what I mean by the Sun and the Moon that I may not be forc'd to English one thing twice and if you be Men or Women then know that by the Sun I mean the Man and by the Moon the Woman which if she be a whore I cannot help it That 's an Eclipse to the microcosmical Sun And as these two differ in Sex so they differ in Nature and in the several Faculties of Nature and Members belonging to procreation and Generation of Creatures accomodated the one to the other but if you will take the distinction Aristotle he calleth them in Women Pudenda and uterus and in Men Testes and Membrum virile Testes signifies properly witnesses and a man without such witnesses will have bad success in his cause Turner if women be of the Jury And therefore the first Mover and Maker of all things knew it necessary to have a procreation of Mankind for the continual supply of the World which should be as well Male as Female and therefore he made the Woman and fitted her answerably to be accomodated to receive the Instrument of the Microcosmical Sun the Man necessarily fitting one to the other for the Act of generation and this was the cause why 't was thought not fit the Man should be alone for if he had been so the World had ceased in him and 't was not only sufficient to make a Man and a Woman so and furnish them with Instruments proper to conjunction and copulation but also that as well in the Man as in the Woman there should be a desire and magnetical attraction to the Act of copulation by a sympathy between themselves or else the very Act it self would be abhorred and the species of humane Generation frustrate and come to nothing by an abhorrency of the Act it self naturally as it is whereby the intention of Nature would have fallen to the ground and one Man and one Woman onely been made in vain Therefore the sagacity of Nature to cause propensity in both Sexes to the Act of Generation for procreation sake endued both with a reciprocal pleasure and delight in the Act of Coition it self And this propensity and pleasure is not ordained in men and women only but in all other Animals to maintain a continual succession of generations amongst them as appears by the great fierceness and earnest desire of all Creatures to this Act of which the Philosophers largely write but we passe it as not pertinent to our present intent and come to speak of the menstrual or monethly Courses by the natural constitution whereof all women are more or lesse weak or strong diseased or sound more or lesse able and meet for Conception according to the species or degrees thereof Chap. II. Of the Menstrua or Terms ARistotle delivers Arist 1. de gen Anim. cap. 19. that the Menstrua is an Excrement and in proportion as the Seed of man and that they happen to Women at the same age as the men begin to have Seed And that the humours of the Terms are purged forth by Nature as superfluous and unprofitable therefore they may be comprehended under the general notion of an Excrement the principal use thereof is for generation sake which is the first Institution thereof the Birth desiring a copious matter for nutriment The Terms generally begin in all Women The time about the fourteenth year of their age about which time also Men begin to have Seed and both men and women change their voice and are subject to many other mutations in their Bodies And they cease as the same Philosopher writes about the 50th year seldome longer continuing The time of their flowing is not in all alike for some have these purgations but one day others two three and four dayes according to the age and temperament of the Woman For sometimes they flow more and sometimes lesse sometimes longer sometimes shorter In women that are sound of body they moderately flow two or three dayes if any longer or shorter time that Woman is sickly or barren And so much for the Terms in general we will proceed now to speak of the suppression or stopping thereof Chap. III. Of the stopping or suppression of the Terms WHereas by the institution of Nature it is necessarily provided that all Women should haâ—e their monethly natural purgations by reason of the temperature of this Sex and many other causes but if they be supprest or stopt there followes to that Woman much peril and many sicknesses but on the other side if they have their purgations according to the law of Nature it keeps them in health and preserves them from many Diseases The Causes The Causes of the suppression of the Terms or diminishing of them are principally four The first is the vitiousness of the Womb and of the Vessels pertaining thereunto The second is the vice or corruption of the blood The third the viciousnesse of the whole Body The fourth and the last are the viciousness and the Faculties of the Body to which all other causes may be referred First therefore the Terms are supprest or diminisht by reason of the Womb and the Vessels belonging thereunto by which the Terms ought to be purged if therefore the Womb labour under any Disease which may be many as that if the substance of the womb be too hard or too thick otherwise then is agreeable to Nature that causes a stopping of the Terms that must be brought to a better habit with fit medicaments and used in time for a convenient remedy Secondly there doth happen Diseases of intemperateness which are various simple and compound some with matter and some without matter under all which the Womb may labour partly by Nature and from the Birth and partly growing in time against Nature as hardnesse and thicknesse of which we have spoken Of these Causes the Simple are cold and dry the Compound hot and dry both which may stop the Terms cause the Womb to grow thick and hard destroy the blood and impedite the natural purgation Then there are Diseases of intemperatenesse with matter as Inflammations Swellings Tumours and Cancers against Nature Then there are other Diseases as Ulcers Fistulaes Imposthums and the like which the Womb is subject to which also impedite the Terms The second cause of the suppression of the Terms is corruption of blood which may be either too thick or too glutinous by reason of the vicious thickness of the humours the Diet and many other causes frequently happening The third Cause which causes Women many times not to have their Purgations at all is the viciousnesse of the whole Body that it sends not blood sufficient to the Womb for this matter to be digested of the humour inclining to other parts of the Body either caused by ill Diet or too much exercise as often happens in some rustick Women whereby their temperament becomes too hot and dry almost inclining to the nature of men Another Cause of the
lib. 3 de sym caus cap. 4. Menstrua alba profluvium uteri as Galen This Disease hath great affinity with the Gonorrhea or the involuntary issue of natural seed called the running of the Reins And this Flux also proceeds from two Causes either too much cold or unatural heat and the differences of this Issue are very many as may appear by the colour of the Excrements which flow or issue which are sometimes red sometimes pale sometimes yellow sometimes black sometimes white and sometimes green sometimes thick and sometimes watery from Species may be gathered the quality of the peccant humour as for example If the Flux be of a red colour it declares that the issue flowes from the blood and is thereby caused If it be pale or yellow it denotes black Choler is the cause thereof if white it proceeds from flegm if it be thin and watery superfluous humours do abound in the Body But above all things be sure to know whether this Flux be a Gonorrhea that is an involuntary issue of the natural Sperm which is the running of the Reins the self same Disease being also incident to men as well as women and proceedeth in both Sexes from one and the same cause and that women as well as men do labour under the same Symptom But is general among women to call this disease the Whites though it be a Gonorrhea or the running of the Reins under which infirmitie many do a long time labour to the great wasting and Consumption of their Bodies the principal cause thereof proceeding either from immoderate excessive or unlawful Venery It is generally agreed that the lawful and proper cause of the Whites is too much superfluity of Excrements but as touching the place and manner where and how these Excrements are ingendered Authors disagree Some say the cause is a daily begetting of corrupt humours in the principal parts Others that it proceeds only from the Womb and Spermatick Vessels Others that it flows only from the Reins the Womb being not at all afflicted thereby But Galen plainly demonstrates 6. de locis affect loc 5. that the whole Body is affected with this Issue although it purge through the Womb and evacuate it self from the Reins and that this Disease is most incident to flegmatick and weak women It remaineth before we come to speak of the method of the cure of this infirmity that diligence be used as we said before to find out whether it proceed from a Gonorrhea that is a Running of the Reins or Flux of humane seed or not the knowledge whereof must be rather conjectural then to be demonstrated from any certain sign other then the Patients own relation But the flowing of the Seed is more thick and floweth in lesse quantity and is not so corrupt and of a whiter colour On the contrary the other Excrements are more thin do flow more abundantly are more filthy and putrified and are not alwayes of the same colour But to proceed to the manner of the Cure of this Disease Respect in the first place is to be had to the purging and cleansing of the whole Body and if the Disease be a Gonorthea and proceed of heat unlawfully or however gotten the Body must first be purged with Medicines appropriate to the Reins before you attempt in any wise to stop the same for which this following is very good An Electuary to purge the Reins Take Cassia newly extracted one ounce Rheubarb in powder one dram mix them together with syrup of white water Lillies a sufficient quantity to make it into an Electuary put this into a penny pot of White-wine or a little posset drink which comes first to hand stir it well together till it be all dissolved in the drink and so take it in the morning fasting and go about your business if you have any thing to do about two hours after take some broth or posset drink This Medecine you may take twice or thrice as you see occasion resting alwaies a day between Afterwards you may take every other day a dram of Trochis de Carabe in Plantane water You may also give the Patient every second or third day a dram of the filings of Ivory in Plantane water it is very good Sweating is also much commended in this case which may be thus done Take Barley water three ounces strong Wine two ounces give it the Patient very warm and so let her sweat Afterwards prepare a Clyster in this manner A Clyster for the Whites through heat or running of the Reyns Take Beets Violet-leaves and Night-shade of each one handful seeth them well together and take 12 Ounces of the decoction or boyled liquor which you please to call it and to it add Sugar 1 Ounce and a half Yolks of Eggs Oyl of Water-Lillies Oyl of Roses of each 2 Ounces Salt a dram and a half give this Clyster in the afternoon a little before meat A Confection for the same Take Comfrey-roots 3 Ounces Pompeon-seed Water-Lillies of each a dram Juyce of Liquorice 2 scruples Coral prepared Bolus Mirtle-seed Roses of each 10 grains Gun Traganth half a dram Syrup the Comphrey Roots cleave and slice them small and seeth them in Red Wine until they be so tender that you may beat them to grout or pap then pill the Pompeon-seeds and beat them together with the other things to fine Powder then incorporate them with the pap or grout made of Camphrey-Roots and then put to them Sirrup of Citron Pills and of Orenges as much as you please and then boyl them together to a Confection And take every morning a spoonful thereof before break-fast Conserves of Roses and Marmalade are exceeding good for this purpose either to be taken alone or mixt together with prepared Bolus and take thereof a dram at a time An excellent Sirrup for the same Take the Seeds of Purslain Lettice and Water-Lillies of each an Ounce prepared Coriander Water Lilly-Roots Dandelion Night-shade of each half an Ounce Camphire half a dram Dates chopt small 2 Ounces Rue-Seeds Mountain Mints parched Gomin of each 1 dram Steep the Dates 8 dayes in Vinegar then seeth them together in 2 quarts of water till half be wasted strain it and put to it 12 Ounces of the juyce of Quinces Sugar 36 Ounces and boyl them all together to a Sirrup and so clarifie them Of this Sirrup take 2 Ounces with 3 Ounces of Plantain water or Purslain-water This is an excellent proved Sirrup for this purpose Drinks and Waters good for this Disease Take Comphrey Roots and boyl them in water and drink thereof 3. of 4. Ounces at a time with Sugar Also water wherein the filings of Steel have been steeped and then Myrtle-seeds boyled therein is very good to drink for the same Simple waters good for this infirmity are the waters of Plantain Sorrel Purslain and Cithorie The decoction of Mallows and the Roots of Hollyhockles is also very good to drink for this Disease An
