the Spleen be stopt Take Steel prepared a pound wash it with Vinegar then strain it and lay it on a Clout and add powder of Cloves half an ounce Let them stand so a day and a night then put them in a glassed Vessel and ten ounces of white Wine Diarrhodon Harts-tongue Senna and Caper-bark then stir them then set them in the Sun for a day or in an Oven Do this ten daies till the Steel be melted in the Wine and little or nothing at the bottom Give two ounces of this in the morning after purging and exercise Or Take Steel prepared an ounce Cinnamon Aniseeds each two drams Diamoschu without Musk a dram Sugar an ounce make a powder give a dram drink white Wine and Mugwort-water after it Steeled Wine Take Steel in powder three ounces Cinnamon half an ounce white Wine three pints Set them in a close glass eight daies in the Sun stir them every day Give six or eight ounces four hours afore dinner for fifteen or twenty daies and walk after it At first give a Steel-medicine to prepare As Take Steel-filings four ounces put it in an Iron Crucible or Ladle then cast it into two pints of water of Hops Grass Madder Borage or Spring-water strain it and do so seven times Then Take so many ounces of new Steel and cast it into water as before strain and add Syrup of Violets Borage or Honey of Roses four ounces give three ounces in the morning after exercise Prepare thus three or four times and then use stronger After Steel use Scorzonera steept all night in Wine give it in the morning This hath cured Obstructions in many Mercatus Bezoar-stone saith Mercatus opens Obstructions in my Experience and resists Venom give six or seven grains Steel is best Spring and Fall purge and exercise before and after it that it may be better dispersed Use Preparatives Purges and strengthners often and for a long time and change the forms lost the Patient loath them If water spread about the body cool the body and make it heavy Use sweats as Baths natural or artificial of Mugwort Calamints Nep Danewort Sage Bayes Rosemary Mercury Ivy Briony-roots Orris Elicampane After purging and opening Obstructions all the Symptoms will vanish if not see for the Symptoms of the Womb. The Diet. Let the Air be temperately hot The Meat of good juyce and easie digestion Pot-herbs and green Fruits must be avoided Fish Milk Lettice Make Sauce with Sage and Cinnamon Drink Wine Let Bread be well leavened with Fennel-seed Drink no Water nor Broaths at first and in the declination of the disease use Exercise and Venery Let sleep be moderate Question 1. Whether may the Woman in this Disease be allowed the absurd things they long for They are Virgins or Women with child that long for such things Virgins must not be allowed them as Chalk c. For they will increase the disease Women with child must be pleased with fair words to abstain from them but if the appetite will not be allayed rather grant them then suffer an abortion or mark upon the Child Question 2. Is Motion and Exercise good in the Green-sickness They are better then idleness which heaps up crudities they raise the languishing heat in the Bowels and help the nourishment to be destributed therefore they are to be used before the disease be great and in the declination they discuss the humors But use moderation lest you weaken the body or choak them First therefore use Frictions then watching then more exercise after convenient purging Question 3. Whether is Venery good for Maids in the Green-sickness It is probable and agreeable to Reason and Experience that Venery is good Hippocrates bids them presently marry for if they conceive Hippocr lib. de morb virgin Lib. 1. ep 2. they are cured John Langius saith This disease comes in the ripeness of age or presently after Venery heats the womb and the parts adjacent opens and loosens the passages so that the terms may better flow to the womb But if there be a great Cacochymy take that away before she be married and then Venery may do more in Physick But use it not in the vigor of the Disease nor in weakness Question 4. Whether is Blood-letting good in this Disease A Cachexy beginning with coldness of the whole Body seem to deny bleeding and because the crude humors are in fault rather then blood Lib. de morb virg But Hippocrates adviseth bleeding at the first If it be a new disease and comes from stopt terms and blood abound that is stopt and not turned into another humour you may boldly bleed provided the strength permit and the passages be open But in an old disease when crude Flegm abounds bleed not for it will increase the Disease Chap. 3. Of Symptomes from the Womb and Mother-fits in general IT is not to be expressed what miserable diseases Women are subject to both Virgins and others from the womb and its consent with other parts For when terms or blood are stopt there are great Symptoms and while they putrifie or get evil qualities the Symptoms are grievous and almost unexpressible One woman may have divers Symptoms from the womb at the same time when the seed and terms are mixed with other humors after they are corrupted and there is more sometimes and such noble substance as seed and terms being corrupted are like poyson Gal. 6. de loc aff c. 5. The consent with other parts is from likeness of parts nearness or connexion of Vessels And because the womb is membranous it hath a great consent with the Membranes and Nerves Also the parts adjacent are easily infected And thirdly it hath consent with all the Body by Veins Arteries and Nerves It consents with the Brain by the Nerves and Membranes of the Back-marrow It consents with the Heart by the Arteries with the Liver by the Veins which are great in the Womb and therefore the blood and bad humors go back to the Liver It consents with the stomach by Anastomosis in the Veins of the Mesentery and by the Arteries through foul humors and vapors go from the womb to the Mesentery and Stomach It consents with the Spleen by the Arteries therefore many Women that had not their terms enough in their youth and have hot blood are after Hypochondriack and a Physitian can scarce distinguish these diseases of the Womb and Spleen nor cure them severally It consents with the Paps by Veins and Nerves and the Heart Diaphragma Head Brain and all the Organs of sense and motion with the Liver Spleen Stomach Belly Mesentery Bladder strait Gut Back Hips Arms and Legs and causeth Symptoms As Galen saith the Mother and Histerical passions in one name Gal. de loc aff c. 5. but hath under it innumerable Symptoms Chap. 4. Of Suffocation of the Womb. IN this they seem to be strangled And there are so many Symptoms at once that it is impossible to define
day in it and not sweat To take away the sharpness of the Seed use Lettice Violets Water-lillies and things that quench seed by a secret quality as Agnus castus Seed Leaves and Flowers of Camphire hereafter As Take leaves of Water-lillies Agnus Castus Willow each three handfuls Ltetice Purslane Venus-navel each a handful Lettice Poppy-seed the four great cold seeds each half an ounce Dill-seed two drams Water-lillies a hundful Violets half a handful beat them with juyce of Lemons distil them after twenty four hours add to every pint a dram of Camphire give an ounce Or Take Agnus castus leaves Rue Willow each two handfuls Mints tops of Dill each a handful and half Water-lillies half a handful Agnus castus seeds Hemp Coriander Lettice-seed each half an ounce beat them and distil them with water add a pint of juyce of Lemons rectifie it to half An Emulsion Take Lettice and white Poppy-seed and the four great cold Seeds each half an ounce water of Lettice Water-lillies Willow each four ounces Syrup of Violets two ounces Magistery of Coral a dram An Electuary Take Conserve of Water-lillies Violets of Agnus castus tops each an ounce of Roses half an ounce red Coral Smaragds each a dram Coleworts and Lettice candied each an ounce with syrup of Violets and Water-lillies make an Electuary Or make Baths of the same As Take tops of Agnus castus Lettice Rue Water-lillies Dill-tops boil them anoint with Oyl of Lillies Unguent of Roses with Camphire after that Or lay a Plaister of Mercury and Marsh-lentils to the Breast and Loins Lay a Plate of Lead to the Back and give a Pessary of Juyce of Plantane Purslane Gourds These that work by an occult quality are fittest for Nuns that must not marry but they that will marry must forbear them because they cause Barrenness Let diet be thin and of little nourishment no Eggs Beef is good and fresh Fish Also Lettice Purslane Succory Sleep little think not of Venery labour and avoid idleness Question Whether is Camphire cold or hot or doth it quench Venery It is hot because it burns flames is thin pierceth is sharp and bitter But it hath cold effects as curing of Burns and Inflammations and hot Head-aches but this is from the likeness of the substance because it draws hot vapors to it and discusseth as Linseed-Oyl that cures burns Nor hath it a double substance cold and hot that may be separated Exercit. 104. sect 8. Scaliger denies it by Experience to quench Venery but if it be taken often it doth He tried it but once Chap. 6. Of the Melancholy of Virgins and Widows IT is a Delirium with sadness trouble and weeping sometimes laughing without a Feaver It differs from others by the efficacy only of the efficient cause for it hath divers pains besides sadness especially on the left side near the Heart in the Pap this is by occasion at a distance The Cause is a melancholick Vapor from a melancholick blood in the vessels near the Heart The Causes that infects the animal Spirits hurts the Fancy and so the reason For melancholick blood abounding in the vessels of the womb comes back to the great Arteries about the Heart by the Arteries of the womb and infects both vital and animal Spirits and causeth trouble of Heart and Delirium while this blood is quiet in the Arteries there is no vapor that riseth but when it is heated or stirred up by any cause the Arteries about the Back and Spleen beat more then ordinary and the vapors arise and trouble the Heart They are sad and full of thoughts The Signs and trouble at the Heart and cannot express their grief all things are tedious to them they weep and laugh without a cause they sleep little and with trouble and fear they have a pain on the left side and sometimes the left Breast their Jaws are dry All which are the effects of a melancholick vapor and when that is discussed all cease If it be old it turns to Madness and then they are first silent then pratlers and think they see Ghosts At first it is easier cured but if it last long The Prognostick and she resist not imagination and will not rejoyce with her Gossips it is dangerous They often despair and desire death or hang themselves or drown themselves If the manners are changed it turns to madness Observe what progress the disease hath made The Cure At first if blood be hot open a Vein often in the Arm if the terms be not stopt If they be bleed in the Ankles some daies before they use to flow Let her be merry and prepare and purge Melancholy thus Take Borage and Balm-water each three ounces Syrup of the Juyce of Borage and Bugloss each an ounce an half Mix them for two Doses repeat them sometimes Then purge Melancholy As Take Senna six drams Agarick a dram and half Borage-flowers and Violets each a pugil Citron-peels two drams infuse them in Rhenish wine for six hours strain them add Syrup of Violets an ounce Or Take Scorzonera-roots two ounces Borage an ounce Balm a handful Senna four ounces Agarick half an ounce Citron-peels 6 drams Zedoary two drams Cordial-flowers a handful add half a pint of the juyce of sweet-scented Apples and of Borage and Bugloss steep them two daies then strain them add Sugar and half an ounce of Cinnamon make a Syrup give two or three ounces Also give Cordials Confection of Hyacinths Species Exhilerants and Confection Alkermes to such as can bear it Cure it as Melancholy only the matter comes from the womb therefore still regard that it dry not the body too much The Prognostick but use a moistning Diet. Chap. 7. Of an Epilepsie from the Womb. THis Falling-sickness is worse then from other causes because there are greater Symptoms for that malignant vapor doth not only fall into the Nerves but the Veins and Arteries The same malignant vapor that causeth suffocation causeth this for when it ascends by the Veins and Arteries it begets other diseases but when it gets to the Nerves or to the fountain of them it causeth the Epilepsie In some the whole body hath a Convulsion in others some part only as the Eyes Head Tongue Hand or Leg and the outward Senses are diversly taken Some see not some hear not some see and cannot speak some dote and think they see strange things some cry out and know not why All lose the sense of Feeling If the vapor be not very malignant they return to their work after the fit as if they had not been ill It is known by what hath been said for here is not only a Convulsion as in other Epilepsies but divers Symptoms as in Suffocation of the Womb. They seldom foam at the mouth because the Brain is not so shaken as to cause foaming nor is the vapor so fixed in the roots of the nerves but they often do hear It is grievous and hath grievous
Symptoms but it is not so bad as a true Epilepsie And if you give proper Medicines it never returns The Cure of the Fit Use things as in Suffocation of the Womb or Mother-fits as Rue and Castor are good against both Also out of the fit you must cure it as the Mother using things that respect the womb and the Head As Take Piony-roots Scorzonera Misleto of the Oak each half an ounce Polipody of the Oak an ounce Rue Penny-royal Calaminths each a handful Seseli Piony Agnus castus seeds each three drams Carthamus-seeds bruised half an ounce flowers of Rosemary Sage Stoechas Borage each two pugils boil them to a pint and half strain and add juyce of Bettony Yarrow Mercury Mugwort Senna five ounces Agarick Epithimum each half an ounce Rhubarb Cloves each two drams Anise Fennel-seed each three drams boil strain with Sugar and half an ounce of Cinnamon make a Syrup give two ounces And these Pills twice in a week a scruple or a dram an hour afore Supper Take Piony-roots Senna each half an ounce Mugwort Bettony Rue Yarrow each half a handful boil them clarifie the Decoction and juyce of Mercury an ounce Aloes an ounce and half Let it settle pour off the clear add Rhubarb sprinkled with Cinnamon-water two drams Agarick half an ounce Mastich Epileptick-powder each half a dram with syrup of Mugwort make Pills To strengthen the Head and the Womb and to mend its Distemper Take Fecula of Piony a dram of Briony Amber Misleto of the Oak each half a dram Bezoar-stone Mans-skull each a scruple make a powder give half a dram with Scorzonera or Tile-flower-water or with Sugar make Rouls An Electuary Take Conserve of Balm Tile-flowers Rosemary Lilly-convals Scorzonera-roots candied each an ounce Diamoschu dulce a dram powder of Agnus castus seeds and Piony-roots each two drams with syrup of Scoechas Chap. 8. Of pain of the Head from the Womb. MAny pains come from the Womb but the chiefest and greatest are in the Head all over or on one side or in the Eyes Matter ascends to the Membranes of the Head by the Veins and Arteries from the Womb. The Causes It is a vapor or humor from blood and humors sometimes bad blood that is thin goes from the womb-vessels to the great Vessels and gets to the Head and to the Membranes there and causeth a stretching ulcerated or pricking or beating pain when it is carried through the Arteries being full of blood They think their Head will be torn The Signs and the Membranes and it is behind in the Head or when the terms flow or are disordered from consent with the womb If it be from a vapor there is no heaviness and it ceaseth presently If from a humor there is heaviness These pains are great and cause watching The Prognostick The Cure We have spoken of the Head-ach but here it is from the Womb therefore consider what humors offend in the womb and let them be purged and the distemper of the womb amended as we shewed in the Distemper of the Womb. There is also a pain in the Loins because bad humors go from the veins of the womb and Arteries to the great Vessels and so are sent by the Capillar-veins into the Membranes and stretch them and cause pain 〈…〉 must have prâ—â—â—â— Purges Question In what part of the Head is the pain that comes by consent from the Womb It is in the Crown before and behind but chiefly behind by reason of the joyning of the back with the womb for the womb is nervous and consents with the Membranes of the brain by the Membranes of the Marrow of the back and so Nerves suffer with Nerves either by communication of matter or pain and because the original of the Nerves is in the hinder part of the Head women are more pained there then men because of the Womb. Chap. 9. Of the Diseases of the Heart and beating of the Arteries in the Back and Sides from the Womb. THe Heart beats and the Arteries also as we shewed in the Green-sickness and it is by evil vapors sent by the Arteries to the Heart from the womb that arise from the terms and evil humors gathered in the womb and this is known by other Signs and Symptoms of a distempered Womb. The Cure To discuss the malignant Vapors from the Heart give Cordials as in Chap. 3. Of Palpitation of the Heart as Aqua vitae Cinnamon-water and Epithems Bags and Liniments The Arteries also beat with the Heart as in Widows on the left Hypochondrion and Back where there is a great Artery and the Artery that beats in the back is part of the great Artery they which beat in the Hypochondrion are the lesser splenitick and mesenterick branches therefore the beating is more in the back then in the Hypochondrion but both pulsations come from the same cause The Causes The Inflammation of the Arteries is the cause of this beating when evil humors are sent from the womb into the great branches of the Artery and there beat the Heart being over hot Sometimes the motion of this Artery is all the body over and from a hot humor the hot humors go to the heart and cause a feaver but because there is little putrefaction it vanisheth presently If the heat of the humors go to the brain by the arteries there is madness Some seek the cause in the veins and say that the arteries suffer from the blood too hot in them You may feel it with your hand laid upon the Hypochondrion The Signs and there are signs of a distempered womb and melancholy from the womb if heat continue in the arteries and go to the whole body it consumeth it It is seemingly a small disease The Prognostick but it is not without danger because it comes from a bad cause that weakens the bowels It is cured as melancholy from the womb The Cure and stopping of the terms and as Hypochondriack melancholy from the womb which follows Chap. 10. Of the Diseases of the Spleen and the Hypochondriack Disease from the Womb. SOmetimes the Spleen and the Hypochondria suffer from the womb so that you may doubt what disease it is It is from the womb by the arteries The Causes the womb hath two one from the preparing arteries another from the Hypogastrick artery That from the Hypogastrick goes almost to all parts of the Abdomen and most branches of the spleen therefore when bad blood is bred in the womb and gets out of the arteries upward to the Hypogastrick artery it gets easily from thence to the coeliack artery to the spleen and the parts adjacent in the abdomen and the sooner because Nature useth to send bad humors to ignoble parts These humors are gathered by suppression of Terms which though they seem to be only in the veins yet they get to the arteries by their Anastomosis Therefore those women that have hot blood and their
