her For otherwise if there were not a Superplus of Nourishment for the Child more than is convenient for the Mother then would the Infant Detract and weaken the principal parts of the Mother and like unto the Viper the Generation of the Infant would be the Destruction of the Parent These Monthly Purgations continue from the 15th Year to the 46th or 50th Yet often there happens a suppression which is either Natural or Morbifical They are naturally supprest in breeding women and such as give suck The Morbifical suppression falls now into our Method to be spoken of CHAP. II. Of the Retention of the Mâ—nses THe suppression of the Terms is an intercaption of that accustomary Evacuation of Blood which every Month should come from the Matrix proceeding from the Instrument or matter vitiated The part affected is the Womb and that of it self or by Consent Cause The Cause of this Suppression is either External or Internal The External Cause may be heat or dryness of the Air immoderate watching great labour vehement motion c. whereby the matter is so consumed and the body so exhausted that there is not a Superplus remaining to be expelled as is Recorded of the Amazones who being active and always in motion had their Fluxions very little or not at all Or it may be caused by Cold which is most frequent making the Blood Viscous and Gross condensing and binding up the Passages that it cannot flow forth The Internal Cause is either Instrumental or Material in the womb or in the blood In the womb it may be divers ways by Aposthumes Tumours Ulcers by the narrowness of the veins and passages or by the Omentum or Kell in fat Bodies pressing the neck of the Matrix but then they must have Hernia Zirbalis for in mankind the Kell reacheth not so low By over much Cold or Heat the one vitiating the action and the other consuming the matter By an evil Composition of the Uterine parts by the neck of the womb being turned aside and sometimes tho' rarely by a membrane or excressence of flesh growing about the mouth or neck of the womb The blood may be in fault two ways in quantity or in quality In quantity when it is so consumed that there Is not a Superplus left as in Viragoes and viâ—â— women who through their heat and strength of Nature digest and consume all their last Nourishment as Hippocrates writes of Phaetusa who being exiled by her Husband Pythea her Terms were supprest her voice changed and had a Beard with a Countenance like a man But these I judge rather to be Anthropophagae women-eaters than women-breeders because they consume one of the principles of Generation which gives a Being to the World viz. the Menstruous blood The blood likewise may be consumed and consequently the Terms stayed by bleeding of the Nose by a flux of the Emerhoids by a Dysenteria commonly called the bloody flux by many other evacuations and continual and chronical Diseases Secondly the matter may be vitious in quality as suppose it be Sanguineous Phlegmatical Byleous or Melancholious every one of these if they offend in Grosness will cause an Obstruction in the veins Signs Signs manifesting the Disease are pains in the head neck back and loyns weariness of the whole body but especially of the hips and legs by reason of a Confinity which the Matrix hath with these parts trembling of the heart Particular signs are these if the Suppression proceeds of cold she is heavy sluggish of a pale Colour and hath a slow Pulse Venus combats are neglected the Urin is crude waterish and much in quantity the excrements of the Guts usually are retained If of heat the signs are contrary to those but now recited If the retention be natural and come of Conception this may be known by drinking of Hydromel that is water and honey after Supper going to bed and by the effect which it worketh for after the taking of it if she feels a beating pain about the Navel and lower parts of the Belly it is a sign she hath Conceived and that the Suppression is Natural if not then is it vitious and ought Medicinally to be taken away Prognosticks With the evil quality of the Womb the whole body stands charged but especially the Heart the Liver and the Brain and betwixt the Womb and these three principal parts there is a singular Consent First the Womb communicates to the Heart by the mediation of those Arteries which come from Aorta Hence the Terms being supprest will ensue Faintings Swoonings intermission of Pulse cessation of Breath Secondly It communicates to the Liver by the veins derived from the hollow vein Hence will follow Obbructions Cachexies Jaundice Dropsies hardness of the Spleen Thirdly It communicates unto the Brain by the nerves and membranes of the back Hence will arise Epilepsies Apoplexies Frenzies melancholy Passions pain in the after-parts of the Head fearfulness in ability of speaking Well therefore may I conclude with Hippocrates If the Months be supprest many dangerous Diseases will follow Cure In the Cure of this and of all the other following Affects I will observe this order The Cure shall be taken from Chirurgical Pharmaceutical and Diaeretical means This Suppression is a Plethorick Affect and must be taken away by Evacuation And therefore first we will begin with Phlebotomy In the midst of the menstrual period open the Liver vein and for the reversion of the Humour two days before the wonted evacuation open the Saphena on both feet Iâ— the repletion be not great apply Cupping-glasses to the legs and thighs And altho' there be no hope to remove the Suppression as in some the Cotylâ—dones are so closed up that nothing but Copulation will open them yet it will be convenient as much as may be to ease Nature of her burden by opening the Emerhoid veins with a Leach After Phlebotomy let the Humours be prepared and made Fluxile with Syrup of Staechas Calamint Betony Hysop Mugwort Hore-hound Fumetary Maiden-hair Bathe with Camomile Penny-Royal Savin Bay-leaves Janiper-berries Rue Marjâ—ram Feverfew Take of the leaves of Nep Maiden-hair Succory Betony of each one handful make a Decoction take thereof three Ounces Syrup of Maiden-hair Mugwâ—rt Succory mix of each half an Ounce After she comes out of the Bath let her drink it off Purge with Pil. de Agaric Elephang Coch. Foetid Galen in this Case commends Pilula de Hiera cum Colocyntida for as they be proper to purge the humour offending so also they do open the passages of the Womb and strengthen the faculty by their Aromatical quality If the stomach be over-charged let her take a vomit yet such a one as may work both ways lest working onely upward it should too much turn back the humour Take Trochisks of Agarick 2 drams infuse them in 3 Ounces of Oximel in which dissolve of the Electuary Diasarum One Scruple and half Benedic Laxat half an Ounce Take this after the manner