suppression of the Terms is the weakness of the Women in general whereby the blood wanting power for Concoction runs to some other parts of the Body and so long as the Woman labours under that weakness the purgations are hindred if not altogether stopped But thus much may suffice for the Causes we shall now proceed to the Symptoms Prognosticks and Remedies to be used in the helping this infirmity Though outwardly no visible sign may appear but only the meer relation of the party afflicted yet the differrences thereof may be judged by the Causes and Accidents attending it and the part of the Body thereby afflicted Whether the whole Body be vitiated and diseased or the defect be in the Womb or Vessels as that the Mouth of the Womb be distorted and turned aside out of its due place or some other impediment there about or if there be a perpetual suppression of the Terms then it plainly shows such a Woman to be absolutely barren If the Obstruction come by weakness of the Vessels and expulsive power then that is perceived by immoderate heat great thirst a swift and strong pulse head-ach and many other signs of heat But if the cause thereof happen to be from cold then the Woman is dull drowsy and much given to sleepiness but without any thirst the pulse beats very slow and the Urine is of a loathsome colour If the Disease proceed from some inward cause it is discovered by the fatness or leanness of the party This Obstruction usually brings to the party afflicted not only barrenness but oftentimes the Falling-sickness Suffocation Swellings and Impostumes of the Womb and the other parts appertaining thereunto much dulness and drowsiness over all the Body Coughing difficulty of breathing the Dropsy detention of the Urine costiveness heaviness of mind pain in the Head and many other infirmities Now therefore to proceed to the Remedies to be administred for Cure of this infirmity it will be very fit and necessary in the first place to loosen the Belly which may be done by Glisters which dissolve wind and gently loose as thus A Glister for the stopping the Terms Take flowers of Camomile and Mugwort of each one handful Anni-seeds and Fennel-seeds each an ounce and make a Decoction thereof Then take of this Decoction a pound or a pint which you please three drams of oyl of Camomile and brown Sugar to make it a Glister so give it Hiera Piera is much coÌ„mended in these cases to purge the Excrements of the Vesicles and remove those grosse humours A proper Receipt thereof may be thus to provoke the Terms Take the Species of Hiera or if it be lawful for me to speak English and that 't is a hard matter to do of such ugly unsignificant words as purblind Physicians have devised Take four ounces of the powder of Hiera piâ—ra and mix it with honey of Roses or syrup of Roses a sufficient quantity to make it into a Bolus Also take of the same simple Species or plain powder of Hyera two drams that is a quarter of an ounce and mix it with a sufficient quantity of syrup of Betony that it may be made a Bolus Another Take three drams of solutive syrup of Roses and a sufficient quantity of the Decoction of Citron-seeds make it into a Potion or drink which you please take it immediatly after the Hiera Bolus before directed Another excellent is this Take of the powder of Hiera picra three drams of the Electuary called Lenitivum and Cassia newly drawn three drams mix it into a Bolus with fine Sugar Be pleased to give me leave to tell you what a Bolus is Turner for It is a tearm Physicians have caught by the end without sense or reason to fright you with Bolus is a Latin word and signifies as much in English as to say a mouthful or morsel or as much as one can swallow at once so that you may make it a Pill or Electuary which you please for you know both are to be swallowed Some do refuse the use of Cassia to be administred in such cases and condemn it but being well administred with Hiera piera it is very commodious for this disease The opening of a Vein or letting of bloud is very proper for this Disease if it appears that there be a plenitude or corruption thereof it is properly to be drawn from the lower parts of the Body Give me leave to be so modest as conceale that as the Foot sometimes from the Thighs and Venis Cubiti et ab utero you may imagine my meaning though I speak Latine but I say the superfluous blood must be drawn out and that downwards or else it will endanger to spoil the Body Sub matrice Ligature and binding of the Thighs is also requisite in this case and to keep the same bound to draw down the blood Also if the Veins in the Matrix be obstructed and stopt and the humour of blood abounds it is requisite that there be a Vein opened to take away the blood and that there be other means used to diminish the same as laxative and opening Medicines using abstinence and exercise as need requires but where no order nor abstinence is used never expect a good remedy But take it for a general Rule that at first you begin to provoke the Terms with gentle and lenitive moving Medicines afterwards if that do not the work proceed to stronger by degrees alwaies having due respect to the age and strength of the person For young and tender persons generally this is a gentle mover of the Terms syrup of Betony of Mugwort of honey of Roses the decoction of Betony and Hysop Ceterach Simples gently provoking and moving the Terms which are warm by nature are accounted these Smallage roots Fennel roots roots of Butchers broom of Parsly Madder Asarabacca Valerian and Elecampane The seeds of Lupines Sperage Parsly Smallage Annis Fennel Comin Of herbs these Cinquefoile Mugwort wild Mints Harts-tongne Marjerom Fetherfew Wormwood Juniper wild Time Lovage Maidenhair Southernwood and washt Turpentine Stronger Simples to provoke the Terms are Hemlock Rue Centory Savin Euphorbium Sagapenum Ammoniacum Mirrh Assa foetida Mustard-seed Celandine roots Coloquint Pepper black Hellebore Boras These with the former are to be used in powder Syrrup Juyce or Decoction but beware you be not too busie in medling with some of the last mentioned lest you repent it A Syrup to Concoct and prepare the humours to provoke the Terms Take Syrup of of Betony of Mugwort and Elecampane of each half an ounce of the Decoction of Hysop and Betony of each four ounces mix them together and so take it when you please Odoriferous things which provoke the Terms are Cynamon Cassia Lignea Costus roots Muscus Spica Indiae Spica Romana Gallia muscata and such like Fumes to be burnt to move the Terms are Oppoponacum Soponoria Frankincense Lignum Aloes and red Storax Things by nature cool which move the Terms are The seeds
Men are wont to call that much rain or a great rain which continues a long time though it fall but slowly and leasurely or else if it suddenly fall upon the earth in great showers If any one shall be so curious as to ask what is the proper quantity and measure of the menstrual blood which nature ought duly to evacuate Hippocrates answers them That in a sound Woman Hip. 1. Lib. de morb mulier Pag. 313. and one perfect in health the moderate monethly Purgations ought to be about 20. ounces a very little more or lesse if they exceed very much that proportion or are much lesse then are the Courses diseased and disaffected But the certain quantity of the monethly natural purgations cannot so strictly be defined in all bodies because of the difference of the temperature the dyet habit constitution age and strength of Womens bodies it must necessarily be that some must have them more copiously then others but this definition might be taken to be of a Woman in perfect health but if the Flux of natural purgation be immoderate the party must needs be much afflicted therewith and thereby incur many other Diseases of some whereof mention is already made and partly of the causes thereof But we desire to be a little more copious Causes in discovering the causes of this distemper before we proceed to the method of the cure thereof The causes of this immoderate Flux Gal. 3. de Sym. Causis Cap. 2.5 Aph. Com. 58. are distinctly and accurately handled by Galen That The Termes as other Fluxes of blood do flow immoderatly for three causes First By reason of the faculty that recludeth the Vessel containing the blood as in the Flux of blood at the nose The second Because of the evil affection and ill disposition of the blood And the third By reason of some vitiousness or detriment in the Vessels themselves The first cause is by reason of the natural faculties which are foure The faculty attractive retentive alterative and the faculty expulsive All which faculties perform their operations Gal. 1. de fac Nat. according to their proper temperatures as Galen largely teacheth Therefore they are the cause of the menstrual Fluxes immoderation when these fuculties do not properly and duly exercise their functions and Offices As chiefly If the retentive faculty be too weak that it cannot retain the blood so much and so long as it should until its due time this is a special cause of the superfluous Flux which many times happens by reason of some ill distemper in the womb or Vessels either too much cold or moysture or both In like manner it comes to passe when the expulsive faculty too powerfully sends forth the blood in such quantity and at such times when by the Lawes of nature it should not and this also chiefly happens by reason of some ill distempers either in the Womb or Vessels proceeding of too much heat and dryness or both Another cause of the immoderate Flux of the Termes is the ill disposition or corruption of the blood and that after a twofold manner The first when the blood is so vitious that it corrodeth and corrupteth the Vessels wherein it is contained which is done when the blood is too thin hot or sharp and that by reason the temperature or ill dyer is mixed with superfluity of Flegme Choler or Melancholy which are offensive to nature and do provoke her to expel them A second cause is superfluity of blood distempered 4 Method 2. so that the Vessels cannot contain it but it breaks out and forces a purgation by reason of the abounding acrimonious humor thereof as Galen also makes mention Having now spoken of two causes of the immoderate Flux of the Termes we proceed to the third which is because of the viriousness of the Vessels and that consisteth in the too much hardness softness or smallness thereof And happens to come in youth in their first beginning and to others afterwards in progress of time And this happens to come thus to passe Too much softness of superfluity of moysture hardness of too much dryness and smallness of too much hunger or want of sustenance If this superfluous Flux proceed of too much blood Colour then the colour of the Termes will be pale and whitish if they come of Choler then the Flowers will incline to a yellow Colour If Melancholy be the abounding humour then are the Flowers of a blewish black or dark colour By which Colours you may judge of the abounding humour and provide a remedy accordingly to stop the excessive Flux thereof for which purpose we now come to prescribe many both internal and external meanes First Observe these Rules Beware of hot things If the Body be grosse and full of blood and humours that nature seems to expulse it this way stop it not suddenly unless there be danger of much weakness by it but gently purge and prepare the body first If the Body be very full of blood you may open the Basilica vein and seek to reverse it that way if it appear to come of Choler or if any other peccant humour abounds purge that humour with proper moderate Medicines mixing astringent and comfortable things amongst it Let the Woman abstain from all hard labour and all kind of slimey thin and waterish meat Vomits are good to stay the humour and turn their course that they flow not downwards Inwardly may be given Sirrups Electuaries decoctions Confections and the like A Sirrup to stay the immoderate Flux of the Termes Take Sirrup of Endive one ounce Sirrup of Purslain half an ounce the decoction of Egrimony and of Plantain 4 Ounces mix them together and make them into a Sirrup and so take it as you please An Electuary for the same Take conserve of Roses 2 Ounces of water Lillies one ounce of Pearl prepared and burnt Harts-horn each half an ounce Bole Armonick Terra Lemnia each half a scruple mix them together with syrrup of Plantain a quantity sufficient to make it into an Electuary A Bolus for the same Take Conserce of Roses half an ounce Philonium or Requies Nicholai two Scruples Mix them together and make a Bolus thereof This is not to be given but when extremity urges Avicenna amongst many other Medicaments of this nature commendeth the use of Vinegar which to some may seem strange it being the vulgar opinion that Vinegar is of a great opening quality Nevertheless Galen agrees with Avicen Gal. 1. de sim med cap. 18.19 who writeth of Vinegar that it is of an astringent quality and doth suppresse and stop fluxes of the blood Others contradict the same not approving of it in this case as hurtful to the Womb. And there being many other Medicines here readily prescribed it may very well be let alone A Powder to stay the immoderate Flux of the Terms Take Species tria santali Diarrhodon Abbatis each a dram Coriander two scruples and a half