Chap. 5. Of the Symptoms in Women with Child in the middle Months THey are cough heart-beating fainting watching pains in the loyns and hips and bleeding 1. The cough is from a sharp vapor that comes to the jaws and rough artery from the terms or from a thin part of that blood gotten into the veins of the breast or falling from the head to the breast This endangers abortion and strength fails from watching therefore purge the humors that fall from the head to the breast with Rhubarb Agarick and strengthen the head as in a Catarrh and give sweet Lenitives as in a Cough 2. Palpitation of heart and fainting is from vapors that go to it by the arteries or from blood that aboundeth and cannot get out at the womb but ascends and oppresseth the heart Use Cordials as in Syncope inwardly and outwardly If it be from too much blood as in Plethory open a vein 3. Watching is from dry sharp vapors that trouble the animal Spirits Then use Frictions and wash the feet at bed time and give Syrup of Poppies dryed Roses Emulsions of sweet Almonds and white Poppy-seeds 4. There is pain in the loyns and hips from the weight of the child or from the terms stopt or growth of the child that stretcheth the ligaments of the womb and parts adjacent if there be Plethory bleed If it be from weight of the child hold it up with swathing Bands about the neck 5. There is flux of bood at the womb nose or Hoemorrhoids from plenty or from the weakness of the child that takes it not in or from evil humors in the blood that stir up nature to send it forth Also the vessels of the Womb may be broken or torn by motion fall cough or trouble of mind This is dangerous 5. Aphor. 60. of which Hippocrates saith The child cannot be well if it be from blood only there is less danger so it flows by the veins of the neck of the womb for it takes away Plethory or take not nourishment from the child If it be from the weakness of the child that draws it not abortion often follows or hard travel or she goes beyond her time If it flow by the inward veins of the womb there is more danger by the openness of the womb If it come from evil blood the danger is alike from Cacochymy which is like to fall upon both If there be Plethory open a vein warily and use astringents As Take Pearls prepared a scruple red Coral two scruples Mace Nutmegs each a dram Cinnamon half a dram make a powder or with Sugar Rouls or give this powder in Broth. Take red Coral a dram Pearl half a dram pretious Stones each half a scruple red Sanders half a dram Bole a dram sealed Earth Tormentil-roots each two scruples with Sugar of Roses and Manus Christi with Pearl six drams make a powder You may strengthen the child at the navel If there be Cacochymy alter the humors and if you may evacuate You may use Amulets in the hands and about the neck In flux of Haemorrhoids beware of the pain Let her drink hot Wine with a roasted Nutmeg Chap. 6. Of the Symptomes that are in the last Months 1. THe Urin is stopt from suppression of the neck of the bladder Let her then lye down and let the bladder be fomented with a Bag of Pellitory Parsly-roots Mallows Linseed and the like or use the Catheter 2. The belly is bound from a hot and dry Liver when the child draws all the moisture to it or presseth the guts Let her then use Moistners as Butter Mallows Borage in Broaths or that Clysters in a small quantity 3. The veins appear in the hips and legs as varicous only then keep them from walking and let their feet be laid upon a stool 4. The legs swell from serous blood but this goes away with the After-birth and is the signs of a female child but if she cannot walk foment with Lye made of Vine branches and Wine or with a Decoction or Organ Penny-royal Chamomile Calamints Or Take Bean and Lupine-flour each two ounces Tartar an ounce Pidgeons-dung half an ounce with steeled-water and juyce of Coleworts make a Pultis Rub and wash the feet with salt water in which Chamomil Organ and Dill were boyled 5. The skin of the belly is cleft with stretching after the fourth month therefore use loosning Liniments to keep off deformity as marrow of Veal and Sheeps-legs Oyl of sweet Almonds Hens-grease 6. The water gathered in time of being with Child between the membranes that hold the Child comes forth too soon because the membranes are broken by leaping or a contusion This makes difficult birth for that water was to moisten the parts Therefore let her keep a good diet and strengthen the child inwardly and outwardly Chap. 7. Of Weakness of the Child THis is either from weak seed or little nourishment or bad and causeth many diseases in the child To hinder abortion and death of the child know rightly the weakness as Hippocrates saith 5. Aph. 53. They that will abort have first breasts that fall away which is from want of nourishment in the common veins of the womb and breasts 5. Aph. 52. Hippocrates hath a second sign which is this If a Woman with child hath much milk flowing from her breast her child is weak 3. Hippocr 5. aph 56. If the terms flow often the nourishment is taken from the child 4. A mother often and long being sick shews that her child is weak because her blood is not good and the bad humors with the blood go to nourish the child which makes him sick 5. When the mother hath a flux of the belly the child is weak 6. When it begins to move and is scarce felt it is weak If it be from these causes take them away and strengthen the child first seed the mother high with meats of good juyce and sweet Almonds steept in Honey Raisins Quinces outwardly thus Take Malmsey three pints dissolve it in Oyl of Nutmegs by expression half an ounce add powder of Cloves Rue each half an ounce Rose Sage Marjoram Penny-royal-water each a pint Aqua-vitae three ounces Dip Spunges in it and apply them under the left breast to the arm-pits hams pulses soles of the feet and when they dry wet them again Chap. 8. Of Crying in the Womb. CHildren have sometimes cryed in the womb as Fabricius saith in his Epistle to his Brother James Fincel and Weinridick of Monsters writes thus In this City of Bressa a Child was heard to cry in the Womb three daies before the Travel when he was a man he was miserable with poverty and diseases till he died Andreas Libavius writes the same and others Some say It portends evil to the Mother or Child or Countrey It is a voice by the expulsion of the air through the rough artery The Causes and some air may in the cavities from vapors or spirits as in
rot or provoke the part but things that by experience take away pain as Nightshade-water Snails boyled and Frogs in Oyl and with ashes of Frogs made into an Oyntment or Medicines of Lead As Take Oyl of Roses two ounces juyce of Nightshade-berries an ounce and half Ceruss washed Sugar of Lead each a dram Pompholygos half an ounce mix them in a Leaden Mortar till they are thick Or use Cray-fish-ashes and the ashes of the inward rind of an Ash-tree or Herb Robert Lib. 2. De cur vulner C. 3. Cent. 3. Obs 87. Arcaeus teacheth how to cut them out and then burn the part if they be deep and ulcerated But Fabricius shews that you must burn after to consume the reliques and stop the blood after it is cleansed Take Herb Robert Verbascum or Moulin Scabious Caprifolium or Honey-suckles Dill Mans-grease each equal parts burn them take three ounces and with six ounces of Nightshade-water in a Leaden-Mortar mix them After cutting out the root purge melancholy often and provoke Terms or Haemorrhoids lest it return Give Treacle Mithridate with juyce of Borage Sorrel Cray-fish-broath and Asses-milk Ant. Chalmiteus This Water is good against all Cancers Take Moulin-roots Clowns all-heal each two ounces Dropwort Ceterach Herb Robert Agrimony Tormentil Scabious Avens Flaxweed each a handful Nettle-seed three drams Elder and Rosemary-flowers each a pugil boil and sweeten it with Sugar Foment and wash the Cancer with one part of it and let the dreggs be applied as a Pultis Fuchsius his blessed Powder Take white Arsenick that shineth not like glass an ounce powder it pour Aqua vitae upon it and pour it off add fresh Aqua vitae every third day for fifteen dayes Then Take roots of great Dragons gathered in July or August sliced and dried in the wind two ounces Thirdly Take bright clear Soote of the Chimney three drams make a powder Keep it close stopt in a glass the older the better use it not till after a year For a pallative Cure keep it from increasing and take away pain with this Water Take Scrophularia-roots and Herb Roberts each a handful Lambs-tongue Night-shade Bugloss Borage Purslane Eye-bright Bettony each half a handful a Frog and two whites of Eggs with Quince-seeds and Foenugreek each an ounce Rose and Eye-bright-water each a pint distil them in a Leaden Still Use not Cancers as other Ulcers for Emollients Lib. 6. c. 30. Healers and Drawers exasperate and kill with great pain Chap. 8. Of Ulcers and Fistulaes of the Breasts AFter Universals dry up the Milk and if the Breasts hang down bind them up that the humors flow not down and move not the Arm on that side Then cleanse it with the Decoction of Rhapontick Zedoary and Agrimony Heal thus Take strong Wine five quarts Rhois Obsoniorum Cypress-nuts each four ounces green Galls two ounces boyl them to the Consistence of Honey If you fear a Fistula enlarge the Orifice and take away the Callus and heal it as an ordinary Ulcer Chap. 9. Of straitness of the Passages of the Breasts WHen the Veins and Arteries are not wide enough to contain Blood to be turned there is no Milk They are stopt by thick humors The Causes as the vessels of the womb are the cause is the stoppage of the terms or hard tumors in the Breasts that stop or press When the nipple hath no hole for the Child to suck it is from the birth or a wound or scar after an Ulcer The Signs There is little milk and the Breasts pine If the Breasts swell and milk cannot be suckt out the fault is in the paps or the veins of milk The Prognostick An obstruction from gross humors may be cured If it be from a Scirrhus or Scar after an Ulcer it is incurable and so the Nipple born without a hole The Cure If it be from thick humors or blood attenuate it with proper things as Fennel Dill Parsley Anniseeds Pease Rocket-seed or Earth-worms made into Caraplasms or Fomentations Often rubbing of the Breasts opens the milk-Milk-veins Chap. 10. Of strange things bred in the Breasts HAirs Stones and Worms have been found in the Breasts A Worm breeds from putrid blood Bald. Ronsaeus miscel epist 10. Lib. de occult na mira c. 12. and is like a hair the same may be in the back and navel as I shewed And a good Author writes That a woman pained in her breasts could not be eased till Imposthumes broke and worms came forth Levinus Lemnius saw Stones that grew in the Breast Chap. 11. Of the Diseases of Nipples THey are either wanting or lie hid one or both which hinders giving suck If it be from the birth it is scarce cured as also when the Nipple is eaten off by an Ulcer When they come forth first Amatus Lusit cur med cent 5. cur 31. use a sucking Instrument and then apply Puppy-dogs to suck If there be no hole from birth or ulcer healed it is incurable if it be a little often sucking will enlarge it The clefts in the Nipples is an usual evil and causeth great pain in Nurses and if it continue long it turns to foul ulcers that they cannot give suck To prevent this evil in the two last months of being with child wear two cups of Wax over the Nipples with a little Rosin They are cured thus with Oyl of Wax Mirtles Oyntment of Lead Tutty Or Take Tutty prepared a scruple Allum half a dram Camphire six grains with Capons-grease and Oyntment of Roses make an Oyntment Or. Take Pomatum an ounce and half Mastich a scruple Powder of Gum Traganth and red Roses each half a scruple Or Take Oyntment of Lead Pomatum each half an ounce Frankincense Bole each half a scruple mix them When the Infant is to suck wash the Breasts first with white Wine and Rose-water That the Child may suck without pain to the woman let her have a Tin or Silver Nipple and cover it with the Pap of a new killed Cow and let the child suck that THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART THE SECOND SECTION Of the Symptomes of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of want of Milk and not giving Suck THere are many Causes of want of Milk either there is little Blood to breed it or the milk-making Faculty in the Breast that makes Milk is not right or the Instruments for blood-making are distempered Sometimes the matter is consumed by a Feaver or fasting when they loath meat or from care or labour evacuations sweats or loose belly Or from weakness of the Infant that cannot draw hard Also sadness fear and the like may hinder blood from flowing to the Breasts Milk is wanting when the Breasts are flaggy The Signs and swell not and little milk is sucked out The signs of the Causes thus If it be from the Liver there will be signs of its distemper if from great evacuation that is known the fault is known to be in the breasts
Culpepers Midwife 2. Part. Culpeper's DIRECTORY FOR Midwives OR A Guide for WOMEN THE SECOND PART Discovering 1. The Diseases in the Privities of Women 2. The Diseases of the Privy Part. 3. The Diseases of the Womb. 4. The Symptomes of the Womb. 5. The Symptomes in the Terms 6. The Symptomes that befal all Virgins and Women in their Womb after they are ripe of Age. 7. The Symptomes which are in Conception 8. The Government of Women with Child 9. The Symptomes that happen in Child-bearing 10. The Government of Women in Child-bed and the Diseases that come after Travel 11. The Diseases of the Breasts 12. The Symptomes of the Breasts 13. The Diet and Government of Infants 14. The Diseases and Symptomes in Children London Printed for George Sawbridge at the Sign of the BIBLE on Ludgate-Hill 1676. THE CONTENTS OF THE FOURTH BOOK OF PRACTICAL PHYSICK Of Womens Diseases THE FIRST PART Of Diseases in the Privities in Women THE FIRST SECTION Of Diseases of the Privy Part and the Neck of the Womb. Chap. 1. Of the straitness and largeness of the Orifice Page 1 Chap. 2. Of the Mentula or Yard in a Woman Page 3 Chap. 3. Of Atretae or Closures and straitness of the Neck and Mouth of the Womb. Page 4 Chap. 4. Of Pustles and roughness of the Privities Page 6 Chap. 5. Of Condyloma in the Neck of the Womb. Page 7 Chap. 6. Of Warts in the Neck of the Privities and Womb. Page 8 Chap. 7. Of the Hemorrhoids of the Womb. Page 9 Chap. 8 Of the Ulcers in the Neck of the Womb. Page 11 Chap. 9. Of the Clefts in the Neck of the Womb. Page 14 Chap. 10. Of Fistulaes in the Neck of the Womb. Page 15 Chap. 11. Of a Cancer in the Womb. Page 16 Chap. 12. Of a Gangrene and Sphacel in the Womb. Page 18 The CONTENTS of the Second SECTION Of the Diseases of the Womb. Chap. 1. Of the Knowledge of the Temper of the Womb. Page 20 Chap. 2. Of the hot Distemper of the Womb. Page 22 Chap. 3. Of the cold Distemper of the Womb. Page 24 Chap. 4. Of the moist Distemper of the Womb. Page 25 Chap. 5. Of the dry Distemper of the Womb. Page 26 Chap. 6. Of Compound Distempers and first of cold and moist Page 27 Chap. 7. Of the ill shape of the Womb and first of the straitness of it and its Vessels Page 30 Chap. 8. Of the opening of the Vessels of the Womb besides Nature Page 32 Chap. 9. Of a double Womb the wanting of the Womb and evil shape of the Womb and strange things found in it Page 33 Chap. 10. Of the Magnitude of the Womb increased and first of the Inflation of the Womb. Page 25 Chap. 11. Of the Dropsie of the Womb. Page 38 Chap. 12. Of a Tumor in the Womb from Blood in its Veins Page 42 Chap. 13. Of Inflammation of the Womb. ibid. Chap. 14. Of a Scirrhus and Cancer in the Womb. Page 45 Chap. 15. Of the displacing of the Womb and first of the Ascent of it Page 47 Chap. 16. Of Falling out of the Womb. Page 49 Chap. 17. Of the Rupture of the Womb. Page 54 Chap. 18. Of Wounds and breaking of the womb ib. Chap. 19. Of Ulcers and rottenness of the Womb. Page 55 Chap. 20. Of the Diseases of the Stones and Vessels of Procreation in Women ibid. The CONTENTS of the Second PART Of the Symptomes in the Womb and from the Womb. Chap. 1. Of Weakness of the Womb. Page 57 Chap 2. Of the Itch of the Womb. Page 59 Chap. 3. Of Pain in the Womb. Page 60 Chap. 4. Of the Diseases of the Womb that come from sweet scents and stinks Page 63 The CONTENTS of the Second SECTION Of the Symptoms in the Terms and other fluxes of the Womb. Chap. 1. Of the flux of the Terms Page 66 Chap. 2. Of the Terms flowing too soon Page 69 Chap. 3. Of want and stoppage of the Terms ibid. Chap. 4. Of fewness of the Terms Page 78 Chap. 5. Of Dropping of the Terms Page 79 Chap. 6. Of the over-flowing of the Terms Page 80 Chap. 7. Of the Terms flowing with pain and Symptomes Page 85 Chap. 8. Of evil discoloured Terms Page 86 Chap. 9. Of Terms coming before their time Page 87 Chap. 10. Of Terms that come after their usual time Page 88 Chap. 11. Of the Terms voided another way Page 90 Chap. 12. Of the Whites ibid. Chap. 13. Of the Gonorrhoea Page 94 Chap. 14. Of strange things voided by the Womb. Page 95 The CONTENTS of the Third SECTION Of the Symptoms that befal all Virgins and Women in their Wombs after they are ripe of age CHap 1. Of Virginity Page 96 Chap. 2. Of the Green-sickness or White-feaver Page 100 Chap. 3. Of Symptomes from the Womb and Mother-fits in general Page 106 Chap. 4. Of Suffocation of the Womb. Page 108 Chap. 5. Of the Frenzie of the Womb. Page 115 Chap. 6. Of the Melancholy of Virgins and Widows Page 118 Chap. 7. Of an Epilepsie from the Womb. Page 120 Chap. 8. Of pain of the Head from the Womb. Page 122 Chap. 9. Of the Diseases of the Heart and beating of the Arteries in the Back and Sides from the Womb. Page 124 Chap. 10. Of the Diseases of the Spleen and the Hypochondriack disease of the Womb. Page 126 Chap. 11. Of the Distemper of the Liver from the Womb and of a Beard growing by consent from the Womb. Page 127 Chap. 12. Of the Diseases of the Stomach that come from the Womb. ibid. The CONTENTS of the Fourth SECTION Of the Symptomes which are in Conception CHap 1. Of the desire of Venery hurt Page 130 Chap. 2. Of Barrenness and want of Conception Page 131 Chap. 3. Of Barrenness for the time and conceiving seldom Page 139 Chap. 4. Of Conception and forming of the Child Page 141 Chap. 5. Of the Generation of the Twins and many Children Page 142 Chap. 6. Of Superfoetation Page 144 Chap. 7. Of the ill Formation of the Child Page 145 Chap. 8. Of a Child turned into Stone Page 147 Chap. 9. Of a Mole Page 148 Chap. 10. Of Monsters Page 151 Chap. 11. Of false Conception and Swelllling Page 153 The CONTENTS of the Fifth SECTION Of the Government of Women with Child and preternatural Distempers in Women with Child Chap. 1. Of the signs of Conception Page 155 Chap. 2. Of the Government and Dyet of Women with Child Page 156 Chap. 3. Of the Cure of Women with Child in general Page 158 Chap. 4. Of the Symptomes that befal Women with Child in the first Months Page 162 Chap. 5. Of the Symptomes in Women with Child in the middle Minths Page 164 Chap. 6. Of the Symptomes that are in the last Months Page 166 Chap. 7. Of Weakness of the Child Page 167 Chap. 8. Of Crying in the Womb. Page 168 The CONTENTS of the Sixth SECTION Of Symptoms that happen in Child-bearing Chap. 1. Of Child-bearing in
from the first confirmation De passion mulier c. 20. when by Natures error the passage from the straight Gut goes to the Womb. Chap. 2. Of the Mentula or Yard in a Woman THe Alae or Wings in the Privities of a Woman are of soft spongy flesh like a Cocks-comb in shape and colour the part at the top is hard and nervous and swells like a Yard in Venery with much spirit This part sometimes is as big as a mans Yard and such women were thought to be turned into men It is from too much nourishment of the part The Causes from the looseness of it by often handling It is not safe to cut it off presently The Cure but first use Driers and Discussers with things that a little astringe then gentle Causticks without causing pain as burnt Allum Aegyptiacum Take Aegyptiacum Oyl of Mastick Roses Wax each half an ounce If these will not do then cut it off or tie it with a Ligature of Silk or Horse-hair till it mortifie Aetius teacheth the way of Amputation Tetrabser 4. c. 103. he calls it the Nympha or Clitoris between both the Wings but take heed you cause not pain or Inflammation After cutting wash with Wine with Mirtles Bayes Roses Pomgranate flowers boiled in it and Cypress nuts and lay on an astringent Powder Some Excrescences grow like a tail and fill the Privities they differ from a Clitoris for the desire of Venery is increased in that and the rubbing of the Cloaths upon it cause lust but in an Excrescence of flesh they cannot for pain endure Copulation but you may cut off this better than a Clitoris because it is all superfluous Chap. 3. Of Atretae or Closures and straitness of the Neck and Mouth of the Womb. THey are threefold Is it either in the Orifice or the Neck or in the middle it is alwaies hurtful either to Copulation or the Terms or to Conception and Child-bearing I saw one that had the first the Orifice was very little only fit to purge the Terms and receive Seed she conceived and the Midwives discovered in time of Child-bearing and the Chirurgion opened it and she was happily delivered but how the Seed was spent into it is not to be understood Lib. de ab sana morb cau cap. 78. Flesh or a Membrane is from evil conformation or a Wound or Ulcer of which Benivenius Fabricus and Hildanus The Cleft also may be closed by a Wound or Ulcer as in a woman who with the French Pox had all eaten off and it grew together after only there was a little passage for Urin. This is either when the sides grow together from an Ulcer or when proud flesh stops it up which is sometimes in the French Pox. When it is in the Privities it is to be seen The Signs but when in the Neck or Orifice of the Womb it is not known but when the Terms are to flow or when they copulate and it is either broken by the force of blood or there is pain and being Virgins they are taken to be with child for if it last long the womb swells and the whole body is blewish These either hinder the Terms from the neck of the womb or from the veins of it If inflammation or ulcer was before this disease may be suspected to be if there the closing be by the Membrane the place is white if by Flesh it is red And it is known by the touch for the Membrane is harder then Flesh The inconveniences are great The Prognostick either in Copulation Conception or Child-bearing especially for the Child cannot get forth without hazard of it self or mother It is easier cured when it is from a Membrane only because it is easily cut or broken that in the Orifice of the Womb is not to be cured because the instruments cannot reach it Take away that which stops the passage The Cure a Membrane that is outward is easily cut but if it be in the neck of the Womb or be flesh it is hard For if the cut be large there is pain and bleeding and the wound is hard to be cured because the neck of the Bladder is easily hurt thereby Uvierus teacheth this Operation in his Observations And Hippocrates in his Book of Sterility shews how a Membrane may be taken away without cutting If flesh grow from an ulcer after purging use Driers and Discussers to diminish it with Frankincense Birthwort Roses Pomgranate flowers Mastick Mirrh Aloes c. as in Chap. 2. Nicol. Florentius Some think this Disease may come from driness but it is incredible If it come from a hard tumor soften and dissolve it with Butter Oyl of sweet Almonds Lillies c. Chap. 4. Of Pustles and Roughness of the Privities ROughness and Itching come from Pustles in the neck of the Womb and Privities with scurff and swellings which itch and pain The Causes They are from an adust humor malignant and sharp which abounding evacuate themselves by these loose and moist parts and their sticking exasperate the flesh this is in the French Pox. The Signs The Prognostick The Cure They declare it themselves It is stubborn long and infectious to men and hard to be cured If the adust sharp humors come from the whole body prepare with Borrage Fumitory Succory Endive and the like then evacuate them with Senna Epithimum Syrup of Apples Violets Roses Catholicon Confection Hamech pills of Fumitory Tartar Let blood if there be fulness first in the Arm then in the Ancle but if it be from the French Pox first use Guajacum and Sarsa and the like Foment the part often with a hot Decoction of Dock roots Fumitory Hops Pellitory or use this Oyntment Take Plantane and Rose-water each four ounces Sal gem Niter Allum each three drams Sublimate a dram and half boil them to the third part strain them and add Verdigreece a scruple then use gentler means two days after till the Pustles fall off and new flesh appear and then use the Oyntment again Let the Diet be to resist evil humors of good Juice avoid salt sharp and sour things Chap. 5. Of Condyloma in the Neck of the Womb. COndyloma is a tubercle or excrescence with heat and pain for these parts are wrinkled and when the wrinkles swell there is a Condyloma Sometimes it is without Inflammation and soft or with Inflammation and hard It is usual in the Privities and Fundament of such as have the French Pox. They are from a sharp malignant humour The Causes which is alwaies in the Pox and sometimes they follow hard Clefts or Chaps They are pain and burning The Signs the skin is wrinkled and when they are many they are like a Bunch of Grapes They are hard to be cured The Prognostick if they are from the Pox first cure that and then they often vanish of themselves After general Evacuations proper against the Pox use Tropicks
