matter of the Skin Nails that are very smooth do come and by degrees harden she had instead of Nails a thin Skin or Film as for her Toes there was not the least appearance of Nailes about them by reason they wanted the heat that was communicated to the Fingers from the nearness of the Heart These and the like weighty matters being considered and above all one Gentlewoman of quality that assisted affirming that she had been the Mother of 19 Children and that divers of them had been born and lived a 7 Months they without favour to any party made their report that the infant was a Child of 7 Months and so must be accounted though it was born within the seventh Month for that in such cases the revolution or circute of the Moon ought to be observed which perfects it self in 4 bare weeks or somewhat less then 28 days in which space of her revolution the Blood being agitated by the Moons force the Courses of the Woman flow from them which being spent and the Matrix cleansed from the Menstrual Blood which happens on the 5th day then if on the 7th day a Man lye with his Wife the copulation is most natural and the conception best and a Child then gotten may be born in the 7th Month and prove very healthful so that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced innocent upon proof that he was a hundred miles distance all that month in which the Child was begot own as for the Mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father being forced in the dark and that through fear and surprize was left in ignorance though Physitians are of opinion that if a Woman prove with Child it cannot be accounted a Rape for unless she cast forth her Seed to commix with the Man which imploys a willingness in her to be a Copartner in the Act the Child cannot be formed but my opinion is that poor silly Girls strugling to defend themselves in case of such violence and not in such fear and perplexity regarding the nicety of containing their Humour the Seminary Vessels by an natural proneness will open and the Seed in such cases whether they desire it or not will flow to commix with the Man 's in the Matrix and by coagulating with the Blood that descends to nourish it will form the Child and thus much for these particulars For for Copulation it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in health lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Childen so begotten creating in them through the abundant ill humour divers lingering and languishing Diseases wherefore Health is no where better to be discerned than by the Genitals of the Man wherefore Midwives and other skilful Women in former days were wont to see the Testicles of Children thereby to conjecture or guess at their temper and state of Body and young men may know thereby the Signs or Symptoms of life and death for if the cases of the Testicles be loose and feeble and the Cods fall down it denotes the natural faculties and vital Spirits whichare the props of Life are fallen but if the Secret parts be wrinkled and raised up the Yard at any occasion so requiring standing stif it is a Sign all will be well but that the Event may exactly answer the Prediction it is necessary to consider what part of the Body the disease possesseth for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted as he Head or Stomach then will it not so well appear by the Members which frequently are unconcerned with such grievances but the lower part of the body exactly sympathizing with them their liveliness on the contrary makes it apparent for Natures force and the Spirits that have their intercourse first manifest themselves therein which occasions Midwives often to feel the Genitals of Children to know in what part the grief is resident and whether life or death be portended thereby the Symptom being strongly communicated by the Vessels that have their intercourse with the principal Seats of Life CHAP. IX The cause of the Green sickness in Virgins with its Symptoms and Directions for its cure Together with the chiefest occasion of Barrenness in Women and by what means to remove the Cause and render them fruitful THE sormer of these ill conveniencies is too apparent in Virgins especially such as are of a Flegmatick Complexion evidently shewing it self by discolouring the Face in making it look green pale or of a dusky yellow which proceeds from raw undigested humours nor only does it appear to the Eye but sensibly afflicts such as it possesses with difficulty of breathing pains in the Head Palpitation of the Heart unusual beating and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples Neck and Back many times casting them into Fevers if the humour be very vicious also loathing of meat and distension of the Hypocondrick part by reason of the inordinate reflux of menstruous Blood to the greater Vessels and by reason of the abundance of humour the whole body is often troubled with swelling or if not at least the Thighs Legs and Ankles all above the Heels Now this affliction proceeds from crude raw and undigested Humours arising from the suppression of the monthly Courses by reason of the natural narrowness of the Vessels or their accidental Contraction by violent motion but oftner through eating Chalk Oat-meal Tobacco-pipes Loame Starch Nutmegs and drinking of Vinegar for thereby an ill Concoction in the Bowels is occasioned and the Humours moreover contracted into the habit of the body become habitual and concordant with it many of these Afflictions happen through the long Retention of the Seed when Virgins are ripe for the Act of Generation which vitiating the Vessels spread it into evil Humours Therefore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause is matrimonial Conjunction and such Copulation as may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted for by that means the Humours being diffused and dispressed they will soon wast themselves and then no more matter being administred to increase them they will vanish and a good temperament of Body will return but in case such a Conjunction cannot be had so soon as necessity requires then let the Damsel blood in the Heel and if she be about 16 you may do it likewise in the Arm though sufer her not to bleed overmuch especially if any pure blood come forth for then the vitiated Humour clinging to the Veins will stay behind and that bloods loss render her less capable to oppose them If the diseases be of any continuance then is itto be eradicated by purgation preparation of the Humour being first considered which may be done by the Virgins drinking decoction of Guaicum with Dittany of Creet but the best Purge in this case ought to be made of Aloes Agrick Juice of Lavin Succorrina and for the unobstructing of the Humour take prepared Steel Bazoar-stone the Root of Scorzonera and Oyl of Christal
to the Breast and sometimes but â—aâ—ely it is occasioned by the suppression of the courses the Hemorrhoids or some bruise received by blow or the like and is known by a certain redness and burning heat causing the whole body to be feaverish and out of order To cure it then first let the Dyet be comforting moistening and of good nourishment as the broth of Pullets Capons Cocks Chickens Veal c. Wherein Indive Borrage Puâ—slain or Lettice has been boyled and if she can get it let the Woman drink the juice of Pomgranets but for want of that Barley-water wherein Anniseeds have been boyled but let her refrain drinking of Wine and strong Liquors as likewise hot Spices and if she find any obstruction in her excremental Evacuation let her take a softning or mollifying Glyster and sleep at seasonable times as much as shecan Another way to remedy it is by diverting the Humours which may be done by rubbing the body in all the adjacent places letting Blood in the Foot Scarification in the Legs or Visicatores applyed in those places especially if the Courses are stopped or ready to come down if not it is requisite to bleed in the Arm. But if what has been mentioned prevail'd not to remove the Humours make a Cataplasm of the Leaves of Mellilot and Nightshade each half a handful and when boyled in Spring-water add to them Bean Meal 2 ounces Oyl of sweet Almonds and Oatmeal of each an ounce and apply them to the Breast observing so to do before the Breast be extraordinarily inflamed CHAP. XXXIV A Tumour in the Breast its Cause and Cure OF Tumours there are several sorts but first of the Flagitious Tumour the cause of which proceeds from a thick and unnatural Vapour arising from the Menstrual blood which is retained or corrupted in the Matrix and that again is occasioned by the suppressions of the Courses or when Nature is defective in discharging them into their proper place and due time as also from corruption of humours whereby are ingendered evil Vapours and there passing by insensible ways causes the Breast to swel or distend as if it were a true swelling and is known by a shooting pain and disorder of the Heart by reason of the wind that oppresses it the left Breast being for the most part more swelled than the right Communicating pains to the Arms and Shoulders as likewise the Ribs on the same side the Breast being white and shining sounding like