a Woman newly layd p. 247 Sect. 4. Of the bruises and rents of the outward parts of the Womb caused by Labors p. 252 Sect. 5. Of the After-pains p. 254 Sect. 6. Of the Lochia whence they come if good or bad their stopping and what ensues p. 255 Sect. 7. Of the Inflammation c. of the Womb. p. 258 Sect. 8. Of the Inflammation and Apostemation of the Breasts p. 259 Sect. 9. Of the curdling of the Milk in the Breasts p. 262 Sect. 10. Of Choping c. and loss of the Nipples p. 265 PART IV. Of the Diseases and Symptoms happening to little Children and of the choice of a Nurse SEct. 1. What manner of Woman a Nurse ought to be and whether the Mother be the best Nurse p. 269 Sect. 2. Of the Diseases and Symptoms which happen to Children and first of their Diseases in general p. 291 Sect. 3. Of Feavers Meazels and Small-Pox in little Children p. 293 Sect. 4. Of the milky scab Achores Scald-Head and Lice p. 295 Sect. 5. Of the watry swelling of the Head p. 298 Sect. 6. Of Fright in the Sleeps and Watchings p. 299 Sect. 7. Of the Falling-sickness and Convulsion p. 301 Sect. 8. Of pain in the Ears Moisture Vlcers and Worms p. 302 Sect. 9. Of the Thrush bladders of the Gums and Inflammation of the Tonsils p. 303 Sect. 10. Of the breeding of Teeth p. 304 Sect. 11. Of a Catarrh Cough and difficult breathing p. 305 Sect. 12. Of the Hiccup and Vomiting p. 307 Sect. 13. Of the pains and puffing of the Belly p. 309 Sect. 14. Of the Flux of the Belly p. 311 Sect. 15. Of Costiveness p. 312 Sect. 16. Of Worms p. 313 Sect. 17. Of the Rupture p. 314 Sect. 18. Of Bunching out and inflammation of the Navil p. 315 Sect. 19. Of the falling out of the Fundament p. 316 Sect. 20. Of difficulty and stopping of Vrine p. 317 Sect. 21. Of not holding Vrine p. 318 Sect. 22. Of Leanness and Bewitching p. 319 SECT I. Of the True generation of it Parts and Increase of the Infant in the Womb according to the daies and times till the time of the Birth WHen the Womb whose property it is naturally to receive seed for generation as a Loadstone attracts iron or Jeat straws or feathers hath received the seed and by its virtue hath shut it up for generation Presently from the first day until the sixth or seventh there grow and arise very many and very small fibres or hairs beginning with a hot motion by which vital heat the Liver with its chiefest organs are generated as this following Figure may the more illustrate The small Fibres In the one of which branches there is a collection of blood of which first the liver is generated From whence it easily appears the liver is a congealed and concrete blood and also it may be manifest how many and various veins it hath prepared and fitted for the attractive and expulsive virtue But in the other branch are generated those webs oâ— veins with the dilatation of other veins as oâ— the stomach spleen and intestines in the lower part of the belly And from hence immediately all veins are collected together as so many branches into one trunk in the upper web of the liver towards the hollow veinâ—… and this trunk by and by sends down brancheâ— to make the midriff and directs not a few branches to the lower parts even to the very thighs and then the heart with its arteries extended into seed from the navil iâ— generated by a vital virtue and is directeâ— towards the spine of the back as is demonstrated in this figure 3. But those do attract the hottest and more subtile blood of which the heart is generated incased in a membrane naturally fleshy and thick necessary upon the account of so â—ot a member But the hollow vein extendâ—ng it self and penetrating the inward conâ—avity of the right side in the heart c. deâ—ives thence blood for the nourishment of the â—eart From the same branch also of this his vein and in the same part another vein ariseth called by some the immoveable or quiet vein because according to the account of the pulsation of other veins it beats not at all but lies quiet ordained for this end that it should let go the purest blood to the Lungs being vested with a double tunicle like an Arterie from whence it is called the Arterial vein But in the left concavity of the heart there are two Arteries that is to say the Venal Arterie and the Great Arterie which carries a great pulse with it and diffuseth the vital Spirits by the blood of the heart into all the Arteries of the Body For as the hollow vein is the original of all veins by which the Body doth attract its whole nourishment of blood so from the Aorta or great Arterie all pulsatile veins are derived diffusing the vital Spirits through the whole Body For the heart is the fountain and original of vital heat without which no creature or member can thrive Under the abovesaid Arterie in the left concavity of the heart another vein ariseth called the Venal Arterie And although that be really a pulsatile vein and doth direct the vital Spirits yet according to the manner of all pulsatile veins that have blood it hath but one coat and therefore made for that end that it should derive the cold air from the Lungs to refresh the heart as also to attemper its over-much heat And veins issuing out from both the cavities of the heart are inserted into the Lungs of which they are formed for the vein that proceeds from the right cavity of the heart produceth the most subtile blood which by small fibres dispersed here and there is changed into the fleshy substance of the lungs But from the great vein of the Liver viz. the Vena Cava or hollow vein the whole brest is generated and so successively the Arms and Thighs Within the time aforesaid also is generated the highest and chiefest part of this noble structure the Brain in the third Region of this mass for the whole mass of seed is filled with the animal Spirits that contracts a great part of the genital moysture and concludes it in a certain cavity wherein the brain may be formed but as to the out-fide it is inveloped with a certain covering which being dried with heat is brought into a boney substance and becomes a scull as appears by this precedent figure But the brain is so formed that it may conceive retain and change the natures of all the vital Spirits from whence also proceed the beginnings of all Reason and of the Senses For as veins have their original from the Liver and as arteries have their rise from the heart so also nerves being of a softer and milder natural existence arise from the brain and are not hollow as the veins are but solid for they are the first and chiefest instruments of all the senses by
which the motions of all the senses by reason of the vital spirit are justly made After the nerves from the brain also is formed the pith of the back-bone not of an unlike nature from the brain so that it scarce can be called marrow because it hath no likeness to marrow either by sight or in substance for the marrow is a kind of superfluous aliment arising from the blood of the members appointed to moisten and make the bones of the body grow but the brain and pith of the back have their original from the seed not deputed for the nourishment and growth of the other members but that by themselves they might make private parts of the body for the use and motion of the Senses that from thence all the other nerves may take their rise For from the pith of the back many nerves arise from which the body hath sense and motion as may appear by the difference betwixt the vital and animal faculties as hath been before hinted Moreover here it is to be observed that from the seed it self gristles bones coats of the veins of the Liver and of the arteries of the heart the brain with the Nerves and again the tunicles and as well other pannicles or membranes as those that wrap up the infant are generated but from the proper blood of the infant is the flesh it self ingendred and all those parts that are of a fleshy substance as the Heart the Liver and Lungs And then at length all these grow together by the menstruous blood attracted by the small veins of the Navil which are observed to be directed with their orifices into the Womb. All which are distinctly made by the eighteenth day of the first month from the very conception at which time it may be called seed but afterwards it becometh to be and is called a child which the Ancients have comprehended in these two verses Six daies in milk thrice three the seed's in blood Twice six makes flesh thrice six makes members good The lesser figure denotes the Nerves derived frō the Back and dispersed through the whole The explanation of the larger figure see in the following page FF Sheweth a young one of 18 daies though some hold it but 14 dayes in which all the members may be discerned apart GG The four Umbilical Vessels meeting in one HH How the Umbilical Vessels become thick by degrees that that doubt amongst some may be resolved whether they spring from the Womb or no. III Sheweth how the Umbilical veins and arteries are spread throughout the Chorion by infinite branches KKK Sheweth the membrane called Amnios in which sweat and