frame is perfect it is no longer held and Embrio that is a Conception that springs forth but a perfect and absolute Child Males for the most part are perfect by the 30th day but Females seldom till the 42 or 45 day and the reason is That the heat of the Womb is greater in producing the Male than the Female And for the same reason a woman going with a Male Child quickens in 3 Months but going with a Female rarely under 4 at which time also its Hair and Nails come forth and the Child begins to stir kick and tumble in the Womb so that the motion is plainly perceived and then the Women are troubled with Nauseating and Loathing of their Meat and oftentimes greedily long for things contrary to Nutriment as Coals Rubbish Chalk Lime Starch Oat-meal raw Flesh and Fish c. which Desire proceeds from a former contraction of evil Humours occasioning impure Blood in their contained Vessel within and oftentimes Abortion and Miscarriages some Women have been so extravagant that have Long'd for Hob. Nails Leathen Man's-Flesh Horse-Flesh and other unnatural as well as unwholesome Foods for want of which they have Miscarried or the Child has continued dead in the Womb for many days to the eminent hazard of their Lives But I shall now proceed to shew by what means the Infant is sustainld in the Womb and what posture it there remains in There have been various Opinions about the way by which in the Womb the Foetus is nourished some affirming by Blood only from the Vmbilical Vein others by Chyle received in by the Mouth but the Truth is it is nourished diversly according to the different degrees of Perfection that an Egg passes from a Concepâ—ion to a Foetus ready for the Birth But before we proceed we will explain what we mean by this Ovum or Egg. You must know then that there are in the Generation of the Foetus two Principles Active and Passive The active is the Man's Seed elaborated in the Testicles out of the Arterial Blood and Animal Spirits The Passive Principle is a Ovum or Egg impregnated by the Man's Seed For to say that Woman has true Seed is erronious But the manner of Conception is thus The most Spirituous part of Man's Seed in the Act of Generation reaching up to the Ovarium or Testicles of the Woman which contain divers Eggs sometime more sometimes fewer impregnates one of them which being convey'd by the Ovi-ducts to the bottom of the Womb presently begins to swell bigger and bigger and drinks in the moisture that is plentifully sent thâ—ther after the same manner that Seeds in the Ground suck the fertile moisture thereof to make them sprout When the parts of the Embryo begin to be a little more perfect and the Chorion is so very thick that the Liquor cann't soak through it the Vmbilical Vessels begin to the formed and to extend the side of the Amnâ—os which they pass through and also through the Allanteides and Chorion and are implanted in the Placenta which gathering upon the Chorion joyns it to the Vterus And now the Arteries that before sent out the Nourishment into the Cavity of the Womb open by the Orifices in to the Placentae where they deposite the said Juice which is drunk up by the Vmbilical Vein and convey'd by it first to the Liver of the Foetus and then to the Heart where it s more thin and Spirituous part is turned into Blood whilst the grosser part of it descending by the Aorta enters the Vmbilical Arteries and is discharged into its Cavity by those Branches of them that run through the Amnios Assoon as the Mouth Stomach and Gullet c. are formed so perfectly that the Foetus can swallow it sucks in some of the grosser Nutritious Juice that is deposited in the Amnios by the Vmbilical Arteries which descending into the Stomach and Intestines is received by the Lacteal Veins as in Adust Persons The Foetus being perfected at the times before specified in all its parts it lies equally ballanced in the Womb as in the Center all on a Head and being something long is turned round so that the Head a little inclines and it lays his Chin on its Breast his Heels and Ancles upon its â—uttocks its Hands on its Cheeks and its Thumbs to its Eyes but its Legs and Thighs are carried upwards with its Haâ—s bending so that they touch the bottom of its Belly the former and that part of the Body which is over against us as the Forehead Nose Face are turned towards the Mothers Back and the Head inclâ—ning downwards towards the Coâ—yx or Rump-bone that joins to the Os Sacrum which Bone tâ—gether with Os Pubis in the time of the â—iâ—th part and is loosned whence it is that Male Children commonly come with their Faces downwards or with their Heads turned somewhat Oblique that their Faces may be seen but the Female Children with their Faces upwards tho' sometimes it happens that Births follow not according to Natures Order but Children comes forth with their Feet stradling their Necks bowed and their Heads lying Oblique with their Hands stretched out which greatly endangers themselves and the Mother giving the Midwife great trouble to bring them into the World but when all things proceed in Natures Order the Child when the time of Birth is accomplished is desirous to come forth of the Womb and by inclining himself he roles downward for he can no more he obscured in those hiding places and the heat of the Heart cannot subsist without external respiration wherefore being grown great he is more and more desirous of Nutriment and Light when coveting the Etherial Air he by strugling to obtain it breaks the Membranes and Coverings whereby he was restrained and fenced against attrition and for the most part with bitter pangs of the Mother issueth forth into the World commonly in the ninth Month for then the Matrix being divided and the Os Pudis being loosned the Woman strives to cast forth her Burthen and the Child does the like to get forth by the help of its inbred strength and so the Birth comes to be perfect but if the Child be dead the more dangerous is the Delivery tho' Nature as a kind Commiserator often helpeth the Women's Weakness herein But the Child that is quick and lively labours no less than the Woman Now there are Births at Seven or Eight Months and some Women go to the Tenth Month. But of these and the reason of them I shall speak more largely in another place CHAP. III. The Reason why Children are like their Parents and what the Mothers Imagination contributes thereto and whether the Man or Woman be the Cause of the Male or Female Child c. LActantius is of Opinion That when a Man's Seed falls on the left side of the Womb it may produce a Male Child but because it is the proper place for a Female there will be something in it
now to compleat the first part of this Treatise give you also the Anatomy of the Organs of Generation in Man and how they are fitted to the use for which Nature design'd ' em The Instrument of Generation in Man commonly called The Yard and in the Latin Penis a pedendo because it hangeth without the Belly is an Organical Part which consists of Skin Tendons Veins Arteries Sinews and great Ligaments and is long and round and on the upper side flattish seated under the Ossâ— Pubis and ordain'd by Nature partly for Evacuation of Urine and partly for conveying the Seed into the Matrix For which end it is full of small Pores through which the Seed passes into â—t from the Vâ—siculae Seminalis and also the Neck of the Vesica Vrinaria which pours out â—he Urine when they make Water Besides the common parts as the Cuticle the Skin and â—he Membrana Carnosa it hath these proper â—r internal parts viz. the two Nervous Bodies â—he Septum the Vrethra the Glans Four Musâ—es and the Vessels The Nervous Body so â—â—lled are surrounded with a thick white nerâ—ous Membrane but their inmost substance is â—ongy consisting chiefly of Veins Arteries â—nd nervous Fibres interwoven together like a â—et And when the Nerves are filleâ—â—â—â—th â—nimal Spirits and the Arteries with hot and â—irituous Blood then the Penis is distended â—â—d becomes Erect but when the Influx of the â—â—irits ceases then the Blood and remaining â—â—irits are absorded by the Veins and so the â—â—nis becomes Limber and flaggy Below these â—ervous Bodies is the Vrethra and whenever â—â—e Nervous Bodies swell it swells also The Muscles of the Penis are four two shorter arising from the Coxendix and serving its Erection and for that reason are called Erectores two larger proceeding from the Spincter of the Anus and serve to dilate the Vrethra for Ejaculation of the Seed and are called Dilatantes or Wideness At the end of the Penis is the Glans covered with a very thin Membrane by means of which and its Nervous Substance it becomes most exquisitely sensible and is the principal Seat of Pleasure in Copulation The outmost Covering of the Glans is called Praeputium a praeputando from being cut off it being that which the Jews cut off in Circumcision and it is tied in the lower part of it to the Glans by the Froenum or Bridle The Penis is also stocked with Veins Arteries and Nerves The Testiculi or Stones so called because testifying one to be a Man elaborate the Blood brought to them by the Spermatick Arteries into Seed They have Coats of two sorts proper and common the common are two and invest both the Testes The outermost of the common Coats consists of the Cuticula or truâ— Skin and is called the Scrotum hanging out oâ— the Abdomen like a Purse The innermosâ— is the Membrana Carnosa The proper Coatâ— are also two the outer called Eliotroides oâ— Viginales the inner Albuginea into the outeâ— are inserted the Cremasters to the upper part of the Testes are fixed the Epididymedes oâ— Pastata from whence arise the vasa Differentia or Ejaculatoria which when they come near the neck of the Bladder deposite the Seed into the vesiculae Seminales These vesiculae Seminales are two each like a bunch of Grapes and emit the Seed into the Vrethra in the act of Copulation Near them are the Prostatae about the bigness of a Wallnut and joyns to the neck of the Bladder