and wind the thred on both sides as vseth to be done in the cure of the hare lip then at both ends of the clift I gaue a stitch somewhat close such as is commonly made in simple wounds and vpon it I laid a little clout dipt in a balm which I haue heere described and vppon that a plaster of Diacalcitheos A balme for fresh wounds â„ž Gum. Elemi â„¥ ij Terebinth venet â„¥ ij s. sang Dracon Myrrh Aloesan Ê’ i. liquefiant omnia simul fiat balsamum Coletur calidè per linteum seruetur vsui This is an excellent balm for fresh wounds This clift or breach was well healed within fifteene dayes in which time I gaue her two Clisters beside that which she tooke first to prepare her body But afterwards this woman prouing with child againe and beeing in trauaile there happened a fresh breach neare to the old scarre but not so long as the other by reason of the helpe and care of the Midwife whom I had instructed to annoint and rub the Perinaeum with this liniment An oyntmâ—â—â— â„ž Axung gallin Cunicul an â„¥ s. Axung por rec â„¥ i. Ol. Amigdal dul Ê’ vi liquefiant simul fiat litus abluatur diu in aq Parietariaâ— Of the Hemorrhoides CHAP. VI. WHen the Orifices of the veynes neare the fundament doe swell and rise eyther more lesse according to the quantity of the humors which doe fill them the Greekes call this disease the Hemorrhoides Of these there are two sorts the one inward and hidden with in the fundament the other outward and apparant The cause heere of is store of humors which commonly are grosse and melancholicke sometimes flegmaticke or Cholericke which filling the saide veines afterward flow downe to the ends of them which humors not finding way to issue out doe extend the veines in such sort that sometimes they become as big as Pigeons nay sometimes Pullets egges Many woman as soone as they be deliuered are troubled with them by reason of the great paine which they haue suffered There may bee two reasons giuen heere of the one the great striuing and straining to bring the child into the world which maketh the bloud come into the said veines and dilateth them the other retention of their naturall courses which being stayed the bloud and humors which should haue come foroth chaunge their course and being deriued into the veins of the fundament procure the Hemorrhoides The Hemorrhoides doe differ according to the nature of the humor of which they are bred for if they proceed of a flegmaticke and watrish bloud because of their colour and the likenesse that they haue to a bladder full of water they are called Vesicales or vuales and these are white soft and not painefull if they breede of a grosse thicke flegme then they are called Verrucales and ficales and these are hard and painfull especially if there be any hot humor mixed with the matter of them which may be known by their rednes If they proceed of bloud and choller together with some part of Melancholy being vneuen and rough like a mulbery then they be called Morales these are very sensible and painefull and in colour neere to a deepe darke red Women are subiect to all these kinds of Hemorrhoides but especially after they be deliuered But my purpose is not to write so generally of all these kinds but onely of those which are swolne big and painfull which chiefely happen to women in child-bed and bleed very little or not at all The cure consists in three things that is in dyet in diuerting of the humor which flowes to the part in euacuating that humor which is contained in it which beeing done the paine will bee easily appeased For the dyet it shall be such as we haue already prescribed for women in child-bed the humor shal be diuerted by letting of bloud first in the arme then in the foote in the veine Saphena and lastly by applying of Cupping glasses to the side of the thighs and that for two purposes the one to bring downe the purgings which beeing stayd may bee thought to be some cause of the Hemorrhoides the other to diminish the quantity of bloud in the crurall veine which beeing emptied will draw to it some part of that bloud which flows to and it may be some of that which is contained in the Hemorrhoide veynes As for the third point which is to euacuate that bloud which is now setled in the hemorrhoide veynes that may bee done by medicines which haue power to resolue and digest and also to asswage paine of which kind is this following which I haue vsed with good successe and Vigo before me A Decoctiâ—â— wherewiâ—â— fomâ—tâ—arâ— suftumigâ—â— â„ž Fol. Mal. Bismal Violar Parietar Tapsi Barbat cum rad an M.ij. Sem. Cydon Ê’ vi hord mund m. is furfur M.iij sem lin foenugraec integ an â„¥ iij. Pomor dulc aliquantulum confractor num xij lâ—guae passerinae virg pastor an m. j. fiat omnium decoctio in aqu sufficiente addendo flor Chamaemel Melilot Aneth an M.i.s. Bulliant vsque ad consumptionem tertiae partis After that she hath receiued the fume of this decoction or otherwise bathed the fundament herewith a pretty while let this liniment bee applied A Liniment â„ž Butyr recent Ê’ x. Ol. de vitellis onor â„¥ s. Pinqued Anat. Ê’ iij. Succi Plantag Taps barbat an Ê’ ij misce agitando omnia spacio xij horarum in mortario plumbeo The chiefe Medicine which is commonly applied is this Another â„ž Vng. popul â„¥ i. vitellum vnius oui Ol. Sem. Lini â„¥ s. vng refriger Gal. Ê’ v i. misce omnia simul fiat litus If the paine bee great you may adde heereto a scruple of Opium I haue made often proofe of this medicine to take all the white of a few Leekes and cut them small and then boyle them with milke till they come to the forme of a pultesse and then lay it hot to the Hemorrhoides Iohn de Vigo alloweth of the authority of Rhasis who counselleth to take a white Vnion and to fill it with butter then to bake it in an ouen or in the embers and so beate it and apply it like a plaster which I haue diuers times made triall of This plaster also is much commended A Pultesse â„ž Rad. Lilior albor â„¥ i s. rad Ireos nost â„¥ s. scrophular taps Barbat flor Chamaemel Melilot Hyperic an p. i. Dactyl num vi Limac. rubror num x. fiat decoctio pistentur passentur passaturae adde farin Sem. Lini â„¥ s. Butyr recent â„¥ i. Myrrh Thuris an Ê’ i. Croci ℈ s. vitellos ouor num ij fiat cataplasma I haue had good experience also of this Medicine Take twelue red snailes without their shels of millepedes or Wood-lice 20. or 30. infuse parboyle them a little in Linceed oyle and make a liniment hereof and with it annoint the
the heart and matrice are delighted with pleasant odors let those that are troubled with this disease vse good smels sweet but neither strong nor piercing CHAP. XIIII Of the Cough ONe of the most grieuous and almost insupportable accidents that can happen to a woman with childe is the Cough the which being violent oftentimes causeth head-ach pain of the sides flanks and belly vomiting watching the woman not being able to sleepe or take any rest for the great concussion and agitation which is made through the whole body which oftentimes puts the woman in danger to be deliuered before her ordinary time For the most part it proceedeth of some sharpe and biting vapours which arise from the nether parts or else by the distillation of some thinne humor that comes from the braine and falleth trickling vpon the Trachea Arteria or wind pipe the lungs which prouokes them to cough yet bringing vp little or nothing the distilation may also be of some thicker humor which falleth downe vpon the said parts Therefore wee must haue respect to the antecedent cause by hindering such vapors and humors from breeding then staying those which may flow or fal downe if there be any cause or matter ioined with it already fallen and impacted in the lungs brest then must it be brought vp by spetting For the helping hereof they must auoide all salt and spiced meates as also those that are sharp and biting especially if it be caused by some vapours or destillation of a thinne or serous humour Concerning generall medicines if it bee accompanied with a feuer or some great heat it will not be amisse to draw a little bloud then the better to turne the course of the distillation which causeth the cough to apply cupping glasses vpon the shoulders with some light scarification And if the cough should bee of so long continuance I would counsell you to lay a cautery in the hollownesse of the nape of the neck which I haue practised with good successe but it must not be done before you haue tried the medicines following and when the cough is great and violent The rubbing of the armes shoulders and backe must not bee omitted as also when the haire is shauen away to apply Emplasterum de Betonica vpon the head to stay the Rhume If the cough be dry proceeding from some thin and sharpe humor or vapour it must bee thickned contrariwise if the humour be tough and thicke it must be cut and attenuated by concocting both and therefore in this case the vse of Medicines that do dull the sence therof are very profitable to mittigate violent Coughs of which kind are these that follow If the humor bee thin and sharpe this Iulep taken twice or thrice is very fitte â„ž Syrup rosarum sicar de iuiubis an Ê’ vi syrupi de nenuph. â„¥ s. aquae cardui vngulae cabalinae an â„¥ ij s. fiat Iulap reiteretur ter quater-ue vt artis est If the humor be slimy thicke and tough she may vse this Iulep Iulep â„ž Syrupi capill veneris de liquirit an Ê’ vi oximelit simplic â„¥ s. aquae betonicae vngul cabal an â„¥ ij s. fiat Iulap reiteretur vt supra Let them often hold in their mouth suger candy especially that which gathers about the pot side wherein sirop of Violets or the like hath beene put Let them vse Trochiscks iuice of Licorise and sometime chawe a peece of Lichorise in their mouth The Lozenges of Diatragacanthum frigidum Diairis simplex and suger of Roses are very good The vse of Lohocs is very distastfull but in steed thereof let them vse Syrup of Iuiubes of dryed Roses and a little diacodium mingled together I haue seene this medicine doe much good especially when the cough is great and that they feele some excoriation and roughnes in the throat â„ž olei amigd dul sine igne recent extract â„¥ i. s. saccari canda subtilit pulueris â„¥ s. mucag. seminis psilij cydoniorum cum aqua rosar leuiter extract an Ê’ ij misce omnia diligenter Let them take of this medicine in a spoone swallowing it down verie gently that so some of it may the better slide downe the sides of the windpipe It will be very fit to rub their breast all ouer with fresh butter or oyle of sweet Almonds and if they finde any heat let them vse oyle of Violets washed with Barley water well boyled And because there is nothing that stayeth destillations better then sleepe and that those who haue the cough sleepe little it will be very good to make the patient sleepe without giuing any violent sleeping medicine this Iulep may bee giuen very safely Drink to stay the Rheume â„ž Syrupi de Iuiubis violati diacodij sine specieb an â„¥ s. cum decocto portulacae lactucae boraginis betonicae trium flor cordial fiat potus capiat hora somni This remedy procureth sleepe and so by consequence stayeth the Rheume If you haue any good Laudanum you may giue safely three or four grains thereof which I haue seene practised with prosperous successe CHAP. XV. of Costiuenes wherwith women with child are troubled AMongst many other accidents wherewith women with child are troubled there are two the one contrary to the other whereunto they be much subiect that is either they are bound and cannot go to the stoole but with much inconuenience and very seldome or else they are alwaies loose and subiect to the fluxe Both may put the woman in danger of miscarrying For when she is bound with much strayning and that violently to vnburthen nature the ligaments may bee loosened or some veine opened and cause fluxe of bloud which may make her fall into trauaile and therefore it is fit to prouide for it The retention of the excrements and costiuenes of the belly may happen either because they haue vsed to be so naturally or by alteration and change of yeares for as Hippocrates saith they who haue their belly moist in their youth in their age will haue it hard and drie and so contrariwise This accident happens to others because the guts are not prouoked stirred vp by the clister of nature which is the gall that they may expell and thrust foorth their excrements There might bee alledged many more reasons which at this time I will leaue to speake of and onely frame my selfe to that which most commonly is the cause of it in women with child which is referred to two points either because the guts are pressed by the vneuennes of the wombe which is too full and beeing placed vpon them and chiefly vpon the great gut crushes and thrusts them one against another in such sort that they haue no meanes to inlarge and dilate themselues thereby to uoid the excrements contained within them The other is because the guts and the excrements within them are commonly very hard and
also dauncing leaping riding in a Coach taking cold of her feete sitting vpon a cold stone and ouermuch cooling of the Matrice may be causes thereof The inward causes are abundance of moisture which hath relaxed the ligaments or else a longing desire which a woman may haue for the companie of a man which may also happen to maides and barren women as Hippocrates writeth Another cause may be the long suppression of the naturall courses which sometimes makes a woman grow Viril or mankind as Hippocrates witnesses of Phaëtusa wife of Pitheus who became like a man with a beard and a mans voice The said Hippocrates giueth another reason contrarie to the former which is because she hath had the companie of her husband too soone after her deliuerie while her sicknesse is yet vpon her But commonly this falling downe of the Matrice doth come as Hippocrates noteth by being ill deliuered To which also Galen subscribeth making a similitude of it to two that wrastle together one of which falling to the ground drawes his fellow with him and makes him fall also euen so the Matrice striuing to put foorth the child doth thrust foorth it selfe also especially if the ligaments which should hold it to the backe bee naturally loose and weake It may also happen that while the Midwife drawes foorth the child or the after-birth the Matrice may follow it together In this case although Hippocrates in his booke before cited seem to be of opinion that there is no remedie but for young women leauing elder women without helpe Yet I haue cured them euen of all ages with verie good successe For the Cure therefore we haue three intentions The first to bring the Matrice into his owne place the second to keep it there the third to strengthen it being there keept For the first let the Chirurgion place the woman in this sort Let her lye vpon her backe with her legs higher then her head and her feet drawne vp in such sort that her heeles may almost touch her hinder parts with her thigh 's and knees spread abroad If the Matrice be fallen downe but a little it may easily be put vp nay it will euen go vp of it selfe But if it be much fallen downe before it be put vp it must be suppled and softned that so it may returne more easie and with lesse paine Let it be annointed therefore with the cooling ointment of Galen or else with some such liniment as this An ointment ℞ Axung Anser Gallin an ℥ j. Ol. Amygdalar dulc Lilior an ℥ s Cerae parum fiat litus For a shift you may take fresh butter and oyle of Roses mingled together and then vse this fomentation warme A fomentatiō ℞ Malu Parietar Matricar Betonic Saluiae an m. j. flor Chamaemel Melilot an P. i. Rosar rub p. ij Coquantur in aequis partibus vini aquae profotu After that you haue vsed this fomentation put vp the Matrice gently with a soft linnen cloth and when it is put vp let the woman draw vp her breth as we vse to bid them that haue a Hernia or bursting to be put vp and by this meanes the Matrice will be brought to his place the more easily Beside you must remember that if there bee any tension hardnes or inflammation in the Matrice to soften and souple it with the aforesaid liniment and fomentation and so will the inflammation be asswaged And if you find that the bladder or great gut bee full of excrements as I haue seene not long since in a poore Woman of Masson by meanes whereof the Matrice was shut and kept out then first you must make way for the Vrine by a Catheter and also voide out the excrements by Clitters For the second intention which is to keepe the Matrice in his place when it is well put vp and placed the best and surest meanes is to thrust vp a pessary such a one as is here described which hath this power to keepe the Matrice vp and yet not put it to any paine Beside it will not hinder the Matrice from purging out such euacuations as a woman newly deliuer'd hath or any other humour which may be contained in the wombe For this Pessarie hath a hole in the midst of it to giue such excrements free passage and issue The Pessarie being put vp let it abide there two or three daies when you take it out put vp a fresh one keeping that to serue another time There must also be a little string tyed to it so to be fastned to a girdle or some other thing least it fall downe to the ground The figure heere set downe doth shew the manner of it If the woman be newly deliuer'd and in her sicknesse you must not vse any astringent medicine for feare least you stay that but it is sufficient to keep the pessarie there When the time of purging is past then must there a care be had of the whole habit and constitution of the bodie Hippocrates wisheth that she eate little and drinke lesse the first seuen daies after which she may take some sustenance and when she would disburthen nature let her sit vp in her bed but not rise from thence in fortie daies After that time accomplished shee may walke gently but in no wise bath her selfe If she be full of bad humours let her be purged if she hath not had her courses or purgings sufficiently and if she be full of bloud it will be conuenient to open a veine And because the ligaments which tie and hold the Matrice are oftentimes much moistned and relaxed with slime and fleame which fals vpon them it will be necessarie to drie them by euacuating and drawing away the humour which is the cause heereof To this purpose Hippocrates doth much commend vomiting because it riddeth away such flegmaticke humours as commonly are in the stomacke by turning them another way Besides that the stomacke while it heaues it selfe vpward lifts and drawes vp the Matrice with it but this must be done considerately because strong and violent vomiting shakes and troubles the Diaphragme and guts making them presse downward and by this meanes keep downe the Matrice Heere also will it be auailable to applie large cupping glasses on the top of the hips vnder the paps and vnder the Nauill as also to bind the vpper part of the arms somwhat hard Moreouer you shal let the woman haue good sents to smell to as also some things of an ill sent to put vp beneath Liniments and plasters may likewise be applied vpon the backe belly and groine such as we haue set downe in the Chapter of Abortment As for the third intention which is to strengthen the wombe you must vse to this purpose Pessaries Parfumes Suffumigations and Iniections put vp and applied to the part Let the Pessarie be of the same fashion prescribed before but onely
