sometimes by its heat it makes an inflammation in the neck of the bladder which causes its stopping and if it be from a stone in the bladder 't is more in supportable and dangerous to a Woman with Child then one that is not because the Womb by its swelling causeth the stone perpetually to press against the bladder and the pains are violenter if it be greater or of an unequal or sharp shape 'T is of great moment to hinder these violent endeavors to make water and to remedy them if possible in all indispositions because by long continuance of forcing downwards to make water the Womb is loosened and bears down and is sometimes forced to discharge its self of its burthen before its time which we must endeavour to hinder having respect to its different causes as when it comes from the weight of the Womb pressing the bladder as for the most part now she may remedy it if with both her hands when she would make water she lift up the bottom of her belly or wear a large swath or keep her bed If it be sharpness of Urine that makes an inflammation i' th neck o th' bladder appease it by a cooling dyet forbearing strong drinks using emulsions made of the 4 cold seeds or whey with syrup of Violets use not purging because its heat augments the inflammation these are proper to cleanse the Urinary passages without either prejuding Mother or Child taken Morning and Evening If all this prevail not let her blood a little i' th Arm and bath the outward entry of the neck of the bladder with a decoction of Mallows Marsh-mallows Pellitory and Violets with a little Linfeed and inject some of the same into the bladder to which you may add Hony of Violets or luke warm Milk abstaining from all diuretics for fear they provoke Abortion And when all fails she must send for a Physitian or Chyrurgeon to make use of his Catheter And also if it arise from the stone in the neck of the bladder they may thrust it back with it but if small draw it forth for a great one cannot be drawn forth before she be delivered being better to leave her so then endanger her life or the Childs SECT VII Of a Cough and difficult breathing THey whose Infants lye low are more troubled with difficulty of Urine then they whose lye higher who are free from that and the like distemper but are more subject to a Cough and difficult breathing If a Cough be violent to vomiting 't is one of the chiefest things which cause Abortion because 't is an essay whereby the Lungs endeavour to cast forth of the Breast that which offends them by a compression of all its Muscles which pressing all the inclosed air inwards wherewith the Lungs are much stretched thrusts also downwards by the same means the midriff and consequently all the parts of the lower belly but particularly the Womb which continuing long and violent often causeth Abortion Sometimes it proceeds from sharp rheums which distil from the brain upon the Artery and Lungs and sometimes from such blood which flows towards the Breast upon stopping the Terms also from too cold air breathing which stirs up the parts to motion but being begun by these causes 't is often augmented by the compression the Womb makes upon the Midriff which cannot have its liberty in those that bear their Children high because by its great extension it bears up almost all the parts of the lower belly towards the Breast and chiefly the Stomach and Liver forcing them against the Midriff You must remedy this by keeping good dyet somewhat cooling if from sharp humors avoiding all Salt and Spice meats Oranges Lemons Vinegar c. but she may use juice of Liquorice Sugar-candy syrup of Violets or Mulberries which she may mix with a Ptysan made with Jujubs Sebestens French Barley and a little Liquorice and it may not be amiss to divert and draw down these humors by a gentle Clyster If these prevail not and there appears signs of fulness of blood bleed her in the Arm at what time soever of going with Child and though it be not usually practis'd when they are young with Child yet here it must for a continual Cough is much more dangerous then a moderate bleeding If it come of cold keep in a close Room with a napkin doubled about her Neck or a Lamb-Skin and going to bed take 3 or 4 spoonfuls of this syrup of burnt wine following which is very Pectoral and causeth good digestion Take half a pint of French wine 2 drams of Cinnamon bruised half a dozen cloves 4 ounces of white Sugar or Sugar-candy put them together in a Porrenger and boil them upon a Chaffing dish of Coals burn it and then boil it to the consistence of a Syrup You must not from whatever cause it proceeds that she must go loose in her cloaths and because sleep is proper to stay fluxions it may be procured by the Physitian using no strong stupefactives of opium which are dangerous if there be not very great necessity as in the patient mentioned in the Section of the pain of Back Loins Reins and Hips Some Women carry their first Child chiefly so high because the cords which support the Womb are not stretch'd that they think them to be in their Breasts which causes a difficult breathing as soon as they have eaten a little walked or gone up the stairs so that they fear they shall be choaked which comes from the Wombs being enlarged and pressing the Stomach and the Liver which forces the Midriff upward leaving it no room to be moved sometimes their Lungs are so full of blood driven thither from all parts that it hardly leaves passage for the air if so they will breath more easily as soon as a little blood is taken from the Arm but if it comes from a compression made by the womb against the Midriff the best remedy is to wear her clothes loose and eat little and often eating no windy meats as pease and avoiding all grief and fear because they drive the blood to the Heart and Lungs in too great quantity so that she having her Breast already stuffed and hardly breathing will be in danger of being choak'd for the abundance of blood filling the Ventricles of the Heart above measure and at once hinders its motion without which she cannot live SECT VIII Of the swelling and pains of the Thighs and Legs MAny think which is in part true that the Woman having more blood then the Infant needs to nourish it nature by virtue of the expulsive faculty of the upper parts which are always strongest drives the superfluity upon the lower as the Legs c. as most feeble and apt to receive it and so are caused their swelling and pain and sometimes red spots from the swelling of the Veins along the inside which extreamly hinders her going but the doctrine of the circulation of the blood invented by our
Night going to bed or after her first sleep 2. The Terms overflow 1. when they continue longer then their usual time which is 2 or 3 days in Women that use no exercise 4 or 5 days 2. when they come oftner then once a month the cause is 1. a Rupture of some Vessel 2. immoderate purgation 3. some corroding humor 4. hard Labor in Child-bed or unkind handing the Womb if the Vessels be broken blood gusheth out in heaps and if from some knawing humor they are few but very painful the rest are easily known Let them abstain from exercise then 1. anoint the reins with Oil of Roses Myrtles or Quinces then boil the roots of Tormentil Cinquefoil Yarrow Knot-grass Comfrey dead Nettles Solomon's Seal Purslan Shepherds-purse red Roses acorn Cups bark of Oak Trees some of these in her ordinary drink or the juices of what can be had taken alone and this above all take Comfrey leaves or roots and Clowns alheal of each an handful bruise and boil them well in Ale and drink of it now and then this will do though the Vessels were open 3. Flux of the Womb is a continual droping from that part of the body if it be red like putrified blood it comes from that humor if white and pale 't is from Phlegm if yellow 't is from Choler if pure blood as if a vein were opened either a knawing of the Womb or tearing in delivery is feared The cure differs as the cause if pure blood flow let blood i' th arm then use the Medicine last mentioned of Comfrey roots and Woundworth if flegm be the cause use Cinnamon in all meats and drinks and Methridate and Treacle for Antidotes a little every Morning take a scruple of Pills of Amber going to Bed for divers Nights if from Choler purge with syrup of Violets and Cassia Fistularis of each an ounce after take powder of Ivory and Missleto of the oak of each one scruple mixt with half an ounce of conserve of Roses every Morning for a Week if from putrified blood having first let blood i' th Foot then strengthen the Womb as before always forbearing violent motions and passions and sharp and salt meats and provokers of Urine for dead Nettles there are three sorts white red and yellow the flowers of that colour the white help the white the red the red the yellow the yellow flux 4. The Womb fallen out is cured if it be swell'd by bathing it with a decoction of Mallows Linseed and Fennigreek boil'd in water 2 or 3 times and when 't is got up let her keep her Legs close or else tye them with a swath apply stinking things to the Womb as Assa Foetida oil of Amber her own Hair burnt and let her smell of Civet c. the rest is before and after 5. The Womb is inflamed by many causes a blow stopping of the Terms Abortion Ulceration Immoderate Lechery overmuch walking cold For cure strengthen the Womb first then first clarifie Whey and boil Plantain leaves or roots in it and drink it then inject the juice of Plantain into the Womb with a Syringe if in Winter when you cannot get the juice make a strong decoction of the leaves and roots in water if the body be costive use a Clyster and here note that in all Inflammations blood-letting is the chiefest remedy first i' th Arm then if need i' th Foot if it be near the Neck of the