judgement that it sendeth and committeth to Memory to be reserved as it were in a treasury or store-house and to be directed concerning his acts and effects 2. The Sensitive faculty The second vertue is the Sensitive faculty the which although we know that it is variable and diverse in respect of the senses yet we may understand that it is caused and effected in this manner The Animal spirit whose place of late we said to be in the braine proceeding from the interiour and inward little caves and ventricles of the braine The Animal Spirit doth forme and frame the senses by the mediation and assistance of certaine subtile and slender sinewes doth forme and frame the Senses and by his vertue through the ministry and furtherance of the sinewes directeth and transposeth sight to the eyes smelling to the nostrills hearing to the eares and tasting to the palate of the mouth which senses wee see onely to be numbred and nominated of the senses of the head The third is the Moving vertue 3. The Moving faculty ingendred and bred in the braine to whom it is said to be proper to move and give motion For as the Animal spirit disposeth and directeth the orders and properties of the senses The Animal spirit directs the motions as is before declared so by the benefit of the same facultie the motions also are directed by which the vertues and faculties of the Spirit are dilated opened and enlarged and are likewise conveyed and sent abroad to the other members But for the perfection and complement of all these vertues and faculties Spirit is necessarily required Spirit necessary for the perfection of the former faculties by whose benefit and continuall motion as well the senses as the faculties are instigated and provoked to performe and finish their faculties and actions And they say that the Spirit is a certaine airy substance which continually exciteth and stirreth up the powers and faculties of the body to fulfill and accomplish their actions And indeed this Spirit is a certaine subtile body What spirit is ingendred by the force of heat because of blood flowing and streaming in the Liver attracted and drawne by breathing and the Arteries and afterward diffused by the veines to all the members quickning the bodies serving to promote and further motion by the meanes and aide of the nerves and Muscles But first this is directed and conduced to the Liver in this manner Heate remaining in the blood How naturall spirit is ingendred there is caused a certaine boyling in the Liver from whence a certaine fume or vapour issueth and proceedeth forth which eft-soones being purified by the veines of the Liver is changed and transmuted into a certaine airie substance and is called Naturall Spirit which purifieth and clarifieth the blood and afterward is sent and distributed to the particular and severall members Afterward the same Spirit is transferred and carried from the Liver by certaine veines to the Heart How vitall spirit is ingendred where by the motion of the parts of the Heart and a mutuall coagitation it is made more pure and is converted into a more subtile and finer Nature and beginneth to be Vitall and truely Spirit because is diffuseth and spreadeth it selfe from the Heart by Arteries to the members of the whole body and doth augment and further the vertue of Naturall Spirit And againe How Animal spirit is ingendred the same Spirit mounting and penetrating upward from the Heart through Arteries to the little caves and ventricles of the braine is there more exactly laboured and refined and is transmuted and altered into the essence and substance of the Animal Spirit Animal Spirit most pure which is most pure of all from whence streight-way it is sent and conducted againe by the organs and instruments of the senses to corroborate and strengthen those senses in some measure Although therefore it be the selfe-same one Spirit yet because of his divers offices and functions in divers parts Why the Spirit is called Naturall Vital Animal it is diversly taken and understood as in the Liver it is named Naturall in the Heart Vitall and in the braine Animal But we must not beleeve that this Spirit is the immortall soule infused into man of God Whether the Spirit be the Soule but it is onely the instrument and as it were the Charriot of the same The Spirit but the instrument or Charriot of the Soule For by the meanes alone of this Spirit the soule is conjoyned and united to the body neither yet also is there any perfect exercise of the soule without the ministry and service of this spirit which thing might easily be proved but that already this discourse concerning the faculties and Spirit hath beene overlong CHAP. V. Of the true Generation of the parts and the increase of the Feature according to the daies and moneths A little while after also a veine directed by the Navell A two-forked veine ingendred attracteth the grosser blood confused in the seed fit and convenient for nourishment whereby a two-forked veine is ingendred according to the forme of this Figure And these veines doe attract sucke and draw unto them the hottest the most subtile and purest blood of which the heart is ingendred in the membrane or skinne of the heart involving and lapping the same round about named in Latin Pericardium and the heart is fleshie What the Heart is and of a grosse substance by nature as is necessary for such a hot member But the notable and great veine Vena cava spreading out himselfe and penetrating into inward concavitie vault or privie-chamber of the right side of the heart deriveth and carrieth blood thither for the nourishment of the heart The unmoveable and still veine Also from the same branch of that veine in the same part of the heart a certaine other veine doth spring up named of some the unmoving or still veine in Latine Vena immota vel tranquilia so named because it doth not beat and move as other pulsive moving veines of the heart doe named in Latine Venae pulsatiles but lieth hidden being calme and still ordained and destinated to this office namely The office of the unmoveable and still veine that it should conduct and convey blood digested in the Heart unto the Lungs and Lights which veine is environed and lapped about for which cause it is named Vena arteriosa an arteried veine with two coats like unto the Arteries But in the concavity hollow of the left part in the heart a most great and notable pulsive or beating veine Aorta called Aorta doth spring up diffusing and sending abroad vitall and lively spirit by the blood of the heart into all the pulsive and moving veines of the body For as Vena cava is the originall fountain and spring of all the veines by which the body attracteth and draweth to it the whole nutriment of blood Even so
from this great veine Aorta are derived all the pulsive moving and beating-veines on every side dispersing pouring forth vital spirit thorowout the whole body The heart the fountaine of lively heat For the heart is the source and fountaine of vitall and lively heat without which no living creature no member can be cherrished Vnder the great veine Aorta even now spoken of The Veyned Arterie in the left cavity and vault of the heart another veine as yet springeth forth called in Latine Arteria venosa the veined Artery Although that truely be a pulsive and moving veine and convey vitall spirit yet it hath only one coat as those veines have which convey blood and that is framed and ordained that it may drive and transport cold aire from the Lungs to the Heart to refrigerate coole and refresh it and to temper and allay the immoderate heat But because veines doe breake forth from both the concavities and hollow cells of the Heart The generation of the lungs and are implanted and inserted to the Lungs the Lungs also formed and framed by them For a veine proceeding from the right cavity and hollow of the heart proceedeth and bringeth forth most subtile and pure blood which the Fibraes threds or haires being from thence afterward dispersed is altered changed and transmuted into the flesh of the Lungs And from the great veines of the Heart and Liver that is to say Vena cava and Aorta The brest legs and armes ingendred the whole brest is ingendred and also the legges with the armes successively and in their due order And the braine is so formed that it may be able to conceive retaine and alter the natures and