De Morbis Foemineis THE Womans Counsellour OR The Feminine Physitian MODESTLY Treating of such occult accidents and secret Diseases as are incident to that Sex which their too much modesty too often to their sorrow causes them to conceal from others for a Remedy whereof they are here taught to be their own helpers especially in these particulars Of barrenness and Abortion of natural and unnatural Births of the suppression of the Termes the immoderate Flux thereof and other infirmities Dicere quae puduit Scribere jussit With a brief Appendix touching the Kindes Causes and Cures of Dropsies and Tympanies of all sorts Translated out of Massarius de morbis Mulier By R. T. φιλομαθης 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 London Printed for John Streater and are to be sold by the Booksellers in London 1657. To the Reader Courteous Reader I Am now to write to two Sexes both Masculine and Feminine This Treatise is composed useful for both Men and Women for men who are English Students in the excellent works of nature the knowledge of Physick who want some English subject of this nature there being nothing of it yet extant And this Authour comming to my hands almost worn out with the Canker of Time I have bestowed the pains to new dresse and revive with many additions there being no subject more useful To the Feminine Gender Women of all sorts be they Maids Wives or Widows what private and occult infirmities they are subject to are here described with their causes and Cures Those that are or intend to take on them the honourable practice of Midwives may be instructed in some difficulties that will happen in their Offices whereby they may be helpful to those they undertake I mean not the Theorical part of a Midwives Office and Duty what appertains to that they are sufficiently and excellently directed by that late deceased and yet living English Apollo Mr. Culpepper in his Midwives Directory and here followes the practical part directing what means is to be used in any accident there or that followes or precedes Child-birth I have bestowed the pains plainly to English the Receipt of every Medicine in words at length and not in figures that every one may understand them and thereby over modest Maids and VVomen may help themselves in many private infirmities which oftentimes they languist under and will not discover Then make use hereby as you have occasion and as you finde the Benefit give God the prayse who hath given power to his weak Creatures the Herbs of the Field to be your helpers and preservers which is the desire of R. T. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A TABLE OF THE Contents of the Chapters OF Womens Diseases in general The Introduction Chap. 1. Of the Menstrue or Termes C. 2. Of the suppression or stopping of the Termes Chap. 3. Of the immoderate Flux of the Termes Chap. 4. Of the Flux of the Womb or the Whites Chap. 5. Of the Fits of the Mother or suffocation and drawing up of the Matrix Chap. 6. Of the falling down of the Womb. Chap. 7. Of natural Conceptions Chap. 8. Of Barrenness Chap. 9. Of monstrous and unnatural births C. 10. Of the unnatural fleshy Conception in the Womb called Mola Chap. 11. Of weakness of Children in the Womb. Chap. 12. Of Mischances and to prevent the same Chap. 13. To expel and drive forth a dead Child out of the womb Chap. 14. Of hard Labour find meanes to procure easie Delivery Chap. 15. Of superfluity of milk and other accidents happening after the Birth as sore breasts Chap. 16. Meanes and Remedies for Nurses that want milk Chap. 17. Of Dropsies and Tympanies an Appendix THE WOMANS COUNSELLOUR The Introduction Chap. I. Of Womens diseases in generall THis being a Subiect which too much modesty or indeed as it is simple folly of many of the female Sex hath hindred them from attaining to and others to fill their purses have and do still endeavour to conceale But the want thereof being much and the benefit great to save the health and sometimes the lives of many poor women whom God made as like himself as he did the greatest Queen in the world is the cause of bringing this so much necessary work to every ones capacity And to treate peculiarly of the Diseases and Infirmities incident to women which as they want a particular Treatise so they require a peculiar and proper Cure Hipp. I. de morbis mul. 331. as Hippocrates at large teacheth For the women do much differ from the men from their beginning and therefore do labour under and suffer many Diseases peculiar and proper only to that Sex which men can never surfer neither are they incident to them Wherefore Is it not requisite to call such infirmities womens diseases and for them to instittute not only a proper Treatise but a special Cure Neverthelesse it hath been and perhaps still is contended against by some learned and famous men who would account this Treatise needlesse and seem to averre that there is no such vast distinction to be used between the Male and Female but their Diseases having only respect to the Sex may be cured by one and the same general method And this indeed may be true in some common and generall Diseases usual to both sexes but in such infirmities as appertain only to the women and are not at all contingent to the men their falsity plainly appears And therefore Galen Hippocrates Dioscorides and many others have taken the pains to write whole Commentaries meerly upon the Diseases of women but yet their works are much incused by the corruption of time though full of much variety of speech gravity and excellency of Learning This Treatise of the Diseases of women is so occult intricate and difficult to perform that there is nothing to be found in all the Cabinets of nature or secrets of the medicinal Art more abstruse and difficult The causes of this are many as Hippocrates numbers them in his Book Hipp. de morbis mul. pag. 331. De morbis mul. pag. 131. The first cause is that women carry Diseases a long time about them and root it in them and yet are either voluntarily or foolishly ignorant thereof either they do not know or else are so superfluously modest as they will not discover the same until time and necessity too late to their pain teaches them to know them by experience And from hence it followes that their Cure is not onely difficult but oftentimes their Diseases are incurable The second cause Hippocrates numbreth to be this That a great many women that are troubled with some secret Disease and do well know the same yet are so shamefac't and modest as rather to suffer under the same than to communicate their minds to the Physician Whereas he that wears the shoo best knows where it wrings and amongst other Causes the information of the Patient discovers to the Physician the knowledge and so consequently the Cure of
the Disease may be the easier effected Now the Physician being destitute of that help by reason of the silence of the women the knowledge of the Disease is the more hard to find out and consequently the Cure more difficult This also may be added for a third cause the too much verecundity or timidity of the Physicians dealing too carelesly with the women being too shamefac'd or bashful to deal plainly with them and to inquire of them diligently and perfectly the causes of their infirmities and also absconditos locos suos attingere tractare which is necessary and needfully required Of which negligence Hippocrates doth much reprove and reprehend many Physicians who do not accurately and carefully study to search out and understand the true Causes of womens Diseases without the knowledge whereof their going about to Cure them is rash and indiscreet But to passe by these Causes which are of no small moment it will not be amiss to add another that the ignorance of Midwives not knowing the internal secret parts of nature nor how to exhibite in word or outward remedies may cause to the women difficult and hard labours From all which is consequently gathered that the Causes finding out the matter and knowledge of womens Diseases containeth in it many secrets and great difficulties But these difficulties carry with them and comprehend in themselves a recompence of jucundity and profit For what is more delightful to man than to understand so great secrets and mysteries of Nature And what can be more profitable to a Physician than to finde out and know the way and manner of curing and helping the infirmities and diseases of women For since that the infirmities which do most frequently afflict miserable women are very many most acute and grievous in so much that their complaints may be heard almost continually from the very Womb certainly Physicians in the study of their Cure shall not only gain great esteem and honour but much profit This therefore induceth me to render this Treatise plainly in the English tongue that the women themselves may be their own Physicians The first thing therefore here intended to be handled is of the Conception of man and therein the first thing to be noted is the distinction and difference of the Sexes of man and woman without which no Conception can be had nor the Course of nature maintained of which that it may be fully and perfectly understood by you we shall speak plainly I say therefore as the Philosophers teach that all things whatsoever that are have a twofold ens or being some ingenerative incorruptible eternal as Intelligences and Heaven others generative corruptible and momentary as these inferiour Elements and those things which consist of the Elements Although the Elements as to the whole are ingenerative and incorruptible neverthelesse according to the parts they are generated and corrupted and are subject to continual transmutation But the Cause thereof is the materia prima or first matter which alwaies desires new forms as the Phylosophers in their Physicks every where teach But to let passe all other circumstances Gal. 14. cap. 11. Galen tells you there was a man so studious in the secrets of Nature as to seek if it were possible to be immortal and bring immortality upon the Body But the materia prima or which if you will call it God himself knew this to be unlawful and this Galen sufficiently declareth Gal. 1 cap. 1. For that which consisteth of Arteries Veins Nerves Bones and Flesh is the compound of Nature and therefore is subject to corruption for the Frabricatum or building of Nature is a plain way yet impossible to bring a man to immortality his structures are subject to fall The greatest of Cities and the wisest of men be their Counsels never so great or their people never so many and their wisdom and their providence never so much time will bring