in small Wine and let the Diet be moderate but in no wise let Vinegar be used therewith nor upon any other occasion And in so observing the Humours will be dilated dissipated and transfused by which means the Complexion will return and the Body be lively and full of vigour And now since Barrenness daily occasions discontent and that discontent creates difference between Man and Wife or by immoderate grief frequently easts the Woman into one or other violent Distemper I shall somewhat largely treat thereof This defect comes divers ways but most commonly through the defect of the Genitals Vessels Blood or Menstrum and of these I shall discourse in their order and then proceed to mention other matters Relating to the same subject The defect then in the Genitals frequently happens in Women through the strict closure of the mouth of the Womb which by that means denies the Seed entrance or through the narrowness of the parts or share-bone that will not admit the Yard entrance or many times by reason of some Ulcers of excrecencies in the neck of the Womb to which may be added the defect of the Seed by reason of some Distemper in the Generative Vessels which the Woman may perceive by the little or no satisfaction she receives in the act of copulation sometimes again Children are wanting when the Woman being too young her Courses are not come down or that she is so old they cease to flow For t is the opinion of the Learned that when the Courses are wanting the Man labours in vain and further it may be attributed to the want of Seed when there is not a due proportion of either Party or when by reason of some cold moist Humours flowing into the Womb it loseth it's attractive force and cannot draw the Seed to its proper place or station Now if the Orifice of the Womb be closed that the Seed cannot enter it must be opened by incision or rather the two wings or Nymphae which many times extend themselves over the Clytoris so far that the Yard cannot pass the neck of the Womb and subject to this defect in Nature are many Women especially in hot Countries but most of all in Egypt where the Chyrurgeons are forced with Silver Instruments to make way for the Instrument of Generation a thing not altogether unpracticable in England In case the neck of the Womb be so strait that the Yard cannot enter then is the case to be inquired into whether it be naturally so or proceed from some swelling or Schirrhus either within or without and if any such thing appears it is for the most part incureable but if it be a natural straitness then supple it with a Tent dipped in Oyl of Roses and the white of Eggs and drink Chamomile Posser sweetned with Sugar-Candia morning and evening and by the operation thereof the Womb which is of a reaching quality will in all parts distend and give way to the Instrument of Generation or if it so happen in a young Woman Nature will increase the passage and time produce things fitting to their mutual Satisfaction but let no man by violence endeavour in attempting Copulation to force the Passage lest he break the Vessels nay indanger the Bladder it self which has been broke with such violent Intrusion and so cost the Woman her life If the neck of the Womb be ulcerated or any Excresenses happen there which equally hinder Copulation then may they be known by the pain and shooting upon the least compressure and the issuing forth of putrid Humours and sometimes Blood if the Ulcers be great and the Terms flow the Water hot pains arising in the fore part of the Head and oftentimes they occasion gentle Fevers And these Obstructions of Generation happen divers ways as from external causes viz. Rash Physick hard Labour or excessive Copulation from internal causes as the Corruption of the Secundine the Courses too long retained or obstructed heat and overflowing of the Urinal Vessels Virulent Gonorrhaeas Pox Inflammation turned into Apostume Humours flowing from divers parts of the Body and setling there all which must be duely considered Now some are in the outward part and may be the easier come at and external plications as are most convenient applied thereto but those that cannot be come at must be cured if possible by injection the best injection in this case is as follows viz. Break four Eggs and take the Whites only the which beat with an equal quantity of Rose-water mingled with Plantain-water Litherage of Gold Camphire Bole-Armonick Ceruse of each a dram half a dram of Green Copperas all which well beaten dissolved and mixed together strained through a fine Cloath and with a Syrringe inject it Morning and Evening till the grief cease and if it smart that it cannot be well endured you may sometimes inject warm Milk to cleanse the puttified matter Others there are that are not so violent and therefore admit of any easie Cure nâ—t being so deep known by a putrid Greenish matter that flows from them To cure this take Water wherein Barley has been boiled Honey of Roses new Milk and Sugar with the decoction of Lentils and after them gentle Astringents must be applied Some again are sordid having much contagious Humour flowing from them to cure which stronger Medicaments must be applied others there are that eat into the Flesh having a green Contagion flowing from them to cleanse which Aloes and Wormwood concocted in white Wine are most requisite Another sort of Ulcers there are which appear long cating away the skin from off the Neck of the Wood and are discerned by the Blood and pain the occasion immediatly upon the concression appearing in the Neck of the Womb much like Chilblains occasioned by ill lying extraordinary Venery by violent inflammation or flux of sharp humours The best cureafter a gentle purge is an astringent Glyster and after that to anoint them with the Grease that fryes out