qualities of all the vitall and lively spirits From the braine also the beginnings both of Reason The Originall of Reason and the Senses and all the senses doe proceed and have their originall For as the veines derive their progeny from the Liver and the Arteries from the Heart The Originall of the Nerves and Sinewes So also the Nerves and Sinewes being of a softer and milder nature doe spring and grow from the braine not being hollow after the manner of veines but solid and massie For indeede they are the first and principall instruments of all the senses by which all the motions of the senses are duely caused and procured through vitall and lively spirit After the Nerves and Sinewes the Marrow of the backe-bone The Marrow of the backe-bone in Latine Spina dorsi is ingendred from the braine not unlike to the nature of the braine so that it may scant be called and termed Marrow Not unlike to the nature of the braine both because it hath no similitude nor likenesse unto Marrow and also because it doth not resemble the same in substance What Marrow is For Marrow is a certaine superfluity of the nutriment of the members proceeding from blood ordained and destinated to moisten and cherrish the bones of the body but the braine and Marrow of the backe-bone or Spina dorsi The Marrow of the backe-bone derived from the seed doe draw and derive their originall and primacie from the seede not deputed or allotted to nourish other members and to make them prosper in good plight but that they should by themselves ordaine and constitute private and particular parts of the body for the motion emolument and use of the senses that from thence all other nerves and sinewes may take their roots and beginnings Many nerves do spring from the Marrow of the back bone For many nerves doe spring from the Marrow of the back-bone or Spina dorsi from which the bodie may have sense and motion as it is evident by the Vital and Animal faculty and vertue by good defence as hath beene declared in the former Chapters Further wee must here note and consider that of the seede are ingendred Cartilages or gristles Of the seede a e Cartilages or gristles bones c ingendred bones the coats of the veines of the Liver and of the Arteries of the heart the braine with the nerves and sinewes againe the coats and also both the other pannicles or caules and wrappers and coverings of the Feature But of the proper and convenient blood of the Feature Of the blood of the Feature the flesh is ingendred also the Heart Liver and lungs the flesh is ingendred and those things which are fleshie as the Heart Liver and Lungs And afterwards all these things doe flourish prosper and are nourished with menstruall blood a tracted and drawne by the little veines of the Navell which veines are observed to attaine to the Matrix from the orifices or mouths of the veines All which things are distinctly and orderly caused and brought to passe from the conception even unto the eighteenth day of the first Moneth at which time it is called seed but afterward it beginneth both to be called and to be a Feature Feature which thing also some ancient Writers have comprehended in these Latine verses Sex in lacte dies ter sunt in sang vine trini Bis seni carnem ter seni membra figurant Et aliter Injectum semen sex primis certe diebus Est quasi lac reliquisque no vem fit sanguis at inde Consolidat duodena dies bis nona deinceps Effigiat tempusque sequens producit ad ortum Talis enim praedicto tempore figura confit Which verses for the benefit of the unskilfull in the Latine tongue may thus be Englished Sixe daies to milke by proofe thrice three to blood convert the seed Twice sixe soft flesh doe forme thrice sixe doe massive members breed Or otherwise The first sixe daies like milke the fruitfull seed Injected in the wombe remaineth still Then other nine of milke red blood do breed Twelve daies turne blood to flesh by Natures skill Twice nine firme parts the rest ripe birth doe make And so foregoing time doth forme such shape CHAP. VI. Of the food of the Feature in the wombe with what nourishments it is nourished and when it groweth to be an Infant SO long as the Feature remaineth in the wombe it is nourished and cherrished with blood attracted and drawne to it by the Navell The Feature in the wombe nourished 〈◊〉 with blood attracted to it by the Navell whereby it commeth to passe that the Termes of women are stayed and cease to issue forth after the conception For then the Feature beginneth to covet and to attract unto it much blood Three differences of menstruous blood after conception But the blood is discerned to have a three-fold difference after the time of conception The first and most pure part of it the Feature attracteth for his nourishment The second and not so pure and thin the Matrix forceth and driveth upward to the brests by certaine veines The breeding of milke where it is converted and changed into milke and for that cause it is that certaine
to be under which also lyeth the great gut named Colon. In the middle part of the necke of the Matrix The Virgin Pannicle is the Virgin-pannicle or skinne not unlike unto a most slender racket lincked woven together with many Fibraes or threds which is corrupted by the losse and decay of Virginty Some call it Eugion Hymen Cento and Hymen Further in the same part on the right and left side two hornes as it were doe bosse out called the Ligaments or binders of the Matrix with which it is bound The Hornes or Ligaments fastned and basted and also cleaveth affixed to the backe-bone or Spina dorsi on both parts To those Ligaments The testicles or stones or stay-bands the testicles or stones are annexed and combined by their nature lesser and harder than those are which belong unto men Moreover both of them are environed and compassed about with white sinewes I say seed-vessells being both also compacted of Arteries To these also small veines are united and affixed derived and springing from the great veine Vena cava diffused and dispersed into the Matrix by divers branches to nourish and cherrish the Feature in the wombe and to send forth the Flowers or Termes in their due season The Kidnies The Kidnies doe hang neere the wombe by certaine Ligaments or binders behinde the backe-bone or Spina dorsi being of a hot and dry temperature by the which all the wheyish and watrish humidity is attracted and drawne to be carried from the veines into the bladder and also receiveth his colour and tincture by them The Paps or Dugs of a cold and moist quality The Paps or Dugs intermingled and interlaced with Veines and Arteries being not unlike unto a Spunge consisting and composed of soft flesh like unto the lungs have power and faculty to transmute blood into a white colour and to convert and turne it into milke For as the Liver transmuteth the juyce of the meat attracted unto it into blood so the Dugges or Paps The Dugs or Paps change the blood into milke alter and change the blood into milke Further two veines doe descend from the Paps into the Matrix which draw blood from thence to be digested and turned into milke Whereby it commeth to passe the Infant being borne the Termes due by and by mount and ascend up by these passages and beginne to change into milke also the Dugges begin to swell and are hardned untill they be made lanke and soft with giving of suck Because it doth not a little availe The qualities of the Matrix to know the qualities and properties of the Matrix you shall be able briefly to observe and perceive them by these markes and signes It is hot in them which have a swift pulse much thirst Signes to know when it is hot their urine of a very high colour a love and desire to Venus a speedy pleasure and delight store and plenty of seed the haires curled the Termes inclining to a yellowish colour and not issuing out beyond the third day It is cold in them which have a slow pulse Signes to know when it is cold little thirst their urine thinne and white no love or appetite to Venus small store of seed no pleasure or delight a lasie sluggishnesse few store of haires Signes to know when it is dry the Termes inclining to whitenesse It is dry in them which have a hard pulse thinne urine the lips dry small pleasure or delight in Venus few Termes It is moist in them which have a soft pulse Signes to know when it is moist the urine thicke the lips moist and