Womb make a pessary of wool and anoint it with unguent album or populeon or mixt 6. The Womb is sometimes troubled with wind which is cured as the fits of the Mother and moistness of the Womb is cured as a flux of flegm 7. Heat and dryness of the Womb is incident to Women of a Cholerick complexion is cured by cool and moistning herbs of which stinking Arach is chief neither are Plantan and Mallows much behind milk is good for such to drink first purging with an ounce of Cassia Fistula new drawn going to bed and follow your business the next day Dr. Thus far good Mrs. Eutrap but now hear me a little concerning this matter All rational men know that the generation of mankind as also of other irrational Animals is the most perfect excellent and exquisite work of God's Vicegerent Nature the which is most excellently and elegantly demonstrated and set forth by Aristotle that great Secretary of Nature in his second Book which he hath written of the Generation of living Creatures for whereas it is impossible by the decree of Nature that any humane Creature should live always or have an immortal Being in this World much less should we imagine that should be granted to Bruits and other Souls of an inferior rank therefore for the continuance and propagation of each sort it hath otherwise ordained that during the continuance of this World there should be likewise maintained a successive generation of both Sexes by the Action of procreation and from hence after him Galen the greatest Luminary of Physick next Hippocrates says that it comes to pass that Creatures are furnished with Instruments of Generation proper for the quality of their Sex and are consequently indued with natural Instincts prompting them to the use thereof Therefore we shall at this time discourse of this wonderful operation of Nature and endeavour as far forth as our Talent will afford us to seek out the causes that may hinder and from thence prescribe means to remove them and so consequently assist and further her in so miraculous a concern and this partly upon our Dame nature's account whose Servants only we are and in the next place for the sakes of those Ladies Gentlewomen and others who are often disconsolate and dejected upon their being accounted barren Now then you must note that as conception hath some alliance with every part of the Body as being undoubtedly concern'd therein so the same Conception may be quite abolished diminished or deprived as it happens in all other actions and motions of the body so that if Conception be quite abolish'd in a Woman in such sort that she can never be able to conceive this affection is then called Barrenness or such a Woman may be called a barren Woman which you please But if she Conceive sometimes though seldome here the Conceptive faculties may be said to be diminished or weakened by some cause or other and to this kind of diminished Conception may be referr'd untimely births called Abortion And lastly a depraved Conception is when in the Womb is contained some unnatural Conception such as Monsters and Mola's c. The causes and remedies of all which it hath and shall be our duty to lay open to the Females Sex according to the best of our skil and knowledge first to the end we may further the propagation of humane kind and secondly that we make if possibly remove the reproaches laid upon Barrenness which hath been in all ages and continues to this day and will do to end
of the World and than which there can hardly happen a greater defamation to the Female Sex Insomuch as some like Rachel have cry'd out to their Husbands for Children or else their Lives will lye on 't rather than endure the reproach of Barrenness and some Women have preferr'd their maids to their Husbands so that their Child might be reputed theirs to take away the blemish of Barrenness But you shall find but few Women of their minds now a days so then we shall in the first place speak of the causes of this so odious and distateful a Disease and then of their removing for you know 't is an old saying and true take away the cause and the effect will consequently cease Now the chief method of finding out all causes which do or may bring damage to the faculties of the body is no other then the knowledge of the means whereby these faculties perform their Actions in the time of health and soundness of body And whereas to the producing of any natural Conception there is a necessity of distinction of both Sexes and a conjunction and carnal Copulation of the Man and Woman without which no Generation can be effected As for that story of a certain Maids conceiving with Child by standing in a Bath where some Mans seed had been cast the Womb drawing it to it as the Load-stone doth Iron or Jet straw it was either a miracle in Nature or she so gave out to save her bacon and so no ways belongs to our purpose and having before declared the manner in other Sect. Therefore we shall here lay down the manifest causes of Barrenness from either Sex so that neither may be unjustly blamed where they happen for since the Women have in this case a great interest and damage too if the fault be in the Man because they may often help their Husbands defect and in so doing pleasure themselves we shall not therefore omit to treat of the causes thereof which may happen to men and moreover there being a necessity that both Sexes be furnished with fit and proper Instruments for the work of Generation as the man with a Yard c. and a Woman with a Womb c. Then even reason will tell you that if there chance to be any defect or dissaffection in nature in any of the Members of either Sex belonging to this work of Generation the fruitfulness or Conception must necessarily be hindred impaired or quite and clear abolished To begin then first with what belongs to the Mans side one cause of Barrenness laid down by many Authors is the over-much length of the Yard by reason whereof the Seed is too much cooled in the passage before it can be injected home into the Womb. But though this be a somewhat probable and plausable reason yet I am of opinion that it is but weak and will not hold water with those of greater reason for all Souls are not endued with a like proportion of reason for the Seed passing through the pipe of the Yard is kept hot enough the generative Spirits at that time oft flocking to the Yard to assist it in so great a work and the like being performed on the Woman's part I cannot see how it can be any ways possible it should take cold in its journey but on the contrary side it may be rationally imagin'd that the long Yard is most fit and commodious for Conception by sending Seed to the inmost and furthermost parts of the Womb and so most likely to be there retained its due time And now others on the contrary side will have the short Yard the cause of rendring Men unfruitful and these I think have more reason on their side because it cannot so well inject the Seed into the Womb as you heard before But indeed neither can this be a firm reason for unfruitfulness in Man since 't is confirmed by experience that such an one hath begot Children likewise But a greater reason of unfruitfulness in the man may be some vitiousness or defect in his Yard as if it be crooked or if any of its Ligaments be writhed or broken or bruised whereby the passages through which the seed should flow be corrupt stop'd or vitiated or some Disease or imperfection be either in the proper or Neighbor parts thereof Another cause of Barrenness by defect of the Yard is a too much weakness and tenderness thereof it being not strongly enough erected to inject the Seed into the Womb. Then another cause in Men may be some vice in the Stones as if they be oppressed with any Inflammation or swelling or wound or ulcer Also the Man may be Barren from his want of Seed or if it be nought as in the Running of the Reins or Venereal Disease Glutony or Drunkenness c. and then too frequent Carnal Copulation is a cause of Barrenness because it attracteth the Seedy moisture from the Stones before 't is sufficiently prepared and concocted as all other members of the body by institution of nature use to draw their accustomed juice to themselves so now if any one by daily Copulation draws out all the moisture of his Seed then do the Stones draw the moist humors from the upper Veins to themselves and so having but a little blood in them they are forced of necessity to cast it out raw and thus the stones being deprived of the moisture of their veins draw the same from the upper veins and the upper veins from all the parts of the body for their proper nutriment to the great damage of the body robbing the same of the vital Spirits It is therefore no wonder if those that use immoderate Copulation are very weak in their bodies seeing the whole body is thereby depriv'd of its best and purest blood and vital Spirits insomuch as those that have been too much addicted to that pleasure have killed themselves in the Act can it then be a wonder that such Seed is not fit for Generation And having now shewn the causes of Barrenness in Men we shall now discourse of those in Women Now the causes of Barrenness in Women proceed either from the Age or evil temper of the Womb and its vicious conformation and parts depending on it or the indisposition of the whole habit of the body The evil form of the womb renders Women barren according to the great Hippocrates the Prince of all Physitians as if the mouth or neck of the Womb be turned backwards towards the great Gut or a side out of its place contrary from the Privities if it appear too big or if it be fallen down before the Privities to which may be added when 't is so narrow that it cannot admit the Yard to enter and when 't is wholly or in part closed by some inward or outward skin which is very rare if at all or by a swelling collosity or cicatrice c. But then it is not sufficient that the Mans Yard enter the Neck which is the