before the fourth moneth the veines of her thighes and groine are bigger and more knottie on the left side then on the right An honest Gentlewoman assured me that she had made triall of this receipt which is to take an equall quantitie of Claret wine and of vrine made in the morning put them together into a glasse and let them stand a whole day if there appeare in the bottome a grosse cloud thicke like to Beane-broth it is a signe the woman is with child of a boy if it appeare in the middest it is signe of a wench if there be nothing found in the bottome but the ordinary residence of vrine it shewes she is not with child at all An experiment likewise may be made out of the practise of Liuia the Mother of the Emperour Tiberius who being with child and desirous to know with what she went tooke an egge from vnder a Henne that sate and kept it warme so long in her hands till at last a Cock-Chicken was hatched out of it whereby she knew that she should haue a sonne which proued to be Tyberius the Emperour as Suetonius reporteth Heere will it not be beside our purpose to set downe what Hippocrates writes in his booke de superfaetatione of the meanes how to get a man or woman-child He that wil saith he beget a sonne must know his wife as soone as her courses are stayed and then try the vtmost of his strength but if he desire to get a daughter then must he companie with his wife a good while after her courses or at that time when she hath them and beside he must tye his right stone as hard as he can endure it and when he would haue a sonne he must tye the left But Aristotle seemes wrongfully to blame his worthie man when he sayth that the generation of Males or Females depends of the strength of the seed and not of the stones the vse whereof he saith is not for generation But experience teacheth vs the contrary for the countreymen when they would haue a Bull beget a Cow-Calfe or a Bull-Calfe they tye the right stone for the one and the left for the other The signes whereby to know that a woman goeth with two children CHAP. III. THe signes that a woman hath conceiued two children doe seldome appeare before the third or fourth moneth which then is knowne both by the mouing of the children and also by the greatnes and swelling of the womans belly As for the motion if it be felt strong and forceable both on the right and the left side at the same instant then it is apparent that there be two children Likewise for the greatnes of her belly if it appeare more swollen and bigger then in her other child-bearing if the sides be higher then the middle of her belly and from the nauell downeward there appeare as it were a line or separation betweene both sides creasted if the woman beare her burthen with difficultie and her belly fall vpon her thighes and hips then may you safely say that she goeth with two children Of false Conception CHAP. IIII. WOmen are oftentimes deceiued in reckoning themselues with child for they thinke themselues with child when it is nothing but the stopping of their naturall sicknesse which keepeth not due course Some haue a false conception which is as it were the beginning of Mola Others haue the Mola it selfe which we commonly call the Moone-calfe False conception is a lump of flesh gathered together commonly like to the gizard of a fowle which is bigger or lesser according to the continuance of it which nature commonly expelleth in the second third or fourth month But the Mola is farre bigger and continues a yeare or two yea ten or twelue and sometime as long as the woman liues Of this Mola there be two kinds the one may be called a true the other a false one The true Mola is fleshy being nothing else but an vnprofitable masse without shape or forme hard and firme bred within the Matrice and cleauing to the sides thereof The false Mola is of three sorts the one windy being a collection of grosse winds the second watrish or a heaping together of waters the third humorall or a meeting of many humors All three contained within the capacitie of the womb which doth make them differ from the swelling hardnes or Scyrehus of the said wombe or from any flesh water or humor which may chance to cleaue to or touch the outward part thereof These are often bred together with the child but then they cause death either for that the child is deceiued of his nourishment which is carried to the Mola or because he wanting roome cannot grow and come to perfection Hippocrates saith that there be some liuing and some dead Moles The dead are like to the false burthens so called because women carry them not long as being but lightly tyed and fastned to the sides of the Matrice Sometime they are deuided into diuers seuerall pieces so that Nicholas Nicolus saith he saw a woman which cast forth nine of them in one day the least whereof waighed foure pound The quicke and liuing Moles are they which wholy cleaue to the wombe and continue with the woman euen to her death The cause of the fleshy Mole according to the ancient writers cannot wholly proceede from the woman but the man must adde somewhat thereunto Galen holdeth that it is bred when the mans seed is weake barren imperfect or in little quantitie and for the most part choked through the abundance of the menstruous bloud which is grosse and thicke vnfit for the framing of a child so that in stead thereof is bread a lumpe of flesh that by little and little increaseth being wrapped in his owne membrane which nature effecteth as desirous to bring forth any thing rather then to be idle The windie Mole is ingendred through want of heate in the Matrice and other parts adioyning as the Liuer and Spleene whereby much wind is bred and shut vp in the emptinesse of the wombe It may also come from without as in women newly deliuered and in such which hauing had their naturall courses in great abundance doe venture too soone into the cold aire The watry Mole proceeds from the abundance of watrie showres which is sent from the Liuer or the Spleene or other parts thereabouts or else through the weakenes of the Matrice which cannot assimilate the bloud that is brought to nourish it part whereof is turned into water and being not voided stayeth in the wombe The humorall Mole is bred by reason of too much moisture as of serious or whayish humors of the whites or watrish euacuations which come downe through the vessels of the Matrice and are stayed in the concauitie thereof False conception hath some common signes with the true as suppression of the naturall courses depraued appetite distastfulnesse vomiting swelling
ounce melt all these together in a double vessel and let the skin lie and soke in it three or foure daies mouing stirring them together daily then take it foorth and spred it in the aire and let it lie there two or three daies till it haue sok't in all the oile become drie then cut it to the forme bignesse of the belly and so apply it The daintie and curious may vse the former liniments and skin they that haue not the meanes to do either let them Take of fresh Butter well wash't in common water and then in Rose-water three ounces oile of sweet Almonds one ounce Spermaceti halfe an ounce and with these melted together rub their belly These Ointments must be kept in a gally pot and couered with Rose water to keepe them from being mustie When the Woman is come to the ninth Moneth hauing been in good health all the time of her going with child she must continue the vse of the aforesaid Ointments and must begin to vse more exercise then she did before walking gently before meales the first twelue or fifteene daies and then afterward it will be good to vse stronger exercise It will be very profitable for her especially after the ten or twelue first daies of the ninth moneth be past to sit in the decoction following after the maner of a halfe Bath some quarter or halfe an hower in the morning and then being well dried and laid to bed let her be annointed behind all along the lower part of her backe and before from the Nauill downward and chiefly vpon Os Pubis and the groine with the ointment following Take of Mallowes Althaea with their roots Motherwort of each two handfull white Lilly roots three ounces Chamomill and Melilot flowers of each a good handfull Lin-seed Quince-seed and Foenigreeke of each an ounce Boyle them all in sufficient quantitie of running water for the Bath Take of Hensfat three ounces Duckes fat an ounce and a halfe fresh Butter two ounces Linseed oile an ounce and a halfe Melt them all together then wash them verie well in Parietarie and Mugwort water adding thereto two ounces of the Muccilage of Althaea Roots In which space let her take this drinke euery morning fasting Take of Oile of sweet Almonds newly drawen without fire an ounce white Wine halfe an ounce Parietarie water one ounce mingle them together Some haue found good by taking the yelke of an Egge and drinking a draught of Hypocras after it Others take a little Wine and water wherein Lin-seed hath been stieped Let this or the like order and gouernment be obserued for a Woman that is of a good habit of body and who in her going with Child hath not been subiect to any sicknesse or accident of moment bearing her Children well without much paine But because there be many which are troubled with diuers accidents which happen in their Child-bearing I thought good heere to treat thereof briefly before I speake of their Deliuerie Of many infirmities which trouble Women while they are great with Child CHAP. VII IT becomes a Woman well at all times and chiefly in her Child-bearing and after her Deliuerie to haue a care as much as she can possiblie of the preseruation of her Beautie since there is nothing that sooner decaies and spoileth it then the often bearing of Children But as Health is more precious and recommendable then Beautie and seeing that a woman with Child may be troubled and oppressed with many accidents and infirmities during the nine Moneths she beares her child it will be therefore verie necessary and profitable to seeke out the meanes to free and deliuer them thereof For in loosing the Mother the life of the Child is also hazarded Aristotle in his booke De generatione Animalium is of opinion That bruit beastes going with young are not subiect to any diseases and contrariwise that Women are verie often sicke Hippocrates saith That they be pale and wan to shew that they are subiect to many infirmities In times past when men and women were sold like slaues if there were any found that were with child she was not warranted for whole and sound by him that fold her as Vitruuius writes in his second book because they were troubled and subiect to so many diseases In the first three or foure Moneths such infirmities chiefly happen for many causes First because they liue as Aristotle saith for the most part in idlenesse and eate ill meates which are turned into excrements and breed many obstructions the fountaine and beginning of all diseases the second is the great suppression and stopping of bloud whereof they were wont to be purged euery Moneth before their being with Child which runs to the Matrice to be voided find that accustomed passage which it had woont to haue but being not able to get forth and much lesse to be spent and digested by the Child which is as yet but little it returnes backe into the vaines chiefly those which are neere the stomacke and through the long continuance is there corrupted and changed to be of a bad qualitie whereof proceeds this depraued and disordinate appetite which the Latins call Pica or Malacia Loathing of meat Hicket Vomiting Paines of the stomacke Flanckes and Belly Ache of the backe Hips and Groine difficultie of making water Panting and beating of the heart with Sounning the Cough binding and Fluxe of the belly swelling of the Thighs and Feet and sometimes Abortment not being able to beare their Children the full time together with many other accidents whereof we will speake hereafter beginning with the Pica which troubleth them oftnest and longest Of the disordinate longing called Pica CHAP. VIII WEe commonly say the appetite is depraued when beyond measure we couet to eate and drinke too much in respect of what hunger naturally requireth Or when we desire or long after meats which are vnusuall and offend in qualitie and are not drest and prepared as they ought Of this depraued Appetite there be diuers sorts The first is called Boulimos of the Greeks and of the Latins Fames vaccina appetētia immodica When they eate more then is requisite not being able to satisfie themselues And if hunger vrge them farther and grow greater then it is called of the Latins Appetitus caninus or Fames insatiabilis and the partie eates till he be full euen to the throat that he is constrained to vomit his stomacke being so ouercharged But then presently he is driuen to eat againe and then to vomit from whence the Prouerbe is taken He is returned like a Dog to his vomit The like hapneth for drinking as for eating which the Latins call Sitis immodica which is so great that the tongue cleaues to the roofe of the mouth not being able to eate or speake except the mouth be first moistned and the