of a Purge After the humour hath been purged proceed to more proper and forceable Remedies Take Trochisks of Myrrhe one dram and half Parsley-seed Castor Rindes of Cassia of each one Scruple and of the Extract of Mugwort one Scruple and half Musk ten Grains with the juice of Smalledge make twelve Pills take 2 every Morning or after supper going to Bed Take of Cinnamon half an Ounce Roots of Smirnium Valerian Aristolochia of each 2 drams Roots of Asrum one dram Castor Saffron of each 2 Scruples Specdiambrae 2 drams Trochisks of Myrrhe 4 Scruples Tartari Vitrolati 2 Scruples make all into a powder with Mugwort water and Sugar a sufficient quantity Make Lozenges take one dram of them every Morning Or mingle one dram of the pouder with one dram of Sugar and take it in White-wine Take of prepared Steel Specierum Hierae of each 2 drams Borass Species of Myrrhe of each one Scruple with the juice of Savine make it up into 38 Lozenges and take 3 every other day before dinner Take of Castor one Scruple Wild-Carrot-seed half a dram with Syrup of Mugwort and make 4 pills take them in the Morning fasting and so for three days together before the wonted time of the Purgations Take of Agarick Aristolochia juice of Horehound of each 5 drams Rhubarb Spikenard Anni-seed Galbanum Assafoetida Smalledge Roots Gentian of the three Peppers laccae of each 6 drams with Honey make an Electuary Take of it 3 drams for a Dose In Flegmatical Bodies nothing better can be given then the Decoction of the wood Guaiacum with a little Dictam taken in the Morning fasting and so for 12 days together without Provoking of sweat Administer to the lower parts by Suffumigations Pessaries Unctions Injections Insessions Make Suffumigations of Cinnamon Nutmeg Cloves Bay-berries Mugwort Galbanum Melanthium Amber c. Make Pessaries of Figgs and the leaves of Mercury bruised and rowled up with Lint If you desire a stronger make one of Myrrhe Bdeâ—um Opopanax Ammoniacum Galbanum Sagapenum Mithridate Agarick Coloquintida c. Make Injections of the decoction of Origane Mugwort Mercury Bettony and Figs inject it into the Womb by an instrument fit for that purpose Take Oyl of Almonds Lillies capers Camomile of each half an Ounce Ladani Oyl of Myrrhe of each 2 drams with wax make an Unguent with which let the places be anointed Make Insessions of Faenugreek Camomile Melilote Dill Marjoram Penny-royal Feverfew Juniper-berries and Calaminâ— But if the suppression comes by a defect of matter then ought not the Courses to be provoked until the Spirits be animated and the Blood again increased Or if by proper affects of the Womb as Dropsies inflamations c. then must a particular cure be used the which I will not insist upon here but speak of them as they lye in order If the retention comes from repletion or fulness let the air be hot and dry use Moderate exercise before Meals Let your sleep be shorter then ordinary and your Meat and Drink attenuating Seeth with your Meat Garden-Savoury Time Origan and Cyche Peason If of emptiness or defect of matter let the air be moist and moderately hot Shun exercise and watchings let your Meat be nourishing and of a light digestion as rare Eggs Lamb Chickens Almond Milk and the like CHAP. III. Of the overflowing of the Courses THe Schoolmen say By comparing of Contraries Truth is made manifest Having therefore spoken of the suppression of the terms order requires now that I should insist upon the overflowing of them an effect no less dangerous then the former And this immoderate flux of the Months is defined to be a Sanguineous excrement proceeding from the Womb exceeding both in quantity and time First it is said to be Sanguineous the matter of the flux being only Blood wherein it differs from that which is commonly called the false courses or whites of which I will speak hereafter Secondly it is said to proceed from the Womb for there are two ways by which the Blood flows forth The one sâ—by the internal Veins in the Body of â—â—e Womb and this is properly called the Mâ—â—â—â—â—â—ux The other is by those Veins which are terminated in the Neck of the Matrix and this is called of Aetius the Hemorrhoides of the Womb. Lastly it is said to exceed both in quantity and time In quantity saith Hippocrates when they flow above 18 Ounces In time when they flow above three days But we take this for a certain character of their inordinate flowing when the faculties of the Body thereby are weakned In Bodies abounding with Gross Humours this immoderate flux sometimes unburdens Nature of her Load and ought not to be stayed without the counsel of a Physitian Cause The cause of this affect is internal or External The internal cause is threefold in the matter instrument or faculty The matter which is the Blood may be vitious two ways First in quantity it being so great that the Veins are not able to contain it Secondly in quality it being adust sharp watrish or unconcocted The instrument viz. the Veins are faulty by the dilatation of the Orifice which may be caused two ways first by the heat of the constitution climate or season heating the Blood whereby the passages are dilated and the faculty weakned that it cannot retain the Blood Secondly by falls Blows violent motion breaking of a Vein c. The external cause may be calidity of the air lifting carrying of heavy burdens unnatural Child-Birth falls c. Signs In this inordinate flux the appetite is decayed the concoctions depraved and all the actions weakened the feet are swelled the colour of the Face is changed and a general feebleness possesseth the whole Body If the flux comes by the breaking of a vein the Body is something Cold the Blood flows forth on heaps and that suddenly with great pain If it comes through heat the Orifice of the veins being dilated then is there little or no pain yet the Blood flows faster then it doth in an Erosion and not so fast as it doth in a Rupture If by Erosion or sharpness of Blood she feels a great heat scalding the passage It differs from the other two in that it flows not so suddenly nor so copiously as they do If by weakness of the Womb she abhorreth the use of Venus Lastly if it proceeds from an evil quality in the Blood drop some of it on a Cloth and when it is dry you may judge of the quality by the Colour If it be Cholerick it will be Yellow If Melancholy Black If Flegmatical watrish and whitish Prognosticks If with the flux be joyned a convulsion it is dangerous because it intimates the more noble parts are vitiated and a convulsion caused by emptiness is deadly If it continues long it will be cured with great difficulty for it was one of the miracles which our Saviour Christ wrought to cure this disease when it had continued 12 Years To