Authors cannot agree about the use of them but most are of opinion that they afford an oily slippery and fat humour to besmear the Vrethra whereby to defend the same from the Acrimony of the Seed and Urine But the vessels which convey the Blood to the Testes out of which the Seed is made are the Arteriae Spermaticae and are also two The veins which carry out the remaining Blood are two and have the name of venae Spermaticae CHAP. XVII A Word of Advice to both Sexes being several Directions respecting the Act of Copulation SINCE Nature has implanted in every Creature a natural Desire of Copulation or the increase and propagation of its kind and more especially in Man the Lord of the Creation and Master-Piece of Nature that so noble a Piece of the Divine Workmanship might not perish something ought to be said concerning that it being the Foundation of alâ— that we have hitherto been treating of sinâ—â— without Compulation there can be no Generation Seeing therefore there depends so much upon it I thought it necessary before I concluded this first Part to give such Directionâ— to both Sexes for the performing of that Actâ— as may make it efficacious to the end for which Nature design'd it But it shall be done with that caution as not to offend the chastest Earâ— nor put the Fair Sex to the trouble of a Blushâ— in reading it First therefore when a married Couple from a desire of having Children are about to make use of those means that Nature has oâ—dain'd to that purpose it would be very proper to cherish the Body with Generous Restoratives that so it may be brisk and vigorousâ— And if their Imaginations were charm'd witâ— sweet and melodious Airs and all Cares and Thoughts of Business drown'd in a Glass of raâ—cy Wine that their Spirits might be rais'd tâ— the highest pitch of Ardour and Joy it would not be amiss For any thing of Sadness Trouble and Sorrow are Enemies to the Delights oâ—â— Venus and if at such times of Coition therâ— should be Conception it would have a malevolent effect upon the Children But tho' Generous Restoratives may be us'd for the invigorating Nature yet all Excess is carefully to be avoided for it will allay the briskness of the Spirits and render 'em dull and languid and also hinders digestion and so must needs be an Enemy to Copulation For it is Food moderately taken that is well digested and what is well digested creates good Blood and good Blood makes good Spirits and enables a Man without vigor and activity to perform the Dictates of Nature It is also highly necessary that in their mutual Embraces they meet each other with an equal Ardour For if their Spirits flag on either part they will fall short of what Nature requires and the Woman either miss of Conception or else the Children prove weak in their Bodies or defective in their Understandings And therefore I do advise 'em before they begin their Conjugal Embraces to invogorate their mutual Desires and make their Flames burn with a fiercer Ardour by those endearing ways that Love can better teach than I can write And when they 've done what Nature does require the Man must have a Care he does not part too soon from the Embraces of his Wife lest some sudden interposing Cold should strike into the Womb and occasion a Miscarriage and thereby deprive them of the Fruit of their Labours And when after some small convenient time
Artificial Remedies to restore it viz. Those Meats that most conduce to the affording such Aliment as makes Seed abound and restores the Decays of Nature that the Facâ—lties may freely operate For as Dung and good manuring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless even so proper Diet operates to the restoring the Coldness and Driness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since Diet alters the evil state of the Body to a better it is necessary that such 〈◊〉 are subject to Barrenness should eat such Meats only as may render them fruitful and such arâ— all meats of good Juice that nourish well aâ—â— make the Body lively and full of Sap of which faculty are all hot moist Meats for according to Galen Seed is made of the pure concocted and windy superfluity of Blood whence we may conclude there is in many things a power to accumulate Seed as also to augment it and other things of force to cause Erection as Hen-Eggs Pheasants Woodcocks Gnat-sappers â—hrushes Black-Birds young Pidgeons Sparrows Partridges Capons Almonds Pine-Nuts Raisins Currants all strong Wines taken sparingly especially those made of the Grapes of Italy but Erection is chiefly caused by Styrium Eringâ—es Cresses Erysimum Parsnips Artichoaks Turnips Rapes Asparagus Candied Ginger Gallinga Acorns bruised to Pouder and drank in Muscadels Scallions Sea-Shell-Fish c. But these must have time to perform their Operation and you must use them for a considerable time or you will reap little benefit by them The Act of Coition being over let the Woman repose her self on her Right Side with her Head lying low and her Body declining that by sleeping in that posture the Cell on the Right Side of the Matrix many prove the Place of Conception for therein is the greatest Generative Heat which is the chief procuring cause of Male Children and rarely fails to answer the expectation of those that experience it especially if they do but keep warm and without much motion leaning to the right and drinking a little Spirit of Saffron and Juice of Hysop in a Glass of Mallago or Alligant when they lye down and rise for the space of a Week Now the fittest time for the Procreation of Male Children is when the Sun is in Leo and the Moon in Virgo Scorpio or Sagitarius But for a female Child the woman must lye on the left Side strongly fancying a Female in the time of Procreation especially if she drink the Decoction of Female Mercury four dayes from the first day of Purgation the Male Mercury both Herbs so called having the like Operation in case of a Male Child for the Decoction of these Simples do purge the one the right and the other the left side of the Womb and thereby both open the Receptacles and make a way for the Seminary of Generation And the best time to beget a Female is when the Moon is in wane in Libra or Aquarius for then they will be of a gentle affable temper very faâ—r and perfect in all their Members Avicenna describes the time of Procreation thus When the Menses are spent and the Womb is cleansed which is commonly in five days or seven at most if a Man lie with his Wife from the first day she is purg'd to the fifth she will conceive a Male but from the fifth to the 8th a Female from the 8th to the 12th a male again But after that Number of Days peradventure neither distinctly but both in an Hermaphrodite In a word They that would be happy in the fruit of their Labour must observe to use Copulation at a due distance of time not too often nor yet too seldom for both these are alike hurtful and to use it immoderately weakens a Man wastes his Spirits and debilitates the Seed And thus much for the first particular I shall now proceed to the second which is to let the Reader understand how the Child is formed in the Womb what accidents it is liable to there how nourish'd and when brought forth There are various Opinions concerning this matter therefore I shall for the satisfaction of the Curious shew what the Learned say about it Man consists of an Ovum or Egg which is impregnated in the Ovaria or Testicles of the Woman by the more subtile part of Man's Seed but the forming Faculty and Vertue in the Seed in from a Divine and Heavenly Gift it being abundantly endued with a Vital Spirit which gives shape and form to the Embryo so that all the parts and bulk of the Body which is made up in the space of many months and is by degrees formed into the comely Figure of a man do consist in that and are adumbrated thereby Which is incomparably expressed by the Royal Psalmist in Psal 138. I will praise thee O Lord because I am wonderfully made Thou knowest all my Bones when I was fashioned in the secret place and when I was wonderfully formed in my mothers Womb. Thy Eyes beheld me yet unmade in thy Book were all my Members written which day by day were fashioned And the Physicians have assigned four different times wherein this Microsm or little world is fram'd and perfected in the womb The first is presently after Coition being perfected in the first Week if no Efflux happen which sometimes fall out through the â—â—â—ippeâ—â—ness of the Matrix or the head thereof that shifts over like a Rose-bud and opens on a sudden by reason of Cold or over-hard Labour The second time of forming is assigned to be when Nature makes a manifest mutation in the Conception so that all the substance seems Congealed Flesh and Blood which happens about 12 or 14 days after Copulation and though this Concretion or Fleshy Mass abound with hot fiery Blood yet it remains undistinguishable having no form or figure and may be termed an Embrio and compared to Seed which is sown in the Ground which through kindly Heat and Moisture grows up by degrees into a perfect form either in Plant or Grain or as when a Potter fashions a Vessel out of a rude lump of Clay The third time assigned to make up this Fabrick is when the principal Parts shew themselves so as to be discerned as the Heart from whence proceeds the Arteries the Brain from which the Nerve like many small Threads ruâ— through the whole Body and the Liver whose office it is to separate the Chile from the Blood brought to it by the Vena Portae The two first are the Fountains of Life that Nourish every part of the Body in framing which the Faculty of the Woâ—b is busied from the time of Conception to the Eighteenth Day of the first Month But Lastly About the 28 or 30th day the outward parts are seen exquisitely elaborated and distinguished by Joints and then the Child begins to grow from which time by reason the Limbs are divided and the whole