closed there is no possibility of its turning inside out how to remedy it I have told you If she be young and disease new easily expect a cure for a loosening or falling out but if she old and of a long standing 't is so much the more incurable Here do two things 1. reduce the Womb to its place 2. strengthen it and keep it there for the first if it be quite out or turned first make her render Urine and give a Clyster if necessary to empty the Guts then lay her on her back her Hips raised a little higher than her Head foment all with a little wine and water luke-warm and with a soft rag put it up wagging it little and little from side to side and if this be too painful anoint it with Oil of sweet Almonds wiping off the Oil as much as may be after As to the keeping it in its place and strengthening it after let her keep in Bed on her back her Hips a little raised Legs something crossed Thighs joined but the best is to put a pessary up the neck of the Womb the Figures of which you may see some of the Figure of an Egg of the length and bigness of the Womb's neck but these are Subject to fall out and so are not so convenient as those made of a piece of Cork they are to be of a thick circular figure like a small wreath and peirc'd i' th middle with a pretty big hole they must be cover'd with white wax and pretty large pull them out with a Finger to clear them they may be made some round others somewhat square or trianguler the corners must be blunted or rounded While the Lochia flow use nothing else to strengthen and above all swath not her belly but only for a stay for many Midwifes by a strong compression force it more down use a Bed-pan and ly along if possible when she goes to stool keeping her hand all the while on the bottom of her Belly but haveing cleansed well then use astringent injections and respect must be had to the whole habit of body to dry up the humors by a course of Physick and she must keep her Bed for 5 or 6 weeks Sometimes by the great throws she endures in Labor the fundament falls out now if the Child be very forward i' th passage 't will be enough to hinder it if possible before it happens perswading her not to help her throws so much but if it be down she must stay till the Child be born for it will be difficult before without bruising the Gut then reduce it as the Womb giving no Clysters for straining will cause it SECT IV. Of the bruises and rents of the outward parts of the Womb caused by Labors THese happen from the bigness of the Child's head which makes her cry in her first-Labor that the Midwife scratches those parts when 't is the head makes a separation of the parts and bruises and somtimes rents them of which they are not insensible after Labors These must not be neglected least they turn to malignant Ulcers then as soon as she 's lay'd if there be only simple bruises apply the Pultis before directed to those parts to ease pain very warm for 5 or 6 hours then lay some few rags dipt in Oil of St. John's wort on each side and renewing them twice or thrice a day foment with Barley water and Honey of Roses and when she makes water defend them with fine rags If the bruises be great and inflam'd and an Impostume follows it must be open'd and cur'd by the Chyrurgeon as also when by an unlucky accident the Privity and Fundament is rent in one which when cur'd she will be oblig'd if she happen to be with Child to prevent the like to anoint the parts with soft'ning Oils and Ointments and forbear helping her throws too strongly at once but usually when these parts have been once rent 't is very difficult to prevent the like because the scar streightens the parts Lastly if by neglecting such a rent the Lips be cicatriz'd and the cure be desired 't is the Chyrurgeons business SECT V. Of the After-pains IF these come from wind i' th Bowels it runs from side to side and sometimes towards the Womb to prevent this some give of Oil of sweet Almonds and syrup of Maiden-hair each 2 ounces immediately after Child-birth and to those that loath Oil I prefer warm broth or caudle and give a Clyster and repeat it as need is if it cease not thus 't is maintained by some other cause If from some strange body i' th Womb see to cast it out If her clensings be suddenly stop'd give Clysters to draw down use hot foments to the bearing place bleed i' th Foot and if full i' th Arm first Rest alone will fortifie and unite the stretching or breaking o' th Womb's cords but never forget in all pains to mind the Lochia SECT VI. Of the Lochia whence they come if good or bad their stopping and what ensues THere flows waterish humors from the Womb as soon as the Child is born besides those before when the Skins break which are often bloody because mostly blood's mixt with them but immediately after the burden is loosen'd there flows pure blood but after the 1st day there comes waterish humors when the Vessels close then they become thickish by heat more or less as they come in greater or lesser quantity and the length of time they stay there and then they resemble troubled milk which makes People believe 't is Breast milk Now I believe the cause of their change of colour consistance and diminution of â—heir quantity to be no other then that in â—he suppuration of a great wound as soon â—s 't is made it bleeds fresh and much but â—fter it yeilds only bloodish humors then a white matter so you must imagine there is a kind of wound made by loosening the burden from the Womb and what comes from it is the Lochia so that they are not what hath stay'd in and about the Womb during all the time of Child-bearing for that 's the Secundine neither is their any certain rule for their quantity and continuance being according to the Season Country Age Temper more or less hot or moist the habit more or less full and Vessels remaining long or short time open but 't is finish'd commonly in 15 or 20 days but after a mischance the less the fetus is and the less time she is gone with Child the less are the Lochia If they be fresh but the 3 or 4 first days they are good else 't is a pure bloody flux which will be very dangerous if of no ill scent without sharpness so we know the Womb 's without inflammation or corruption and if they flow in so great quantity as to cause Faintings or Convulsions she 's in danger of death or very much weaken'd grows lean and pale Legs and Thighs swell and becomes Dropsical The
THE English Midwife ENLARGED Containing Directions to Midwives Wherein is laid down whatever is most requisite for the safe Practising her Art ALSO Instructions for Women in their Conceiving Bearing and Nursing of Children With two new Treatises one of the Cure of Diseases and Symptoms happening to Women before and after Child-birth And another of the Diseases c. of little Children and the conditions necessary to be considered in the choice of their Nurses and Milk The whole fitted for the meanest Capacities Illustrated with near 40 Copper-Cuts London Printed for Thomas Sawbridge at the Sign of the Three Flower-de-luces in Little Brittain 1682. To all English Midwives YOU are here presented with an Amendment and Supplement of what was very necessary and yet wanting in this Book formerly so that now you will find it to be wholly compleated for your purpose in every respect it being altogether grounded upon many years Experience and Observation in the Practice of deliveries most others being written by those that never practiz'd the Art and some father'd upon Persons that were no more concerned in them then the Pope of Rome such as Sir Theodore de Mayern Dr. Chamberlen and others by the Publishers of the Compleat Midwives Practice so that I may justly say of this Book as the Learned Sir Richard Baker says of his Chronicle that if all other were not to be found this alone were sufficient with your diligence For I 'll assure you I have not conceal'd one secret belonging to your Art from you neither would I have you with-hold your knowledge from others neither have I imposed upon you any thing that hath not endur'd the Test of confirm'd experience and in like manner I would not have you upon any account whatsoever to try any new experiment either upon Rich or Poor either inwardly or outwardly thus much for the Book Now as for what concerns your selves I would have you by all means to have a respect to two things above all your Consciences and Credits and principally to the first and to that end for all the Treasure in the World to give no Medicine to cause a Woman to miscarry of her Child but prudently send such kind of People to the Learned Physitian to deal with and that you may prosper in your Practise discharge your duty as well to the Poor as Rich. Have a great care whom you lay in your Houses for fear of encouraging naughty Women Lastly I would advise you not to be dismay'd if every thing in your practise fall not out just at the very instance of your expectation you performing your part but expect the event with patience for fear disorders the Senses and Persons that keep their wits together without suffering them to be scattered thereby are capable of Counselling in the most weighty Affairs And now I shall no longer detain you in the Porch but desire you will forthwith be pleased to walk into the Palace where I question not but you will find wherewith to satisfie your Curiosity in what concerns the premisses and so wishing you all the Prosperity imaginable I bid you Adieu THE Contents of the Sections SEct. 1. Of the True generation of the Parts and Increase of the Infant in the Womb according to the days and times till the time of the Birth p. 1 