The Cure first see if there be Inflammation and then abate pain As Take Oyl of Linseed and Roses each an ounce Oyl of Eggs half an ounce mix them in a Leaden Mortar Or Take Pellitory Mallows Althaea each half a handful Chamomil-flowers two pugils Linseed and Foenugreek each half an ounce Boil them to a pint add Oyl of Roses three ounces inject it with a Syringe If there be no Inflamation use Driers and Repellers as Vervain Ivy Acacia Pomegranate-peels and flowers for Baths and Fomentations and after add Discussers as Chamomil and Thyme If it be old and hard first soften it with the same and after thrice using them use Digesters and Driers that are strong as a Powder Take round Birthwort a dram Savin Hermodactils burnt each two drams burnt Allum two drams red Lead a dram Calcitis half a dram sprinkle it upon the loofe flesh Or Take Aloes Frankincense Mirrh each a dram Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar a dram and half Allum two drams red Lead two drams Galls half a dram Turpentine Oyl of Tartar each a dram with Oyl of Roses and Wax make an Oyntment This is very strong Take Turpentine an ounce Oyl of Nutmegs two ounces read Lead two drams Allum Vitriol each a dram Verdegreece half a dram Sublimate a scruple with Wax make an Oyntment or of Balsom of Mercury Tetrab 4. serm l. c. 3. If Medicines will not do the Ancients advise Burning of which see Aetius Chap. 7. Of Warts in the Neck of the Privities of the Womb. THey are from a gross feculent and malignant humor sent to the skin turned to a Node The Signs They are known by their shape the malignant are known by their hardness and heat and blewness filth and pain The Prognostick They are often hard to be cured because the pox is with them and they are in a place to which Medicines are hard to be applied and to continue The Myrmeciae are not cut off but they leave a great ulcer the Thymi and Clavi grow again Acrochordones once cut leave no root After Universals and order of diet The Cure either use Medicines or cut or burn them to discuss then use Sage dried with Figs Organ Rue burnt dry Savin Frankincense with Wine and Vinegar or Snakes skins with Figs these also dry These corrode eat and burn as juyce of wild Cowcumbers with Salt Milk of Figgs Sheeps-dung Goats-gall with Niter Aqua fortis Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur Butter of Antimony Take heed that you hurt not the parts adjacent but defend them with Bole sealed Earth Rose-water and Vinegar if you put the Corrosives into Nut-shells change them twice or thrice in a day and wash the part with a cleansing Decoction and then cut or burn Chap. 7. Of the Haemorrhoids of the Womb. THe veins that end in the neck of the womb often swell like the Haemorrhoids it is from gross blood that comes to these veins out of the time of the terms Inordinate flux of terms may occasion it The Causes when they flow out of the usual time they grow thick and cannot get out of the veins but swell them They are to be touched The Signs and with a Speculum matricis to be seen There is pain and bleeding without order she is pale and lazy The Cure Correct the blood purge and bleed in the arm to derive and revel of which in the diseases of the womb If pain be abate it by sitting in a Decoction of Mallows Althaea Chamomel Melilot flowers Moulin Linseed Foenugreek of which also make Fomentations and Oyntments with Butter Populeon and Opium if there be pain Take Populeon Oyl of Roses and sweet Almonds fresh Butter each half an ounce Saffron a scruple with the yelk of an Egg make an Oyntment Or Take Mucilage of Quinces Althaea each half an ounce Oyl of Roses and Hens-grease each a dram the yelk of an Egg and Saffron half a dram mix them in a Leaden Mortar If pain be gone or abated and they bleed not use Dryers of Bole Earth of Lemnos Acacia Ceruss froath of Silver Lead burnt and washed long Birthwort Allum Verdigreece If they swell with blood evaporate it or foment with the Decoction of Mallows Althaea Pellitory Chamomil-flowers Moulin Melilot seeds of Line and Foenugreek If they do not good open them by Fig-leaves rub'd upon them or by Horsleeches of which Chap. 2. If there be proud flesh take it off as is shewed If they bleed gently let Nature alone to the work for it is good and frees from other diseases If the flux be great and abate the strength open a vein in the arm divers times and do as in overflowing of the Terms Question How do the Haemorrhoids differ from the Terms flowing or stopt Mercurialis saith That though a flux of Terms be immoderate yet it hath its periods and is without pain and makes not the body lean but it is contrary in the Haemorrhoids But this is not true for the body is not made lean alwaies by the Haemorrhoids nor do the Courses keep their periods alwaies Besides the pain which is almost alwaies in the Haemorrhoids they differ in that the terms flow from the veins of the womb and its neck but the Haemorrhoids are when the blood flows too much to the veins that nourish the privities and sticks or is evacuated Chap. 8. Of Ulcers in the Neck of the Womb. THey are seldome cured in the body of the womb and they are simple and clean or sordid and malignant Are a flux of sharp humors that lasts long in the Pox and Gonorrhaea Corrupt after-births The Causes and courses after child-bearing detained inflammations turned to imposthumes these are the internal The external are sharp Medicines hard travel a great child taken out by force violent lechery wounds falls strokes Are pain and constant biting that increaseth The Signs especially in copulation or when Wine or Hydromel is injected You may also see it with a Speculum also there is matter gentle or filthy if the ulcer go towards the bladder they piss hot and often there is pain in the roots of the eyes to the hands and fingers fainting and a little Feaver sometimes The external Causes are to be related by the Patient If it be from the Pox or Gonorrhoea the signs of them will appear of which Hippocrates They are hard to be cured because they are in a part fit to receive humors soft and moist and that hath consent with many parts Hence are divers Symptoms the great old and foul are worst when they corrode and are hollow they are seldome cured they that may easily have Medicines applied to them are easiest cured The Cure First stop the flux of humors to the part if it be either from the whole body or any part And amend the distemper of the womb that it may neither breed nor receive bad humors If the French Pox be with it resist that first If there
to Lust have few Courses yellow or black or burnt or sharp they have hairs betimes upon their privities they are subject to the Headach and there are signs of much Choler their Lips are dry When this distemper is strong The Prognostick they have few terms and out of order they are bad and hard to flow and in time they are Hypochondriacks and for the most part barren and there is sometimes a Frenzy of the Womb. Use Coolers The Cure so that they offend not the Vessels that must be open for the Flux of the terms therefore Use inwardly Succory Endive Violets Waterlillies Sorrel Lettice Sanders and Syrups and Conserves made thereof As Take Conserve of Succory Violets Waterlillies Borage each an ounce Conserve of Roses half an ounce Dâ—amargariton frigid Diâ—trio santalon each half a dram with Syrup of Violets or Juyce of Citrons make an Electuary Outwardly use Oyntment of Galens Cooler Oyntment of Roses Cerot of Sanders Oyl of Roses Violets Waterlillies Gourds Venus-navel to the Back and Loins or make Cataplasms of Barley meal Roses powdered Violets Waterlillies Sanders with Juyce or water of Plantane Waterlillies Succory Lettice Oyl of Roses Violets Waterlillies Baths are good to sit in and cooling Fomentations and after let her take some of the Coolers mentioned In great heat use this cooling Pessary Take Opium a scruple Goose grease two scruples Eras de pass mulic cap. 7. Wax and Honey each four scruples Oyl at ounce whites of two Eggs. This was from an opinion the Ancients had that Opium was cold but take heed of the using it too much lest the narcotick quality hurt Let the Air be cool her Garments thin let her meat be with Lettice Endive Succory Barley give no hot meats nor strong Wine except it be waterish and thin Rest is good both in body and mind She must not copulate but she may sleep much Chap. 3. Of the cold Distemper of the womb THis causeth many Evils and Barrennesse They are contrary to those of a hot Distemper The Causes cold Air Rest and Idlenesse and cooling Medicines The Signs It is known by their not desire of Lechery not receiving pleasure in the time of Copulation when they spend their Seed The terms are flegmatick thick and slimy and flow not rightly there is wind in the womb the Seed is crude waterish with a Gonorrhoea The Prognostick The Cure It is the cause of Obstructions and Barrenness and is hard to be cured Use things proper to heal the womb as this Water Take Galangal Cinnamon Nutmeg Mace Cloves each two drams Ginger Cubebs Zedoary Cardamoms each an ounce grains of Paradice long Pepper each half an ounce beat them and put them in six quarts of Wine for eight dayes then add Sage Mints Balm Motherwort each three handfuls let them stand eight dayes more then pour off the Wine and beat the Herbs and the Spices and then pour on the Wine and distil them Ano her Take Cinnamon Nutmegs Cloves Mace Ginger Cubebs Cardamom grains of Pa adice each an ounce and half Galangal six drams long Pepper half an ounce Zedoary five drams bruise them and add six quarts of Wine put them in a Cellar nine dayes daily stirring them then add Mints two handfuls then let them stand fourteen dayes pour off the Wine and bruise them and then pour on the Wine again and distil them Quercetan hath an Hysterick Extract In phar doc restit cap. 25. a greater and a less use outwardly Fomentations Baths Baggs of hot Roots as Birthwort Lovage Valerian Angelica Burnet Masterwort Calamus Madder Elicampane Orris and Herbs as Mugwort Balm Motherwort Savin Penny-royal Calamints Organ Dittany Marjoram Rue Bettony Rosemary Lavender Sage Stoechas flowers Seeds of Smallage Parsley Rue Carrots Anise Fennel Cummin Lovage Parsley Anoint with Oyl of Lillies Rue Angelica Bays Cinnamon Cloves Mace Nutmeg Or Take Labdanum two ounces Frankincense Mastick liquid Storax each half an ounce Oyl of Cloves Nutmegs each half a scruple Oyl of Lillies Rue each an ounce with Wax make a Plaister A Fume Take Frankincense Mirrh Mastich each a dram Bayberries a dram and half Labdanum two drams Storax Cloves each a dram Gum Arabick and Wine make Troches or Pessaries of the same Let the diet be warming and the air the meat of easie concoction seasoned with Anise Fennel Thyme Avoid Milk-meats and raw Fruits Chap. 4. Of the moist Distemper of the Womb. THis is commonly joyned with a cold Distemper and causeth Barrenness and is from the same causes as a cold distemper for commonly cold things do moisten It is commonly in women that are idle The Signs They that have moist wombs abound in Courses but they are waterish and thin the privities are wet they have the VVhites and desire not Copulation much and delight not in it they retain not the seed and if they conceive when the child is big they abort or miscarry The Prognostick The Cure If it last long it is hard to be cured If it be much they conceive not It is by Driers and things that cure the cold distemper are good against the moist because all Healers have a drying power Use Sulphur Baths and Injections Beware of Astringents lest the evil humors be stopt and the disease increased Chap. 5. Of the dry Distemper of the Womb. IN this the womb is hardned of it self it is fleshy and soft and moistned by blood for Conception It is sometimes from the birth or old age when they are past child-bearing If it be from drying causes they are barren before they are old The Causes Diseases and Medicines dry the womb as Inflammations Feavers and when blood flows not to it nor goes to the bottom of it by reason of the straitness of the Veins or Obstructions as in Viragoe's and such as never conceived and if they void any blood it is from the neck of the womb and not from the bottom The Signs They void little seed and are slow in Venery the terms are few the mouth of the womb is dry and they are slender of a dry Constitution their lower Lip is alwayes chapt and blackish red This distemper is hard to be cured in any part especially if it be old The Prognostick The Cure Use Moistners as Borage Bugloss Mercury Mallows Althaea Violets sweet Almonds Pistachaes Pine-nuts Jujubes Dates Figs Raisins Of which are made Syrups Conserves Emulsions Candies c. Outward Remedies are made of the same adding Time Fenugreek-Seeds Lillies Brank-ursine Pellitory c. Fomentations are made with Milk and after bathing anoint the region of the womb and the belly to the privities with oyl of sweet Almonds Lillies Lin-seed Jesamin fresh Butter Hens and Goose grease Let the Diet be moistning the Air moist the meat fatning of much nourishment and small excrement Leet sleep be a little longer than usual Great labour anger sadness fasting do hurt Chap. 6. Of Compound Distempers and first of
Agarick a dram Coloquintida half a dram Guidium ten grains with Honey and Wool make a Pessary Make Fomentations and Baths of Danewort Mercury Elder Penny-royal Organ Chamomil-flowers Bayberries wild Cowcumbers Broom Carrot Rue-seeds And anoint after with Oyl of Elder Danewort Orris with drops of Oyl of Angelica Anise Caraway Sulphur Baths are good and those of Niter or the Plaister of Bayberries or Snails to the bottom of the Belly Vomiting and Neesing break the bladders Give Clysters at the Fundament as in Dropsies Take Mercury leaves Danewort Soldanella Mugwort Motherwort each a handful Chamomil Elder Broom-flowers each a dram boil and to ten ounces strained and juyce of Beets Mercury Danewort each six drams Boys urin an ounce and half Hiera six drams Hony half an ounce make a Clyster Let the Dyet be drying as in Chap. 5. Chap. 12. Of a Tumor in the Womb from Blood in the Veins THis Disease makes women think they are with chiid also For blood long detained in the Veins about the womb stretcheth them outwardly and twisteth them and the Veins in the substance of the womb are full and stretched and make it larger But when the terms flow it falleth again except there be a Cachexy or Dropsie This is only from stoppage of Terms and is cured by provoking them Chap. 13. Of Inflammation of the Womb. IF the blood that comes to the womb get out of the Vessels into its substance and grow hot and putrifie it causeth Inflammation either all over or in part before or behind above or below on the right or left side The Causes Blood is the immediate Cause which is pure or mixed therefore the Inflammation is either an Erysipelas Oedema or Scirrhus as Flegm Melancholy or Blood abound Blood is either sent to or drawn by the womb By heat or pain it is sent to it when it aboundeth or it is hot or thin and when the blood is moved by hot Air Exercise Passions anger or hot diet The Signs There is a tumor with heat and pain in the region of the womb with stretching and heaviness in the Privities and if you put in your finger you 'l feel the heat and she more pain there is a Feaver sometimes called Lipyra when there is cold without and heat within The tongue is dry and black with watching doting tossing to and fro the brests are pufft up and pained There is head-ach to the roots of the eyes and a pain in the groyns hips midrif pleura and shoulders short wind and like a Pleurisie with loathing vomiting hickets The belly is bound the pulse is small and often and weak but at first darting and quick And Hippocrates saith If the Womb be inflamed the terms are stopt 2. De morb mulier and the neck of it is like a Spiders web with many small veins c. If it be inflamed before the pain is about the pubes and the urin is stopt If behind it is in the loyns and the belly is bound If it be inflamed in the bottom the pain is towards the navel If it be from pure blood the Symptoms are less if from choler stronger the thirst is more the watching greater if from melancholy all are worse If it be all over the womb it is dangerous The Prognostick and few escape it An Erysipelas in a woman with child is deadly because there is an abortion and the Mother dies the worse the Symptoms the greater is the danger And it is safer to discuss an inflamation then to ripen it if it turn to a Schirrus it is lasting and makes a Dropsie If it be not after abortion or a flux of blood The Cure open a vein in the Arm or cup and sacrifice the shoulders Bleed not in the foot least you draw blood more to the womb but afterwards to derive if it be from terms stopt you may Gal. 2. ad glau c. 2. Galen saith You may divert the blood by bleeding in the arm or cupping the breasts and you may derive it by opening the ankle-ankle-vein and cupping upon the hips If there be choler purge it with Syrup of Roses Manna Rhubarb Diacatholicon and use not strong movers of the Terms Use Alterers and Coolers as Juleps and Emulsions and provoke sleep and if there be dotage give Narcoticks After the Universals use Repellers and Anodines As Take Housleek Purslane Lettice Venus-navel Vine leaves each half a handful boyl them in wine add Barly meal two ounces Pomegranate-flowers two drams boyl a dram with Oyl of Roses make a Pultis Or Take Diachylon simple two ounces juyce of Venus-navel and Plantane each half an ounce Oyl of Roses an ounce Sugar of Lead a dram make an Oyntment in a leaden Mortar Make Injections of the same Herbs or of Milk and Rose-water Or Take Plantane Venus-navel Lettice each a handful red Roses two pugils boyl and add Oyl of Mirtles an ounce Rose-vinegar half an ounce make an Injection Make Clysters of the same Plants in a small quantity least they oppress the Womb. Take Althaea roots and ounce Mallows Violets Lettice each a handful Nightshade half a handful Violets Roses each a pugil sweet Prunes ten Linseed half a dram boil them in Barly water to six ounces add Oyl of Roses three ounces make a Clyster An anodine Fomentation Take roots of Althaea Mallows and Violets each a handful red Roses Melilot Chamomil-flowers each a pugil boil them for a Fomentation Or use a Cataplasm of white Bread and Milk In the progress dicuss As Take powder of Althaea roots an ounce Chamomil and Melilot flowers each two drams Mugwort half an ounce Barly and Bean flour each an ounce boyl them in sharp wine add Hogs-grease Oyl of Chamomil and Lillies each an ounce make a Cataplasm If the inflammation turn to matter ripen it As Take powder of Althaea roots Chamomil-flowers Melilot Linseed Foenugreek each an ounce Figgs eight boyl them add yelks of four Eggs and half a scruple of Saffron make a Pultis After it is ripe break it by motion of the body coughing neesing cupping or by Pessaries As Take Figgs an ounce Rue half a handful boyl them soft add Honey and Leaven each half an ounce Pidgeons dung Orris roots each half a dram with wool make a Pessary After it is broken the pain abates then clense and heal the ulcer as in Sect. 1. c. 8. of an ulcer of the womb If it break about the bladder give an Emulsion of cold Seeds Whey and Syrup of Violets Let the diet be cool with Barley-water warm Abstain from Wine to the declination of the disease let the belly still be kept loose Chap. 14. Of a Scirrhus and Cancer in the Womb. AN earthy matter left after an inflammation makes a hard tumor called a Scirrhus and sometimes it is without an inflammation It is a proper Scirrhus when there is neither sense nor pain it is improper when there is a little sense It is sometimes as big as