and that from the Authority of Pliny who makes mention of a Woman that went thirteen Months with Child But as to what concerns the 7th month a Learned Author saith I know several married People in Holland that had Twins born in the 7th month who lived to old Age having lusty Bodies and lively minds wherefore their Opinion is foolish and of no moment who assert That at seven months a Child cannot be perfect and long lived and that he cannot in all parts be perfect till the 9th month and thereupon this Author proceeds to tell a passage from his own knowledge as follows Of late saith he there happened a great divers disturbance amongst us which ended not without Blood-shed and was occasioned by a Virgin whose Chastity had been violated descending of a Noble Family of unspotted Fame Now several there were who charged the Fact upon a Judge who was President of a City in Flanders who strongly denyed the Fact saying that he was ready to swear that he never had Carnal Copulation with her and that he would not father a Child that was none of his and further alledged that he verily believed that it was a Child born in seven months himself being many miles distance from the mother of it when it was Conceived whereupon the Judges before whom the hearing was decreed That the Child should be viewed by able Physicians and Experienced Women and that they should make their report who having made diligent inquiry all of them with one accord concluded the Child without respecting who was the Father was a Child Born within the space of seven months that it was carried in the mothers Womb but 27 weeks and odd Days but if she would have gone full 9 Months the Childs Parts and Limbs would have been more firm and strong and the Structure of the Body more compact for the Skin was very loose and the Bâ—eâ—st-bone that defends the Heart and the Gristle that lies over the Stomach were higher than naturally they should be not plain but crooked and sharp ridged or pointed like those of young Chickens hatched at the begining of the Spring And being a Female Infant it wanted its Nails upon her Fingers and the outmost Joints of her Fingers upon which from the Musculous or Cartilaginous matter of the Skin Nails that are very smooth do come and by degrees harden she had instead of Nails a thin Skin or Film as for her Toes there was no appearance of Nails about them for they wanted the heat that was communicated to the Fingers from the nearness of the Heart These things being considered and above all one Gentlewoman of Quality that assisted affirming that she had been the Mother of 19 Children and that divers of them had been born and liv'd at 7 months they without favour to any party made their report that the Infant was a Child of 7 months tho' born within the seventh Month for in such cases the revolution of the Moon ought to be observed which perfects it self in 4 bare weeks or somewhat less than 28 Days in which space of her revolution the Blood being agitated by the force of the Moon the Courses of the Women flow from them which being spent and the Matrix cleansed from the Menstrual Blood which happens on the 5th Day then if on the 7th Day a Man lie with his Wife the Copulation is the most natural and then is the Conception best and a Child then gotten may be born in the 7th Month and prove very healthful So that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced Innocent upon Proof that he was 100 miles distance all that month in which the Child was begot And as for the mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father being forced in the dark and so thro' fear and surprize was left in Ignorance As for Coition it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in Health lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Children so be gotten creating in them through the abundant ill Humours divers languishing Diseases wherefore Health is no where better to be discerned than by the Genitals of the Man for which reason Midwives and other skilful Women were formerly wont to see the Testicles of Children thereby to conjecture at their temperature and state of Body and Young-men may know thereby the signs or symptoms of Life and Death for if the Cases of the Testicles be loose and feeble and the Cods fall do â—n it denotes that the vital Spirits which are the props of Life are fallen But if the secret Part be wrinkled and raised up it is a Sign all is well But that the Event may exactly answer the Prediction it is necessary to consider what part of the Body the Disease possesseth for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted as the Head or Stomach then will it not so well appear by the Members which are unconcerned with such Grievances but the lower part of the Body exactly sympathizing with them their Liveliness on the contrary makes it apparent for Natures force and the Spirits that have their intercourse first manifest themselves therein which occasions Midwifes to feel the Genitals of Children to know in what part the grief is resident and whether life or death be portended thereby the Symptom being strongly communicated by the Vessels that have their intercourse with the principal seats of life CHAP. IX Of the Green-sickness in Virgins with its Causes Prognosticks and cure Together with the chiefest occasion of Barrenness in Women and by what means to remove the Cause and render them fruitful THe Green Sickness is so common a Distemper in Virgins especially such as are of a Flegmatick Complexion that 't is easily discern'd shewing it self by discolouring the Face making it look green pale and of a dusky yellow which pâ—oceeds from raw undigested Humours nor only doth it appear to the Eye but sensibly afflicts such as it possesses with difficulty of breathing pains in the Head Palpitation of the Heart unusual beatings and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples Neck and Back many times casting them into Fevers if the Humour be very vitious also loathing of Meat and the distension of the Hypocondriack part by reason of the Inordinate Efflux of menstruous Blood to the greater Vessels and of the abundance of Humours the whole Body is often troubled with Swelling or if not at least the Thâ—ghs Legs and Anckles all above the Heels And also there is a Weariness of the whole Body without any reason for it The Galennical Physitians affirm that this Distemper proceeds chiefly from the Obstruction of those Vessels that are about the Womb occasion'd by the abundance of gross viscous and and crude Humours arising from several inward causes but there are also outward causes which have a share in the Production of it as taking cold on the Feet drinking of Water intemperance in Diet and also the eating of things contrary to
the Man has withdrawn himself let the Woman gently betake her self to Rest with all imaginable serenity and composure of Mind free from all anxious and disturbing Thoughts or any other kind of Perturbation whatsoever And let her as much as she can forbear turning herself from that side on which she first reposes And by all means let her avoid Coughing and Sneezing which by its violent concussion of the Body is a great Enemy to Conception if it happen soon after the Act of Coition And thus I have finish'd the first Part of this Treatise which I hope will be to the honest and sober Readers Satisfaction The End of the First Part. ARISTOTLE's MASTER-PIECE COMPLEATED PART II. BEING A Private Looking-Glass FOR THE FEMALE SEX TREATING Of the several Maladies incident to the WOMB with proper Remedies for the Cure of Each CHAP. I. Of the WOMB in General ALTHO' in the first Part I have spoken something of the Fabrick of the Womb yet being in this Second Part to Treat more Particularly thereof and of the various Distempers and Maladies it is subject to I shall not think it a Tautology to give you by way of Introduction a general Description both of its Situation and Parts but rather think this Second Part would be imperfect without it so that it can by no means be Omitted especially since in it I am to speak of the Quality of the Menstruous Blood First Touching the Womb Of the Graecians it is called METRA the Mother or DELPHOVS saith Priscian because it makes us all Brothers It is placed in the Hypogastrium or lower part of the Belly in the Cavity called Pelvis having the streight Gut on one side to keep it from the hardness of the Back-bone and the Bladder on the other side to defend it from Blows The form or figure of it is like a Viril Member only this excepted the Manhood is outward and the Womanhood within It is divided into the Neck and the Body The Neck consists of a hard fleshy Substance much like a Cartilage at the end whereof there is a Membrane transversly placed called Hymen or Eugion Near also unto the neck there is a prominent Panicle which is called of Montanus the Door of the Womb because it preserveth the Matrix from Cold and Dust Of the Graecians it is called KLYTORIS of the Latines Praeutium Muliebre because the Jewish Women did abuse this part to their own mutual Lust as St. Paul speaks Rom. 1.26 The Body of the Womb is that wherein the Child is Conceived and this is not altogether round but dilates it self into two Angles the outward part of it is Nervous and full of Sinews which are the cause of its motion but inwardly it is Fleshy It is fabulously Reported That in the cavity of the Womb there are seven divided Cells or Receptacles for Humane Seed But those that have seen Anatomies do know there are but two and likewise that those two are not divided by a Partition but only by a Line or Suture running through the midst of it In the right side of the Cavity by reason of the heat of the Liver Males are conceived In the left side by the coldness of the Spleen Females are begotten And this do most of our Moderns hold for an infallible Truth yet Hypocrates holds it but in the General For in whom saith he the Spermatick Vessel of the right side comes from the Reins and the Spermatical Vessel of the left side from the hollow Vein in them Males are conceived in the left