling out of the Funda­ment from straining in Delivery, as formerly shewed.

Chap. 7. Of Watching, Do­ting, and Epilepsie of Women in Child-bed.

THese are from the motion of the blood and humors when the after-blood flows not kind­ly, and there is a Feaver, of which in the first Book. And from vapors sent from the womb, there is an Epilepsie, which is cured by Revul­sion of vapors and humors downwards, and per­fect [Page 195] Evacuation of the After-blood, which done, all these Symptoms cease.

Chap. 8. Of the Swelling of the Womb, Belly, and Feet after Child-bearing.

IT is commonly from cold gotten into the womb, and the belly sometimes swells, as if there were another child.

It is cured by hysterical or mother Fomentati­ons, or with the skin of a new slain sheep, and hard wine; if in Travel they keep a bad dyet, or drink too much, the humors go into wind, and if they fall into the Legs they swell, then take heed of much drink: and after the flux is is past, make Evacua­tion with things that expel wind. As, Take Cole­worts and Chamomil, each as you please: boyl them in Wine, and foment the parts. Or, Take Wormwood, Southernwood, Bettony, Calamints, Organ, Chamomil-flowers, Aniseeds, Rue, Caraway, as much as will serve for a Fomentation for the Feet.

Chap. 9. Of Vomiting, Loos­ness, Belly bound, and not hold­ing of Urine in Women in Child-bed.

THey cast up crude and indigested meat some­times, Hip. 1. de nat. mulier. from weakness of the stomach by consent from the womb, or from the humors that came to the stomach, from the parts near the womb, when the after-flux doth not flow, they [Page 196] sometimes vomit blood, or when it is disordered. For the blood not getting out, goes to the great Veins and Liver, and in its hollow part, by plenty and sharp it opens the Veins, and it gets into the Stomach. Sometimes a Vein is broken from hard Travel.

Hip. 1. de morb. mul.It is bad of what cause soever it comes: for the strength will fail, and there will be no matter to make milk of, if the food be vomited. If other humors, they may cause a Feaver by their motion. If blood be vomited from a Vein of the Liver broken or opened, a Dropsie is to be feared; therefore stop it, whatsoever it be in this case. If it be of the meat, give that which will be easily digested, that oppress not the stomach which must be strengthened.

If bad humors are vomited up, stop it not so soon, but cleanse with gentle Medicines, and open the way by stool.

In vomiting blood make Revulsion to the lower parts by rubbing, cupping them, or bleeding in the ham or ankle, and provoke the After-flux.

The Flux of the Belly is dangerous if it be great, for it weakneth, and threatneth to bring a Dysentery, or Tenasmus, or Neesing. Nor is it safe to stop it presently, lest you stop the After-flux with it. If it be from food, nor well concocted, let her keep a better dyet, and let the stomach be strengthened outwardly. If this will not do, give internal remedies, so that they help the stomach, and hurt not the womb, as the Decoction of Bar­ley, Syrup and Honey of Roses. Give Clysters also to temper the sharp humors, and cleanse.

Or give Syrup of Roses, Pulp of Tamarinds, or Rhubarb. And Astringents of Roses, Plan­tane, [Page 197] Tormentil, Quinces, Coral, and the like. If they be wholly stopt, the belly must not be bound. But first give Rhubarb and Astringents outward­ly, and provokers of the Terms.

Also the belly is bound in women in Child-bed, then give a Suppository of Soap or Honey, and after four or five dayes, give emollient Clysters, and Manna or Cassia.

If they cannot hold their Urin after hard Tra­vel, use a Bath of Bettony, Sage, Bayes, Rose­mary, Penny-royal, Organ, Stoechas, and presently after anoint with this: Take fat Puppy-dogs boyled in Oyl of Worms, Lillies, and Foxes, till the flesh fall from the bones, then take the Fatt, and add Frankincense, Storax calamite, Benzoin, Opopanax, Mace, each a dram; Oyl of Nutmegs by expression half a dram, with Goose-grease and Wax make an Oyntment.

Chap. 10. Of the Wrinkles of the Belly after Child-bearing, and mending of the largeness of the Privities.

AFter the fourth month, Women prevent wrinkles by carrying a clout upon the bel­ly, dipt in Oyl of sweet Almonds, Jesamine, Oyl of Lillies to loosen the skin, that it may stretch better without clefts.