urine are gathered together in which the Infant swimmeth and sits as safe as in a Bath SECT II. Of the signs of Conception and whether the Child thrive in the Womb. DR Good Mrs. Eutrapelia vouchsafe me your observations about Conceptions and let me understand what are the signs of Conception in general and what signs distinguish the Sexes Mid. Although Sir 't is hard to know whether a woman hath conceived yea or no yet it may be conjectured by many experienced Arguments as for instance First it is thought a credible sign of Conception if a woman either the tenth day after coition or sooner perceive not by reason of any humors any of her terms be they whites or reds And though the stopping of those be accounted for a sign yet that fails often because it may be as well before conception as after But waving this let us find out other marks and prognosticks of a true conception gathered from the state and condition of the woman her self being seriously examined from head to foot Secondly pains and giddiness in the head and a mist over the sight if they meet together these portend conception Thirdly the apples of the Eyes are lessened the Eyes swell and become swarthy the veins of the Eyes grow red and are full with blood the Eyes sink the Eye-lids are remiss divers colors are seen in the Eyes and are observed in a looking-glass the veins betwixt the Eyes and the Nose are swoln with blood and are seen clearer the veins under the Tongue are somewhat greenish Fourthly the chest is warm and the back cold Fifthly the Veins and Arteries are swoln and the pulse easier the veins in the breast are first black then either yellow or blew Sixthly The breasts grow big and hard with pain the nipple grows red if she drinketh that which is cold she feels cold in her breast Seventhly there is a great loathing of meat and drink and destruction of the natural appetite with longings after various meats with an absurd appetite a continual vomiting and weakness of stomach sower belching loathing of wine an inordinate pulsation of the heart sudden joy and after that as sudden grief pains about the navil heaviness about the loins swelling towards the bottom of the belly inward pricking in the body chilness of the outward parts after coition retention of the seed seven daies after copulation about the beginning of conception a shooting pain about the back and belly The courses are stop'd for those veins from which they flow carry the blood through certain holes that are at the end of them for the nourishment of the infant by the navil and part of it is conveyed upwards into the breasts and there is prepared for milk Eightly the thighs swell with pain but the body is weaker and the face pale Ninthly the belly is costive by reason of the compressure of the intestines The urine is white with a cold swimming at the top wherein are to be seen many atomes like those observable in the beams of the sun but when in the first Month many of these sink to to the bottom the vessel in which it is being shaken it seems to be drawn out like to wooll In the later months the urine is redrish or yellow it becomes blackish with a red cloud at the top I will here-with relate to you two experiments by which it may be known whether or no a woman hath conceived And the first is this Stop up a womans urine three daies in an urinal at the end of which strain it or rather drop it through fine linnen and if she hath conceived you shall see little creatures like to lice if these be red 't is a token of a male but if white they say portend a female If a womans urine be put in a brass Bason and stand there one night if you put into it a bright needle if she hath conceived that needle will be bespeckled with red spots but if otherwise it will be rusty all over The Signs whereby most pretend to know whether Male or Female be conceived being altogether Falacious and Ridiculous I have wholly omitted Dr. Since you have given such signs of Conception let me know by what signs you apprehend the Infant to be well and thrive in the Womb or not Mid. I shall Sir And first if it be
of all the parts of its body which is very tender wherefore I cannot conceive any necessity to oblige them more to empty the Urine which is in a small quantity in the Bladder then the excrements which are in the Guts which is not then done in any manner but only after the Child is born Bartholinus and others would have the Infant however to empty its Urine through its Yard and that these waters proceed from thence but there is a greater probability it should be vented by transpiration for before it is yet fully shaped and quick there is notwithstanding found a proportionable quantity of these waters to the bigness of its body which makes it appear that it is then neither the Urine rendred by the Vrachus nor Yard as all the World imagine and that which proves it more plainly is the example of some Children born with their Yards imperforated who notwithstanding have these waters whilst in the Womb And here it must be observed that when there is more then one Child they are never in the same Membrane unless their bodies are joined together which is rare and monstrous but each have their Membranes and waters apart Now these waters thus collected within these Membranes have divers very considerable uses First They serve the Infant to move more easily as it were by swiming from one side to the other and that it may not hurt the Womb by its frequent motions in striking dry against it which would cause great pain and often excite to Abortion and they serve also very much to facilitate its passage in the birth making the way very slippery and by that means the orifice of the Womb being moistened is better widened and yielding when they break just when the Child is ready to follow or a little before for else remaining dry it is born with greater difficulty and the Mother also more tormented by it And now Mrs. Eutrap having thus sufficiently as I hope explained the Membranes of the fetus and the waters contained in them I think it may not be amiss to say something in order of inquiring after the parts by which it is nourished whilst in the Womb and and here Mrs. Eutrap since as was said in the beginning that it is only nourished by its Mothers blood and that I am of opinion that big-bellied Women have none that is fair or good provident nature hath formed the placenta to serve it for a Magazine that it may always have sufficient and be there again elaborated and perfected to render it more convenient for its nourishment for without doubt so gross a blood as the Mothers cannot possibly be converted into its substance if it were not first purified in the placenta which is afterwards sent to it by means of the umbelical veins and brought back as we shall shew hereafter by the Arteries which are the conduits of which the Navil-string is composed We say then that the placenta is nothing but a spungy and fleshy mass somewhat like the substance of the spleen woven and interlaced with an infinite number of Veins and Arteries which compose the greatest part of the body made to receive the Mothers blood appointed for the Infants nourishment This mass is so called because it resembles a cake also it may be call'd the delivery because being come forth after the Child is born the Woman is quite delivered of her burthen it is also call'd the after-burthen because it is as a 2d Labor of which the Woman is not discharged till after the Child be born some give it the name of liver of the Womb because they say it serves as a liver to prepare the blood appointed for the Infants nourishment and Laurentius calls it the sweet bread of the Womb and appoints it the same use as that of the lower belly to wit for a rest and support to the Vessels of the Navil which disperseth an infinite number of branches throughout all its substance Now this placenta is made of the menstruous blood of the Mother which flows into the Womb by the accumulation of which it is formed its shape is flat and round about the bigness of a Trencher and 2 fingers breadth thick about the middle where the umbilical Vessels are fastened but is thinner towards the edges It is covered with the Chorion and Amnios on the side next the Infant and on the other side 't is joined and fastned to the bottom on the inside of the Womb It is strongest fastned to the Womb with its circumference by the Chorion which cleaves so close to it by the interlacings of an infinity of Vessels which appear very large in its surface that it cannot be separated from it without tearing its substance Though there be 2 or 3 Children in the Womb begot in the same act they have usually but one common after-burthen which hath as many Navil-strings as Children which are notwithstanding separated from one another by their several Membranes in each being the Children and waters but if they be superfetations there will be as many burthens as Children and as superfetations happen but rarely so there are few Women that have their burthens separated when they