them all to nothing Therefore the workes of Nature are wonderful as that as one dies another lives and instead of one another succeeds and by that Rule you may call nature to be immortal but this is no other but the continual Generation of mankind Gal. 6.7.14 3 De usu part so teacheth Philosophy and so the learned write There is no part of the Body but is necessary to be used and competent to the protection of life as the Brain the Heart the Liver the Eyes the Nose the Ears but if we should particularly instance the primum mobile of Nature we must then speak of the four principal parts which carry a distinction between the Male and the Female and are the preservers and continuers of mankind I 'le presume so much modesty as to give you these tearms in the old tongue Turner my meaning cannot be unknown 't was lawfull for Ovid to write what he would not speak and you may know my meaning the parts following which we must treat of are the maintainers and continues of the World before the confusion of Babel called pudenda testes utert You know my mind if you do not his in English such things as have the best sense of feeling Of this which we said before we intend only to discriminate the Sexes without which no Generation can be had in any Creature whatsoever without the perfect mixture of Male and Female And therefore Aristotle in all his works Arist. de gen c. 2 counted the Earth to be the Mother of all Creatures the Sun the Father and begetter of them so saith likewise Plato and all others that the Man and the Woman consist of two Elements of the Sun and Moon the Father and begetter to be the Fire or Sun the woman or conceiver to be the Earth or Moon of which the whole World is built and consists As the Macrocosmus or great world consists Turner and is properly supported by the Sun and Moon which are the male and female of the same great World so the Microcosmus Man by the woman which is the Moon of the man and the Earth of the Microcosmus and the field of his generation products the continual generation of mankind To speak of the differences of Sects and parts between man and woman would take up a Volume in Philosophy beyond our present intention which intends only the infirmities incident to the Moon of the man or that Creature which we call a woman Something may be said how the Sun and Moon of the Microcosme or the man and the woman differ in parts and nature Philosophy largely teacheth it but we say no more but only they differ in Faculty For the Man or the Sun of the Microcosme hath a power or faculty to ingender in another that is in the Moon but the woman hath also a faculty in power of generating or bringing forth in her self by the help of the Sun her husband without which mutual conjunction no Generation can be had I hope you have wit enough to know
of small Endive of Melons of Gourds of Pompeons Cucumbers and Lettice of which Pessaries may be made to use in the Womb but have a care you put a string to them to get them out again when you please A Syrup to take away the Obstructions in the Body which hinder the Terms Take Madder two ounces of the roots of Lovage Sperage Cypers and grasse each an ounce and a half Penny Mountaine and Balm of each two ounces Spica Indiae half a dram Licorice Currans Rosemary flowers and Stecados of each an ounce six ounces of Honey and nine ounces of Sugar boyl it into a syrup and take thereof two ounces at a time Another for the same Take two ounces of Madder Sperage roots Cypers roots and the roots of Butchers broom of each an ounce Valerian Sabine white water Mints and Penny-royal of each a handful Baulm two handfuls of Melon seed one ounce Licorice and Currans each half an ounce Honey and Sugar of each six ounces so make it into a syrup and take thereof about an ounce and a half at a time To provoke the Terms strongly Take the water of Smallage of Lupins Sperage and Fennel of each six ounces a dram of Cinamon a quarter of an ounce of Spica Indiae Ammoniacum and Oppopanacum of each a dram and a half Parsly seed Fennel seed wild yellow Rape seed and Carraway of each a quarter of an ounce Gromell seed and Agrimony of each a handful Galingale and Saffron of each half a dram the kernels of Quinces and Mallow seeds of each half an ounce Syrup of Violers two ounces boyl them all except the syrup in two quarts of Gourds water till the third part be wasted then strain it and mix it with the syrup of Violets and boil it with so much Honey as you see convenient then strew a little powder of Cinamon into it and Vinegar of Squils enough to make it sowrish then take of it in quantity as the former Common Sirups whith remove obstructions of the Terms are Syrup of Mugwort of Maiden-hair of Chicory with Rubarb and the syrup of the five roots these you may have ready made at the Apothecaries A Laxative to open the Body and purge superfluous humours Take Sene leaves Penny-royal and Madder of each a like quantity boyl them in white Wine take thereof about three ounces at a time fasting Another for the same Take Penny-royal Nep Southernwood Rue Centory and Hysop of each one handful Savin and Fetherfew of each one handful and an half Galingale a dram Cinamon and Madder of each one handful Mirrh a quarter of an ounce boyl them together in a quart of fair water till the third part be wasted take thereof two or three ounces fasting at a time Another Take Sperage Smallage Fennel and Parsly roots Carduus benedictus and Butchers broom of each an ounce and a half Annis Fennel and Carraway seeds of each a dram and a half Mugwort Penny-royal Mints Horehound Assarabacca and Fetherfew of each half a handful seeth them altogether in two quarts of water till half be wasted then strain it and mix therewith the syrup of the five roots of Calamint and Mugwort of each a like quantity and drink thereof in the morning and afternoon about two ounces Another to move the Terms Take Mints Balm Penny-royal Marjerom and Southernwood of each an handful Anni-seeds Fennel and Carraway seeds of each an ounce Polipody an ounce and an half Cicory roots an ounce cut the roots and herbs very small and boyl them all together in a quart of water till a third part be consumed then strain it and sweeten it with Sugar to your own likeing and take thereof as you please A Syrup to provoke the Terms Take four handfuls of Cicory roots take out the pith and cut them small and boyl them a good space in two quarts of White wine strain it and then boyl the decoction unto a syrup with Sugar and take thereof about two spoonfuls evening and morning A Trochis to move the Terms Take a dram and a half of Mirrh two drams and an half of Lupines Rue water Mints Comin Madder Elecampane roots Sagapenum Oppopanacum of each a dram make it into Trochis with the juyce of Mugwort and give half an ounce thereof in the decoction of Juniper berries made with water Wines good to provoke the Terms Wine of Elecampane roots of Marjerom gentle of the herb Rennet of Betony of Gellow-flowers and of Rosemary these are very good if the Patients Body be fitting to drink Wine otherwise discretion may direct you not to use it Confections good for this Disease are The Confection of Elecampane roots the Confection of Eringo roots Conserves of Pioney and Mirrh roasted in an Apple Pills to move the Terms Take the Pill Alephargine half a dram Aloes two scruples Savin in powder one scruple make in into Pills with the water of Mugwort and take half thereof at once these provoke the Terms and are safe without any danger Others for the same Take-Pill Alephargine half a dram pill Cochiae one scrupse mix them into five Pills and take them at once By the way heed is to be taken that these Medicines are not to be exhibited at such time as the Flowers do use to come or nature useth to send forth the menstrual purgations for at that time they may draw and turn the humors from the womb where nature would yent and purge it to some other parts of the Body to the impediting of nature and dammage of the Body but the whole Body being purged and cleansed then 't is a fit time to apply these Medicaments which may take away the intemperatness and remove the vices and obstructions of the Womb and Vessels purifie the crassious and corrupted bloud and extenuate the same out of the Vessels and briefly provoke the Terms To do which you see the ways and means are manifold partly simple partly compound partly internal and partly external to be administred and exhibited sundry wayes and for sundry reasons as the cause and necessity shall require to which we further proceed Pills to procure the Terms Take Musk and Mirrh of each four scruples Sterhas Madder Penny-royal Citron pills long Pepper Cassia wood Cassia pills Pioney seeds and Calmus of each three quarters of an ounce Spica Indiae half a dram make Pills thereof with the juyce of Mugwort whereof take a dram at once Thus far of inward Medicines to procure the Terms there are also many outward Medicines to be used if need require the first part whereof are Baths and Lotions which are partly natural as of the natural water of hot Baths and partly artificial which are prepared of congruent and fitting Medicaments A Bath or Lotion for the Terms Take of Camomile flowers of Mugwort Calamint Dictamnus of Crete Briony Savin of each one handful of Anniseeds Fennel seeds yellow Carrot seeds and Ameos of each an ounce mix them altogether and therewith make a Decoction in water
naturally flies from stinking smells therefore as in the ascention or rising of the Mother you are to use stinking things to the nose and sweet to the Womb so contrariwise in the falling down or discention of the Mother you are to apply sweet perfumes to the Nose and stinking to the Matrix to the end the same may thereby be drawn up again into its due place For this Disease it is good to hold to the Nose Assa foetida galbanum old Woollen Clouts or Shooes burnt Hair or Feathers or such stinking things that may be gotten speedily And apply sweet odoriferous things to the Matrix beneath for which purpose this Powder following is very good A Powder to be used in the nature of a Pessary against the suffocation of the Matrix or fits of the Mother Take red Storax Lignum Aloes Cloves of each a dram Musk Amber of each half a dram Make them altogether into a Powder and then bind it up in a Cloth in the form of a Pessary and put it up into the Matrix Another for the same Take an Ounce of Oyl of Lillies Musk Saffron of each 3 grains bruise all well together and make a Pessary thereof with Wooll or Cotton and put it up into the place A Fumigation for this Disease Take Gallia Moscata Cassia wood Cynamon Time of each a like quantity mix these together and make a perfume thereof and let the smoke be received up into the Matrix through a tumel for that purpose If the Patient be a Maid a Husband is the best Medicine if she can get one but in case that cannot be then let her abstain from strong Wines and flesh meat and all such things as increase natural sperme And use letting blood such meats and drinks as are cooling and amongst the rest this Confection following is very good A Confection against the fits of the Mother Take Polipody Roots 6 Ounces Sene Violets Prunes Sebastins Dates Currans of each an Ounce and a half seeth these altogether in two quarts of water till half be consumed away then strain it out hard and infuse in the decoction while it is hot 6. Ounces of the Seeds of Fleawort till the Muscilage be drawn out of them then put to this decoction 24 Ounces of fine Sugar and take thereof once in 2 or 3 dayes and fast after it 6 hours Take silver Mountain Madder Penyroyal the innermost rinds of Cassia Pipes Pomegranat Kernels Piony Roots Calamy of each 3 drams Mulcus and Spica Indie of each half a dram make all these together into Pills with the juyce of Mugwort of these she may take a dram every day before Supper if she take not the Confection the same day It is also good for this Disease to open the Saphea vein in the foot and afterwards give the Patient a dtam of the Powder of Betony in Featherfew-water It is also good to anoint the Belly with the Oyl of Mastick and so much for this affliction of the suffocation or ascention of the Matrix we come next to speak of the discention or falling down of the same Chap. VII Of the falling down of the Womb. This is another great evil wherewith many poor Women labour and is of no small consequence and danger for as