Sect. 2. Of the signs of Conception and whether the Child thrive in the Womb. p. 11 Sect. 3. Of the Nutriment of the Child in the Womb and by what nourishment it is preserved and when it groweth up to be an Infant p. 16 Sect. 2. How the Infant doth in the Womb the fifth the sixth the seventh and eighth month and of the due time and form of the Birth and causes of pain in Child-birth p. 20 Sect. 5. Rules for Child-bearing Women and how to prevent Abortion p. 28 Sect. 6. A Dialogue between the Midwife and the Doctor concerning Midwives and the delivery of Women in Child-birth p. 33 Sect. 7. Of the several natural situations of the Infant in the Mothers Womb according to the different times of Child-bearing p. 39 Sect. 8. Of difficult Births whether they proceed from Causes external or internal p. 42 Sect. 9. Of the Fashions and Figures of the Birth and how Children are born and may be born p. 50 Sect. 10. Figure the first Of unnatural Births p. 52 Sect. 11. Figure the Second p. 58 Sect. 12. Figure the Third p. 62 Sect. 13. Figure the Fourth p. 64 Sect. 14. Figure the Fifth p. 66 Sect. 15. Figure the Sixth p. 68 Sect. 16. Figure the Seventh p. 74 Sect. 17. Figure the Eighth p. 78 Sect. 18. Figure the Ninth p. 81 Sect. 19. Figure the Tenth p. 83 Sect. 20. Figure the Eleventh p. 85 Sect. 21. Figure the Twelfth p. 87 Sect. 22. Of a Birth wherein the Infant presents the Belly p. 89 Sect. 23. How to help a Woman in her Labor when the Child's Head thrusts the Neck of the the Womb forth before it p. 92 Sect. 24. How to deliver a Woman when the Child presents the side of the Head to the birth or its Face p. 95 Sect. 25. How to deliver a Woman when the Childs Head is born and the Womb closeth about its Neck p. 99 Sect. 26. When the Navil-string comes first p. 102 Sect. 27. Wherein the Burthen either first offers it self or comes first quite forth p. 107 Sect. 28. Figure the Thirteenth p. 112 Sect. 29. Figure the Fourteenth p. 115 Sect. 30. Figure the Fifteenth p. 117 Sect. 31. Figure the Sixteenth p. 123 Sect. 32. Of delivering of a Woman of a dead Child p. 129 Sect. 33. Of the extracting of a mola and false Conception p. 136 Sect. 34. Of the Secundine or After-burden and the best and safest way to draw it forth p. 151 PART II. Of Diseases happening to Big-Belly'd Women before Child-Birth SEct. 1. Of Barrenness and the several kinds thereof p. 177 Sect. 2. Of Superfaetation p. 195 Sect. 3. Of Vomitings of Women with Child p. 201 Sect. 4. Of the pains of the Back Loins Reins and Hips p. 206 Sect. 5. Of the pains of the Breasts p. 209 Sect. 6. Of involuntary voiding and stopping of Vrine p. 211 Sect. 7. Of a Cough and difficult breathing p. 214 Sect. 8. Of the swelling and pains of the Thighs and Legs p. 218 Sect. 9. Of the Hemorrhoids p. 221 Sect. 10. Of the several Flaxes happening to Women with Child p. 224 Sect. 11. Of Fluddings p. 229 Sect. 12. Of the Weight of the Womb c. p. 233 Sect. 13. Of the Dropsie of the Womb c. p. 235 Sect. 14. Of Abortion and its causes p. 238 PART III. Of Diseases and Symptoms happening to Women after Child-birth SEct. 1. Of Remedies for the Breasts and lower parts of the Belly of Women newly delivered and how to drive back the Milk p. 241 Sect. 2. Of Fludding after Child-Birth p. 244 Sect. 3. Of the bearing down and falling out of the Womb and Fundament of
much ado to introduce one only with which she must do her operation with the half of the fingers ends of the other hand put up as far as necessary afterwards let her excite and procure the childs birth as directed before Then sometimes the child comes with its face first having its head turn'd back in which posture it is very difficult it should be born and if it long remain so the face will be so black and blew and swell'd that at first sight it will appear monstrous which comes as well by the compression of it in that place as by the Midwives fingers handling it too rudely when she endeavor'd to place it in a better posture There was a certain Woman whose Child came with its Face so black and mishapen as soon as it was born as is usual in such cases that it looked like a black Moor as soon as the Mother saw it she said she alwaies fear'd her Child would be so monstrous because when she was young with Child of it she fixt her looks very much upon a black moor wherefore she wished or at least wise car'd not though it dyed rather than she said she should behold a Child so monstrously disfigured as it then appear'd but she soon chang'd her mind when she was made sensible that this blackness was occasion'd only by reason that it came into the World with its face forwards and that assuredly in three or four days it would wear away as accordingly it happen'd having often anointed it with oyl of sweet Almonds as she was order'd and when the Child came to be about a 12 month old you could have scarcely seen a fairer Now to deliver this birth the Midwife must observe the same manner as in that wheâ—… the Child comes with the side of the head being careful to work gently to avoid bruising the Face But here note that if it should chance thaâ— the Childs hand or hands should come with either of these births which for the mosâ— part happens rather than any other part iâ— will hinder the birth by reason it takes up part of the passage and for the most parâ— cause the head to lean on one side To remedy this as soon as 't is preceived that one hand presents together with the head it must be prevented from coming down more or ingaging farther in the passage wherefore the Midwife having plac'd the Woman on the bed with her head a little lower than her hips must in the next place put and guide back the Childs head with her own as much as may be or both hands iâ— they came both down for to give way to the Childs head which done she must proceed aâ— before SECT XXV How to deliver a Woman when the Childs Head is born and the Womb closeth about its Neck DR Very well Mrs. Eutrapelia you have now given us a farther account of your very good judgment in your Art in your dextrous ingenious way of bringing a Woman to bed in the last posture But now I would desire you to let me know how you will deliver a Woman of her Child when its head is born but yet the Womb closeth about its Neck Mid. Truely Sir to deliver this Woman is not so easie abusiness as may be imagin'd by reason that a small delay herein may cause the strangling of the Child And here you must observe that the Child comes naturally with the Head first because by its bigness and hardness the passage might be the better made and opened for the other parts of the body the which usually pass afterwards without pain but yet notwithstanding sometimes the Head is so small and the shoulders so large that without a very great difficulty they cannot pass which makes the Child remain often in the passage after the head is born And this accident may likewise happen sometimes for not having been careful to lose no time in drawing forth the Child by the head to the end the shoulders might at the same instant follow in the same place the head possest Now when I meet with this Figure I must by all possible means seek speedily to deliver the poor Child out of this prison or rather snare or collar in which it is caught for fear as I said before it come by delay to be strangl'd to prevent which I must endeavour to cause the shoulders immediately to follow by gently drawing its Head sometimes by the sides of it and sometimes with one hand under the chin and the other behind its head and so doing by turns on the one side and the other to facilitate the operation the better being very careful and circumspect that the Navil-string be not entangled about its Neck as also not to draw it forth with too much violence for fear least it may happen as I once saw the Head to be pulled from the Shoulders But if the Shoulders come not with gentle pulling then I must slide up my fingers on both sides under the Arm-pits with which turning them inwards I may by little and little draw forth the Soulders but if when they are in the passage and totally disengaged if I cannot get the rest forth by still keeping my fingers under the Arm-pits I may be very confident there is some other hindrance and that it is certainly monstrous in some part of its body or that as it for the most part happens in this case it is hydropical in the belly for which cause it is impossible it should be born before the belly be pierced to evacuate the waters and then it will easily be accomplish'd but this being the expert Physitian or Chirurgion's parts to perform I shall leave it wholly to them SECT XXVI When the Navil-string comes first DR Now Mrs. Eutrapelia I would know of you how you behave your self when you have a labor presented to you wherein the Childs Navil-string comes first Mid. Here Sir you must note That an Infant doth not always present with the belly when the navil-string comes first for though it presents naturally as to the Figure of its body that is with its Head first yet sometimes the Navil-string falls down and comes before it for which cause the Child is in much danger of death especially if the labor be not very quick because the blood that ought to pass and repass through those Vessels which compose it for to nourish and keep the Child alive whilst it continues in the Womb being coagulated hinders the circulation which ought to be there made which happens as well by the contusion as the cold those Vessels receive being much pressed in the passage when it comes together with the Head or any other part as also because the blood doth there coagulate as is said by reason of the cold which it takes by the coming forth of the Navil-string But though this accident may cause the Infants sudden death 't is not so much for lack of nourishment without which it may pass a whole