If the Belly be already wrinkled. Tetrabi. 4. Serm. 4. 112. Take Sheeps-suet, Goats-suet, Oyl of sweet Almonds, each an ounce; Sperma Ceti two drams, with Wax make an Oyntment. After the flux is past, add Oyl of Mastich, or Roses, or make Aetius his Cataplasm.

Chap. 11. Of Feavers and acute Diseases in Women in Child-bed.

THey have often continual Feavers. The first is the Feaver of Milk about the fourth or third day from the motion of the blood from the womb to the breasts; it is not of many dayes continuance, and is not dangerous.

But take heed you mistake not a putrid Feaver for a Milk-feaver, for labour and pain sometimes inflame the humors, and cause putrefaction, and though the Symptomes appear not the next day after delivery, yet there may be the beginning of putrefaction from the heat of the humors in Tra­vel, especially if the after-flux be stopt, from which time you must count the beginning of the diseases. For a Feaver cannot be long concealed, nor the motion from Travel last long: therefore it is probable the motion is ceased, and the Feaver comes of another cause, which I shall declare presently.

The Causes.They are the stoppage of the After-flux, or the diminishing of it, or the foul humors that were gathered in the time of being with child, and stir­red in Travel. Too great purging of the After-blood or Lochia signifies Cacochymy, or a Feaver that will come long after Travel. If the Lochia flow not in due time, or be stopt, then the blood and foul humors go back to the great Veins and Liver, Hippocr. 1. epid. tex. 21. The Signs and make a putrid Feaver, or inflame those parts.

A Feaver from milk comes the fourth day, and there is heaviness of back and shoulders, and the Lochia flow well, it not, there is the sign of a Fea­ver. [Page 199] If the humors putrifie in the womb, there is foul stinking matter voided, the belly is swollen, and is pained when toucht. If the Feaver be not from milk, and the Lochia flow, it comes from bad humors, especially if when she was big with child, she kept not a good diet.

A Feaver from milk is without danger, The Progno­stick. and cea­seth the eighth or tenth day: that which comes from suppression of the Lochia or After-flux, is dangerous and often deadly, except there follow a flux of the belly. If black stinking matter flow from the womb, they escape: If the Feaver come from a Cacochymy before Delivery, it is worse, because it argues much humors, which Nature cannot discharge by the after-flux, and the strength is dejected by hard travel.

A Feaver from milk, requires only good diet, The Cure. and sweating must not be hindred, for it cures. That which is from stoppage or diminishing of the Lochia, must be cured by provoking the after-flux, or by another evacuation instead of it; as purging, bleeding in the foot to provoke the flux, or by scarifying the thighs and legs, after cup­ping, while the time is, that the after-flux should be not afterwards. For if that time be past, if strength permit, open a vein in the arm, and bleed plentifully.

For purging: some purge them in a Pleurisie after the seventh day, Valer. lib. 5. obs. 10. merc. 4. de morb. mul. c. 11. but beware by reason of the weakness after travel, and because Purges may hinder the after-flux, which is dangerous, it is good to evacuate only by the womb; but if the flux of blood cease, and Nature would purge something from the womb, you may give a gentle Purge of Rhubarb, Cassia, Manna, Syrup of Roses, Senna.

Alterers are thus to be ordered. Avoid too cold and sharp things, lest the evacuation by the womb should be disturbed by cold things.

The Diet.Let it be thin the first daies of lying in, then thicker, and so increasing, take heed of too much drink, especially of cold drink.

Chap. 1. Of the increased num­ber of Breasts, and greatness extraordinary.

THough Nature hath ordained two in all Women: Card. l. 8. c. 43. de re­rum varice Cabrol. obs. 7. yet some have Breasts like Men: others have had two on each side that had Milk.

The figure of the Breasts is round pointed [Page 204] at the nipple a little, it ought not to be soft nor hard, and of an indifferent bigness, and it is better they be indifferent, though they hold not so much milk, lest they be subject to Cancers and Inflam­mations, and when they are too big, they have not a temperate heat.

The Causes of over-great Breasts, is much blood, and the strength of heat attracting and concocting it; these are remote causes, but the immediate cause is the largeness of the passages and loosness, which is in the first conformation, and furthered by idleness, much sleep, and few terms, and often handling of the Breasts, by which the blood and the heat is drawn to the Breasts.