a Drum if touched gently and swelled in all parts alike To cure this as also the Valery Tumour you must order the Woman to observe a moderation in diet that thereby Crudities may be avoided and all such things as contract windy or valery humours in the Veins suffering her to drink water wherein Cinnamon and Anniseeds have been boyled as also the Rind of Cittron and then let her observe to take such things as are proper to provoke the courses in doing which she will find the humours abate then let her take Celondine Cammomile Groundsil Ground-juice stamp them and boyl them in White-wine and in so doing you will ease the pain and restore the Breast As for Diseases and Accidents incident to young Children there are but fe VVomen of any experience but are skilful in curing and ordering them wherefore for brevities sake I shall pass them over and proceed to Anatomise the Instrument of Mans Generation that one thing remaining necessary in this Treatise as also to instance what Men nad Women ought to marry that their Issue may be Fair Healthful and Prosperous CHAP. XXXV The Anatomy of the Instrument of Man's Generation THE Yard of Man is an official Member and the Tiller of Mans Generation compound and made of Skin Brawns Tendones Veins Artâ—ries Sinews and great Lygaments And it hath in it two passages or principal issues one for the Sperm and another for the Urine And as the Philosophers say the quantity of a common Yard is Eight or Nine Inches with measurable bigness proportioned to the quantity of the Matrix This Member hath as Avicen saith three holes through one passeth insensible politions and wind that causeth the Yard to rise the other two holes is declared before Also the Yard hath a Skin and about the head thereof it is double and that Men call Praeputium and this Skin is moveable for through his consecration the Spermatick matter is the better and sooner gathered together and sooner cast forth from the Testicles For by him is had the most delectation in the doing And the foremost part of the head of the Yard before is made of a brawny flesh the which if it be once lost it can never be restored again but it may be well skinned c. The Cods is a compounded Member and an official and though it be counted amongst the Generative Members yet it is called a principal Member because of Generation This Purse was ordained for the custody and comfort of the Testicles and other Spermatick Vessels And it is also made of two parts of the inner and of the outer The outer is compound and made of Skin and Lazartus Longitudinal and Transversal in like manner as the Myrac The inner part of the Cods is of the substance of the Syfac and are in similitude as two Pockets drawn together by themselves and they differ not from the Syfac And there be two because if there fall any hurt to the one the other should serve The Testicles or Stones be two made of Glandulous flesh or Curnelly flesh And furthermore throug the Didimus cometh the Testicles from the Brain Sinews and from the Heart Arteries and from the Liver Veins bringing unto them both feeling and stirring Life and Spirit and Nutrimental Blood and the most purest blood of all other Members of the Body whereof is made the Sperme by the labour of the Testicles the which is put forth in due time The Groyns be known They be the empty Junctures or purging place unto the Liver and they have Curnelly flesh in the plying or bowing of the Thighs The Hips have great brawny flesh on them and from thence descend downwards Brawns Cords and Ligaments moving and binding together the Thighs with the Haunches themselves CHAP. XXXVI What Women ought to Marry with what Men that they may have Children IN respect of Married Women that prove Childless Hyppocrates adviseth this Experiment to be tried to know whether the defect be on the Womans part or on her Husbands which is to make her suffumigations with Incense or Storax with a Garment close wrapped about her which may hang down on the ground in such sort that no Vapor or Fume may issue out and if within a while after she feel the Savour of the Incense in her Mouth she may conclude that the Barrenness comes not through her own defect but through her Husbands forasmuch as the Fumes found the Passages open whereby it pierced up to the Nostrils But although this proof
fell into his divine Rapture and Admiration expressed in Psal 138. I will praise thee O Lord because I am wonderfully made thy Works are wonderful Mr Soul searcheth and knoweth it right Well thou knowest all my Bones when I was fashinned in the secret place and when I was wonderfully formed in my Mothers Womb. Thy Eyes beheld me yet unmade and in thy Book were all my Members written which day by day were fashioned Thy Knowledge is wonderful unto me whereby I was made I cannot understand it c. And Physicians that have narrowly contemplated Mans Nature constitute four different times wherein this Microcosm or little World is framed and perfected in the Womb. First When after Copulation and mutual embracing it hath the nature of Seed at which time it is called Conception or Geniture because the Seeds of the Man and Woman mixing and fermenting become like Cream and are perfect in the first week if no Eflux happen which sometimes falls out through the slipperiness of the Matrix or the head thereof that shuts over like a Rose bud opening on a sudden by reason of some cold distemper or over-weariness in Travel The second time of forming is constituted when Nature and the force of the Womb by the use of her own inbred forces and vertue makes a manifest mutation in the Seed so that all the substance seems congealed Flesh and Blood rather than Seed which happens about the 12 or 14 day after Copulation and though this Concretion or fleshy Mass abound with hot fiery blood yet it remains undistinguishable without form of figure and may be called the rough draught or Embrio and well likened to Seed which is sown in the ground which through kindly heat and moisture grows up by degrees into a perfect form either in Plant or Grain or as when a Potter fashions a Vessel out of a rude Lump of Clay The third time to make up this Fabrick is set when the three principal Parts shew themselves evidently and perspicuously viz. The Heat from whence proceeds the Arteries the Brain from which the Nerves proceed like many small threads running through the whole Body and the Liver from whence the Veins derive their Original These are the Seeds and Fountains of Life that nourish and support each part of the Body in framing which the Faculty of the Womb is busied from the time of Conception to the eighteenth day of the first Month. But lastly which time reacheth to the 28 or 30 day the outward Parts are seen exquisitely claborated and distinguished by Joynts and then the Child begins to grow and pant from which Progress of days by reason the Limbs are divided and the whole frame is perfect it is no longer held an imperfect Child or Embrio that is a Concretion that springs sorth but is held to be a perfect and absolute Child Males for the most part are perfect by the 30 day but Females seldom till the 42 or 45 day and the reason why the one is sooner perfected than the other is that the heat of the Womb is greater in producing the Male than the Female for heat extends the humour like soft wax diffusing delating it and hen by its force contracting framing and fashioning it so heat and vigout of the Body and Alacrity of nature in the Man makes the Male to move in 3 months but the Female rarely under 4 at which time also his Hair and Nailes come forth and the Child begins to stir kick and tumble in the Womb so that the motion is plainly perceived and the Women are troubled with nauseating and loathing of their meat and oftentimes covet and greedily long for things contrary to Nutriment as Coals Rublish Chalk Lime Starch Oat-meal â—aw Flesh and Fish or the like which desire proceeds from a former contraction of evil humours occasioning im pure Blood in their containing Vessel within and often occasions abortion and miscarriage some Women as it has been noted by divers Authors of Credit have been so extravegant in their longings that they have coveted Hob-Nails Leather Herse Flesh Mans Flesh and the Flesh of divers ravenous Be asts for want of which they have cast their Birth untimely or the Child has contiued dead in the Womb for many days to the eminent hazard of the Womans life But to proceed in this great mystery I shall unfold by what means the Infant is sustained in the Womb and the posture it there remains in The Infant being arrived to some perfection is fastened by a long string to the Navel as the Apple by the stalk is fastened to the Tree by which through the help of the Umbelical Vein it is nourished by a Fountain of pure Blood not taking it in at the mouth as some ignorant People have imagined that being of no use during the aboad in the Womb neither do any Excrements fall from the Vessels of Evacuation but the Umbelical Vein springing from the Matrix enters the Liver in two parts terminates in Vena Porta from which the most pure Blood from the Seminary Vessels are derived to the Matrix And hende it is that the Blood