of a Ladle often used in a Kitchen when it is held to the fire mixed with an oyntment called Pomarum if the defect be in the Seed through tenderness of age in the Woman so that her menstrual Blood not coming down flow not to it then the best remedy is convenient diet moderate exercise and temperate Air together with patience in the main till nature in process of time operates so effectually that all things appear and conspire to mutual satisfaction If the Woman be stricten in years and it cease to be with her after the Custom of Women that is her Courses are stayed which in some happens sooner and in some later and between 44 and 55 with all them unless strong preparatives viz. an Extraordinary diet easie longing and moderate exercise restore them those Woman must despair of further Generation for as the learned in this Art frequently observe where there is neither Buds nor Blossoms there can to no Fruit. If any obstruction happen in the Vessels of Generation
made of the pure concocted and windy superfluity of Blood from whence we may conclude there is in many things a power to accumulate or heap up Seed as also to augment it and other things of force to cause Erection and Ejection of Humour as Hen-Eggs Pheasants Woodcocks Guatsappers Thrushes Black birds young Pidgeons Sparrows Partridge Capons Almones Pine-nuts Rasons Currants all strong Wines moderately taken especially those made of the Grapes of Italy but the Genitals are chiefly erected and provoked by Satyrium Eringoes Cresses Eressimum Parsnips Artichokes Turnips Rapes Asparagus Candid Ginger Gallinga Acorns bruised to powder and drunk in Muscadel Scallions Sea-shell Fish c. And these though excellent Restoratives will not have present Operation but you must use your self to them sometime before you handle your Arms or your Wife will grudg the charge for when Husbands will win their Wives favour then they shall account nothing too good nor too dear for them then must they be well prepared to enter this Conflict and when they find themselves so to be they must take the opportunity of doing their business well and that is when the monthly Terms are over lest the Seed be hindred from coagulating and fermenting and the Womb be rendred unfit for Conception When therefore the Terms are finished and the Womb well cleansed they must proceed decently and not over rashly tho' courage and activity must not be wanting nor the force of Imagination and having performed what is necessary the Woman must gently repose on her right side with her head lying low and her body sinking down that by sleeping in that Posture the cells on the right side of the Matrix may prove the receptacles of the Seed in which are the greatest force of Generative heat which is the chief inducement to the procreation of Male Children and rarely misses to answer the expectation of such as experience it especially if they keep themselves warm and without much motion leaning for the most part to the right and drinking a little Spirit of Saffron and Juyce of Hysop in a Glass of Malligo or Aligant when they lie down and rise for the space of a Week Now the fittest time for the Procreation of Male Children is when the Sun is in Leo and the Moons Sign is Virgo Scorpio or Sagitarius This Order may be observed for a Female Child by lying as aforesaid on the left-side and strongly sancying a Female in the time of Procreation especially if the Woman drink the decoction of Female Mercury four days from the first day of Purgation the Male Mercury both Herbs so called having the like Operation in case of a Male Child for the juyce or concoction of these Simples are of force the one to purge the right and the other the left side of the Womb and thereby open the Receptacles making a way for the Semenary of Generation and the best time to copulate for this Sex is when the Moon is in the Wain and the Sign in Libra or Aquarius for then they will be of a most gentle affable temper very fair and perfect in all their Members Avicenna an Author of good repute describes the time of Procreation thus When saith he the Terms are spent and the Womb is cleansed which is commonly in five days or seven at most if a Man lye with his Wife from the first day she is purged to the fifth she will conceive a Male but from the fifth to the eighth day a Female and from the eighth to the twelfth a Male again but after that number of days peradventure neither distinctly but both in an Hermophrodite And thus this Opinion of his by the Learned is explained viz. for as much as the first day the Womâ—â—eing cleansed and the sordid humour perfectly purged forth the Matrix has more heat whereby the Seed of either Sex are better contracted and take surer place on the right-side of the Womb by the attracting force of the Liver and right Kidney from which also in those days het Blood is derived for the Nutriment of the Child that shall be for the left part as being cold numb'd and void of Blood cannot contribute any thing so soon as the Terms are purged but Blood is drawn later and more sparingly from the Veins on the left side which are called emulgent Veins that creep about the Milt and left Kidney so that at length after the first day until the eighth day some Blood comes forth of them whereby the Child is to be nourish'd so that when these Parts perform their Office and the right-side ceases by reason of the Situation and cold Nutriment a Female is generated after the eighth day the parts on the right side opporate again Blood comes from them to nourish the Male after these circuit of days because the menstrual Blood flows without distinction from all parts and the Matrix is made too moist with cold Humors flowing into it and the Seed adheres to neither side but floats in the middle of the Womb the Seed of either