same scents are put to the privities the womb is refreshed with them and the Spirits are quiet or move to the scents And so the humors if there be any are still or else move downward But stinks on the contrary by reason of their Antipathy with the Womb voided by the Spirits and so the humors move downwards and often there is an abortion thereby What is spoken of sweet Scents may be understood of all sweet things and this is our Judgement in a matter so difficult THE FOURTH BOOK THE SECOND SECTION Of the Symptoms in the Terms and other Fluxes of the Womb. Chap 1. Of the Flux of the Terms BY Divine providence the blood which is voided every month is kept in when there is a Child For if it be its Nature it is not ill but only superfluous till they conceive nor is it more an Excrement then Seed and Milk The terms commonly begin at fourteen and then the hair appears on the privities the breasts swell and women begin to be lecherous and the blood can no longer stay in the Veins but breaks out at the Veins of the Womb. In some they begin at twelve and they are very lustful commonly and of shorter lives they continue till fifty and some till sixty and then stop In some they begin at seventeen or eighteen And in some they stop before fifty according to the variety of Nature and Diet. Nature doth not send forth every day what is gathered but staies till the plenty offends and doth only once in a month otherwise it would be filthy and unpleasant and hinder Conception Nor do they flow at one time in all exactly but there are twenty two daies or at most thirty between the purgings In some they last three daies which was usual in the time of Hippocrates In some four or five or more as their Liver is greater or their diet is higher or lower Hippocrates saith they should bleed but a pint and half or two pints this is is not alike in all but differs in respect of age and diet As for the quality it must not be too thick nor too thin but of a middle substance without scent of a red colour yellower in cholerick persons in melancholick black in flegmatick whiter and it must flow without any great Symptom The passages are the veins of the womb being double from the double branch on both sides it the Spermatick and Hypogastrick that they may evacuate superfluities from all parts And from this Description of a natural Flux you may gather what is preternatural Question Whether can a Woman conceive that never had Terms They are called by some Flowers because they go before Conception as flowers do before fruit but many have conceived that never had their flowers being hotter by Nature as the Indians that never had any Flowers and Viragoes that use more exercise but if these have no more blood then will nourish their body they are barren If any thing abound that is not required for nourishment of the parts and is so much that Nature cannot endure it in the body the Womb draws it to it when it hath conceived to make up the child of which hereafter Question 2. Whether Menstruous blood is only superfluous in quantity or bad in respect of quality Writers disagree about this Some say it is bad in quantity and quality and venomous by the effects as making Ivory obscure and infecting Looking-glasses corrupting Wine by a Vapor from the Body of a Woman that hath her Flowers Others say they offend only in plenty for if it were venomous it would not be a whole month in the body and it could not from the child nor would Nature make Milk of it Therefore menstruous blood only offends in quantity and not in any manifest or hidden quality But it hath strange qualities when it is mixed with bad humors or is kept too long in the Body to be corrupted and cause great Symptoms but this is when it is mixed with bad humors or is out of its Vessels and so corrupt Question 3. Of the Text of Aristotle 7. de hist. Animalium cap. 2. and how it is to be understood Aristotle writes thus 7. De histo ani c. 2. Constantly every month some have their Terms but most in the third as if he should say Few women have their courses every month but many have them every third month This is against Galen and against experience For it is certain that among six hundred women scarce one hath them every third month Therefore this is either an errour in the Greek Text or in the Translation or great Men do often lie which is probable and so did Aristotle in this of Physick therefore it is in vain to defend their Errour Chap. 2. Of the Terms flowing too soon ORdinarily they begin at fourteen but many have had them sooner A child of eleven daies old had a bloody humor flowing Her saxonia vidit venetiis ser 6. part 5. c. 16. from the Privities Another of five years old had every month a moderate flux Fernel reports that a Girl of eight years old had the terms but are rare and for the most part very lecherous and short lived Chap. 3. Of want and stopping of the Terms SOme Women have them not till eighteen or twenty Some before and then they stop for a time without either giving suck or being with child Some have been without them three five or seven months and then they came again This is an evil constitution or suppression of that which it ought to flow from the fault of the blood and stoppage of the passages The Causes When Terms are wanting either blood is wanting or stopt It is wanting either because it is not made or dispersed or turned to other uses for nature being more sollicitous to preserve the individual person then to propagate the species spends it in preserving of the person Blood is not made from divers causes as age cold constitution of Liver Heart or a disease which distempers the bowels Or often bleeding from great Vessels or from having many issues which take from the blood It is spent other waies as before ripe age and when women are with child or give suck or in hot Natures and fat women in whom it is turned to fat It is in vain to provoke Terms in these They are either external evident causes of stopping of the Terms as too great labour troubles sadness fear but these last do not only waste the blood but cool and corrupt it and cause obstructions 2. Epid. sec 8. in fine as Hippocrates speaks of Phatusa the wife of Pytheus The proper causes are the straitness of the passage or evil conformation of the parts through which it should flow Or the closing of the womb of which we spake but I speak here of the vessels The usual cause of obstructions is thick slimy humors from the blood too thick or mixed with melancholy which comes
with it to the veins of the womb and stops them This thick blood comes from a cold distemper of the stomach liver and spleen from thick and gross food and drinking cold water when the Terms flow Lib. de venae sec adversus Erasistrat So thought Galen in his time of the Roman women that drank Snow-water and had few or no courses Straightness is when the body of the womb is made thicker either by Nature or other causes as a cold and dry or hot and dry distemper Thirdly Straitness is from compression of the vessels by a Scirrhus or hardness of the parts adjacent as the straight gut or by the stone in the bladder and the womb displaced Fourthly The flesh may grow together by a membrane that grows to the vessels or a scar after a wound Or after a mischance when the veins annexed to the Secundine grow so together that they cannot be opened of which in the first Question They are not the same in women and Virgins The Signs for blood stopt in Virgins goes to and fro changeth the colour and brings Feavers especially the white Feaver or Green-sickness But in women it goes more to the womb and brings Symptomes loathing vomiting and Pica Galen hath other signs as heaviness 8. De lo. aff c. 5. a lazy pain in the loyns neck and behind in the head that reacheth to the roots of the eyes from the spreading of the blood stopt through the whole body This laziness is chiefly in the thighs and leggs by reason of the veins there consenting with the womb And are of a green complexion and hairy with a beard and shrill voice You may know women with child from such as want their Terms only by proper signs First the women with child keep their colour but the other are pale and ill-coloured they are merry the other sad 2. Their Symptoms daily grow milder but in the other they daily grow worse 3. You may feel the child move 4. It is perceived in a month You shall know from what causes the terms are stopt thus If the Liver be cold there is no blood made that is superfluous and there are signs of a cold Liver and you may know that blood is not sent to the Womb when there is no heaviness pain or tumor about the Womb the Liver or Spleen are stopt The Prognostick If it be from Flegm or Melancholy which is often there are signs of their abounding as laziness paleness seldom pulse crude urin Hippoc. de morb mulier Gal. 6. de loc aff c. 5. Hippoc. 5. aphor 23. Hippocrates saith That if the Terms stop there are diseases in the Womb Tumors Imposthumes Ulcers and Barrenness and diseases in the whole Body Green-sickness Leucophlegmacy Dropsie Vomiting of blood Heart-ach Cough And the longer they have been stopt the harder they are to be opened If the blood stopt go out at the Nose it is good If it have great Symptoms there is fear of death You must not give Medicines to move the terms to extenuate lean persons nor to such as want blood and have a weak Liver but they must be fed high Com. in 6. epid 3. c. 29. First see if blood abound and then after a Lenitive open a Vein and let that blood which is in the Veins be drawn to the Womb. Galen took three pints of blood at three times from a lean Woman and cured her of an old stopping of the Terms You must open the ankle-Ankle-veins the first day the right the next the left four or five daies before the time Or you may cup and scarrifie the Legs And bind the parts below and rub them after general Evacuation opening of the Haemorrhoids doth hurt and so do Issues because they draw from the Womb. Hiera picra half an ounce or Pills de Tribus or Hiera simple are good first Then prepare As Take water of Mugwort Calamints Maiden-hair each three ounces Syrup of the five Roots and of Mugwort each two ounces make it for two Doses Or Take opening Roots half an ounce Madder Burnet each three ounces Mugwort Bettony Germander Calamints each a handful red Pease half a handful flowers of Bugloss Dill each a pugil boil and sweeten it with Sugar For flegmatick Bodies take the Decoction of Guajacum Sassaphras Dittany for fifteen daies without sweating Then evacuate with Agarick Mechoacan Turbith Scammony Coloquintida black Hellebore As Take Agarick two drams infuse it in Mugwort-water two ounces Oxymel an ounce strain and the Extract of Mechoacan a scruple Or Take opening Roots half an ounce Mugwort Bettony each two pugils Senna half an ounce Agarick two drams Fennel and Aniseed each a scruple Galangal half a dram Rosemary-flowers a pugil infuse them to three ounces and half add syrup of Senna an ounce and half Cinnamon-water half a dram Or if they drink Wine Take Turbith Mechoacan Agarick each two drams Senna an ounce and half Maiden-hair Balm Rosemary each two pugils Cinnamon Galangal each a dram hang them in Wine give six ounces with half an ounce of Manna Or Take Diaturbith with Rhubarb half an ounce Mechoacan two drams Agarick a dram Diarrhodon Cinnamon each half a dram Steel prepared a dram with Raisons make an Electuary give as much as a Walnut Or give Pills of Agarick foetida and so continue purging and preparing if the matter be stubborn Or Take Agarick two drams Madder a dram with Syrup of Mugwort make Pills Or Take Aloes three drams de Tribus one dram with juyce of Savin make Pills If the stomach is foul give a Vomit lest it get into the veins Par. 1. sec 2. ca. 2. Then give provokers of the Terms which are hot and thin about the time they used to flow they are three degrees in strength and many sorts of Medicines are made of them A Powder Take Cinnamon a dram Amber a scruple Saffron half a scruple Or Take Troches of Mirrh of Wall-flowers each a scruple Saffron five grains Or Take Castor Penny-royal each a scruple with Wine or proper Waters Physical Wine Take Madder-roots an ounce Orris half an ounce Balm Penny-royal Mugwort Rosemary each a handful Wall-flowers half a pugil Cinnamon an ounce Galangal half an ounce with Wine give four ounces Or Take the Decoction of red Pease Or Take Smallage Fennel-roots each half an ounce Mugwort Bettony Penny-royal Balm each a handful red Pease half an handful Juniper-berries half an ounce Wall-flowers a pugil boil and sweeten it Or Take ten ounces of it with three ounces of Mugwort for three doses Quercetan commends this Take Gromwel-seeds Anise Misleto of the Oak each three drams Dittany a dram Saffron a scruple bruise and keep them twenty four hours in Wine then boyl them give four ounces for three daies together Or make the Womans Aqua vitae Or Take Balm Bettony Penny-royal Mugwort Nep Motherwort Dittany each four handfuls Wine thirty pints distil them add three handfuls of each herbs and distil them again
and add Fennel-seed Calamus Cinnamon Cassia lignea Cardamoms each half an ounce distil them again Or give Syrup of Calamints Mugwort Or Take water of Penny-royal Savin Calamints each four ounces Syrup of Mugwort four ounces Cinnamon-water an ounce give it at four times Rouls Take Extract of Savin a scruple of Angelica half a scruple of Elicampane six grains Oyl of Cinnamon five drops of Cloves two drops with Sugar dissolved in Balm-water Or make an Electuary of Steel six ounces Cassia lignea Cinnamon each two drams Cloves a dram Raisins two ounces with Sugar dissolved in Mugwort-water Or Take Troches of Mirrh a dram Extract of Gentian and Savin each a scruple Castor half a scruple make Pills give two scruples or give every third day Pills of Hiera Use outward Medicines but provoke not sweat by them Take Althaea and Lilly-roots each two ounces Birthwort an ounce Mallows Mercury Mugwort Savin Motherwort Calamint Penny-royal Marjoram Bayes each two handfuls flowers of Chamomil Lavender Cheir each a handful Foenugreek-seed an ounce Juniper and Bayberries each half a handful boil them in Water foment with Spunges And then anoint with this Take Oyl of Lillies an ounce of Lavender-seeds stilled half a dram Calamints and Gith-powder each a dram Storax Calamite a scruple To Virgins that must take no Pessaries give Fumes with the head defended they will open the mouths of the vessels and cut thick humors As Take Mirrh Bdellium Storax each a dram Benzoin two scruples Gallia moschata Ivet each half a scruple with liquid Storax make Troches Then use Clysters and Injections into the Womb with Purgers As Take Calamints Penny-royal each a handful Gith-seed Turbith each a dram Coloquintida half a dram boyl it in Wine inject it into the Womb. If it be hot after it inject the Decoction of Mallows with Milk or Barley-water And because the neck of the womb lies upon the strait gut give Clysters Take Lilly-roots an ounce Orris Valerian each half an ounce Mercury two handfuls Mugwort Savin each a handful Chamomil Lavender-flowers each a pugil Caraway Gith-seed each a dram boyl add Hiera and Benedicta laxativa each half an ounce Oyl of Cheir two drams Electuary of Bayberries half an ounce If she be no Virgin put Mercury bruised in a Bag for a Pessary with Centuary-flowers Or Garlick beaten with Oyl of Spike Begin still with the mildest as Mugwort Mercury Penny-royal Marjoram Rue and then add Mucilages and Juyces to loosen the womb let not Pessaries lie long lest they cause a Feaver If it be from a tumor provoke not the Terms but look to the tumor Let diet be hot and attenuating of good juyce with Parsley Savory Rosemary Cloves Cinnamon Little sleep and much exercise Question 1. Whether are the other Causes of stoppage of the Terms Some say the blood going to other parts is a cause but it is rather contrary and the suppression of terms is cause of that For the Veins of the Womb are large enough to evacuate blood Others say The strength of the womb is a cause which thickens the Vessels that they receive blood But the Womb is made to receive it when it abounds Others accuse the strength which is to be denied but when it is so strong that it is too hot or too dry and will not receive the blood and that is a sign of weakness But there must be strength in the whole body to cast out superfluous blood or there will be other mischiefs Question 2. What Veins must be opened when the Terms are stopt Authors disagree in this as Aetius and Galen Lib. de sang miss cap. 11 18 19. who alwaies speaks of the Ankle-veins and most are of his mind being it is rational For a Vein opened in the Arm doth rather revel from the Womb then draw the blood to it But in the Ankle brings it to its place and opens Obstructions and doth both lessen and bring blood to the womb and move that which is in the womb fixed Open the Ankle therefore twice or thrice Lib. de sang miss adver craesis rather then the Arm once Therefore Galen commends Hippocrates that he opened a Vein in the Ankle in the Servant of Schimarg though she had a Plethory But in other diseases of the womb as Inflammation dropping or too many terms it is good to open a vein in the Arm. The Saphaena is opened by putting the foot in warm water before and after Question 3. At what time must a Vein be opened against the stoppage of the Terms Galen saith It must be when Nature may be helped be the blood moved that is three or four daies before the usual time of their coming as if she had been always in the full of the Moon and they have been stopt some months Bleed three or four daies before the full to put Nature in mind of her duty and to make the blood run again Chap. 4. Of Fewness of the Terms IT is when they flow less then they use or ought to flow The Causes It is either from the blood or in the expulsive Faculty in the passages As if blood be little the terms are few and slow If the retentive Faculty is weak and the expulsive strong they come at due time but in small quantity If the terms are slow the fault is in the quality of the blood being too thick Also straitness of the passages may be a cause for if they be not wide enough the blood cannot flow freely The Signs The patient will tell the disease but the cause of it is to be found in the Chapter aforegoing Few Terms from little blood is not dangerous if they be stopt from thick blood The Prognostick there follow Diseases as Erysipelas Scirrhus or Cancer See the Chapter aforegoing for the Cure The Causes and if it be from thickness of blood it is often cured by a general purge for the whole Body Chap. 5. Of Dropping of the Terms THis is a Flux and lasts long and there is pain The blood flows not conveniently at the due time and manner and the privities are alwaies wet as when the urin drops Are from the blood and the passages of it The Causes and the retentive faculty as when the blood is too thick and sharp which stir up Nature to let it out and because it stretcheth the Membranes there is pain Also the weakness of the retentive faculty is a cause The women declare it The Signs but if it be from thick blood and sharp and straight passages there is a stretching pain about the womb If it be from crudity of blood and weakness of the retentive faculty the blood flows without pain and is not much felt It is troublesom to women and if it last long The Prognostick The Cure causeth Ulcers and Inflammations It is all in mending of the thick and sharp blood and in opening the passages which are the two chief causes of it of which