Side and Females in the right Well therefore may I conclude with the saying of Empedocles Such sometimes is the power of the Seed that a Male may be conceived in the left Side as well as in the right In the bottom of the Cavity there are little holes called the Cotyledones which are the ends of certain Veins and Arteries serving in breeding women to convey Sustenance to the Child which is received by the Umbilical Vein and others to carry the Courses into the Matrix Now touching the Menstruals they are Defined to be a Monthly flux of Excrementitious and Unprofitable Blood In which we are to Note That the matter flowing forth is Excrementitious which is to be understood of the Superplus or Redundancy of it For it is an Excrement in quantity in quality being pure and incorrupt like unto the Blood in the Veins And that the menstrous Blood is pure and simply of it self all one in quality with that in the veins is proved two ways First from the final Cause of this Blood which is the propagation and conservation of Mankind that Man might be conceived and being begotten he might be Comforted and Preserved both in the Womb and out of the Womb. And all will grant it for a Truth That the Child while it is in the Matrix is nourished with this Blood and it is as true That being out of the Womb it is still nourished with the same for the Milk is nothing but the menstruous Blood made white in the Breasts and I am sure Womans Milk is not thought to be venemous but of a nutritive quality answerable to the tender nature of an Infant Secondly It is proved to be Pure from the Generation of it it being the Superfluity of the last Aliment of the fleshy parts It may be Objected If the Blood be not of a hurtful Quality How can it cause such venemous Effects as if the same fall upon Trees and Herbs it maketh the one barren and mortifies the other And Averroes writes That if a man accompany with a Menstruous woman if she Conceive she shall bring forth a Leaper I answer this Malignity is contracted in the Womb for the woman wanting native heat to digest this Superfluity sends it to the Matrix where seating it self until the mouth of the Womb be dilated it becomes corrupt and venemous which may easily be considering the heat and moistness of the place This Blood therefore being out of his vessels offends in quality In this Sense let us understand Pliny Fernelius Florus and the rest of that Torrent But if Frigiâ—ity be the cause why women cannot digest all their last Nourishment and consequently that they have these Purgations it remains to give a reason why they are of so cold a Constitution more than Men which is this The natural end of men and womens being is to Propagate and this Injunction was imposed upon them by God at their first Creation and again after the Deluge Now in the act of Conception there must be an Agent and a Patient for if they be both every way of one Constitution they cannot Propagate Man therefore is Hot and Dry Woman Cold and Moist he is the Agent she the Patient or weaker Vessel that she should be Subject unto the Office of the Man It is necessary that woman should be of a cold Constitution because in her is required a Redundancy of matter for the Infant depending on
Wings being four in Number and resemble Myrtle-Berries being placed Quadrangular one against the other and in this place is inserted to the Orifice of the Bladder which opens it self into the Fissures to evacuate the Urine for securing of which from Cold or the like Inconveniency one of these Knobs are placed before it and shuts up the Passage The Lips of the Womb that next appear being separated disclose the Neck thereof and in them two things are to be observed which is The Neck it self and the Hymen but more properly the Claustrum Virginale of which I have before discoursed By the Neck of the Womb is to be understood the Channel that is between the aforesaid Knobs and the inner Bone of the Womb which receives the Penis like a Sheath and that it may the better be dilated for the pleasure of Procreation the substance of it is sinewy and a little spongy and in this Concavity are divers Folds or Orbicular Plights made by Tunicles wrinkled like an expanded Rose in Virgins they plainly appear but in women that have often used copulation they are extinguished so that the inner side of the Womb's Neck appears smooth and in old women it becomes more hard and grisly But tho' this Channel be at sometimes writhed and crooked sinking down yet in the time of Copulation Labour or the Monthly Purgations it is erected and extended which over-extention occasioneth the pains in Child-birth The Hymen or Claustrum Virginale is that which closes the Neck of the Womb being as I have before cited in the Chapter relating to Virginity broken in the first Copulation its use being rather to stay the untimely Courses in Virgins than to any other end and commonly when it is broke in Copulation or by any other Accident a small quantity of Blood flows from it attended wiâ—h some little pain From whence some observe that between the duplicity of the two Tunicles which constitute the Neck of the Womb there are many Veins and Arteries running along and arising from the vessels on both sides the Thighs and so passing into the Neck of the Womb being very large and the reason thereof is for that the Neck of the Bladder requires to be filled with abundance of Spirits thereby to be dilated for its better taking hold of the Penis there being great heat required in such motions which becoming more intense by the Act of Frication consumes a considerable quantity of moisture in the supplying of which large vessels are altogether necessary Another cause of the longness of these vessels is by reason the Menses make their way through them which often occasions Women with Child to continue their Purgations for tho' the Womb be shut up yet the passage in the Neck of the Womb through which these Vessels pass are open In this case there is further to be observed that as soon as you penetrate the Pudendum there appears two little Pits or Holes wherein is contained an Humour which by being expunged in time of Copulation greatly delights the Woman CHAP. XIV A Description of the Wombs Fabrick the preparing Vessels and Testicles in Women as also of the Different or Ejaculatory Vessels IN the lower part of the Hypogastrion where the Hips are widest and broadest they being greater and broader thereabouts than those of Men for which reason they have likewise broader Buttocks than Men is the Womb joyned to its Neck and is placed between the Bladder and strait Gut which keeps it from swaying or rowling yet gives it liberty to stretch and dilate it self and again to contract as nature in that case disposes it Its figure is in a manner round and not unlike a Gourd lessening a little and growing more acute toward one end being knit together by its proper Ligaments its Neck likewise is joyned by its own substance and certain Membranes that fasten it to Os Sacrum and the Share-Bone As to its largeness that much differs in Women especially the difference is great between such as have born Children and those that have born none In substance it is so thick that it exceeds a Thumbs breath which after Conception it is so far from decreasing that it augments to a greater proportion and the more to strengthen it it is interwoven with Fibres overthwart which are both strait and winding and its proper Vessels are Veins Arteries and Nerves and amongst these there are two little Veins which pass from the Spermatick Vessels to the bottom of the Womb and two larger from the Hypogastricks which touch both the bottom and the Neck the mouth of these Veins piercing as far as the inward concavity The Womb hath also two Arteries on both sides the Spermatick Vessels and the Hypogastricks which still accompany the Veins and besides these there are divers little Nerves that are knit and intwined in the form of a Net which are also extended throughout even from the bottom to the Pudenda themselves being chiefly placeâ— for sense and pleasure moving in Sympaâ—â—y between the Head and Womb. Now it is to be farther noted that by reason of the two Ligaments that hang on either side the womb from the Share-bone pierceing through the Peritonaeum and joyned to the Bone it self the VVomb is moveable upon sundry occasions often falling low or rising high As for the Neck of the VVomb it is of an exquisite feeling so that if it be at any time out of order by being troubled with a schirrosity over-fatness moisture or relaxation the VVomb is subjected thereby to Barrenness In those that are with Child there frequently stays a moist glutinous Matter in the entrance to facilitate the Birth for at the time of delivery the Mouth of the Womb is opened to such a wideness as is conformable to the bigness of the Child suffering an equal dilation from the bottom to the top As for the Preparatory or Spermatick Vessels in Women they consist of two Veins and two Arteries not differing from those in a Man but only in their largeness and manner of insertion for the number of Veins and Arteries are both the same as in Men the right Vein issuing from the trunk of the hollow Vein descending and the left from the Emulgent Vein and on the side of them are two Arteries which grows from the Aorta As to the length and breadth of these Vessels they are narrow and shorter in Women than in Men only observe they are more wreathed and contorted than in Men as shrinking together by reason of their shortness that they may by their looseness be the better stretched out when occasion requires it And these Vessels in Women are carried with an indirect course thro' the lesser Guts to the Testicles but are in the mid-way divided into two Branches the greater going â—o the Stones constituting the various or winding Body and wonderfully Inoculating the lesser Branch ending in the Womb in the side of which it disperseth it self and especially at the higher part of the