and Spirits like Auxiliaries are always convey'd downwards that so none of them be wanting whereof are those Channels and Rivers of Veins and Arteries that proceed from the Mothers Body are carried to the Womb and then fastened into the Navel feed the Child by insensible ways and by the faculty of the Seed that is fostered by the heat of the Womb and moistened with Blood being perfected at the times specified in all its parts equal ballanced it is in the midst of the Womb as in the Center lying all on a heap and being something long is turned round so that the Head a little inclines and it lays its Chin on its Breast his Heels and Ancles upon his Buttocks its Hands on its Cheeks and its Thumbs to its Eyes but its Legs and Thighs are carried upward with its Hams bending so that they touch the bottom of its belly the former and that part of the body which is over against us as the Fore-head Nose Face are turned towards the Mothers Back and the Head inclining downwards towards the Cocyx or Rump-bone that joyns to the Os Sacrum which Bone together with Os Pubis in the time of the Birth parts and is loosened whence it is that Male Children commonly come with their Faces downwards or with their Heads turned somewhat Oblique that their Faces may be seen but the Female children with their Faces upward tho' sometimes it happens that Births follow not according to Natures order but Children come forth with their feet stradling their Necks bowed and their Heads lying Oblique with their Hands stretch'd out which greatly endangers themselves and the Mother giving the Midwife great trouble to introduce them nto the World but when all things proceed orderly and naturally the Child when Natures set bounds are accomplished is desirous to break its bounds and come forth
moisture in supplying which large Vessels are altogether necessary Another cause of the longness of these Vessels there is viz. By reason the monthly Courses have their way through them which often occasions Women with Child to continue their purgations for although the Womb is shut up yet the passage in the Neck of the womb through which these Vessels pass are open In this cause there is further to be observed that as soon as you penetrate the Female Siffure or pudendum there appear two little pits or holes wherein is contained a contract humour which by being expugned in time of Copulation greatly delights the Woman CHAP. XIV A description of the Wombs Fabrick the preparing Vessels and Tisticles in Women as also of the different or Ejaculatory Vessels IN the lower part of the Hypogastrion where the Lips are widest and broadest they being greater and broader thereabouts then those of Men which is the reason they have likewise broader Buttocks then men is the womb joyned to its Neck and is placed between the Bladder and the streight Gut which keep it from swaying or rowling yet give it liberty to stretch and delate it self and again to contract as nature in that cause disposes it Its figure is in a manner round and not unlike a Gourd lessening a little and growing more acute toward one end the bottom being knit together by its proper Ligaments its Neck likewise is joyn'd by its own substance certain membranes that fasten it to Os Sacrum and the Share-bone As to its largeness that much differs in women especially the difference is great between such as have born Children and those that have born none In substance it is so thick that it exceeds a Thumbs breadth which after Conception is so far from decreasing that it augments to a greater proportion and the more to strengthen and confirm it it is interwoven with Fibres overthwart strait and winding and its proper Vessels are Veins Arteries and Nerves and amongst these are two little Veins which pass from the Spermatick Vessels to the bettom of the Womb and two larger from the Hypogastricks which visit both the bottom and the Neck the mouth of these veins piercing as far as the inward concavity in which place the extremities of them are called Acetabula which when the Courses flow open themselves and evacuate the eflux of Blood and therefore they are the more conspicuous in Women with Child that part called the Liver of the Womb being joyned to them the better to extract Blood for the Childs nourishment at which time their veins do so swell especially near their time of delivery that they equal in bigness the Emulgent veins or appear half as thick as the hollow Veins The Womb hath also two Arteries on â—oth sides the spermatick Vessels and the Hypogasticks which still attend or accompany the Veins and besides these there are divers little Nerves knit and intwined in the form of a Net which extend throughout even from the bottom to the Privities themselves being chiefly placed for sense and pleasure moving in Sympathy between the Head and the Womb. Now it is to be further noted that by reason of two Ligaments that hang on either side the Womb from the share-bone and piercing through the Peritonaeum and are joyned to the bone it self that the Womb is movable upon sundry occasions often salling low or rising high as for the Neck of the Womb it is of an exquisit feeling so that if it be any time out of order by being troubled with a schirous brawn over-fatness moisture or relaxation the Womb is subjected thereby to Barrenness In those that are with Child there frequently stayes a most glutenous matter in the enterance to facilitate the Birth for at the time of delivery the mouth of the Womb is opened in a strange manner to such a wideness as is conformable to the bigness of the Child suffering an equal dilatation from the bottom to the top As for the preparatory of Spermatick Vessels in VVomen they consist of 2 veins and 2 arteries not differing from those in a Man but only in their largeness manner of insertion for as for their number there are so many Veins and the like proportion of Arteries as in men the right vein issuing from the trunk of the hollow vein descending the left from the Emulgent vein and on the side of them are two Arteries which grows from the Aorta and bring vital Blood for the accomplishment of the work of Generation As to the Longitude and Latitude of these Vessels they are narrow and shorter in women than in men only observe where they are wrinkled or crumpled they are more wreathed and contorted than in men as shrinking together by reason of their shortness they may by their loosness be the better stretched out when occasion requires it and that by their drawing up as it were the Blood might stay there in greater quantity for the preparation of the Seed And these Vessels in Women are carried with an oblique Course through the lesser Guts to the Testicles or Stones but are in the mid-way divided into two Branches the greater going to the Stones constituting the various or winding Body and wonderful Inoculation the lesser Branch ending in the Womb in the side of which it disperseth it self and chiefly at the higher part of the bottom of the Womb for the nourishment thereof as also of the Child and that part of the Courses may purge through these Vessels and feeing the Stones in Women are seated near the Womb for that cause these Vessels fall not from the Peritonaeum neither make they such Passages as in Men nor extend themselves to the Share-bone The Stones in Women commonly called the Testicles altho' they perform the same Action as mens if rightly considered yet are they different in their situation magnitude temperament substance form and covering As for their seat it is in the hollowness of the Abdomen neither are they Externally pendulous but rest upon the Muscles of the Loyns that so they may by contracting the greater heat be more Fruitful their Office being to contract and elaborate that matter which in conjunction with Mans Seed ingenders Man yet they differ from those of Men in figure by reason of their lessness and flatness at either end not being so round nor Oval The external Superficies being likewise more unequal appearing like the composition of a great many knots and kernels mixed together there is also another difference in their substance they being much more soft and plyable loose and not so well compacted Their magnitude and temperament being also different for they are much colder and lesser than those in Men by reason of which a thinner and feebler Seed is contracted by one Sex then by the other as for their covering or inclosure it likewise differs extreamly for as Mens are wraped or covered in divers Tunicles by reason they are externally Pendulous and subject to divers