Sex confounded or confused and out of due Place and Order fixed at last in the Cell at the bottom of the Womb generates an Hermophrodite tho' sometimes such unusual and unuatural Conceptions are occasioned by the indecency of Copulation when preposterously the Woman in the Act lies uppermost and the Man under her or by the force of strange Imaginations but many are of Opinion such Births happen through the powerful influence of Mercury and Venus in conjunction In a word they that would be commended for their Wedlock Actions and be happy in the fruit of their labour must observe to copulate at distance of time not too often nor yet too seldom for both these hurt Fruitfulness alike for to eject immoderately weakens a Man and wasts his Spirits and too often causes the Seed by long continuance to be ineffectual and not manly enough And thus much for the first general and particular from whence I shall proceed to the second which is to give the Reader to understand how the Child is formed in the Womb and what Accidents it is incident to how nourished and when brought forth Certain it is there are various Opinions concerning this matter therefore I shall for the satisfaction of the curious lay down the Opinions of the learned as thus Man consists of the Seed of both united in the Matrix by Copulation and for the first seven days the Mothers Blood running to it it grows in shape like an Egg but there is a forming faculty and virtue in the Seed from a divine and heavenly gift it being abundantly indued with Vital and Etherial Spirit which gives shape and form to the Child so that all the parts and bulk of the Body which is made up in the space of many months and is by degrees framed and formed into a decent and comely Figure of a Man do consist in that and are adumbrated thereby on which Holy David contemplating
force of the Seed perform the work by degrees distinguishing the parts and rendering the form perfect Now as the life of every other Creature as it is testified in the 17 Chapter of Levitie is is in the Blood so the life of Man consisteth in the Soul the which although subject to passion by reason of the gross composture of the Body in which it has a temporary confinement yet it is immortal and cannot in it self corrupt or suffer change it being a spark of the divine mind and a blast of Almighty Breath that distinguishes Man from other Creatures and renders him immortal and that every man has a peculiar Soul it plainly appears by the vast difference between the Wit Judgment Opinion Manners Affections c. in men And this David observes when he says God hath in particular fashioned the Heart and Minds of all Men and has given to every one it s own Being and a Soul of its own Nature Hence Solomon rejoyced that God had given him a happy Soul and a Body agreeable and suitable to it It has caused many Disputes amongst the Learned especially Philosopers in what part of the Body the Soul chuseth to reside and some have given their opinion that its resident is in the middle of the Heart and from thence communicates it self to every part which Solomon in the Fourth of his Proverbs seems to assert when he says Keep thy Heart with all thy diligence because Life proceedeth therefrom but many curious Physicians scarching the Works of Nature in Man's Anatomy c. do give it as their Opinion that its chief Seat is in the Brain from whence proceed the Senses Faculties and Actions diffusing the operations of the Soul through all parts of the Body whereby it is enlivened with heat and force but it doth communicate particular force to be Heart by Arteries Catotides or sleepy Arteries that part upon the Throat the which if they happen to be broke or cut cause Barrenness and if stopped they become Apoplectick for there must necessarily be some ways through which the Spirits animal and vital may have intercourse and convey native heat from the Soul For although the Soul is said to reside in one place it operates in every part exercising every Member which are the Souls Instruments by which she manifesteth her pow'r but if it so happen that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune the Work is confuied as it may appear in the case of Idiots Madmen c. Though in some of them the Soul by forcibly working recovers her supernatural vigor they become right after a long dispondency of mind and in some it is lost in this life For as fire under ashes nor the Sun obscured from our sight by thick Clouds afford not their full lustre so the soul overwhelmed in moist or faulty matter is darkned and Reason thereby overclouded and although reason shines less in Children than in those that are arrived to maturity yet no man must imagine that the Soul is an Infant and grows up with the Child for then would it again decay but it suits it self to the weakness of Nature and the imbecility of Body wherein it is placed that it may the better operate And as the Body is more and more capable of receiving its influence so it shews it self in its prper lustre having its force and indowments at the time it enters the formed Child in the Womb for the Substance of it can receive nothing less And thus much to prove that the Soul comes not from the Parents Seed but is infused by God and the next thing now to be handled is its Immortality and thereby I shall demonstrate the certainty of the Resurrection That the Soul of Man is a divine Ray infused by God I have already made apparent and now come to shew you that whatever immediately proceeds from him must participate of his Nature and from thence consequently be as Immortal as it 's Original for although all other Creatures are indued with life and motion yet wnat they a reasonable Soul and from thence 't is concluded their life is in their Blood and that being corruptible they