of Annis seed added to it Of the paines of the Backe Hips and Groine with difficultie of making water that happens vnto Women with child CHAP. XII THere be some Women which beare their children high and as they say within their stomacke so that they are nimbler either in going or stirring without being let or hindred thereby at all Others carrie them verie low hauing their belly standing verie much out which brings them much inconuenience as paine of the Hips and Groine and then they complaine as if those parts and their belly were rent and torne in pieces Contrariwise there be others that hide their child within their raines and beare it verie backward which causeth them to haue exceeding great paine in their backs In the two latter cases we had need to helpe them for as Hippocrates saith When women with child are troubled with great paine in their backe and legs then are they in danger to be deliuered before their time The like may be also said of them that haue much paine in their belly and groine These paines commonly do rather proceed from the heauinesse of the child then of any quantitie of humors which abound in the bodie For at that time the wombe being great thicke and full by reason of the child which is big and large and of the bed or after-burthen and oftentimes filled with great store of water on which side soeuer the wombe resteth it drawes the ligaments and bonds with it that hold and fasten it to the foresaid parts and by the force of this dilation and stretching doth cause and prouoke paines in the backe hips and groine aswell by reason they are tyed thereto as likewise for the continuitie of those neighbouring parts which touch them For the remedying whereof the woman must keepe her selfe still and quiet without much stirring or shaking she must eat little and often and of meats that be light and easie of digestion for the stomake being full doth presse the body of the Matrice and thrusts it downward Therefore she must were Swathes which may helpe to support and keep vp her belly that by such a rest and swathing the ligaments which are lengthned and stretched may be somewhat brought backe to their proper places which must be confirmed and strengthned by these meanes All the bottome of her backe and raines must be annointed with Vnguentum Comitissae or else this ointment Oyntment ℞ Ol. Mastich Cidonior an ℥ j. ol Mirtill ℥ ss Corall rub terrae Sigillat an ʒ s Vnguent Comitiss ℥ s liquefiant omnia vt artis est fiat linimentum If the woman with child feel any coldnesse as it happens to some by reason of their cold temperature which makes them shiuer and quake let there be added to the former ointment Ol. Costin Aneth an ℥ ss But if she find any heat there or burning then applie some ointment that hath vertue to comfort and coole Another ointment ℞ Ol. Mirtill Rosar an ℥ j. ss vng Rosat Mes ℥ j. vng Refriger Galen ℥ s Puluer Corall rub Bol. Armen an ʒ j. succi Aurant ʒ ij misce fiat linimentum Likewise it may chance through the waightinesse of the wombe which resteth in the bottome that the woman with child cannot make water which hapning she herselfe with both hands must lift vp the bottome of her belly by meanes whereof she shall hinder the bodie of the wombe from pressing and crushing the bladder and especially the necke thereof which is loaded and oppressed with the said wombe You may applie below some bathing or fomentation made with the leaues of Mallowes Althaea Cresses and Parietarie with a little Lin-seed to make the passage more loose soft and easie to be inlarged or widened Of the panting and beating of the Heart As also of Swouning which happen vnto women with child CHAP. XIII AS there be diuers winds and vapours that are shut vp and inclosed in the neather belly of a woman with child which procure great paines in her hips backe and groine for the reasons before rehearsed So likewise are there the like vapours that arise from the wombe and other parts neere which are inclosed in the Arteries and by them are carried and imparted to the heart which cause a panting and beating and the heart feeling it selfe offended and oppressed by the said vapours endeuoureth by his motion to expell and driue them away far from itselfe Nature hauing giuen to euery part some particular meanes whereby to repell and thrust backe that which doth annoy or molest it As the Braine by sneesing the Lungs by coughing and the stomacke by vomiting But because this accident is oftentimes the forerunner of a Syncope or swouning therefore will it be needfull to haue care thereof it being easie to be knowne both by the relation of the party who finds her heart beate as also by feeling the breast vppon the region of the heart with ones hand with which this motion lifteth vp the ribs and the hand that is laide thereon yea some women haue such a beating that it makes euen the ribs stand out of their place For remedy whereof such vapors must be kept from seasing vpon the hart which may be done by well fensing of it both within and without If then you perceiue that the woman doe abound with any ill humors from whence these vapours may partly arise she must bee purged as before and let bloud according as the accidents doe require and the ancients doe appoint which must be done in small quantity and that not all at once but rather at mâny times by little and little For according to Galen There is no remedy that more hinders and altars the course of blood and noysome vapors from piercing and assailing the heart then letting of bloud doth Let her take euery morning one of these Lozenges which are very proper Lozenges ℞ puluer laetitiae Galeni de gemmis an ℈ i. pul lapid bezoard ossis de corde cerui an ℈ s. confect de hyacintho ʒ s. sacchari cum aqua scordij dissoluti ℥ ij fiant tabellae pond ʒ ij sumat vnam singulis diebus mane sero cubitura In steed thereof she may vse this opiate Opiate ℞ conseruae bugloss borag an ℥ s. conseruae radicis scorzonerae ʒ vi corti citriconditi ʒ iij. ther. veter ℈ i. pul electuar diamarg. frigidi ℈ s. fiat opiata capiat singulis diebus mane sero ʒ i. vt dictum est The Claret water before described is very excellent good some doe vse the water of Orringe flowers The heart must bee outwardly fortified with Quilts Fomentations Epithemes Cataplasmes applied to the region thereof made with the aforenamed ingredient Take for the Epitheme or fomentation the waters of Borage Buglosse Balme of Oringe flowers Cardus Benedictus Roses and of Scordium adding therto Saunders Angelica seed Cordiall flowers and the like And because that
with a little Cerotum infrigidans Galeni Desiccatiuum rubrum mingled together this medicine will make the orifices vent and flow the longer Not long since there were two worthy Ladies which for honor sake I will not name that were troubled with this accident about the time of their lying in in whom I opened and scarified those parts to make the water flow and come foorth And it is to be obserued that we must awaite a fit opportunitie to do this which will be when they are neare their lying downe The meanes to helpe women which cannot beare their Children the full time CHAP. XVIII OFtentimes it happens to women that they cannot beare their burthen to the time prefixed by nature which is the ninth moneth This accident is called either a shift or slipping away or else Abortment or as our women call it a mischance The shift is reckoned from the first day the seed is retained in the wombe till such time as it receiueth forme and shape in which time if it chance to issue and flow foorth it is a Shift The Abortment hapneth after the fortieth day yea euen to the end of the ninth moneth For the Abortment is a violent expulsion or exclusion of the child already formed and endued with life before the appointed time But the sliding away or shift is a flowing or issuing of the seed out of the wombe which is not yet either form'd or endued with life Those that haue been deliuered once before their time for the most part they miscarie with the rest of their children about the same time This accident may happen vpon diuers occasions the which are either inward or outward The outward are either an Ague fluxe of bloud or of the belly vomiting or any other sicknesse that may happen vnto a woman with child as also leaping daunsing riding in a Coach too much stretching of her selfe and the lifting or carrying of any heauie burthen the immoderate vse of Venus Passions of the mind as choller sadnesse longing after any thing or the vse of violent and strong medicines The inward causes are gathered from one of these three either from the Mother or things belonging to her or from the child Those that are taken from the child are when he is either so weak and sickly that he cannot be kept in the wombe being not able to draw sufficient nourishment and thereby doth decay and die or else by being too big and large so that the wombe is not capable to lodge and support him which maketh the vessels of the wombe to bee relaxed and breake then the entrance of the womb dilates it selfe and the child commeth forth From the mother when shee is eyther too small or low of stature which causeth that the child cannot grow in so little roome neither moue himselfe or breath although he breath onely by the arteries of the mother her breast beeing so straight that it cannot be stretched or inlarged or else because she is too fat which maketh the caule to presse downe and crush the Matrice and causeth the seed to flow and issue forth before it be formed A woman also that is too leane and doth eate but little seldome or neuer beares her child the full time For if the mother be not well nourished much lesse can the child Too much eating stifles the child as likewise the vse of vnholesome meates doth engender ill bloud in the mother wherewith the childe beeing nourisht in the ende languisheth whence followeth death Another cause may bee the ouermuch fulnesse and moistnes wherewith women abound and chiefly in their womb which oftentimes is ful and ouerflowes with mosture and filleth the vessels of the wombe full of slime whereby the inner orifice is inlarged and dilated vnable to support or keepe in the child There may likewise bee ingendred some sharpe and biting humors wherwith the Matrice beeing stirred or prouoked while it endeuours to expell them may thrust out the child also This accident may also happen to those that in their child bearing are subiect to haue their naturall courses as if they were not with child which commeth to passe when nature striuing to put them forth doth cause the child to be vntyed and so he followeth the Purgings Concerning those things which are annexed or belonging to the mother I vnderstand them to bee such as may bee growne or contained within the womb as some impostume Scyrrhus or excrescēce of flesh mole or false conception therin contained as also great store of water the which I saw not long since happen vnto an honest Gentlewoman whose womb was so full of water in the eight moneth that the Orifice thereof was constrained to open it selfe and let them foorth the which was in such quantity that it is incredible to bee reported and some sixe daies after shee was deliuered the wombe not being closed againe As this accident is very dangerous both for the mother and the child so will it bee needfull to preuent and remedy it with all speed possible First we may know that a woman is in danger to abort or miscarry when the milk in her brests doth flow and run forth in great quantity her brests remaining limber and soft and if she be with child of two children and one brest grow empty it is signe she wil miscary with one of them For this sheweth that the child doth loath refuse his nourishment chiefly if the nipple haue gotten any ill colour it is a signe that the Matrice is distempered according to Hyppocrates They that are troubled with a great loosenesse of the belly bee often deliuered before their time Likewise great paine of the backe and thighs which coms round to the groin and bottome of the belly doth oftentimes presage the like As also when there floweth out of the conduit of nature first certain waters then bloudy and slimy matter and last of all bloud To the end that it may be safely remedied there must respect be had to the cause Now concerning the outward causes as if the mother bee troubled with any sicknes she must be handled as it is requisite and fit shee must shunne all violent exercises passions of the mind and the too often vse of Venus If the abortment proceed from the littlenesse or lownes of the mother before her being with child let her vse Bathes fomentations and oyntments that may loosen and inlarge her belly and Matrice And while she goeth with child let her feede moderately to nourish her selfe and her child when the ninth month is come let her vse supling and relaxing oyntments like those formerly set downe If the cause be of too much fatnes it wil be very fit and conuenient to purge her and let her bloud before shee bee with child and to prescribe her a strict order of dyet thereby to make her leane vsing meates that bee not too nourishing or full of
good iuice Contrariwise she that is too leane must vse good meates and such as breed good iuice and that in good quantity If too much eating and drinking or the vse of bad meates that breed ill iuice be the cause then must she absteine from them And when it doth proceed from the fulnesse and aboundance of humors water as it happeneth in full bodied young women or which before their being with child were subiect to some euacuations as bleeding at the nose Hemorrodes or abundance of ordinary purgations and whites then will it also be very needful to purge and let them bloud and before their beeing with child to make them vse the dyet and especially those that haue the ligaments of the womb loose and soft and the vessels full of thicke and slimy matter to whome likewise may be administred cleansing strengthening iniections drying perfumes Baths with sulphur and emplasters for their backes which shall heereafter be set downe And when they shall be gone about foure moneths and a halfe it will be very fit to purge them gently let them bloud the which may be done more plentifully and boldly not all at once but at sundry times in those who before their being with child were vsed to more copious and frequent euacuations For experience doth shew that by this meanes those which were wont to be deliuered before their time haue not onely born their children to the ordinary time but thereby also haue beene brought a bed more easily and with lesse pain and trouble So that the child shall neither be in daunger to bee stifled by drawing more food then is needfull for his nourishment nor of growing too big by turning it into his owne sustenance which might bee a meanes through his exceeding greatnesse to breake and teare the ligaments that support him or else though he stay his ful time being thus big that he should not be able to come easily into the world To helpe the abortment whereof the child is cause being naturally either weake or sickly it will be very necessary that the mother put to her helping hand as much as she can possibly Wherefore she must be merry quiet as well in body as in mind not fretting or vexing her selfe and especially about the time she was wont to bee deliuered shee must keepe her bed vsing meates of easie digestion and distribution and drinke good claret wine let her take euery two houres a good space from her meate some of this opiate Opiate ℞ Cons. Borag Buglos an ℥ i. Cons. Rosar Anthos an ʒ vi Cort. Citri cond Myrobal condit an ℥ s. Margarit splendid Coral rub an ʒ i. ossis de corde cerui ʒ s. Cum syr Conser Citri fiat Opiata capiat ʒ i. vt dictum est If shee like not this Opiate let her vse these Lozenges Lozenges ℞ Sp. Diamarg frig ℈ ij Corall rub Corn. cerui vsti an ʒ s. priapitauri ℈ iiij Sacchar in aqua Buglos dissolut ℥ iij. fiat electuarium per tabellas ponderis ʒ s. vel ℈ ij pro dosi capiat vt dictū est Let her belly bee annointed with this ointment as well to comfort the Matrice as also to giue strength vnto the child ℞ Olei Mirtill Cydonior Mastich an ℥ s. Coral rub santal rub an ʒ i. maioran Absynth an ℈ iiij vng Rosat Mes. ℥ s. Cerae q. s fiat Linimentum Let there bee laide vpon her backe and os sacrum some such emplaster Some women haue found good by applying vpon their Nauell a tost dipt in good red wine strowing vpon it the powder of Roses Grana tinctorum Coral and a little Cinamon The Emplaster ℞ Gallar Nuc. Cupress sang Dracon Balaust mirtil Ros rub an ʒ i. s. Mastic Myrrhae an ʒ ij Thur. Hypocist acaciae gum Arabic Bol. armen an ʒ i. ladani ℥ i. Terebinth venet ℥ is picis Naualis ʒ v j. Cerae ol Mastich an q. s vt fiat secundum artem emplastrum The emplaster must be often taken off for feare of the itching and put on againe and if there happen any heate to the part annoint it with Mesues ointment of Roses If you perceiue that the child be too great and big to the end that he receiue not so much nourishment whereby he may grow bigger and larger the mother must absteine from all meates that are so iuicy and nourishing and keepe herselfe quiet hauing her belly stayed vp with a fit roler that it hang not downe and least the ligaments which hold the child might stretch and so by the waight be torne and broken a sunder The like may bee obserued and practized in the causes annexed ioined to the mother as if there bee any Scyrrhus Mole Dropsie Warts Impostums excrescence of flesh or other indisposition of the wombe The which must bee cured before the woman bee with childe according as the disease doth require it beeing very hard for a Woman to proue with child when she is troubled with any of the aforesaid accidents And in regard of outward causes wherin we did comprehend the Ague Laske Fluxe of bloud vomiting and the like These accidents must bee preuented according as the case doth require taking the aduice of the learned Phisitian as we haue said before But concerning medicines which must bee more particularly applied to outward causes as falls blowes and violent exercises let them haue recourse to the medicines described for the childe that is weake and sickly to which these following may be added as beeing profitable for both causes As if there appeare any bloud or red waters that begin to flow and come forth by then naturall passage this medicine is excellent ℞ Granor. tinct ʒ s. Coral rub margarit elect an gr vi germina duor ouor misce exhibeatur cum vitello vnius oui vel ℞ Mastich subtil pul ʒ s. seric subtiliter incisae ℈ s. germina duor ouor capiat cum vitello oui She may likewise take in the morning a Lozenge of Diarhodon of the waight of a French Crowne This powder also is very commendable ℞ Sp. Diamarg frigid ʒ s. Coral rub vst lot in aq Rosar pryap Tauri sic an ℈ ij Eboris Bol. Armen terrae sigillat an ℈ iiij Sachar rosat tabulat ℥ is Capiat mane sero ʒ ij pro vnaquaque dosi Of this powder also may bee made Lozenges Let there bee applied to her backe the former Emplaster or this that followeth Emplaster to retaine or keepe in the child ℞ Mastich Mirrh gum Arab. an ʒ ij Menth. sicc Absynth rad Bistort Nucum fol. Cupress an ʒ i s. Cortic. granat ʒ ij s. Styrac calam Colophon picis Naual an ʒ iij. Cerae Citrin ℥ j. Terebinth von ℥ s. Ol. Mirtill q. s fiat emplast extendat super alutam ad vsum If the emplaster breed any inconuenience let them vse this ointment Ointment ℞ Ol. Cydonior Mastich Mirtill an ℥ i s. Bol.