of Lilies Roses â—inseed sweet Almonds and Calf's Marrow Make injections of the Decoctions of Mallows Mercury Linseed Groundsel Mugwort Fenugreek with Oyl of sweet Almonds Sometimes it is caused by a wind and then Phlebotomy is to be omitted and in the stead thereof take Syrup of Feverfew one Ounce Honey of Roses Syrup of Staechas of each half an Ounce water of Calamint Mugwort Betony Hysop of each one Onnce make a Julep If the pain continues take this Purgation Take Specierum Hâ—erae 1 Dram Diacatholicon half an ounce Syrup of Roses laxative 1 ounces with the Decoction of Mugwort and the four Cordial Flowers make a Potion If it come thro' weakness of the Faculty let that be Corroborated If thro' grosness or sharpness of the Blood let the quality of it be altered as I have shewn in the foregoing Chapter Lastly If the excrements of the Gut be reâ—ained provoke them by a Clyster of the Decoction of Camomile Betony Feverfew Mallows Linseed Juniper-berries Cuâ—â—in-seed Anniseed Melilot adding thereto of Diacatholicon half an Ounces Hiera Picra two Drams Honey Oyl of each one Ounce Salniter a Dram and a half The Patient musâ— abstain from salt sharp and windy Meats CHAP. V. Of the false Courses or Whites FRom the Womb proceeds not only the menstruous blood but accidentally many other Excrements which by the Antients are comprehended under the Title of RHOVS GVNAIK AIOS which is a distillation of variety of corrupt Humours through the womb flowing from the whole Body or part of the same keeping neither course nor colour but varying in both Cause The Cause is either promiscuously in the whole body by Cacochymia or weakness of the same or in some of the parts as in the Liver which by by the inability of the Sanguifficative faculty causeth a generation of corrupt blood and then the matter is reddish sometimes in the Gall being sluggish in its Office not drawing away those cholerick Superfluities which are ingendred in the Liver and the matter is Yellowish Soâ—etimes in the Spleen not defecating and cleansing the blood of the dregs and excrementitious parts and then the matter flowing forth is blackish It may also come from Catarrhs in the Head or from any other putrified or corrupted Member But if the matter of the Flux be white the cause is either in the Stomach or Reins In the Stomach by a Phlegmatical and Crude matter there contracted and vitiated through Grief Melancholly and other Distempers For otherwise if the matter were only Pituita crude Phlegm and no ways corrupt or vitiated being taken into the Liver it might be converted into blood for Phlegm in the Ventricle is called Nourishment half digested But being corrupt tho' sent unto the Liver yet it cannot be turned into Nutriment for the second Concoction cannot correct that which the first hath corrupted and therefore the Liver sends it to the Womb which can neither digest it nor repel it and so it is voided out still keeping the Colour which it had in the Ventricle The cause also may be in the Reins being over-heat whereby the Spermatical matter by reason of its thinness flows forth The external cause may be moystness of the Air eating of corrupt Meats Anger Grief Slothfulness immoderate Sleeping Costiveness of body The Signs are extenuation of the body shortness and stinking of breath loathing of meat pain in the head swelling of the eyes and feet melancholly humidity flows from the Womb of divers colours as reddish black green yellow white It differs from the flowing and over-flowing of the Courses in that it keeps no certain periods and is of many Colours all which do degenerate from blood Prognosticks If the Flux be Phlegmatical it will continue long and be difficult to Cure yet if vomiting or the flux Diarrhaea happeneth diverting the humour it cures the Disease If it be Cholerick it is not so permanent yet more perilous for it will cause clifts in the neck of the Womb and sometimes make an excoriation in the Matrix If Melancholick it is most Dangerous and Contumacious yâ—t the flux of the Emerhoids administers Cure If the matter flowing forth be reddish open a vein on the Arm if not apply Ligatures to the Arms and Shoulders Galen glories of himself how he cured the wife of Boctus labouring of this Disease by rubbing the upper parts with Crude Honey If it be caused by a distillation from the brain take Syrup of Betony Staechas and Marjoram Purge with Pil. coch sine quibus de Agarico make Nasalia of the juice or Sage Hysop Betony Nigella with one drop of Oy1 of Cloves and a little silk Cotton Take Elect. Dianth aromat rosat diambre diamosci dulcis of each one Dram Nutmeg half a Dram with Sugar and Betony water make Lozenges to be taken every Morning and Evening Take Auriae Alexandrinae half a Dram at Night going to Bed If these things help not use the Suffumigation and Plaister as they are prescribed If it proceeds from Crudities in the Stomach or from a cold distempered Liver take every morning of the Decoction of Lignum Sanctum Purge with Pil. de Agarico de Hermodact de Hiera Diacolocynthid Foetida Agrigative Take of Elect. Aromat Ros two Drams Cytron-peels dryed Nutmeg long Pepper of each one Scruple Diagalanga one Dram Santali Albi Ligni Aloes of each half a Scruple Sugar six Ounces with Mint-water and make Lozenges of it Take of them before Meals If with Frigidity of the Liver there be joyned a repletion of the Stomaâ—h Purging by Vomit is commendable For which take three Drams of the Electuary Diasaru Galen allows of Diuretical means as of Apium Petrosilinum c. If the matter of the Flux be Cholerick prepare the Humour with Syrup of Roses Violets Endive Succory Purge with Myrabolanes Manna Rhubarb Cassia Take of Rhubarb two Drams Anniseed one Dram Cinnamon a Scruple and a half infuse them in six Ounces â—f Prune-broth Add to the sâ—raining of Manna one Ounce and take it in the Morning according to Art Take Spâ—cierum Diatrionsantalon Diatragacant Frig. Diâ—rrhod Abbatis Diacydonit of each one Dram Sugar four Ounces with Plantain-water make Lozenges If the Clyster of the Gall be sluggish and do not stir up the Faculty of the Guts give hot Glisters of the Decoction of the four mollifying Herbs with Honâ—y of Roses and Aloes If the Flux be Melancholious prepare with Syrup of Maiden-hair Epithimum Polypody Burrage Bugloss Fumetary Hart's-Tongue and Syrupus Bysantinus which must be made without Vinegar otherwise it will rather animate the Disease than Nature for Melancholly by the use of Vinegar is encreased and both by Hippocrates Sylvius and Avenzoar it is disallowed of as an Enemy to the Womb and therefore not to be used inwardly in Uterine Diseases Purgers of Melancholy are Pilulae Fumariae Pilulae Indae Pil. de Lapide Lazuli Diasena Confectio Hamech Take of stamped Prunes 2 Ounces Senna 1 Dram Opithiâ—um Polipody
Urine doth flow forth it is white and thick and the Midriff is molested the loyns are grieved the Privities pained the Womb sinks down to the entrance of the private parts or else comes clean out Prognosticks This Grief possessing an old Woman is cared with great difficulty because it weakens the Faculties of the Womb and therefore tho' it be reduced into his proper place yet upon every little illness or indisposition it is subject to return and so it is with the younger sort if the Disease be inveterate If it be caus'd by putrifaction in the Nerves it is incurable Cure The Womb naturally being placed between the strait Gut and the Bladder and now fallen down ought not to be put up again until the faculty both of the Guts and Bladder be stirred up Nature being unloaded of her Burthen let the Woman be placed on her back in such sort that her legs may be higher than her head let her feet be drawn up to her hinder parts with her knees spread abroad The mollifie the Swelling with Oyl of Lillies and sweet Almonds or with the decoction of Mallows Beets Fenugreek and Linseed When the Inflation is dissipated let the Midwife anoint her hand with Oyl of Mastick and reduce the Womb into its place The Matrix being put up the situation of the Patient must be changed