injuries unless so fenced by nature so Womens Stones being internal and less subject to casualty are covered with one Tunicle or Membrane the which though it closely adhere to them yet are they likewise half covered with the Peritonaeum The different or Ejaculatory Vessels are two obscure passages one on either side nothing differing from the Spermatick veins in substance rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb not reaching from their other extremity either to the Stones or any other part but shut up and unpassable adhearing to the Womb as the Colon does to the blind Gut and winding half way about the Stones are every way remote to them yet though they touch them not they are tyed to them by certain Membranes resembling the Wings of a Batt or Flutter-mouse through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the Stones end in these beginning or may be termed here to have their passages proceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Stones and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Stones and the Womb are united and strongly knit together and these Ligaments in Women are the Cremesters in Men Of which I shall speak more largely when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the Vse and Action of the several Parts in Woman appropriated to Generation c. THE Externals commonly called the Privy Member re designed to cover the great Orifice and that to receive the Yard and give passage to the Birth and Urin. The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries are for the security of the internal parts shutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder and by their sweliing up cause Titulation and Defire in those parts and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine The Action of the Clytoris is like that of the Yard viz. Erection where Erection is for motion and attraction of the Seed The action and the use of the Neck of the Womb is equal with that of the Yard viz. Erection occasioned divers ways First in case of Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Yard to the Womb. Secondly whilst the Passage is repleated with Spirit and vital Blood it becomes more strait for embracing the Yard as for the conveniency of Erection it is twofold First for as much as if the neck of the Womb was not erected the Yard could have no convenient Passage to the Womb. Secondly the Affrication which occasions the Seed to issue forth could be no other ways nay to this we may add that it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensue through the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation As for the Vessels that pass through the neck of the Womb their Office is to repleat it with Blood and Spirit that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted there in Copulation it may by those Vessels be renewed and the menstruous Blood at unseasonable times for its Efflux be kept back nor are these all their Offices for they contribute Nutriment towards the Child when in the Womb. The Womb it self has many properties attributed to it as First Attraction of the Seed by Familiar Sympathy Secondly It retains it which is properly called Conception Thirdly It cherishes and changes the Seed continuing so to do till it by the help of Nature frames the Child and brings it to perfection and then it strongly operates in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired dilating and spreading it self in a wonderful manner and indeed is the Field of Mans Generation being designed for no other purpose and so aptly removed from the Senses that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth unless by accident or the like it be rendered deficient When to strengthen and inable it besides the helps of Nature sundry Remendies are to be applied by skilful hands Direction For which shall be hereafter mentioned The Utility of the preparing Vessels are taken from their Original and from the incertion of the right vein proceeding from the hallow and the left from the emulgent vein as in men that hot and pure Blood may more abundantly flow from the right vein for the Procreation of Males and that serous and watery Blood may proceed from the emulgent vein for the procreation of Females The Vessels in this kind are much shorter in Women than in Men by reason of their nearness to the Stones which defect is yet lengthened and made good by the many Intricacies or Windings to which those Vessels are subject for in the middle way they derive themselves into two branches though different in magnitude for one being greater than the other passes to the Stones conveying matter for composition of Seed and the lesser to the Womb scattering there such Nutriment as it extracts from other parts of the Body as for the Arteries they afford the Blood which is more full of Spirit to perfect the Seed The Stones in Women are greatly useful for where they are defective Generation is at an end by reason they operate in preparing the Seed as those in Men and by reason the Woman is colder than the Man therefore are they seated within that they should have the more heat to cherish them and for that cause are they covered only with one Tunicle that the heat may have the easier access though by reason of their softness they cannot perfect so substantial a Seed as those of Men as being cherished with less heat that the remainder might supply the inferiour parts Their figure is not exactly round but depressed that the small meanders of the veins dispersed through the Members from the Stones to the different Vessels might have more room to be inserted for the attraction of the Seed by the Substance of the Stones the inequality contributing to the longer stay of the Seed in those meandring Vessels nor is rugedness or unevenness of them less conducing thereto CHAP. XVI Of Conception and the infallible Signs thereof as also whether it be a Male or Female that is conceived or both at once commonly called Twins THE next thing convenient to be observed in this Treatise and as it falls in course is Conception and its Symptoms very material and worthy of note not only by Midwives but all young Women Now the signs of Conception 3 or 4 days after convenient and satisfactory Copulation are Pains in the Head Virtigo and dimness of the Eyes the Aples of the Eyes decrease the Eyes themselves swell and become of a dull or dark colour their veins waxing red and shut with Blood Again if the Eyes sink the Eybrows grow loose various colours appear in the Eyes and little red Pimples suddainly arise in the Face and almost as suddainly disappear Thirdly if the Veins between the Eyes and Nose are exteuded with Blood the Veins
made of the pure concocted and windy superfluity of Blood from whence we may conclude there is in many things a power to accumulate or heap up Seed as also to augment it and other things of force to cause Erection and Ejection of Humour as Hen-Eggs Pheasants Woodcocks Guatsappers Thrushes Black birds young Pidgeons Sparrows Partridge Capons Almones Pine-nuts Rasons Currants all strong Wines moderately taken especially those made of the Grapes of Italy but the Genitals are chiefly erected and provoked by Satyrium Eringoes Cresses Eressimum Parsnips Artichokes Turnips Rapes Asparagus Candid Ginger Gallinga Acorns bruised to powder and drunk in Muscadel Scallions Sea-shell Fish c. And these though excellent Restoratives will not have present Operation but you must use your self to them sometime before you handle your Arms or your Wife will grudg the charge for when Husbands will win their Wives favour then they shall account nothing too good nor too dear for them then must they be well prepared to enter this Conflict and when they find themselves so to be they must take the opportunity of doing their business well and that is when the monthly Terms are over lest the Seed be hindred from coagulating and fermenting and the Womb be rendred unfit for Conception When therefore the Terms are finished and the Womb well cleansed they must proceed decently and not over rashly tho' courage and activity must not be wanting nor the force of Imagination and having performed what is necessary the Woman must gently repose on her right side with her head lying low and her body sinking down that by sleeping in that Posture the cells on the right side of the Matrix may prove the receptacles of the Seed in which are the greatest force of Generative heat which is the chief inducement to the procreation of Male Children and rarely misses to answer the expectation of such as experience it especially if they keep themselves warm and without much motion leaning for the most part to the right and drinking a little Spirit of Saffron and Juyce of Hysop in a Glass of Malligo or Aligant when they lie down and rise for the space of a Week Now the fittest time for the Procreation of Male Children is when the Sun is in Leo and the Moons Sign is Virgo Scorpio or Sagitarius This Order may be observed for a Female Child by lying as aforesaid on the left-side and strongly sancying a Female in the time of Procreation especially if the Woman drink the decoction of Female Mercury four days from the first day of Purgation the Male Mercury both Herbs so called having the like Operation in case of a Male Child for the juyce or concoction of these Simples are of force the one to purge the right and the other the left side of the Womb and thereby open the Receptacles making a way for the Semenary of Generation and the best time to copulate for this Sex is when the Moon is in the Wain and the Sign in Libra or Aquarius for then they will be of a most gentle affable temper very fair and perfect in all their Members Avicenna an Author of good repute describes the time of Procreation thus When saith he the Terms are spent and the Womb is