are delivered of several Children We scarce find any Creature but a Woman that hath an Afterburthen like this described and dischargeth it as useless as soon as the Child is born for most other Animals cast forth nothing after their young except the waters only and some slimes with the skins which surround them and in lieu of this fleshy mass those which as a Woman have but one at a time have only some cotyledones or many spungy kernels joyn'd inwardly to the proper substance of their Womb which terminates all the branches of the umbelical Vessels of their Young which Kernels as I have often observed in cutting up Sheep when they were not with young are not bigger then hemp-seed but when they were with young they swell'd as big as one thumb one bigger and one lesser and then they resembled the Figure of a round mushrome on the outside not yet spread after it 's cut from its stalk and to each of these kernels are fastned the branches of the umbilical Vessels however those that have more then one at a time as Bitches Rabbits c. have no kernels instead of which each young hath in its celule a kind of particular placenta which the dam eats as soon as she voids it after she hath knawn off the umbilical Vessels that hold it But these thing being fitter for Physitians and Chyrurgions to be contemplated on I shall proceed no farther to discourse thereon and shall only desire you to note that those Vessels appointed for the nouriture of the fetus are bigger then they are in Men because of their hollowness and as soon as the Child is born dry up and that part of them which is without the belly falls off and is separated close to the Navil 5 or 6 days after for which
well the breasts will be hard but if otherwise they will be flaccid and a waterish humor will flow out of them like to milk of its own accord Secondly if the courses flow too often out of the Womb in the time of child-bearing it is an argument of an unhealthy Child And moreover the fattest Women commonly bring forth the weakest Infants Thirdly if a woman bring Twins the one a Male the other a Female there is great danger of the Female because they are nourished by a different aliment in the Womb but if they be both Females there is the less danger Fourthly if the Child be gotten in the time of the monthly terms they are mixed with untoward humors from whence it is experienced that many leprous Infants are begotten Fifthly if there be superfaetation the last conception seldom liveth Now superfaetation is when a Woman having once conceived conceiveth again after a certain time which sometimes happeneth Sixthly if a Dropsie overtake the big-bellied Woman and that her Nose Ears and Lips look red it is a sign of a dead Child Seventhly if the infant come forth after the ninth month 't is oftentimes very weak Eightly if a virgin conceive before her first flowers it proves lusty and perfect child Dr. So much for Conception Tell me now somewhat of the nourishing of the Child in the Womb c. SECT III. Of the Nutriment of the Child in the Womb and by what nourishment it is preserved and when it groweth up to be an Infant WHilest the young one is in the womb it is nourished by blood attracted by the navil by which it is that women after they have conceived have their terms stop'd for then the infant begins to crave and attracts much blood For the blood presently after-conception is discerned by a three-fold difference The first and purest part of it the young one attracts for nourishment The second less pure and thin the wombforceth upwards by certain veins to the breasts where it becomes milk by which the infant is nourished so soon as it is born The third and more impure part of the blood remains in the womb and floweth out with the secundine both in the birth and after the birth Hence it is that Hippocates saith there is much affinity betwixt the flowers and the milk since the one happeneth to be made out of the other And Galen also by reason of this thing elegantly adviseth that the infant hath more from the mother than from the father for this reason because the seeds are first increased by the menstruous blood and then by these the Infant is presently nourished in the Womb and again being newly born it is nourished with milk And as roots have more nourishment from the earth than the plant from whence they came so also Infants receive more from the Mother than from the Father And hence he saith that it comes to pass that so much more is attributed to the Mother by how much more She contributeth more towards generation If the Infant be formed in 45 days it will stir in 90 days which is the middle time that it lies hid in the Womb for in the ninth month it will come forth and make haste to the birth although Females are oftentimes born in the tenth Month. And so much for the formation increase and perfection of the Infant according to the account of days and times SECT IV. How the Infant doth in the Womb the fifth the sixth the seventh and eighth month and of the due time and form of the Birth and causes of pain in Child-birth AFter the third and fourth month the Infant useth a more plentiful nourishment by which it groweth more and more until the time of Birth shall come Therefore it is to be understood that when it is born in the sixth month it cannot in nature live because though it be formed distinctly yet it is not arrived to its just perfection But if it be born in the seventh month it may easily live because then it is sufficiently perfect And whereas 't is a common opinion those born in the eighth month can rarely live but such as are born in the seventh are often times living because on the seventh month the Infant is ever moving towards the Birth at which time if it be strong enough it comes to the Birth but if not it remaineth in the Womb till it groweth stronger viz. the other two Months After the motion at seven Months end if it be not born it removes it self into some other place of the Womb and is so weakned by that motion that should it come to the birth in the following eighth Month it cannot live by reason of that motion This seems very probable to many but if they that practise deliveries make a rational reflection thereon they shall find that 't is the Matrix alone assisted with the compression of the Muscles of the lower belly and Midriff which cause the expulsion of the Child being stirred up by its weight and not able to be farther extended to contain it and not the Infant for want of nourishment is not able to stay any longer there and so useth its pretended endeavours to come forth and to that purpose kicking strongly it breaks the Membranes with its Feet which contain the waters insomuch as when the Child is naturally Born the skins are alwaies torn before the Head which pressing and thrusting each through the waters before it causeth them to burst out with force Hippocrates admits the 10 month and beginning of the 11. And here I do acknowledge for truth that the ordinary term of going with Child is 9 months but I cannot consent that Children born in the 7 month do oftener live than those born in the 8 but on the contrary I believe the nearer they approach to the term of 9 months the stronger they are and therefore rather live then those born in the 7th which is wholly contrary to the other opinion which they have from Hippocrates and in Egypt and Spain and other places Children born in the 8th month live But they should have considered there may be some difference about Hippocrates's Months viz. whether they were Solar or Lunar a Solar consisting of 30 or 31 days throughout the year and a Lunar of 27 days and some odd Hours and odd Minutes And then again the Women might be mistaken in their reckoning And do we not know not only in the same Country and Field but also on the same Vine grapes sometimes six weeks ripe before their ordinary Season and others not till a month after which happens according to the Territories different influence of the Sun and as the Vine is ordered So do we see Women brought to bed six weeks and 2 months before and sometimes as long after their ordinary term if it be not that the Womb not being capable of an extension beyond a certain degree cannot bear its burden but a little while after the account is out