The Cure.It is easier to keep them from growing great, then to abate them when too big: with good dyet and Topicks that repel by cooling, and binding, and drying. As, Take Mirtle-leaves, Horstail, Plantane, Mints, red Roses, each a handful; Pome­granate-flowers two pugils; boyl them in red Wine and Vinegar, and with a Spunge apply it to the Breasts, and let it dry: or apply Hemlock brui­sed with Vinegar, Or, Take Powder of Comfrey-roots two drams, Pomegranate-flowers, red Roses, Frankincense, Mastich, each half an ounce; Bar­ley-flour, red Oaker, each an ounce and half; with Rose-water, the white of an Egg, and a little Vine­gar make a Cataplasm. These may be laid to the Breasts, and under the Arm-pits, to astringe the Vessels, and hinder the blood from flowing to them.

Hemlock, Henbane, and other Narcoticks are forbidden, because they weaken the natural heat, and hinder the breeding of milk.

Dryers and Discussers are good in women that have great Breasts after weaning, to consume the [Page 205] moisture. As, Take Bean and Orobus-meal, each two ounces and half; Comfrey-roots in powder half an ounce, Mints three drams, Wormwood, Chammo­mil-flowers and Roses each two drams: boyl, and add two ounces of Oyl of Mastich, make a Cata­plasm.

The Breasts are too little, when the Flux of blood to the Breasts, is hindred, diminished, inter­cepted, revelled, or turned another way, or when the blood is not drawn by the Breasts, as in a dry Liver-famine, much Labour, or in Watchings, Fea­vers, and other diseases that consume the body. The same is when the radical moisture of the Breasts is consumed.

You must remove the cause that breeds it, and often friction will attract blood, and foment with warm water, in which Emollients have been boyl­ed with white Wine, and then anoint with Oyl of sweet Almonds, or of Indian-nuts.

Loosness of the Breasts is cured by Astrin­gents.

Chap. 2. Of Sweelling of the Breasts with Milk.

WHen the milk-carrying veins are too full, the Breasts swell all over, or in part, and are pained by stretching and red. Sometimes the milk congealed, and is a hard Tumor.

The cause is abundance of milk or blood that makes it, or the weakness of the child that cannot suck, or because he is weaned.

It often ceaseth without Remedies. Sometimes it is an inflammation, or the milk hardens to a tumor.

The Cure.You must hinder the breeding of much milk, of which hereafter, and consume that which is bred; in women that give suck, the child will draw them, or a Puppy. Or use a Glass to suck with: they which will not give suck, may use this: Take Barley-meal, of Lentils, Althaea-roots, Chamomil-flowers and Mints, each half an ounce; Ag­nus-castus-seeds two scruples: boyl them in Wine, add a little Vinegar, Oyl of Dill two ounces, make a Cata­plasm.

Chap. 3. Of Inflammation and Erysipelas of the Breasts.

SOmetimes the tumor in the breast is inflamed from blood, for though plenty of milk cause an inflammation, blood is the immediate cause, for milk as it corrupts and grows hot, increaseth pain, and so the blood staying in the small capil­lar veins, being out of the vessels, is hot, putrid, and inflamed. There are other causes, as strokes, falls, straitness of cloaths, and other hurts of the Breasts.

The Signs.A hard and red swelling shews inflammation with beating pain, and a Feaver.

The Progno­stick.These inflammations are commonly without danger, but because the Breasts are so loose, and have many kernels, and little heat, they turn to Cancers and Scirrhus.

The Cure.If you fear a great flux of blood that will in­crease the inflammation, let blood in a Pletho­rick body. But if it come from stopping of the terms or after-flux, first open the vein in the ankle, and scarifie the leggs, then (if need be) open the arm.

If bad humors coming to the Breasts, nourish the Inflammation, give a gentle Purge of Manna, Senna, and the like. If the blood be too hot, or mixt with hot humors that help the motion of the blood. Use Alterers, as Lettice, Endive, Pur­slane, Plantane, Water-lillies, and the like.

Use Repellers after these, To be a skilful Phy­sitian study my Senner­tus, Plate­rus, Rive­rius, Bar­tholinus, and Riola­nus, of the last Editi­ons. but such as are weak and not too cold, as a clout dipt in Water and Honey, with Oyl of Roses applied to the Breasts. Or, Take Lettice, Purslane, each a handful; red Roses half a handful: boyl them in Water, add Vine­gar two ounces, make an Epithem.

Or, Take Nightshade, Lettice, each a handful: boyl them, stamp them, and add Barley-meal two oun­ces, powder of Chamomil-flowers half an ounce, Oxy­mel, Oyl of Roses, each a dram; make a Cataplasm.