cleansed which is commonly in five days or seven at most if a Man lye with his Wife from the first day she is purged to the fifth she will conceive a Male but from the fifth to the eighth day a Female and from the eighth to the twelfth a Male again but after that number of days peradventure neither distinctly but both in an Hermophrodite And thus this Opinion of his by the Learned is explained viz. for as much as the first day the Womâ—â—eing cleansed and the sordid humour perfectly purged forth the Matrix has more heat whereby the Seed of either Sex are better contracted and take surer place on the right-side of the Womb by the attracting force of the Liver and right Kidney from which also in those days het Blood is derived for the Nutriment of the Child that shall be for the left part as being cold numb'd and void of Blood cannot contribute any thing so soon as the Terms are purged but Blood is drawn later and more sparingly from the Veins on the left side which are called emulgent Veins that creep about the Milt and left Kidney so that at length after the first day until the eighth day some Blood comes forth of them whereby the Child is to be nourish'd so that when these Parts perform their Office and the right-side ceases by reason of the Situation and cold Nutriment a Female is generated after the eighth day the parts on the right side opporate again Blood comes from them to nourish the Male after these circuit of days because the menstrual Blood flows without distinction from all parts and the Matrix is made too moist with cold Humors flowing into it and the Seed adheres to neither side but floats in the middle of the Womb the Seed of either Sex confounded or confused and out of due Place and Order fixed at last in the Cell at the bottom of the Womb generates an Hermophrodite tho' sometimes such unusual and unuatural Conceptions are occasioned by the indecency of Copulation when preposterously the Woman in the Act lies uppermost and the Man under her or by the force of strange Imaginations but many are of Opinion such Births happen through the powerful influence of Mercury and Venus in conjunction In a word they that would be commended for their Wedlock Actions and be happy in the fruit of their labour must observe to copulate at distance of time not too often nor yet too seldom for both these hurt Fruitfulness alike for to eject immoderately weakens a Man and wasts his Spirits and too often causes the Seed by long continuance to be ineffectual and not manly enough And thus much for the first general and particular from whence I shall proceed to the second which is to give the Reader to understand how the Child is formed in the Womb and what Accidents it is incident to how nourished and when brought forth Certain it is there are various Opinions concerning this matter therefore I shall for the satisfaction of the curious lay down the Opinions of the learned as thus Man consists of the Seed of both united in the Matrix by Copulation and for the first seven days the Mothers Blood running to it it grows in shape like an Egg but there is a forming faculty and virtue in the Seed from a divine and heavenly gift it being abundantly indued with Vital and Etherial Spirit which gives shape and form to the Child so that all the parts and bulk of the Body which is made up in the space of many months and is by degrees framed and formed into a decent and comely Figure of a Man do consist in that and are adumbrated thereby on which Holy David contemplating
that the Seed has no free passage then the cause must be enquired into and this often happens the which is known by the small desire to Venery and the little or no pleasure or satisfaction received thereby a settling in the Courses and a slimy Fâ—â—gmatick matter mixed therewith as also by their inordinate flowing occasioned by the plenty of humours collected in the Womb which by reason of the abundant of windy Vapours contracted therein causes obstruction to which may be added the cruditie and wateryness of the Seed which debars the pleasure in ejection and from hence it is that sudden paleness arises in the face c. To remedy this the party must alter her Diet not eating any cold raw Flegmatick substance but rather such things as are apt to stir up Cholerick hot humours in the Body as Anniseeds or Carraway-seeds in her Bread Store of Peniroyal in her Broth let her likewise each morning for a week together make a Posset in which she must boil the Roots of Birthwort Angelico Sage Rosemary Cinamon and Burrage The takeing the Male Herb Mercury Dittany Centaury Marygolds Cubeds Safron Mugwort and Clovegilly-flowers of each a handful boil them in white Wine and eject the Concoction by little and little at sundry times as the cold or obstruction can be perceived Anointing the Belly and Reins of the back one day with Oyl of Cinamon the next with Oyl of Nutmeg or Mace and the 3d. with Oyl of Myrrh and so continuing to do for a month together When the Woman lies down Nature will be wonderfully restored and recover such force as to remove to Obstructions Barrenness is likewise caused through want of due proportion of Seed in either party to remedy which let their Diet be such as I have prescribed in the former part of this Book Chap. II. Many there are that conceive Barrenness is frequently caused by inchantation but those opinion s are altogether frivolous and vain If the Womb be defective in attracting the Seed ejected Men frequently labour in vain in such a case the Woman must avoid Sorrow Anger or much Sleep Eating new Cheese Milk and raw food especially Lettis Endive Spinage Beets Nuts Cherries Purstain Oynions Garlick and the like They all being hurtful to Generation nor must she drink nor use Vinegar nor eat the Fat of Meat too frequently but the Womb must be cleansed from the over abundant moisture with the decoction of Hearts Tongue a Herb so called Cummin Fenel and Anniseed and strengthned with the Sirup of Wormwood and for a gentle opperative Purge in this case take half an ounce of Laudanun Bees-wax Sheeps Suet and Agarick of each a like quantity melt and bruise them after which make them up into little Pills and take 3 in a morning and next to them take of this conception to the bigness of an Nutmeg viz. The shavings of Ivory Ash Keys Yellow and wild Rape-seed Siler Montanus with red and white Behen of each one Dram Cinaman Galinga Long-pepper Cloves and Mace Balsam-wood Rosemary Flowers Blatiae Bezaria Gentle Marjorum and Pennyroyal of each 4 Scruples Balm Bogluss Cittern Reils of each two Scruples Pearl disolved or beaten to power one Scruple Musk two Grains White-Sugar one pound and a half bruise them and seeth them over a gentle fise in as much Malmsey as will make them into a Confection This Confection is indeed a most singular and approved one in all cases of Barrenness where cold or obstructions of the Vessels do occasion weakness in the Womb. Other causes of Barrenness there are when the Woman grows far so that the Caul swelling and bearing beyond its Bounds with its fatness obstructs the Passage into the Womb to prevent which the Woman must not sleep over much especially in the day time nor feed riotously but exercise her self in walking or moderate Exercises and often use Purgation and strong Glysters made of such Herbs and Drugs that are hot and dry which will in a short time remove such Obstructions But a more dangerous cause of Barrenness than yet I have named are the Whites which are contracted by an inordinate Eurudition of an excrementitious Humour collected through the Vitiousness of the Blood incident to Yonng and Old at such times as they are capable of Generation and therefore the Cure must be hastned by reason that in short time it derides Art and renders Women inevitably barren occasioning Leanness Consumption Melancholly Dropsie falling of the Womb swooning Convulsions which renders it difficult and dangerous in long continuance though in the beginning it may be easily removed In the Cure of this let Phlebotomy or Blood letting be avoided for as much as the bad Humour must be by no means recalled to defile the Blood the Disease it self being a sufficient weakning of the Body and vital Spirits First then to discuss the Humour in order to its Expurgation take two ounces of Guaicum the like quantity of China and Lentick-wood decoct them in Water and Honey drinking a pint fresh made each morning then to dry â—p the Contraction of the Vessels or Humour that lodged there take the Root of â—ilipendula beat it to powder and drink it in White-wine Morning and Evening as also for Astringents use Bones burnt and beat to powder likewise the ashes of Capons Dung ejected after a long time steeping in fair water the Patient must likewise avoid sleeping upon her Back lest the Humour descend and contract in the Vessels of the Womb but let her be rubbed often to disperse them that they settle not in any one place Sometimes this occasion of Barrenness happens through the violent attraction of the VVomb and then appears signs of afflictions of the Womb the Fiux not being so great to cure which Suffumarions are the most proper and those may be made of Frankinsence Laudanum Santalum or Mastick the Woman upon such occasion having great regard to her self that she take not cold or proceed to intemperate Diet. Many women there are whose violent lust contracts a heat that destroys the Seed and renders it incapable of coagulating and mixing with the Blood which very sparingly on such occasions flow from the several parts to the womb In this case 't is requisite to avoid hot Air soft lying hot Meats and Spices and requisite to bleed in the Basilick Vein and Purge moderately with Electuary hâ—m de Epithijmo and juice of Roses each two drams and a half Whey half a pint mix them together and drink them fasting in the morning and so continue 4 hours after or for want of the former you may take Triphera Sarasenicia and Rhuberb of each half a dram pulverized and mixed with 2 ounces of Syrup of Roses Violets or Endive but the most excellent restorative to cool and moderate the Temper in this case is a Diet drink made as followeth viz. Take Pistacho Pingles and Eringoes of each half an ounce of Saffron a Dram Lignum Alloes Gallinga Caryophillata Mace red