we spake at large If blood be superfluous loose it not nor open the ankle-Ankle-vein lest you draw it more to the Womb but take away the Cacochymy If it be from weakness of the retentive Faculty strengthen the womb with Dryers and Astringents Chap. 6. Of the overflowing of the Terms IT is when it is too much or too long and hurts any Woman and brings diseases but a certain proportion of bleeding is not to be defined but too much is lost when the actions are hurt The Causes Gal. 3. de symp Causis c. 2. 5. aph com 57. The immediate Cause is the opening of the Vessels and the immediate Cause is the blood in quantity or quality offending or by its force or disorderly motion Vessels are opened by Anastomisis Diapedesis Diaeresis or ruption or by Diaurosis or corrosion Anastomosis is from a moist distemper of the Vessels which loosneth the Orifices or from external causes as Baths hot and moist or use of Aloes The flux is seldom too great from a Diapedesis for it is but a sweating through Ruption is from Plethory when the terms have long been stopped and then break out and when the blood is hot by Air Baths c. The outward causes are falls strokes hard travel great burthens lifted Erosion is from sharp blood or humor or from Medicines that corode as Pessaries long kept For this great Flux is chiefly from the Veins in the bottom of the Womb. The Signs The Flux of Blood is too great when the strength abateth and Cachexy follows with paleness swollen feet and the blood that comes from the bottome of the Womb is blacker and clotted That from the neck redder and thinner The signs of the causes If it be from much blood there are signs of plethory and it easily clotted together If the blood be sharp and cholerick it is putrified in the womb you shall know waterish blood by its colour and the signs of that humour abounding and if you dip a clout in it and dry it in the shade you may see it If the womb be too moist such causes went before If it be from breaking of Veins they will tell you of violence If it be from corrosion it is little and slow sometimes pure sometimes serous It weakneth the whole Body The Prognostick the Liver and Bowels there is Swounding the Whites and paleness and Dropsie sometimes That which hath been long is hard to be cured and causeth death and in an old woman it is deadly If there be fulness abate the blood Indications and keep it from flowing to the womb revel it repel cool and astringe it that it may not flow so fast and then amend the blood If it is from plenty of blood The Cure open the liver-Liver-veins in the right Arm bleed little and often because it makes better revulsion and weakens not open the Salvetella if there be weakness Gal. 5. aph com 50. and cup the Back and Breast against the Liver beneath the Paps where are Veins from the womb cup not beneath but in the Shoulders or Back and Arm with Scarification but scarifie not under the Breasts Bind and rub the arms and shoulders and temper and thicken the sharp thin humors with Decoctions and water of Plantane Purslane Sorrel Knot-grass Shepheards-purse Pomegranate-Syrup and of dried Roses Sorrel Purslane Coral Conserve of Roses Bole sealed Earth If it be urgent use Narcoticks Syrup of Poppies Treacle Philonium Laudanum If it still continue it is fed with Choler therefore purge it with Syrup of Roses Manna Rhubarb Senna If it be fed with serous blood help the Reins that do not their duty and the Liver and sweat with China You must not provoke urin but use astringents As Take the juyce of Ass-dung Syrup of Mirtles each half an ounce Plantane-water an ounce Give it her and let her not know what it is Decoctions Take Comfrey-roots Tormentil each two drams Purslane Plantane each a handful boil them add to six ounces Syrup of Currans Quinces Mirtles each six drams give it at twice Or Take Syrup of Purslane juyce of Nettles each two ounces Purslane-water four ounces Troches of Amber of sealed Earth each a dram Blood-stone half a dram give two spoonfuls every day A Water Take eight pints of water with Starch Barley-meal and Rice dried Roses a handful juyce of Yarrow Plantane each half a pint Comfrey-roots and all three ounces Horstail Blood-wort each half a handful Pears and Quinces Pomegranate-flowers all Sanders each half an ounce Mastich an ounce Distil them and give two ounces with half an ounce of Syrup of Roses or Purslane Electuaries Conserve of Roses two ounces Quinces an ounce and half Troches of burnt Ivory and sealed Earth each a dram Crocus Martis Bole red coral prepared Mastich each half a dram with Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary Powders Take Mastich red Coral prepared each a dram Pearl Smaragds prepared each a scruple Blood-stone half a scruple Bole half a dram make a powder Michael Paschal cured many with this Powder Lib. de curat morb cap. 55. Take two Egg-shells burnt Frankincense Mastich each half an ounce Pearl red Coral and Amber each two drams Blood-stone Smaragds prepared each half a scruple Barley-flour two pugils whites of four Eggs with steeled water make Cakes Give from half a dram to a dram in powder with Trotter-broath in the morning Or give every day a dram of the powder of Mulberry-tree roots Or Ex petrafores to Take plump Turtle drawn and pluckt wash it in Rose-water and red Wine put an ounce of Mastich in the belly of it stick it on and roast it and bast it with Vinegar of Roses Then put it into a glass close luted to be dried in an Oven then beat all of it to powder Give a spoonful with Plantane-water or an astringent Decoction Anoint the bottome of the Belly Reins and Groyns with the dropping of it Or make Rouls thus Take Bole half a dram Magistery of Coral a dram Pearl prepared a scruple Sorrel and Plantane-seed each half a dram Aromatiacum rosatum Traganth each half a dram with Sugar dissolved in Plantane-water make Rouls In the use of cold Astringents take heed you stop not the Veins and the heat be cooled If these help not use Narcoticks as Troches of sealed Earths and Amber with Opium these astringe also Use no Pessaries except the Veins in the neck of the Womb be open As Take Snakeweed Tormentil each half an ounce Pomegranate-flowers Plantane-seed each two drams Comfry-roots half an ounce Frankincense Mastich each a dram Acacia Sanguis Draconis each two scruples Blood-stone Starch each a dram and half with the white of an Egg and Gum traganth dissolved in Rose-water make Pessaries with red Silk Womb-Clysters Take juyce of Yarrow Solomons-seal each two ounces Mucilage of Gum Arabick made in Plantane-water two ounces make a Clyster A Fume Take Frankincense Mastich each two drams Mirtles Labdanum each a
dram red Roses Pomegranate-flowers each half a dram with Gum traganth make Troches to be burnt Oyntments Take Oyl of Mirtles Quinces each two ounces juyce of Plantane Solomons-seal Horse-tail each an ounce boil the juyces away add Bole Plantane-seed Mirtle-berries Ceruss each half an ounce with Wax make an Oyntment Or use the Countesses Oyntment to the Loins and Pecten Cataplasms Take Quinces Pearls boiled in red Wine add Bole Mastich Sanguis Draconis Acacia make a Cataplasm or a Cerot Or Take Sorrel and Plantane-seed Purslane-seed Bole Sanguis Draconis each two drams Frankincense Mastich Mirrh each three drams Turpentine an ounce with juyce of Plantane and Yarrow and Wax make a Cerot after the Juyces are boiled away Fomentations are better than Baths for they make the humors flow more Let them be astringent and cool Or wash the Legs and Hips in cold water Lay Epithems to the Liver Oyntments Cerots or Plaisters If Choler offend give Rhubarb and Conserve of Roses to evacuate the Cacochymy If blood flow from a vein broken use Coral Bole Mirtles Comphry Acacia Hypocistis or apply a Pultis of whites of Eggs and astringent Powders If it come from a vessel corroded use stoppers and glutinaters that are slimy as Dropwort-roots a dram with a rear Egg. Let the diet be as the Physick is In a flux from plethory eat little and that of little nourishment and in other cases give things to close the vessels Sleep long and use little Venery little or no exercise Anger hurts and other passions Question Whether Frictions or Ligatures in the Legs may be made for Revulsion Hippocrates and Galen are misconstrued in his 8. Book of Blood-letting and they are not to be used in the flux of the Terms Chap. 7. Of the Terms-flowing with pain and Symptoms THe Symptoms are pain in the Loyns or Thighs Head-ach biting at the mouth of the Stomach pain in the Belly and Loyns fainting They are as in suppression of Terms The Causes but less vehement and are in them that have not conceived There is obstruction thick and gross blood that stretcheth the vessels and the blood flows not orderly A little before the Terms there is head-ach The Signs biting at the stomach pain in the loyns and bottom of the stomach with beating at the heart and fainting When the pain is from thick blood it comes forth in clodds and the pain is worse than before If it be from wind it is sudden and staies not in a place and there is rumbling in the belly The Prognostick Take heed it turn not to the stoppage of terms if it be neglected It is greater in barren women and Virgins then in those who have had children The Cure Take away the cause if they be thick humors evacuate them after they are prepared If sharp temper them These attenuate blood water of Grass-roots Maidenhair Decoctions of the opening Roots Syrup of Maidenhair of the five Roots Treacle and the like in the stoppage of the Terms Against pain use the Fomentations and Oyntments in the Chapter of pain of the Womb. Chap. 8. Of evil discoloured Terms THis is called the Terms depraved by bad humors and so they are voided The Causes Blood is foul either from evil diet or evil humors or stoppage of it The humors are flegm choler or melancholy mixed with it and then the Terms are either pale blew green or black and stinking or white and flegmatick They are so from a fault in the stomach The pale and yellow are from too great heat in the Liver The black are from the spleen disordered The Signs That blood which is natural is different from the bad in colour and substance it is like that of a new slain sheep nor thicker nor thinner and the bad Terms come not seasonably but sooner or later of which Hippocrates Lib. de morb mulier You may know by the colour what humor predominates and by the substance The flegmatick and melancholy are long in coming and the cholerick waterish Terms come quicker The more they differ from the natural state The Prognostick the worse they are black and stinking are worst The mattery are worst of all If these flow seven eight or nine daies she is cured if they ulcerate the womb she is barren Hippocrates saith The Cure 5. Aphor. 36. they must be purged and prepared with proper things as we shewed in the distempers of the womb But take heed that you move not the Terms when you attenuate for that will melt the serous humors and fix them more in the vessels use neither Vinegar nor sharp things After purging consume the reliques by sweat if choler be in fault that must not be sweated out discuss it with warm Baths and do so in melancholy Use Pessaries Fomentations and Fumes to the womb Give Treacle Mithridate or the Decoction of Angelica-roots if cold humors are the cause Chap. 9. Of Terms coming before their time THese shew an ill constitution And it is a depraved excretion of the Terms that comes for the time often for sometimes they flow sooner or twice in a month The immediate Cause is hurt of the retentive and expulsive faculty The Causes so that the blood flows not or sooner or later or oftner the cause why they come sooner is in the blood that stirs up the expulsive faculty in the whole body or in the womb sometimes all causes meet the blood is too much or too sharp and hot and if the retentive faculty in the womb be weak and the expulsive strong and of quick sense it is sooner A fall stroke or passion are the evident Causes The Signs They will relate it and the signs of the causes are these If it be from much blood there are the signs of plethory heat thinness and sharp humors are known by the distemper of the whole The weakness of the retentive faculty and loosness of the vessels is known from a loose and moist habit of body The Prognostick The Cure It is not dangerous but troublesome and hinders conception If they come too soon from hurt in the faculty provoked by too much plethory Let blood use a spare diet and much exercise If it be from sharp blood temper it by good diet and Medicines as in the cholerick distemper of the womb Use Baths of Iron-water that corrects the distempers of the bowels then evacuate If it come from the retentive faculty and loosness of the vessels correct the cold and moist distemper with gentle astringents If it be from a stroke or fall cure it as the vessels opened are cured of which before Chap. 10. Of the Terms that come after their usual time WHen they stay longer then ordinary and return without order at no set time the causes are little and thick blood straitness of the passages weakness of the expulsive faculty and dulness Either of these causes may stop the Terms but if all meet the disease is
worse For if blood be not bred in such a quantity that may prick Nature forward to expel it the purging of it is differed till there be enough to stir up Nature to expel it If thick humors are in the blood the passage stopt and the faculty weak the Terms must needs be disordered and the purging of them differed longer If it be from want of blood The Signs she hath either lived poor in diet or exercised too much and she finds no inconvenience by the want of her Terms If it be from gross slimy blood there are signs of Cachochymy The weakness of the faculty is known by the cold distemper of the womb It is not so dangerous as stoppage of the terms The Prognostick but it is bad enough in a plethorick or cacochymical body If little blood be use a fuller diet The Cure and exercise not If blood be gross and foul make it thin and cut it and after Preparatives let the humors mixed therewith be evacuated It is good to purge presently after the Terms and to use Calamints and to purge often Also four or five dayes before the Terms scarifie the ankles and hold the feet in warm water rub the legs apply Cupping-glasses without Scarification to the inside of the thighs and use Fumes and Pessaries Anoint the bottom of the belly with things to provoke the Terms If there be a numness use things against the Palsie Chap. 11. Of the Terms voided another way SOmetimes they come out at the Nose or are vomited up or flow out by the Haemorrhoid veins 1. De morb mul. 5. apho 32. obser medit c. 15. Lib. 1. de affect mul. c. 7. The Causes Hence Hippocrates saith that a woman that vomits blood is cured by having her Terms or by a Bloody-flux Sometimes they are pissed forth Dodonaeus saies That they come out at the eyes like tears sometimes Amatus Lusitanus saith they will come forth at the Teats of the breasts and at the navel at the little finger or ring finger every month as Mercatas observed thrice Are stoppage of the Terms from straitness of the vessels in the womb or evil conformation of the womb The Prognostick It is more troublesome then dangerous and hinders conception It is best when they come out at the Nose for it is a part that Nature useth to disburden her self by The Cure First Bring the blood to the womb again and abate it Open the ankle-ankle-vein three daies before she begins to bleed Or cup the thighs or rub them Or use Baths Fomentations Oyntments Womb-Clysters Pessaries and the like mentioned in Suppression of the Terms Chap. 12. Of the Whites IT is a foul excretion from the womb white and sometimes blew or green or reddish nor at a set time nor every month but disorderly longer or shorter Before or after the Terms and when they are stopt Virgins seldom have this disease and women with child have it sometimes It differs from the running of the reins for it is in less quantity whiter and thicker and at a greater distance It differs from night pollution which is only in sleep with the imagination of Venery The immediate Cause is an excrementitious humor flegm choler or melancholy The Causes Sometimes it is like waterish blood It is gathered in the whole body or in the stomach liver or spleen For they who have crudities in the stomach are subject to this disease Sometimes the womb alone is distempered after often mischances or when the womb is very cold and moist This matter flows through the veins of the womb or of the neck of it which use to carry blood and Nature abuseth them to carry excrements especially if they are bred in the womb The remote causes are whatsoever doth breed bad humors some have it after strong purges or long bathing Sometimes they are pale sometimes blew red The Differences waterish and green sometimes slimy or cold or sharp or stinking In young people it is reddish The face is discoloured the urin thick The Signs there is loathing and heart-ach If the humor be sharp and corrupt there is a Feaver If it be flegmatick and much the ligaments of the Womb are loose and it falls out thus Hippocrates Lib. de natur mulierum and there are saith he swelled eyes evil colour and short breathing If it be not bred in the womb the humor is from a Cacochymy If it be from a fault in another part the signs of that will appear If it come only from the Womb there will be but little If from the whole body there will be more The Prognostick It is often long with little inconvenience but it must be looked to lest it be worse for it often breaks ulcers Cachexy falling out of the womb Consumption Fainting Convulsions when the matter is sent to the brain or nerves And the worse the humor is the greater is the disease The Cure It must not be suddenly stopt lest it go to the noble parts First see whether it be from the whole body or any part or from the Womb it self If from the whole body which is often make general evacuation and turn the humors from the womb and keep a good diet lest they come again I allow not bleeding in the arm if the terms be stopt for they cause a Cacochymy which admits no bleeding Moreover the mass of blood may be made foul by them therefore find out whether it comes from Cacochymy or Plethory And when it is most like to come from Cacochymy bleed not Therefore if flegm abound which is most usual after general purging consume the reliques with Guajacum and Sarsa and a drying diet and by provoking Urin of which hereafter If sharp and cholerick humors abound temper them with gentle astringents as Succory Endive Sorrel to prepare purge with Rhubarb Triphera Persica aggregative Pills and Pills of Rhubarb If it be melancholy do as in melancholy If it be water cure it as Galen did the Wife of Boethus c. 8. lib. de prognost ad Posth If it be in the stomach liver or the like prevent it from increase and because it is most about the stomach give a Vomit but not too strong Then strengthen the stomach with hot and dry Medicines If Choler abound the Distemper is hot and then cool it If it come from the Womb do as I shewed from what cause soever it is Baths are good to evacuate and divert and strengthen and take away a moist distemper provided they are proper for the Constitution Use Dryers and Astringents As Take Conserve of red Roses four ounces of Succory two ounces red Coral Snakeweed Tormentil-roots Ivory each two drams with Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary Or Take red Coral Bole sealed Earth each an ounce Pearl prepared a scruple Mastich half a dram Cypress-roots two scruples Mace half a scruple with Sugar of Roses as much as all make a powder Or Take
we shewed concerning a Wench that was married and to appear a Virgin she used a Bath of Comfrey-roots Question 4. Whether is Milk in the Breasts a sign of Virginity lost Some say That there can be no Milk in the Breasts till a woman hath conceived and Virgins have neither the cause nor the end why milk is made And the terms stopt do rather corrupt then turn to milk And though there be alwayes in the Breasts a faculty to make milk yet doth it not shew its power but upon an object and for some end Some say That Virgins may have Milk 5. Aph. 39. Gal. in com Lib. 3. anat c. 4. com in aphoris lib. 5.39 and urge this saying of Hippocrates If any have Milk when she is neither with Child nor Breeding their terms are stopt Galen is of the same opinion and thought it be seldom yet he saith it is possible And Alexander Benedictus and Christopher de Vega saw it We shall not contradict Hippocrates and Experience but there is a twofold milk The one of Virgins the other of those that have brought forth or conceived The first is made of blood that cannot get out at the womb but goes to the Breasts and this is nothing but a superfluous nourishment of the Breasts that turns milk by the faculty of the Breasts without the company of a man or conception The other is only when there is a child of this Milk it is true what Hippocrates writes It is a certain sign of a Mole Cit. loc de morb mulierum when great bellied women have no milk in their Breasts And true milk in the Breasts is a sign of a live child in the Womb. These Milks differ in respect of the blood and diversity of the veins that bring it to the Breasts and though both are white yet that of Virgins is thinnest nor is it so much nor so sweet this may breed in the Veins according to Aristotle from the superfluous nourishment of the Breasts and if Virgins have it 1. De hist. ani c. 12. they are not to be termed unchast Chap. 2. Of the Green-sickness or white Feaver THis is in Virgins fit for a man it is called the Virgins Disease and the white Feaver not that there is alwayes a Feaver but because their Face is like people in a Feaver It is thus defined The Virgins Disease is the changing of the natural colour into a pale and green with faintness heaviness of body loathing of meat palpitation of Heart difficult breathing sadness swelling of the Feet Eye-lids and Face from depraved nourishment The â—auses The first Cause is stoppage of Terms the next is the gathering of bad humors For when the way to the womb is stopt the blood returns to the great Vessels and Bowels and choaks their heat and stops the vessels and spoils the making of blood and then there are crudities which being brought to the habit of the body cannot be united perfectly to the parts and cause a Cachexy which is the way to a Dropsie and Leucophlegmacy and divers Symptoms The causes of the obstructions of the Vessels of the Womb are crude humors and flegmatick slimy blood from evil diet and drinking of Vinegar or eating raw Corn Chalk Ashes Lime Earth Clay and the like There is a pale and green colour The Signs the Face is swollen and the Eye-brows in the morning after sleep especially the Ankles swell and the whole Body is loose and moist from much water the Legs are lazy the Pulse is little and often in the Neck Temples and Back The heart beats the breath is short when they go up stairs they loath meat Some have the Pica or desire to eat absurd things The terms are stopt the Hypochondria are swollen Sometimes they vomit If vapors fly to the Head there is thirst and head-ach and if Melancholy be mixed the animal actions are hurt These are not all in all people but most are in most and in some all It it often turned to a Dropsie The Prognostick Some after death have had a Scirrhus hard Liver Some die suddenly the Heart being oppressed If the stomach be much afflicted it is dangerous and they loath meat much If it come from the womb alone it is easier cured It is best to begin in the Spring or Summer The Cure after a Clyster open a Vein in the Ankle Then heat the thick cold humor and make it thin and because it is too much to be purged at once prepare and purge often and mix attenuaters and cutters with your purges When the humors are above the stomach and Mesentery it is good to vomit those that can easily vomit and to give Liver-Physick or Spleen or Womb-Physick even as in Leâ—cophlegmacy see the Chapter of Terms stopt But in this Disease alwayes consider the Liver Spleen and Mesentery the obstructions of which are cured with things mentioned At first open the obstructions of these parts with some few things that provoke terms and after give more Thus Take opening Roots an ounce Madder Eryngus Orris Elicampane Citron-peels dried Sarsa each half an ounce Mugwort Agrimony Germander each a handful Savin two pugils Carthamus-seeds an ounce Senna two ounces Mechoacan Agarick each half an ounce Stoechas-flower two pugils Fennel Aniseed Galangal each two drams boil them to a pint and half sweeten it and add Cinnamon-water three drams Or infuse them all with Sea-wormwood half a handful common Wormwood two pugils Or Take Agarick Pills of Rhubarb each a dram Quercetan 's Pills of Tartar and of Ammoniacum each half a dram Spike a scruple Oyl of Cinnamon three drops Extract of Wormwood half a scruple make Pills give a scruple an hour before meat Or Take juyce of Mercury clarified Honey or Sugar each an ounce add Gith-seed Senna each two drams Mechoacan a dram make a Mass or give Conserve of Marigold-flowers Steel is an excellent Remedy after Preparatives with proper Drinks or Ingredients And if the Vessels of the stomach are stopt give a Vomit and then gross powder of Steel Hoc laudat Mercatus If the Mesentery be stopt Take Diarrhodon Diacurcuma Agarick each a dram Carthamus seeds two drams red Dock-roots Carrot-seed each a dram and half Cloves a dram Steel prepared two ounces with clarified Honey make an Electuary give two or four drams If she vomit stop it not If the Liver be chiefly stopt let the Steel be finely powdered And take of it half a pound add eight ounces of Wine in a glass set it in the embers stir it and let it boil twelve simmers till you see it froath and grow a little thick then pour the froath and all into another Vessel Do thus four times and then let it be gently boiled till it be thick as Honey Then Take Parsley Carrot-seed Diacurcuma Diarrhodon each a dram and half Cinnamon a dram Steel prepared six drams with Honey make an Electuary give three drams or five after excercise If