bottom of the Womb for its nourishment and that part of the Courses may purge through these Vessels and seeing the Testicles in Women are seated near the Womb for that cause these Vessels fall not from the Peritonaeum neither make they much Passages as in Men not extending themselves to the share-bone The Stones in Women commonly called the Testicles perform not the same Action as in Men they are also different in their location bigness temperament substance form and covering As for the place of their seat it is in the hollowness of the Abdomen neither are they pendulous but rest upon the Muscles of the Loyns that so they may by contracting the greater heat be more fruitful their Office being to contain the Ova or Egg which being impregnated by the Mans Seed ingenders Man yet they differ from those of Men in figure by reason of their lessness or flatness at each end not being so round or oval The external Superficies being likewise more unequal appearing like the composition of a great many knots and kernels mixed together there is difference also in their substance they being much more soft and plyable loose and not so well compacted Their bigness and temperament being likewise different for they are much colder and lesser than those in Men as for their covering or inclosure it differs extreamly for as Men's are wrapped in divers Tunicles by reason they are externally Pendulous and subject to divers injuries unless so fenced by Nature so Women's Stones being internal and less subject to casualty are covered with one Tunicle or Membrane which though it closely cleave to them yet are they likewise half covered with the Peritonaeum The Ejaculatory Vessels are two obscure Passages one on either side nothing differing from the Spermatick Veins in substance rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb not reaching from their other extremity either to the Stones or any other part but shut up and unpassable adhering to the Womb as the Colon does to the blind Gut and winding half way about tho' the Testicles are remote to them and touch them not yet they are tied to them by certain Membranes resembling the Wings of a Batt through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the end of the Testicles may be termed here to have their Passages proceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Testicles and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Testicles and Womb are united and strongly knit together and these Ligaments in VVomen are the Cremasters in Men of which I shall speak more largely when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the Vse and Action of the several Parts in Women appropriated to Generation c. THe Externals commonly called the Pudenda are designed to cover the great Orifice and that to receive the Penis or Yard in the act of Coition and give passage to the Birth and Urine The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries are for the security of the Internal parts shutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder and by their swelling up cause Titulation and delight in those parts and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine The Action of the Clytoris in Women is like that of the Penis in Men viz. Erection And its outer end is like the Glans of the Penis and has the same Name And as the Glans in Man is the Seat of the greatest pleasure in Copulation so is this in Women whence 't is called Amoris dulcedo and Aestrum Veneris The Action and Use of the Neck of the Womb is equal with that of the Penis viz. Erection occasioned divers ways For First In Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Penis to the Womb. Secondly Whilst the passage is repleated with Spirit and Vital Blood it becomes more strait for embracing the Penis And as for the convenience of Erection it is twofold First because if the Neck of the Womb was not erected the Yard could have no convenient passage to the Womb. Secondly it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensueâ—â—â—â—ough the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation As for the Vessels that pass through the Neck of the Womb their Office is to replenish it with Blood and Spirit that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted in Copulation it may by those Vessels be renewed But their chief business is to convey Nutriment to the Womb. The Womb has many Properties attributed to it as First Retention of the fecundated Egg and this is properly called Conception Secondly To cherish and nourish it till Nature has framed the Child and brought it to perfection And then it strongly operates in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired dilating it self in a wonderful manner And so aptly removed from the Senses that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth unless by accident it be render'd deficient and then to strengthen and enable it Remedies must be applied by skilful Hands Directions for the applying of which shall be given in the Second Part. The use of the Preparing vessels is this The Arteries convey the Blood to the Testicles part whereof is spent in the nourishment of them and the Production of those little Bladders in all things resembling Eggs through which the Vasa Praeparantia run and are obiâ—tâ—rated in them And as for the Veâ—â—â— thâ—â—t Office is to bring back what â—â—ood â—â—mâ—â—ns from the uses aforesaid The vessels of this kind are much â—â—â—â—ter in Women than in Men by reason of 〈◊〉 â—earness to the Stones which defect 〈…〉 made good by the many intricate wâ—ndings to which those vessels are subject for in the middle way they divide themselves into two branches tho' different in magnitude for one being greater than the other passes to the Stones The Stones in women are very useful for where they are defective Generation-work is at an end for altho' those little Bladders which are on their outward superficies contain nothing of Seed as the followers of Galen and Hippocrates did erroniously imagine yet they contain several Eggs generally to the number of twenty in each Testicle one of which being impregnated by the most spirituous part of the Man's Seed in the act of Coition descends through the Ovi-ducts into the womb and from â—â—ence in process of time becomes a living Child Their figure is not altogether round but flat and depressed on the sides in their lower part Oval but in their upper where the Blood-vessels enter them more plain and have only one Membrane about them that the heat may have the easier access CHAP. XVI â—f the Organs of Generation in Man Hâ—â—â—â—g given you a description of the Organs of Generation in Woman with the Anatomy of the Fabrick of the Womb I shall
her For otherwise if there were not a Superplus of Nourishment for the Child more than is convenient for the Mother then would the Infant Detract and weaken the principal parts of the Mother and like unto the Viper the Generation of the Infant would be the Destruction of the Parent These Monthly Purgations continue from the 15th Year to the 46th or 50th Yet often there happens a suppression which is either Natural or Morbifical They are naturally supprest in breeding women and such as give suck The Morbifical suppression falls now into our Method to be spoken of CHAP. II. Of the Retention of the Mâ—nses THe suppression of the Terms is an intercaption of that accustomary Evacuation of Blood which every Month should come from the Matrix proceeding from the Instrument or matter vitiated The part affected is the Womb and that of it self or by Consent Cause The Cause of this Suppression is either External or Internal The External Cause may be heat or dryness of the Air immoderate watching great labour vehement motion c. whereby the matter is so consumed and the body so exhausted that there is not a Superplus remaining to be expelled as is Recorded of the Amazones who being active and always in motion had their Fluxions very little or not at all Or it may be caused by Cold which is most frequent making the Blood Viscous and Gross condensing and binding up the Passages that it cannot flow forth The Internal Cause is either Instrumental or Material in the womb or in the blood In the womb it may be divers ways by Aposthumes Tumours Ulcers by the narrowness of the veins and passages or by the Omentum or Kell in fat Bodies pressing the neck of the Matrix but then they must have Hernia Zirbalis for in mankind the Kell reacheth not so low By over much Cold or Heat the one vitiating the action and the other consuming the matter By an evil Composition of the Uterine parts by the neck of the womb being turned aside and sometimes tho' rarely by a membrane or excressence of flesh growing about the mouth or neck of the womb The blood may be in fault two ways in quantity or in quality In quantity when it is so consumed that there Is not a Superplus left as in Viragoes and viâ—â— women who through their heat and strength of Nature digest and consume all their last Nourishment as Hippocrates writes of Phaetusa who being exiled by her Husband Pythea her Terms were supprest her voice changed and had a Beard with a Countenance like a man But these I judge rather to be Anthropophagae women-eaters than women-breeders because they consume one of the principles of Generation which gives a Being to the World viz. the Menstruous blood The blood likewise may be consumed and consequently the Terms stayed by bleeding of the Nose by a flux of the Emerhoids by a Dysenteria commonly called the bloody flux by many other evacuations and continual and chronical Diseases Secondly the matter may be vitious in quality as suppose it be Sanguineous Phlegmatical Byleous or Melancholious every one of these if they offend in Grosness will cause an Obstruction in the veins Signs Signs manifesting the Disease are pains in the head neck back and loyns weariness of the whole body but especially of the hips and legs by reason of a Confinity which the Matrix hath with these parts trembling of the