let â—er legs be out at length and laid together set Cupping-glasses to the brests and navel Boyl Mugwort Feverfew red Roses and Comfery in red Wine and foment the places therewith Make a Suffumigation for the Matrix of Castor Assafoetida Frankincense and Mastick Take Sandarache Olibani Cypress Nuts of each three drams Mastick Styrax Frankincense of each an ounce fine Bole one dram with Oyl of Myrtles and Wax make two Plaisters apply one before and the other behind Take of red Roses Pomegranate Pills Acorn-cups Myrtle-berries of each two ounces Medlar-leaves Sage Rue Origan Comfery Wormwood of each a handful and a half boyl all these in water and make an Insession Move sweet Odours to the Nose and at her coming out of the Bath give her of Syrup of Feverfew one ounce with one dram of Mithridate Take Ladam Mastick of each three drams Galbani half an ounce Styracis two drams make therewith a Plaister for the Navel Then make Pessaries of Assafoetida Saffron Comfrey Mastick adding thereto a little Castor The practice of Pareus in this case was to make them only of Cork in figure like a little Egg covering them over with Wax and Mastick dissolved together fastening to it a thrâ—d and so to put it up into the Womb. The present danger being now taken away and the Matrix seated in its natural abode the remote cause must be removed If the Body be Plethorick open a Vein Prepare with Syrup of Betony Calamint Hysop and Feverfew Purge with Pil. de Hiera cum Agaric Pil. de Colocyn If the Stomach be oppress'd by Crudities unburden it by vomiting Sudorifical Decoctions of Lignum sanctum and Sassifras taken twenty days together dries up the superfluous moisture and consequently suppresseth the cause of the Disease Let the Air be hot and dry and your Diet hot and attenuating Abstain from Dancing Leaping Sneezing and from all motion both of body and mind Eat sparingly drink not much sleep moderately CHAP. VIII Of the Inflammation of the Womb. THe Phlegmon or Inflammation of the Matrix is a Tumour possessing the whole Womb accompanied with unnatural heat by obstructions and gathering together of corrupt Blood Cause The Cause of this Affect is suppression of the Months repletion of the whole Body immoderate use of Venus often handling of the Genitals difficult Child-birth vehement agitation of the Body falls blows to which also may be added the use of sharp Pessaries whereby not seldom the Womb is inflamed Cupping-glasses also fastened to the Pubes and Hypogastrium draw the Humours to the Womb. Signs The Signs are Aguish humours pains in the head and stomach vomiting coldness of the knees convulsions of the neck doting trembling of the heart sometimes there is a straitness of breath by reason of the heat which is communicated to the Diaphragma or Midriff the Brests sympathizing with the Womb are pained and swelled Particular Signs If the fore-part of the Matrix be inflamed the Privities are grieved the Urine is supprest or flows forth with difficulty If the after part the loyns and back suffer the Excrements are retained If the right side the right hip suffers the right leg is heavy slow to motion in so much that sometimes she seems to hault And so if the left side of the Womb be inflamed the left hip is pained and the left leg is weaker than the right If the Neck of the Womb be affected the Midwife putting up her Finger shall feel the mouth of it retracted and closed up with a hardness about it Prognosticks All Inflammations of the Womb are dangerous if not deadly and especially if the total substance of the Matrix be inflamed Yet they are less perilous if they be in the Neck of the Womb. A fâ—ux of the Belly foretells Health if it be natural for Nature works best by the use of her own Instruments Cure In the Cure first let the humours flowing to the Womb be repell'd for effecting of which after the Belly hath been loosened by cooling Clysters Phlebotomy will be needful Open therefore a Vein in the Arm and if she be not with Child the day after strike the Saphena on both Feet Fasten Ligatures and Cupping-glasses to the Arms and rub the upper Parts Purge lightly with Cassia Rhubarb Sena Myrobolans Take of Sena two drams Anniseed on scruple Myrobalans half an ounce Baâ—ley-water a sufficient quantity make a Decoction dissolve it in Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb two ounces Pulp of Cassia half an ounce Oyl of Anniseed two drops and make a Potion At the beginning of the Disease anoint the Privities and Reins with Oyl of Roses and Quinces Make Plaisters of Plaintain Linseed Barley-meal Mellilot Fenugreek Whites of Eggs and if the pain be vehement add a little Opium Foment the Genitals with the Decoction of Poppy-heads Purslain Knot-grass and Water-Lillies Make Injections of Goats-Milk Rose-water clarified Whey with Honey of Roses In the declining of the Disease use Insessions of Sage Linseed Mugwort Penny-royal Horehound Fenugreek Anoint the lower parts of the Belly with Oyl of Camomile and Violets Take Lilly Roots and Mallow Roots of each four ounces Mercury one handful Mugwort Feverfew Camomile-flowers Melilot of 〈◊〉 half a handful bruise the Herbs and the â—â—â—ots and boyl them in a sufficient quantity of Milk then add fresh Butter Oyl of Camomile Lillies of each two ounces Beaâ—-meal a sufficient quantity make two Plaisters apply one before and the other behind If the Tumour cannot be removed but â—ends to suppuration Take of Fenugreek Malâ—ow-Roots decocted Figs Linseed Barley-Meal Doves-dung Turpentine of each three â—rams Deers Suet half a dram Opium
Convulsions Epilepsies Appoplexies Palseys Hectick Fevers Dropsies Malignant Ulcers c. And to be short there is no Disease so bad but may proceed from the evil Quality of it How necessary therefore the Knowledge of these things are let every Vnprejudâ—ced Reader Judge For that many Women labour under them thro' their own Ignorance and Modesty as I said before woful Experience makes manifest Here therefore as in a Mirror they may be acquainted with their own Distempers and have suitable Remedies without applying themselves to a Physitian against which they have so great a Reluctance ARISTOTLE's MASTER-PIECE COMPLEATED PART I. OF THE Secrets of Generation In all the PARTS thereof CHAP. I. Of Marriage and at what Age Young Men and Virgins are capable of the Marriage-Bed and why they so much desire it Also how long Men and Women are capable of having Children THERE are very few except some profess'd Debauchees but what will readily agree That Marriage is Honourable being Ordain'd by Heaven in Paradise and without which no Man or Woman can be in a Capacity honestly to yield obedience to the first Law of the Creation Increase and multiply And since it is Natural in young People to desire those mutual Embraces proper to the Marriage-Bed it behoves Parents to look after their Children and when they find them inclinable to Marriage not violently to restrain their Affections and oppose their Inclinations which instead of allaying them makes 'em but the more impetuous but rather provide such suitable Matches for them as may make their Lives comfortable Lest the crossing of their Inclinations should precipitate them