terms flowed not orderly in their youth are splenitick and Hypochondriack in their age The Signs It is known by a pain in the left side and breast to the throat there is short breath often belching the belly is bound they are sad and solitary When thin blood grows hot there is inflammation over all the body and chiefly the face which suddenly vanisheth and there are other signs of Hypochondriacks These cannot endure sweet scents to their nose The Prognostick The Cure If it be not speedily cured it turns to worse diseases as the Schirrhus of the spleen The blood is commonly too hot therefore open a vein especially when it is from the terms stopt You may also open the Haemorrhoids and then purge gently and often with Pills of Tartar by Quercetan of Ammoniacum of Aristolochia or Birthwort by Fernel or give Steel and things as in the Hypochondriack diseases lib. 3. part 5. and in the Chapter of Terms stopt and Melancholy from the Womb. Chap. 11. Of the Distemper of the Liver from the Womb and of a Beard growing by consent from the Womb. THe Womb hath many and great veins more then other parts If then there be too much blood in them it easily goes back to the hollow vein and choaks the heat of the Liver and so the Liver is distempered according to the humor It breeds crude and flegmatick bood which sent over the body causeth a Cachexy and what diseases come by the Liver are by consent from the womb as in stoppage of the Terms and Green-sickness Hippocrates speaks of a womans Beard in Phaetusa the Wife of Pythius 6 Epid. sec 8. aph 45. for hairs have their beginning and growth from the reliques of the nourishment of the noble parts that is from the excrementitious part of the blood And if terms be stopt and vitious humors that use to be evacuated with them are sent over the body they cause divers Diseases and Symptoms and among the rest the body of a woman is made hairy and she hath a Beard which is rare Chap. 12. Of the Diseases of the Stomach that come from the Womb. SOmetimes from consent with the womb the appetite is lost diminished increased or depraved or there is Hickets or vomiting belching pain or heart-ach The Causes This is when malignant vapors the way being large rise from the arteries of the womb and go to the coeliack artery and through the Hypogastrick And if they are hot they cause thirst if cold they hurt concoction and many times cause strong symptoms from their malignity and occult qualities whose causes are not known Hence it is that women desire absurd things as these vapors get into divers parts of the stomach The Signs You may know when the stomach is affected by consent from the womb because the Symptoms abate and return again when the vapor comes to the stomach there are also other signs of the womb distempered and of the Spleen and Mesentery by the vessels of which the matter is sent from the womb to the stomach The Prognostick The Symptoms are worse when they come from the womb then when they come from the stomach first nor are they curable except the womb be first cured The Cure It is to be directed to the womb and stomach For if it come only by consent and there is no disease by propriety when you have cured the womb the stomach disease vanisheth of it self if you do but strengthen the stomach If the stomach be first affected look only to that Therefore first evacuate the humors that stick in the stomach as we shewed in its Distemper with matter or the humors will be infected by the malignant vapors A Vomit is here proper To help the Womb see for the Mother-fits and Suffocation and for the Chapter of the Distemper of the womb with matter then strengthen the Stomach thus Take Aromaticum Rosatum a dram Extract of Angelica half a scruple Oyl of Cloves Cinnamon each five drops with Sugar two ounces make Rouls Or give Pills of Aloes and Mastich often THE FOURTH BOOK THE FOURTH SECTION Of the Symptoms which are in Conception Chap. 1. Of the desire of Venery hurt THere are two Symptoms in women about copulation The first lechery lost when she doth not willingly entertain a man or cannot long endure him or if she endures she finds little or no pleasure no more than if she were outwardly handled The other is too great lust as in Frenzy of the womb when they cannot be satisfied by many men Causes The defect of appetite in lust is from defect of seed or when it is cold or there wants Spirits in the Seed-vessels The causes of want of Seed are Lib. 3. Par. 9. Sect. 2. C. 1. Sometimes it is from evil conformation of the Seed-vessels Women discover this to their Husbands that go to the Physitians for counsel The Signs These women have not fruitful feed The Prognostick The Cure and therefore are barren For that see Lib. 3. Of Barrenness of Men where are Liniments and Oyntments for the Loyns and Privities of women but that she may take more pleasure let the man anoint the head of his Yard with Civet or Hens-gall or the gall of a Pickrel Too much Letchery not of it self hinders Conception but wandring Lust that follows Letchery doth The Causes are the same with those of Womb-Frenzy as plenty of seed sharpness and commotion sharpness of seed from hot meat and Medicines that provoke lust and sharp humors in the womb and seed Thus lust or lechery is abated by Medicines that extinguish the plenty of seed and allay its sharpness Chap. 2. Of Barrenness and want of Conception Man or Woman may be lustful and copulate and yet there may be no conception or she may conceive too many as Twins or more or have one conception after another which is called Superfoetation or she conceives a Mole or Monster Conception is of fruitful seed spent by a man and mixed with a womans seed to perfection for the making of a child by the retentive and altering faculty of the womb hence it is necessary that both seeds be fruitful that is hot full of Spirits and well tempered and a fit subject for a Soul and that both spend at a time and there be mixed and retained together to produce a child Also the sucking of the womb is necessary and that it should lay it up and embrace it so that there be no space between the Seed and the Womb. Sometimes the womb greedily snatcheth and embraceth the seed but doth not keep it but lets it come forth two or three dayes after or keeps it to no purpose and brings it not to action as in a false conception or mole Moreover there must be blood in readiness to get the child or besprinkle it when it is first formed and to nourish it after Therefore if terms be wanting as in girls or be stopt or
or shape of what she desired of which there are many Examples But I doubt whether all errors in Formation depend together upon the imagination for the spirits and humors are troubled by the passions of the mind and so slow forceable immediately to the womb or other part and this disturbs the forming faculty in its work Authoris sententias Also the forming faculty being overcome with plenty of humors or wanting spirits that are gone another way may by chance make an ill shape therefore the passions of the mind are the first causes of errour in Formation and imagination helps by stirring up the appetite These are the common errors of Formation Others are determinate errors not simply from the imagination by the passions which have no determination to such a thing but no other cause can be besides the imagination but how she directs the forming faculty for the producing of such effects it is hard to be understood but there must be some imagination and the forming faculty that it may impart the species sent from the external senses to the forming faculty And this is the cause of the consent of the upper and lower faculties for the soul is the same in the whole body and every where fitted with the same faculties but it doth not exercise all in all parts but by the proper determinate Organs or Instruments And though the child hath its soul yet while it is in the womb it depends upon the soul of the mother as the fruits partake of the life of the tree while they are upon it therefore it is probable that whatsoever moves the faculties of the soul in the mother may move the same in the child Hence it is that while the forming operateth in the seed and womb of the mother if any species be sent to the imagination of the mother which she strongly receives it may make an impression upon the child yet every imagination cannot make this impression but that which makes a great admiration or terror in the mother when the forming faculty is at work as when she beholds one with six fingers she brings forth the like or when she produceth hair where it should not be or the likeness of a beast in any limb or when she seeth any thing cut or divided with a cleaver she brings forth a divided part or a Hare-lip Chap. 8. Of a Child turned into Stone JOhn Albosius Doctor at Senon and Simeon Provarcher of Lingo Physitian of Senon writ of this in French and Latin I shall give my opinion with others Two things are to be observed in this wonderful History First Why the Child in the time of travail being dead in the womb did not stink as is usual or kill the mother suddenly or was not cast out by degrees being rotten Secondly By what force the child was turned into Stone For the first The mother lived twenty eight years after she had this Child therefore it is not credible that the womb was so cold that it might hinder putrefaction as some think It seems more probable to be that these questions explanation depend upon one principle for the cause that made the stones hardness kept the child from putrefaction but what that is it is obscure Many fly to the efficiency of the first qualities others to driness others to coldness others to both I acknowledge heat cold and driness to he helping causes for breeding of Stones in mans body but the chief cause is a Stone breeding juyce or spirit of which I have spoken at large The principles of Generation were weak in this child and impure and this stone breeding juyce was mixed with the blood in the humors hence it is that it was not born alive as in a mole bred in the womb which women have till they are old and die with it and yet it stinks not no more then stones bred in most parts But there is but this History of such a Birth Chap. 9. Of a Mole IT is flesh and mass without bones or bowels gotten of an imperfect conception instead of a child The Latins call it a Mole from the weight because it is troublesome to women as a Milstone in Latin called Lapis Moralis The Differences Sometimes it is unshapen flesh without bones only full of veins with a skin over it and nothing within but like the Parenchyma of the bowels Sometimes it is membranous and fibrous Pet. Salis diu in annot in altimarum without shape Sometimes it is long round or like a quarry of glass or like a brute beast Some have brought forth three Moles like mens yards Some are like congealed blood or the Placenta of the womb into which the navel-vessels are inserted some grow and are nourished and some have an obscure sense Sometimes they are sent out alone sometimes with or before the child of which there are many Histories Some bring forth Monsters for Moles In is from the error of the forming faculty but the Cause of that is obscure The Causes I suppose it is from both seeds when the forming faculty is weak and the seed little and not good and overcome by much blood and can make only veins and membranes and not a whole child Sometimes it is in Widows only from their own seed and blood A Mole is sooner bred when the blood is impute and unfit to nourish and is made when they copulate in the flowing of the terms that are unclean It is neither from heat nor cold principally but from the error of the forming faculty They are hard to be known before the fourth month The Signs then they are known by such as can distinguish between the motion of wind and a child 2. If a woman turn from side to side it falls like a stone to that side she lies on and is heavy If it have any motion it is trembling and beating with construction and dilation like a Spunge If after the time that the child should move there be no motion and the belly swells and there is no sign of a Dropsie it is a sign of a Mole Thirdly In women with child there is Milk about the fourth month but in a Mole the breasts swell but there is no true milk 4. They are more pained and faint and have more pain in their back and groyns If it be with a quick child it is hard to be known but it is known by its weight in the womb which she perceives when she gets up to walk or moves from side to side some are then strong and well coloured It hurts the womb and whole body The Prognostick if it be divided it is less dangerous when it is soft it is cast out the third or fourth month Sometimes it ulcerates or tears the womb and causeth great bleeding Some have been cast out or drawn out without danger some grow old with them in Fabr. cont 2. obs 55. The Cure and find no inconvenience but the weight To
make a Pessary The stronger are of the Decoction of wild Cowcumber Coloquintida Staphisacre Hellebore Honey and gall of an Ox. Fumes are made of Cassia lignea Nard Mugwort Savin Penny-royal Dittany Or Take Myrrh Castor Galbanum each half a dram Opopanax Cinnamon each a dram with Honey make Troches for to be burnt Then foment the Belly with the Decoction of those Plants Or Take Lupine-meal an ounce powder of Wormwood half an ounce Mirrh Rue each three drams with Ox-gall and Honey make a Cataplasm If it come not forth give a Womb-clyster of the Decoction of Sage Mugwort Mercury Calamints Penny-royal If all fail inject things to suppurate into the womb and let it be turned to matter and come out by degrees and inject strengtheners into the womb Of the Mole left after Child-bearing You may know it by the signs of a Mole mentioned she hath no ease after travel there is pain in the navel back and groyns and much clotted blood comes away and yet she hath no ease the Cure is mentioned before in the Mole Chap. 3. Of the Purgation after Child-bearing diminished or detained THis is not alike in all women for in some women the blood is fresh in others it is waterish cholerick or melancholick And some bleed more then others according to the constitution and Countrey It is either not at all or too much or too little The Causes When they are stopt or lessened the vessels are too strait or the blood flows another way or it is too thick or the vessels of the womb are pressed from its position the blood is drawn away by passions fears or goes hastily to the breasts The Signs The just quantity is not to be defined when it is stopt the belly swells the pain is in the bottom of the belly and groyns there is chilness and a Feaver after it fainting weak swift unequal pulse there is soot in the urin Sometimes the belly inflamed or she voids blew or black clodds or blood The Prognostick Gal. 1. epid com 3. t. 21. The Cure It is bad of it self to have any thing left after Child-bearing and worse if it staies long and grows melancholick therefore it is a cause of many diseases First endeavor to evacuate the blood from the womb by Frictions Ligatures and Cupping if they will not do open a vein in the foot Then open the passages with external and internal meats anoint the Belly with loosning Oyls or foment thus Take Lilly-roots Birthwort Briony Angelica each half an ounce Mercury Mugwort Penny-royal Savin Calamints each a handful Tansey Chamomil and Elder-flowers each half a handful Faenugreek and Linseed each two drams bruise them grosly and put them in a bag and boyl them in Water and Wine lay it to the Privities and bottom of the Belly Give emollient Clysters and if some dayes are past purge with Agarick Rhubarb Senna Or Take Lilly-roots Althaea each half an ounce Birthworts two drams Pellitory Mercury Althaea each a handful Calamints Chamomil Elder-flowers each two pugils Foenugreek and Linseed each two drams boyl them to ten ounces strained add Oyl of Dill Lillies each an ounce Hiera simple half an ounce Oyntment of Sowbread three drams make a Clyster Or give Pessaries that provoke the Terms Give things to melt and attenuate the blood As Take opening Roots three drams Bettony Maiden-hair Endive Schoenanth each two pugils Anise Fennel-seed each a scruple red Pease a spoonful boyl them to a pint and half add Cinnamon-water two drams syrup of the five Roots three ounces give four ounces Chap. 4. Of too great a flux of blood after Child-bearing THat is too much which makes weak It is blood abounding which hath been gathered nine months in the womb The Causes It is thick or spends the Spirits and weakens The Signs There is loathing of meat pain the Hypochondria belly-ach weak and often pulse dark sight noise in the ears fainting and Convulsion It is dangerous when long The Prognostick Hippoc. 9. aphor 55. The Cure and with fainting and Convulsion Therefore observe the Pulse lest she dye suddenly See what strength she hath and stop it not suddenly If it be not very great order a dyet of roasted Hens basted with red Wine or Pomegranate of Starch Almonds Rice Quinces Conserve of Roses steeled Water and make Revulsions use gentle things and strengthen the loose passages Anoint the belly with Oyl of Roses Mirtles cup under the breasts and sides without scarrification Apply a Cataplasm of red Roses Bole and Rose-water to the Liver Then use stronger and give a higher diet often in small quantity and give Syrups to stop blood As Take old Conserve of Roses two ounces of Tormentil an ounce of Quinces without species half an ounce Bole red Coral each half a dram with syrup of Currans and Coral make an Electuary Anoint the belly with the Oyntment of the Countess and other Astringents or use Astringent Fomentations or let her take into the womb a Fume of Mastich Frankincense red Roses c. Then open a vein in the arm and let blood by degrees See Sect. 2. Chap. 6. Of Overflowing of the Terms Chap. 5. Of the pains after Travel and torments in the Belly THese are not in the body and bottom of the womb but in the vessels and membranes by which the womb hangs and that goes to the sides and belly The Causes They are from a constant labour in travel when the bottom of the womb is pricked to send forth from cold air let into it or clotted blood detained or sharp blood sticking to the womb and pricking it The Signs They are in the womb it self you may know if they came from cold by what hath been done and clotted blood will manifest it self The Prognostick The Cure They weaken much and are very troublesome therefore they must be abated First take away the cause or abate the pain and make that which hurts the womb fit to be evacuated by these Pills Take Cinnamon a dram Saffron a scruple Diacymini Diagalangal Zedoary each half a dram make a Powder give a dram in Penny-royal or Cinnamon-water Or Take of Cummin-seed steept in Spirit of Wine and dried again a dram Ameos-seed and Ginger each half a dram Cinnamon a scruple Castor half a scruple make a Powder If she faint add Cordial Waters As Take Diacyminum a dram Diamargariton frigid Citron-peels Zedoary each half a dram make a Powder If she be cholerick or the humor thin and sharp cure it as a Cholick from Choler As Take Syrup of Violets Borage each an ounce Mucilage of Quince-seeds made with Violet-water half an ounce water of Borage Scorzonera each two ounces give it at twice Extenuate the humors and loosen the passages outwardly Take Bean-flour Faenugreek and Linseed each an ounce Chamomil-flowers and Cummin-seeds each half an ounce boyl them in Oyl of Lillies for a Cataplasm You may fume the womb with Decoctions of Herbs Chap.