slippery no pleasure And in this manner simple qualities are knowne Concerning compound and mixt properties there is another judgement CHAP. III. Of what great profit it is to have an exact knowledge of this Tractate I Would have the Reader to be here diligently admonished rightly to esteeme regard of what great utility and profit it is What more profitable than this knowledge for preserving and recovering of health What better than to consider the end of our excellent and wonderfull building to have an exquisite and exact knowledge of this Tractate For what is more profitable than this knowledge and science for preserving and recovering of health and for the preservation and restauration of all the parts of the body What will frame and instruct our mindes better than to have considered the end of so excellent and wonderfull a building and worke-manship What more pleasant than to understand the artificiall framing of our bodies What is more pleasant and beautifull than to have understood the artificiall framing and forming of our proper Nature and body which we inhabite and continually abide in Also the proportion of these parts considered To be mindfull of sobriety temperance will command us to be mindfull of sobriety and temperance left that due concoction be not perfected and accomplished they being filled more than is convenient For when as the first digestion or concoction is diverted from the course of Nature The first digestion being hindred occasion of grievous diseases is offred by and by also the other faile and are frustrated whereby it commeth to passe that the humours being corrupted and the blood infected the body is burdened and surcharged and occasion is offered for breeding of most great and grievous diseases Instructions of temperance to be learned frō the condition and scituation of the generative members also the condition and scituation of the Generative members and seed-vessells being so secret and hidden with so many windings and turnings what other thing do they yeeld unto us than documents and instructions of temperancie namely that they serve only for propagating and increasing man-kind and for the alleviating and easing their bodies and for preserving and maintaining health Neither is it doubtfull for that same cause naturally also the forces of man-kind to be weakned and diminished and further that they are exceedingly decayed and debilitated through the immoderate use of these parts What shall I say that by the framing building of these things diligently considered By the admirable work manship of Nature wee are admonished of our duty and by the admirable Art and work-manship of Nature in perfecting man wee are also alwaies admonished of our duty that so much as lieth in us we may carefully preserve those things which Nature with so much businesse and labour hath hardly produced and brought forth and also mindfull of charity love we do not mutually rage against those bodies which we possesse procreated by Nature the common and generall mother the same compact and uniting together of one body of divers members throughly pondred and considered which Nature hath most excellently framed contrived and joynted together with a strict band of a sociable law And that which is most principall and chiefe of all The artificiall frame of our bodies should
he be distinctly and propound 〈◊〉 formed yet hee hath not attained to his just perfection But if he bee borne the seventh month Why the Infant borne the seventh month may live hee shall live most easily because hee is perfect enough then But that they which are borne in the eight moneth are most seldome able to live when some borne in the seventh moneth doe for the most part remaine alive doth come to passe not without good reason For in the seventh moneth the Infant is alwaies moved to the birth at which time if he shall be of that force and strength he commeth forth to the birth If he be not hee remaineth in the wombe untill hee shall be able and strong enough that is to say the other two moneths If after that motion of the seventh moneth hee proceed not to birth he removeth himselfe from thence into another place of the womb is so debilitated effeeblished by that moving The Infant borne the eight moneth cannot live that if he come forth to birth the eight moneth following hee cannot live at all because of that motion For neither is the Infant weakned with this moving alone but with a double motion even unto death First Two deadly motions of Infants when he is borne the eight moneth after his moving in the seventh as we said of late Next because in respect of the Planets every seventh moneth bringeth forth a motion hurtfull and dangerous to any Feature The Sun I say at that time remaining in an opposite Signe and because the eight moneth is proper to Saturne an enemy of all things which receive life Also we must know The difference of sex and the cause thereof that male-children are conceived in the right side of the Matrix by plentifull seed issuing out of the right testicle or stone of the man but female-children in the left side by the seed of the left testicle For the right side because of the Liver is hotter but the left side is colder But principally the more copious and plentifull heat is a cause of ingendring and procreating of male-children The similitude of forme with the parents is from the power of the seed That also children doe sometimes answer and agree to their parents in likenesse of forme that thing is caused by the vertue and power of the seed that the Infant is most like to him or her in forme and shape whose seede doth most exceed and excell in power and vertue But in this case Motion of the starres supposed a cause the motion of the Starres is supposed to prevaile some thing that when the seed is conceived under good aspects of the Planets this causeth an excellent shape but when it is conceived under evill aspects in like case it procureth an ugly shape And so much hitherto CHAP. VI. Of certaine Precepts very necessary for women conceived with childe even to the houre of the birth by the reason of divers chances HEreafter we will give some wholesome and necessary Precepts to women conceived with childe by which being instructed they may certainly know how they may behave and use themselves from their conception even to the birth and deliverance that no danger may happen to them or they cause a hard and painfull birth to themselves by the neglect of the Precepts Before all things 1. To be merry and cheerefull not pined with care let them be of a merry heart let them not be wasted and pined with mourning and cares let them give their endevour to moderat joyes and sports For these things doe both exhilarate and cheare up the Infant and stirre up all the faculties of the Feature and doe strengthen and comfort him in his parts and members as is manifest in the third Chapter Further 2. let them abstaine and forbeare from all violent motion and hard painfull labours To abstaine from violent motion and painfull labour c. and let them use moderate exercise let them not leape or rise up suddenly let them not runne also neither dance nor ride neither let them lace or gird in themselves hard or straight or lift up any heavie burden with their hands Sleepe especially is convenient 3. To take heed of sharpe and cold winds great heat c. Againe let them take heed of cold and sharp winds great heat anger perturbations of the minde feares and terrours immoderate Venus and all intemperance of eating and drinking Let the diet and food of women with child 4. To be moderate in diet be frugall and moderate let them abstaine from crude raw and grosse meates to wit Lentills Beanes Milium Beefe salt and fryed fruites milke cheese and such like But let them use Chickins Egs divers sorts of Pottages Birds Mutton and Veale It will be good sometime to use Cinamome and Nutmeg with Sugar Let reasonable white Wide serve for their drinke 5. Not to let blood the first foure months nor to use boxing-glasses The first foure moneths from the conception by the counsell of Hippocrates let them not open any veine let them also abstaine from boxing glasses or boxing let them take no Pills or purge without the counsell of an expert and skilfull Physician for that time the Ligaments and binders of the Feature are as yet tender and weake and therefore the Feature is