When the beginning of the Inflammation is past, add Discussers with your Repellers. As, Take white Bread crums, Barley-flour, each an ounce and half; Bean and Foenugreek-flower, each half an ounce, powder of red Roses and Chamomil-flowers, each two drams: boyl them, add Rose-winegar an ounce, Oyl of Roses and of Chamomil, each an ounce; make a Cata­plasm.

At length use only Discussers. As, Take Bean-flower, and of Lupines, and of Foenugreek, and Linseed, and powder of Chamomil-flowers, each an ounce; make a Cataplasm.

If the matter grow hard, use Emollients and Attenuates. As, Take Mallows a handful, boyl them till they are soft, add powder of Linseed, Al­thoea and Chamomil-flowers, each an ounce: boyl them again, add Oyl of Jesamine an ounce, make a Cata­plasm.

If it tend to suppuration, lay a Plaister of Diachylon. Or, Take Mallows and Althoea, [Page 208] each half a handful: boyl them till they are soft, stamp them, and add powder of Althaea-roots two ounces, powder of Line and Foenugreek-seeds, each an ounce; Leaven half an ounce, add Oyntment of Althaea two ounces, make a Cataplasm.

When there is matter, and the Imposthume breaks of its own accord, it is well, otherwise open it with a Lancet, or some sharp Medicine, and let out the matter, and then cleanse it thus: Take Turpentine, Honey of Roses, each an ounce; Mirrh a scruple. The ulcer will be hard to be cured, ex­cept you dry up the milk in the other Breast, by reason of much blood that will flow thither to breed milk.

Chap. 4. Of the Oedoma of the Breasts.

THis flegmetick tumor is in chachectick wo­men that have the white Feaver; it is cold and white, and pits, because the part is loose and spungy.

Are a loose tumor, almost insensible of pain, The Signs. and the finger laid on, leaves a pit. It is larger when the Terms are at hand, and abateth when they are past.

If it come from a Cachexy, The Progno­stick. and a disease of the womb, it is dangerous: but it commonly ends by resolution, or dissolved.

The Cure is by dry and hot means; The Cure. and if it is from a Cachexy or want of Terms, they must first be removed: then use Topicks that discuss, and resolve, and strengthen, let them be but tem­perately hot, lest you discuss the thin, and leave the thick, which will cause a Schirrhus.

Make therefore Fomentations of a Lixivium of Vine and Colewort-ashes, and Sulphur, or a De­coction of Hysop, Sage, Organ, Chamomil-flowers. Then anoint with Oyl of Chamomil, Lillies, Bayes. Or, Take Barley-flour four ounces, of Linseeds, Faenu­greek, Dill, Chamomil-flowers, each half an ounce; Althaea-roots an ounce, with Oyl of Chamomil and Dill make a Cataplasm.

Chap. 5. Of the Scirrhus of the Breasts.

IT is a hard tumor without pain, from melan­choly gathered in the veins that flows to the Breasts; or it is thick flegm dryed. Sometimes both humors are mixed together, or more, which makes a bastard Scirrhus. And if burnt humors abound most, it turns to a Cancer: and if me­lancholy be most, it is not a Scirrhus, but a Cancer.

The Signs.There are two signs of a true Scirrhus, hard­ness, and want of pain, if it be fixed. It is some­times white, sometimes black or blew, as the hu­mor is. If it be a bastard Scirrhus, there is heat and pain; and if they increase, it turns to a Can­cer, and the veins grow blew about, and begin to swell.

The Prog­nostick.The bigger and the harder it is, the more hard it is to be cured. If hairs grow upon a Scirrhus, it is incurable, and it easily turns to a Cancer.

The Cure.After Universals, and the Cause is removed from the womb, or the whole body, let the con­taining cause be softned, made thin, and discus­sed. But beware of two things. First, That the thin parts be not discussed by too hot medicines, and the thick left, for so it will be incurable, and as hard as a stone. Secondly, That you ferment not the matter by moistning Emollients, so that it turn to a Cancer.

The Ancients either used none, or a drying or a moistning medicine only. You must either use Moistners and Emollients with Digesters by turns, Inst. l. 50. Ja. 1. sec. 1. c. 6. or mixed.

Foment with the Decoction of Mallows, Al­thaea, [Page 211] Foenugreek and Linseed, Brank-ursine, and Chamomil-flowers. Then anoint with Oyl of sweet Almonds, Chamomil, Hens-grease, Veal-marrow, Oyntment of Althaea. Or apply this Cataplasm: Take Althaea, Mallows, Brank-ursine, Fennel-tops, each a handful; boyl them soft, stamp them, add Barley and Bean-flour, Linseed, powder of Althaea-roots, Cha­momil-flowers, each an ounce. Or lay on the great Diachylon Plaister, and that of Frogs. Then sprinkle Wine upon a hot stone, and let the Fume be received. And apply a Plaister of Ammonia­cum dissolved in Vinegar.