Womb for a receptacle of the Infant and it hath with it three membranes but how Physitians name them I know not Dr. I will inform you then if you please with their names and uses and describe them to you in these two figures following which are explained by letters also as may appear The Explanation of the first Figures BBB Signifies that part of the Secundine called the Chorion which is the prop of all the Vessels of the young one CCC Denotes the branches of the Umbilical Veins and Arteries dispersed through the Chorion EEE The Membrane called Amnios and is the thinnest of all the Membranes and is white soft and shining with few and those very small Veins and Arteries dispersed among the folds and this is the very next coat to the Infant and is the receptacle for sweat and Urine that Membrane called Allantois not to be found in men though an Vrachus may be found DD Denotes all the Vessels meeting about the Navil by which the Infant is nourished Chorion Amnios P. Q Denotes the Membrane called Amnios and is the first that involveth the Infant RRRR The Liver or cake of the womb or after-burden by which the Infant receives nourishment and this is fastned to the Womb. SS The inward and outward Veins m. m. m. The Umbilical vein with its branches dispersed into the after-burden by which the Child is nourished and upon which it lyeth as upon a pillow though in the Amnios it swimeth as in a bath VV How all the Vessels meet about the Navil b. b.b Denotes the Infant newly born annexed to the secundine the Navil-string not cut Dr. You see Mrs. these Figures with their uses and explanation I shall now discourse more particularly of the membranes themselves The after-burden commonly called the secundine is so named either because it is as it were a second place mansion and receptacle of the Infant from the Womb or else because this Membrane is called the after-birth or second birth as coming forth after the Infant which if it stay behind brings great mischief as shall be spoken to at the latter end of this Treatise and Section The first membrane is called Amnios and this membrane covers the Infant from the head to foot insomuch that part of it sticks to the head of the Infant when it is born which they call a helmet though not always being left behind with the secundine in difficult labours this is so called from its softness and thinness others resemble it to white Paper or a shirt and is the thinnest of all in which is found great plenty of humors caused of urine and sweat in which the Infant swimeth as in a bath and lyeth so easie and secure lest it should fall foul against those neighbouring parts that are harder and besides that when the membrane is broken in the birth this water breaking out may make the passages by the neck of the Womb more plain and slippery for the Infant and this membrane also is every where included within the second which is called Chorion because it wraps the Infant like a ring and this immediately compasseth the former to which it is joyned as it were in a round figure like to a cake whose inward and hollow part it covers and involves and doth extend it self to its dimensions and can scarce be separated from it but doth firmly knit and bear up the vessels of the afterburden which immediately sticks to the womb by a certain fleshy mass that is formed being round and of somewhat a ruddy colour not compassing the whole infant by reason of innumerous springs of veins and atteries by which the blood is interwoven as if it were poured in and by which the infant is nourished This towards the infant is smooth but that part which is towards that fleshy round mass is rougher This round fleshy substance is called the liver of the womb or the cake of the womb which having such a substance as the liver hath no wonder if it should make and prepare blood for the nourishment of the infant On that side towards the womb it is rough and unequal like clefts in a bak'd cake and being cut in this part it sheweth an infinite company of hairs which if you trace they will bring you to the orifice of the veins themselves And although there be twins or more yet there is but one cake for into one cake so many navil strings are inserted in divers places as there are young ones though it may differ as to the bigness according to the body and condition of the infant yet the ground is still the same in the diameter This serves as a support of the umbilical vessels like a pillar it is also called the secundine The third is called Allantoides 't is a coat betwixt the Chorion and Amnios 't is very thin weak and narrow it covers but half the young one this is properly like a swathe or girdle and some say it is the receptacle of urine but it being not to be found in mankind there may be an Vrachus found instead of it I say no more of it Dr. These are the opinions of Physitians good Mrs. Eutrapelia that have written of these things now if you please I will tell you candidly and freely what my opinion is concerning these things As soon as the 2 seeds have been confusedly mixt and retained by conception the Womb immediately after by means of its heat separates this Chaos to make out thereof the delineation and formation of all the parts and begins to work upon these Seeds which though to the sight they may appear of a like nature and uniforme notwithstanding in effect they contain many dissimilar parts in them which it separates and distinguisheth one from another inclosing the noblest and on the outside the most glutinous of which first are formed the Membranes to hinder the Spirits wherewith the frothy Seeds abound from being at that time dissipated and afterwards to serve to contain the Infant and the waters therein in the midst whereof it swims that they may not stream away Now as the Membranes of the Infant are the first part formed so are they with the waters the first that present themselves to the passage in time of labour before the Infants head Concerning these Membranes and the descriptions most Authors have made of them I find them to be so dark therein that methinks 't is an hard matter to conceive them as they are by the explication they make of them for in the first place they do not agree in the number of them some accounting 3 as well for a Child as a Beast to wit the Chorion the Amnios and the Alantoides Others accounting but 2 because there is no Alantoides in an humane fetus But if this matter shall be strictly examined as hath been often done there will never be found any more then 2 the which being so closely joyned the one to the other they may be said to be but
Night going to bed or after her first sleep 2. The Terms overflow 1. when they continue longer then their usual time which is 2 or 3 days in Women that use no exercise 4 or 5 days 2. when they come oftner then once a month the cause is 1. a Rupture of some Vessel 2. immoderate purgation 3. some corroding humor 4. hard Labor in Child-bed or unkind handing the Womb if the Vessels be broken blood gusheth out in heaps and if from some knawing humor they are few but very painful the rest are easily known Let them abstain from exercise then 1. anoint the reins with Oil of Roses Myrtles or Quinces then boil the roots of Tormentil Cinquefoil Yarrow Knot-grass Comfrey dead Nettles Solomon's Seal Purslan Shepherds-purse red Roses acorn Cups bark of Oak Trees some of these in her ordinary drink or the juices of what can be had taken alone and this above all take Comfrey leaves or roots and Clowns alheal of each an handful bruise and boil them well in Ale and drink of it now and then this will do though the Vessels were open 3. Flux of the Womb is a continual droping from that part of the body if it be red like putrified blood it comes from that humor if white and pale 't is from Phlegm if yellow 't is from Choler if pure blood as if a vein were opened either a knawing of the Womb or tearing in delivery is feared The cure differs as the cause if pure blood flow let blood i' th arm then use the Medicine last mentioned of Comfrey roots and Woundworth if flegm be the cause use Cinnamon in all meats and drinks and Methridate and Treacle for Antidotes a little every Morning take a scruple of Pills of Amber going to Bed for divers Nights if from Choler purge with syrup of Violets and Cassia Fistularis of each an ounce after take powder of Ivory and Missleto of the oak of each one scruple mixt with half an ounce of conserve of Roses every Morning for a Week if from putrified blood having first let blood i' th Foot then strengthen the Womb as before always forbearing violent motions and passions and sharp and salt meats and provokers of Urine for dead Nettles there are three sorts white red and yellow the flowers of that colour the white help the white the red the red the yellow the yellow flux 4. The Womb fallen out is cured if it be swell'd by bathing it with a decoction of Mallows Linseed and Fennigreek boil'd in water 2 or 3 times and when 't is got up let her keep her Legs close or else tye them with a swath apply stinking things to the Womb as Assa Foetida oil of Amber her own Hair burnt and let her smell of Civet c. the rest is before and after 5. The Womb is inflamed by many causes a blow stopping of the Terms Abortion Ulceration Immoderate Lechery overmuch walking cold For cure strengthen the Womb first then first clarifie Whey and boil Plantain leaves or roots in it and drink it then inject the juice of Plantain into the Womb with a Syringe if in Winter when you cannot get the juice make a strong decoction of the leaves and roots in water if the body be costive use a Clyster and here note that in all Inflammations blood-letting is the chiefest remedy first i' th Arm then if need i' th Foot if it be near the Neck of the Womb make a pessary of wool and anoint it with