in some cases and for some causes the Matrix in some Women is drawn up and ascendeth out of its due place so on the contrary it sometimes descends downwards out of the Body This accident is caused sometimes by hard labour and heavy births falls bruises too much astringency in the body taking great cold violent sneesing overmuch stirring and the like It may likewise be caused by reason of ill humours predominant in the Body which fall down to the Womb forcing it out of its natural place and many times brings with it the Palsie and Falling Sickness as also Ulcers and Imposthumes in the Womb. If this Disease happen by means of any outward accident the Patient her self can best discover the cause thereof If it come from some inward cause then respect is to be had to the Constitution of the party whether she be lean or fat moystor dry and to the Symptomes the disease which causeth pain in the lower part of the Back-bone and also about the secret parts sometimes an Ague with it the Urine staies and the Body is astringent If the passage of the neck of the Womb bee smooth and open then it is not moved downwards but if it be stopped then be sure it is descended although it appear not out of the Body and if it do continue displaced any long time it will be very difficult if not impossible to reduce the same to its natural place again Now to seek Remedies for this Disease you must instead of applying sweet things to the Matrix as you were directted in the ascension of the Matrix or the fits of the Mother to draw it down you must now apply stinking things to the Matrix and sweet smells to the Nose to draw it up againe A Fume for the falling down of the womb Take Tormentil Bistort juyce of Sloes of each 3 drams Pomgranate pills the blossoms thereof of each a quarter of an ounce Assa foetida an ounce Mastick Frankincense Galbanum of each 2 drams and a half Cypress Nuts Galls Mirtle seed of each five drams stamp mix all these together strew thereof upon a red hot brick let the patient receive the fume thereof beneath Let it not come at her Nose but in the mean time let her smell to Musk Amber Violets and such sweet smells which draw up the Mother and cause it to ascend again Another for the same Take a stinking rotten addle Egg that a Hen hath sat on and dip Cotton in it and lay it upon the neck of the Matrix it causeth it to ascend again A Fume for the same by a Decoction Take Camomile Marjoram Carraway of each one handful Linseed one handful and a half boyl these altogether in water and receive the Fume thereof into the Matrix The vapour of Housleek bruised and laid on a hot brick is good for the same if there be heat or inflammation in the Matrix A Fomentation for the same Take Roses three ounces Mirtle seed Violet leaves Marigolds Fetherfew of each one handful Assa feetida five drachms bruise them together and tie them up in a bag and seeth them in red Wine and lay it upon the place after the vapour is received An Oyntment for the falling down of the VVomb Take the Ointment of Hollyhocks which is called at the Apothecaries unguent de Althea mix therewith some marrow of an Ox or other beast the grease of a Hen or Capon and some oyl and herewith annoint the neck of the Matrix and all the parts about it when you go to bed you may also make a plaister hereof and apply it all night as before Another Ointment for the same Take oyl of Myrtles of Lillies of Mastick of each
taken quite away hindred or impedited or depraved as it happens in all other actions and motions of the body If Conception be quite taken away in a Woman so that she can never conceive this affection is called barrenness or this may be called a barren Woman which you please But if a Woman do conceive sometimes though rarely and seldom this is a weak and diminutive conception or the conceiving faculty is feeble and diminutive And to this kind of debility and weakness may be referred abortive and untimely Births when the Woman doth conceive but through weakness cannot bring the conception to the due time of the birth There is also a depraved conception when in the Womans Womb is contained some unnatural conception as Monsters Mola or superfluous unshapen flesh water wind or the like filling up the Womb and receiving the form of a conceived substance the causes and Remedies of these we shall proceed to declare The holy Scripture makes mention what reproach and how odious and detestable a thing barrenness was accounted in the antient times there was hardly any greater defamation to a woman so that Rachel could cry out to her Husband for Children or else her life lay on it rather then bear the reproach of barrenness and some Women have preferred their Maids to their Husbands so that the Child might be reputed theirs to take away their blemish of barrenness but you will find few Women of that mind now a dayes Therefore we come to speak of the causes of this grief which the Physitians do account many and divers Hippocrates accounteth the principal causes of barrenness to be these Hippoc. lib. de sterilitate if the mouth of the Womb be disterred and turned aside out of its place contrary from the pudenda if the mouth of the Womb appear too big or more wide then is convenient or if the mouth of the Womb be fallen down or hang out below the pudenda then is such a Woman unfit for conception these are therefore great causes of barrenness Many other are the causes of barrenness sometimes more sometimes lesse as Galen excellently teacheth The head and principal beginning of the invention Gal. 3. de Symp. Caus and finding out of all causes which bring hurt or are obnoxious to the faculties of the body is no other but the knowledge of the meanes whereby these faculties perform their actions in the time of health and soundness of body And whereas it hath been already declared that to produce any natural conception there is a necessity of conjunction and carnal copulation both of the man and woman therefore it ought first to be made manifest that the cause of barrenness may be through some defect in the man or in the woman and sometimes in both Although at this time our intent is only to treat of such Diseases as are incident to Women yet nevertheless since the Women have in this case a great interest and a dammage too if the fault be in the man because they may help their Husbands defect and in so doing pleasure themselves if they finde the imperfection to lie in him we shall not praetermit it And again since there is a necessity of the Copulation of man and woman or else there can be no generation and that they be both furnished with fit Instruments for that purpose as the man with the yard stones and seed the woman with Pudenda testes You may easily know what I mean the womb seed and menstruous blood Then all reason tells you that if there be any disaffection or defect in nature in any of these members or parts belonging to this work the fruitfulness and conception must necessarily be either impedited diminished or quite taken away Barrenness in men Few Women do complain of this fault One cause of barrenness on the mans part which is of all Authours condemned is penis longus or the overmuch length of the yard by reason whereof the seed is refrigerated and taketh cold in the passage of the yard before it can be injected from the stones into the womb But although this be a general received reason Avicen lib. 3. tract 1.8 amongst almost all Philosophers yet it may seem vain and suffer contradiction for the seed passing through the Conduit or channel of the yard is cherished and kept hot by the pudenda of the woman so that it seems impossible that it should take cold in the passage but rather the contrary that the long penis is most fit and commodious to further and perfect the Conception by injecting the seed into the inner parts of the womb which is done without any interval or space of time And also contradictive to this Opinion is the relation of Averroes which is credited by Aristotle and other good Philosophers That a certain Maid conceived with Child by standing in a Bath where some seed of man had been cast the Womb drawing the same into it by its natural magnetick attractive faculty which draweth and attracteth to it self the seed of man as the Loadstone draweth Iron But whereas many will have it that the too long yard is unfit for conception This is the worst fault in womens account so there are others on the contrary that affirm the short penis to render men unfruitful and that to be as bad if not a greater fault then the other And this is the more probable reason that the short penis may be more defective then the long one because it cannot so well inject the seed into the inner parts of the womb But to speak freely neither of these causes either of the length or shortness of the yard can be firm reasons of the barrenness or fruitfulness of man or to cause barrenness in the man since it is confirmed by experience of both parts that have had plenty of Children But a greater reason of barrenness in the man may be some vitiousness or defect in the yard as if the same be oblique or crooked if any of the ligaments thereof be distorred or broken whereby the wayes and passages through which the seed should flow be corrupt stopped or vitiated or some Disease or imperfection be either in the proper or in the vicious parts thereof Another cause of barrenness by the defect of the yard is too much weakness and tenderness thereof so that it is not strongly enough erected to inject the seed into the womb for the strength and stifness of the yard very much conduces to conception by reason of the forcible injection of the humane seed into the womb A second cause of barrenness of men may be some natural vice or laesion in the stones Gal. 14. usu part 1. de sem 11 16. if they are so made by nature that they cannot exercise their gift properly in producing seed The stones may be the cause of barrenness by reason of their evil composition or accidents and distempers or continual solution The stones may labour
under distempers either simple or compound either with or without matter As if the stones be oppressed with any inflammation or tumour wound or Ulcer or drawn up within the belly not appearing outwardly all such causes of the stones may be the reason of barrenness in the man Also the man may be barren by reason of the defect of the seed and that may come from a twofold cause The first If he ingender and cast forth no seed at all or in lesse substance then is needful And secondly If the seed generated and cast forth be vitious and unfit for generation The seed is hindred from generation in those bodies which are grosse and fat the matter of it being defective And on the other side too much leaness or a continual wasting or consumption of the body destroyes the seed nature turning all the matter and substance thereof into nutriment for the body The seed may also be corrupt and vitious by reason of many internal and external causes If the Instruments and Vessels of seed be intemperate or disaffected or in any wayes corrupted that they cannot attract the matter of the fruitful seed and so that they cannot concoct the attracted matter and retain the same so long until it can receive its whole and perfect absolution as for examples sake it frequently happens to those who have a long time laboured with the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins or if the principal parts of the body be so ill affected that they conceit ill nutriment that causeth vitious seed to be generated unfit for conception Likewise many outward causes may so alter and disaffect our bodies as that they may cause the seed to be vitious and unfruitful Too frequent carnal Copulation Gal. 1. de sem Cap. 16. is one great cause of barrenness of men which attracteth the seminal moisture from the stones before it is sufficiently prepared and concocted as all other members of the body by the institution of nature do use to draw their accustomed juyce to themselves So if any one by daily Copulation do exhaust and draw out all the moysture of his seed then do the stones draw the moyst humours from the superior veins unto themselves and so having but a little blood in them they are forced of necessity to cast it out raw and unconcocted and thus the stones be violently deprived of the moysture of their veins attract the same from the other superior veins and the superior veins from