to commit those Follies that may bring an indelible stain upon their Families The Inclination of Maids to Marriage is to be known by many Symptoms For when they arrive to Puberty which is about the Fourteenth or Fifteenth year of their Age then their Natural Purgations begin to flow And the Blood which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies abounding stirs up their Minds to Venery External Causes also may incite them to it for the Spirits being brisk and inflam'd when they arrive at this Age if they eat sharp salt things and Spices the Body becomes more and more heated whereby the Desire to Venereal Embraces is very great and at some times almost insuperable And the use of these so much desir'd Enjoyments being deny'd to Virgins is many times follow'd by dismal Consequents as a green Weasel-colour short Breathings Trembling of the Heart c. But when they are married and their Venereal Desires satisfied by the Enjoyment of their Husbands those Distempers vanish and their former Beauty returns more gay and lively than before Also their eager gazing at Men and affecting their company sufficiently demonstrates that Nature prompts them to desire Coition which their Parents often neglecting or refusing to provide by procuring them Husbands they break the Bounds of Modesty and satisfie themselves in unlawful Embraces The same may be observed in young brisk Widows who cannot be satified without that Due Benevolence which they were wont to receive from their Husbands At Fourteen Years of Age commonly the Menses in Virgins begin to flow at which time they are capable of Conceiving and so continue generally to Forty-four at which time for the most part they cease bearing unless they be very healthful and strong of Body and have always been addicted to Temperance such indeed have born Children till Fifty-five years but this rarely happens altho' the Menses flow a longer time in some Women than in others but many times such Efflux proceeds not from a natural Cause but by reason of some violence offer'd to Nature or some other Morbifick matter which often proves of fatal consequence to the Party And therefore those Men that are desirous of Isue must marry Women within the Age aforesaid or blame themselves if they meet with disappointments Tho' if an old Man not worn out by Diseases and Incontinency marry a brisk lively Lass there is hopes of his having Children to Threescore and Ten nay if extraordinary lusty even till Fourscore Hipocrates is of Opinion that a Youth at Sixteen years or between that and Seventeen having much vital strength may be capable of getting Chi'dren and also that the Force and Heat of Procreating Matter constantly increases till Forty-five Fifty and Sixty-five and then begins to flag the Seed by degrees becoming unfruitful the natural Spirits being extinguished and the Humours dried up Thus it is in general but as to particulars as I have before mentioned it often happens otherwise Nay it is reported by a credible Author That in Sweedland a Man was married at a hundred years old to a Bride of Thirty and had many Children byâ—â—r but looked so fresh that such as knew him not took him not to exceed half that Age. I Campania where the air is clear and temperate men of Fourscore years old usually marry young Virgins and have Children by them which shews that age in men hinders not Procreation unless they be exhausted in their Youth and their Yard shrivel'd up If any would know why a Woman is sooner Barren than a Man they may understand that the natural Heat which is the Cause of Generation is more predominant in the latter than in the former For since a Woman is more moist than a Man as her Monthly Purgations demonstrate as also the softness of her Body it is also apparent that he doth exceed her in her Native Heat which is the chief thing that concocts the Humours into proper Aliment which the Woman wanting grows fat when a Man through his Native Heat melts his fat by degrees and his Humours are dissolved and by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into Seed And this may be also added That Women generally are not so strong as Men nor so wise and prudent nor have so much Reason and Ingenuity in ordering of Affairs which shews that thereby the Faculties are hindred in their operation CHAP. II. How to get a Male or Female Child and of the Embryo and Perfect Birth with the fittest time for Copulation WHEN a young Couple are married they naturally desire Children and therefore make use of those means that Nature has appointed to that end But notwithstanding their Endeavours they must know the Success of all depends on a Blessing from on high for Children are the Blessing of the Lord and not only so but the Sex whether Male or Female is from his disposal also tho' it cannot be deny'd but secondary Causes have an influence therein especially two First The Genital Humour which is brought by the Arteriae Preparantes to the Testes in the form of Blood and there Elaborated into Seed by the Seminifical Faculty resident in them To which may be added the desire to Coition which fires the Imagination with unusual Fancies and by the sight of a brisk charming Beauty may much inflame the Appetite But if Nature be enfeebled there are fit
Artificial Remedies to restore it viz. Those Meats that most conduce to the affording such Aliment as makes Seed abound and restores the Decays of Nature that the Facâ—lties may freely operate For as Dung and good manuring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless even so proper Diet operates to the restoring the Coldness and Driness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since Diet alters the evil state of the Body to a better it is necessary that such 〈◊〉 are subject to Barrenness should eat such Meats only as may render them fruitful and such arâ— all meats of good Juice that nourish well aâ—â— make the Body lively and full of Sap of which faculty are all hot moist Meats for according to Galen Seed is made of the pure concocted and windy superfluity of Blood whence we may conclude there is in many things a power to accumulate Seed as also to augment it and other things of force to cause Erection as Hen-Eggs Pheasants Woodcocks Gnat-sappers â—hrushes Black-Birds young Pidgeons Sparrows Partridges Capons Almonds Pine-Nuts Raisins Currants all strong Wines taken sparingly especially those made of the Grapes of Italy but Erection is chiefly caused by Styrium Eringâ—es Cresses Erysimum Parsnips Artichoaks Turnips Rapes Asparagus Candied Ginger Gallinga Acorns bruised to Pouder and drank in Muscadels Scallions Sea-Shell-Fish c. But these must have time to perform their Operation and you must use them for a considerable time or you will reap little benefit by them The Act of Coition being over let the Woman repose her self on her Right Side with her Head lying low and her Body declining that by sleeping in that posture the Cell on the Right Side of the Matrix many prove the Place of Conception for therein is the greatest Generative Heat which is the chief procuring cause of Male Children and rarely fails to answer the expectation of those that experience it especially if they do but