unguent album or populeon or mixt 6. The Womb is sometimes troubled with wind which is cured as the fits of the Mother and moistness of the Womb is cured as a flux of flegm 7. Heat and dryness of the Womb is incident to Women of a Cholerick complexion is cured by cool and moistning herbs of which stinking Arach is chief neither are Plantan and Mallows much behind milk is good for such to drink first purging with an ounce of Cassia Fistula new drawn going to bed and follow your business the next day Dr. Thus far good Mrs. Eutrap but now hear me a little concerning this matter All rational men know that the generation of mankind as also of other irrational Animals is the most perfect excellent and exquisite work of God's Vicegerent Nature the which is most excellently and elegantly demonstrated and set forth by Aristotle that great Secretary of Nature in his second Book which he hath written of the Generation of living Creatures for whereas it is impossible by the decree of Nature that any humane Creature should live always or have an immortal Being in this World much less should we imagine that should be granted to Bruits and other Souls of an inferior rank therefore for the continuance and propagation of each sort it hath otherwise ordained that during the continuance of this World there should be likewise maintained a successive generation of both Sexes by the Action of procreation and from hence after him Galen the greatest Luminary of Physick next Hippocrates says that it comes to pass that Creatures are furnished with Instruments of Generation proper for the quality of their Sex and are consequently indued with natural Instincts prompting them to the use thereof Therefore we shall at this time discourse of this wonderful operation of Nature and endeavour as far forth as our Talent will afford us to seek out the causes that may hinder and from thence prescribe means to remove them and so consequently assist and further her in so miraculous a concern and this partly upon our Dame nature's account whose Servants only we are and in the next place for the sakes of those Ladies Gentlewomen and others who are often disconsolate and dejected upon their being accounted barren Now then you must note that as conception hath some alliance with every part of the Body as being undoubtedly concern'd therein so the same Conception may be quite abolished diminished or deprived as it happens in all other actions and motions of the body so that if Conception be quite abolish'd in a Woman in such sort that she can never be able to conceive this affection is then called Barrenness or such a Woman may be called a barren Woman which you please But if she Conceive sometimes though seldome here the Conceptive faculties may be said to be diminished or weakened by some cause or other and to this kind of diminished Conception may be referr'd untimely births called Abortion And lastly a depraved Conception is when in the Womb is contained some unnatural Conception such as Monsters and Mola's c. The causes and remedies of all which it hath and shall be our duty to lay open to the Females Sex according to the best of our skil and knowledge first to the end we may further the propagation of humane kind and secondly that we make if possibly remove the reproaches laid upon Barrenness which hath been in all ages and continues to this day and will do to end
of the World and than which there can hardly happen a greater defamation to the Female Sex Insomuch as some like Rachel have cry'd out to their Husbands for Children or else their Lives will lye on 't rather than endure the reproach of Barrenness and some Women have preferr'd their maids to their Husbands so that their Child might be reputed theirs to take away the blemish of Barrenness But you shall find but few Women of their minds now a days so then we shall in the first place speak of the causes of this so odious and distateful a Disease and then of their removing for you know 't is an old saying and true take away the cause and the effect will consequently cease Now the chief method of finding out all causes which do or may bring damage to the faculties of the body is no other then the knowledge of the means whereby these faculties perform their Actions in the time of health and soundness of body And whereas to the producing of any natural Conception there is a necessity of distinction of both Sexes and a conjunction and carnal Copulation of the Man and Woman without which no Generation can be effected As for that story of a certain Maids conceiving with Child by standing in a Bath where some Mans seed had been cast the Womb drawing it to it as the Load-stone doth Iron or Jet straw it was either a miracle in Nature or she so gave out to save her bacon and so no ways belongs to our purpose and having before declared the manner in other Sect. Therefore we shall here lay down the manifest causes of Barrenness from either Sex so that neither may be unjustly blamed where they happen for since the Women have in this case a great interest and damage too if the fault be in the Man because they may often help their Husbands defect and in so doing pleasure themselves we shall not therefore omit to treat of the causes thereof which may happen to men and moreover there being a necessity that both Sexes be furnished with fit and proper Instruments for the work of Generation as the man with a Yard c. and a Woman with a Womb c. Then even reason will tell you that if there chance to be any defect or dissaffection in nature in any of the Members of either Sex belonging to this work of Generation the fruitfulness or Conception must necessarily be hindred impaired or quite and clear abolished To begin then first with what belongs to the Mans side one cause of Barrenness laid down by many Authors is the over-much length of the Yard by reason whereof the Seed is too much cooled in the passage before it can be injected home into the Womb. But though this be a somewhat probable and plausable reason yet I am of opinion that it is but weak and will not hold water with those of greater reason for all Souls are not endued with a like proportion of reason for the Seed passing through the pipe of the Yard is kept hot enough the generative Spirits at that time oft flocking to the Yard to assist it in so great a work and the like being performed on the Woman's part I cannot see how it can be any ways possible it should take cold in its journey but on the contrary side it may be rationally imagin'd that the long Yard is most fit and commodious for Conception by sending Seed to the inmost and furthermost parts of the Womb and so most likely to be there retained its due time And now others on the contrary side will have the short Yard the cause of rendring Men unfruitful and these I think have more reason on their side because it cannot so well inject the Seed into the Womb as you heard before But indeed neither can this be a firm reason for unfruitfulness in Man since 't is confirmed by experience that such an one hath begot Children likewise But a greater reason of unfruitfulness in the man may be some vitiousness or defect in his Yard as if it be crooked or if any of its Ligaments be writhed or broken or bruised whereby the passages through which the seed should flow be corrupt stop'd or vitiated or some Disease or imperfection be either in the proper or Neighbor parts thereof Another cause of Barrenness by defect of the Yard is a too much weakness and tenderness thereof it being not strongly enough erected to inject the Seed into the Womb. Then another cause in Men may be some vice in the Stones as if they be oppressed with any Inflammation or swelling or wound or ulcer Also the Man may be Barren from his want of Seed or if it be nought as in the Running of the Reins or Venereal Disease Glutony or Drunkenness c. and then too frequent Carnal Copulation is a cause of Barrenness because it attracteth the Seedy moisture from the Stones before 't is sufficiently prepared and concocted as all other members of the body by institution of nature use to draw their accustomed juice to themselves so now if any one by daily Copulation draws out all the moisture of his Seed then do the Stones draw the moist humors from the upper Veins to themselves and so having but a little blood in them they are forced of necessity to cast it out raw and thus the stones being deprived of the moisture of their veins draw the same from the upper veins and the upper veins from all the parts of the body for their proper nutriment to the great damage of the body robbing the same of the vital Spirits It is therefore no wonder if those that use immoderate Copulation are very weak in their bodies seeing the whole body is thereby depriv'd of its best and purest blood and vital Spirits insomuch as those that have been too much addicted to that pleasure have killed themselves in the Act can it then be a wonder that such Seed is not fit for Generation And having now shewn the causes of Barrenness in Men we shall now discourse of those in Women Now the causes of Barrenness in Women proceed either from the Age or evil temper of the Womb and its vicious conformation and parts depending on it or the indisposition of the whole habit of the body The evil form of the womb renders Women barren according to the great Hippocrates the Prince of all Physitians as if the mouth or neck of the Womb be turned backwards towards the great Gut or a side out of its place contrary from the Privities if it appear too big or if it be fallen down before the Privities to which may be added when 't is so narrow that it cannot admit the Yard to enter and when 't is wholly or in part closed by some inward or outward skin which is very rare if at all or by a swelling collosity or cicatrice c. But then it is not sufficient that the Mans Yard enter the Neck which is the