heart Particular signs are these if the Suppression proceeds of cold she is heavy sluggish of a pale Colour and hath a slow Pulse Venus combats are neglected the Urin is crude waterish and much in quantity the excrements of the Guts usually are retained If of heat the signs are contrary to those but now recited If the retention be natural and come of Conception this may be known by drinking of Hydromel that is water and honey after Supper going to bed and by the effect which it worketh for after the taking of it if she feels a beating pain about the Navel and lower parts of the Belly it is a sign she hath Conceived and that the Suppression is Natural if not then is it vitious and ought Medicinally to be taken away Prognosticks With the evil quality of the Womb the whole body stands charged but especially the Heart the Liver and the Brain and betwixt the Womb and these three principal parts there is a singular Consent First the Womb communicates to the Heart by the mediation of those Arteries which come from Aorta Hence the Terms being supprest will ensue Faintings Swoonings intermission of Pulse cessation of Breath Secondly It communicates to the Liver by the veins derived from the hollow vein Hence will follow Obbructions Cachexies Jaundice Dropsies hardness of the Spleen Thirdly It communicates unto the Brain by the nerves and membranes of the back Hence will arise Epilepsies Apoplexies Frenzies melancholy Passions pain in the after-parts of the Head fearfulness in ability of speaking Well therefore may I conclude with Hippocrates If the Months be supprest many dangerous Diseases will follow Cure In the Cure of this and of all the other following Affects I will observe this order The Cure shall be taken from Chirurgical Pharmaceutical and Diaeretical means This Suppression is a Plethorick Affect and must be taken away by Evacuation And therefore first we will begin with Phlebotomy In the midst of the menstrual period open the Liver vein and for the reversion of the Humour two days before the wonted evacuation open the Saphena on both feet Iâ— the repletion be not great apply Cupping-glasses to the legs and thighs And altho' there be no hope to remove the Suppression as in some the Cotylâ—dones are so closed up that nothing but Copulation will open them yet it will be convenient as much as may be to ease Nature of her burden by opening the Emerhoid veins with a Leach After Phlebotomy let the Humours be prepared and made Fluxile with Syrup of Staechas Calamint Betony Hysop Mugwort Hore-hound Fumetary Maiden-hair Bathe with Camomile Penny-Royal Savin Bay-leaves Janiper-berries Rue Marjâ—ram Feverfew Take of the leaves of Nep Maiden-hair Succory Betony of each one handful make a Decoction take thereof three Ounces Syrup of Maiden-hair Mugwâ—rt Succory mix of each half an Ounce After she comes out of the Bath let her drink it off Purge with Pil. de Agaric Elephang Coch. Foetid Galen in this Case commends Pilula de Hiera cum Colocyntida for as they be proper to purge the humour offending so also they do open the passages of the Womb and strengthen the faculty by their Aromatical quality If the stomach be over-charged let her take a vomit yet such a one as may work both ways lest working onely upward it should too much turn back the humour Take Trochisks of Agarick 2 drams infuse them in 3 Ounces of Oximel in which dissolve of the Electuary Diasarum One Scruple and half Benedic Laxat half an Ounce Take this after the manner
of a Purge After the humour hath been purged proceed to more proper and forceable Remedies Take Trochisks of Myrrhe one dram and half Parsley-seed Castor Rindes of Cassia of each one Scruple and of the Extract of Mugwort one Scruple and half Musk ten Grains with the juice of Smalledge make twelve Pills take 2 every Morning or after supper going to Bed Take of Cinnamon half an Ounce Roots of Smirnium Valerian Aristolochia of each 2 drams Roots of Asrum one dram Castor Saffron of each 2 Scruples Specdiambrae 2 drams Trochisks of Myrrhe 4 Scruples Tartari Vitrolati 2 Scruples make all into a powder with Mugwort water and Sugar a sufficient quantity Make Lozenges take one dram of them every Morning Or mingle one dram of the pouder with one dram of Sugar and take it in White-wine Take of prepared Steel Specierum Hierae of each 2 drams Borass Species of Myrrhe of each one Scruple with the juice of Savine make it up into 38 Lozenges and take 3 every other day before dinner Take of Castor one Scruple Wild-Carrot-seed half a dram with Syrup of Mugwort and make 4 pills take them in the Morning fasting and so for three days together before the wonted time of the Purgations Take of Agarick Aristolochia juice of Horehound of each 5 drams Rhubarb Spikenard Anni-seed Galbanum Assafoetida Smalledge Roots Gentian of the three Peppers laccae of each 6 drams with Honey make an Electuary Take of it 3 drams for a Dose In Flegmatical Bodies nothing better can be given then the Decoction of the wood Guaiacum with a little Dictam taken in the Morning fasting and so for 12 days together without Provoking of sweat Administer to the lower parts by Suffumigations Pessaries Unctions Injections Insessions Make Suffumigations of Cinnamon Nutmeg Cloves Bay-berries Mugwort Galbanum Melanthium Amber c. Make Pessaries of Figgs and the leaves of Mercury bruised and rowled up with Lint If you desire a stronger make one of Myrrhe Bdeâ—um Opopanax Ammoniacum Galbanum Sagapenum Mithridate Agarick Coloquintida c. Make Injections of the decoction of Origane Mugwort Mercury Bettony and Figs inject it into the Womb by an instrument fit for that purpose Take Oyl of Almonds Lillies capers Camomile of each half an Ounce Ladani Oyl of Myrrhe of each 2 drams with wax make an Unguent with which let the places be anointed Make Insessions of Faenugreek Camomile Melilote Dill Marjoram Penny-royal Feverfew Juniper-berries and Calaminâ— But if the suppression comes by a defect of matter then ought not the Courses to be provoked until the Spirits be animated and the Blood again increased Or if by proper affects of the Womb as Dropsies inflamations c. then must a particular cure be used the which I will not insist upon here but speak of them as they lye in order If the retention comes from repletion or fulness let the air be hot and dry use Moderate exercise before Meals Let your sleep be shorter then ordinary and your Meat and Drink attenuating Seeth with your Meat Garden-Savoury Time Origan and Cyche Peason If of emptiness or defect of matter let the air be moist and moderately hot Shun exercise and watchings let your Meat be nourishing and of a light digestion as rare Eggs Lamb Chickens Almond Milk and the like CHAP. III. Of the overflowing of the Courses THe Schoolmen say By comparing of Contraries Truth is made manifest Having therefore spoken of the suppression of the terms order requires now that I should insist upon the overflowing of them an effect no less dangerous then the former And this immoderate flux of the Months is defined to be a Sanguineous excrement proceeding from the Womb exceeding both in quantity and time First it is said to be Sanguineous the matter of the flux being only Blood wherein it differs from that which is commonly called the false courses or whites of which I will speak hereafter Secondly it is said to proceed from the Womb for there are two ways by which the Blood flows forth The one sâ—by the internal Veins in the Body of â—â—e Womb and this is properly called the Mâ—â—â—â—â—â—ux The other is by those Veins which are terminated in the Neck of the Matrix and this is called of Aetius the Hemorrhoides of the Womb. Lastly it is said to exceed both in quantity and time In quantity saith Hippocrates when they flow above 18 Ounces In time when they flow above three days But we take this for a certain character of their inordinate flowing when the faculties of the Body thereby are weakned In Bodies abounding with Gross Humours this immoderate flux sometimes unburdens Nature of her Load and ought not to be stayed without the counsel of a Physitian Cause The cause of this affect is internal or External The internal cause is threefold in the matter instrument or faculty The matter which is the Blood may be vitious two ways First in quantity it being so great that the Veins are not able to contain it Secondly in quality it being adust sharp watrish or unconcocted The instrument viz. the Veins are faulty by the dilatation of the Orifice which may be caused two ways first by the heat of the constitution climate or season heating the Blood whereby the passages are dilated and the faculty weakned that it cannot retain the Blood Secondly by falls Blows violent motion breaking of a Vein c. The external cause may be calidity of the air lifting carrying of heavy burdens unnatural Child-Birth falls c. Signs In this inordinate flux the appetite is decayed the concoctions depraved and all the actions weakened the feet are swelled the colour of the Face is changed and a general feebleness possesseth the whole Body If the flux comes by the breaking of a vein the Body is something Cold the Blood flows forth on heaps and that suddenly with great pain If it comes through heat the Orifice of the veins being dilated then is there little or no pain yet the Blood flows faster then it doth in an Erosion and not so fast as it doth in a Rupture If by Erosion or sharpness of Blood she feels a great heat scalding the passage It differs from the other two in that it flows not so suddenly nor so copiously as they do If by weakness of the Womb she abhorreth the use of Venus Lastly if it proceeds from an evil quality in the Blood drop some of it on a Cloth and when it is dry you may judge of the quality by the Colour If it be Cholerick it will be Yellow If Melancholy Black If Flegmatical watrish and whitish Prognosticks If with the flux be joyned a convulsion it is dangerous because it intimates the more noble parts are vitiated and a convulsion caused by emptiness is deadly If it continues long it will be cured with great difficulty for it was one of the miracles which our Saviour Christ wrought to cure this disease when it had continued 12 Years To