keep warm and without much motion leaning to the right and drinking a little Spirit of Saffron and Juice of Hysop in a Glass of Mallago or Alligant when they lye down and rise for the space of a Week Now the fittest time for the Procreation of Male Children is when the Sun is in Leo and the Moon in Virgo Scorpio or Sagitarius But for a female Child the woman must lye on the left Side strongly fancying a Female in the time of Procreation especially if she drink the Decoction of Female Mercury four dayes from the first day of Purgation the Male Mercury both Herbs so called having the like Operation in case of a Male Child for the Decoction of these Simples do purge the one the right and the other the left side of the Womb and thereby both open the Receptacles and make a way for the Seminary of Generation And the best time to beget a Female is when the Moon is in wane in Libra or Aquarius for then they will be of a gentle affable temper very faâ—r and perfect in all their Members Avicenna describes the time of Procreation thus When the Menses are spent and the Womb is cleansed which is commonly in five days or seven at most if a Man lie with his Wife from the first day she is purg'd to the fifth she will conceive a Male but from the fifth to the 8th a Female from the 8th to the 12th a male again But after that Number of Days peradventure neither distinctly but both in an Hermaphrodite In a word They that would be happy in the fruit of their Labour must observe to use Copulation at a due distance of time not too often nor yet too seldom for both these are alike hurtful and to use it immoderately weakens a Man wastes his Spirits and debilitates the Seed And thus much for the first particular I shall now proceed to the second which is to let the Reader understand how the Child is formed in the Womb what accidents it is liable to there how nourish'd and when brought forth There are various Opinions concerning this matter therefore I shall for the satisfaction of the Curious shew what the Learned say about it Man consists of an Ovum or Egg which is impregnated in the Ovaria or Testicles of the Woman by the more subtile part of Man's Seed but the forming Faculty and Vertue in the Seed in from a Divine and Heavenly Gift it being abundantly endued with a Vital Spirit which gives shape and form to the Embryo so that all the parts and bulk of the Body which is made up in the space of many months and is by degrees formed into the comely Figure of a man do consist in that and are adumbrated thereby Which is incomparably expressed by the Royal Psalmist in Psal 138. I will praise thee O Lord because I am wonderfully made Thou knowest all my Bones when I was fashioned in the secret place and when I was wonderfully formed in my mothers Womb. Thy Eyes beheld me yet unmade in thy Book were all my Members written which day by day were fashioned And the Physicians have assigned four different times wherein this Microsm or little world is fram'd and perfected in the womb The first is presently after Coition being perfected in the first Week if no Efflux happen which sometimes fall out through the â—â—â—ippeâ—â—ness of the Matrix or the head thereof that shifts over like a Rose-bud and opens on a sudden by reason of Cold or over-hard Labour The second time of forming is assigned to be when Nature makes a manifest mutation in the Conception so that all the substance seems Congealed Flesh and Blood which happens about 12 or 14 days after Copulation and though this Concretion or Fleshy Mass abound with hot fiery Blood yet it remains undistinguishable having no form or figure and may be termed an Embrio and compared to Seed which is sown in the Ground which through kindly Heat and Moisture grows up by degrees into a perfect form either in Plant or Grain or as when a Potter fashions a Vessel out of a rude lump of Clay The third time assigned to make up this Fabrick is when the principal Parts shew themselves so as to be discerned as the Heart from whence proceeds the Arteries the Brain from which the Nerve like many small Threads ruâ— through the whole Body and the Liver whose office it is to separate the Chile from the Blood brought to it by the Vena Portae The two first are the Fountains of Life that Nourish every part of the Body in framing which the Faculty of the Woâ—b is busied from the time of Conception to the Eighteenth Day of the first Month But Lastly About the 28 or 30th day the outward parts are seen exquisitely elaborated and distinguished by Joints and then the Child begins to grow from which time by reason the Limbs are divided and the whole
Nature viz. raw or burnt Flesh Ashes Coals Old shoes Chalk Wax Nut-shels Mortar Lime Oat-meal Tobacco Pipes c. which occasion not only a Suppression of the Menses but likewise obstructions through the whole Body Therefore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause is Matrimonial Conjunction and such Copulation that may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted for by that means the menses will begin to flow according to their natural and due course and the Humours being dispersed will soon waste themselves and then no more matter being administred to increase them they will vanish and a good temperament of Body will return But in case this best Remedy cannot be had so soon as necessity requries then let her be let Blood in the Ankle and if she be about 16 you may likewise do it in the Arm but let her bleed but sparingly especially if the Blood be good If the Disease be of any continuance then is it to be eradicated by Purging Preparation of the humour being first consider'd which may be done by the Virgins drinking Decoction of Guaicum with Dittany of Creet But the best Purge in this case ought to be made of Aloes Agarick Senna Rhubarb And for strengthing the Bowels and opening Obstructions Chalibiat Medicines are chiefly to be used The Diet must be moderate and sharp things be by all means avoided And for the freeing of the Humour take Prepared Steel Bezoar Stone the Root of Scorzonera Oyl of Chrystal 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 and dissipated 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 casts the Woman into one or other violent Distemper I shall in the next place treat thereof Of Barrenness In times past before Women came to the marriage Bed they were first searched by the Midwife and those only which she allowed of as fruitful were admitted I hope therefore it will be thought a needless labour to shew how they may prove themselves and turn the stony ground into a fruitful soil Barrenness is a deprivation of life and power which ought to be in the seed to procreate and propagate for which end both man and woman were made Causes of Barrenness It is caused by overmuch heat or cold that drying up the seed and making it corrupt this extinguishing the life of the seed making it watrish and unfit for Generation It may be caused also by the not flowing or over-flowing of the Courses by Swellings Ulcers and Inflammations of the Womb by an excrescence of flesh growing about the mouth of the Matrix by the mouth of the Womb being turned unto the back or side by the grossness and