thrust back but contrarywise be fetch'd away and at that very moment after bring the Child away by the Feet although it came naturally with the Head first for what reason can there be to put it back since it is of no use to the Infant from the moment it is separated from the Womb as cannot be denied And such a proceeding is so far from being useful that this burthen would much hinder the Midwife from being able to turn the Child as she ought in bringing it forth by the Feet Wherefore when it presents it self in the passage which may soon be perceived if the Midwife find every where a soft substance without the least resistance of any solid part to the touch and finding likewise the string fastned to the middle of it and the Woman fludding extreamly as is ordinary at such times then in lieu of thrusting it back the burthen must be brought away that so there may be the more liberty and room to draw forth the Child according as hath been before directed The Burthen then being quite loosened from the womb and coming first in the passage must not be thrust back again into it much less must it be put back when it is quite come forth of the body The midwife must only take care not to cut the string till the child be born not out of hopes of any benefit from it to the Infant during the delivery but that so much time may not be lost before the Infant be fetch away which is then ever in great danger as also the flooding may be the sooner stopt which happens for the most part as soon as the woman is delivered for which reasons it will be dispatched with all possible speed Sometimes notwithstanding this dangerous accident the child may be born alive if timely succoured but it is then so weak that it is hard to discover at first whether it be alive or dead When it so happens some midwies do ordinarily before they seperate the burthen put it into a Skillet of hot wine and imagine with no small superstition that in case it it comes to it self the vapours of the warm wine was the cause of it being conveyed by means of the string into the Infants belly and so giving vigor but it is more credible that being almost stifled for want of breathing as it needed it it begins now by means of it to recover from that fainting but nevertheless there may be no hurt in continuing the old custom since it can do no perjudice and may satisfie fine occupied Spirits provided necessaries be not neglected in being blindly carried away with this conceit SECT XXVIII Figure the Thirteenth DR There being the same reason in twins as in a single birth except that the single birth is natural and the twins not so certainly the same method must be observed Mrs. Tell me then if there be two or more and and all come fair with their heads toward the birth What is to be done Mid. Here Sir I must observe that which lyeth readiest and fittest in the Womb and first receive that and not to let the other go till the first is born lest it turn into another shape by sliding back again into the Womb but the one being born I must presently lay hold on the other Now this birth will be easier and without danger because the first birth hath made the way for the second so plain that it may come forth without any difficulty at all But in this birth I must take care that I bring forth the after-burden timely enough lest that the Womb being freed from her Infants presently fall down and so keep in the after-burden with great danger SECT XXIX Figure the Fourteenth DR But Mrs. What if there be Twins and they both come unnaturally with their Feet forward as in this Figure what course will you take Mid. This birth Sir is dangerous enough and yet it is to be mended by the prudence of a discreet Midwife Wherefore I must anoint the womb of the woman that the passages may be the easier for the Infant which being done I must take care to lay hold of the arms of one of them and bringing them down to the sides secure them so that I may lightly promote the head to the birth and the first being born I must presently proceed with the other after the same manner but if I can lay hold of neither of their arms so that there is no good hopes of a happy birth I must have recourse to the former method if at least the Infants may come into the World by that pains and conversion which is wrought upon the bed SECT XXX Figure the Fifteenth DR I come now to my last unnatural birth of Twins If then there be Twins these forms being compound as of a natural and unnatural birth the one comeing down with the Feet what is to be done in this case Mid. Where Infants offer themselves after this manner I must first bring forth that which presents it self with a natural form and must move up the other which is with the Feet forward and if possible cause it so to return into the Womb that that form also may be disposed of to a natural birth but if it cannot be turned to be in a better posture I must lay hold presently on the hands and encourage it to the birth But it were safer that this should be brought to a natural form to which end I must diligently endeavour it by anointing directing moving it tumbling and rouling the Woman lest perhaps the Womb be hurt by the form of such an unnatural birth and the privities swell with wind from whence the birth cannot come forth without danger or be hindred too long All which danger may with provident care be avoided or at the least very much corrected and amended Dr. So far concerning your way and method of Labors wherein several Children in different postures present themselves together but now good Mrs. Eutrapelia I would have you to hear a little what I have to offer you concerning these deliveries and first of all be pleased to consider seriously with me that if all those unnatural Figures and Situations which we have hitherto described that a single Child may come in do cause those many difficulties and dangers mentioned certainly the Labor wherein several come together in those bad Situations must be much more painful not only to the Mother and Children but also to the Midwife for they are then so pressing that for the most part they trouble and hinder one another moreover the Womb is so filled with them that the Midwife can scarce introduce her hand without much violence which she must do if they are to be turned or thrust back to the end that she may give them a better position then that wherein they present Where note then that when a Woman hath 2 Children they do not ordinarily both present to the birth together but one is
reason they lose their first use and begin after to degenerate into suspending ligaments to wit the vein into that of the liver and the 2 Arteries serve to extend and sustain the bladder by the side where they are joined to it the bottom of which is yet suspended by the Vrachus which comes not through the Navil as hath been said but remains so pendent all the rest of its life and now Mrs. I come to know how you use to fetch away the after-burthen with the string and when 't is broken Mid. That I shall freely do Sir withal my heart and therefore Sir you must note that the afterbirth being a useless thing to the Woman when the Child is born she must immediately after be freed of that also wherefore as soon as the Child is born before I do so much as tye or cut the Navil-string lest the Womb close I must without time looseing ease the Woman of this fleshy mass To perform which having taken the string I must wind it once or twice about one or 2 of her fingers of her left hand joyn'd together the better to hold it with which she may then draw it moderately and with her right hand she may only take a single hold of it about the left near the Privities drawing likewise with that very gently resting the while the fore finger of the same hand stretched forth along the string towards the entry of the sheath of the Womb as may be seen in the annexed Figure always observing for the more facility to draw it from the side where the burthen cleaves least for in so doing the rest will separate the better as we see a card which is glewed to any thing is better separated from the place where it begins to part then where it is close joyned But above all things care must be had that it be not drawn forth with two much violence lest breaking the string near the burthen I be oblig'd to put up my whole hand into the Womb to deliver the Woman or that the Womb to which it is very strongly fastned sometimes be not drawn forth with it or a very great flooding be caus'd wherefore for these reasons it shall be gently shaken and drawn forth by little and little and to facilitate the better its expulsion the Woman may the whilst blow strongly into her hands shut as one does into the mouth of a bottle to know if it be broke or put her finger into her Throat as if she would cause vomiting or strive as if she were going to stool bearing always down and holding her breath as she did to bring forth her Child and if after all this I meet with difficulty you may if need be after you know on which side it is seated desire an experienced Nurse keeper to press the belly lightly with her flat hand directing it gently downwards by way of chaffing not too boistrously But if all this be in vain then I must direct my hand into the Womb to separate it as you shall hear anon Then I must consider if there be all and take care that the least part remain not not so much as the skirts or any clods of blood and this is the way to deliver a woman of her after-birth but sometimes the Midwife by endeavouring it breaks the string by pulling too strongly or because 't is very weak or else so putrified when the Child is dead that the least pull breaks it off close to the burthen the which by that means is left behind in