perish and after their expiring are no more But Man being endued with a reasonable Soul and stamped with the divine Image is of a different nature and tho' his Body be corruptible yet his Soul cannot perish but must when it is expunged its earthly Tabernacle return to God that gave it either to receive reward or punishment now that the body can sin of it self is impossible because wanting the Soul it cannot act nor proceed to any thing either good or evil for could it do so additional sins might be accumulated even in the Grave but 't is plain that after death there is a cessation for as Death leaves us so judgment finds us And St. John in the fifth Chapter of his Gospel tells us That the hour shall come that all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and they that have done well shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Condemnation And Holy Job in the fourteenth and nineteenth Chapter speaking to the same purposes says For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my Skin Worms destroy my body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me By this 't is plainly proved that the Soul is made of immortal Essence incapable of death having a place assigned it after its separation from the Body till the day of the general Resurrection not in the Grave but in a Mansion prepared by the Almighty for its Reception and that through the mighty working of him that is able to subdue all things to himself it shall again enter the same Body that was laid down tho' the dust thereof be scattered to the four Winds of Heaven nay such force and vigour shall it have that it shall as it were take up the Body for Job positively says I shall rise out of the Earth at the last day c. Which being applicable to the future Tense may be meant two ways I shall or will rise for plainly foreseeing the Resurrection he claimed it as the promise of his Creator Nay so far were the Heathens by the light of Nature from doubting the immortality of the Soul that Plato in his Phaedro thus reasons viz. What consists not of Elements saith he is immortal and can neve dye The Soul is not made of Elements nor of created matter but came from God and therefore it cannot dye c. Then may it be without difficulty granted that the body which has been a long Companion of the Souls will once again enjoy it never more to be separated for the Body at the Resurrection shall be incorruptible
Sex are so unlike each other in Substance Composition Scituation Figure Action and Use that nothing is more unequal and by how much more all other parts of the body the Brests excepted which in Women swell more because of their secondary use have an exact resemblance so much the more in resemblance are the Genital parts of one Sex compared with the other unalike and if their Figure he thus different much more is their use for Women contribute the matter but Men the form in case of Generation The Venerial Appetite also proceeds from different causes for in Men it proceeds from a desire of Emission and in Women from a desire of Completion in Women also the chiefest of those parts are concave and apt to receive but in Men they are only porous and in a Woman Solid These things considered I cannot but wonder added he how any one can imagine that the Genital Member of Female Births should be changed into those that belong to Males since by those parts only the difference and distinction of Sexes is made nor can I well impute the reason of this vulgar Error to any thing but the mistake of unexpert Midwives who have been deceived by the evil conformation of the parts which in some Male Births may have happened to have had some small protrusion not to have been discerned as appeared by the example of a Child Christned at Paris by the Name of Joan as if it had been a Girl when as afterwards it proved a Boy and on the contrary the over-far extension of the Clytoris in Female Births may have occasioned the like mistakes Thus far Plinaeus proceeds in the negative yet notwithstanding his negation there are not wanting divers learned Physicians that have asserted the affirmative of which number Galen is one a Man saith he is different from a Woman in nothing else but having his Genital members without his body and this is certain that if Nature having formed a Man would convert him into a Woman she hath no other task to perform but to turn his Genital member inward a Woman into a Man by doing the contrary But this is to be understood of the Child when it is in the Womb and not perfectly formed for divers times Nature hath made a Female Child and it has so remained in the Belly of the Mother for a month or two and afterward plenty of heat increasing in the Genital Members upon some occasion they have issued forth and the Child has become a Male yet retaining some certain Gestures unbefitting the Masculine Sex as Female Actions a shrill Voice and more feeble than ordinary contrariwise Nature often having made a Male and cold Humours flowing to it the Genitals have been inverted yet still retaining a Man like fashion both in Voice and Gesture Now these opinions considered I am rather inclinable to believe the latter as a thing altogether probable for there is not that vast difference between the Members of the two Sexes as Plinaeus would have us believe there is for the Woman has in a manner the same Members with the Man though they appear not outwardly but are inverted for the conveniency of Generation the main difference being that one is more solid than the other and that the chief reason of changing Sexes is and must be attributed to heat or cold suddainly or stowly contracted which operates according to its greater or lesser force And thus much for these two particulars leaving which I shall proceed to lay down seasonable