If it be a Bastard Scirrhus, you may fear a Can­cer. Then after Universals and Bleeding, take away the disposition of the Bowels that breeds black humors.

If you fear a flux of humors, use Oyl of Roses, and Juyce of Plantane; and if there be heat, stir them first in a Leaden Mortar, till they change their colour, then add Ceruss, Litharge, each three ounces, with Wax make an Oyntment.

Chap. 6. Of the Glandles or Kernels in the Breasts being swollen, or of the Scrofula and Struma in the Breast.

CElsus saith, The Struma and Scrofula in the Breast, are rare.

It is from a thick humor, The Causes. flegm or melancho­ly. Struma is with pain sometimes, and is like a Cancer, or seems to turn to a Cancer, but continues many years at a stand. But let the cause be what it will, it comes from stoppage or dis­order [Page 212] of the terms, by reason of the great consent of the Womb with the Breast.

The Signs.The Glandles or Kernels are to be felt, though not before, there is one great unmoveable tumor, and the rest are small.

The Progno­stick.It is hard to be cured for two causes: the ear­thiness of the matter, and the deep lying of it. They which are near the skin, are easily dissol­ved.

The Cure.After purging and bleeding: use Emollients and Discussers that are strong, as in Scirrhus. Take Orris-roots three ounces, boyl them in Oxymel, stamp them, add Turpentine, Oyntment of Althaea, each three ounces; Mucilage of Foenugreek-seed an ounce.

Or, Take roots of Althaea two ounces, Briony-roots an ounce, Orris-roots half an ounce: boyl them soft in white Wine, stamp them, add Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar, and Bdellium dissolved in Wine, each an ounce; with Pitch and Wax make a Plaister. If it cannot be discussed, suppurate or cut it, but this is troublesome and dangerous.

Chap. 7. Of the Cancer of the Breasts.

6. Aphor. 38. HIppocrates saith, That an occult Cancer is bet­ter not cured than cured; for if cured, they pre­sently die, but if not, they live long. Many women have lived long with good order of diet, having a Cancer, as if they had no disease, so saith William Fabricius, Cent. 3. Obs. 87. and that if the Cancer be not ulcerated, they may live forty years without pain: and if you lay on Emollients and Suppuraters, they die in half a year.

The Breasts are spungy and loose, The Causes. and there­fore Cancers breed often there, but the Cause is from the Womb, when they are of a hot and dry constitution with burnt blood, and when the terms stop, and then the humors flie to the Womb and make a Cancer, either with, or without a tumor aforegoing.

A Cancer that ariseth of it self, The Signs. is hard to be discerned at first: for it is like a little tubercle, no bigger than a pease, and grows up by degrees, and spreads out roots with veins about it. And when the skin is eaten through, it is a stinking ulcer, and the lipps are hard, and the matter black.

It is hard or never cured, The Progno­stick. because the black hu­mor that causeth it, is very troublesome, and hath a peculiar malignity, which is fermented, and made worse with Emollients and Suppuraters, which loosen the vessels, and dilate them, so that the humor flows easier to the part, and the cor­rupt humors get easier to the parts adjacent, and infect them.

A Cancer not ulcerated, is to be let alone, The Cure. by the counsel of Hippocrates. But let blood, and purge melancholy often. But use no Topicks that may rot or provoke the part, but things that by experience take away pain; as Nightshade-water, Snails boyled, and Frogs in Oyl, and with ashes of Frogs made into an Oyntment, or Me­dicines of Lead.

As, Take Oyl of Roses two ounces, juyce of Night­shade-berries an ounce and half, Ceruss washed, Su­gar of Lead, each a dram; Pompholygos half an ounce, mix them in a Leaden Mortar, till they are thick.

Or use Cray-fish-ashes, and the ashes of the in­ward [Page 214] rind of an Ash-tree, or Herb Robert.

Lib. 2. De cur. vulner. C. 3. Cent. 3. Obs. 87. Arcaeus teacheth how to cut them out, and then burn the part, if they be deep and ulcerated. But Fabricius shews, that you must burn after to con­sume the reliques, and stop the blood: after it is cleansed; Take Herb Robert, Verbascum or Moulin, Scabious, Caprifolium, or Honey-suckles, Dill, Mans-grease, each equal parts: burn them, take three ounces, and with six ounces of Nightshade-water in a Leaden-Mortar mix them.