all the other parts of the body for their proper nutriment to the great violating of the body depriving 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 deprived of its best purest blood of the vital spirits insomuch that many who have bin too much addicted to the pleasure have killed themselves in the act But chiefly It is no wonder if such seed not well concocted and digested be unfit for generation Gluttony and drunkenness do also much hinder men from fruitfulness and maketh them unfit for generation But amongst other causes of barrenness in men this also is one that maketh them barren and of the nature of Eunuchs the incision or cutting of their veins behinde their ears which for a Disease many times is done This saith Hippocrates causeth barrenness in them Gal. Lib. de genitur whose veins behinde their eares are cut to which Galen agrees for he saith that especially more then from any other parts of the body the seed flowes from the brain by those veins behinde the eares which also Aristotle confirms From whence it probably appears that the transmission of the seed is impedited by the Section of the Veins behinde the eares so that it cannot at all descend to the lower parts of the body or else very crude and raw And thus have we shown the causes of barrennesse in men Now we come to speak of barrennesse in women Although there are many causes of the barrenness of women yet the chief and principal are internal and they may be all referred to the privy parts of the Body the Seed or the menstruous blood Therefore Hippocrates speaking of the easy and difficult Conception of Women saith thus The first consideration is to be had of their Species for little Women are more apt to conceive then great slender then grosse white and fair then ruddy and high coloured black then pale and wan Those which have their Veins conspicuous are more apt then others but to be very fleshy is evil to have great swelling Breasts good The next thing to be considered is their Courses or monethly purgations whether they have them duty every Moneth if they flow plentifully and are of a good colour whether they have them equal every moneth at their certain daies and times for so their purgations ought to be Then the Womb or place of Conception is to be considered it ought to be clean and sound dry and soft the Womb not retracted nor drawn up nor prone or descended downwards and the mouth thereof ought not to be turned awry nor everst nor too close shut But to come to consider of these Causes more distinctly and particularly The first parts therefore to be spoken of are the pudenda that is the privie member and the Womb which parts are shut enclosed either by nature or against nature from hence such women are called inperforate For in some Women the mouth of their Womb continueth compressed closed up from the time of their Birth until the time of the ripeness of their Courses and then on a sudden when their Terms provoke forwards to purgation they are molested with great pain and sickness some break of their own accord others are dissected and opened by Physitians to some it brings death or else they are forced to break or never break at all And this Aetius distinctly handles who writeth that the Wombs of women are shut three manner of waies which hinders Conception The first is When the lips of the Pudenda do grow or cleave together Secondly Although the lips seem open yet there are certain Membrances growing in the middle part of the Matrix within The third Though the lips and bosome of the Pudenda may appear fair and open yet the Mouth of the Womb may be quite shut up all which three kinds of Closures are impediments to the Conceptions of women They do hinder in the first place the performance of three offices the use of man their purgations and their Conception In the second place they are two impediments the communication with men and Conception thereby And thirdly two other impediments to themselves Purgation and Conception there might also fall in by the way a discourse of the Hymen or that Membrane which is so called but that only serves for the testimony of true virginity to them that know it which lock the losse of a Maidenhead opens
but that seems a digression from this intention But amongst all causes of barrenness in a Woman in the instruments of generation it is certain that the greatest is in the Womb for the Wombe is the field of generation and if this field be corrupt and not well disposed it is in vain to expect any fruit let it be never so well tilled and sown for the Womb is subject to many diseases and thence it followes that it may be often unfit for generation distempers many are subject to it as over much heat and over much cold Women whose Wombs are too thick and cold cannot in any wise conceive because coldness extinguisheth the natural heat of the humane Seed Another cause of barrenness may be immoderate moisture of the Womb which destroys the Seed of the man as Corn sown in ponds and marshes A third cause of barrenness of the Woman is over much dryness of the Womb so that the humane Seed perisheth for want of nutriment and becomes as Corn sown upon stones or sandy ground A fourth cause of womens barrenness is the immoderate heat of the Womb which scorcheth up the Seed of man as Corn sown in the drought of Summer for immoderate heat hurts all the parts of the Body and no Conception can live or be nourished in that woman Many other may be the distempers which the Womb is subject to that may render it unfit for Conception and be the cause of barrenness as when unnatural humors are ingendred in the Womb too much flegm Tympanies worms wind water or any such peccant humour abounding contrary to nature But amongst all other causes which produce fertility or barrenness to a woman the monethly Terms are greatly to be respected as hinderers or furtherers thereof if they come not in due order it must necessarily cause barrennesse of that woman to follow but of them we have already spoken and given directions how to promote and further the same But having sufficiently spoken of the causes of barrenness in man and woman we shall methodically proceed for procreation sake to lay down such remedies as may naturally serve to prefer generation and hinder accidental barrenness in either But if in men the cause be and that in the shortness of the penis I cannot help that the women must in that case help themselves as well as they can of any too long there is seldom any complaint A woman may also have some other accidentall causes which may hinder her conception as sudden frights and anger fear grief and perturbations of the mind too violent exercise or stirring after Carnal copupulation leaping dancing running or the like If the cause of barrenness be in the man through over much hear in his Seed the woman may easily see that in receiving it If the nature of the woman be too hot and by that cause she is unfit for Copulation it may appear by these Signs Such a woman whose cause of barrenness is by reason of too much heat she hath her Terms or Flowers very little and they are mixt with some yellownesse such a woman is very hasty and Chollerick quick witted and crafty thirsty and desirous after Carnal Copulation her pulse very swift Some say that by these signes you may know where the fault lies whether in the man or the woman Sprinkle both Urines of the man and of the woman upon a Lettice leave and that which dries away first is unfruitful Also take five Wheat corns seven Barley corns and seven Beans put them all into an earthen pot and pisse thereon and let it stand seven daies if they begin to sprout the party is fruitful if they rot then barren be it man or woman Another way to know whether a woman be fruitful Take Mirth red Storax and some such like odoriferous things and make a perfume thereof which let the woman receive into the neck of the Womb through a tunnel if the woman feel the smoke ascend through her Body to her Nose then she is fruitful Another experiment for the same Take Garlick and beat it and let the woman lie on her Back upon it and if she feel the sent thereof to her Nose it s a sign of fruitfulnesse But I could tell you a more infallible rule for either the man or woman to find out where the fault lies but they are too apt to learn it without teaching therefore I passe it by If the barrenness be proceeding from a hot cause then take these directions Let such beware of hot air and hot dwellings if they can and that they use not too hot cloths about the sinews and parts of the Womb. Let them avoid hot meats I speak now to women hot Spices strong Wine fat meats warm hearbs use not over much watching lye not much on the Reins and Kidneys and as much as possibly may be eschew great labour anger heaviness and all such motions as disturb the mind and use moderately cooling things as thus To further Conception and take away barrenness proceeding of hot causes Take oftentimes Conserve of Roses cold Lozinges made of Dragagant the Confections of Triasantali and use to smell to Camphire Rose water and Saunders It is also good to breathe the Basilica or Liver Vein and take out four or five ounces of blood and then take this purge A Purge against Barrenness through heat Take Electuarium de Epithymo de succo rosarum of each two drams and a half whey of milk four ounces mix them well together and take it in the morning fasting sleep after it about an hour and an half and fast four hours after it and then drink a good draught of Whey about an hour before you eat any thing Another for the same Take water Lilly water four ounces Mandrogara water one ounce Sassron half a scruple beat the Safron to powder and mix it with the waters and drink them warm in the morning use this eight daies together Pills against Barrenness Take Broom flowers Smallage Parsley seed Comin Mugwort Fetherfew of each half a scruple Aloes half an ounce Indy Salt Saffron of each half a dram beat mix them all well together put to it five ounces of Fetherfew water warm stop it up close let it stand and dry in a warm place and thus do two or three times one after another Then make each dram into 6 Pills and take one of them every other day before supper all the while the said Potion is used and afterwards when the drink is done take one of these Pills every third or fourth day And after that Potion proceed with this purging Medecine following Take Conserve Benedicta lax one quarter of an ounce de Psillio three drams Elect. de Succo rosarum one dram mix them together with Fetherfew water and drink it in the morning betimes About three daies after the Patient hath taken this purge let her be let blood four or five ounces in the Median vein in the right foot And then