sometimes by its heat it makes an inflammation in the neck of the bladder which causes its stopping and if it be from a stone in the bladder 't is more in supportable and dangerous to a Woman with Child then one that is not because the Womb by its swelling causeth the stone perpetually to press against the bladder and the pains are violenter if it be greater or of an unequal or sharp shape 'T is of great moment to hinder these violent endeavors to make water and to remedy them if possible in all indispositions because by long continuance of forcing downwards to make water the Womb is loosened and bears down and is sometimes forced to discharge its self of its burthen before its time which we must endeavour to hinder having respect to its different causes as when it comes from the weight of the Womb pressing the bladder as for the most part now she may remedy it if with both her hands when she would make water she lift up the bottom of her belly or wear a large swath or keep her bed If it be sharpness of Urine that makes an inflammation i' th neck o th' bladder appease it by a cooling dyet forbearing strong drinks using emulsions made of the 4 cold seeds or whey with syrup of Violets use not purging because its heat augments the inflammation these are proper to cleanse the Urinary passages without either prejuding Mother or Child taken Morning and Evening If all this prevail not let her blood a little i' th Arm and bath the outward entry of the neck of the bladder with a decoction of Mallows Marsh-mallows Pellitory and Violets with a little Linfeed and inject some of the same into the bladder to which you may add Hony of Violets or luke warm Milk abstaining from all diuretics for fear they provoke Abortion And when all fails she must send for a Physitian or Chyrurgeon to make use of his Catheter And also if it arise from the stone in the neck of the bladder they may thrust it back with it but if small draw it forth for a great one cannot be drawn forth before she be delivered being better to leave her so then endanger her life or the Childs SECT VII Of a Cough and difficult breathing THey whose Infants lye low are more troubled with difficulty of Urine then they whose lye higher who are free from that and the like distemper but are more subject to a Cough and difficult breathing If a Cough be violent to vomiting 't is one of the chiefest things which cause Abortion because 't is an essay whereby the Lungs endeavour to cast forth of the Breast that which offends them by a compression of all its Muscles which pressing all the inclosed air inwards wherewith the Lungs are much stretched thrusts also downwards by the same means the midriff and consequently all the parts of the lower belly but particularly the Womb which continuing long and violent often causeth Abortion Sometimes it proceeds from sharp rheums which distil from the brain upon the Artery and Lungs and sometimes from such blood which flows towards the Breast upon stopping the Terms also from too cold air breathing which stirs up the parts to motion but being begun by these causes 't is often augmented by the compression the Womb makes upon the Midriff which cannot have its liberty in those that bear their Children high because by its great extension it bears up almost all the parts of the lower belly towards the Breast and chiefly the Stomach and Liver forcing them against the Midriff You must remedy this by keeping good dyet somewhat cooling if from sharp humors avoiding all Salt and Spice meats Oranges Lemons Vinegar c. but she may use juice of Liquorice Sugar-candy syrup of Violets or Mulberries which she may mix with a Ptysan made with Jujubs Sebestens French Barley and a little Liquorice and it may not be amiss to divert and draw down these humors by a gentle Clyster If these prevail not and there appears signs of fulness of blood bleed her in the Arm at what time soever of going with Child and though it be not usually practis'd when they are young with Child yet here it must for a continual Cough is much more dangerous then a moderate bleeding If it come of cold keep in a close Room with a napkin doubled about her Neck or a Lamb-Skin and going to bed take 3 or 4 spoonfuls of this syrup of burnt wine following which is very Pectoral and causeth good digestion Take half a pint of French wine 2 drams of Cinnamon bruised half a dozen cloves 4 ounces of white Sugar or Sugar-candy put them together in a Porrenger and boil them upon a Chaffing dish of Coals burn it and then boil it to the consistence of a Syrup You must not from whatever cause it proceeds that she must go loose in her cloaths and because sleep is proper to stay fluxions it may be procured by the Physitian using no strong stupefactives of opium which are dangerous if there be not very great necessity as in the patient mentioned in the Section of the pain of Back Loins Reins and Hips Some Women carry their first Child chiefly so high because the cords which support the Womb are not stretch'd that they think them to be in their Breasts which causes a difficult breathing as soon as they have eaten a little walked or gone up the stairs so that they fear they shall be choaked which comes from the Wombs being enlarged and pressing the Stomach and the Liver which forces the Midriff upward leaving it no room to be moved sometimes their Lungs are so full of blood driven thither from all parts that it hardly leaves passage for the air if so they will breath more easily as soon as a little blood is taken from the Arm but if it comes from a compression made by the womb against the Midriff the best remedy is to wear her clothes loose and eat little and often eating no windy meats as pease and avoiding all grief and fear because they drive the blood to the Heart and Lungs in too great quantity so that she having her Breast already stuffed and hardly breathing will be in danger of being choak'd for the abundance of blood filling the Ventricles of the Heart above measure and at once hinders its motion without which she cannot live SECT VIII Of the swelling and pains of the Thighs and Legs MAny think which is in part true that the Woman having more blood then the Infant needs to nourish it nature by virtue of the expulsive faculty of the upper parts which are always strongest drives the superfluity upon the lower as the Legs c. as most feeble and apt to receive it and so are caused their swelling and pain and sometimes red spots from the swelling of the Veins along the inside which extreamly hinders her going but the doctrine of the circulation of the blood invented by our
Country-man the immortal Dr. Harvey the English Hippocrates will teach us better how this comes then that we need have have recourse to this expulsive faculty but because 't is fitter for Physitians and Chyrurgeons that are learned in Anatomy then Midwifes being they may help them without such curious knowledge I shall omit it and if you would be satisfied see what the learned and expert French Chirurgeon Moricean hath written on this Subject 't is put into English by Dr. Chamberlain Now to remedy these let her only use a palliative cure in swathing the parts with a rowler 3 or 4 fingers broad beginning at the bottom and she should most keep her bed if she can and if there be signs of abundance of blood in other parts she may bleed without danger Some Womens Legs swell only from weakness and are so Flegmatick that when you press them with your finger the print remains because they want Natural heat sufficient to concoct all the nourishment sent to them and expel its superfluities which remaining makes them so Hydropical To resolve these swellings make a Lee made with the ashes of Vines or other wood ashes and Melilote Camomil and Lavender boild in it if that do not foment them with this Take Rosemary Bays Time Merjoram Sage and Lavender of each a handful Province Roses half a handful Pomgranat flowers and Alum each an ounce boil them in 3 pints of strong red wine to the wasting of a 3d part and use it But these swellings commonly cease when she brought to Bed because she purgeth the superfluity of her whole habit by her Lochia SECT IX Of the Hemorrhoids