6. Of the tearing of the Vulva to the Arse and coming forth of the Womb Inflammation Ulcer Suffocation and falling out of the Fundament THe tearing is in hard travel Par. Sectiâ— 1. Cap. 1. when the mother is tender and the child great of which before The womb comes forth from the violent extraction of the child or after-birth which the ligaments are stretched Part 1. Sect. 2. Cap. 15. The Cure is mentioned but you must not hinder the after-flux by astringents let her therefore rest and lie on her back with her feet drawn up with sweets to her nose and stinks to the womb so the womb will be retained and the flux continued after this is past you may use Astringents If there be Inflamation from hard Travel hinder not the after-flux of blood by Coolers If it turn to an ulcer let the after-flux flow and then cure it Suffocation after Child-bearing is from the stinking after-blood which sends up stinking vapors which kill many It is cured by Friction of the leggs Ligatures and Cupping with Scarification applying stinks to the nose as Castor Partridge-feathers burnt Rue And applying Sweets to the Privities You must cure the falling out of the Fundament from straining in Delivery as formerly shewed Chap. 7. Of Watching Doting and Epilepsie of Women in Child-bed THese are from the motion of the blood and humors when the after-blood flows not kindly and there is a Feaver of which in the first Book And from vapors sent from the womb there is an Epilepsie which is cured by Revulsion of vapors and humors downwards and perfect Evacuation of the After-blood which done all these Symptoms cease Chap. 8. Of the Swelling of the Womb Belly and Feet after Child-bearing IT is commonly from cold gotten into the womb and the belly sometimes swells as if there were another child It is cured by hysterical or mother Fomentations or with the skin of a new slain sheep and hard wine if in Travel they keep a bad dyet or drink too much the humors go into wind and if they fall into the Legs they swell then take heed of much drink and after the flux is is past make Evacuation with things that expel wind As Take Coleworts and Chamomil each as you please boyl them in Wine and foment the parts Or Take Wormwood Southernwood Bettony Calamints Organ Chamomil-flowers Aniseeds Rue Caraway as much as will serve for a Fomentation for the Feet Chap. 9. Of Vomiting Loosness Belly bound and not holding of Urine in Women in Child-bed THey cast up crude and indigested meat sometimes Hip. 1. de nat mulier from weakness of the stomach by consent from the womb or from the humors that came to the stomach from the parts near the womb when the after-flux doth not flow they sometimes vomit blood or when it is disordered For the blood not getting out goes to the great Veins and Liver and in its hollow part by plenty and sharp it opens the Veins and it gets into the Stomach Sometimes a Vein is broken from hard Travel Hip. 1. de morb mul. It is bad of what cause soever it comes for the strength will fail and there will be no matter to make milk of if the food be vomited If other humors they may cause a Feaver by their motion If blood be vomited from a Vein of the Liver broken or opened a Dropsie is to be feared therefore stop it whatsoever it be in this case If it be of the meat give that which will be easily digested that oppress not the stomach which must be strengthened If bad humors are vomited up stop it not so soon but cleanse with gentle Medicines and open the way by stool In vomiting blood make Revulsion to the lower parts by rubbing cupping them or bleeding in the ham or ankle and provoke the After-flux The Flux of the Belly is dangerous if it be great for it weakneth and threatneth to bring a Dysentery or Tenasmus or Neesing Nor is it safe to stop it presently lest you stop the After-flux with it If it be from food nor well concocted let her keep a better dyet and let the stomach be strengthened outwardly If this will not do give internal remedies so that they help the stomach and hurt not the womb as the Decoction of Barley Syrup and Honey of Roses Give Clysters also to temper the sharp humors and cleanse Or give Syrup of Roses Pulp of Tamarinds or Rhubarb And Astringents of Roses Plantane Tormentil Quinces Coral and the like If they be wholly stopt the belly must not be bound But first give Rhubarb and Astringents outwardly and provokers of the Terms Also the belly is bound in women in Child-bed then give a Suppository of Soap or Honey and after four or five dayes give emollient Clysters and Manna or Cassia If they cannot hold their Urin after hard Travel use a Bath of Bettony Sage Bayes Rosemary Penny-royal Organ Stoechas and presently after anoint with this Take fat Puppy-dogs boyled in Oyl of Worms Lillies and Foxes till the flesh fall from the bones then take the Fatt and add Frankincense Storax calamite Benzoin Opopanax Mace each a dram Oyl of Nutmegs by expression half a dram with Goose-grease and Wax make an Oyntment Chap. 10. Of the Wrinkles of the Belly after Child-bearing and mending of the largeness of the Privities AFter the fourth month Women prevent wrinkles by carrying a clout upon the belly dipt in Oyl of sweet Almonds Jesamine Oyl of Lillies to loosen the skin that it may stretch better without clefts If the Belly be already wrinkled Tetrabi 4. Serm. 4. 112. Take Sheeps-suet Goats-suet Oyl of sweet Almonds each an ounce Sperma Ceti two drams with Wax make an Oyntment After the flux is past add Oyl of Mastich or Roses or make Aetius his Cataplasm Chap. 11. Of Feavers and acute Diseases in Women in Child-bed THey have often continual Feavers The first is the Feaver of Milk about the fourth or third day from the motion of the blood from the womb to the breasts it is not of many dayes continuance and is not dangerous But take heed you mistake not a putrid Feaver for a Milk-feaver for labour and pain sometimes inflame the humors and cause putrefaction and though the Symptomes appear not the next day after delivery yet there may be the beginning of putrefaction from the heat of the humors in Travel especially if the after-flux be stopt from which time you must count the beginning of the diseases For a Feaver cannot be long concealed nor the motion from Travel last long therefore it is probable the motion is ceased and the Feaver comes of another cause which I shall declare presently The Causes They are the stoppage of the After-flux or the diminishing of it or the foul humors that were gathered in the time of being with child and stirred in Travel Too great purging of the after-After-blood or Lochia signifies Cacochymy or
a Feaver that will come long after Travel If the Lochia flow not in due time or be stopt then the blood and foul humors go back to the great Veins and Liver Hippocr 1. epid tex 21. The Signs and make a putrid Feaver or inflame those parts A Feaver from milk comes the fourth day and there is heaviness of back and shoulders and the Lochia flow well it not there is the sign of a Feaver If the humors putrifie in the womb there is foul stinking matter voided the belly is swollen and is pained when toucht If the Feaver be not from milk and the Lochia flow it comes from bad humors especially if when she was big with child she kept not a good diet A Feaver from milk is without danger The Prognostick and ceaseth the eighth or tenth day that which comes from suppression of the Lochia or After-flux is dangerous and often deadly except there follow a flux of the belly If black stinking matter flow from the womb they escape If the Feaver come from a Cacochymy before Delivery it is worse because it argues much humors which Nature cannot discharge by the after-flux and the strength is dejected by hard travel A Feaver from milk requires only good diet The Cure and sweating must not be hindred for it cures That which is from stoppage or diminishing of the Lochia must be cured by provoking the after-flux or by another evacuation instead of it as purging bleeding in the foot to provoke the flux or by scarifying the thighs and legs after cupping while the time is that the after-flux should be not afterwards For if that time be past if strength permit open a vein in the arm and bleed plentifully For purging some purge them in a Pleurisie after the seventh day Valer. lib. 5. obs 10. merc 4. de morb mul. c. 11. but beware by reason of the weakness after travel and because Purges may hinder the after-flux which is dangerous it is good to evacuate only by the womb but if the flux of blood cease and Nature would purge something from the womb you may give a gentle Purge of Rhubarb Cassia Manna Syrup of Roses Senna Alterers are thus to be ordered Avoid too cold and sharp things lest the evacuation by the womb should be disturbed by cold things The Diet. Let it be thin the first daies of lying in then thicker and so increasing take heed of too much drink especially of cold drink Question What Veins are to be opened in Women that lie in and have a Pleurisie They have Symptomatical Feavers also from inflammation of the Pleura Jaws or Liver because some of the foul humors are sent to some private part and make an inflammation to which the Feaver is joyned and the causes are as before mentioned If there be a Pleurisie she is in great danger The Question is Whether she must bleed above or below I say thus First This Feaver is not properly Symptomatical but primary and hath the inflammation its associate while nature sends part of the matter to the Pleura or other part Secondly Note That Nature is in an error while she sends the vitious humors which she should expel by the womb to the Pleura Thirdly Note That the vitious motion of Nature is not to be helped therefore which should be done if you should presently open a vein in the arm but the blood is to be voided by the womb which is Natures way Fourthly If the Pleurisie be not abated by opening a vein in the ankle for revulsion but the Symptoms continue or increase you must not continue to open the veins beneath because they evacuate not from the part affected which is necessary in such a dangerous disease It is a sign that the matter is fastned to the part that it cannot again be brought to the womb by revulsion Therefore then you may open a vein in the arm on the same side to evacuate and drive the blood from the part or there about or she will be in danger of death And fear not that Nature will be taken from her ordinary motion towards the womb thereby for the vein that was opened in the foot prevented that and if you fear any danger you may prevent it by Frictions and cupping of the leggs while you let blood in the arm And you may give Clysters that may cause the humors moving upwards to come down and loosen the passages of the womb that blood may flow out the better As Take Pellitory of the Wall Mallows Althaea red Coleworts each a handful Chammomil-flowers half a handful Foenugreek and Linseed each half an ounce boyl them in Water to a pint strained add lenitive Electuary an ounce Diacatholicon or Cassia half an ounce Oyl of Violets two ounces make a Clyster If the Feaver abate and the time of the flux of the Lochia be past give a gentle Purge Cure the rest as an ordinary Pleurisie onely take heed that while the After flux lasts you give no binding Medicine Also she may have a Quinzy while she lies in while the vicious matter flows to the jaws The Cure of which bleeding is to be done as in the Pleurisie but the rest is to be done as in the Quinzy And if the Liver be inflamed by the motion of the humors to it you must bleed as in the Pleurisie and Quinzy Yet it is not so needful in the Arm as in the Pleurisie by reason of the greater distance of the Liver from the Arm for the Pleura and the Breast are nearer and consent more with the Arms but the Vein in the Legg is near to the hollow Vein as the distribution of the upper Veins to the Arms. The rest of the Cure of the Inflammation of the Liver is in Lib. 3. onely observe that you must not use too great Coolers or Binders in women in Child-bed but things that are of thin parts lest the flux called Lochia or After-blood should be stopped THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART Of the Diseases of Womens Breasts THE FIRST SECTION Of Diseases of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of the increased number of Breasts and greatness extraordinary THough Nature hath ordained two in all Women Card. l. 8. c. 43. de rerum varice Cabrol obs 7. yet some have Breasts like Men others have had two on each side that had Milk The figure of the Breasts is round pointed at the nipple a little it ought not to be soft nor hard and of an indifferent bigness and it is better they be indifferent though they hold not so much milk lest they be subject to Cancers and Inflammations and when they are too big they have not a temperate heat The Causes of over-great Breasts is much blood and the strength of heat attracting and concocting it these are remote causes but the immediate cause is the largeness of the passages and loosness which is in the first conformation and furthered by idleness much sleep and few terms and
often handling of the Breasts by which the blood and the heat is drawn to the Breasts The Cure It is easier to keep them from growing great then to abate them when too big with good dyet and Topicks that repel by cooling and binding and drying As Take Mirtle-leaves Horstail Plantane Mints red Roses each a handful Pomegranate-flowers two pugils boyl them in red Wine and Vinegar and with a Spunge apply it to the Breasts and let it dry or apply Hemlock bruised with Vinegar Or Take Powder of Comfrey-roots two drams Pomegranate-flowers red Roses Frankincense Mastich each half an ounce Barley-flour red Oaker each an ounce and half with Rose-water the white of an Egg and a little Vinegar make a Cataplasm These may be laid to the Breasts and under the Arm-pits to astringe the Vessels and hinder the blood from flowing to them Hemlock Henbane and other Narcoticks are forbidden because they weaken the natural heat and hinder the breeding of milk Dryers and Discussers are good in women that have great Breasts after weaning to consume the moisture As Take Bean and Orobus-meal each two ounces and half Comfrey-roots in powder half an ounce Mints three drams Wormwood Chammomil-flowers and Roses each two drams boyl and add two ounces of Oyl of Mastich make a Cataplasm The Breasts are too little when the Flux of blood to the Breasts is hindred diminished intercepted revelled or turned another way or when the blood is not drawn by the Breasts as in a dry Liver-famine much Labour or in Watchings Feavers and other diseases that consume the body The same is when the radical moisture of the Breasts is consumed You must remove the cause that breeds it and often friction will attract blood and foment with warm water in which Emollients have been boyled with white Wine and then anoint with Oyl of sweet Almonds or of Indian-nuts Loosness of the Breasts is cured by Astringents Chap. 2. Of Sweelling of the Breasts with Milk WHen the milk-carrying veins are too full the Breasts swell all over or in part and are pained by stretching and red Sometimes the milk congealed and is a hard Tumor The cause is abundance of milk or blood that makes it or the weakness of the child that cannot suck or because he is weaned It often ceaseth without Remedies Sometimes it is an inflammation or the milk hardens to a tumor The Cure You must hinder the breeding of much milk of which hereafter and consume that which is bred in women that give suck the child will draw them or a Puppy Or use a Glass to suck with they which will not give suck may use this Take Barley-meal of Lentils Althaea-roots Chamomil-flowers and Mints each half an ounce Agnus-castus-seeds two scruples boyl them in Wine add a little Vinegar Oyl of Dill two ounces make a Cataplasm Chap. 3. Of Inflammation and Erysipelas of the Breasts SOmetimes the tumor in the breast is inflamed from blood for though plenty of milk cause an inflammation blood is the immediate cause for milk as it corrupts and grows hot increaseth pain and so the blood staying in the small capillar veins being out of the vessels is hot putrid and inflamed There are other causes as strokes falls straitness of cloaths and other hurts of the Breasts The Signs A hard and red swelling shews inflammation with beating pain and a Feaver The Prognostick These inflammations are commonly without danger but because the Breasts are so loose and have many kernels and little heat they turn to Cancers and Scirrhus The Cure If you fear a great flux of blood that will increase the inflammation let blood in a Plethorick body But if it come from stopping of the terms or after-flux first open the vein in the ankle and scarifie the leggs then if need be open the arm If bad humors coming to the Breasts nourish the Inflammation give a gentle Purge of Manna Senna and the like If the blood be too hot or mixt with hot humors that help the motion of the blood Use Alterers as Lettice Endive Purslane Plantane Water-lillies and the like Use Repellers after these To be a skilful Physitian study my Sennertus Platerus Riverius Bartholinus and Riolanus of the last Editions but such as are weak and not too cold as a clout dipt in Water and Honey with Oyl of Roses applied to the Breasts Or Take Lettice Purslane each a handful red Roses half a handful boyl them in Water add Vinegar two ounces make an Epithem Or Take Nightshade Lettice each a handful boyl them stamp them and add Barley-meal two ounces powder of Chamomil-flowers half an ounce Oxymel Oyl of Roses each a dram make a Cataplasm When the beginning of the Inflammation is past add Discussers with your Repellers As Take white Bread crums Barley-flour each an ounce and half Bean and Foenugreek-flower each half an ounce powder of red Roses and Chamomil-flowers each two drams boyl them add Rose-winegar an ounce Oyl of Roses and of Chamomil each an ounce make a Cataplasm At length use only Discussers As Take Bean-flower and of Lupines and of Foenugreek and Linseed and powder of Chamomil-flowers each an ounce make a Cataplasm If the matter grow hard use Emollients and Attenuates As Take Mallows a handful boyl them till they are soft add powder of Linseed Althoea and Chamomil-flowers each an ounce boyl them again add Oyl of Jesamine an ounce make a Cataplasm If it tend to suppuration lay a Plaister of Diachylon Or Take Mallows and Althoea each half a handful boyl them till they are soft stamp them and add powder of Althaea-roots two ounces powder of Line and Foenugreek-seeds each an ounce Leaven half an ounce add Oyntment of Althaea two ounces make a Cataplasm When there is matter and the Imposthume breaks of its own accord it is well otherwise open it with a Lancet or some sharp Medicine and let out the matter and then cleanse it thus Take Turpentine Honey of Roses each an ounce Mirrh a scruple The ulcer will be hard to be cured except you dry up the milk in the other Breast by reason of much blood that will flow thither to breed milk Question Whether the Inflammation of the Breasts be from blood alone or from milk also The inflammation and swelling in women in Child-bed upon their Breasts is from the afflux of too much milk and it is with redness and pain and beating or pulsation and it is not only from blood for tumors as in other parts are seldom pure or unmixed but there are other humors with it Therefore it is certain that when blood is drawn by heat or pain or comes of it self to the Breasts and begins to corrupt the milk also may be corrupted Of the Erysipelas of the Breasts This Erysipelas is from fright or anger and it turns presently to a Phlegmon and is cured as the Inflammation of the Breast Lay no cold astringent Repellers or fat things but things