the Womb or because it cleaves to strongly or the Woman is weak and cannot expell it being much tired by a long Labor or because it was speedily drawn forth after Labor the Womb closeth so as it leaves it no passage and cannot without much difficulty be dilated to fetch it away because it remains dry after the natural slime and humidities are past and seeing that if it remain behind 't is capable of destroying the Woman we must see to get it away as before and if the Navil-string happen to break near the burthen I must immediately introduce my hand into the Womb before it close being anointed with oyl or fresh butter to separate it from the Womb gently and draw it forth with the clods of blood that remain When the Navil string is not broken it will easily conduct the hand but when 't is we have no longer this guide wherefore I must be then very careful that I be not deceived in taking one part for another as I once saw a Midwife pull the Womb near the inward orifice in lieu of the burthen Assoon then as I have introduced my hand into the Womb towards its bottom I shall find the burthen which I shall know by a great number of little inequalities which are always made there by the roots of the umbilical Vessels on the side where they terminate which makes it to be easily distinguished from the Womb if it yet cleave to it notwithstanding 't is then a little wrinkled and uneven because its Membranes which were very much inlarged contract themselves immediately after the Child and its waters which kept them extended are excluded and they that are expert can easily judge of it Now if I find the burthen wholly loosen'd from the Womb it will be easy to draw it forth when I have got it into my hands but if it cleaves finding the side to which it sticks least I must begin there to separate it gently by putting some of my Fingers betwixt it and the Womb continuing by little and little to do so till it be quite loose and then draw it forth very carefully observing the whilst if it cannot be otherwise rather to leave some part thereof behind than to scrape or scratch the least part of the Womb for fear of a flooding inflammation or Gangrene which cause death being also careful not to draw it forth till it be wholly or the most part of it separated for fear of drawing forth the Womb with it and to preserve it as whole as these cautions will permit because of shewing it to the company that they may know I have performed my office well But if the Midwife shall not find the Womb open enough to direct her hand immediately into it let her presently anoint the Womans Privities with hogs grease then by little and little put up her hand and let the Woman contribute as before but if for all this she cannot void the After-birth to avoid a greater mischief I must leave it to nature assisting her with remedies which suppurate wherefore injections into the womb are proper made of Mallows Marsh-mallows Pellitory of the Wall and Linseed in which is to be mixed a good quantity of Oil of Lillies or fresh butter and to hasten the work give her a strong Clyster that so by the Motions to go to stool it may cause it to be voided as it hath arrived to many that have rendred it in the
Bed-pan and sometimes when they have least expected it At the same time to prevent a Feaver or many other accidents which usually happen she may be let blood in the Arm or Foot according as it shall be convenient and strengthen'd that the cadaverous vapors coming from the putrifaction of the burthen ascend not to the heart and noble parts which must be done by good cordials often used not such as are made of Treacle and Methridate c. for which no reason can be given but their specific or rather imaginary Faculties and are fitter to cause vomiting then comfort the heart But with true Cordials which are such as yield good nourishment and at the same time comfort the stomach without offending it as those drugs do which are only good for those that sell them Wherefore I must order her good broths and gellies and to drink Orengade or Limonade or to put some Syrup of Lemons in her refreshing Liquors or if she be free from a Feaver a little wine and water mixed which is the best and most natural of all Cordials Besides other remedies must be provided according to the accidents that happen by reason of the staying behind of the burthen always remembring to bring it away as soon as possible for as long as it stays in the Womb the woman feels great pains continually almost like them before her Child was born and until the whole be voided the pains will still be repeated although in vain unless the matter be well disposed before but the lesser the piece is of the retained burthen the more difficult 't is many times to be expelled because the impulse the woman can make by helping her throws are not so great when the matter contained in the Womb is small as when 't is of a considerable bigness for then 't is more strongly thrust and compress'd which is the reason why a woman miscarries with greater difficulty then when brought to bed at her full time And here you must know there are divers Midwifes who having broken the Navil-string as before said leave their work imperfect and commit the rest to nature's work but very often the poor woman dyes because of the great mischiefs which usually happen before the suppuration of the burthen so retained The which to avoid when they meet with the like case I would advise them to fetch it away as I have directed or if they find themselves uncapable to do it because the hand must be put up into the Womb which is more properly the work of a Physitian or Chyrurgion expert in those cases then let them immediately send for one that so he may be able before the Womb closeth to introduce his hand for the longer 't is deferr'd the more difficult will the work be Dr. Hitherto very well Mrs. Eutrap have you exprest your knowledge and experience in your Art even from the first generation and formation of the Child in the Womb to the bringing of it safely forth into the world But yet good Mrs. Eutrapelia there are divers Women that will many times be asking you your advice concerning other distempers that usually attend them both before Child-birth as Barreness c. and also after they are delivered of their Child both inward and outward because their modesty prompts them rather to come to you than to the Physitian or Chyrurgion therefore I would have you to let me know how far your skill and knowledge extends as to these matters because that if you should at any time be mistaken in your measures in the cure of any of those diseases I shall freely and candidly assist you with the best of my directions to set all right and streight as they say and in good order Mid. Honoured Sir I am so extreamly oblig'd to you for this kind offer that I know not which way to express my acknowledgment and I shall most readily answer your request and therefore shall first begin with a discourse of Barrenness PART II. SECT I. Of Barrenness and the several kinds thereof MId BArrenness is 1. Natural 2. Vnnatural 3. Accidental Natural is when the instrument of Generation being perfect in both Sexes no unlawful or unskilful means used to cause it yet the Woman remains naturally Barren neither Age or Diseases or natural defect hindring yet she Conceives not The reason of this may be 1. When both Sexes are of a Complexion 2. Want of Love a 3d may be the letting Virgins blood i' th Arm before their Courses come down or other ill administration of internal and external remedies 4. A loss of carnal Copulation when Sexes come to the School of Venus either not at all or so coldly that as good never a whit as nere the better and this is from a cold Distemper and is cured by such things as heat and nourish 2. Unnatural that is diabolical to prevent which Authors have left several ways as to carry the Herb St. Johns wort about them which is call'd a driver away of Devils or a Plaister thereof applied to the Reins with many others 3. Accidental which comes by some casual infirmity upon the body of either Sex at a time the which being taken away the effect ceaseth 't is sometimes from the Man but most commonly from the Woman for Mans instruments of Generation being perfect and he in health I know no accidental cause in him And the chief cause in Women lyes in her Womb as the stopping of the flowers or overflowing the Flux of the Womb its falling down inflamation windiness heat and dryness in all which I shall be brief because if there be difficulty you are to have recourse to the learned Physitian 1. Then the Terms stop 1. Naturally 2. Vnnaturally they stop naturally in some about the 50th year in some before rarely till 55. the unnatural cause is 1. much exercise 2. in fat Women the Veins are narrow and blood turns to fat 3. by long sickness 4. when they have the piles in lieu of their Terms 5. a hot or cold distemper of the Womb 6. care fear grief c. I shall speak here only of the 5th for causes of the last being taken away the effect ceases and the rest the ingenious Midwife will remedy Now seeing these stoppings come usually from default of the Womb the best way to help it is by strengthening the Womb first then you shall prepare your way if there be occasion let blood i' th the foot if she be not full of humors if she be then in the Arm first which I have most commonly known to do alone then if need be give her a draught of White-wine wherein an handful of Centaury or stinking Arach hath been boiled and if there be a pain in the head add an handful of Verven or some Parcely roots Fennel or Lowage c. not forgetting in fulness of humors to purge with half a dram of Extractum Rudii and as much Pil. Mastichinae mixt made into 12 Pills whereof take 3 at