suppression whereof doth cause paines gripings suffocation an ague and many other accidents Now when the woman shall be thus accommodated she must be kept from sleeping though shee bee very desirous thereof and let her in the meane time be entertained with some discourse and let her nurse looke to her brests applying such things thereunto as shall be set downe in the third booke in their proper place After the woman hath beene kept three or foure houres from sleeping you may giue her some broth made with a knuckle of Veale or a Chicken or in stead thereof a couple of yelkes of egges and so let her take her rest and if she haue any desire to sleep shee may which must bee some three or foure houres after her deliuery the dores and windowes of her chamber being close shut not making any noise And so let this suffice for the naturall trauaile or deliuery wherein there hath beene no difficulty the woman beeing neither much troubled nor hauing had any greate paines but those that are ordinary and such as God hath which is that In sorrow a woman should bring forth Of a painfull and difficult deliuery with the causes thereof CHAP. VIII WOmen are brough a bed very hardly and with much paine vppon diuers reasons which is an occasion that many repaire vnto Phisitians and Chirurgions to haue their helpe since there be few Midwiues found skilful that can giue them much aide or succour in these cases A Chirurgion beeing called thither ought diligently to inquire what may be the cause and consider carefully thereof now the cause may be referred to foure things either to the mother or to the child or to things that are annexed vnto the child or else to outward things and so accordingly must they frame the remedy In the number of outward things I comprehend those persons that are about the woman in trauail who if they be displeasing vnto her are to be intreted gently to withdraw and absent themselues Whether it be by reason that the woman hath any feare apprehension or any mislike and loathing vnwillling to haue them so neare her when shee is in her trauaile and anguish or else being ashamed to see her selfe in that case 2 Pliny writeth that the ancients held an opinion that the deliuery might bee hindred and prooue difficult if there were any in the womans chamber which held her fingers lockt or shut one within another and produceth for an example Alcmena who could not be deliuered of Hercules but with much difficulty 3 Likewise the outward aire being too cold may hinder the deliuery because it cooleth the woman shutting vp her body and especially those parts which ought to be inlarged and dilated As also the aire being too hot spendeth the spirits and makes the woman lose her strength remaining weake and feeble and as it were fainting without any power or courage And therefore the aire must be temperate yet rather hot then cold 4 Pleasing smels as of Muske Ciuet Amber Grise or the like if she haue such about her the vapour whereof may strike vp into her nose doe hinder the deliuery because they draw the wombe vpward If the cause of difficult deliuery be in the mother her selfe it comes either by reason of her person or her age or her naturall disposition or of some other accident she hath had or may haue or by being deliuered before or after her time 1 Her person or body may be the cause thereof as if shee be too fat and full for in such women I haue seene great store of fat come down into their naturall parts which stopped the passage And in others I haue seene the caule come downe which did so presse and crush together both the inward and outward necke of the wombe that it could very hardly open it selfe yea and being dilated and inlarged did euen close presse it together againe In some I haue seene and felt part of the bladder present it selfe at the entrance of the wombe A woman that is too leane and bare as also one that is too little may likewise bee deliuered with much difficulty And when this happeneth it cannot be remedied as one would desire 2 Now concerning their age both they that are too yoong as being too straight and also they that are old hauing also their naturall parts too much shrunke together and dryed and the bones too closely ioyned together the cartilages very hard which cannot so well yeeld and bee dilated as in youth I say both of these bee deliuered with very much difficulty 3 Their naturall disposition likewise may bee a cause that they are deliuered with much paine 1 As if they be weake of constitution nice tender timerous and afraid of paine which makes them that they will not force themselues nor make their paines and throws effectuall and when the child is euen ready to come forth they shrinke in themselues with the very feare they haue to feel such paine 2 Hippocrates saith that women which haue an Ague when they are with child and become very leane without a manifest cause doe bring foorth their children with great difficulty paine and danger And if they doe miscarry or abort then they are in danger of their liues The same Author saith that those women which giue but little nourishment to their children are sooner deliuered and contrariwise they that feede too much are longer ere they be brought a bed 3 They that haue beene troubled with any sicknesses as the bloudy fluxe or other fluxe of the belly Convulsions fluxe of bloud or that haue any tumor vlcer or scarre which hath happened by being heeretofore badly deliuered or any other accident that hath made the necke of the wombe hard close and straight which is a meanes that it cannot be dilated and inlarged or else which haue the entrance or passage stopt with some flesh or membrane that is naturall vnto them that is to say which they haue had from their birth All these I say are deliuered with great paine and difficulty yea and oftentimes doe lose their liues thereby Now some will thinke it very strange and almost incredible to find a woman that should bee with child and yet a maide there being euen from her birth a membrane that stoppeth the passage and hindreth the man from entring Where as it is necessary for conception that a woman should haue the entire fruition or company of the man and that he should not onely enter within the outward passage of the womb but euen to the inner necke therof to carry thether the seed and there to mingle it with the womans But stories in this kinde make vs beleeue the contrary seeing there is no such necessity that the mans seede should be carried and cast so deepe For in some Women the wombe is so greedy and lickerish that it doth euen come down to meet
the parts of his bodie are not strong and able enough to draw vnto them sufficient nourishment This difficultie of deliuerie happens also when the child is either sicke or dead and is not able to help it selfe as likewise when he is too big in all his bodie and chiefly in the head or if he be a Monster hauing two heads two bodies foure armes or legs or if they be Twins th' one hindring the others comming foorth which will be euident by the bignesse of the Mother or if he be ill placed to come foorth putting formost an arme or a leg or both the shoulder buttockes side or belly comming formost 4 Now concerning that which is annexed to the child the deliuerie proues difficult if the membranes that containes the water wheron the child doth floate and swim be firme solide and hard that it cannot but verie hardly be broken or that the said membrane be so thin that it breakes too soone and before the child be well turned and ready to follow the said water which serues to carrie him and make him come foorth the easier For the child that remaines drie commeth into the world with much paine Likewise if the after-burthen offer it selfe first and that it stop the passage or if there be a Mole or false Conception As also if the woman haue not been lately at stoole or made water the which is cause that the great gut being full may close the necke of the wombe as likewise the bladder being full may presse it downe because it is placed betweene them both Whence it is commonly said in the prouerb Que l'enfant est situé enter le boire le manger which is That the child is seated between the meat and the drinke And therefore all the aforesaid accidents must be remedied accordingly The meanes to help Women that are deliuered with difficultie CHAP. IX THat a Woman which is deliuered with difficultie and much paine may be help'd the Chirurgian ought to know what is the cause thereof and from whence this difficultie doth proceed that he may the better cure it If it be because the Mother is to grosse or fat and chiefly in her naturall parts as also if there be any store of fat offer it selfe as I haue seen it oftentimes happen in great striuing and throwes yea and that in such sort that it did euen stop the passage of the child Then the Chirurgion as gently as he can possibly must thrust backe and put aside with one hand the said fat not tearing or hurting it least it be spoiled and corrupted afterwards holding it still downe on the one side till the child be come foorth of the wombe keeping it alwaies from falling downe into the passage and among the bones when the child is readdy to come foorth But when part of the bladder is sunke downe and relaxed and is manifestly perceiued in the entrance of the wombe then must he do the like as he did to the fat holding it aside vpward with the flat of two or three of his fingers vntill the childs head be past the Os Pubis If he find then as it may so come to passe that the said bladder be full of vrine the woman in trauaile not hauing made water a good while before then must he cause her to make water by putting a fit instrument gently into the bladder For it is seen in some that the fibres which doe contract the bladder and make it driue out the vrine are so weakned and also the whole bodie thereof that the vrine cannot come foorth Some women haue been deceiued by taking the said bladder thus full with vrine for the waters which come before the child causing the said bladder to be broken the which is worthy of great consideration Also the said necke of the bladder may be stop't by reason of some Carnositie Inflammation or stone which I haue seen an honest woman there being a stone fallen down into the necke in her bladder that stopt her vrine which being put aside by the probe she made water Neuerthelesse when the child was ready to come foorth the stone returning in to the said necke of the bladder againe did so fret and hurt it through the long stay that the childs head made in the passage that it grew to an Impostume and suppuration which made a little hole through the which she hath long time made her water not being able to hold or retaine it which is a storie worthy to be mark'd But as the vrine may be sometimes stop't so likewise the excrements of the great gut may be retained which hapning it will be more then necessarie for the cure thereof to giue the woman a Clyster that may both vnload her of her excrements and likewise help and make her deliuerie the more easie I my selfe was present at the trauaile of a poore sicke woman that had not been at stoole in ten daies before whose great gut was so fild and stuft with excrements as hard as a stone that it was impossible for her to receiue a Clyster and we were constrain'd before she could be deliuered to get out all the said excrements otherwise it had been impossible to haue taken foorth the child To help and succour one that is lean and barren or else of little stature as also such as are either too old or too young they must haue recourse long before hand vnto medicines that shall mollifie moisten and relaxe not onely the membranes which ought to be dilated and stretch'd that they may be made more souple and gentle But likewise you must annoint the Cartilages and Ligaments that ioine the Os pubis Sacrum Os Coccygis and Ilium which must be done with oyntments already set downe and euen in the verie houre of the deliuerie annoynt all the said parts therewith Some mislike not about the end of the ninth moneth to bathe the woman either with a generall or particular bath as we haue heretofore appointed as likewise to giue her euery morning eight or ten daies before her lying in this Drinke A Drinke to make easie the deliuerie Take Oile of sweet Almonds drawen without fire an ounce water of Parietary two ounces mingle thâ—m together and let her drinke it The which I haue oftentimes tried in many women and among the rest in Madame Capp who before had been many times deliuered with much paine and sorrow of her children dead But since I counsell'd her to vse this medicine she hath been deliuered thankes be to God verie fortunately of many children liuing The same remedies do likewise serue for them that haue any Callositie or hardnesse in the passage of Nature The weake and dainty women must be fed with yelkes of egges cullis a tost with wine and sugar or Hyppocras and that a little at a time and often you may also giue them a little confection of Alhermes dissolued either
in wine or Hippocras Cinamon water also that is well made and not too strong is very fit and good And if the feare of the paine doth hinder the deliuery then the woman must be incouraged telling her that shee shall bee quickly freed from this sicknesse and that it is common vnto all women to haue such paines cherishing her with good hopes assuring her that her trauaile will bee very easie and promising her that she shall haue either a sonne or a daughter according as you know she desires as we haue said before flattering and soothing her as much as you can without chiding or giuing her any crosse speeches at all The most grieuous and troublesome accident which a Woman can haue that is in trauaile is when there happens vnto her any fluxe of bloud or Convulsions for either of them kill both the Mother and the child instantly especially if the fluxe of bloud continue long because through the great losse of bloud which is the liues treasure the spirits and heate are dissolued And concerning Convulsions they are very dangerous because the braine beeing hurt it cannot affoord such store of spirits as are needfull for the respiration of the Mother and the child who breath 's onely by meanes of the spirits that are imparted vnto him by the Arteryes of his mother which causeth him to bee choked and stifled Besides the great convulsion makes the Midrife and the muscles of the vpper belly moue so violently that the child is much shaken and puts both him and his mother in danger to be stifled and die Eyther of these accidents happening or else both together the mother and the child must bee succoured without any delay which shall bee done to speake in a word by deliuering her And this ought to be done either by the helpe of a Chirurgian or else of a very skilfull Midwife Hippocrates well obserued it when he saith If in a difficult trauaile there happen a great fluxe of bloud without any paine before the trauaile then is there danger lest the child come forth dead or that he will not liue and therefore she must bee sodainely deliuered the which wee haue oftentimes seene to our great griefe happen vnto diuers women that haue died through the obstinasy of their friends and kinsfolks yea and some also through their Phisitians and Chirurgians feare who delayed the time thinking and hoping that the fluxe would stay telling them that the child came naturally being well placed with his head forward and that the mother should bee deliuered euen of her selfe I know there be many both Phisitians and Chirurgians that will appoint diuers inward and outward medicines yea to make reuulsion and altar the course of bloud will cause a vaine to bee opened in the arme once or twice rather then consent to this practize But yet of all their medicines I could neuer see any that did good but that in the end they were constrained to vse the hand the which I counsell to be done speedily and chieflie if the mother be at her full time and ready to lye downe which may be both knowne of the woman and also perceiued by the throwes shee hath or which went before as also by the dilatation of of the inner orifice of the wombe which will be open and likewise feeling with the finger that the waters are gathered and ready to come and issue forth And when the water shall bee broken and come away then so much the rather must the child be taken out though the woman haue not gone aboue foure fiue sixe seuen or eight moneths And ye must note that if the said water be not broken and that the fluxe of bloud bee very great then you shall let forth the water by dilating and stretching gently the inner orifice of the womb thereby to draw forth the child as we will shew heereafter But because many women are subiect to a fluxe of bloud in their fourth fifth sixth seuenth or eighth moneth of child-bearing being not as yet ready to bee deliuered therefore the Chirurgion must obserue from what place this bloud is sent the which may be from the entrance or Vagina of the wombe and not from within the body thereof where the child is contained and inclosed which may bee easily perceiued if the woman haue no throwes or if the inner orifice of her wombe be not open but close shut then there is no likelihood of any deliuery towards for bloud may issue and come from the said outward necke or Vagina both in maide and woman with child If it bee so then it will not be needful to meddle with such women or to force them at all but onely you must proceed to medicines that shall stay the said fluxe of bloud As wee will shew in the chapter of the after purgings that flow immoderately in women newly deliuered It may also happen because the woman is plethoricall and full of bloud In this case we must follow the opinion of Hippocrates who saith that if a woman that is in trauaile cannot be deliuered and that her paines continue many daies if shee bee young lusty and full of bloud you may let her bleed in the foot if her strength will beare it But if she be troubled with any vlcer tumor excrescence of flesh Hemorrhoides inflammation chapps or the like which may chance in the necke of the wombe then shall she be handled as we will shew in their proper places All the which indispositions may make the deliuery difficult and cause that the parts cannot be dilated according as it is sit and necessary for the childs comming forth For remedying the deliuery that is too soone or too late we must haue regard vnto the cause and according thereto it must bee cured and chiefly that which shall concerne the mother whereof we will treat when we come to speake of the Abortment it being my purpose in this place to speake onely of those things which are fit and ought to bee done in the time and at the houre of the deliuerie Now for the comforting of a woman and easing of her trauaile when the difficulty doth proceede from the child as when he is weake tender sickly or dead as likewise if he be too big or a monster hauing two heads or if he be ill turned and that he offer himselfe amisse then the Chirurgion in this case shall helpe and set to his hand in this manner First if it be through the weakenesse or tendernesse of the child being sicke the Chirurgion must not delay one minute of time to hasten the deliuery and he must incourage the woman to doe the like If the head come first then shall hee proceed therein gently as in the naturall deliuery applying beneath and chiefly about the fundament and os Pubis which are the two vtmost parts of the naturall passage some ointments with the fingers ends