THese are swellings and painful Inflammations caused by a flux of humors upon the extremities of the Hemorrhoid veins and Arteries caused by a bundance of blood cast upon these parts because the body is not purged as before and sometimes by endeavors they have to go to stool when costive If they be small and without pain either inward or outward 't is easie to prevent their farther growth by remedies which hinder and turn the flux from those parts but the great ones are cured by first easing the pain so that if she have other signs of fulness in the rest of her body she may safely be once let blood i' th Arm and if great necessity twice if she be costive let her take a Clyster of Violets Mallows Marsh-mallows and hony of Violets with some fresh Butter or Oil of Almonds adding no sharp thing especially in inward Piles after let her keep a moderate and cooling dyet and rest in her Bed if she may till the flux be past in that while anointing them with strokings from the Cow and foment them with the decoction of her Clyster adding some Linseed your Oil of sweet Almonds Oil of Poppies and Oil of water Lillies well beaten together with the yelk of an Egg in a leaden morter are very good to ease pain and if that Inflammation be great anoint a little with Vnguentum refrigerens Galeni or anguentum album populeon equally mixed After all this if the swelling abates not apply Leeches or if soft or any kind of inundation use a Lancet but Leeches are properer for hard Piles because they pain not so much Women are not here eased by Piles as Men are because 't is contrary to nature for this evacuation ought always to be made by the Womb if not with Child but if she be it may in some measure if full of blood supply the natural if they bleed moderately and without pain she may be eased but if they flow too much there 's danger of both Mother and Child being weakned to avoid which make binding fomentations with the decoction of Pomgranate flowers and Vines and Province Roses made in Smiths water and a little Allum or this pultis made of Bole-Armenac Dragons-blood and sealed earth with the white of an Egg and to turn the blood by bleeding i' th Arm and Cupping-Glasses to the Reins c. as you may consult the Physitian SECT X. Of the several Fluxes happening to Women with Child SHE is Subject to three sorts of Fluxes the Flux of the Belly of the Terms and Fludings Of the Belly are three kinds the first Lienteria when the Stomach and Guts not digesting the nourishments received let it pass away raw 2. Diarrhea when they simply discharge the humours and excrements which they contain The 3d and worst is a Dysenteria when with the humors and excrements she voids blood with violent pains caus'd by an ulceration of the Guts Any of these if they continue long put her in great danger of Aborting if the first the Stomach letting the food pass before it be turned into juice whereof blood is made to nourish Mother and Child they must both be weakened if the 2d it will cause the same accident because of voiding the Spirits with the humors but most danger's i' th last because she hath then great pains and Gripes i' th Guts from their Ulcer which excites them continually by constant prickings to discharge themselves of the sharp humors which causes a violent motion of the Womb being plaâ—ed upon the right gut and to the Child and by the compression the Muscles of the belly make on all sides as also those that are made by them of the Midriff which force themselves downwards in the endeavors she makes with pain so often to go to stool the Child is constrained to come before its time and the oft'ner by how much the prickings are greater for according to Hippocrates Aphorism 27 book 7. If a tenasm happen to one with Child it makes her Miscarry Now this tenasm is a great passion of the right Gut which forceth it to make those violent endeavours to discharge it self without being able to avoid any thing but Cholerick humors mixt with blood by which 't is perpetually pricked This Flux happens to her commonly from a weak digestion of the Stomach because of her bad dyet which her strange appetite causes her often to long for by the constant use whereof at last being weakened it suffers the food to pass without digestion or if it stay longer 't is turn'd into a corrupt juice which descending into the Guts iritates them by its sharpness to discharge themselves as soon as they can To proceed safely in the cure of these Fluxes their nature must be consider'd that the cause that maintains them may be remov'd If it be a Lienteria following Vomitings as is usual which have so weakn'd the Stomach and loosn'd its Skins that haveing no longer strength to vomit up the food it suffers it to pass downward without digestion then she must refrain all irregular appetites and eat food of good digestion and little at a time she may drink a little deep Claret wine in which Iron hath been quenched if she have not a strong Feaver for in a small one wine is to be prefer'd because her Feaver is but
symptomatick from the weakness of her Stomach and will vanish as soon as it is fortified which may be promoted if she take before and after meals some of that burnt wine spoke of before for the Cough or a little good Hippocras or right Canary or eat a little Marmalade of quinces before meals and wear a Lamb-skin upon the pit of her Stomach be sure to give no purge for this is only caused by weakness If it be a Diarrhea simply voiding such excrements as are in the Guts and some superfluous humors which nature hath sent to be expelled and it be gentle and continue not long she will feel no damage by it and so 't is good to leave it to nature without interrupting it in the beginning but if it continue above 4 or 5 days 't is a sign there are ill humors cleaven to the inside of the Guts and ought to be expell'd by some light purge after which it will certainly cease But if for all fit purges it changes into a Dysentery she is then in danger of miscarrying which must be prevented if possible therefore having purged the ill humor and hindering that no more be engendred by Chicken or Veal broths c. with cooling herbs pap with the yelk of an Egg well boild let her quench Iron or Steel in her drink which must be small beer or water with a little strong or wine if she be not Feaverish for then half a spoonful of syrup of Quinces or Pomgranates is better and she may eat a little Marmalade of Quince or other strengtheners if she was purg'd before and because there is always great gripes they must be appeas'd by Clysters made of the broth of a Calves or Sheeps head well boild with 2 ounces of oil of Violets or good Milk and the yelk of an Egg after the use of these as long as is judged necessary which she must keep as long as she can you must proceed to clensers made with Mallows and Marsh-mallows with hony of Roses and then binding ones in which must be neither oil nor hony beginning first with gentlest made of Rose-water with Lettice and Plantain water then to stronger of the roots and leaves of Plantain tapsus barbatus horse-tail province Roses rind of Pomgranates in Smiths water adding of sealed earth and Dragons blood of each 2 drams you may also foment the Fundament Of the monthly blood before and if it be from to much blood 't wil do her a kindness SECT XI Of Fluddings THe Courses come at accustomed times without pain distilling by little and little from the Wombs Neck during pregnancy and then wholly ceaseth but these come with pain from the Wombs bottom and almost on a sudden in great abundance and continue without intermission except some clods formed there seem sometimes to lessen the accident by stopping for a small time the place whence they flow but it soon returns with greater violence and after follows death to the Mother and Child if not prevented by delivering the Woman If the Fludding happen when young with Child it 's usually because of some false Conception or Mole of which the Womb endeavours to discharge it self by which it opens some of the Vessels in its bottom whence the blood ceases not to flow till it hath cast out the strange bodies it contain'd the subtiller the blood is the more it flows but when this happens to one truely Conceiv'd at whatever time it proceeds likewise from the opening of the Vessels of the Womb's fund caused by some blow slip c. and chiefly because the secundine separating in part if not wholly from the inside of the Wombs bottom to which it ought to stick to receive the Mothers blood for the Childs nouriture leaves open all the Orifices of the Vessels where it joyned and so follows a great flux of blood which never ceases till she be brought a Bed yet I do not intend it should be done as soon as perceiv'd for some small fluddings have been stop'd by lying quietly in Bed bleeding i' th Arm and the use of Remedies mention'd in the menstruous Flux and it may be but an ordinary monthly Flux and then 't is good leaving the Labor to nature provided she hath strength and accompanied with no other ill