easily destroyed and nourishment is substracted and drawne from him But if it shall happen that they be bound and cannot got orderly to stoole 6. To make the body soluble being bound let them take Spinage seasoned with store of Butter also Lettuce made tender with Water with Salt Wine and Vinegar But if those things will not relaxe and unloose the belly let them use Suppositors confected and made of Hony and the yolke of an Egge or with Venice-soape But if the constipation and binding shall be so great that this remedy will not profit let them by the advice of a skilfull Physician use a potion of the decoction of the leaves of Sena together with Cassia newly extracted and drawne which the Physician shall minister more or lesse according to the quality of the constipation or costivenesse And if they shall conceive with grievous Symptomes and accidents 7. If after conception there happen swooning and fainting what to doe and after the conception shall suffer swoning and fainting continually let them drinke Sorrell-water and Rose-water warmed tempered with Cinamon and little Rundells or Cakes named Manus Christi or Diamargariton Or the water of Roses and Buglosse being tempered with a litte Cinamon Cloves and Saffron beaten to powder shall be laid upon the brest in a cloth once or twice doubled together dipped and steeped in that water If they thinke they shall be delivered before their time through some accident what to doe But if they thinke they shall be delivered before the time as in the seventh moneth or some other immature and unseasonable time and shall already
rightly then wee must know that the port-passage or outward gate that is to say the secrets may be more extended dilated enlarged and that they may better endure all the difficulties of the birth than the inward receptacle or vault and therefore let the midwife also amplifie open that gate or entrance againe according to the quality of the matter that the whole Infant may come forth to the birth And if these aforesaid things shall afford no succour so that the Infant remaineth as yet fixed and unmovable and all the paines and pangs of the birth shall cease then the labouring-woman shall be brought to her bed againe and be holpen with these medicines following which are such Medicines able to expell dead children the Secundines abortives the false conceptions Molae that they are able to expell and drive forth both dead children the Secundines retained behind and also abortives and the false conceptions named Molae First of all as soone as she shall be brought to her bed let her take this potion warme and that being taken let her abstaine from all other meat and let her rest quietly the space of one or two houres untill she thoroughly feele the force and efficacy of it Take figs sliced seven Fenegreke A Potion Mugwoort-seed Rue-seed of each two drams the water of Peniroyall and Mugwoort of each sixe ounces Make a decoction of them and seethe them till the halfe part be wasted and consumed let the residue be strained and put to that which is strained of the Trochiskes of Myrrhe one dram of Saffron three graines of Sugar a sufficient quantity make one draught of it and let it be spiced with Cinamome so much as sufficeth After the aforesaid time of rest she may be brought againe to the travell and labour of the birth Suffumigations where suffumigations and perfumes shal be made underneath with Trochiskes composed of these kindes cast by little and little upon the coales so that all the fume and vapour may attaine onely to the Matrix Take Castoreum Brimstone Galbanum Opoponacum Culver-dung Assa Foetida of each halfe a dram temper them with the juyce of Rue or Herbe-grace and make Trochiskes like unto a Filbert-nut It will profit much to make fumes and vapours with them But if she finde no helpe by them she may use this Emplaister laid upon her belly An Emplaister Take Galbanum one ounce and a halfe Colocynthis without the seeds two drams the juyces of Rue Mugwoort new waxe so much as fufficeth make a Plaister of them Let a Linnen-cloth be spread with this being decocted made according to the breadth of the belly that it may reach from the Navell to the privie parts and to both the sides which thee may retaine and keepe on the place the space of one or two houres if there shall be need A Pessary Or a Pessary made of Wooll the bignesse and length of a finger and covered with Silke dipped and moistened in the decoction follollowing is to be conveyed into the necke or privie passage of the Matrix and to remaine there two houres Take Aristolochia rotunda brought out of France Savine Colocynthis without seeds Stavesacre Elleborus niger of each halfe a dram With these beaten to powder with the juyce of Rue as much as sufficeth make a Pessary But after all these things being used When how we must use Instruments but especially if the Midwife shall not be able to make way and passage for the Infant the parts of the Matrix being enlarged and amplified as they should Instruments wholly fit and profitable for those uses shall be used And when as necessity shall require the use of them the poore and distressed labouring-woman must be encouraged before hand with comfortable and cheerefull words then the Instruments are to be prepared and devout prayer to be poured forth to God and that done let her so sit upon the Stoole that shee may turne her Fundament as much as shee can to the backe of the Stoole and draw her legges to her as shee may and spread and separate them as wide as shee can the other women standing by helping and furthering her that the Midwife may conveniently performe and execute that which is to be done with the Instruments But if another way shall please and seeme more commodious to the Midwife let her bring the woman to her bed in which let her lie her head declining and bending backeward a little but her buttockes lifted somewhat higher than all the rest and her legges drawne unto her so much as may be Then with either of these Instruments which shall please best being annointed let the Midwife begin to worke and to proceed forward For both these hereafter described and set forth are prepared to open enlarge and bring forth Speculum Matricis Apertorium Rostrum anatis Forceps langa tersa Therefore with one of these Instruments I meane that which is named in Latine Rostrum anatis the Ducke or Drakes bill Rostrum anatis the Ducke or Drakes-bil let her take hold of the dead child and let her draw him out with her right hand having taken hold of him but with her left hand let her drive forward both the ports or gates lest the Ligaments or holders be broken and the falling downe of the Matrix doe insue In this case if necessity shall require you may adde to this instrument the paire of Pinsers with which teeth are pulled out or else this Instrument here pictured out Forceps longa tersa the long and smooth Pinsers or tongs named in Latin Forceps longa tersa the long and smooth Pinsers or Tongs the which let her use so convenient that if it be possible she may easily pull out that which is to be drawne forth But if it shall happen that some swelling or congealed blood doe appeare in the fore-skins of the Matrix under the skinne arising from the paines and difficulty of the birth the Veines or Fibraes being broken because of overmuch dilatation opening and enlargement as it falleth out or some inward swelling or tumour of blood shall be bred by which both the childe and Secundines or after-birth are wont to be hindred very much before the birth let the Midwife make incision of that tumour and open it with a cleane knife Incision to be made of such swelling or tumour which hindreth the birth when the matter shall be perceived to be digested and ripe whether it shall appeare before or after the birth let her squeise out the clotted blood and let her presse downe the swelling wipe and cleanse those things which are defiled and let her bring forth the childe as she may if it shall be unborne as yet After let her convey a Pessary into the place oftentimes let her annoint it with the oile of Roses and bind it up daily untill she shall be whole For after the same manner we our selves have also