and necessary instructions or directions for Midwives c. opening in that discourse a Cabinet of many rare Secrets not vulgarly known and indeed only fiting to be known to such as may observe and put them in practice for the publick good and in no wise convert them to obscenity CHAP. XI A Midwife how she ought to be qualified THose that undertake this great task ought by no means to enter upon it rashly or unadvisedly but with all imaginable caution well eighing and preconsidering that she is accountable for all the mischief that befalls thro' her wilful ignorance or neglect therefore let not unskilful Women take upon them this Office barely upon pretence of their Maturity of Years and Child-bearing for in such for the most part there are divers things wanting that ought to be observed which is the occasion so many Women and Children are lost now as for a Midwife in relation to her Person these things ought to be observed viz. She must not be too old nor too young neither extraordinary fat nor weakned by leanness but in a good habit of Body not subject to Diseases Fear nor sudden Frights her Body well shaped and neat in her attire her Hand smooth and small her Nails ever paired short not suffering any Rings to be upon her Fingers during the time she is doing her Office nor any thing upon her Wrists that may obstruct and to these ought to be added Activity a convenient Strength with much cution and diligence not subject to Drowziness nor Impatience As for her Manners she ought to be courteous affable sober chast and not subject to Passion bountiful and compassionate to the Poor and not covetous when she attends upon the Rich. Her Temper chearful and pleasant that she may the better comfort her Patients in their Afflictions nor must she at any time make over-much hast tho' her business be urgeht in another place lest by indangering the Mother or the Child she disgrace her Self and forfeit Heavens Blessing upon her Endeavours for the future Of Spirit she ought to be prudent wary and cunning but above all to have the fear of God before her Eyes and to imploy the Talent he has lent her to his Glory CHAP. XII Things worthy to be observed by Midwives tending to their Advancement and what they ought to avoid c. LET her that undertakes this Office attended with many circumstances of danger and disgrace take good heed to what I shall relate In the first place let her be diligent to leave nothing unsearched which may be advantagious to her practice never imagining her self so perfect but she may add to her Knowledge by study and experience yet never let her apply any remedies in that case unless she has tryed them or known them tryed with Success or at least is conscious of their force that they will do no harm doing nothing in that nature to practice upon poor or rich but speaking freely of what she knows and giving reason for the farther Confirmation thereof by no means daring to give directions for such Medicines as will cause Abortion to pleasure those that have unlawfully conceived which to do is a high degree of Wickedness and may be ranked with Murther but if any come to her with specious pretences let her send them to able Physicians and neither for fair words nor lucre be won to hearken to them If she be sent for let her know to whom she goes
injuries unless so fenced by nature so Womens Stones being internal and less subject to casualty are covered with one Tunicle or Membrane the which though it closely adhere to them yet are they likewise half covered with the Peritonaeum The different or Ejaculatory Vessels are two obscure passages one on either side nothing differing from the Spermatick veins in substance rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb not reaching from their other extremity either to the Stones or any other part but shut up and unpassable adhearing to the Womb as the Colon does to the blind Gut and winding half way about the Stones are every way remote to them yet though they touch them not they are tyed to them by certain Membranes resembling the Wings of a Batt or Flutter-mouse through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the Stones end in these beginning or may be termed here to have their passages proceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Stones and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Stones and the Womb are united and strongly knit together and these Ligaments in Women are the Cremesters in Men Of which I shall speak more largely when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the Vse and Action of the several Parts in Woman appropriated to Generation c. THE Externals commonly called the Privy Member re designed to cover the great Orifice and that to receive the Yard and give passage to the Birth and Urin. The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries are for the security of the internal parts shutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder and by their sweliing up cause Titulation and Defire in those parts and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine The Action of the Clytoris is like that of the Yard viz. Erection where Erection is for motion and attraction of the Seed The action and the use of the Neck of the Womb is equal with that of the Yard viz. Erection occasioned divers ways First in case of Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Yard to the Womb. Secondly whilst the Passage is repleated with Spirit and vital Blood it becomes more strait for embracing the Yard as for the conveniency of Erection it is twofold First for as much as if the neck of the Womb was not erected the Yard could have no convenient Passage to the Womb. Secondly the Affrication which occasions the Seed to issue forth could be no other ways nay to this we may add that