After cutting out the root, purge melancholy often, and provoke Terms or Haemorrhoids, lest it return.

Give Treacle Mithridate, with juyce of Bo­rage, Sorrel, Cray-fish-broath, and Asses-milk.

Ant. Chal­miteus.This Water is good against all Cancers. Take Moulin-roots, Clowns all-heal, each two ounces; Drop­wort, Ceterach, Herb Robert, Agrimony, Tormentil, Scabious, Avens, Flaxweed, each a handful; Nettle-seed three drams, Elder and Rosemary-flowers, each a pugil; boil and sweeten it with Sugar. Foment, and wash the Cancer with one part of it, and let the dreggs be applied as a Pultis,

Fuchsius his blessed Powder. Take white Arse­nick that shineth not like glass an ounce, powder it; pour Aqua vitae upon it, and pour it off, add fresh Aqua vitae every third day for fifteen dayes. Then, Take roots of great Dragons gathered in July or August, sliced and dried in the wind, two ounces. Thirdly, Take bright clear Soote of the Chimney three drams, make a powder. Keep it close stopt in a glass, the older the better, use it not till after a year.

For a pallative Cure, keep it from increasing, and take away pain with this Water. Take Scro­phularia-roots and Herb Roberts, each a handful; [Page 215] Lambs-tongue, Night-shade, Bugloss, Borage, Purslane, Eye-bright, Bettony, each half a handful; a Frog, and two whites of Eggs, with Quince-seeds and Foenu­greek, each an ounce; Rose and Eye-bright-water, each a pint; distil them in a Leaden Still.

Use not Cancers as other Ulcers, for Emollients, Lib. 6. c. 30. Healers and Drawers exasperate and kill with great pain.

Chap. 8. Of Ulcers and Fistu­laes of the Breasts.

AFter Universals, dry up the Milk, and if the Breasts hang down, bind them up, that the humors flow not down, and move not the Arm on that side. Then cleanse it with the Decoction of Rhapontick, Zedoary and Agrimony. Heal thus: Take strong Wine five quarts, Rhois Obsoniorum, Cy­press-nuts, each four ounces; green Galls two ounces; boyl them to the Consistence of Honey. If you fear a Fistula, enlarge the Orifice, and take away the Callus, and heal it as an ordinary Ulcer.

Chap. 9. Of straitness of the Passages of the Breasts.

WHen the Veins and Arteries are not wide enough to contain Blood to be turned, there is no Milk.

They are stopt by thick humors, The Causes. as the vessels of the womb are, the cause is the stoppage of the terms, or hard tumors in the Breasts that stop or press.

When the nipple hath no hole for the Child to [Page 216] suck, it is from the birth, or a wound or scar after an Ulcer.

The Signs.There is little milk, and the Breasts pine. If the Breasts swell, and milk cannot be suckt out, the fault is in the paps, or the veins of milk.

The Progno­stick.An obstruction from gross humors may be cu­red. If it be from a Scirrhus or Scar after an Ul­cer, it is incurable, and so the Nipple born with­out a hole.

The Cure.If it be from thick humors or blood, attenuate it with proper things, as Fennel, Dill, Parsley, Anniseeds, Pease, Rocket-seed, or Earth-worms made into Caraplasms or Fomentations. Often rubbing of the Breasts, opens the Milk-veins.

Chap. 10. Of strange things bred in the Breasts.

HAirs, Stones and Worms have been found in the Breasts. A Worm breeds from putrid blood, Bald. Ron­saeus miscel. epist. 10. Lib. de oc­cult. na. mira. c. 12. and is like a hair; the same may be in the back and navel, as I shewed. And a good Au­thor writes, That a woman pained in her breasts, could not be eased till Imposthumes broke, and worms came forth.

Levinus Lemnius saw Stones that grew in the Breast.

Chap. 11. Of the Diseases of Nipples.

THey are either wanting, or lie hid, one or both, which hinders giving suck. If it be from the birth, it is scarce cured; as also when the Nipple is eaten off by an Ulcer.

When they come forth first, Amatus Lusit. cur. med. cent. 5. cur. 31. use a sucking In­strument, and then apply Puppy-dogs to suck.

If there be no hole from birth, or ulcer heal­ed, it is incurable: if it be a little, often sucking will enlarge it.

The clefts in the Nipples is an usual evil, and causeth great pain in Nurses; and if it continue long, it turns to foul ulcers, that they cannot give suck.