swellings and tumors In the Hydropsie the legs do swel but in the false conception Mola they waxe lesse and feeble In the disease named a Tympany the belly is hard sounding like a tabor or drum but in the conception Mola it is not so And by this meanes the differences of these like tumors may be observed noted and understood how hardly they may be cured CHAP. II. Of the cure of the false conception Mola and other false tumours and swellings of the wombe IN the cure of the false conception Mola The dyet inclining to heat and moisture such a Diet before all things is to bee appointed as may incline to heate and moisture Also where there shal be need of blood letting let the veine of the anckle be opened named Saphena The veyne of the ancle to be opened thereby the matter shall be purged and voyded in that manner as you shall see delivered in the Retention and stopping of the Termes in the sequel of the discourse hereafter following These things going before those things which purge and cure inwardly A Bathe also outward remedies may be used First of al we must use a Bath in which she which is conceived with the false conception Mola must sit every day morning and evening her stomach being empty the water reaching up so high as her navell And the bathe shall be prepared in this manner Take of Marish Mallowes with the roots sixe handfuls of other Mallowes Branca Vrsina or beares foot or if it bee not to bee had Violet leaves Pellitory of the wall Camomile Melilot of of each two handfuls Fenegreke Lin-seed of each two pound Those things being beaten to powder which are to be powdred let them be put in a bag and let them boyle in the water in which the sicke woman shall sit Also it will be very profitable to lay that bagge very hot upon the secret parts and the loynes An Vnguent After this bathe let her bee cherrished with warme clothes and lying downe in her bed let her be annointed with this unguent about the secret parts and loynes Take of the oyle of sweet almonds one ounce and an halfe of oyle of Lillies Hens-grease Muscilage of Lin-seed Fenegreke of each halfe an ounce White waxe so much as sufficeth temper them together An Electuary and make an oyntment Also let her use this Electuary following the quantity of a Filbert nut every day morning and evening Take of Cinamome two drams the rind or outside of Aristolochia longa Cassia Fistulae or in stead thereof let the quantity of the Cinamome be augmented of each one Dram Assarra Baccha Lacca seed of Rue the fruite of wilde Savine Saffron of each halfe an ounce Sugar halfe a pound Let the Sugar bee dissolved in the iuyce or water of Rosemary let the confection be made in morsels Also this Electuary may bee given her another way that is to say in broth decocted with old wine the yolkes of two egges and Sugar a reasonable quantity of this Electuary being put into it Also these Pilles following are wonderfull forcible of which let her take halfe a dram Pilles or a whole Dram. Take Nigella Romana Aristolochia rotunda Dictamum Creticum seed of Garden-cresses the fruit of wilde Savine Serapinum seede of Rue Amoniacum Thymiama Madder of the dyers Myrrhe Castoreum of each one dram make Pilles of them with the iuyce of the wilde Reddisk and Hony so much as sufficeth let her take the waight of one or two drams These things being done Suppositories suppositories also are to be conveyed into the Matrix which may driue forth the false conception Mola and remove it from the inward receptacle and cave of the Matrix into the outward part take Asphaltum Borace Castoreum great Centaurie Ditany Elleborus albus Galbanum Gentian Opoponax Savine Serapinum Scamonie of each halfe a dram Saffron one scruple temper and incorporate them with the iuyce of a Leek and make a suppository Sometime shee may use trochiskes of Myrrhe of which wee have spoken in the third chapter of the third booke for they both drive forth the false conception Mola and cause an easie passage But in tumours or swellings How tumours proceeding from a Tympany and Hydropsie are to be cured which happen of inclosed aire reteined humours the diet is so to be prescribed and ordered that it incline wholly to heate and drinesse Purgations also Phlebotomies or bloud-lettings may bee used according to the abundance of the qualities Which things being performed in the first place a bathe or Fomentation shall be prepared in the forme before prescribed A Bathe these things following being added unto it besides take Wilde Penny-royall Rue Penny-royall Bay-leaves drie Wormewood Anise Fennel Cumine of each an equall portion More things also like unto these of the same Nature may bee taken for mitigation and repressing tumours And Part also of the Herbes now spoken of shall bee put into a bag and applyed to her loynes while shee sitteth in the bathe After the bathe A Confection let her take of this confection the bignesse of a Filbert-nut in old white wine in which Alsara Bacca is before infused Which confection is made thus Take of the Species or kindes of Diacurcuma Diacyminum of each three Drammes white Sugar halfe a pounde let the Sugar be dissolved in the water of Herbe-grace and make a confection in little cakes or Morsels Or if you please you may give her this Potion warme A Potion after her bathing made in this manner Take twenty Peach-kernels the skinne newly pulled off to which being pounded with the yolkes of two egges and mixed together you shall adde the powder following Take Galanga Cinamome Long-peper Ginger Cloves Saffron Nutmeg of each halfe a Dram make a powder of them Let a Decoction be made of all these with the best wine Let them bee strayned and when it is strayned put sugar to it and make a very cleare potion of it Or which liketh us better let the matter of the simples still remaine in the Decoction and let them be taken altogether in the warme drinke The Species also of the confection named Hiera Picra doth much availe in this case taken in some drinke or Pilles But when the Tumour or swelling shall bee caused by the retention of divers humours then the matter shall bee purged out and voided by such remedies as wee have beene accustomed to use in the stopping of the Termes and to provoke urine such as this is Take the seeds of Parsley aniseed Fennel Stone parsley Cardamomus and the leaves of Rue Let all of them being beaten to powder with equall waight be drunke with sweet wine Also in this case the confection of Diagalanga is approved to bee good and the Electuary de Baccis lauri also the oyle of Rue of Henbane and of White Lillies A Plaster and the Trochiskes of Agaricke A plaster also of this sort may
that manner as wee have declared in the Cure of dispersing Ventositie and windie matter Divers experiments leting Abortion Furthermore other experiments also are approved A little bone which they call Saltus or Astragalus Leporis to bee carried about the woman and to drinke of it daily the stomacke being empty Also the stone named Lapis-stellatus so enchased in gold or silver that it may touch the naked body Some women beare about them a claw taken from the foot of a Beare Also the ashes gathered together of a Hedgehog being burnt and tempered with oyle affordeth an oyntment very commodious and profitable for this affection and passion Little wormes are found underneath herbes which if they be hanged alive on the womans necke shee shall never Aborte neither bring forth before due season as some are bold to promise and let the truth of the matter depend upon their credit For they say they have such great efficacy to hinder the birth that the woman cannot be delivered unlesse they bee removed Wherefore they admonish that they must bee alwaies removed and taken away in time Also the stone named Lapis Aetiles which some say is found in an Eagles nest is proved against Aborcements and over hastie birthes which in like manner is reported to further and promote a lingring and over-flow birth 10. There are likewise some other external things which chance outwardly and for all that doe cause aborting to women by a naturall cause as if a woman-conceived with childe doe tread upon a serpent viper the egge of a Crow as some doe write or a dead serpent with two heads named Amphisbaena Some also doth attribute this property to Castoreum carried in the bosome But if it happen that the Termes issue forth after Conception 11. they are not straight way to be stopped unlesse the woman become weake with Flowing of them If they issue forth moderately this thing is to bee permitted because they signifie that