fatness of the body whereby the mouth of the matrix is closed up by being prest with the Omentum or Caule and the matter of the seed is converted into fatness Or if she be of a lean and exhaust body to the World she proves Barren because though she doth conceive yet the fruit of the Womb will wither before it comes to perfection for want of nourishment Aetius and Sylvius ascribe one main cause of Barrenness to compel'd copulation as when parents enforce their daughters to have Husbands contrary to their liking therein marrying their Bodies but not their Hearts and where there is a want of Love there for the most part is no Conception as appears in Women which are deflowred against their will Another main cause of Barrenness is attributed to the want of a convenient moderating quality which the Woman ought to have with the Man as if he be hot she must be cold If he be dry she must be moist But if they be both dry or both moist of constitution they cannot propagate and yet simply considered of themselves they are not Barren for he or she which before was as the Barren fig-tree being now joined with an apt constitution becomes as the fruitful Vine And that Man and Woman being every way of a like constitution cannot Procreate I will bring Nature it self for a testimony who hath made Man of a hotter Constitution than Woman that the quality of the one may moderate the quality of the other Signs of Barrenness If Barrenness does proceed from overmuch heat she is of a dry body subject to anger she hath black Hair quick pulse her purgations flow but little and that with pain she Loves to play in the courts of Venus But if it comes by cold then are the signs contrary to those even now recited If through an evil quality in the Womb Make a suffumigation of red Storax Myrrh Cassia wood Nutmeg Cinnamon and let her receive the fume of it into the Womb covering her very close and if the odour so received passeth through the Body up into the Mouth and Nostrils of her self she is fruitful But if she feels not the fume in her Mouth and Nose it argues Barrenness one of these ways that the Spirit of the seed is either through cold extinguisht or through heat dissipated If any Woman be suspected to be unfruitful cast natural Brimstone such as is digged out of the Mine into her Urin and â—f Worms breed therein of herself she is not barren Prognosticks Barrenness maketh Women look young because they are free from those pains and sorrows which other Women are accustomed to bring forth withall Yet they have not that full perfection of health which fruitful Women do injoy because they are not rightly pâ—rged of the menstruous blood and superfluous seed the retaining of which two are the principal cause of most Uterine Diseases Cure First the cause must be removed and then the Womb strengthened and the Spirits of the seed enlived If the Womb be over-hot Take Syrrup of Succory with Rhubarb Syrrup of Violets Endive Roses Cassia Purslain Take of Endive water Lillies Borage flowers of each a handful Rhubarb Myrobolans of each 3 Drams with water make a Decoction add to the straning of the Syrup Laxative of Violets one ounce Syrup of Cassia half an Ounce Manna 3 drams make a potion Take of the Syrup of Mugwort one ounce Syrup of Maiden hair 2 ounces water of Succory Borage Fennel of each 3 ounces Pulv. Elect Triasand one dram make a Julep Take Pru. Solut. Elect. Ros Mesuae of each 3 drams Rhubarb one Scruple and make a Bolus Apply to the reins and privities fomentations of the juice of Lettice Violets Roses Mallows Vineleaves and Night-shade Anoint the secret parts with the cooling unguent of Galen If the power of the seed be extinguisht by cold Take every Morning two spoonfuls of Cinnamon water with one Scruple of Mahridate Take Syrup of Calamint Mugwort Bettony of each one ounce water of
the Man has withdrawn himself let the Woman gently betake her self to Rest with all imaginable serenity and composure of Mind free from all anxious and disturbing Thoughts or any other kind of Perturbation whatsoever And let her as much as she can forbear turning herself from that side on which she first reposes And by all means let her avoid Coughing and Sneezing which by its violent concussion of the Body is a great Enemy to Conception if it happen soon after the Act of Coition And thus I have finish'd the first Part of this Treatise which I hope will be to the honest and sober Readers Satisfaction The End of the First Part. ARISTOTLE's MASTER-PIECE COMPLEATED PART II. BEING A Private Looking-Glass FOR THE FEMALE SEX TREATING Of the several Maladies incident to the WOMB with proper Remedies for the Cure of Each CHAP. I. Of the WOMB in General ALTHO' in the first Part I have spoken something of the Fabrick of the Womb yet being in this Second Part to Treat more Particularly thereof and of the various Distempers and Maladies it is subject to I shall not think it a Tautology to give you by way of Introduction a general Description both of its Situation and Parts but rather think this Second Part would be imperfect without it so that it can by no means be Omitted especially since in it I am to speak of the Quality of the Menstruous Blood First Touching the Womb Of the Graecians it is called METRA the Mother or DELPHOVS saith Priscian because it makes us all Brothers It is placed in the Hypogastrium or lower part of the Belly in the Cavity called Pelvis having the streight Gut on one side to keep it from the hardness of the Back-bone and the Bladder on the other side to defend it from Blows The form or figure of it is like a Viril Member only this excepted the Manhood is outward and the Womanhood within It is divided into the Neck and the Body The Neck consists of a hard fleshy Substance much like a Cartilage at the end whereof there is a Membrane transversly placed called Hymen or Eugion Near also unto the neck there is a prominent Panicle which is called of Montanus the Door of the Womb because it preserveth the Matrix from Cold and Dust Of the Graecians it is called KLYTORIS of the Latines Praeutium Muliebre because the Jewish Women did abuse this part to their own mutual Lust as St. Paul speaks Rom. 1.26 The Body of the Womb is that wherein the Child is Conceived and this is not altogether round but dilates it self into two Angles the outward part of it is Nervous and full of Sinews which are the cause of its motion but inwardly it is Fleshy It is fabulously Reported That in the cavity of the Womb there are seven divided Cells or Receptacles for Humane Seed But those that have seen Anatomies do know there are but two and likewise that those two are not divided by a Partition but only by a Line or Suture running through the midst of it In the right side of the Cavity by reason of the heat of the Liver Males are conceived In the left side by the coldness of the Spleen Females are begotten And this do most of our Moderns hold for an infallible Truth yet Hypocrates holds it but in the General For in whom saith he the Spermatick Vessel of the right side comes from the Reins and the Spermatical Vessel of the left side from the hollow Vein in them Males are conceived in the left Side and Females in the right Well