it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensue through the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation As for the Vessels that pass through the neck of the Womb their Office is to repleat it with Blood and Spirit that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted there in Copulation it may by those Vessels be renewed and the menstruous Blood at unseasonable times for its Efflux be kept back nor are these all their Offices for they contribute Nutriment towards the Child when in the Womb. The Womb it self has many properties attributed to it as First Attraction of the Seed by Familiar Sympathy Secondly It retains it which is properly called Conception Thirdly It cherishes and changes the Seed continuing so to do till it by the help of Nature frames the Child and brings it to perfection and then it strongly operates in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired dilating and spreading it self in a wonderful manner and indeed is the Field of Mans Generation being designed for no other purpose and so aptly removed from the Senses that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth unless by accident or the like it be rendered deficient When to strengthen and inable it besides the helps of Nature sundry Remendies are to be applied by skilful hands Direction For which shall be hereafter mentioned The Utility of the preparing Vessels are taken from their Original and from the incertion of the right vein proceeding from the hallow and the left from the emulgent vein as in men that hot and pure Blood may more abundantly flow from the right vein for the Procreation of Males and that serous and watery Blood may proceed from the emulgent vein for the procreation of Females The Vessels in this kind are much shorter in Women than in Men by reason of their nearness to the Stones which defect is yet lengthened and made good by the many Intricacies or Windings to which those Vessels are subject for in the middle way they derive themselves into two branches though different in magnitude for one being greater than the other passes to the Stones conveying matter for composition of Seed and the lesser to the Womb scattering there such Nutriment as it extracts from other parts of the Body as for the Arteries they afford the Blood which is more full of Spirit to perfect the Seed The Stones in Women are greatly useful for where they are defective Generation is at an end by reason they operate in preparing the Seed as those in Men and by reason the Woman is colder than the Man therefore are they seated within that they should have the more heat to cherish them and for that cause are they covered only with one Tunicle that the heat may have the easier access though by reason of their softness they cannot perfect so substantial a Seed as those of Men as being cherished with less heat that the remainder might supply the inferiour parts Their figure is not exactly round but depressed that the small meanders of the veins dispersed through the Members from the Stones to the different Vessels might have more room to be inserted for the attraction of the Seed by the Substance of the Stones the inequality contributing to the longer stay of the Seed in those meandring Vessels nor is rugedness or unevenness of them less conducing thereto CHAP. XVI Of Conception and the infallible Signs thereof as also whether it be a Male or Female that is conceived or both at once commonly called Twins THE next thing convenient to be observed in this Treatise and as it falls in course is Conception and its Symptoms very material and worthy of note not only by Midwives but all young Women Now the signs of Conception 3 or 4 days after convenient and satisfactory Copulation are Pains in the Head Virtigo and dimness of the Eyes the Aples of the Eyes decrease the Eyes themselves swell and become of a dull or dark colour their veins waxing red and shut with Blood Again if the Eyes sink the Eybrows grow loose various colours appear in the Eyes and little red Pimples suddainly arise in the Face and almost as suddainly disappear Thirdly if the Veins between the Eyes and Nose are exteuded with Blood the Veins
thing that is filthy or contrary to nourishment nor let her sleep immediately after Meals and not at all in the day-time if she can avoid it the Night being preferable in such cases when she may sleep her fill so it exceed not 9 hours Her Exercise ought to be moderate for violent motion either in walking or otherwise loosens the Cylendons through which the Child receives its Nourishment riding in a Coach especially upon the Stones or in uneven way the last three Months is dangerous as also extraordinary Sounds Noises and above all the Ringing of the Bells and discharging the Guns Laughing Crying or immoderate Anger or any other Passion is extreamly hurtful nor in the first four Months after Conception ought she to lye with her Husband for as much as the Act of Copulation moves and shakes the Womb and consequently the Fruit therein causes the courses to descend She must likewise in the 6th and 8th Month abstain but in the 7th and 9th it is not forbidden but rather to be encouraged by reason as Physicians affirm it opens the passage and thereby facilitates the Birth and the better to help it the Woman ought to take such things as may keep her Body soluble as Syrups and other loosening matters as may help Nature in its operation especially let her observe when she grows any thing big to lay aside her busk and go loose that the Child may have free Scope for two Reasons First that it may not be hurt and secondly that being unrestrained it may come to its full growth CHAP. XIX Further Considerations how Women ought to govern themselves during Pregnancy T IS further to be observed that