cur'd of this bearing down after she 's layd than before for then the Cords will be easier strengthen'd and she may then use pessaries which she cannot so well with Child The help for this from any cause is to keep her Bed or swaith her and if she have difficulty in urining help her self by lifting up her belly with both hands but if humors cause this let her keep a drying dyet as Rost-meat c. and refrain Copulation streight lacing and above all when in Labor take care that neither by throws nor birth of the Child nor violent drawing the burthen that she get not a falling out of the Womb instead of a bearing down or weight which is soon done if the method taught in the birth of a Child when its Head thrusts the Neck of the Womb forth before it be not well observed SECT XIII Of the Dropsie of the Womb c. THese waters are either bred in the Womb or brought thither from some other parts as in the Dropsie of the belly it passes by traâ—sudation through the porous substance of the Skins of the Womb and these have deceived the Midwifes as well as patients who having along time hoped and been made to hope for a Child at length find nothing but waters whereof some have voided a pailful of which are many relations by Physitians and Chirurgeons These are bred i' th Womb when 't is too cold or weakned by a violent Labor before or from suppression of filthy humors When these are sent to the Womb from other parts they are never wrapt in a particular skin but retain'd only by its exact closure and flow away as soon as it begins to open but when bred in the Womb which is for the most part after Copulation if the seed be too cold waterish or corrupt they are then sometimes contained within the Skin which hinder the patients from a speedy discharge of them She going with it almost as long as with a Child and this is it perswades them they are with Child But 't is easie to avoid being deceiv'd if you take notice of the Signs of a true Conception for in a Dropsie her brests are fallen have no Milk nor finds her self quicken at the usual time but a bubling of moved waters a greater weight in her Belly and more equal the Womb Hips Thighs and Legs swell and worse Colour in her Face and as it may come alone so it may accompany a true Conception the waters being contained in the Womb without the Childs Skin Some have voided 3 or 4 quarts above 2 months before they were brought to Bed and then they are contained in the Womb without the Skins or else the Child would be forc'd to be born presently after they are voided The best Remedy is to wait patiently the time of delivery observing a dry dyet but if 't is only contained in the Womb use diuretics and endeavour to procure her Courses and to destroy by purges the cause of the Generation of such superfluities of which the Womb is so full sometimes that it dischargeth some on the outward parts and chiefly the nearest as the Lips of the Privities which are so swell'd that they are quite blown up and in some are so big that they can't close their Thighs and hinders walking now because this may be inconvenient to her during Labor it will be requisite to remedy it before which must be done by a Lancet all along the Lips then applying compresses dipt in astringent wine Leeches though less painful are not so proper because their small Orifices close again as soon as remov'd but the other may be made as big or little as one will and kept open by ointment as long as is fit SECT XIV Of Abortion and its causes WHen a Woman Sir i' th beginning casts forth what she had retain'd by Conception 't is an Effiuxion of the Seed if a false Conception 't is an Expulsion but when the infant's form'd and begins to live if it come before time ordain'd by Nature 't is an Abortion and we say in general that every sharp Disease easily causes it in particular all the accidents before mentioned as also a great noise as Cannon of Thunder claps watching fasting stinks c. if she Miscarries without any of these accidents Hippocrates says any Woman indifferently corpulent miscarrying the 2d or 3d month without manifest cause 't is because the inward closers of the Womb's Vessels are full of viscous filth whereby they cant retain the weight of the fetus which is loosned from it to this are Phlegmatic Women Subject and who have the whites much which make the Womb slippery and loose Likewise the passions of the mind cause great hurt chiefly Choler but above all sudden fear There are other causes which may be said to proceed from the Infant as when its monstrous or hath an unnatural Situation If we find one or more of the said accidents and she hath a great heaviness in her belly falling like a ball on that side she turns and there comes stinking humors from her 't is a sign she will miscarry of a dead Child Now she is in more danger of her Life when she miscarries then at full time and in danger of miscarrying always if she miscarry at first because of the violent motion caused by frequent Copulation but they may preserve their fruit when their love is a little moderated We have taught before to prevent each accident Who are subject to Abortion must rest or keep in Bed refrein Copulation 〈◊〉 soon as she thinks she 's with Child avoiding diuretics and openers and be loose drest wear low-heel'd Shoos with broad Soals Her rest must be 5 or 6 or 9 or 15 days during which time may be applied to her belly compresses steep'd in Aromatic and Astringent Wine Some Midwifes giving Crimson silk minc'd small in the yelk of an Egg or Scarlet grains and Treddles of several Eggs put into a yelk is superstitious as if entring the Stomach it were able to fortifie the Womb and Child and keep it there PART III. Of Diseases and Symptoms happening to Women after Child-birth SECT I. Of Remedies for the Brests and lower parts of the Belly of Women newly delivered and how to draw back the Milk Mid. AS soon Sir as the Woman is deliver'd and burthen come away I see that a fludding follow not its loosening if not apply presently a soft closure 5 or 6 double to the Womb that done carry her to Bed removing all foul Linnen a little raising her Head and Body putting down her Legs and Thighs with a small pillow if she will under her hands lying on her back Then the best thing under the Sun to give her is a good broth and so leave her to sleep waking apply this pultis over the bottom of her Belly and Privities take 2 ounces of Oil of Sweet Almonds 2 or 3 new laid Eggs stir them together in a pipkin over hot Embers
let it slip out of the mouth and cannot handsomely hold it so that the infant being frustrated of suck and yet still exercising suckling hurts the cheek and attracts some kind of humors thither which oftentimes become unnatural Tumors and oftentimes the cheeks of the infant seem as if they were moved out of their places Thirdly by the consent of all the Nurse must have a large breast though some think that not so material because there is more milk collected together in great breasts than ought and being there is corrupted to the prejudice of the Nurse Wherefore lest the milk should continue there too long it is best to have a young lusty child to suck it away or else to use it some other way as by the use of young whelps whom I have seen dye with sucking Womens milk surely the reason must be because the milk was of another nature or else because curdled and corrupted or milked out some other way especially when the Nurse perceives her self prejudiced by it But it is ever best that she abound rather than want Milk and then in this case it is best they be big though all Nurses need not have big breasts for there may be as much Milk if not more in a lesser breast than in a great one The next enquiry will be into the manners and behaviour of a Nurse The best Nurse then is she that is mild chaste sober courteous chearful lively neat cleanly and handy because bad conditions as well as good are suck'd in with the milk and so radicated that it is a hard matter to pull out the bad conditions and leave the good behind but that there will be a remainder of the bad conditions perhaps so long as they live wherefore let not the Nurse be of an angry malepert and saucy disposition shameless scolding or quarrelsome not gluttonous but so careful of her Nursery that she neither eat or drink that which may be hurtful to the Infant That she do nothing to anger her self to grieve or sad her self for such passions will presently distribute themselves to the prejudice of the Infant than which there is nothing of more efficacy to destroy the goodness of the Milk Neither is it sufficient that they abstain from the use of their husbands but when they have wanton thoughts and lascivious minds wholly upon Luxury and Venery they cast off all care of the Nurseries and dreaming at night of that which their minds run on in the day and by other filthy pollutions they infect the milk So also by the use of their Husbands the Courses are stirred up by which both the plenty and goodness of milk is derived another way and so the Child robbed of its nutriment or else the Nurse conceiveth with Child and so the Infant becometh diseased and Ricketty by sucking curdy and unwholsome milk and is worse for it during life Therefore let all those things be avoided that either do or are supposed to provoke lust as junkets made with spices also Onions Leeks Garlick and all salt meats are to be avoided Persly and Smallage some say have a peculiar malice to the increase of milk besides that it doth increase lust and is an enemy to the growth of Infants Again that Nurse were best that hath lately been brought to bed of a Boy if to Nurse a Boy the milk of such a Nurse being better tempered For the milk of a Male Child will make a Female Nursery more spritely and a man like Virago