accident but when she falls into Convulsions and Faintings 't is absolutely necessary she be deliver'd whether she be at her count or no pains or throws or no for there is no other way to save both their Lives You must not always expect pains and throws to force and forward Labor in these dangerous accidents for though they come at the beginning they usually cease as soon as it comes to Faintings and Convulsions neither must it be put off till the Womb be opened enough for this Flux moistens and the weakness loosens it so that it may then be as easily widen'd as if there had been abundance of strong throws Wherefore let the Midwife introduce her Fingers anointed with Oil or Butter 2 or 3 at a time and all by degrees and at last her whole Hand and if she find the waters not broke break them and then whatever part of the Child presents though the head provided it be not i' th Birth let her search for the Feet and draw it forth by them observing the circumstances in delivery of a Child with the Feet first because there 's better hold so that if the Feet lye not ready seek for them which is easier done at that time then another because the Fluddings make the Womb slippery then fetch the after-burthen which in these cases cleaves but little being careful not to leave so much as a clod i' th Womb lest it continue the Fludding In this case many Women and Children have perished for want of this operation and many escaped death by being timely succor'd Guilemeau a Famous French Chirurgion mentions 6 or 7 Histories to confirm this and Moriceau by his experience avers it and in the case of his own Sister too long here to relate You are always here to give good strengthning broths gellies and a little good Wine and smell to rose Vinegar and to prevent the blood Fludding in great quantity open a vein i' th Arm or bind her Arm with fillets above her Elbow and lay cloaths upon her Reins wet in water and Vinegar but if this proceeds from the parting of the after-burden she must be delivered as soon as may be though she were but 3 or 4 months gone because all must be broughâ— away whether false Conception Mole or Child SECT XII Of the Weight of the Womb c. THis is often caused by the stretching of the large Cords of the Womb and this will cause an hinderance of Copulation and a numness in her Hips sleepiness in her Thighs and difficulty of Urine and going to stool chiefly towards her latter reckonings because it presseth down the Bladder and great Gut being seated between both But she may be easier
take Nutmegs Cloves Cubebs each a scruple Calamus Aromaticus Frankincense bark each half a dram Majoram water 3 ounces If in 20 days this doth not the cure then you must consult with the able Surgeon for the opening it SECT VI. Of Frights in the Sleep and Watching YOu must see to cure this presently for 't is the fore-runner of the Falling-sickness give good Milk and not too much to overcharge the Stomach let not the Child sleep presently after food but carry it about and Jog it to the bottom of the Stomach give it 2 or 3 spoonfuls of oil of Sweet Almonds or Honey of Roses If it come from a Feaver Teeth or Worms they are treated of a part As for the Childs watching you must take notice that a new born one sleeps more then it wakes because its brain is very moist and it slept in the Womb. If you cannot make it sleep by singing or rocking c. 't is a Disease and if not cur'd will produce Catarrhs Convulsions Feavers c. If it proceed from bad Milk that must be amended if from a Feaver or pain remove them and give sleeping Medicines to the Nurse if that will not do you may venture a little Lettice or Purcelan water SECT VII Of the Falling-sickness and Convulsion THe first is either by consent from parts below when the Milk corrupts in the Stomach or from its ill quality from the Nurses bad dyet or from Worms or Vapors or from the brain first when humors are bred there that cause it or from Tooth-ach or sudden fright To prevent it give the Child as soon as 't is born oil of Sweet Almonds Sugar-Candy and Anniseeds powdered The Florentines apply a Caustick to the hinder part of the Head the best part of the cure is the Nurses dyet If from corrupt Milk provoke vomit by holding down the Tongue and pour some Oil of sweet Almonds down the Throat The same means may be used in Convulsions only anointing the spine of the back with Oil of Chamomil St. John's wort Worms Goose-grease Foxes Oil c. SECT VIII Of pain in the Ears Moisture Ulcers and Worms THe first is allayed by using warm Milk to them or Oil of Violets or the decoction of Poppies for the moisture take Honey of Roses and Aqua Mellis and drop them into the Ears for Worms they are kil'd by washing the Ears with white Wine wherein Wormwood hath been boiled or drop in Hemp Oil with a little Wine SECT IX Of the Thrush bladders of the Gums and Inflammation of the Tonsils FOr the first wash the Mouth with Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries with a little Sal Prunella the Bladders are cured by taking the powder of Lentils husked and laid upon them If the Tonsils of Infants chance to be inflam'd give them Honey of Roses Myrtles Pomegranates and Diamoron inwardly and oil of sweet Almonds Camomil and St. John's wort outwardly SECT X. Of the breeding of Teeth HEre the pain is great and many time kills the Child it happens about the 7th Month they breed first the fore Teeth then the Eye-Teeth and last of all the grinders 't is known by the Child 's often putting its Fingers to its Mouth by holding the Nipple faster then before and the Gum is white where the Tooth begins to come If the Teeth are long a breeding it causes Feavers and Convulsions of which many dye Their hard breeding is from thickness and hardness of the Gums therefore soften and loosen them by rubing them with your Fingers dipt in Honey and Butter or with the mucilage of Quinces made with Mallow water If the Gums be inflam'd add the juice of Houseleek and cream and let the Nurse keep a temperate dyet SECT XI Of a Catarrh Cough and difficult breathing THese proceed from much Milk that burthens the Stomach and many vapors from thence filling the Brain and if the brain be full of excrements they are dissolved either by inward heat or outward cold and so distill upon the Nose Jaws or Lungs which causes a Cough or short breathing moreover much food makes crudities in the first passages and Phlegmatick humors are bred by the Liver of crudity and thick humors whence unconcocted blood is sent by the Arterial Veins into the Lungs and pressing the pipes of the Lungs causeth difficult Breathing First let the Nurse keep a good dyet and fill not the Childs Stomach too full with Milk or other dyet and let the Nurse forbear all hot sharp salt sour things and such as fill the Head with Vapors and give her a pectoral decoction such as this take Figs and Jujubes each 10 Sebestens 30 Raisins stoned 10 drams Liquorice 2 drams Maiden hair and Violets each an ounce and half boil them in 3 pints of water till the 3d part be boiled away let her take 6 or 8 ounces of this every morning keep the belly open with Syrup of Roses Cassia or a Clyster or hold down the Tongue to provoke vomiting give syrup of Jujubes Maiden hair if the matter be thick give syrup of Hysop or Hore hound or an emulsion of oil of sweet Almonds and Pine-nuts made with Scabions water or make a Lohoc of diarios Diatragacanth frigid penids and syrup of jujubes If it be hot give Emulsions of the 4 great cold Seeds made with Barley-water and Almonds SECT XII Of the Hiccup and Vomiting THey come from corruption of the food in the Stomach or over fulness of milk or cold Air these hurt the expulsive faculty which stirs it self up to expel what offends it If from fulness of Milk the belly swells and there follows Vomiting if from corruption of Milk it may be the Nurse hath bad Milk the Child cryes and is in pain and the excrements smell of stinking Milk If from corruption put a feather dipt in oil to cause Vomiting then strengthen the Stomach with syrup of Mints Quinces or Betony c. Vomiting is from too much or bad Milk or from a moist Stomach for as dryness retains so moistness loosens If from much Milk they are better after vomiting if from corruption of milk what 's vomited is yellow green c. and stinks worms are known by their signs they that vomit from their birth are the lustiest for the Stomach not being used to meat and taking too much Milk breeds crudities or corrupts the Milk and 't is better to vomit these up but if it last long it causes a washing If from too much Milk give it less if corrupted amend it as before and cleanse the Child with Honey of Roses and then strengthen the Stomach as before and if the humor be sharp and hot give syrup of Pomegranates Currans Coral Apply Emplastrum crusta panis or the stomach cerat to the Stomach SECT XIII Of the pains and puffing of the Belly PAins are often with a Flux from corrupt Milk which breeds wind and sharp humors which gnaws the inward parts so do Worms The Child cryes