much slyminesse and distempered humours and abundance of bloud is deteyned in the wombe If they flow forth more copiously they shall bee stayed and restreyned with Acacia Hypocisthis and Lin-seed sodden in water to be used by a bathe or Fomentation If the legs shal be swoln which thing often time happeneth the three former monethes regard is to bee had of the liver and stomacke that they may bee lightened and eased from superfluous humors and let meats bee given them of another quality If the liver grow hard to women-conceived with childe it is a hard thing to remedy it because as Galen witnesseth in this passion they are not able to endure strong medicines Wherefore the most gentlest shall bee administred to them But because it falleth out that dead Features sometime doe proceed forth more slowly and sometimes never even as the Secundines doe wee must understand that most great dangers doe happen to women also sicknesses swooning failing of life especially in sommer-time by reason of venemous vapours fuming and flying upward from the putrefying Feature and so greatly vexing and molesting the heart and the brain that oftentimes they are deprived of the use of reason and understanding Therefore all care is to bee used and imployed that dead Features may speedily be expelled the poore women freed from so great dangers which thing how it may bee done wee have taught in the former books by a large discourse CHAP. V. Of the signes of Conception ALthough it be a hard thing to know the true conception of women yet we may give a coniecture by many signes and attaine unto it by some arguments confirmed and ratified by experience It is credited for certaine signe of conception if the woman the tenth day or some day sooner after shee had company carnally with man shall perceive the Termes to bee white or red by reason of humours also the stopping and retention of the Termes is accompted for a signe yet it deceiveth because it happeneth also often times without conception Therefore this being omitted wee will prosecute other notes and signes taken from the body of the woman herselfe concerning true conception every member and part examined and first the beginning shall proceed from the head The paines of the head swimming of the brain and dymnesse of the eyes if they concurre and chance together doe signifie conception The apples of the eyes are lessened The eyes swell and are changed into a swartish colour The little veines doe waxe red and begin to swell with bloud The eyes sinke downe into the head The eye-lids become feeble Divers colours are seene in the eyes and perceived in a looking-glasse Red pimples doe arise in the face The little veines placed betwixt the nose and eyes are swolne with bloud and are seene more clearely and plainely than they were wont The veine under the tongue waxeth greenish The necke is hot the backe-bone cold The veines and arteries are full the pulses are easily perceived The veines situated in the breast at first wax blacke afterward begin to be yellow or to be of a blewish-colour The dugs begin to swell and wax hard with paines The nipples beginne to be reddish If cold water be drunke a coldnesse is felt in the breasts A loathing and refusing of meat and drinke creepeth upon the woman Divers appetites longings are ingendred A destruction and decay of Naturall appetite and desire is caused and procured A continuall casting and parbreaking and weakenesse of the stomach Sower and slow belchings A loathing of wine A disordered and intemperate beating of the heart Sudden ioyes after these sudden sorrowes Wringings and gripings about the Navell Paine of the loynes The lower part of the belly is affected with swellings There are inward compunctions and prickings in the body The seed is reteyned seaven daies after carnal company A coldnesse and chilnesse of the outward members after the act of Generation The attractive faculty and vertue of the Matrix is increased The Matrix is dryed by and by A great delight and pleasure in the Venerious act but after conception a disdayning of Venus The Matrix is restreyned and closed But because this thing is procured by other causes also it may bee observed and noted by an infallible and certaine difference when it foresheweth conception For then it is slender and soft but if it be restreyned and closed for any other cause as by too much heate or swelling then it remayneth harder The secret parts of the woman are wrinkled even unto the seaventh moneth The wombe waxeth round and swelleth About the beginning of Conception paines of the belly and backe 〈◊〉 felt as it were beating The Termes or Flowres are stopped For the veines from whence they doe flow carrie and conveigh by the mouthes and speckes named Acetabula bloud to nourish the Feature through the Navel and some of that matter is drawne upward to the breasts where it is transmitted and changed into milke For so also Hippocrates admonisheth us saying
Valerian Stone-parsley of each one pound Brimstone one ounce and a halfe Salt two ounces Allome one ounce Let all of them being mingled together be put in a bag and let them boile in water And alwaies every fourth day this bathe must be renewed againe As often as shee shall leave bathing let her take of comon Triacle or Mithridate as is spoken before let her lie downe in her bed and let her provoke sweating if she can by any meanes Or let her use the confection before described morning and evening in the same manner But when it shall not seeme commodious to use this bathe some of the aforesaid herbes may be gathered and fomentations may be made of them But when all these things shall not sufficiently purge the Phlegmaticke humour it shall be profitable to minister a pessarie to her every night prepared in this manner and let her use it untill she shall feele her selfe freed from those superfluous Phlegmatick humours Take Mugwoort Savine Marjoram Dittany Wormewood of each halfe a dram Anise Rue the rind or outside of Frankincense of each one scruple the pulpe of Colocynthis two scruples Make a powder of them and let it be tempered and incorporated with the juyce of the herbe Mercurie or Germander and make a Pessarie Further among all the medicines which bind the Matrix wee thinke that nothing can be better approved than this following Take Acacia Balaustium or the flowers of Pomgranates Akorne cups the drosse or scales of Iron Mints Lillies barke of the Mastick-tree or Lentiscus the outside of Olibanum Anthera Sumach Tartar Spike of each halfe a dram mingle them and make a powder of them of which with the juyce of Sorrell or Fullers teasell named in latine Virga Pastoris or with the juyce of Milfoile or Yarrow let Pessaries be made But because sometimes it commeth to passe that by reason of cold and moist Phlegme How the ill-savour of the Matrix is to be cured the Matrix cannot onely retaine and hold the seed but also doth offend with a noisome stinch and savour therefore when this chanceth we must use this medicine following Take Galls Nutmegs of each three drams Cloves one dram Muske halfe a scruple let them be beaten to powder and dissolved with one pound of red Wine When the woman will use these things let her wash her secrets well with them and lay clothes being dipped therein upon them but let her doe it especially when she goeth to bed But if it pleaseth to use a more forcible medicine to restraine and binde the Matrix you may then use this following Take the root of Comfrey Allome Balaustium Myrrhe Olibanum Mastick Colophony Bole-Armeny Cypresse-nuts Harts-horne burnt of each one dram and a halfe Let all things be pounded and reduced into a powder and let the halfe part of it or all boile in sower red Wine a little Vinegar being mixed with it Let the woman wash and bathe her secrets with that decoction being very warme Likewise shee may sprinckle the dry powder upon them and also lay a cloth doubled once or twice upon being dipped and moistned before in that decoction But if this shall profit nothing or little you must use also this Pessarie besides prepared after this manner Take Allom named in latin Allumen Scissile Myrrh Lignum Aloes the haires of a Hare cut into small pieces Rue or Herb-grace Bayberries Doronicum Cypresse-nuts of each halfe a dram Storax Calamita two drams Amber one scruple and a halfe Muske Allome called Allumen Saccharinum of each