To prevent this evil, in the two last months of being with child, wear two cups of Wax over the Nipples with a little Rosin.

They are cured thus with Oyl of Wax, Mir­tles, Oyntment of Lead, Tutty. Or, Take Tutty prepared a scruple, Allum half a dram, Camphire six grains, with Capons-grease and Oyntment of Roses make an Oyntment. Or.

Take Pomatum an ounce and half, Mastich, a scruple, Powder of Gum Traganth and red Roses, each half a scruple. Or,

Take Oyntment of Lead, Pomatum, each half an ounce; Frankincense, Bole, each half a scruple: mix them.

When the Infant is to suck, wash the Breasts first with white Wine and Rose-water.

That the Child may suck without pain to the woman, let her have a Tin or Silver Nipple, and cover it with the Pap of a new killed Cow, and let the child suck that.

Chap. 1. Of want of Milk, and not giving Suck.

THere are many Causes of want of Milk, either there is little Blood to breed it, or the milk-making Faculty in the Breast that makes Milk, is not right, or the Instruments for blood-making are distem­pered.

Sometimes the matter is consumed by a Feaver [Page 219] or fasting, when they loath meat, or from care or labour, evacuations, sweats, or loose belly. Or from weakness of the Infant that cannot draw hard. Also sadness, fear and the like, may hin­der blood from flowing to the Breasts.

Milk is wanting when the Breasts are flaggy, The Signs. and swell not, and little milk is sucked out. The signs of the Causes thus: If it be from the Liver, there will be signs of its distemper: if from great evacuation, that is known: the fault is known to be in the breasts, if as oft as they lie in, they have no milk, and the breasts are small and wrinkled; or if Medicines to keep down the breasts, have been applied, she will tell you: or if it be from weakness of the child, or passions of mind.

The inconvenience is little to the Nurse, The Progno­stick. but great to the Child; therefore get another Nurse, or cure her.

To breed milk, The Cure. give things that breed much and good blood, of easie concoction. Medicines to breed milk, are Fennel-roots, and all green things that heat, and are not very dry, which are few, but infinite are they that hinder milk, as things hot and dry, and cold things.

These increase Milk, Roots of Smallage, Seeds of Parsley, Dill, Basil, Anise, Rocket, Earth-worms washt in juyce of Fennel and dried, or burnt in a pot a dram or two, fasting for some mornings, or Crystal or Milk-stone a dram.

Compounds are: Take green Fennel, Parsley, each a handful; Barley two pugils, red Pease half an ounce: boyl them, and with Sugar sweeten them, or in Chicken-broath. Or,

Take green Fennel six drams, Barley two pugils, boyl them in Broath and strain them. Or, Take Fen­nel-seed six drams, Anise a dram and half, Rocket-seed half a dram: give a dram or two in Broath.

Or, Take Cows Udder sliced, dry it in an Oven, and powder it. Take half a pound of it, Anise, Fennel-seed, each an ounce; Cummin-seed two ounces, Sugar four ounces, make a Powder.

Hot Fomentations open the Breast, and attract Blood, as the Decoction of Fennel, Smallage, or stampt Mints applied. Or, Take Fennel and Par­sley green, each a handful; boyl and stamp them, add Barley-meal half an ounce, Gith-seeed a dram, Storax calamite two drams, Oyl of Lillies two ounces, make a Pultis.

A Dropax and Synapisme, or Plaister of Mu­stard, are good if often changed.

Chap. 2. Of too much Milk.

THis is when much blood flows to the Breasts, and the Mother will not give suck, or weans the Child, for the Infant cannot suck it as fast as it breeds, when there is much blood, and good breasts that cannot make Milk.

The Prog­nostick. Arist. 7. De hist. ani. c. 12. The Cure.If Milk be kept, and cannot be sucked out by the Child, these are swellings, inflammations, pains, curdlings, and corruption. Children that suck much, if they be full bodied, have a Convul­sion.

The first coming of Milk is not to be stopt, but when there is more then the Child can suck, it is abated with a slender diet of little nourish­ment, as Barley, Pot-herbs-water. By letting [Page 221] blood, or cupping, or by Repellers to the veins under the arms, above the breasts.

Mints, Calamints, Smallage, Agnus-castus, Cori­ander, Hemlock: to abate Milk, Mints and Smal­lage are doubted.