if as oft as they lie in they have no milk and the breasts are small and wrinkled or if Medicines to keep down the breasts have been applied she will tell you or if it be from weakness of the child or passions of mind The inconvenience is little to the Nurse The Prognostick but great to the Child therefore get another Nurse or cure her To breed milk The Cure give things that breed much and good blood of easie concoction Medicines to breed milk are Fennel-roots and all green things that heat and are not very dry which are few but infinite are they that hinder milk as things hot and dry and cold things These increase Milk Roots of Smallage Seeds of Parsley Dill Basil Anise Rocket Earth-worms washt in juyce of Fennel and dried or burnt in a pot a dram or two fasting for some mornings or Crystal or Milk-stone a dram Compounds are Take green Fennel Parsley each a handful Barley two pugils red Pease half an ounce boyl them and with Sugar sweeten them or in Chicken-broath Or Take green Fennel six drams Barley two pugils boyl them in Broath and strain them Or Take Fennel-seed six drams Anise a dram and half Rocket-seed half a dram give a dram or two in Broath Or Take Cows Udder sliced dry it in an Oven and powder it Take half a pound of it Anise Fennel-seed each an ounce Cummin-seed two ounces Sugar four ounces make a Powder Hot Fomentations open the Breast and attract Blood as the Decoction of Fennel Smallage or stampt Mints applied Or Take Fennel and Parsley green each a handful boyl and stamp them add Barley-meal half an ounce Gith-seeed a dram Storax calamite two drams Oyl of Lillies two ounces make a Pultis A Dropax and Synapisme or Plaister of Mustard are good if often changed Chap. 2. Of too much Milk THis is when much blood flows to the Breasts and the Mother will not give suck or weans the Child for the Infant cannot suck it as fast as it breeds when there is much blood and good breasts that cannot make Milk The Prognostick Arist. 7. De hist ani c. 12. The Cure If Milk be kept and cannot be sucked out by the Child these are swellings inflammations pains curdlings and corruption Children that suck much if they be full bodied have a Convulsion The first coming of Milk is not to be stopt but when there is more then the Child can suck it is abated with a slender diet of little nourishment as Barley Pot-herbs-water By letting blood or cupping or by Repellers to the veins under the arms above the breasts Mints Calamints Smallage Agnus-castus Coriander Hemlock to abate Milk Mints and Smallage are doubted Compounds Take Smallage Mints Mallows Mercur. Plat. Dioscor dissentiunt each a handful Foenugreek Cummin-seed each half an ounce Chamomil Melilot-flowers each a pugil boyl them and foment add a little Wine or make a Pultis of them with Bean-flour and Oxymel Or Take Cummin-seed boyl it in Vinegar and with a Spunge foment They which will not give suck let them foment with this Decoction Take Mallows Bays Fennel Smallage Parsley Mints each half a handful anoint after with Oyl Omphacine Then take Turpentine washed with Wine and Rose-water three ounces Eggs two or three Saffron a scruple with Wax make a Plaister with a hole in the middle repeat it alwayes before Supper If you fear inflammation by too great a flux of Milk repel with a Cataplasm of Lettice Water-Lillies Poppies Housleek Or Take Turpentine washt with Mint-water three ounces Cummin-seed Orris Mints each half an ounce Saffron a scruple with Wax make a Cerot Chap. 3. Of Curdling and other faults in the Milk IF it stay long in the breasts the thin evaporates and the thick remains and hardens the kernels hence are hard tumors because the cheesie part of the Milk is apt to harden Sometimes Milk is too thick or too thin sharp salt or the like The Signs The tumor from Milk curdled is known by the plenty of Milk retained that make clefts and pain and little tumors The Prognostick The Cure If curdled Milk be strong in the Breasts it easily turns to an Imposthume and Inflammation To hinder curdling Take Powder of Mints Coriander-seed each two ounces Oyl of Dill an ounce with Wax make a Liniment Or Take Oyl of Mints Chamomil Dill Rue each an ounce To dissolve curdled Milk Take Fennel-roots Eryngus each an ounce Mints a handful green Fennel half a handful Aniseed a dram boyl them to a pint add Syrup of the two Roots and Oxymel each two ounces Foment with the Decoction of Fennel Dill Southernwood Chamomil Melilot-flowers Fenugreek Linseed Parsley-seed Smallage or stamp them or Mints with Butter and apply it If it be hard Take Mints Colewort Bran each a handful boyl them in Vinegar and apply them Or Take juyce of Smallage Dill Coleworts each a handful boyl them soft and bruise them add powder of Mirrh Orris each two drams Saffron a dram Oyl of Rue an ounce Vinegar an ounce and half make a Pultis Chap. 4. Of Milk coming forth at wrong places MIlk hath been known to come forth with the Urin or by the Womb by which passage is the doubt the short way is from the Breasts-veins to the Epigastrick-veins from the Epigastrick to the Hypogastrick and so to the Womb rather then from the Pap-veins to the breast-veins and so the Hypogastrick and so to the womb Chap. 5. Of strange things coming forth of the Breasts SOmetimes matter comes forth of the Nipples when they have long ulcers Schenkius lib. 2. ex observat Bauhini Amat Lusit cent 2. cur 21. and after the ulcer is healed it ceaseth Sometimes the Terms have come forth of the Breasts at set Periods of which Hippocrates When Blood comes forth at the Nipples there is Madness Amatus Lusitanus knew two Noble Women that were so and not Mad. And Hippocrates doth not speak of the Terms but of other blood that is hot and flies to the Head and causeth Madness and part of it goes to the Breast and causeth pain and inflammation which shews madness at hand It is cured by opening the Saphena in the Foot to revel the blood The Cure Chap. 6. Of the change of colour in the Nipples and pain of the Breasts THe change of colour in the Nipples is not a sign of the loss of Virginity for they are blew in them that give suck black in old women and in them that have known Venery it is natural and red as a Strawberry Now because there is a great consent between the Womb and Breasts if the Womb be distempered the Nipples are discoloured The pain in the breasts is from stretching by much milk and inflammation or from corrosion and twitching from sharp matter as in the Cancer and other Ulcers The cause of the pain is known from the distemper If it be from much milk it is a gentle
come from worms give things that kill worms with Piony-roots and the like If there be a Feaver respect that also Give Coral Smaradgs and Elkes-hoof In the fit give Epileptick-water as Lavender-water and rub with the Oyl of Amber or hang a Piony-root Elkes-hoof or Smaradg about the neck Of a Convulsion This is when the brain labors to cast out what troubles it The matter is in the marrow of the back and fountain of the nerves It is a stubborn disease and often kills In the fit wash the body especially the back-bone with decoction of Althaea Lilly-roots Piony Chamomil-flowers And anoint with Mans and Goose-grease Oyl of Worms Orris Lillies Foxes Ex Paulo Aegineta Turpentine Mastich Storax calamite The Sun flower is good boiled in water for to wash the Child Chap. 11. Of Strabismus or Squint-eyes THis is when they lie in the Cradle with their head from the light or on one side and they still look towards the light which causeth distortion of the eyes or it may come from the Epilepsie or by Birth The Prognostick If by birth it is not curable nor if it come from an Epilepsie If it come from custome and be new it is curable The Cure Lib. 1. par 3. c. 43. You must put a Candle on the contrary side or a Picture so long till the Eyes come to be right Chap. 12. Of Pain in the Ears Inflammation Moisture Ulcers and Worms OF these in the first Book But here we shall speak of Infants The Brain in them is very moist and hath many excrements which Nature cannot send out at its proper passages these get often to the ears and cause pain and flux of blood with inflammation and matter with pain The Signs In children pain and inflammation are hard to be known they canot relate it only it is known by constant crying and feeling their ears and will not let others touch them sometimes the parts about the Ears are red It is dangerous because it brings watching The Prognostick Hipp. 1. prog c. 16. The Cure and Epilepsie the moisture breeds worms there and fouls the spungy bones and at length deafness incurable Presently allay the pain but children must not have strong remedies Only use warm milk about the ears Oyl of Violets or the Decoction of Poppy tops To take away moisture use Honey of Roses and Aqua Mellis to be dropt into the Ears Or Take Virgins Honey half an ounce red Wine two ounces Allum Saffron Salt-peter each a dram mix them at the fire Or drop in Hemp-seed-Oyl with a little Wine Chap. 13. Of the Thrush Bladders in the Gums and Inflammation of the Tonsils THese are from bad milk or from foul humors in the stomach for the mouth is tender and cannot endure the sharp milk nor the vapors from the stomach because the coat is the same as in Lib. 2. Par. 1. Cap. 18. The bladders in the gums are thus cured Take Lentils husked powder them lay it upon the gums Or Take Melium in flour half an ounce with Oyl of Roses make a Liniment The inflammation of the Tonsils is more from eleven to thirteen for then the parts are harder and hold the humours longer and they cannot sweat out For Cure keep the belly loose by Clysters Hipp. 3. aph 26. or the like use Repellers at first then Resolvers with Repellers and at last Resolvers alone but not too hot in age Gargles are best in Infants anoint with Honey of Roses Mirtles Pomegranates Diamoron inwardly Outwardly use Oyl of sweet Almonds Lib. 2. Par. 1. cap. 22. Chamomil St. Johns-wort c. Chap. 14. Of Breeding of Teeth THis is a necessary evil in all children and very great by reason of the variety of symptoms joyned with it It is about the seventh month first the fore-teeth then the eye-teeth and last of all the grinders First they feel an itching in their gums then they are pierced as with a needle and pricked by the sharp bones whence is great pain watching and inflamation of gums Feaver loosness and convulsions especially when they breed their eye-teeth The Signs First It is known by the usual time as the beginning of the seventh month Also they put their fingers in their mouths to allay pain 3. They hold the nipple faster then before 4. The gum is white where the tooth begins to come and there are divers Symptomes mentioned before The Feaver that follows breeding of teeth comes from cholerick humors inflamed by watching pain and heat The Prognostick The longer teeth are breeding the greater the danger so that many dye of Feavers or Convulsions They are best that have their belly loose These have no Convulsion Hipp. lib. de dentitio and a Feaver consumes the humors Hard breeding of teeth is from thickness of the gums therefore mollifie and loosen them The Cure rub them with the finger dipt in Butter and Honey or a Virgin Wax Candle is to be chewed upon Or anoint with Mucilage of Quinces made with Mallow-water or with the brains of a Hare Foment the cheek with the decoction of Althaea and Chamomil-flowers and Dill or with juyce of Mallows and fresh Butter If the gums are inflamed add juyce of Nightshade and Lettice Let the Nurse keep a temperate dyet inclining to cold as Barley-broaths or Water-grewel rear Eggs Prunes Lettice Endive Avoid salt sharp biting and peppered meats and Wine Chap. 15. Of Loosing of the Tongue and of the Frog WHen the Tongue is tyed they cannot freely suck This must be done by skilful Artists or use this Liniment Take clarified Honey and boyl it up gently till it may be powdered Then take yolks of hard Eggs dryed in a glass in an Oven till they may be powdered a dram Frankincense and Mastich each a scruple burnt Allum fix grains with Honey of Roses make a Liniment The Frog is when the veins under the tongue are filled with bad blood and if flegm sweat out and stick in the passages there is a tumor like Mushrooms which causeth stammering It is cured thus Take Cuttle-bone Sal-gem Pepper each a dram burnt Spunge three drams make a Powder or with Honey a Liniment rub under the tongue Lay under the chin a Plaister of Goose-dung and Honey boyled in Wine till the Wine be consumed Chap. 16. Of Catarrh Cough and difficult Breathing Lib. 1. Par. 2. c. 34. WE have spoken of these before but because Hippocrates reckons them in childrens diseases I shall touch upon them The Causes The general Cause of a Catarrh in a child is a moist brain and much milk that burdens the stomach from whence many vapors fill the brain and if the brain be full of excrements it is easily dissolved or melted either by heat or cold and goes to the nose jaws or lungs which cause a Cough or Asthma Moreover much food makes crudities in the first passages and flegmatick blood is bred of crudity and thick chyle
in the Liver This is sent by the arterial vein into the lungs and pressing the Bronchia or pipes of the lungs causeth difficult breathing and Asthma The Signs It is known to be from a hot humor if it be thin they often sneese the face is red and the jaws the breath is short and the Nurse finds it in her nipples If difficulty of breathing come from the head there will be cough and snorting in breathing and a noise in the lungs when the air passeth not freely through them If it come from the parts below there is neither Catarrh nor Cough but hardness about the Liver and a tumor The Prognostick In Children a great Catarrh with short breath is hard to be cured because they cannot take Physick First let it and the Nurse keep a good diet The Cure fill not the stomach with milk nor other diet but let the Nurse forbear sharp salt peppered sour things and things that fill the head with vapors And give her a Pectoral Decoction Take Figs Jujubes each ten Sebestens thirty Raisens stoned ten drams Liquorish two drams Maidenhair Hysop Violets each half an ounce boyl them in three pints of Water to the consumption of the third part Let her take six ounces every morning Keep the belly open with Syrup of Roses or Cassia or a Clyster with Oyl of sweet Almonds with Sugar-candy or juyce of Fennel with Milk or hold down the Tongue and provoke Vomiting Give Syrup of Jujubes Maiden-hair If the matter be thick give Syrup of Hysop or Horehound or an Emulsion of Oyl of sweet Almonds Pine-nuts Scabious-water Or give a Lohoch of Diaireoes Diatragacanth frigid Penides with Sprup of Jujubes If it be hot give Emulsions of the four great cold Seeds with Mallows Pellitory with Diatragacanth frigid To dry up the matter lay outwardly a stuph of Hemp hot and sprinkled with powder of red Roses and Frankincense Apply Basil and Marjoram to the Nose to make it sneese Chap. 17. Of the Hickets IT comes from corruption of the food in the stomach or from milk filling it or from cold air these hurt the expulsive faculty and it is stirred up to expel what is hurtful If it come from repletion of milk The Signs the belly swells and there is vomiting after If from corruption of milk the Nurse hath bad milk the child cries and is pained and the excrements smell of stinking milk The Prognostick Hickets is commonly not dangerous in children and cease when the cause is taken away If it be from a vehement cause and goes to the nerves there follows a Convulsion or Epilepsie and death That from corruption of nourishment is cured by Vomit with a feather dipt in Oyl to tickle the throat then strengthen the stomach with hot things As Syrup of Mints Bettony and fomet it with decoction of Mints Organ Wormwood then anoint with Oyl of Mints Mastich Dill. Or Take Mastich an ounce Frankincense Dill-seed each two drams Cummin-seed a dram with juyce of Mints and Flax apply them to the stomach There is a disease like the Hickets in children from anger or grief when the Spirits are much stirred and run from the heart to the Diaphragma forceably and hinder or stop the breath Sometimes they have a shril voice the Spirits suddenly breaking forth but when the passion ceaseth this Symptom ceaseth Chap. 18. Of Vomiting IT is from too much milk or bad milk or from flegm that falls from the head to the stomach but this is seldom in children It is often from a moist loose stomach for as driness retains so loosness le ts go If it be from much milk they are better after vomiting The Cure If it be from corruption of milk that which is vomited is yellow green or otherwise ill coloured and stinking worms are known by their signs It is for the most part without danger in children and they that vomit from their birth The Prognostick are the lustiest for the stomach being not used to meat and milk being taken too much oftentimes crudities are easily bred or the milk is corrupted and it is better to vomit these up then keep them in If Vomiting last long it causeth Atrophy When it is from too much milk give it less The Cure if it be from corrupt milk amend it as I shewed Cleanse the Child with Honey of Roses and strengthen the Stomach with Syrup of Mints Quinces Or Take Wood-Aloes Coral Mastich each half a dram Galangal half a scruple with Syrup of Quinces make a Linctus If the humor be sharp and hot give Syrup of Pomegranates Currans Coral Apply to the Belly the Plaister of Bread the Stomach-Cerot or Bread dipt in Wine hot Or Take Oyl of Mastich Quinces Mints Wormwood each half an ounce of Nutmegs by expression half a dram Chymical Oyl of Mints three drops Coral half an occult propriety therefore it is hung about their necks Chap. 19. Of the Torments or Pains of the Belly IT is often with the flux of the belly and from milk alone that breeds wind and sharp humors When it is corrupted it gets to the guts and causeth a gnawing pain worms staying in the guts do the same The Signs They cry continually hate the breast and toss to and fro If it be from wind it ceaseth sometimes the belly swells and they break wind If it be from humors it is constant if it be tough flegm the belly is bound and the dung is slimy If it be sharp there is a flux yellow and green If from worms there are signs of them and of crudities and wind The Prognostick If this pain lasts long they are weak or have Convulsions or Epilepsie it is worse then from corrupt milk and worms and is dangerous The Cure If it be from crude humors and wind give a Clyster Take Pellitory Chamomil-flowers each a handful boyl them in Chicken broath two three or four ounces add Honey of Roses an ounce with the yolk of an Egg make a Clyster This may be given safely to a child of two months old Or give Oyl of sweet Almonds with Sugar-candy and a scruple of Aniseeds Heur meth ad prax l. 2. c. 26. it purgeth new born Babes from green choler and stinking flegm If it be given with Sugar Pap it allays the crying pains of the belly Anoint the belly with Oyl of Dill or lay Pellitory stampt with Oyl of Chamomil to the belly Or Take Chamomil-flowers Dill-tops each a handful Faenugreek and Lineseed each half an ounce boyl them in Wine foment the belly twice a day before meat If pain be from corrupt milk that is sharp give Syrup of Roses or Honey of Roses or Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb or a Clyster of the Decoction of Bran Pellitory with Syrup of Roses And use outwardly Oyl of Roses Dill and Chamomil Chap. 20. Of puffing up of the Belly and Hypochondria WHen they suck too much the belly is