and be careful therein lest by laying any one that has an infectious Disease as the Pox c. she get it and so spoil other Women as a Midwife once did who laying a Strumpet that had an inveterate Pox which occasioning a Bubo upon her right hand and she not leaving off her Calling spoiled divers Women nor the Women only but the Men also to whom it was communicated by their Wives which made them think hard of each other and for a long time could not imagine how it happened but at last it was discovered by an able Physician and the Midwife for ever after barr'd her Practice and not so only but followed with Curses even to her Grave She must likewise observe that she entertains no great belly'd Women at Bed and Board in her House lest thereby she bring a Scandal upon her Self and so lose her Practice If the Birth at any time be hard and difficult she must not be dismayed but chear up the Woman and try her utmost Skill to make the Labour easie Directions for which shall hereafter be incerted nor must she ever think of any thing but doing well and using her utmost skill causing all necessary things that are proper for the work consolation of the Woman and reception of the Child to be in a readyness and above all let her use her diligence either by perswasion or otherwise to keep the Woman from being unruly in her pangs least thereby she destroy both her self and her Child and not in any wise to proceed too hasty in her business but wait Gods leasure in all things and by no means let her suffer her wits to scatter by dismay or doubt if things go not well for fear it disorders the senses and a Person that keeps her wits together is capable of giveing assistance in weighty affairs for when we are most at a plunge then there is most need of prudence to set things right And seeing she can never be an expert Midwife that has no further knowledge than of the external parts I shall not think it amiss briefly with modesty to proceed in describing the generative part of Woman as they have been Anatomized by the learned of the present and past ages and shew the use of such Vessels c. as are contributing to Generation CHAP. XIII Of the Genitals of Women External and Internal to the Vessels of the Womb. WAs it not for the benefit of Practitioners and Professors of the Art of Midwifry I should above all things spare to Treat of these particulars because they may be turned by some Lascivious and lude Person into ridicule but they being absolutely necessary to be known I will hope the best and proceed in order At the Bellies Inferior parts is the Pubis where when Virgins come to maturitie Nature has ordained a covering of Hair to hide as it were the Secret parts and shroud 'em from any ill conveniency when descending downward there appears two closures of Flesh as it were Lips which are the Portals of the Pallace of Generation giving enterance into the more Secret and Abstruse parts and between these being the Exterior Orifice it is properly called the privy Member composed of protuberances and are accounted two soft oblong bodies composed of Skin and a spongy kind of Flesh The next things that offer are the Nimphae and Clytoris the former of which are of a Membrany and flimy Substance spongy soft and partly Fleshy being of a bloody colour in the shape of Wings two in number though from their rise they are joyned in an acute Angle producing there a fleshly Substance which cloaths the Clytoris and many times they spread so far that incision is required to make way for the Mans Instrument of Generation The Clytoris is a substance in the upper part of the Division where the two Wings concur and is the Seat of venerial Pleasure being like a Yard in Situation Substance Composition and Erection growing sometimes out of the Body two Inches but that rarely happens unless thro' extream lust or extraordinary accident But to proceed this Clytoris consists of two spongy and skinny Bodies containing a distinct Original from the Pubis Bone the Head of it being covered with a tender skin having a hole or passage like the Yard of a Man tho' not quite through in which and the bigness it only differs from it The next things in course are the Fleshy Knobs and the great Neck of the Womb. And these Knobs are behind the Wings being four in number much resembling Mirtle berries being placed in quadrangle one against the other and in this place is incerted the Orifice of the Bladder which opens it self into the Sissure to evacuate the Urin for securing of which from Cold or the like inconveniency one of these Knobs are placed before it and shuts up the Passage The Lips of the Womb that next appear being separated disclose the Neck thereof in which two things are to be observed viz. The Neck it self and the Hymen but more properly the Claustrum Virginule of which I have before discoursed By the Neck of the Womb is to be understood the Channel that is between the aforesaid Knobs and the inner Bone of the Womb which receives the Yard like a Sheath and that it may the better be delated for the pleasure of Procreation the Substance of it is smewy and a little spongy and in this Concavity are divers folds or Orbicular Plights made by Tunicles wrinkled like an expanded Rose in Virgins they plainly appear but Women that have been used often in Copulation they are extinguished so that the inner side of the Wombs Neck appears smooth and in old Women it becomes more hard and grifley And now note that although this channel be sometimes writhed and crooked sinking down yet in the time of copulation labour or the monthly Courses it is erected and extended which over Extension occasioned the great pain in Child-Birth The Hymen or Claustrum Virginale is that which closes the Neck of the Womb being as I have before cited in the Chapter relating to Virginity broken in the first copulation its use being rather to stay the untimely Courses in Virgins than to any other end and commonly when it is broke in copulation or by any other accident a small quantity of Blood flows with some small pain passing Hence it is observed that between the duplicitiy of the two Tunicles which constitute the Neck of the Womb there are many veins and arteries running along and arising from the Vessels descending on both sides the Thighs and passing into the Neck of the Womb being extreamly large and the reason of their largements is for that the Neck of the Bladder requires to be filled with abundance of Spirit thereby to be extended and dilated for its better taking hold of the Yard great heat being requied in such motions which becoming more intense by the act of frication does comsume a considerable quantity of
cannot be well delivered then let her keep her Knees and Thighs as far asunder as she can her Legs bowed together her Buttocks the Soles of her Feet and Heels being fixed upon a Little Log of Timber placed for that purpose that she may have the greater force to strain now in case her Back be exceeding weak a Swath-band may be cast under it the band being four double and about 12 inches broad and this must be held by two persons who with steady hands and equal motion must raise her up at the time the Pains happen but if they be not exact in their motion 't is better evaded and at the same time let 2 Women hold her Shoulders that she may the better strain out the Birth with more advantage and the better to facilitate it let a Woman stroak or press the upper part of her Belly gently and by degrees nor must the Woman her self be faint hearted but Couragious and of a good Heart forcing her self by straining and stopping her Breath In case of Delivery the Midwife must wait with patience till the Childs Head or othre Members burst the Membrane for if through Ignorance or hast to be gone to other Woman a ssome have done the Midwife tear the Membranes with her Nails she indangers both the woman and the Child for it lying dry and wanting that slipperyness that should facilitate it its ligress comes forth with greater Pain When the Head appears the Midwife must gently hold it between her two hands and draw the Child at such times as the Womans