and the milk of a girl will make a boy the more effeminate As to the milk let it be a mean betwixt thick and thin which you may perceive by dropping it upon the Thumb-Nails for if it be too thin it will run off the sooner but if thicker it will stay the longer let it be sweet and pleasant both to the smell and taste not offending the palate with rancidness sourness sharpness or saltness or the nostrils with any strange quality Let it be candid to the sight in it self equal in each particles not infested with brown yellow green blue or any other evil colour or as sometimes with various colours and substance as with lines and streaks upon it but let that milk be most praise-worthy that makes as much curd as whey which may be tryed by this Experiment viz. Put some of this milk into a glass and puâ— in some Myrrh or Rennet which being stirred together will curd and then may the contents be separated the tryal is that iâ— there be most whey then is the milk thinneâ— in its substance but if most of curd 't is thicker yet all these may be corrected and amended for that which is too thick may be mended by an extenuating diet and the flegmatick matter may be avoided by a vomit of Oxymel and Exercise before meat the better to consume and attenuate the thickness of it The thinness of Milk is amended by contrary food such as doth incrassate it as Fromenty of Wheat and Rice Hogs-feet Calves-feet Trotters and sweet Wine unless somewhat else be in the way to hinder it Sometimes it happens that the Milk is more tart than it ought to be wherefore then all diligence must be had to feed upon such meats as are of the best juice till that acrimony at least be attempered Sometimes there is little or no milk in the breasts as after some sickness or notable distemper now turned into a bad habit or any other of what kind soever that possesseth those parts or is the cause but that shall not be our business to consider of now Now if these be not the causes let the Nurse use supping meats as Broths Possets c. and eat plentifully and use rubbings to her Breasts and Duggs exercising her hands and her Arms by domestick Employments or instead thereof let her dance the Child by which the aliment may be recalled into those parts Sometimes cupping-glasses to the Breasts with a fomentation of emollient herbs boiled in water and applied warm either with sponges or wollen-clothes after which chafe them with oyl of Lillies The seeds of Fennel and the roots of Parsnips boiled in Barley-water and buttered The broth of Hens or Capons with Cinnamon and Mace Or Poch'd-eggs with the seeds of Annis and Dill and all things else that are hot in the first and second degree are good Earth Worms not dung-hill ones six or seven of them dried and powdered and drank in Barley-water sugared for a fortnight together All these may be of good use in the defect of Milk As to the inconveniency if there be any in too much Milk If the Milk abound too much which sometimes is though seldome blamable Then use the decoction of Myrtleberries and red Roses and with clothes dipped in it lay them on the Breasts Or else clothes imbibed in Vinegar wherein Cummin-seeds bruised have been infused with Myrrh and Camphire By reason of the thickness of the Milk all those excrements that the Child
take Nutmegs Cloves Cubebs each a scruple Calamus Aromaticus Frankincense bark each half a dram Majoram water 3 ounces If in 20 days this doth not the cure then you must consult with the able Surgeon for the opening it SECT VI. Of Frights in the Sleep and Watching YOu must see to cure this presently for 't is the fore-runner of the Falling-sickness give good Milk and not too much to overcharge the Stomach let not the Child sleep presently after food but carry it about and Jog it to the bottom of the Stomach give it 2 or 3 spoonfuls of oil of Sweet Almonds or Honey of Roses If it come from a Feaver Teeth or Worms they are treated of a part As for the Childs watching you must take notice that a new born one sleeps more then it wakes because its brain is very moist and it slept in the Womb. If you cannot make it sleep by singing or rocking c. 't is a Disease and if not cur'd will produce Catarrhs Convulsions Feavers c. If it proceed from bad Milk that must be amended if from a Feaver or pain remove them and give sleeping Medicines to the Nurse if that will not do you may venture a little Lettice or Purcelan water SECT VII Of the Falling-sickness and Convulsion THe first is either by consent from parts below when the Milk corrupts in the Stomach or from its ill quality from the Nurses bad dyet or from Worms or Vapors or from the brain first when humors are bred there that cause it or from Tooth-ach or sudden fright To prevent it give the Child as soon as 't is born oil of Sweet Almonds Sugar-Candy and Anniseeds powdered The Florentines apply a Caustick to the hinder part of the Head the best part of the cure is the Nurses dyet If from corrupt Milk provoke vomit by holding down the Tongue and pour some Oil of sweet Almonds down the Throat The same means may be used in Convulsions only anointing the spine of the back with Oil of Chamomil St. John's wort Worms Goose-grease Foxes Oil c. SECT VIII Of pain in the Ears Moisture Ulcers and Worms THe first is allayed by using warm Milk to them or Oil of Violets or the decoction of Poppies for the moisture take Honey of Roses and Aqua Mellis and drop them into the Ears for Worms they are kil'd by washing the Ears with white Wine wherein Wormwood hath been boiled or drop in Hemp Oil with a little Wine SECT IX Of the Thrush bladders of the Gums and Inflammation of the Tonsils FOr the first wash the Mouth with Plantain water and Syrup of Mulberries with a little Sal Prunella the Bladders are cured by taking the powder of Lentils husked and laid upon them If the Tonsils of Infants chance to be inflam'd give them Honey of Roses Myrtles Pomegranates and Diamoron inwardly and oil of sweet Almonds Camomil and St. John's wort outwardly SECT X. Of the breeding of Teeth HEre the pain is great and many time kills the Child it happens about the 7th Month they breed first the fore Teeth then the Eye-Teeth and last of all the grinders 't is known by the Child 's often putting its Fingers to its Mouth by holding the Nipple faster then before and the Gum is white where the Tooth begins to come If the Teeth are long a breeding it causes Feavers and Convulsions of which many dye Their hard breeding is from thickness and hardness of the Gums therefore soften and loosen them by rubing them with your Fingers dipt in Honey and Butter or with the mucilage of Quinces made with Mallow water If the Gums be inflam'd add the juice of Houseleek and cream and let the Nurse keep a temperate dyet SECT XI Of a Catarrh Cough and difficult breathing THese proceed from much Milk that burthens the Stomach and many vapors from thence filling the Brain and if the brain be full of excrements they are dissolved either by inward heat or outward cold and so distill upon the Nose Jaws or Lungs which causes a Cough or short breathing moreover much food makes crudities in the first passages and Phlegmatick humors are bred by the Liver of crudity and thick humors whence unconcocted blood is sent by the Arterial Veins into the Lungs and pressing the pipes of the Lungs causeth difficult Breathing First let the Nurse keep a good dyet and fill not the Childs Stomach too full with Milk or other dyet and let the Nurse forbear all hot sharp salt sour things and such as fill the Head with Vapors and give her a pectoral decoction such as this take Figs and Jujubes each 10 Sebestens 30 Raisins stoned 10 drams Liquorice 2 drams Maiden hair and Violets each an ounce and half boil them in 3 pints of water till the 3d part be boiled away let her take 6 or 8 ounces of this every morning keep the belly open with Syrup of Roses Cassia or a Clyster or hold down the Tongue to provoke vomiting give syrup of Jujubes Maiden hair if the matter be thick give syrup of Hysop or Hore hound or an emulsion of oil of sweet Almonds and Pine-nuts made with Scabions water or make a Lohoc of diarios Diatragacanth frigid penids and syrup of jujubes If it be hot give Emulsions of the 4 great cold Seeds made with Barley-water and Almonds SECT XII Of the Hiccup and Vomiting THey come from corruption of the food in the Stomach or over fulness of milk or cold Air these hurt the expulsive faculty which stirs it self up to expel what offends it If from fulness of Milk the belly swells and there follows Vomiting if from corruption of Milk it may be the Nurse hath bad Milk the Child cryes and is in pain and the excrements smell of stinking Milk If from corruption put a feather dipt in oil to cause Vomiting then strengthen the Stomach with syrup of Mints Quinces or Betony c. Vomiting is from too much or bad Milk or from a moist Stomach for as dryness retains so moistness loosens If from much Milk they are better after vomiting if from corruption of milk what 's vomited is yellow green c. and stinks worms are known by their signs they that vomit from their birth are the lustiest for the Stomach not being used to meat and taking too much Milk breeds crudities or corrupts the Milk and 't is better to vomit these up but if it last long it causes a washing If from too much Milk give it less if corrupted amend it as before and cleanse the Child with Honey of Roses and then strengthen the Stomach as before and if the humor be sharp and hot give syrup of Pomegranates Currans Coral Apply Emplastrum crusta panis or the stomach cerat to the Stomach SECT XIII Of the pains and puffing of the Belly PAins are often with a Flux from corrupt Milk which breeds wind and sharp humors which gnaws the inward parts so do Worms The Child cryes