linnen cloths or sponges and apply them warme either vpon the belly breasts or any other part which you would haue confirmed knit and drawne together And to make it the more astringent you must steepe therein for euery quart of liquor of Masticke sanguis Draconis and Bole Armoniacke poudered of each halfe an ounce setting it in the sunne in summer and ouer an ouen in the winter But it is not enough onely especially in great Ladies to make the foresaid parts firme and hard and keepe them from hanging and flagging down But it is also very fitting and likewise much required by them to haue their skin made faire smooth and delicate for which purpose this water is singular good A water to beautifie and adorne the skin c. â„ž Aq. Florum Bismal Maluae an lb. ij Aq. Rosar alb lb. iiij Limones duos remota cute exteriore minutim incisos Prunor. syluest immatur lib. i. pistentur Carnem vnius Caponis iuuenis abiectis ossibus intestinis minutim incisam Lact. Caprin lb. s Amygdal dulc mund â„¥ ij farinae Orob Lupinor an â„¥ s. Limaces rubros no. vj. Infunde omnia simul per duos dies deinde destillentur in Balneo Mariae With this water the foresaid parts must bee washed hauing first cleansed them with common water wherein there hath been some crums of breade steeped all night Another approued water Another wâ—ter â„ž Aq. Lilior alb Nympb an lb. iij. Lactis Caprin lb. s. Casei recenter facti sine sale lb. i. Limones exteriori cute remotâ incisos numero iiij Albumina ouor numero viii Boracis Ê’ iij. Caphurae Ê’ j. Talci subtiliter pul â„¥ i. Cerus â„¥ s. Columbor iuuen num ij Ol. Tartari â„¥ i s. misceantur omnia destillentur in Balneo Mariae Myrrhae as Master Le Bon writes who tells it for a great secret doth lessen and straighten the naturall parts when they haue beene ouer stretched without hurting the Matrice as also taketh away the wrinkles which happen either in the breasts or belly and doth confirme and knit those parts offending neither the pectorall nor naturall parts Sometimes there comes little spots and freckles in the said parts but oftener in the face for the taking away whereof this is an excellent medicine An ointmenâ— for spots â„ž Tartar vini albi calocinat â„¥ s Mastich Ê’ i s. Caphurae Ê’ i. incorporentur omnia simul cum oui albumine tange maculam tege panno lineo in eodem imbuto Of the accidents which happen to women newly deliuered And first of their after-throwes CHAP. III. WE haue hitherto treated of the ordering of a Woman in Child-bed as also of the time when she shall bee ready to walke abroade and bee churched But because there doe befall them many accidents in the time of their lying in I thought good to write thereof briefe-lie and to shew the meanes whereby they may be helped and cured And since that the chiefest symptome that happens vnto them and which comes soonest is the after-throws therefore I am determined to speake of them first As soone as a Woman is deliuered of her childe and after-birth for the most part she is taken with paines of her belly which oftentimes are so great and violent that she thinkes her very belly would bee rent and cut asunder in diuers places from whence the french word that signifieth these pains and torments was deriued The cause of these gripings or paines may bee threefold First either because the Matrice those parts thereabouts haue bene sore troubled through the deliuery by striuing to bee vnburthened and freed of the child or else because the bloud that runs and gathers it selfe to the Wombe being retained growes thicke and slimy that it cannot easily flow and so makes a distention of the Matrice it being not able to come away but in great clots and hard matter like vnto a false Conception and likewise when it is altogether retained and stopt it causes a great extension of the wombe Againe it is oftentimes so cleere thin and sharpe that it flowes aboue measure and through the acrimonie and biting thereof doth gripe and torment as it passeth along The third cause may proceed from the outward aire which is enter'd and got into the wombe at the comming foorth of the child and the after-birth Hippocrates hath obserued that women in this euacuation are troubled with gripings paines of their first childmore then of any after the reason is because their veines are not accustomed to disburthen themselues in this fort Experience neuerthelesse teacheth vs the contrarie for a woman commonly of her first child hath verie few of these paines and gripings and the more children she hath the more she is troubled with them The reason whereof seemes to bee this because the bloud which in youth is sweet and milde in processe of time gets a bitter salt and adust qualitie which passing through the veines procureth this paine For we find by experience that the flesh of beasts or fowle when they are old grow's vnpleasant as being hard and harsh to the tast But what euer the cause of these paines be we must seeke to asswage them and to free the woman from them aswell as we can If then these paines be small and that the after-purgings come moderately we may leaue the worke wholy to nature onely giuing the woman in child-bed the drinke we prescribed before of Oile of sweet Almonds or of Walnuts which of late hath been found by experience to be better then the Oile of Almonds so that the Nuts be sound and white not rancide and the oyle drawne without fire This Oyle is much commended for the gripings which comes by the acrimonie and sharpnesse of the bloud and in this case also some easie fomentations of warme Milke or fit vpon the belly and lower parts Fomentations also with Mallowes March Mallowes Parietarie Mugwort Camomile Melilot and Linseed boiled in Milke are verie profitable When these paines and pangs proceed of thicke slimy bloud which cannot easily flow or of windy matter which being shut vp cannot be discussed if the paine continue beside those aforesaid you may vse these remedies following A Drinke easie to be taken â„ž Rad. Petrosel â„¥ ss radic consolid Maior â„¥ iij. sem Anis Paenicul an Ê’ ss Bull. omnia simul in decocto vituli vel caponis q. s in quo dissolue croci gr iij. capiat mane tepide Or else she may vse this powder of which good proofe hath been made â„ž Nucleor Dactyl Amygdal nucleor Persicar an Ê’ ss Cinamom elect Ê’ i. sem Anis Ê’ ss nuc Mosch ℈ ij spec Diamarg calid ℈ j. fiat omniuÌ„ puluis capiat Ê’ j. cum vino vel cum aq Cardui Benedict vel brodio pulli vituli si sit suspicio febris Another â„ž Rad. Symph maior Amygdal dulc Nucleor Persicor an Ê’ j. Mandibul Lucij pissis
Carab an Ê’ ss Cinamon Nuc. Mosch an ℈ ij Ambrae chrys gr iiij folia auri nu vj. fiat omnium puluis capiat Ê’ j. cum ouo sorbili vel vino Hippocratico vel iusculo pulli Some in this case take halfe a spoonfull of Cinamon water with the yelke of an egge others with the saide yelke of an egge take two graines of Amber greese If the paines continue vse the Cataplasme following A Pultesse â„ž Vitellos ouor nu xij Pul. sem Anis Fenicul an Ê’ ij Farin sem Lini â„¥ ij Pul flor Chamaemel Meliot an Ê’ j. ss Calamint Ê’ j. ol Aneth q. sa fiat Cataplasma Applicetur ventricalidé auferatur antequam refrigeretur iteretur saepius Of the falling downe of the Fundament and Matrice CHAP. IIII. THere are some Women which are deliuer'd with so much difficultie and are so long in trauaile that to free themues from this miserie and anguish they are constrained to straine and force themselues in such sort that the Fundament or the end of the great gut commeth foorth for a woman in her deliuerie must straine and force her selfe euen as one doth at the stoole It may happen also that the Matrice may follow the child and after-birth which is the precipitation or comming downe of the wombe the ligaments being loosened and sometimes broken either through much striuing or because that the Midwife or Chirurgion in drawing foorth the child or after-birth draw the Matrice together with it which may be done and yet not they in fault When the Fundament commeth foorth it is to be put vp after this manner First the Chirurgion must put vp the gut with a fine linnen cloth warme as gently as possiblie he can But if he find any difficultie herein because of some humour with is come to it by abiding in the Aire all the time of the trauaile or by any fluxe of humours which the paine hath caused then must he bath and foment it with a little Milke wherein Red Roses white Mullen Camomile and Meliot haue been boiled and when he shall see that the swelling is gone and it is come to it selfe then by little and little he shall put it vp not vsing any force or violence at all He may also if the paine be asswaged foment it with red Wine in which Plantaine white Mullen Red Roses and Balausts haue been boiled and then presently he shall gently put it vp The Matrice also being fallen downe shall be put vp after the same manner but we will speake more at large of this and of the causes thereof in an other place Of the hurts and Excoriations which happen in the lower parts by Child-bearing CHAP. V. ALthough neither the Midwife in the naturall birth vse any violence in bringing the child into the world nor the Chirurgion either in turning or drawing foorth the child handle or touch the woman but with all gentlenesse and tendernesse that may be yet oftentimes do some contusions or other hurts happen in the lower parts of the woman yea and excoriations together with chaps and clifts about the part called â—inaeum in respect that so great a morsell hath â—s'd through so narrow a place Besides that some women are verie straight and close either being verie young or verie old or because they haue vsed medicines to make those parts straite and narrow besides that in some women the child proues verie big For all these accidents it is good to vse at first as we haue said before Oile of St Iohns wort and Oile of Roses beaten with whole Egges all together If the sides of those parts be brused you may vse this Fomentation which will resolue it gently A Fomentation for the contusion of the lower parts â„ž Maluae Bismalu an m. j. Matricar m. ss Rosar rub flor Chamaem Melilot an m.j. fiant sacculi duo parui coquantur in aequis partibus vini aquae fontis admoueatur parti This Fomentation must be applied onely to the entrance and orifice of the Matrice lest the ordinarie courses be hindred and the foresaid medicine of Oile of St Iohns wort shall be prepar'd without the whites of Egges and applied vpon fine lint or cotton leauing the passage of the wombe open both to giue way to the purgings and venâ— to such vapors as may proceed out of the Matrice For the excoriations and chaps you may vse this Ointment â„ž Cerae alb â„¥ ss ol Amygd dulc â„¥ j. ss liquefiant simul fiat linimenium Although these kind of vlcers are easilie healed as being but small as Hippocrates noteth notwithstanding they must be carefully handled being in a part of delicate and exquisite sence and full of Nerues Of the medicine last described you shall make small plasters and applie them fitly vpon the excoriations and chaps And because as I haue noted there often happens a rent or breach about the Perinaeum neare to the fundament and that when the woman makes water she feeles there a great pricking and paine it is necessarie that her Nurse or keeper applie to that part two or three little linnen clouts spred with the aforesaid Ointment to keep the vrine from touching and galling there But if the breach or clift be great you shall applie there little boulsters of lint dipt ' and dress'd with this baulme A balme foâ— the lower parts â„ž Ol. Hyperic â„¥ s. Axung porc recent â„¥ ij Ol. é vitellis ouor Ê’ iij. Terebinth venet Ê’ i. fiat Balsamum ad vsum After that you haue applied this Balm you shall lay vpon it the plaster before described of waxe and oyle of sweet Almonds Somtimes it happens that the whole Perinaeum is diuided and rifted euen vnto the fundament and that both the passages are brought into one which accident I haue seene and for want of help the sides of the wound being hardned with a scarre both the passages haue continued as one For remedy wherof I being once called and finding the Woman to bee with child I gaue her counsell to stay till shee were brought a bed and about sixe weekes after she was deliuered being sent for to cure her I proceeded in this manner First with a crooked rasor very sharpe I cut away way the scarre and skinne which was growne on both sides as the common practise is for an hare lip which I haue showne in my workes of Chirurgery which worke I began from the naturall parts and so went on to the fundament not taking away much flesh but onely the skinne which beeing taken off and as it were flead away I suffered the part to bleed well both to shun an inflammation and also to make the stitches with my needle more conueniently About the midst of the clift or diuision I passed my needle through both sides thereof hauing first laid them euen as well aboue and below as in the middle and I tooke good hold of the flesh on both sides there leauing my needle about which I did turne