after delivery the Breasts frequently grow extream large and swell over much to prevent which and to avoid the danger of too much Blood which cause curdled or curdy Milk so that from the effects thereof divers Diseases arise in the Breast so soon as the Woman perceives her self with Child let her wear about the Neck a small Necklace of Gold or Steel or a small ingot of the latter to hang between her two Breasts somenting her Breasts a quarter of an hour every morning with Water distilled from Sage Perewinkle art ground-Ivy being blood-warm In her fourth month when the motion is great and her belly seells big she may swath it with a Swath-band anointed with Pomatum or the like to make which I shall give direction and in so doing she will keep it smooth and free from wrinkles as also from hanging down like a Trip after delivery Receipt Of the Gall of Kid and of a Sow of each 3 ounces of Capons grease and Goose grease of each one ounce and a half and having melted them put thereto a quarter of a pint of water after which strain them through a Linnen Cloath into fair water casting it to and fro therein till it be white at what time add to it the marrow of a red Deet one ounce and lay it in red Rose-water 12 hours after the expiration of which you may use it in anointing the Swath as aforesaid as also the Belly If the Ingredients aforesaid cannot be gotten then the following Linnament is effectual though the former is better viz. Make of Mutton Suet adjoying to the Kidneys and of Dogs Grease each two ouces Whale Oyl an ounce and of sweet Almon Oyl the like quantity wash them well after they are melted together in the water of Germander or new White-wine and anoit the Belly therewith or the Swath band ordained to support it But for such as are not desirous to anoint their Bellies they may use the following Bath or Concoction Take of all the sorts of Mallows and of Motherwort each two handfuls Lilly-roots the white ones to the weight of 3 ounces Melilot and Chammomile of both two handfuls Lime-seed Quince-seed and Feen-greek seed 3 ounces proportionable of each concoct them in Spring-water and bath therewith If the Woman during her pregnancy feels but little motion in her Womb let her make a quilt as followeth and bind it upon her Navel and it will greatly strengthen the Infant viz. Take the powder of Roses red Corral and Gillyflowers of each 3 ounces Mastick a dram and of Augelica seeds two drams two grains of Ambergrease and one of Musk all which being well beaten put them into a Linnen bag expanded and quilted that they may be in every part of it placing it upon the Navel CHAP. XX. Rules to he observed upon a Woman lying down and her delivery c. HAving thus far proceed in what as I highly conceived is necessary to be known by the Professors of this Art I shall Gradually proceed to what remains And first to inform the Reader what is necessary to be observed upon a Womans lying in order to her delivery The hour according to computation of time and the disposition of the Body approaching let the Woman send for a skillful Midwife not delaying so to do but rather too soon than too late at what time let her prepare a little Bed or Couch of a moderate height and so situate that it be far from the Door near the Fire and convenieut for the Midwife and her assistants to pass round and be aiding on every side as occasion requires having change of Linnen and a small Cricket or little Log of Timber to rest her feet against she having more force when they are bowed than otherwise Having thus provided when the Woman find her Pains come on if the weather he not extream cold let her walk leisurely about the Room resting her self by turns upon the Bed expecting so the coming down of her Water which is a Humour that is contracted in one of the outward Membranes and flows thence when it is broke by the strugling of the Child or some other accident there being no direct time affixed for its Efflux though for the most part it flows not above two hours before the Birth Motion likewise will cause the Womb to open and dilate it self when lying long in Bed will prove troublesome yet if she be much spent and weakened she may take some gentle Cordial to refresh her self if her pains will permit it If her Travel be tedious to revive her Spirits she may take any broath of Chikens or Mutton and after it a poached Egg but must not take any thing to excess As for the Postures Women are delivered in they are divers some laying in their beds others siting in a Chair supported and held by others or resting upon the side of the Bed or Chair some again upon the Knees being supported under their Arms but the safest and most commodious way is in the Bed when as the Midwife ought to observe these following Rules Let her see that the Woman be layed upon her Back her head a little elevated by the help of a Pillow having the like help to support her Reins and Buttocks and that her Rump lye high for if she lye low she