pangs are upon her and at no other slipping by degrees her four fingers under its Armpits not using a rough hand in drawing it forth least by such means the Child through its tenderness receive any deformity of Body As soon as the Child is taken forth which is commonly with its Face downwards let it be laid upon its Back that it may more freely receive external Respiration then cut the Navel-string with a a sharp Instrument about three inches from the Body tying that which adheres to the Belly with a Silken string as near as you can then cover the Head and Stomach of the Child well suffering nothing to come upon the Face The Child being thus drawn forth and in Health lay it aside and let the Midwife regard the Patient in drawing or causing to come forth the Secundine which are the contracted Membranes And this may be done by wagging and stirring them up and down and afterward with a gentle hand drawing them forth or if the work be difficult let the Woman hold Salt in her hands shut them close and breath hard into them whereby she shall know whether the said Membranes are broken or not The like may be known by causing a strain or Vomiting by putting one Finger down her Throat by straining or moving her Inferior parts being all observed to be done out of hand If this fail she may take a draught of raw Elder water or the Yolk of a raw Egg or smell to a piece of Fssa-Faetida especially if she be troubled with the Wind chollick a Remedy for which I shall hereafter prescribe If she have taken Cold it is a great obstruction to the coming down of the Secundines and in such cases the MIdwife ought to chase the Womans Belly with a gentle hand which breaks not only the wind but obliges the Secondine to come down And these proving Ineffectual the Midwife must dilate with her hand the exterior Orifice of the Womb and gently draw it forth Having discoursed of common Births or such as for the most part are easie I shall proceed to give directions in case of Extremity CHAP. XXI In case of Extremity what ought to be Observed especially to Women who in their Travel are accompanied with an Eflux of Blood Convulsions or Fits of the Wind. IN case of Extremity greater regard must be had then at other times and first of al the situation of the Womb and her posture of lying must be cross the Bed being held by such as have strength to prevent her sliping down or moving her self in the operation of the Man Midwife or Chirurgeon her Thighs must be sundered as wide as may be and so held whilst her Legs invert or bend backward towards her Hips her Head leaning upon a Bolster and the Reins of her Back supported with the like nor Rump and Buttocks likewise Elevated observing to cover her Stomack Belly and Thighs with warm Linnen to keep them from cold winds The woman being in the posture aforesaid let the Operator put up his hand if he finds the neck of the Womb dilated and remove the contracted Blood that obstructs the passage of the Birth and having by degrees with much gentleness made way let him tenderly move the Infant his hand being first anointed with sweet Butter or a harmless Pomatum and if the waters are not come down then without any difficulty may they be let forth when if the Infant attempts to break forth with the Head foremost or cross he may gently turn it to find the Feet which having done let him draw forth one and fasten to it a Ribbon then put it up again and by degree find the other when bringing them as close and even as may be and between whiles giving the Woman leave to breath urging her to strain in helping Nature to perfect the Birth he may draw it forth and the better to do it that his hold may be the surer he must fasten or wrap a Linen Cloath about the Childs Thighs observing to bring it into the World with its Face downward In case of a flux of Blood if the Neck of the Womb be open it must then be maturely considered whether the Infant or the Secundines come first which often the latter happening to do stop the mouth of the Womb and hinder the Birth to the endangering both the Woman and the Child in such a case I say the Secundine must be removed by a swift turn and indeed they have by their so coming down deceived many who feeling their softness supposed the Womb was not delated and by their being so decived the Woman and Child or at least the latter has been lost the Secundines removed the Child must be sought for and drawed forth as has been directed and if in such a case the Woman or Child dye the Midwife or Chirurgeon is blameless because they did their true endeavour If it appear upon enquiry that the Secundine comes first let the Woman be delivered with all convenient expedition because great flux of Blood will follow for then the Veins are opened and upon this account two things are to be considered First the great or lessness of the Secundines advancing if the former and the head of the Child appear first it must be guided and directed towards the Neck of the Womb as in case of natural Births but if there thro' the weakness of the Child or Mother appear any
under the Tongue look greenish the Neck flusheth with heat the Back bone cold the Veins and Arteries swell and the Pulses are observed more easily Fourthly If the Veins in the Breasts appear blackish and afterwards turn yellow the Teats look firey and upon drinking cold drink the Woman feels it as it were in her Breasts Fifthly if she on a suddain fall to loathing her Meat and Drink coveting things unreasonable and not fit for Sustenance be troubled with Pukeins weakness of Stomach sore declining and there be little Worms found about her Navel Sixthly If the lower part of the Belly swell and weakness be contracted in her Loyns with inward Gripings and retention of the course 7 days after copulation After which act there is a Cold and Trembling seizes on the Members External by reason the force of the Womb violently attracts the heat dries up the moisture Seventhly It is a certain sign of Conception if the Midwife puting up her finger find the interior neck of the Womb exactly closed If the Womb wax round and swell the Courses stay the Thighs swell with some pain the whole Body grows weak the Face at times becomes Pale the Urine white with a little cloud after some standing at the top of it if many Attoms appear in it Eighthly if Urine be put up in a Glass three days and the Woman have conceived certain live things will appear to stir in it if a bright Needle be put in a whole night and she have conceived divers little red Specks will be thereon but if not it will be blackish or rusty nor are these Imaginations but the approved Assertions of the Learned in Physick and Skilful in Midwifry who have made it their study to search into the depth of Natures Secrets And next comes a nicer Point to be treated of not without the Patronage of such whose Wisdom and indefatigable Labours have rendered them famous to Posterity The which take as followeth After Conception and the Child be come to some perfection so that the Sex may be distinguished if it happen to be a Male Child then the right Eye of the Woman will to appearance move swifter and sparkle more than the left the right Pap will rise swell and be more hard than the left and the Teats colour will change more suddenly and the increase of the Milk will be speedy and if it be milked out and set in the Sun it will look like Pearl contracting it self into a more solid matter than ordinary or if upon the milking it out you cast it upon the Womans Urin it will sink to the bottom Her right Cheek will often glow and be more ruddy than the left and indeed the whole colour of her Face more lively than at other times she feels less Sadness than if she conceived a Female And when first the Child stirs it is more brisk and strong in its motion than the other having commonly its first motion on the right side on the sixtieth day if her Courses flow the fortieth day after Conception if her Belly be more accute towards the Navel and as she goes she puts her right Leg foremost and rising observe to ease her self on the right side more than on the left Now in case a Female be conceived the tokens are averse to these for the most part the first motion rarely happening before the 19th day after Conception and then it is made on the left side Females are carried with more pains than Males thro' defect of heat in the Womb to attract the substance also the Thighs and Genital Members of the Woman swell more than ordinary her Colour departs and her Longings are Extream and her Courses flow the Thirtieth day after Conception If Twins are conceived which many times happens through the strange disposition of the Womb and exceeding quantity of Seed the sign thereof will not appear till the third or fourth month after conception and then the first appearance will be by the motion of the Infants both ways that is on either side of the Womb at once for they receive their Souls at one and the same time also if her two Flanks swell higher than the middle of the Belly if there does appear a line or as it were a division from the Navel to the Groyn making a kind of a Channel or if the Woman with more than ordinary pain support her burthen And thus