two drams Let them be mingled together and brought to a powder and make a Pessery of it with Oyle of Myrtles CHAP. III. Of the Cure of sterility arising from cholericke humidities and moistures of the Matrix WHen choler shall be an impediment to conception before all things a good diet must be appointed and a moderate use of all those things which doe necessarily belong to the life of man and woman to wit sleepe watching moving resting meate drinke and the like things and that all decline from that humour to that which is cold and moist Next after the convenient use of these things proved a little time the anckle-veines of both the feete shall be opened but specially when the woman shall abound with blood But let her not have overmuch blood taken from her because blood as they say is the bridle of choler After the opening of a veine the cholericke humours shall be prepared with this syrup following Take of the syrups of Acetosae simplicis Oxysaccharum simplex syrup of Endive of each one ounce waters of Succory Hops Buglosse of each two ounces Temper them with yellow Sanders Cinamome and Mace so much as sufficeth that the drinke may be odoriferous You shall give a certaine quantity of this drinke to her in the morning every day when her stomacke is empty and three houres before supper or so often as it shall seeme necessary Or if it please you for this drinke you may give her this decoction reasonable warme Take the flowers of Buglosse Borrage red Roses of each halfe a handfull Violets Lettuce the flowers of white Poppy Endive broad-leaved or garden Endive of each one handfull Endive and Lettuce-seed of each halfe an ounce the Foure Cold-seeds six drams Mingle them together and let a decoction be made of them in Fountaine-water so much as may suffice or with an ounce and a halfe of the wine of Pomgranates and foure ounces of Vinegar and let two pound of Suger be added to them and let it be made aromaticall with yellow Sanders Cinamome and Amber of each one scruple Let her use this syrup morning and evening the quantity of three ounces Now the superfluous matter of cholericke humours being prepared for purgation it shall be purged with the draught following Take of Cassia newly extracted or the best Manna one ounce Let it be tempered with this decoction following Take Venus-haire flowers of Buglosse Violets Prunes Tamarindae Electuary de succo Rosarum of each two drams make a decoction and mingle the Cassia or Manna with three ounces of this aforesaid decoction and let one draught be made of it Or take of choice Rheubarb two drammes Spick-Nard six graines let them be infused in Goats milke with a little white Wine and the infusion being made ten houres let them be strained and take three ounces of that which is strained and one ounce and a halfe of the syrup of Peach-flowers and of them mixed together let one draught be made If this potion doe not like her you shall give her this morsell following confected in this manner Take of the Electuary de Succo Rosarum Diamanna of each three drams white Sugar so much as sufficeth let the Bolus or Morsell being gilded be divided into three parts How Citrine or yellow choler is to be purged But if Citrine or yellow Choler shall breed this difficulty of conceiving to the Matrix wee must use these solutive
medicines mixed together a certaine waight taken of them as the counsell of a skilful Physician shall direct you Namely the Electuary Diaphaenicon Electuarium Indum Pillulae de Rhahabarbaro and Pillulae Agregativae Afterward superfluous humours being sufficiently purged the nature and habite of the Matrix shall be strengthened with this medicine following Take of the Species or Simples of the confection of Diatriasandalon two drams the scrapings of Ivorie Viscus Quercinus the powder of a Bulls Pissle of the Matrix of a Hare of each two drams white Sugar halfe apound Let it be dissolved with Rose-water and let the confection or receit be made in morsells Or otherwise Take conserve of Roses halfe an ounce of Borrage of the flowers of the water-Lilly of Buglosse of each three drams the Species of Diarrhodon Abbatis Diatriasandalon Aromaticum Rosatum of each one scruple Pearles Powder of precious Stones scrapings of Ivorie Viscus Quercinus of each halfe a scruple Let all these kindes be dissolved with a sufficient quantity of syrup of Roses and make a mixture of them and an Electuary gilded All these things orderly performed let her wash in the bathe following which may be prepared in this manner Take of the both kindes of Mallowes Mater violarum or Violet plants red Roses water-Lilly Quince-leaves of each one handfull Fenegrek common Salt Roach-Allome of each two drammes Let all the herbes be shred in pieces very small and being inclosed in a bag let them boile in the water in which the woman must sit This bathe may be used every yeere for there are foure weeks together But so often as shee shall come forth out of the bath shee must take the waight of a Filberd-nut of the cordiall Electuary before prescribed Also let her make this Fume underneath for her wombe after her bathe Take of all the Sanders of each one dram and a halfe Styrax Calamita two scruples Amber sixe graines red Roses Water-lilly-flowers Violets of each one dram Let them all be beaten together with Rose-water and let Trochiskes be made with them Also it shall not be unprofitable to annoynt the loynes and Matrix sometime with the oyntment of Gallen or with the oyntment named Vnguentum Sandalinum Likewise shee may use Pessaries in the night in this sort prepared Take Marrow of the legge of a Calfe Braine of a Hart Butter made of Cowes milke the Fat of a shee Goate seede of the herbe Mercury of each halfe an ounce Acacia Hypoquistidos red Sanders Styrax liquida Horne of a Hart burned of each halfe a dram Let them be incorporated with oyle of Roses and cleane wooll and let Pessaries be made with them CHAP. IV. Of the cure of barrennesse if it proceed from superfluous bloody humours of the Matrix BVt because sterility and barrennesse is not only ingendered of Phlegme and Choler abounding but is also bred of overmuch blood and sometimes also other superfluous or corrupt humours are mixed with the same we must first see by the signes of Vrine which of those humours doe abound If you shall finde that blood alone is abounding then such a diet shall be appointed which may diminish blood and minister small nourishment unto to it If you shall perceive cholericke humour to be in it you shall order your diet to a cold temperature If Phlegme shall abound in it you shall direct the temperature of your diet to drinesse For it shall come to passe that that superfluitie of what humour soever it shall be may by little and little be prepared for a convenient purgation But because the meanes is not commonly knowne to purge blood from those aforesaid humours when it is mixed with them it is to be inquired for of skilfull Physicians we will only prosecute that in this place which pertaineth to the diminishing of the abundance and superfluity of bloody humours Therefore when it is knowne and evident that abundance of blood doth hinder conception in women let first the veines of the Anckle be opened in both the feete and let a just quantity of blood be taken away Which done a bathe shall be prepared of such herbs as doe incline to cooling and refrigeration After the bath the woman ought to use these Lozenges or little Cakes Take Cinamome seede of Mercury red Roses Scrapings Pearles prepared of each one dram red Corrall prepared powder of precious Stones of each two scruples all the sorts of Sanders halfe a dram Sugar halfe a pound Let the Sugar be dissolved in Rose-water and let all things be decocted and boiled untill the Rose-water be wasted away which being done let one ounce of conserve of Roses be added to it and all things being mixed together let gilded Lozenges or little Roundells be made in such sort as they ought to be Likewise an Electuary very commodious profitable for this use may be prepared in this manner of which let her take the quantity of a Filberd-nut alwaies before meat Take of conserve of Roses one ounce of Buglosse Borrage of each two drams of the species or simples of Diatriasandali of Diarhodon Abbatis of each three drams Let these Ingredients be tempered together with syrup of Roses and let them all be incorporated