conclude if the flux be inordinate many diseases will ensue and without remedy the Blood together with the native heat being consumed either cachectical Hydropical or paralitical diseases will follow Cure The cure consisteth in three particulars First in repelling and carrying back of the Blood Secondly in correcting and taking away the fluxibility of the matter Thirdly in corroborating the veins and faculties For the first To cause a regression of the Blood open a vein in the Arm and draw out so much blood as the strength of the Patient will permit and that not together but at several times for hereby the spirits are the less weakned and the retraction so much the greater Apply cupping-glasses to the Brests and also to the Liver that the reversion may be in the Fountain To correct the fluxibility of the matter Cathartical means moderated with Astrictories must be used If it be caused by Erosion or sharpness of blood consider whether the Erosion be by salt Flegm or adust Colour If by salt Flegm Prepare with syrup of violet Wormwood Roses Citron pills Succory c. Then take this purgation following Take Myrobolans Chebul half an Ounce Trochisks of Agarick one dram with Plantain water make a decoction add thereunto sir rosat lax 3 Ounces and make a potion If by adust Choller prepare the Body with Syrrup of Roses Myrtles Sorrel Purslain commixt with water of Plantain Knotgrass and Endive Then purge with this potion Take Rinds of Myrobolans Rhubarb of each one dram Cinnamon 15 Grains infuse them one night in Endive water Add to the straining pulp of Tamarind Cassia of each half an Ounce Syrup of Roses one Ounce make a potion If the blood be watrish and unconcoct as it is in Hydropical Bodies and flows forth by reason of the tenuity and thinness to draw off the Water will be profitable Purge with Agarick Elaterium and Coloquintida Sweating is proper in this cause for by it the matter offending is taken away and the motion of the blood is carried to the outward parts To procure sweat use Carduus water with Mithridate or the decoction of Guaiacum Sassafras and Sarsa-parilla the Gum of Guaiacum also doth greatly provoke sweat Pills of Sarsa-parilla taken every night going to bed are worthily commended If the blood flows forth from the opening or breaking of a vein without any evil quality in its self then ought only Corroboratives to be applied which is the last thing to be done in the cure of this inordinate flux Take of Bole Armoniac one Scruple London Treacle one dram old conserve of Roses half an Ounce with syrup of Myrtles make an Electuary Or if the flux hath continued long Take of Mastick 2 drams Olibani Troch de Carabe of each one dram Balaustiorum one Scruple make a pouder with Syrup of Quinces make it into Pills take one always before Meals Take Lapidis Haematitis Triti of each 2 Scruples Specierum Triasantali one Ounce Troch de Carabe de scoria ferri Coral Frankincense of each one Scruple fine Bole one Scruple beaâ— these to fine Powder and with Sugar and Plantain water a sufficient quantity make Lozenges Asses Dung is well approved of whether taken inwardly with Syrâ—p of Quinces or applied outwardly with Steeled water Galen by coâ—veâ—ing the juice of it through a Metrenchitâ— into the Womb four days together cured this immoderate Flux which no ways else couâ—d be restrainâ—d Going to bed let her take one Scruple and a half of Phiâ—onii Romani in a wafer make Suffumigations for the Matrix of Maststick Frankincense burnt Frogs not forgetting the hoof of a Mule Take of the juice of Knot grass Comfrâ— Quinces of each one Ounce Camphire one Dram dip silk Cotion therein and apply it to the placâ—s Take of Oyl of Mastick Mâ—râ—les Quinces of each half an Ounce fine Bole Troch de Carabe Sanguinis Draconis of each â—ne Drâ—m Wax and Vinegar a sufficient Quantity make an Unguent apply it both beâ—ore and behind Take of Plantain Shepherds Purse red Rose leaves of each one Handful of Goats and Asses Dung dryed of each one Ounce and a half Acatiae Hypocistidos of â—ach one Ounce and a half dryed Mâ—nt one Ounce Bean-Meal three Ounces boyl all â—hese in Plantain water and maâ—e of it two â—laisters apply one bâ—fore and the other behind If the blood flows from those veinâ— which are terminated in the neck of the Matrix then it is not called the overflowing 〈◊〉 the Terms but the Emerhoids of the Womb 〈◊〉 Yet the same Cure will serve them both onlâ— the instrumental Cure will a little differ foâ— in the Uterine Emorhoids the ends of thâ— veins hang over like little Teats or Pusheâ— which must be taken away by incision and theâ— the veins closed up with Aloes fine Bolâ— burnt Allom Troch de Terra sigil Myrrhâ— Mastick with the juyce of Comfrey and Knoâ—â—grass laid Plaister-wise thereto The Air must be cold and dry all motioâ— of the body is forbidden Let her Meat 〈◊〉 Pheasant Patridge Mountain-Birds Coney 〈◊〉 Calf's Feet c. And let her Beer be miâ—â— with the juyce of Pomgranates and Quinces CHAP. IV. Of the Weeping of the Womb. THe weeping of the Womb is an unnatuâ—â— flux of blood coming from the Womâ— by drops or after the manner of Tears causâ—â— violent Pains in the same keeping neither â—â—riod nor time By some it is referred unâ—â— the immoderate Evacuation of the Coursâ— yet they are distinguisht in the quantity aâ— manner of their flowing in that they flow copiously and freely In this continually tho' by little and little and that with great Pain and Difficulty wherefore it is likened unto the Strangury The Cause is in the faculty instrument or matter In the faculty by being enfeebled that it cannot expel the blood and the blood resting there makes the parts of the Womb grow hard and stretcheth the vessels from whence proceeds the pain in the Womb. In the instrument by the narrowness of the Passages Lastly It may be in the matter of the blood which may offend in too great a quantity or in an evil-quality it being gross and thick that it cannot flow forth as it ought to do but by drops The Signs will best appear by the Relation of the Patient Hereupon will ensue pains in the head stomach and back with inflammations suffocaâ—ions and excoriations of the Matrix If the strengeh of the Patient will permit â—irst open a vein in the Arm rub the upper â—arts and let her Arms be corded that the â—orce of the blood may be carried backward Then apply such things as may laxate and â—olify the stretching of the Womb and asâ—wage the sharpness of the Blood as Cataplasms â—ade of Bran Linseed Fenugreek Meliâ—ote Mallows Mercury and Atriplex If the â—lood be viscous and gross add thereto Mugwort Calamint Dictam and Betony And let her take of Venice-Treacle the quantity of a Nutmeg with Syrup of Mugwort every morning Anoint the places with Oyl
Pouder take one dram in 4 ounces of Mugwort water Take of Hypericon Calamint Penny-royal Bettony Hyssop Sage Horehound Valerian Madder Savine with water make a decoction take 3 ounces of it with one ounce and half of Syrup of Feverfew Take of Mugwort Myrrh Gentian Pil. Coch. of each 4 Scruples Rue Penny-royal Saggapenum Opopanax of each half a dram Assafoetida Cinnamon Juniper-berries Borage of each one draâ— with the juice of Savine make Pills to be taken of every Morning Make Insessions of Hyssop Bay-leaves Assrum Calamint Bay-berries Camomile Mugwort Savine Take of Sagapenum Marjoram Gentian Savine Cloves Nutmeg Bay-berries of each 2 Scruples Galbanum one dram Hierae Picrae Black Hellebore of each one Scruple with Turpentine make a Pessary But if these things prove not available then must the Mole be drawn away with an instrument put up into the Womb called a Pes Griphius which may be done with no great danger if it be performed by a skilful Chirurgeon After the delivery of the Mole by reason that the Woman hath parted with much blood already let the flux of blood be stayed as soon as may be Fasten Cupping-glasses to the shoulder and ligatures to the arms If these help not open the liver-Liver-vein on the right arm The air shall be moderately hot and dry and her diet such as doth molify and attenuate she may drink White-wine CHAP. XII Of the Signs of Conception IGnorance makes Women become Murderers to the Fruit of their own Bodies many having Conceived and thereupon finding their Bodies to be out of Order and not knowing rightly the Cause do either run to the Shop of their own Conceit and take what they think fit or else as the Custom is they send to the Physitian for Cure and he perceiving not the Cause of their Grief seeing that no certain Judgment can be given by the Urine prescribes what he thinks best perhaps some strong Diuretical or Cathartical Potion whereby the Conception is destroyed Wherefore Hippocrates saith There is a Necessity that Women should be instructed in the Knowledge of Conception that the Parent as well as the Child might be saved from Danger I will therefore give you some Instructions by which every one may know whether she be with Child or not The signs of Conception shall be taken from the Woman from the Urine from the Infant and from Experiment Signs collected from the Woman are these The first day after Conception she feels a light Quivering or Chilness running through the Whole Body a tickling in the Womb and a little Pain in the lower parts of the Belly Ten or twelve Days after the Head is affected with Giddiness the Eyes with a Dimnes of Sight Then follows Red Pimples in the Face with a Blue Circle about the Eyes the Brests swell and grow hard with some pain and pricking in them The Belly suddenly sinketh and riseth again by Degrees with a hardness about the Navel The Nipples af the Brest's wax Red the Heart beats inordinately the Natural appetite is Dejected yet die hath a longing Desire after strange Meats The neck of the Womb is retraced that it can hardly be felt