Hemorrhoides Another to be maâ—â— Take of the aforesaid wood-lice thirty Cheruil a little handfull boyle them in milke or oyle of Violets then beate them together and make thereof a kind of plaster at the last vse this fomentation Boyle White mullen Scrophularia and Cheruil together Take a pint of this decoction halfe a pint of red wine Common salt and white frankinsence of each halfe an ounce boyle them altogether againe till there bee but two third parts or there abouts left and so vse this decoction to the Hemorrhoides fomenting them with little soft spunges Whilest these medicines are vsed the belly must be kept loose either with Cassia or Manna or else with Clysters if the pipe will enter in easily that so the excrements may come foorth the more readily and may not burthen or molest the part with their hardnesse and waight It will be very conuenient also to let her take of the powder of white mullen in a little milke or else in Lozenges made with suger because of the conceit some haue that this herbe so taken takes away the Hemorrhoides Some prepare Pils of Bdellium Galbanum and the powder of white Mullen and hereof giue the weight of a french Crowne If the Hemorrhoides heale not for all these meanes I would giue counsell to open them with a Lancette thinking it better to lance and open them so to let out the bloud then to apply leeches vnto them because they sucke and bring downe as much bloud to the part as they empty and draw foorth And because these Hemorrhoides haue oftentimes a great hardnesse with them this plaster or Pultesse may be fitly applied A Pultesse â„ž Rad. Bismal Lilior an â„¥ i s. fol. Porri cum Bulb an m. i. flor Chamaemel Melilot an m. s. Coquantur omnia in lacte pistent passaturae adde Bdellij cum axungia Anser gallinae liquefacti an â„¥ i. fiat Cataplasma Another Take Bdellium melted dissolue it with goose grease ducks grease and oyle of Peach Cernels Oftentimes the Hemorrhoides by reason of their hardnesse cleaue and so come to vlcers and chaps Of the after-purgings which come downe too aboundantly in Women newlie deliuered CHAP. VII IT happens to Women newly deliuered that their after purgins somtimes come downe too immoderately other times that they are suddenly staide These two accidents are very troublesome and breede many inconueniences Hippocrates writes that both these bring many symptoms with them whiche Galen also witnesseth saying If the purgings flow in too great aboundance and aboue custome it brings women into diuers diseases as Cold Distemper Dropsy and Convulsions and if the same be stayed and do not flow at all then some inconuenience happens to the Matrice as inflammation Erysipelas scyrrhus and at last Cankers So that we may easily see how fit and necessary it is that these purgings or courses should come away moderately and in an indifferent quantity This the Chirurgion should know by obseruing the time and the quantity which is limited for them set downe in diuers places by the ancient writers And first for the continuance of time that these purgings should flow Hippocrates doth proportion the time in which a woman in child-bed should be purged according to the time wherein the child is shaped or formed which is 30. daies for a man-child and 42. at most for a woman child This time may bee also measured according to that ordinary time of purging that is omitted in the nine moneths she goes with child as the bloud should bee purged in euery one of these nine moneths as in euery one of them the space of three or foure daies which put together amount to twenty seuen or thirty sixe dayes so in recompense heerof when a woman is deliuered she must bee purged 27. or 36. daies It is written in Leuiticus that when a woman hath brought foorth a man child shee shall continue in the bloud of her purifying three and thirty dayes but if she beare a maid child then shee shall continue in the bloud of her purifying 66. dayes As for the quantity and proportion of these purgings Hippocrates is of opinion that the purgings which a woman should haue euery moneth should bee a pint and a halfe or thereabouts And in his booke de natura Pueri hee would haue a woman in childbed at the beginning should purge about thirteene or fourteen ounces or a pint and so the whole space of thirty daies for a man child and forty two daies for a maiden-childe euery day diminishing the quantity till it wholly leaue her As for the quality of these purgings if the bloud be red as in a beast new killed and doe presently congeale and thicken then it is a signe that shee is in good health and will continue so all the time of her lying in But when these purgings come in little quantity and of an ill colour and do not congeale suddenly it is a signe that the woman is not well nor will not finde her selfe so all her month as the foresaid Author well obserueth But it is not to bee expected that all women should haue their purgings in like quantity for wee must respect the habitude of the body the course of life the temperament other particular things which in diuers women are diuers Therefore Galen saith that these purgings continue long in women that haue thinne and subtill bloud Hippocrates saith that women that are of full bodies are purged more exactly and againe hee writes that women that are more in yeares commonly haue more of this euacuation then they that are younger There may be two causes assigned of this abundant euacuation the one outward as some fall blow or painefull trauaile which a woman may suffer either in bringing foorth her childe or the after-birth It may also arise from pasions of the mind or from the vnseasonable vse of bath's or from some other ill gouernement in her child-bed The inward causes may bee two either the strength and vigor of the mother which expelleth and putteth foorth so much bloud as is troublesome and burdensome vnto her and in this kind there is no great danger because she that is so strong to expell in this sort will be also able to retaine so much as will be conuenient and necessarie for her Or else contrariwise this may proceed from the weaknesse and faintnesse of the woman who is not able to retaine and keep that bloud which nature hath prouided for her and this hapneth chiefly when the orifices of the veines continue open after the deliuerie not being able as Hippocrates saith to shut and gather themselues together The other cause is referred to the bloud which offends either in quantitie or qualitie or both In respect of the quantitie those women haue store of these after-purgings which are full of bloud because the Liuer breeds more bloud then is necessarie which afterward is voided
by the Matrice The qualitie of the bloud is cause heerof when it is too sharpe piercing thin watrie putride or venimous so that Nature desires to be rid of it As for the Cure you must fit that according to the cause and yet there be some generall remedies which may serue for all immoderate euacuations and of this kind is Diet which must be cooling and moderately drying Let her feed vpon good meats not salt nor spiced nor of strong tast rather roast then boiled and of boiled meats let her chuse to eat of the heads feet She may vse french Barley new laid Egges and Gellies made with astringent herbes If she take any Broth 's let them be prepared with Borage Buglosse Le tuce Purcelaine Barley and the cold seeds Let her shun anger melancholie griefe and other such passions of the mind Let her keep her selfe quiet not much stirring or troubling her bodie Let her drinke Barley water or water wherein Steel hath been quenched You may giue her also if she haue not an Ague a little Wine allaied with the said waters Let her make her abode in a temperate place not too hote Let her lie vpon a Mattresse or straw bed and not vpon a feather-bed It will be good to bind her armes hard toward the shoulders but not the thigh 's although Auicen prescribe it Cupping glasses applied vnder the paps and vpon the region of the Liuer will be verie sit as Hippocrates teacheth and likewise vpon the arme-pits and shoulders as Auicen counsaileth The most singular and presentest remedie is to let bloud in the arme which I haue seen tried by the most learned Physitions of our age with very good successe For there is no meanes that makes better revulsion and drawes the bloud sooner from the place to which it floweth then opening of a veine You shall applie vpon the raines the Os sacrum and the parts thereabouts a cloth dip'd in Vineger and water and likewise betweene the legs but first vse this Cataplasme A Cataplasme ℞ Bol. Armen sang Dracon an ℥ j. Gummi Tragacanth ℥ ss pul Myrtill Rosar an ʒ vj. succ Plantag Taps barbat vrtic mort an q. s. ad formandum Cataplasma adde vnguent Comitiss ℥ j ss Vnguentum Comitissae of it selfe is verie good as likewise this Ointment following which is approued An Ointment ℞ Succor Lactuc Plantag an ℥ j ss Gum. Tragacanth in aq Rosar Macerat ℥ iij. Muccagin sem Cydonior extract in aq solani ℥ ss ol Rosar Myrtill an ℥ j ss Corall vtriusque Sumach an ʒ j. far Hordei ℥ ss Cerae parum fiat vng adde Aceti tantillum You shall giue her to drinke a dram of Trochisques of Spodium with Plantaine water or a decoction made with Horse-tayle Roses Knotgrasse and Balaustia Hollerius giues this as a singuler medicine Hollerius h◠medicine ℞ Scoriae ferri crematae in aq Plantag sepius extinctae pul lapid aematitid triti an ℈ j. Terrae sigillat ℈ ss sirup Myrtillor Resar siccar an ℥ ss aq Plantag ℥ iij. fiat potus Another ℞ Sang. Dracon Corall rub vsti Terr sigillat an ℈ j. semin Rosar rub ℈ ss spodij Carab Citrin an gr xij aq Myrtillor vel Plantag ℥ iiij fiat potus Some in this case giue three or foure ounces of the iuice of Plantaine Galen affirmeth that he hath staid the immoderate flowing of the monthly sicknesse with the foresaid iuice of Plantaine when nothing else would do good Ludouicus Mercatus commends these two medicines aboue all other Mercatus his medicines ℞ far Hord. Oryz. Amili an q. s ad formandum panem ponderis ℥ vj. recent coct proijce in libr. viij aq Chaly beatae quibus adde Rosar rub siccar p. ij succi Plantag lb. j. Rad. consolid Maior ℥ ij Caudae equin m. j. carnis Prunor syluest Cidonior an ℥ ij Portulac m. ij Bol. Armen ℥ j. Balaust santal omnium an ℥ ss fiat omnium distilatio de qua cape mané ℥ ij addendo sirup Portulac aut Rosar siccar ℥ ss He likewise commendeth this medicine following as being verie certaine and approued and of great vertue to stay the sicknesse ℞ Rad. Filipendul ℥ ij fiat puluis cape ʒ j. cum vitello oui singulis diebus An Electuarie ℞ Cons Rosar antiq ℥ j. carnis Cydon cond cons Rad. symphit an ℥ ss pul Diamargar frig Trochis é Carab an ℈ j. Bol. Armen ʒ j. sang Dracon ℈ ij cum sirup Rosar siccar fiat opiata exhibenda ad ʒ j. per se vel cum aqua Plantag Galen teacheth vs this medicine which may be both iniected and also taken inwardly ℞ Mucag. gummi Tragacanth Arabic in aq Plantag extract ℥ iij. succi Plantag ℥ iiij fiat iniectio inijciatur in vterum ℥ j. potui praebe This iniection following may also be verie good Another ℞ Succ. Polygan ℥ iiij Mucilag gummi Tragacanth extract in aqua Centinod Chalybeat ℥ iij. Amyl ℥ j. misce fiat iniectio You shall also make vse of this pessarie if there be need An Astringent Pessarie ℞ Bol. Armen Terrae sigillat an ℥ j. Litargir ℥ ss cum albumine oui fiat astringens pessarium With this you may annoint your Pessarie made fit for the purpose either of cotton or linnen cloth Of the Retention and stopping of the After-purgings in Women newly deliuered CHAP. VIII AS a Woman newly deliuer'd is subiect to many accidents by the ouermuch flowing of her naturall courses So is she likewise subiect to more dangerous and deadly chances if they be suppressed and staid Galen saith that these after-purgings which he calleth Lechia are purgings of ill humors which haue been gathered in the bodie all the time that the woman went with child For the child drawing to it selfe the sweetest and most familiar part of the bloud leaues the worst which otherwise if the woman were not with child should be voided out euery Moneth And if the monthly sicknesse stai'd doth bring manie inconueniences to a woman then much more these Lochia being suppressed must breed much more danger Hippocrates in his first booke De morbis Mulier witnesseth this plainly saying That when the After-purgings come in lesse quantitie then is fit then the woman in child-bed fals into a sharpe Ague she is troubled with a paine in her stomacke she finds her selfe ill through all her bodie she feeles a paine in the ioints of her hands in her thigh 's and hips the places about her necke backe and groine are sore and there is a weaknesse in euery part She fals into a vomiting of fleame and also of bitter and sharpe matter and finally she is in danger to be lame and impotent of some of her members For the Matrice hath an affinitie and connexion with many parts of the bodie as with the head and stomacke And if this matter be transported and carried to the head breast and lungs and there make an abode
then the woman dyes presently but if it be voided by the mouth or nose then she may escape The causes of this suppression are of two kinds either inward or outward The outward causes are sadnes griefe suddain apprehension of some ill newes feare frighting and such like passions of the mind Likewise cold which the woman hath taken which shutteth vp the veines of the Matrice a bad dyet and amongst other things drinking of colde and raw water which hath beene noted by Hippocrates to be very hurtfull vnto women with child Now concerning the inward causes the same Author writes that the vlcers which happen by reasen of a long and troublesome deliuery doe cause an inflammation and swelling which makes the side of the wombe come together and shuts vp the orifices of the veines thereof from whence proceedes suppression of the after-Purgins Likewise the ouer great quantity of thicke and grosse bloud may bee the cause as also the weakenesse of the Matrice the which because it hath beene sore wearied and troubled in the deliuery and thereby lost all strength is not able to disburden and free it selfe of the bloud whereof it is full Hippocrates also in the same place giues another cause which is when the mouth of the said womb is shrunke or turned awry or else because the sides of it are sunke downe shut together and inflammed For the Cure heereof shee must obserue an order of dyet which shall be moistning and opening Her meate and drinke must be such as we haue formerly prescribed for one newly deliuered Shee shall take operitiue Broths thereby to open the orifices of the veines which are much stopt and according to the cause so the remedies must be fitted as if it come by any sudden apprehension griefe or anger then must she be plasant and make her selfe as merry as she can If it proceed of any inflammation or heate that hath thickned the bloud then must she vse medicines that shal moderately cool moisten as Apozemes made with the leaues and rootes of Succory Burnet Endiue Agrimony Maydenhaire Couchgrasse or Gramen Hoppes rootes of Persely and Asparagus Violet flowers with the sirups of Maydenhaire and de quinq radicibus If it be needfull to attenuate and cut or to euacuate any grosse and clammy humors which shut vp the orifices of the veines it will not be amisse to vse this fomentation so that there be no great inflammation of the part A. somentatiō ℞ Malu Bismal Parietar Matricar an m. i. Abrotan Origan Aneth Calamint Artemis an m. s. Flor. sambuc Chamaemel Melilot an P. i. sem Linifoenugraec an ʒ ij fiant sacculi duo Coquantur in aq Communi addendo sub finem vini albi parum pro fotu Of the foresaide ingredients you may likewise prepare fumes halfe baths and also iniections for the Matrice If the said after-purgings are suppressed because the inner orifice of the matrice is closed or turned aside then will it be very necessary for the Chirurgion after he hath considered that there is neither paine nor distemperature to set it right againe by putting vp pessaryes which shal prouoke and bring downe the after purgings as this following A Pessary ℞ Cerae nouae ℥ iiij Mell. ℥ i. styrac liq ℥ s. Ol. muschell ʒ ij liquefiant omnia simul addendo Myrrh Aloes an ʒ is farin Lupinor ʒ vi auferendo ab igne impone telam ex Canabe de qua cooperiatur pessarium ad vsum You shall first frame a pessary and then it shall be couered with the said cloth or else dipped and couered with the said medicine You may also make little round bags of a fingers length in the forme of a pessary which you shall fill or stuffe with the herbe Mercury first brused or beaten and this may serue for a pessary this herb is very much commended If it be needful to haue the pessary stronger you may put thereto a little Mugword Sauine and Balme It will be very profitable to bind the thighs hard and to rub the legges and thighs especially on the inside all along the crurall veyne you may also apply great Cupping glasses in the saide places Let her legges and thighs be washed with that decoction which was set downe before for the fomentation The same decoction also may serue for Clysters dissoluing therein Hiera or Benedict Laxatiua and mel mercuriale But we must preferre before all these medicines that which is the most soueraigne which is letting of bloud in the foote out of the Saphena or in the Poplitica which is in the bending of the gartring place For by this meanes we shall manifestly meet with the cause of the sicknesse And heerein wee shall follow the example of Hippocrates who caused the woman seruant of Stymargus to be let bloud be cause her sicknesse or purgings were stayed after she was deliuered and by this meanes she was well discharged of them although before she had bene in great and generall Convulsions The same Author saith that a woman that hath these purgings staide must haue present helpe for feare least there happen some great inflammation to the part so that except she be presently let bloud she is in danger of death Her belly also must be kept loose by Clisters and if she can vomit easily she must be helped that way also Galen saith that hee hath brought downe these purgings in women that was pale leane and weak by letting her bloud in good quantity I haue not heere set downe any medicines to bee taken by the mouth because I haue written many of this kind in the Chapters going before wherein I haue treated of the meanes how to make the child or after-birth come foorth when they bee staide which medicines haue power also to prouoke the courses or after purgings Of the false Conception stayed and abiding in the woman after her deliuery CHAP. IX IT may happen to some women that after they haue been well deliuered of their children there may stay with them one or more false conception Some of these false conceptions sticke fast to the wombe some are vnfastned and loose If they be small they come foorth together with the purgings but if they be big they oftentimes stay and abide within And in this case the Chirurgion must be carefull for if they bee bigge and cleaue to the wombe they may bring much inconuenience to the woman by their long staying behind So then it will be necessary for him to know whether there be any of this kind and of what nature it is which he shal learne of the Mother by demanding of her how she found her selfe all the time shee went with child First then let him enquire of her whether she were very big at that time and if she had any hardnesse in any part of her belly whether shee hath beene vsed to any such accident with her other children for there are women which