to the intent of nature Gal. lib. de hist Phil. lib. 5. plai Ph. 8. are not fully agreed upon by all Galen or rather Plutarch sayes thus Empedocles teacheth That Monsters are created if the seed be too much or too little too much spread abroad or seperated if it be void or injected by inordinate motion or because something is added detracted transposited or inflamed or if the womb be distorted the Vessels corrupted or the formative vertue be deficient or do abound these things hinder the natural conception and due operation of nature Chap. XI Of the unnatural fleshy Conception in the womb called Mola THis unnatural Matter sometimes happens to grow in the wombs of Women that have no Copulation with men and causeth the Belly to arise and all signes to appear as though they were with Child their Termes staying the Breasts grow hard they lose their appetite or stomach to meat their complexion groweth pale and sometimes they may feel a stirring about the Matrix as if they were with Child yet nevertheless they bear no Child which have this mola ingendred in them Of this writes Aetius Aetius lib. ult and Avicen who saith that it is a certain hard substance sometime found to spread it self throughout the whole Matrix Aristotle teacheth that this Mola is nothing else Lib. 4. Gen. Hin Cap. 7. but a certain peece of flesh conceived and ingendred in the womb of a Woman and he reciteth a story of a certain Woman that brought forth a lump of flesh which they called Mola And hereunto Galen also plainly consents Gal. 14. usu part 17.14 Meth. 13 who affirmeth that this Mola is a peece of unprofitable deform'd flesh which is ingendred in the Womb of a Woman without the Copulation with a man as a Hen hath Eggs without a Cock. But now a Question may arise whether the cause of this unnatural Mola proceed from too much heat or too much cold or too much blood For Avicen teacheth Avic fen 21.3 trait 2. cap. 18. that besides the multitude or superfluity of blood there is a vehemency of heat wherein the blood is concocted and thereby the flesh acquires a form But this Aristotle seems to contradict who manifestly writeth that the Mola is no otherwise bred then of impure and imperfect concoction and that it hath its Original from the defect and imbecillity of natural heat And Averroes confirms that the cause is nothing else but debility and weakness of nature corruption of digestion and losse of the last concoction and certainly that rude and deformed flesh called Mola is ingendred of crudities This groweth in the womb in two kinds like a peece of flesh putrified without form or figure resembling rather a peece of spongeous blood wind water then right flesh which hindereth the expelling of the termes and being mixed with the natural seed it groweth sometimes to a hard substance It is also ingendred of superfluous blood and the concourse of tough and unconcocted humours which make the belly swell up as if the Woman were with Child This is an ill accident and putrifieth and spoileth the Matrix breeding there oftentimes Ulcers and Imposthumes Dropsies unnatural Fluxes or some such like infirmities bringing death if it be not well regarded to be prevented The sighes whereby they that labour with this unnatural Masse may be known from Women with Child are generally these The first is motion for this burthen moveth not as Children do because there is neither life nor sense in it But it may move by accident according to the motion of the woman and the ponderousness thereof but that is no true motion The Belly of Women which labour with this unnatural Masse is harder then the Belly of women with Child and will not so easily move from one place to another as theirs that be with Child The Woman that hath this Mola is also more melancholy then those that are with Child and their hands and feet more feeble this Masse also sometimes falleth from one side to another A Woman with Child at nine moneths end is delivered thereof but they go two 3 or 4 years sometimes all their life-time with this burthen For the cure of this Mola Hippocrates before all others prescribes the most perfect method The first means to be used is cleansing and purging of the whole body The second is to mollifie loosen and open the Vessels and ligaments of the Womb wherewith the Mola is bound and fastned there The third is to stir up and strengthen the expulsive faculty whereby this burden may the more easily be expelled from the Womb. All Physicians do agree that this disease cannot be cured without great difficulty and sometimes not at all yet nevertheless meanes must be used and first of all purgation whereby the Belly may be lenified and amongst all other Medicines Hiera obtains the chief place for its molifying and purging quality the better if it be mixed with Cassia as in this manner Take Species of Hiera simplex Cassia new drawn of each 1 dram mix them into a Bolus with Sugar A Sirrup for the same Take of Oximel simplex one Ounce decoction of Betony of Motherwort Mints Peny Royal of each 4 drams mix them together and make a Sirrup thereof but before you take it take this Bolus and Confection following A Bolus Take Conserve of Maidenhair two drams Species of Dia calamint 1 scruple mix them and make a Bolus thereof to be taken before the Sirrup A Confection for the same Take Species Diambre Diacalam of each half a dram Sugar 2 Ounces make a Confection thereof with White-wine and take it before the Sirrup An excellent potion for this Disease Take Elect Diaphen Hiera Diacol of each half a dram Mel. Ros Sol. 4. drams decoction of Betony of Mugwort of each a sufficient quantity to make a potion let the Patient in this Disease abstain from cold and moyst meats and use this potion following which mollifies the Masse or Mola and expels the humors that cause or increase it Take St. Johns Wort Savin Rosemary Field Mints Lovag Mugwort Peny Royal Madder of each one handful Fennel Squinant Parsley seed Calmus Galingale of each 1 dram Hors-radish Roots 4 Ounces boyl them all together in a good quantity of water to make a potion and take thereof every day 3. or 4. Ounces mixing therewith about a quarter of an Ounce of this Trochis following A Trochis Take Cynamon Mirrhe of each 2. drams and a half Rue Savin Field Mints Peny Royal Madder Sagapenum Opopanacum of each 1 dram Cardamum Juniper-wood Rosemary of each 1 dram a half dry them all to powder make Troches thereof and use it as above is directed Also for this Disease this following is a cheap and ready Medicine Take 3 Ounces of warm Fetherfewwater every morning fasting for two moneths together and fast 4 houres after it And every fourth day during the time she drinketh the water let her
breast Take Crums of white bread Barley meal Mustard-seeds Fennel and Holly hocks rosted under the ashes of each a like quantity pound them all well together and make a Plaister thereof with oyl of Camomile and apply it warm to the breasts For hardness and inflammation in the breasts through congealed milk A Pultis Take flowers of Mallowes Violets Celendine Daisies Cinquefoil of each 1 handful boyl them together in two quarts of water till it come to a pint then strain it and mingle it with Wheaten meal to the thickness of pap then put to it Hens grease or Hogs Lard and boyl it again to a Pultis spread it on a Cloth about the thickness of a finger and lay it morning and evening upon an inflamed sore breast Another for the same Take Bean meale Mints in Powder each 3 quarters of an ounce prepared Coriander Pease meal of each 1 dram Roses half a dram fresh butter 2 ounces Muscilage of Linseed one ounce Muscilage of Fenegreek 3 quarters of an ounce Sheeps Suet Ducks grease of each 1 ounce oyl of Turpentine half an ounce Saffron three grains temper them all together to a salve or oyntment and lay it upon the breasts For Tumors or swelling of the breast Take Purslain Plantain of each one handful Camomile Melilot of each one ounce Barley meal 4 ounces stamp the Herbs in a morter to a pap and then incorporate therewith oyl of Violets and Roses enough to make it a salve and lay it on the sore brests Another Medicine for swelling in the breasts much profitable and easie to be had Take a good quantity of Peach leaves and Rue and stamp them small and boyl them in water to a Pultis and lay it on the grieved place this will ripen the Imposthume and ease the pain A Plaister for the same Take Plantain Mallowes of each one handful Housleek 6 handfuls boyl them together till they come to be like grout then strain it and adde thereunto Oyl of Roses 3 ounces Camomile Melilot both beaten of each an ounce Barley meal 4 ounces Bdellium 1 quarter of an ounce dissolve the Bdellium in Vineger and then boyl them all together to the thickness of a Plaister and spread it on a Cloth and apply it to the grieved place For Impostumations in the breast Impostumations do breed oftentimes likewise in the breasts through the congealing of the milk and ill humours setling and putrifying there bringing with them the Canker Gangrene and such like griefs to the great anguish and misery of the Patient if not to death by reason of the tenderness of the place And many times it happens by reason of an obstruction of their termes which turns our cause of the superfluous blood thither And therefore if when there happens any swelling or anguish in the breasts in this case if the termes be stopt use all means possible to provoke them speedily if you mean to abate the swelling and pain and if the swelling increase then the Liver vein must be opened or the median And afterwards take oyl of Roses and Vineger and seeth a little Camomile therein and then dip a Cloth in it and lay it on the breasts four times a day refreshing it If the Impostumation in the breasts be caused of superfluity of blood the sign to know it is it causeth great pain in the breast redness and much beating If it proceed from Choler then is the pain more raging and the brest redder and yellowish with greater Agues and the Inflammation is hotter then that which proceeds of blood If Flegme be the ingendring cause thereof then the Tumor is but small the breast white the pain moderate and no Ague with it An excellent Plaister to consume and cleanse all swellings of the breasts and also of other members Take clarified Honey 6 ounces Barley meal 3 ounces and a half two yolks of Eggs Mirrhe Sarcocolla of each half a dram Honey of Roses 4. ounces oyl of Roses 3. ounces powder that which is to be powdered and boyl the Honey and the meal together till it be thick and then stir the yolks of Eggs amongst it and the other things and so make a Plaister of it and apply it to the grieved place When the Tumor or swelling comes to maturity and breaks then cleanse it with this Salve Take Honey the juyce of Smallage yolks of Eggs and Turpentine of each a sufficient quantity and make a Salve thereof and so apply it Or else use this Salve following with a tent of Lint Take Wheat-meal 3 quarters of an ounce clarified Honey and juyce of Smallage of each an ounce mix them all into a Salve and use them as hath been directed this is good to be used with a tent to cleanse any sore Fistula or Carbuncle But if in case the Tumor as many times it unhappily doth grow to a Canker or Fistula then must orher means be used to prevent the eating or spreading thereof the Patient must be purged of melancholy humours and avoid such things as ingender Choler and melancholy and to seek to prevent the increase of the same for which this drink following is very effectual Take Time 1 quarter of an ounce Polipody Sene each 1 dram Violets Seeds of Gourds Cucumbers Pompeons each 1 dram and a half Cynamon Rapeseed of each 1 scruple Hops 1 ounce boyl them all together in 8. ounces of water till half be consumed then strain it and take one ounce of this decoction in 3 ounces of whay of Goats milk and fast 6 houres after it Then use outwardly this Plaister following Take Fenegreek Barley meal of each two Ounces Mallows 3. handfuls Housleek 8 handfuls Oyl of Roses 6 ounces bray the Oyl of Roses in a Leaden Morter with a Leaden Pestle and seeth the Herbs in whâ—y till they be so tender you may beat them to a pap and mix the other things amongst them and boyl it again in 6 ounces of Nightshade-water till it be consumed and so make a Plaister of it and first annoint the sore with Oyl of Roses and then lay the Plaister thereupon If the Canker corrode and spread abroad then take Barley meal 4 ounces Oyl of Violets oyl of Roses each three ounces Tutty prepared 2. ounces Blood-stone 1 ounce Bray the oyl of Roses with 4 whites of Eggs a good while in a Leaden Morter and likewise beat the Blood-stone in water of Lillies then temper them all together and dip small tents in it and lay them all on the sore Then take one ounce and a half of oyl of Roses prepared in a Leaden Morter as before and two ounces of the juyce of Nightshade 1. ounce of starch and an ounce and an half of Bolus mix and temper them all together in a Leaden Morter and therewith often annoint the breasts round about the Canker or Fistula A Plaister for the Fistula Take Mummey Bolus juyce of steel Frankincense Hipocistis Mastick of each 3 drams Acorn Cups Cipers Nuts Galls Isinglasse