Compounds. Take Smallage, Mints, Mallows, Mercur. Plat. Dios­cor. dissen­tiunt. each a handful; Foenugreek, Cummin-seed, each half an ounce; Chamomil, Melilot-flowers, each a pugil; boyl them, and foment, add a little Wine, or make a Pul­tis of them with Bean-flour and Oxymel. Or, Take Cummin-seed, boyl it in Vinegar, and with a Spunge foment.

They which will not give suck, let them fo­ment with this Decoction. Take Mallows, Bays, Fennel, Smallage, Parsley, Mints, each half a handful; anoint after with Oyl Omphacine. Then take Tur­pentine washed with Wine and Rose-water three oun­ces, Eggs two or three, Saffron a scruple, with Wax make a Plaister, with a hole in the middle, repeat it alwayes before Supper.

If you fear inflammation by too great a flux of Milk, repel with a Cataplasm of Lettice, Water-Lillies, Poppies, Housleek. Or, Take Turpentine washt with Mint-water three ounces, Cummin-seed, Orris, Mints, each half an ounce; Saffron a scruple, with Wax make a Cerot.

Chap. 3. Of Curdling, and other faults in the Milk.

IF it stay long in the breasts, the thin evaporates, and the thick remains, and hardens the ker­nels; hence are hard tumors, because the cheesie part of the Milk is apt to harden. Sometimes Milk is too thick or too thin, sharp, salt, or the like.

The Signs.The tumor from Milk curdled, is known by the plenty of Milk retained that make clefts, and pain, and little tumors.

The Progno­stick. The Cure.If curdled Milk be strong in the Breasts, it easi­ly turns to an Imposthume and Inflammation.

To hinder curdling. Take Powder of Mints, Co­riander-seed, each two ounces; Oyl of Dill an ounce; with Wax make a Liniment. Or, Take Oyl of Mints, Chamomil, Dill, Rue, each an ounce.

To dissolve curdled Milk; Take Fennel-roots, Eryngus, each an ounce; Mints a handful, green Fen­nel half a handful, Aniseed a dram: boyl them to a pint, add Syrup of the two Roots and Oxymel, each two ounces.

Foment with the Decoction of Fennel, Dill, Southernwood, Chamomil, Melilot-flowers, Fenu­greek, Linseed, Parsley-seed, Smallage, or stamp them, or Mints with Butter, and apply it. If it be hard, Take Mints, Colewort, Bran, each a handful: boyl them in Vinegar, and apply them.

Or, Take juyce of Smallage, Dill, Coleworts, each a handful: boyl them soft, and bruise them, add powder of Mirrh, Orris, each two drams; Saffron a dram, Oyl of Rue an ounce, Vinegar an ounce and half, make a Pultis.

Chap. 4. Of Milk coming forth at wrong places.

MIlk hath been known to come forth with the Urin, or by the Womb, by which pas­sage is the doubt; the short way is from the Breasts-veins to the Epigastrick-veins, from the Epigastrick to the Hypogastrick, and so to the Womb, rather then from the Pap-veins to the [Page 223] breast-veins, and so the Hypogastrick, and so to the womb.

Chap. 5. Of strange things co­ming forth of the Breasts.

SOmetimes matter comes forth of the Nipples when they have long ulcers, Schenkius lib. 2. ex observat. Bauhini. Amat. Lu­sit. cent. 2. cur. 21. and after the ulcer is healed, it ceaseth.

Sometimes the Terms have come forth of the Breasts at set Periods, of which Hippocrates; When Blood comes forth at the Nipples, there is Madness. Amatus Lusitanus knew two Noble Women that were so, and not Mad. And Hippocrates doth not speak of the Terms, but of other blood that is hot, and flies to the Head, and causeth Mad­ness, and part of it goes to the Breast, and causeth pain and inflammation, which shews madness at hand.

It is cured by opening the Saphena in the Foot to revel the blood. The Cure.

Chap. 6. Of the change of co­lour in the Nipples, and pain of the Breasts.

THe change of colour in the Nipples, is not a sign of the loss of Virginity, for they are blew in them that give suck; black in old women; and in them that have known Venery, it is natu­ral, and red as a Strawberry. Now because there is a great consent between the Womb and Breasts, if the Womb be distempered, the Nipples are dis­coloured.

The pain in the breasts, is from stretching by much milk, and inflammation: or from corrosion and twitching, from sharp matter, as in the Cancer and other Ulcers.

The cause of the pain is known from the di­stemper. If it be from much milk, it is a gentle pain. If from inflammation, it is stronger. If from a Cancer, it is very great.

How these pains are cured, is shewed in their Chapters.