by resolution as Master Pietrae I my selfe saw a Chirurgion who was very confident and did assure himselfe to make it resolue only with new waxe spread and laid vpon it But in the end we were constrained to launce the humor and in few daies it was perfectly healed vnder my hands Of the greatnesse and swelling of the head which happens to little Children CHAP. XIII IT chaunceth oftentimes that the childs head after he is born is bigger then naturally it ought to bee an accident which is very dangerous and hard to be cured whereof there bee three kinds The first is called of the Greekes Macrocephalos which is when the head is bigger then naturally it should be and yet this comes naturally as when the bones of the head bee large and of great compasse containing great store of brayne and proportioned to the compasse and circuit of them there being neither winde nor waters nor any other humors that are the cause thereof Nature hauing thus proportioned it and it is so heauy and vnwildy that the child cannot hold it vpright his necke beeing constrained to bow vnder it with the very waight so that it had neede to bee prop't vp with some thing or other Now there is contrary to this another which is called Microcephalos that is a little head such a one had Thersites the Grecian and one Triboulet who was a French man Both these accidents are very hard to bee cured yea almost impossible The second kind is called Hydrocephalos which is when the head becomes big by reason of some waters therein contained Of the which there are diuers sorts for either the waters are contained betweene the skin and the Pericraneum or betwixt the Pericraneum and the bone or betweene the bone and the membranes called Dura mater and Pia mater Some of them are particular and possesse but onely one part of the head others are generall and affect it wholy Some of them haue their spring and beginning euen from the Mothers wombe which hapneth when the Mother while shee was with childe through an ill Diet gathered store of crudities and raw humours whereof there is bred a watrish and flegmatike bloud with the which the child being fed and not being able to digest or consume it much lesse to euacuate and void it by the passages appointed by nature the watrish matter gathers it selfe together in the head It may also proceed from the child being not well purg'd of the superfluities which are gathered in his braine and diffused ouer all the head or part thereof whereunto we may adde the ill nourishment which the child receiueth from his Nurse whose milke is either serous and watrish or ouer-heated which causeth diuers vapours to ascend vp into the braine which are there conuerted into watrish humors The third kind is called Phisocephalos when there chanceth to be a wind which runneth betweene the skin of the head and the bone and also betweene the skull and dura mater which causeth the head to be so swolne and puft vp as Auicen saith that there haue been diuers children which haue dyed of it the bones of the head being verie much thrust outward which is verie painfull And certainly there is nothing that causeth greater distention or more paine then when there is some wind inclosed in what part soeuer it be of the bodie The watrie swelling hath almost the like causes by reason of some watrish matter that is bred in the braine which through the weaknesse of the naturall heat cannot well be dispersed and so it is turned into wind or else through some vapours which arise from the neather parts which do also distend and stretch out the parts of the head They are all of them different one from another for the Macrocephalos or great headed yeelds not any impression when it is crush'd because it is the bones which make it so big and swolne but in the watrish swelling the finger enters easily and leaues an impression as an O Edema doth But if you presse the windy swelling it leaues no marke or print but presently it riseth vp againe like a foot-ball Now to know whether the water be contained betwixt the bones of the head and the membranes of the braine it may easilie be discerned by the paine and by the accidents as if there happen any Vertigo or Epilepsy to the child and that he sleep little or not at all as also his continuall crying doth witnesse it The Cure of the windie swelling shall be performed by appointing the Nurse to keep a good Diet vsing meates that shall neither breed wind nor crudities Concerning outward medicines it is good to vse Fomentations for such kind of medicines surely may do him verie much good if the wind be contain'd between the skin and the Pericraneum or betwixt the Pericraneum and the skull But if the said wind be inclosed betweene the skull and dura mater it will be a verie difficult disease to be cured except the wind be but in small quantitie The Fomentation is this A Fomentation ℞ Fol. Salu. Betonic Agrimon Calaminth Origan an m. j. sem Anis Foenicul an ʒ ij flor Chamoemel Melilot Rosar rubr an m. j. Coquantur in aqua communi addendo Vini parum fiat fotus And with this Fomentation warme you shall bath all his head with fine spunges and then applie this Plaster afterwards An Emplaster ℞ Ol. Aneth Amygdal amar an ℥ j. Ol. Chamaemel ℥ j. ss Baccar Lauri Iuniper an ʒ ij sem Anis Foenicul an ʒ j. ss Vini alb lib. j. Bulliant omnia simul ad vini consumpt passaturae adde Terebinth Venet. ℥ ss Ceraeq s. vt inde fiat Emplastrum extendatur portio admoueatur capiti As for the watrish swelling according to the quantitie and qualitie of the humour that makes it and the place where in the said humour is contained it will be either easie or hard to be cured for if the humour be thin and in small quantitie and that it be contained betweene the skin and the Pericraneum or else betweene the Pericraneum and the skull or betweene the membranes of the skull then Auicen makes a doubt whether it can be cured But if it be curable the best way will be to vse the Fomentations and Plasters following which haue power to digest and drie vp the said watrishnesse A Fomentation ℞ Fol. Absinth Puleg Serpil Betonic an m. j. Rosar rub flor Stoechad an pug j. Nucum cupress Balaustior Irid. florent an ʒ ij Coquantur perfectè in lixiuio ciner sarment caulium fiat fotus cumspongia After the Fomentation shall be applied this emplaster An Emplaster ℞ Pul. Betonic Salui Absinth an ʒ ij Ol. Chamaem Rosar an ℥ ij vng comitiss ℥ j. Cerae q. s. fiat emplastrum You must likewise applie the Magistrall emplaster de Bettonica Some take Snayles shels and all and beat them putting vnto them a little powder of
nose which I haue oftentimes seene come to passe Concerning the Prognosticke as soone as you perceiue that the little one is troubled you must seeke to help him for the deferring of it may breed danger The Ancients haue written that there are some which haue come foorth through the groyn and nether belly which is witnessed by Paulas Aegineta and Auicen The Wormes that come foorth by stoole mingled with bloud shew that they haue gnawne the veines of the guts from whence that bloud floweth If they are brought vp by vomiting it shewes that they prouoke and trouble the stomacke Some haue obserued that a child which hath the Wormes is in danger of death if he bee taken with a shortnesse of breath and becomes moist and cold For the Cure if the child be young it will bee very conuenient that the Nurse keepe a good dyet let her absteine from all white meates raw fruits Pease beanes Fish and all other meates that are of hard concoction and easie to bee corrupted Rhasis forbids vs to giue young children any medicines by the mouth and appointeth onely some outward medicines as an Emplaster made of cummin seede and an Oxe gall laid vpon the Nauell In imitation of whom I vse to appoint this emplaster An emplaster for the wormes â„ž Pil. sine quib Ê’ s. Pul. Absynth Ê’ i. Myrrhae Aloes an ℈ ij farin Lupinor Ê’ i s. fellis Bubuli q. s fiâ—t Emplastrum admoucatur supra vmbilicum You may also giue the child if hee bee somwhat big a little of the scrapings of Harts horne in his milke or other spoonemeate Those that are rich doe commonly giue their children some Bezoards stone and Vnicornes horne But when the child is grown somwhat older besides the former medicines let him take a little drinke made with decoction of Purcelaine and the shauings of Harts horne with a little iuice of Citrons If hee can let him take a little expression of Rubarbe infused in the foresaid decoction or else an ounce of sirup of Cichory For it killeth and driueth foorth the wormes downeward But it will be good to giue him first a Clister of milke red suger and hony to draw downe the worms by this sweetnes to the nether parts There is no medicine that will doe more good if the child can take it then to take little pils made of Aloes gilded in an egge and so sup them vp If he refuse these medicines aforesaid then you may giue him some of the powder for the wormes in a rosted Apple or with Prunes or Raisins The safest way is rather to driue them foorth then to kill them for oftentimes they breed others when they stay in the body Of breeding of teeth CHAP. XXIII HIppocrates writeth that amongst all the diseases which children are subiect vnto there is none that troubleth them more then the comming foorth and paine of their teeth For the breeding of teeth bringeth diuers dangerous accidents with it as Agues Watchings Convulsions scouring yea and oftentimes death From whence commeth the prouerbe C'est vn bel enfant iusque aux dents It is a goodly child if his teeth prooue milde And therfore not without cause did Galen say in his Commentary that the paine of a childs teeth comming foorth was more grieuous and hard to be endured then the paine of a needle thrust in any part of the flesh which continues no longer then the needle stayes there but in the comming foorth of the teeth it is not so because then the gums do pricke and shout continually which for the most part are much inflamed and this pricking and shooting still increaseth till the teeth be quite come foorth Now yee may know whether the childe breeds teeth by the heate of his mouth which makes him driuell and slauer and his gums will be swollen he holds his finger still in his mouth by reason of the itching of his gummes which increasing more and more puts him to extreame paine and makes the bloud ready to startle out of his eies Hippocrates in his booke de Dentitione giues this iudgement of it They that doe scoure when they breed teeth are not so subiect to Convulsions as they that are bound If they be taken with a sharpe ague they are the lesse troubled with Convulsions Those that are in good health when their teeth come forth if they be very drowsy and sleepy there is danger least they fall into a Convulsion They that breed teeth in Winter are lesse troubled then those in Sommer and if they bee a little helped they will endure it the easier All that are troubled with Convulsions at the comming foorth of their teeth do not die but many escape Their teeth come foorth hardest that haue a little cough with all and if they bee troubled with pricking and shooting of the gums they become very leane Considering all the former accidents and also the danger wherin the child is there must be speedy helpe which shall bee done eyther by ordinary medicines or else by Chirurgery The Cure First therefore the Nurse must often rub the childs gums with her finger alone thereby to open the pores of them make them soft that the moisture may breath out the better and sometimes let her annoint her finger eyther with Hony fresh butter the braines of a Hare or such like either rosted or raw or else with oyle of Lillies or Hens grease Some hold it for a great secret to rubbe the childs gums with the milke of a bitch eyther of it selfe or mingled with the braines of a pig Auicen prescribes that they should hold a slice of fat meat betweene their gums and chaw it often And it is to bee noted that all the foresaid medicines ought to be applied more then luke warme The Ancients make mention of some medicines which by a hidden property haue vertue to ease this paine and help to bring foorth the teeth Some take the tooth of a Male Viper and set it in gold or siluer to rubbe the childs gummes with it Aecius bids that we should hang about the childs necke a Iasper stone that is very greene and let it touch the stomacke Auicen saith that the roote of smallage hung about a childs necke doth asswage and ease the paine which happens in the comming foorth of the teeth Neither will it be amisse before the paine grow to be great and vehement to rub the legs thighs shoulders back and nape of the childs neck drawing still downeward thereby to alter and turn the course of humors which fal downe vpon the gums and passages of the throat in great quantity which may stifle him But if none of all these medicines doe any good as oftentimes it happens then the safest and speediest way is to make an incision al along the top of the gumme iust vpon the teeth Which the Chirurgion shall know is fit to be done when he sees the gumme grows white and perceiues
Terebinth Venetae an Ê’ iij. Cerae q. s fiat Emplastrum This Emplaster also is of good vse for a windie rupture vnlesse you can heal it with this fomentation A Fomentation â„ž Rosar rubr flor Chamaemel Meliot Aneth an m. j. semin Foenicul Anis an â„¥ s folior Origani Calamenth an m. j. baccar Lauri Ireos florent pulueris an Ê’ ij fiant sacculi duo Coquantur in aequis partibus vini albi aquae pro fotu But when these watrie ruptures grow so hard that they cannot be dissolued by the medicines aforesaid then must they be opened Which I haue practized vpon young Infants and amongst others vpon a child of Mons de Vilantry being not aboue two moneths old and this I did by the counsaile of Mr Hautin and Mr Duret the Kings Physicions in ordinarie and Physicions of Paris The maner of making this Incision I haue set downe in my booke Of the practizes of Chirurgerie to which I refer the Reader where he may find all the particularities set downe Of the difficultie of making of Water wherewith young Children are troubled CHAP. XXVIII IT happens oftentimes that young Children can not make water and that vpon diuers occasions but chieflie through the fault of vrine which offends either in quantitie or qualitie The ill qualitie of the Vrine is when it is hote sharpe and pricking which makes the child afraid to pisse because of the paine which they feele when their water comes The Vrine offends in quantitie when it is in so great abundance and doth so ouer-charge the bladder that the Fibres being ouer-stretched can not draw themselues together to expect the vrine which happens to them which haue kept their water too long And for this cause children must oft be called vpon to pisse both when they awake and when they are changed to be laid downe to sleep And when they grow bigger let them make water both before and after they eate for since they abound with moistures and haue their bladder but small they must in no wise keep their water long and therefore if some-times they bepisse themselues in their sleep they must not be much chidden or beaten for feare least if they hold their water by force they fall into this difficultie of voiding it If there be any fleagme or slime or bloud mingled with the water or if there breed any sand or stone this may be the cause to hinder the childs vrine And this may happen to young children as Hippocrates noteth because they eat much which procures much cruditie and breeds the matter of the Stone For the Cure heerof you must proceed according to the cause which if it be because the vrine is sharpe and pricking or too hote then if it be a sucking child it will be good to prescribe the Nurse a dyet to temper her bloud which it may be is too hote Let her also be purged let bloud and bathed and let her vse broaths made with coole herbes If the child be somewhat big you may giue him this medicine A medicine for the grauel in the bladder â„ž Ol. Amygdal