much may suffice for these from whence I shall proceed to give the Reader an insight into false Conceptions that frequently deceive Women especially such as are over desirous of Children CHAP. XVII Of false Conceptions and how to know them HAving already treated of true Conceptions the next thing note worthy is what relates to false Conceptions and in this case Women are sometimes deluded thinking themselves with Child when their Belly only swell with the retention of their usual Courses that fall not according to their usual times or else by a lump of indigested Flesh for the most part like the Gizard of a Fowl greater or lesser according to the time of its continuance there which is frequently four months and is called a Moon Calf At other times they are deceived by Moles which are twofold viz. The true and a false the former of which is a fleshly body filled with many Vessels streaked with white green or black Lines not deficent of Membranes but incompassed with divers yet without growth motion Bones Bowels or any Internals receiving its nourishment through certain veins notwithstanding it lives as we may say the life of a Plant without any figure or order ingendered Original in the concavity of the Matrix adhearing to its side but not participating of its substance The latter of these viz. the false Mole may be divided into four distinctions as following First the windy Mole being a contraction or conflux of wind Secondly the watery Mole being a gathering of Water Thirdly the Humourous Mole or conflux of divers humours and Fourthly the Membranous Mole being many Membranes in the form of a Bag filled with Blood and of these in their order The Mole is contracted in the Womb when a Woman has copulation during her monthly Purgations or otherways unseasonably or else when she lies with great desire and lust with her Husband when she has already conceived or by retaining her Courses beyond the time Nature allows for their expurgation The windy Mole is occasioned through defect of heat in the Womb and parts adjacent as the Liver and Spleen which ingender a polite or windy vapour which fills the membranous parts and puffs up the concavity of the Matrix The watry Mole is ingendred of divers apt confluences of thin matter or watry Efluxes which passing through the Vessels evacuates into the Womb having its Original from the Spleen Liver or parts adjoyning and above all from the Liver when 't is cold weak and not able to concoct all the Nutriment into Blood so that the remainder turning
into watey humour falls into the Womb and cannot be easily voided thence The Humorous Mole is ingendered by moist attracted humours as the Whites or certain watery Purgations which distill from the Menstruous Veins and gathering into a glutenous substance stay in the concavity of the womb The Membranous Mole is no other then a contraction of Blood within a Skin or Membrane to which is fastned many white and transparent Vessels filled with Blood the which coming forth and being thrown into Water the Blood goes out and the Membrane rumbles together shrinking on a heap like coagulated Seed Now most or all of these false conceptions have many signs or symptoms coherent with the true as the depravity of Appetite puking swelling suppression of the Courses swelling of the Breasts and Belly so that many are at a plunge to distinguish them for indeed it is most easily to be done though in these following matters there is distinction viz. In case of a false Conception the Breast swell and fall again not containing any Milk the Face is frequently puffed up the Arms the Groyn and the Thighs grow megat and lanker the Belly waxes hard as if Dropsical being almost of an equal roundness with many prickings at the bottom scarcely admitting of Intermission which breaks the rest of the Women so afflicted divers other signs are there to know it by especially the true or fleshy Mole as thus A Male Infant begins to move at the beginning of the third month for the most part and the Female at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth now when any motion happens the Women ought to consider whether she have any Milk in her breasts if she have it is a sign of a true Coneption but the contrary of a false one it is also the sign of a true Conception if the Child move freely and lively in all parts of the Womb for although there is a motion in a false Conception yet it is dull and not quick nor active in motion the motion not being in it self but in the expulsive Faculty of the Mother and further if the Woman observe she may perceive it fall always to the side she lies on and she lying on her back if her belly be stroked down the burden will descend and not have for want of inbred force a power to recover its Station But what confirms it more is that 9 Months expired no Travel ensues but her Belly still increases whilst all the rest of the body grows lean and out of order The Signs of the windy Mole are divers as the sudden stretching of the Belly like a bladder yet soft and spungy especially near the Groins and small thereof when if it be struck it sounds like a drum and that the Swelling is sometimes more and sometimes less so that according to its increase or decrease the Woman feels more heavy or more light The watery Mole is known by its distention of the Belly and especially when she lies upon her back the sides thereof are more swelled than the middle or the bottom which grows flatter by reason the watery Humour falls to the sides moving up and down as if it were a fluctuation of Water and much to the same purpose as the Symptoms of the humorous Mole only with this distinction that the Flanks and Thighs are more stretched by the Watery Mole than by the other because the Water being thinner than the Humour or not confined in Cells flows thither and that which in case of a watry Mole comes through Natures conduite is clear when in case of a humourous Mole the water is red or of a bloody colour Further observe in case of a false conception the Courses come not down and the Navel of the Mother advanceth it self little or nothing which in true Conception is otherwise Other false Conceptions there are occasioned by divers Tumours which the Ignorant take for Moles when they are only Rotundies and swelling the Belly which are not discovered till the Womb be opened and then though the Womb be not all out of order there does appear at one or both corners thereof little bags full of water in others there are to be seen a heap of Kernels or superfluous flesh like a cluster of Grapes in the Womb causing it to swell Yet in such cases the Courses are observed to proceed in due order which denotes the Womb to be in good order Another Excrescency of Flesh there is which some call a Pendent Mole being a piece of fleshy substance hanging within the Interior Neck of the Womb being in breadth about a finger at the place where it is fastned increasing bigger and bigger towards the bottom like a small Bell possessing the whole Orifice of the privy Member sometimes appearing outward to a great bigness CHAP. XVIII Instructions for Women how to govern themselves during their being with Child THese Instructions being exceeding necessary I thought fit to lay them down for a Rule to such as are desirous of self-preservation And indeed for want of due observance divers Diseases afflict Child-bearing Women nay the Child is frequently lost or if it come to a perfect Birth proves sickly and disordered through the evil Humours that are derived to it through the Mothers misobservance In the first place then the Woman with Child ought to choose a Temperate Air not infected with Fogs arising from Marshes Ditches Ponds Lakes or Rivers and not to go abroad in too hot nor too cold weather nor when the South wind blows strong for that wind above all others disturbs and disorders Women with Child oftentimes causing Abortion And next to it the North-wind is hurtful causing Catarrhs Coughs and Rhumes which opening the body causes the Woman to bring forth before her time In short if any evil Vapour be drawn in during pregnancy causes divers Diseases In case of Diet she ought to be very cautious in chusing such Meats as create wholsome Nourishment all Meats that are moderately dry being taken so to do and let her observe not to fast immoderately for that renders the Child sickly and weak and often for want of Nourishment constrains it to be born before its time nor on the other hand must she be too gluttonous for that again stuffs it and causes it to swell beyond its natural bounds All Meats either too hot or too cold and moist are to be avoided as Salads Spices Meats and the extraordinary use of her Meats which makes the Children come forth oftentimes without Nails which is a sign of short life The most wholsome Meats in this case are Pidgeons Turtles Larks Partridges Pheasants Veal Mutton or any such Meats that is of good Juice and contributing to kindly Nourishment as also such Fruits as are sweet and often digestion as Cherries Pears Damsons c. but let her avoid such things as subject her Body to windiness Her Longings if Extravagant she must restrain at least as much as in her lies not eating any