with the Finger being put up and this is an infallible Sign She is suddenly Merry and as soon Melancholly her Monthly Courses are stayed without any Evident Cause The Excrements of the Guts are unaccustomedly retained by the VVomb pressing the great Gut and her Desire to Venus is abated The surest Sign is taken from the Infant which begins to move in the VVomb the third or fourth Month and that not in the manner of a Mole from one side to another Rushing like a Stone but mildly as may be perceived by applying the Hand hot on the Belly Signs taken from the Urine The best Clerks do affirm that the Urine of a VVoman with Child is white and hath little Motes like those in the Sun-beams ascending and descending in it and a Cloud swimming aloft of an Opal Colour the Sediment being divided by shaking of the Urine appears like carded VVool. In the middle of her time the Urine turneth Yellow next Red and lastly Black with a Red Cloud Signs taken from Experiment At Night going to Bed let her drink Water and Honey afterward if she feels a beating pain in her Belly and about her Navel she hath Conceived Or let her take the juice of Carduus and if she Vomiteth it up it is a sign of Conception cast a clean Needle into Womans Urine put into a Bason let it stand all Night and in the Morning if it be coloured with red Spots she hath Conceived but if it be blacker or rusty she hath not Signs taken from the Sex to shew whether it be Male or Female Being with Child of a Male the right Breast swells first the right Eye is more lively than the left her Face Well coloured because such as the Blood is such is the Colour and the Male is conceived of purer Blood and of more perfect Seed than the Female Red Motes in the Urine settling down to the Sediment foretells that a Male is conceived but if they be white a Female Put the Womans Urine which is with Child into a Glass Bottle let it stand close stopt three days then strain it through a fine Cloth and you shall find littte living Creatures if they be Red it is a Male if White a Female To conclude the mod certain Sign to give Credit unto is the motion of the Infant For the Male moves in the third Month ad the Famale in the fourth CHAP XIII Of Vntimely Birth WHen the Fruit of the Womb comes forth before the Seventh Month that is before it comes to Maturity it is said to be Abortive And in effect the Child proves Abortive I mean not to Live if it be Born in the eighth Month. And why Children born in the seventh and ninth Month may Live and not in the eighth Month may seem strange yet it is true The cause hereof by some is ascribed unto the Planet under which the Child is born for every Month from the Conception to the Birth is Governed by his proper Planet And in the Eighth Month Saturn doth Predominate which is cold and dry and coldness being an Enemy unto Life destroys the Nature of the Child Hippocrates gives a better Reason The Infant being every way perfect and compleat in the Seventh Month desires more Air and Nutriment than it had before which because he cannot obtain he labours for a Passage to go out and if his Spirits be weak and faint and have not Strength sufficient to break the Membranes and come forth it is decreed by Nature that he should continue in the Womb until the 9th Month that in that time his wearied Spirits might be again Strengthned and Refreshed but if he returns to strive again in the eighth Month and be born he cannot Live because the day of his Birth is either past or to come for in the eighth Month
difficult greater Regard must be had then at other times And first of all the situation of the VVomb and her posture of lying must be cross the Bed being held by those that are Strong to prevent her slipping down or moving her self in the operation of the Man-midwife or Chyrurgeon her Thighs must be put asunder as wide as may be and so held whilst her Legs bends backward towards her Hips her Head leaning upon a Bolster and the Reins of her Back supported after the same manner her Rump and Buttocks being lifted up observing to cover her Stomach Belly and Thighs with warm Linnen to keep them from the Cold. The Woman being in this posture let the Operator put up his Hand if he finds the neck of the Womb dilated and remove the contracted Blood that obstructs the passage of the Birth and having by degrees gently made way let him tenderly move the Infant his hand being first anointed with sweet Butter or a harmless Pomatum and if the Waters are not come down then without any difficulty may they be let forth when if the Infant should attempt to break forth with the head foremost oâ— cross he may gently turn it to find the Feet which having done let him draw forth one and fasten it to a Ribbon then put it up again and by degrees find the other when bringing them as close and even as may be and between whiles letting the Woman breathe urging her to strain in helping Nature to perfect the Birth that he may draw it forth and the better to do it and that his hold may be surer he must fasten or wrap a Linnen Cloth about the Childs Thighs observing to bring it into the World with it's Face downward In case of a Flux of Blood if the neâ—â— of the Womb be open it must be considered whether the Infant or the Secundiâ—â—s come first which the latter sometimes happening to do stops the Mouth of the Womb and hinders the Birth to the endangering both the Woman and Child but in this case the Secundine must be removed by a swift turn and indeed they have by their so coming down deceived many who feeling their softness supposed the Womb was not dilated and by this means the Woman and Child or at least the latter has been lost The Secundines removed the Child must be sought for and drawn forth as has been directed And if in such a Case the VVoman or Child dye the Midwife or Chyrurgeon is blameless because they did their true endeavour If it appear upon enquiry that the Secundine comes first let the VVoman be delivered with all convenient Expedition because a great flux of Blood will follow for then the Veins are opened and upon this account two things are to be considered First The manner of the Secundines advancing whether it be much or little if the former and the head of the Child appear first it must be guided and directed towards the neck of the VVomb as in case of Natural Births but if there appear any diffâ—culty in the Delivery the best way is to search for the Feâ—â— and thereby draw it forth but if the latter the Secundines may be put back with a gentle hand and the Child first taken forth But if the Secundine be far advanced so that it cannot be put back and the Child follow it close then are the Secundines to be taken forth with much care as swift as may be and laid aside without cutting the Entrail that is fastned to them for thereby you may be guided to the Infant which whether alive or dead must be drawn forth by the Feet with all Celerity tho' it is not to be acted unless in Case of great Necessity for in other Cases the Secundine ought to come last And in drawing forth a dead Child let these Directions be carefully heeded by the Chyrurgeon viz. If the Child be found dead with its Head foremost the Delivery wâ—ll be the more difficult for it is an apparent Sign the Womans Strength begins to fall hâ—â— and that the Child being Dead and wanting its Natural Force can be no ways assisting to its Delivery wherefore the most certain and safe way is tor the Chyrurgeon to put up his left Hand sliding it as hollow in the Palm as he can into the Neck of the Womb and into the lower part thereof towards the Feet and that between the Head of the Infant and the Neck of the Matrix when having a Hook in the right Hand couch it close and slit it up above the left Hand between the Head of the Child and the flat of his Hand fixing it in the Bone of the Temple towards the Eye or for want of convenient coming at these in the oceipital Bone observe still to keep the left hand in its place and with it gently moving and stirring the Head and so with the right Hand and Hook draw the Child forward Admonishing the Woman to put forth her utmost Strength still drawing when the Womans pangs are upon her The Head being drawn forth he must with all speed slip his hand under the Arm-holes of the Child and take it quite forth giving these things to the Woman viz. A Toast of fine Wheat Bread in a Quarter of a Pint of Hippocrass Wine Now the former Application and Endeavour failing when the Woman is in her Bed let her receive the ensuing Portion hot and rest till she feel the Operation which is this Take blue Figs to the number of Seven cut them in pieces adding to them Fenugreek Mother-wort and Seeds of Rue of each five Drams water of Penny-Royal and Motherwort of each six Ounces boyl them till one half be consumed and having strained them again add Trochisks of Myrrhe a Dram and of Saffron three Grains sweetning the Liquor with Loaf-Sugar and spicing it with Cinamon Having rested upon this let her Labour again as much as may be and if she be not yet successful make a Suffumation of Castor Opoâ—anax Sulphur and Assafoetida of each half a Dram beating them into Ponder and wetting them with the Juice of Rue until they become stiff then hum them upon Coals so that the Smoak or the Fume may only come to the Matrix and no further If these effect not your Desire then this Emplaister is very fitly to be apylied viz. Take of Galbanum an Ounce and a half Colocynthis without Grains Two Drams the Juice of Motherwort and Rue of each Half an Ounce and two ounces of Virgins Bees wax bruise and melt them together spreading them as a Sear-Cloth to reach from the Navel to Os Pubis spreading likewise to the Flanks at the same time making a convenient Pessary of Wool closing it in a Bag of Silk and dipping it in a Concoction of round Birthwort Savin Colocynthis with Grains Stavesaker Black Hellebore of each a dram and of Rue a little â—sprig or two But these things not having the desir'd success and the Womans danger increasing