together and let them be gilded with the leaves of Gold so much as may suffice and let an Electuarie be made of them Also it shall be a profitable thing that shee should be bathed with a decoction made with these Simples following made in raine-water or in water wherein steele hath beene often quenched Take red Roses Galls Sumach the seed of the greater Plantane with the leaves Comfrey of each halfe a handfull Terra Sigillata Bole Armeniacke Roch Allome of each halfe an ounce Also a powder may be made of the Simples before prescribed and may be boiled in the aforesaid water in which a cloth sometimes doubled together being dipped and moistened may be laid very warme upon the loynes and privie parts Also this Plaister following being warme in the same manner may likewise be laid upon them Take Muske sixe graines Citrine Sanders red Roses of each halfe a dram oyle of Roses one ounce and a halfe Mingle them and make a plaister of them CHAP. V. Of the Cure of sterility proceeding from a melancholy humour IF a melancholike humour abounding shall be the cause of sterility and barrennesse First of all a diet must be appointed declining from the qualities of this humor to that which is hot and dry Care and sadnesse must be banished away and mirth joy must be procured as much as may be but sorrowes and pensivenesse are to be omitted so much as is possible Then the superfluous humor shall be prepared and mollified for purgation with this syrup following Take syrup of Acetosa de radicibus two ounces syrup of Fumitary one ounce of the waters of Harts-tongue and Mugwoort of each two ounces Let these be mingled and made Aromaticall with Cinamome and let there be made a cleare syrup of them Or
that meanes the Matrix will both be drawne backe and also retained and held still being reduced into her proper place But that the Matrix being reduced and brought into the wombe may remaine and continue there nor suddenly fall downe againe it must be strengthened according to these precepts and rules following First let the woman lie a whole day upon her backe after the reducing of the Matrix into her proper place But the next day let her sit in a bathe boiled with these herbes about the space of one houre Take red Roses Myrtles seede of Sumach A Bathe leaves of the Medler-tree of a Service-tree the bark of an Oke Acornes Origanum Sage Rue Comfrey of each a handfull let them all be mixed and beaten together and let a decoction or bathe be made with them in raine water or in water in which burning-iron hath beene quenched When she commeth out of the bathe let her drinke this powder boiled in Wine very hot Take Rue Mugwoort of each halfe a handfull Castofeum two drams mingle them and make a powder of them Then take the best white Wine so much as sufficeth straine it and to the straining adde two drams of Mithridate And let a hot Potion be made of it Afterward the secrets are to be Fomented and bathed nine daies together and likewise Pessaries are to be used A Plaister And the tenth day this Plaister following spread upon white Leather shall be laid to the lowest part of the belly and to remaine there for some weekes together But let the Cerot or Plaister be made in this manner Take Frankincense Masticke Opopanax Turpentine Galbanum Serapium Rosine of the Pine-tree Styrax liquida Colophonie of each two drams yellow wax three drams temper them together and let a Cerot be made with them Or else Take Galbanum halfe a dram Gallia Muscata one dram Cloves halfe a dram Rosine of the Pine-tree and Colophonie so much as sufficeth mixe them and let a Cerot or Cerecloth be made of them We let passe here of set purpose nor without great cause something in this Cure which is onely knowne to the learned and skilfull which may be demanded of them so often as neede shall require Further you shall consider that when the aforesaid sicknesse shall arise from cold wind or over-much moistnesse of the Matrix that you must proceede altogether in the same manner which wee have prescribed and set downe before discoursing of the windie and waterish false conception named Mola I say concerning a Tympany and Hydropsie CHAP. X. Of the superfluities of the Termes and of the Cure of the same EVen as the Termes may be stopped contrary to the course of Nature so they may issue forth too immoderately contrary to the custome of Nature and as by them being stopped so by them flowing abundantly many diseases are caused unto women as Hippocrates doth advise us But as the naturall issue of the Termes which otherwise we call the Menstruall The unnatural issuing forth of the Termes or monthly purgation should issue forth every Moone naturally in women being well disposed in body and age I say from the third or fourth day after the new-Moone untill the eighth day although in this case there be many differences of ages complexions and disposition of body so wee say that issuing forth of the Termes not to be naturall which passeth beyond that time And we say that this doth happen two waies that is outward and inward Causes The outward causes are these Externall Causes as if some little veine be broken in the mouth or necke of the Matrix through immoderate exercise or some hurt chancing unto it as over-lifting stroke fall violence or exulceration Also some such like thing may be caused by aborcement and hard birth and also by the ulcers or fores of the Matrix Notwithstanding it happeneth sometime that Fluxes and issues are found to be in women conceived with childe every moneth yet they are never the weaker by them neither doe they substract or withdraw any nourishment from the Infant Inward causes are to be judged and discerned from Nature it selfe or from the blood Internall Causes From Nature when shee being strong doth expell the blood or being feeble and weake cannot hold or retaine it For the blood when it is too hot or sharp or over cold and thinne againe when by idlenesse immoderate meate and drinke too much nourishment is afforded to the blood Moreover certaine signes doe happen Signes of the Causes by which it may certainly be found out whether they come from an outward or inward cause If the Flux happen from an outward cause as from a veine being broken through some immoderate exercise by some hurt or fall then the colour of the blood will be red at the first but by and by blackish or blacke If it issue forth straight-way it will appeare in his naturall colour but being retained sometime in the Matrix it will issue forth with an ugly and thicke colour if it shall remaine there long it will be altogether full of corrupt matter But if the blood shall issue forth because of ulcers and sores of the Matrix First it will be cleare and thin but by by it wil be ful of filthy matter without all colour If the strong and mighty force of Nature doe expell it then it will be done without paine that also the body is alleviated and eased by it because Nature voideth no more of that which is ingendred but that which is superfluous either in quality or quantity If it shall happen by defect of retentive vertue it will issue forth by drops by little and little and disorderly without any intermission and the woman which shall be affected and afflicted with this issue shall waxe pale leane and very feeble in all her members but the blood doth retaine still his naturall colour and flowing abroad it doth not burne bite or molest with any paines But the cause of this Flux for the most part doth happen to women having passed beyond the fiftieth yeere when as their Termes doe generally depart away When it chanceth to young women oftentimes it h ppeneth by vehement and grievous fits of a Tertian Quartan Ague and paines of the head For these things doe dissipate and drive away Naturall vertue and power and do easily bring upon them such a Flux and immoderate issue If it proceed and be caused by intemperate heate or acrimony and egernesse of the blood the issue doth burne bite inflame and corrode the entrance and mouth of the Matrix The woman pained with this passion doth endure intolerable thirst and her lips are grieved with chaps bred and caused by most sharpe and hot vapours of the blood fuming and steaming upward Most grievous dolours and paines are felt in the niples of the Dugs by reason of the affinity and fellowship that they have with the Matrix The blood resembleth the colour of Saffron and is