dulc â„¥ j. ss aquae Parietar â„¥ j. succi Limo Ê’ j. fiat potus Set him also in a little bath Galen and Auicen do much commend the water of Rapes or Turneps which you may giue with a little decoction of Parsley roots Dogs tooth and Dandelion But it happens oftentimes that the child can not pisse by reason of some slime that stickes in the passage of the yard which makes it swell and puffe vp and shew as cleare as a bladder For the help heerof you must bring foorth the stone by the help of a little instrument like to this heere described in the fashion of an eare-picker which you shall vse in this maner You must hold downe the child fast that he stir not and then the Chirurgion must take the yard betweene the fore-finger and the thumbe with his left hand by that part which is next toward the groine that is beyond the stone for feare least in the performance of the worke it slip vp and goe backe againe Then holding the little instrument in his right hand let him put it vp into the passage of the the vrine so far till he meete with the stone which when he hath found let him beare downe the instrument to make it slip vnder the stone for to catch hold of it behind and when he hath hold of it let him draw it foorth in such maner as shall be needfull And it will be necessarie to draw it out somewhat strongly because oftentimes it stickes verie hard Sometimes it happens that the Stone is so big that it cannot be taken away by this meanes and then we are constrained to make an incision in the yard which must be done in this manner You must hold the yard fast with the left hand taking it by the midst so that halfe the thicknesse of it may be betweene you finger and thumbe and the other halfe out that so the Stone may rise and swell vp the more on that side Then on that side that the Stone swels vp right ouer and against the Stone let an incision be made so deep till you come to the Stone which when you find you shal put vnder it such a small instrument as hath been before described therewith to draw it foorth And afterward let the wound be healed as an other ordinarie wound taking care that there grow no little excrescence of flesh in the passage of the water I haue practized this with verie good successe and amongst others vpon the sonne of Mons Robert of Chartres The meanes to helpe children that pisse in their bed in the night and cannot holde their water CHAP. XXIX LIttle children doe commonly pisse a bed that for many reasons As because they breed and abound as wee haue already shewed with store of Vrine which commeth downe into the bladder and that is so little that it is not able to retaine and keepe it being in so great quantity besides the Sphincter muscle is very soft and weake by reason of the childs tendernesse Againe they doe so go about all the day long that when are laid to bed they sleepe so soundly that they cannot easily be wakened wherto may be added that they vse to dreame often in the night which makes them pisse thinking that they are awake Some thinke that wenches are more subiect heereto then boyes Now for the deliuering and freeing them of this accident diuers Phisicions are of opinion that it is best to let them alone til they are grown bigger and not to trouble them with many medicines For the fibers of the Sphincter muscle which keepe the necke of the bladder shut together grow dry and stronger and besides then the child abounds not so much with moisture and by consequence neither with vrine but yet they must be hindred from drinking so much as they
fundament shut vp After she was born she was deliuered vnto the Nurse to be carried into the country where she continued seuen or eight daies without voiding any thing by stowle which made her belly swel extreamely Wherupon she was brought vnto this Citty and Mons Rabigois a Master Barber Chirurgion and sworn at Paris a very diligent and painfull man was sent for to see what might be the cause of this swelling and he inquiring whether the child went to stoole or no it was answered him by the nurse she had neuer purged her selfe as yet that way since she was born then by by he searched the fundament and found it to be closed and stopped vp and therefore he did counsell the childs father to let him make an incision of the membrane that stopped vp the passage whereunto the Father and Mother would not consent till the morrow But while the matter was debated and argued vpon the child dyed And she was opened by the saide Master Rabigois who found all her guts filled with the humor called Meconium and other filthie matter Of the scabbe which comes on the childs head and face CHAP. XXXIIII OFtentimes there commeth vppon the childs head and face a hard crusty scab which couereth all the head quite ouer and therefore it is called the Cappe and sometimes the face also so that you can see nothing but the childs eyes as though hee had a maske on The Latines call this scabbe Lactumen or Lactitium as being an excrement of the Milke And because it is of a yellow colour like vnto waxe it is also called Cerium The cause heereof is two fold for eyther it is engendred of the reliques of the womens courses or purgings or else of the Nurses milke which being of an ill quality doth easily corrupt in the childs stomacke and cannot bee turned into good iuice and much lesse bee corrected by the Liuer it being sent thither to bee turned into bloud which makes it that being carried vnto the head and face it cannot be assimilated in those parts Least this scab might corrode and eat into the skinne and afterwards the very bone of the head and face and at length Gangrene the eies it will be very good to remedy it For which purpose the Nurse must keepe a good dyet as we haue formerly shewne Concerning Topicall or outward medicines you must haue an especiall care that you vse none that do repell and driue backe but rather such as gently draw You may bath the crusts especially those of the face with gentle Fomentations made of Mallowes Althaea Violet leaues Chamomile and Melilot flowers and Linseed boyled in milke and with this decoction you may foment the crusts and afterwards annoint them with Oile of sweet Almonds Fresh Butter well beaten with Parietary water and Oile of Violets washed with Barley water I am wont to vse an Ointment of Lard melted and then well beaten and washed with Parietary water and so annoint the crusts with it If there be any vlcer and that the scabs are fallen off you may lay vpon it a Cabbidge or a Beete leafe a little heated on a Gridyron The Ointment made of white Waxe and oile of sweet Almonds is very good when there is any rawnesse or excoriation Of the Meazels and the small Pockes what they are and how they doe differ CHAP. XXXV IT remaineth now that we speake of the Measells and the small Pockes and because there bee few children but haue them eyther first or last I haue thought good heere to say a word or two of them briefly The Measels and the Pocks are little risings or pustules which appeare most commonly in great number vpon the outside of the skinne and at the first they are so like one another that you can hardly discerne whether of them it is But yet the Measels come more suddenly and the face and skinne of the whole body lookes redder and the rednesse continues longer without rising there beeing ioined with it most commonly a greater itching and pricking But the small pockes comes not foorth so suddenly neither is the skinne so red nor doth the colour stay so long the pustules or pimples rise higher neither itching nor pricking so much and at length grow white The cause of both of them are the reliques of the impurer part of the bloud wherewith the child was nourished in his Mothers wombe which now is separated and thrust to the skin through the help and strength of nature because the childs bloud boileth in the veines of euery part of the bodie as Auicen saith No otherwise then new wine doth in a vessell which boyleth casting vp his froath or scum and separating it from it selfe And as Auenzoar saith though the child be nourished with the best part of the menstruall bloud yet there remaines some little portion behind which is of an ill qualitie and after the child is borne and is growne strong he gathering together his forces and naturall heat thrusts it foorth by the pores of the skin nature being willing to acquite and rid her selfe of this superfluitie Besides there is a certaine disposition of time caused through the malignitie of the aire which raiseth and stirreth vp the reliques of the said menstruall bloud in the childs bodie wherewith he hath been nourished vnto which the corrupt aire that we breath and which we cannot auoide doth adde an impression of a second bad qualitie wherewith nature being ouer-charg'd and offended she thrusts them out to the skin which receiueth the filth and vncleannesse of the bodie Now the fuller the bodie is of this menstruall bloud the deeper impression doth the outward aire make in it which is the reason that some haue them in greater quantitie and are fuller of them then others And so according to the malignitie of the humour it is also more or lesse dangerous to some then to others The marks and signes whereby you may know that the child will haue the Pockes are these Headach together with an Ague rednesse of the eyes which water verie often itching of the nose a drie Cough gaping wearinesse of the bodie paine of the Hart desire to vomit the vrine red a pricking and shiuering through all the bodie and sometimes convulsions and rauings When it is the Measels the face growes red and ariseth all at once but when it is the Pocks neither the face nor the rest of the bodie looke so red but you may perceiue some little risings here and there in the face backe breast and thigh 's which afterwards increase and grow bigger And when the Pocks begin to shew themselues then there happens heauinesse of the head the face swelleth the eyes are setled all the bodie becomes as it were puff'd vp the voice growes hoarse with difficultie of fetching breath and sorenesse of the throat For it is the propertie of this vile disease to take hold of the Lungs and yet
backes and raines called in Languedocke Masquelon and of the Latins Morbus pilaris CHAP. XXXV IT had been more agreeable and conuenient to haue set downe this disease in the Chapter of the Vnquietnesse and Crying of little children But as this booke was euen almost printed Mr Toignet a Barber Chirurgion of Paris put me in mind of this disease that happens vnto little Children which is verie common in Languedocke and is called in their language Masquelon Hauing enquired of diuers Physicions about this disease and amongst the rest of Mons Riollan Doctour of Physicke in Paris and the Kings Professor in Chirurgerie a verie learned and painfull gentleman he told me that Montanus had written of it and that he called it Pilaris affectio As soone as little Children are taken with this disease they crie and take on extreamely and yet one can not perceiue any cause why they should do so which brings them oftentimes euen to their graue for that this disease drawes along with it Epylepticall convulsions because the Sinewes which come foorth of the backe-bone and are scattred on each side are ouer burthened and fill'd with some fuliginous vapour of which Haires are bred and they by their great length and continuitie are carried directlie to the braine whither when they are come they cause this disease The women of the Countrie of Languedocke because it is a common disease with them make no great reckoning of it and doe helpe it in this manner With the palme of their hand they do rub the bottome of the childs backe and raines downe to the crupper bone so long till they feele through the pores of the skin the tops of verie stiffe and pricking Haires to come foorth like vnto hoggs bristles which as soone as they see that they are come foorth they pull them away by and by with their nayles or else with such little pincers as women vse to pull the haire from off their eye-browes The same Montanus counselleth the woman to rub her hand first with some new Milke which being done and the Haires pull'd away the child presently recouers his health and leaueth his ordinarie cries and laments There may also happen vnto little Children diuers other diseases besides these that I haue spoken of But because they bee common as others are and such as may happen to one of any age as Wounds Vlcers Impostumes Fractures Luxations and sorenesse of the Head we haue willinglie omitted them for breuitie sake And also for that you may haue recourse to those that haue written thereof more particularly in their Chirurgerie The end The Chirurgions must beware of iudging rashlie A story Another Directions for the Chirurgion Signes of coÌ„ception taken from the man Experiment Signes taken from the woman The wombe shuts it selfe Some women when they be with child haue their courses Hippocrates Signes taken from vrines Experiment of Fernelius Hippocrates Hydromell is made of hony and water boiled together Auicen Truest signes gathered from the Child Signes gathered by the Midwife A pleasant answere The difference of sexe is hard to foretell Aristotle Obseruation Hipp. Aph. Signes of a boy â—â—gnes gaâ—hered out â—f Auicen Signes of a wench Hippocrates lib. de stipilitate An experiment Another experiment of Liuia The meanes how to begeâ— a sonne or a daughter To know whether a woman will bring two children What a false conception is Mola is either true or false Mola bred together with the child Hippocrates Cause of the flesh Mole Windie Mole Watry Mole Humorall Common signes Signes of false conception Signes from the motion The child moueth of it selfe and not the Mole True signes Signes of the windy Signes of the watry and humorall Difference betweene the Watry and Humorall Good Aire fit for a woman with child The Cough naught for women with child Bad smells to be auoided Her Dyet Too much meate stifleth Salt meates bad Fit meates Hearbs Diureticall and windy meates are naught Accidents that may happen Lib. 2. Aph. 38. Cibus potus deterior suauior tamen melioribus quidem sed insuauioribus est anteponendus Her Drinke Her Sleepe Exercise Causes of Abortment Great noyses hurtfull Violent exercise hurtfull Sentence of Aristotle Opinion of Plato Women that labour are easily deliuered Venus forbidden Aristotles opinion Her belly must be soluble Clisters Lib. 5. Aph. 34. Mulieri grauidae si aluus prosusior sit abortionis periculum imminet Lib. 5. Aph. 21. A Woman with Child may be purged Opening medicines must be auoided Lib. 5. Aph. 60. Considerations concerning Bloud-letting Passions of the mind An obseruation For great bellied women She must take need of lacing her selfe too hard To preserue the breasts A Fomentation What must be done the 3. and 4. Moneth Another Liniment Another The maner to prepare it Another easie to be prouided Obseruation Gouernment of the ninth Moneth The Bath The Ointment A Drinke A Woman must haue a care of her Beautie Health must be preferred Aristotle Hippocrates Vitruuius Why women with Child are sicke Diuers diseases of women Boulimos Canina appetentia Sitis immodica From whence it is called Pica Storie of Fernelius Diuers causes of Pica Wherefore they desire diuers things The beginning of the Pica The breeding of the haire causeth the Pica Their diet in Pica Meats fit for those that haue the Pica Auicen Aetius Oribasius Aegineta Much drinking is naught in the Pica Lozenges Another A Cataplasm Discretion in purging Auicens precept The Cause The Hicket Discommoditie of the Hicket Cure Straining bad for women with child Women with child Vomit often Vomiting must not be stopt on the suddaine Cause Accidents of Vomiting A good precept Emplaster An approued medicine Causes of wind Wind inclosed in the wombe Dyet Admonishment The diuers situation of the child Hipp. Cause of these paines The Cure A good obseruation Cause of the trembling of the Heart The wisedom of Nature in all her works How a woman with child must be let bloud The hart must be garded The wombe desireth good smels Inconueniences of the cough Cause Cure Dyet Generall medicines Cautery Frictions Another A medicine to take away the roughnes of the throat Sleeping stoppeth fluxes Contrary accidents in women with child Cause of Costiuenesse Other causes of Costiuenes Cure Brothes to loosen the belly Fluxe of the belly dangerous Prouerbe Women with child are subiect to loosenesse of the belly The Cure A wotrhy storie How to proceed therein Her Diet. A Drinke Cause of the swelling of the face Who are not subiect to the swelling Aduertisement concerning the cure Binding necessarie Lye of Vine ashes verie good A tried remedie An obseruation A tried remedie Causes of Abortment Causes from the child Causes from the mother Leannes causeth Abortment Fulnesse is cause of Abortment They which haue their naturall courses do often miscarry Things annexed to the mother which doe cause abortment Signes of abortment Hippoc. lib. 5. Aphoris 37.38 Loosenes of the belly causeth abortment