Dragagant Gum of each 1 ounce dissolve the Isinglasse in red Wine Vinegar and mix the other ingredients amongst it to a Plaister For Clefts or Chops of the Nipples Take Mutton or Lambs Suet as much as you please and after it is molten and clarified then wash it in Rose-water and therewith annoint the Nipples And thus much for the Diseases in the Breasts Chap. XVII Shewing means and Remedies for those Nurses that went milk Having already at large discoursed to you the infirmities happening by reason of superfluous or congealed milk and the evil accidents that attend the same with the means of their prevention and Remedy it is also convenient for their sakes who would be Nurses and cannot for want of milk to shew them some means to increase it where it is wanting Women given much to fretting or who are by nature lean and sickly having a bad digesture in stomach Liver cannot breed store of milk nor good milk also bad meats and drinks hinder the ingendring of milk therefore they ought to be forborn And women that would increase their milk let them eat good meats if they can get it and drink milk wherein Fennel seed hath been steeped If the woman be of a hot nature and full of Choler let her drink Barley water and Almond milk eat Lectice with her meat Burrage Spinnage Goats milk Cowes milk and Lamb sodden with Verjuice And avoid sorrow and anger as much as may be and comfort the stomach with the Confections of Anniseeds Carraway and Cominseeds and likewise use these seeds sodden in water Also take Anniseeds two drams and a half beaten and temper them with the broth of Coleâ—orts and drink it when you go to bed Also take Barley water and boyl therein green Fennel and Dill and sweeten it with Sugar and drink it at your pleasure If you would have an outward means use this Plaister following Take half an ounce of Deers suet and as much Parsley roots with the hearbs an ounce and a half of Barley meal three drams of red Storax and three ounces of oyl of sweet Almonds seeth the roots and hearbs well and beat them to pap and then mingle the other amongst them and lay it warm on the Nipples it increaseth milk Thus have I Counselled women of all sorts how to free themselves from all casualties the frailty of their nature subjects them to which when you finde the benefit of give God the glory and sin no more lest a worse thing sall unto thee FINIS AN APPENDIX TOUCHING The DROPSY THis being an infirmity under which many labour and few are cured thereof partly nay most by reason of their inability I thought it very necessary having this opportunity put into my hands to add this small Treatise of the Kinds Cause and Cure of Dropsies This Disease the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latins a water between the flesh and the skin and vulgâ—rly Hydrops or Hydropicus morbus the Dropsy or an Hydropical disease which name seems to have bâ—en taken from water which in Greek is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Avicenna defineth the Dropsy thus That it is a material sickness ingendred from a material outward and coâ—d cause and thereby either the whole Body or many parts and Members thereof do swell All Authors do not agree about it some call it a Disease and some place it among the Symptomes but they that are afflicted with it need not care by what name it is called so they were freed from it therefore I shall not stay upon the definition of it but proceed to directions for the Cure but be sure it is a laesion and depravation of the digestive faculty and unconcoction of the blood whereby the nutritive faculty is hindred and corrupted throughout the whole Body and the natural operation of the Liver impedited and this proceeds from a cold and moist humour that penetrates through the Body and swells the Members puffs up the Face swells the Feet and Leggs and the Cods of men destroys the natural complexion altering it into a whitely colour causeth great appetite to drink and little or none to eat stoppeth the Terms in women causeth retention both of Stool Excrement and sometimes hard Tumors about the Bowels and other parts This for the description or definition yet this Disease hath several degrees Kinds or Species One kind of Dropsy is called Anasarca and Hyposarca another Ascites and a third Tympania or Tympanites or in English Tympanies Conserve of Fumitory is not a miss to be used for cleansing of the blood in all kind of Dropsies at the beginning of them but to proceed first to this kind of Dropsy called Anasarca It is a waterish humour that lyeth between the flesh and the skin through all the Body causing a swelling and is known by pressing the flesh with ones finger the dint or impression thereof will remain a great while after the Pulse is slow the privie members swell and the party is subject to be afflicted with a looseness or scowring and bad digestion of meat which is the cause of it that it turns into flegm instead of blood If it be a woman it may be caused through retention or stopping of her Terms therefore all means possible is to be used to provoke and drive them down Let the Patient be purged with Pills of Rhabarb and to expel the water use this Confection following A Confection for the watery Dropsy Take Turbith half an ounce Hermodactyls one ounce wild Saffron seeds peesed three quarters of an ounce Ginger Cinamon Annisâ—eds of each one scruple Violets Sorrel seed of each one dram Sugar two ounces Honey of Roses four ounces boyl the Honey and Sugar together with Fumitory water until you may scum it clear then mix the rest with it and boyl it to a Confection take hereof half an ounce in a morning Another for the same Take Annis yellow Rape seed Spica Indiae of each one scruple Licoris Rhabarb of each one dragme Asarabacca half a dram Conserve of Marjorom one ounce Conserve of Roses three ounces Syrup of Quinces and Oximel a sufficient quantity to make it into a Confection Take hereof a dram in a morning Pills for the same Take Pills Aggregative two scruples Ammoniaci one scruple make it into six Pills with Oximel take two in a morning The masse of Pills before mentioned are prepared by the Apothecaries therefore do not startle that they bear no English name for they are more commonly known by those Titles In this Disease use abstinence from meat and drink as much as may be forbear drowsiness and lazinesse and addict your self to reasonable sweating and exercise Of another kinde of Dropsy called Ascites This Species of this Disease swelleth only the Belly and Leggs and the upper parts dry and the Belly swelleth like a Bladder and soundeth like a drum head or as the Belly of a rotten Sheep will do if you clâ—p your
hand thereon that 's not unknown to every Clown then wonder not at this And if the sick person stir from side to side the water may be heard forcibly to stir about the skin is stretched out so that it receiveth no dint or impression of ones finger as in the other kind of Dropsy the Pulse is small wanting vigour of heat to cause motion and the original of all is the weakness and debility of the Liver that it cannot exercise its natural faculty of concocting the meat and drink into blood but unnaturally altereth the moisture thereof into water This kind of Dropsy may come sometimes from overmuch heat of the Liver as well as cold If it proceed from hot causes the Urine the Patient avoids is little and that of a very high red colour some spots like little stones appearing in it the party suffereth intolerable thirst and the more he drinks the more he desires drink but it quencheth not his flames no more then Brimstone and Oyl will quench fire This Disease is dangerous and oftentimes breaks up the root or at best strikes near at it But for means which God hath given to be used while time is take these following A Syrup for the Dropsy through heat of the Liver and to quench the thirsty desires of the Patient in that disease Take Endive four handfuls Maiden hair Harts tongue of each one handful Fennel seed Parsley seed of each half an ounce Spica Nardi Spica Romani of each a quarter of an ounce make a decoction hereof and then boyl it up to a syrrup with a sufficient quantity of Sugar The Body of the Patient in this Disease is much subject to costiveness or binding of the Belly purging therefore with Clysters Pills and Potions are requisite to be used in this case and to endeavour to open the obstructions of the Liver and strengthen the same To purge with Rhabarb or the syrup thereof once a week is very good for this purpose drink Wormwood Beer or Wine and use also this gentle purging Potion A purging Potion for the dry Dropsy Take the flowers of Burrage Violets Fumitory each half an ounce Licoris Jujubes Currans Wormwood each one quarter of an ounce Prunes eight or ten Spikenard one dram boyl them altogether in Whey strain it and then infuse therein one night half an ounce of the shells of yellow Mirobalans so strain it for a Potion Clysters are also very necessary and profitable for this Disease and amongst others these following are very commendable A Clyster for the Dropsie Take Bloodwort Camomil St. Johns wort or each one handful boyl them in well fair water then take twelve or sixteen ounces of the decoction and add to it Salt one dram three ounces of Sallet oyl and half a dram of Hiera picra or Caffia extracted mix them together for a Clister and give it warm For the same another Clister more loosening Take Mallows Holly-hocks Peers Camomile Herb Mercury of each one handful boyl these herbs well in water or in broth of Tripes or other pottage made of fresh flesh take 16 ounces of the decoction and thereunto add Sallet oyl Salt Hiera picra or Cassia and Benedicta laxativa of each half an ounce wherewith mix the decoction and give it for a Clister very warm If there be any pain or griping in the Belly which windeness too often causeth then use with the Herbs before mentioned an ounce of Anniseeds Fennel seeds and Carraway-seeds altogether grosly beaten or the quantity of an ounce of either of them severa◠which you can get Thus for Costiveness and Obstructions in this Disease on the contrary sometimes the Patient is subject to scowring and a red flux with it for which use these means following Give to the Patient the Conserve concocted roots of Cicory Juyce Marmalade of Quinces Trochisk and Conserve of Barberries with Vinegar and such other things as are binding and cooling in operation For this Dropsy and all other kinds and also for the Green sicknesse too these Pills following are excellent Take of the Masse of the Pill of Hiera with Agarick one dram and a half of the Pill of Opopanax three drams of the extract of Rhabarb of Gentian root of Centory the lesse each one dram Steel prepared four drams the root of Aaron prepared Tartar vitriolated each two scruples Chymical oyl of Wormwood one scruple oyl of Cinamon of Cloves each six drops Syrup of the Five roots a sufficient quantity to make it into Pills make of every dram hereof six Pills let the Patient take two hereof every morning and as many at four a clock in the afternoon and drink after it a draught of Wormwood-Wine or Ale stirring or excercising after it the space of an hour To provoke and expel the Urine is very requisite in this Disease for which these things following are very good Take Rue St. Johns wort Penny-royal Sage Marjoram Wormwood Licoris Anniseeds Fennel roots Elecampane roots of each one quarter of an ounce boyl them a little in a quart of White-wine and take thereof three ounces morning and night For the same Take a head or two of Garlick and a handful of St Johns wort boyl them together in a pint of White-wine till a third part be wasted strain it and drink three or four spoofuls thereof at a time morning and evening The roots of great Fern boyled in White-wine and drunk the Wine I mean not the roots is verygood for this purpose This Decoction following is also good for the same Take the roots of Nettles Parsley Fennel Elecampane Licoris Asarabacca of each one dram boyl them a little in a quart of White-wine and drink thereof as of the former Outwardly for this Disease may be used Pultisses Unguents and Plaisters such as dry and expel wind and do strengthen and mollifie the Belly and lower parts for which purpose this Plaister following may effectually be used Take Coloquint Holly-hock seeds Diagridion Aloes Mirth Mallowes roots Béellion of each one dram and a half Ireos three drams Mallows seeds wild Cucumbers Cardamome Euphorbium of each three drams Boreas Salgem of each one quarter of one ounce mix all these and incorporate them well together with Goose grease Ducks grease Calves suet and Hoggs suet as much as is sufficient to make them into a Plaister or salve and apply it all over the Belly For the same is good to temper the Salve of Bay-berries with Cowes or Goats dung and use it as the former For the swelling of the privy members in this Disease this Salve following is to be used Take Annis Fennel and Comin seeds beaten small together of each one ounce and a half Bean meale Ebalus the juyce of Elder leaves and Wine a sufficient quantity to make it a Salve or Pultis and lay it on the Belly and privities For the same Take Barley meale Cypress roots Sheeps dung Borax and Bolus of each a like quantity beat them together and make a Plaister