flat and hang it about the Womans Neck so that it may reach the pit of her Stomach and it will draw the Womb upward or keep it in its place that it shall not fall down or give the Child occasion to seek for untimely passage CHAP. XXV Of the Washing of Woman after Delivery with Directions how to make them FOR the first Wash take a good handful of young Charvil boil it in 2 pints of water which having done add to it a spoonful of Honey of Roses and let the Midwife use it at her discretion and it will draw down the Purgations heal and cleanse the afflicted part There are some that use Milk instead of Water affirming that it greatly mittigates the pain but by those whom Experience has taught better it is rejected this having been used eight days the second wash may be made Take Province Roses moist if you can but if not the dry Cakes put them in a little linnen Bag and boyl them sufficiently in half a pint of Water and half a pint of White Wine and use it as the former for other eight days viz. The liquid part being well straine The third and last wash must be made of the decoction of Province Roses decocted in a pint of VVhite VVine and a quarter of a Pint of Mirth-water and used only four days CHAP. XXVI An Astringent for Women when occasion requires as also Directions for a Cere-Chath and how to cleanse her before she rise TO make an Astringent take Pomgranets Roach Allum and Galls of each 2 ounces Knot Grass a handful of Province Roses four ounces the Rinds of Cassa and Pomgranets each 3 ounces of Scarlet-berries of Spermaceti one ounce The waters of Roses Mâ—â—â—n and Burnet of each one ounceand a half white VVine and water of the Smiths Forge of each a quarter of a Pint then take two little baggs about a quarter of a yard long and half a quarter broad boyl them in the Waters with the Drugs or Simples in them and in a new glazed Pipkin and use them successively as occasion requires To make an exceeding convenient Searcloath to ease the pain and reduce the Body into good temperament Take Virgins wax 8 ounces Spermaceti and Venice Turpentine well washed in Rose and Plantane water of each an ounce and a half adding to them whilst they are melting an ounce of white Lead of Venice pulverized and having by the operation of the Fire well mixed them together spread them Plaisterwise upon a Cloath fit to cover the Belly as far as it is convenient some of this you may lay upon the Nipples having first anointed them with Oyl of Acrons of Spermaceti and it will allay the inflammation and much strengthen them To cleanse a VVoman before she rises Take a considerable quantity of bitter Almonds peel them bruise them well and make them into a Past with the Yolk of an Egg and Powder of Grise put the Past into a bag of Shamy and dip it in black Wine tempering it well and use it upon the place where the Sear-cloaths have been laid and after that wash the said places with black Wine wherein Orange flowers have been steeped and it will cleanse these parts to admiration CHAP. XXVII How to expell the Chollick from Women in Child-Birth and the violent Griping that attend the first Delivery THese Pains frequently afflict the Woman no less than the pangs of her Labour and are by the ignorant taken many times the one for the other sometimes again they joyn Forces and happen at the same instant which is occasioned by the crudy matter in the Stomach contracted through indigestion and whilst such a Pain lasts the Woman advanceth nothing towards her Travel to expel the fits of the Chollick therefore Take two ounces of sweet Almond Oyl and an ounce of Cinnamon-water with 3 or 4 drops of Spirit of Ginger and let the Woman drink it off and if this work not your desire make a Glyster of Cammomile Baum leaves Olive-Oyl and new Milk concocting the former in the latter and having strained it very well administer it as 't is usual in such cases nor are Fomentations proper for dispelling wind amiss If the pain prove the griping or fretting of the Guts continuing long after Delivery or if it happen upon the Courses descending by reason of the smallness of the Veins which convey the Blood into the Matrix which often befalls Women lying in of their first Child wherefore it is altogether convenient to use such a Remedy at such a time as may eradicate the cause for the future and above all I recommend this most approved one used with success by many Noble Women Recepe Of the Root of great Camfory a dram Nutmegs and Peach-Kernels of each two scruples yellow Amber and Amber grease of the former a dram and the latter a scruple bruise them together and give them the Woman as soon as she is layed down in two or three Spoonfuls of White-wine but if it so happen that she be feverish then let it be in as much warm Broth. CHAP. XXVIII The approved Receipts for hindring the Monthly Flux in Women with Child also to cause Women that are fearful and subject to Abortion to contain the Birth Together with preparatory Ointments to be used before the time of Delivery and Directions for staying or preventing Vomiting much incident to Women with Child TO hinder the Superfluity or Eflux dangerous to VVomen far gone with Child Take the Oyl of Roses Virgins-wax juice of Male Knot-grass of each 3 ounces Bolearmonick Crocus Martis of each six drams melt them and bruise them till they become plyant and capable of being spread Plaster wise and when the Flux descends lay it to her Loyns whilst she lies in the bed Or to the same effect you may take Crocus Martis a dram Knot-grass juice 4 ounces Rose-water and Vinegar of each one ounce adding to them the white of an Egg and apply them cold upon a Linnen Cloath to her Loins IOf the VVoman be fearful of containing the Birth and reject to Abortion Take the Roots of Tormentile and Snake-weed of each an ounce and a half Joubertus Astringent Powder Mirtle-berries Psida Pomgraner Flowers of each six drams Dragons-blood and Spong-Bedeguar of each half an ounce Frankincense and Mastick of each 3 drams Nutmeg and Cloves of each half a dram common Pich six ounces Cinnamon a dram Venice Turpentine washed in the juice of Shepheards purse 2 ounces of Ship Pitch 3 ounces Virgin-wax two ounces melt and well imbody them till they become pliable to be spread Plaister-wise and apply the Plaister upon Leather to the Reins To make an Oyntment exceeding useful before Delivery Take the Oyls of white Lilly Roots and Cammomile each 4 ounces new Hogs-Seam strained and fresh Butter of each an ounce and a half Muscilage of the Seed of Fenegreck extracted in Mugwort-water 2 ounces the Powder of round Billwort Roots and Saffron of each two drams Wax an