therefore may I conclude with the saying of Empedocles Such sometimes is the power of the Seed that a Male may be conceived in the left Side as well as in the right In the bottom of the Cavity there are little holes called the Cotyledones which are the ends of certain Veins and Arteries serving in breeding women to convey Sustenance to the Child which is received by the Umbilical Vein and others to carry the Courses into the Matrix Now touching the Menstruals they are Defined to be a Monthly flux of Excrementitious and Unprofitable Blood In which we are to Note That the matter flowing forth is Excrementitious which is to be understood of the Superplus or Redundancy of it For it is an Excrement in quantity in quality being pure and incorrupt like unto the Blood in the Veins And that the menstrous Blood is pure and simply of it self all one in quality with that in the veins is proved two ways First from the final Cause of this Blood which is the propagation and conservation of Mankind that Man might be conceived and being begotten he might be Comforted and Preserved both in the Womb and out of the Womb. And all will grant it for a Truth That the Child while it is in the Matrix is nourished with this Blood and it is as true That being out of the Womb it is still nourished with the same for the Milk is nothing but the menstruous Blood made white in the Breasts and I am sure Womans Milk is not thought to be venemous but of a nutritive quality answerable to the tender nature of an Infant Secondly It is proved to be Pure from the Generation of it it being the Superfluity of the last Aliment of the fleshy parts It may be Objected If the Blood be not of a hurtful Quality How can it cause such venemous Effects as if the same fall upon Trees and Herbs it maketh the one barren and mortifies the other And Averroes writes That if a man accompany with a Menstruous woman if she Conceive she shall bring forth a Leaper I answer this Malignity is contracted in the Womb for the woman wanting native heat to digest this Superfluity sends it to the Matrix where seating it self until the mouth of the Womb be dilated it becomes corrupt and venemous which may easily be considering the heat and moistness of the place This Blood therefore being out of his vessels offends in quality In this Sense let us understand Pliny Fernelius Florus and the rest of that Torrent But if Frigiâ—ity be the cause why women cannot digest all their last Nourishment and consequently that they have these Purgations it remains to give a reason why they are of so cold a Constitution more than Men which is this The natural end of men and womens being is to Propagate and this Injunction was imposed upon them by God at their first Creation and again after the Deluge Now in the act of Conception there must be an Agent and a Patient for if they be both every way of one Constitution they cannot Propagate Man therefore is Hot and Dry Woman Cold and Moist he is the Agent she the Patient or weaker Vessel that she should be Subject unto the Office of the Man It is necessary that woman should be of a cold Constitution because in her is required a Redundancy of matter for the Infant depending on
conclude if the flux be inordinate many diseases will ensue and without remedy the Blood together with the native heat being consumed either cachectical Hydropical or paralitical diseases will follow Cure The cure consisteth in three particulars First in repelling and carrying back of the Blood Secondly in correcting and taking away the fluxibility of the matter Thirdly in corroborating the veins and faculties For the first To cause a regression of the Blood open a vein in the Arm and draw out so much blood as the strength of the Patient will permit and that not together but at several times for hereby the spirits are the less weakned and the retraction so much the greater Apply cupping-glasses to the Brests and also to the Liver that the reversion may be in the Fountain To correct the fluxibility of the matter Cathartical means moderated with Astrictories must be used If it be caused by Erosion or sharpness of blood consider whether the Erosion be by salt Flegm or adust Colour If by salt Flegm Prepare with syrup of violet Wormwood Roses Citron pills Succory c. Then take this purgation following Take Myrobolans Chebul half an Ounce Trochisks of Agarick one dram with Plantain water make a decoction add thereunto sir rosat lax 3 Ounces and make a potion If by adust Choller prepare the Body with Syrrup of Roses Myrtles Sorrel Purslain commixt with water of Plantain Knotgrass and Endive Then purge with this potion Take Rinds of Myrobolans Rhubarb of each one dram Cinnamon 15 Grains infuse them one night in Endive water Add to the straining pulp of Tamarind Cassia of each half an Ounce Syrup of Roses one Ounce make a potion If the blood be watrish and unconcoct as it is in Hydropical Bodies and flows forth by reason of the tenuity and thinness to draw off the Water will be profitable Purge with Agarick Elaterium and Coloquintida Sweating is proper in this cause for by it the matter offending is taken away and the motion of the blood is carried to the outward parts To procure sweat use Carduus water with Mithridate or the decoction of Guaiacum Sassafras and Sarsa-parilla the Gum of Guaiacum also doth greatly provoke sweat Pills of Sarsa-parilla taken every night going to bed are worthily commended If the blood flows forth from the opening or breaking of a vein without any evil quality in its self then ought only Corroboratives to be applied which is the last thing to be done in the cure of this inordinate flux Take of Bole Armoniac one Scruple London Treacle one dram old conserve of Roses half an Ounce with syrup of Myrtles make an Electuary Or if the flux hath continued long Take of Mastick 2 drams Olibani Troch de Carabe of each one dram Balaustiorum one Scruple make a pouder with Syrup of Quinces make it into Pills take one always before Meals Take Lapidis Haematitis Triti of each 2 Scruples Specierum Triasantali one Ounce Troch de Carabe de scoria ferri Coral Frankincense of each one Scruple fine Bole one Scruple beaâ— these to fine Powder and with Sugar and Plantain water a sufficient quantity make Lozenges Asses Dung is well approved of whether taken inwardly with Syrâ—p of Quinces or applied outwardly with Steeled water Galen by coâ—veâ—ing the juice of it through a Metrenchitâ— into the Womb four days together cured this immoderate Flux which no ways else couâ—d be restrainâ—d Going to bed let her take one Scruple and a half of Phiâ—onii Romani in a wafer make Suffumigations for the Matrix of Maststick Frankincense burnt Frogs not forgetting the hoof of a Mule Take of the juice of Knot grass Comfrâ— Quinces of each one Ounce Camphire one Dram dip silk Cotion therein and apply it to the placâ—s Take of Oyl of Mastick Mâ—râ—les Quinces of each half an Ounce fine Bole Troch de Carabe Sanguinis Draconis of each â—ne Drâ—m Wax and Vinegar a sufficient Quantity make an Unguent apply it both beâ—ore and behind Take of Plantain Shepherds Purse red Rose leaves of each one Handful of Goats and Asses Dung dryed of each one Ounce and a half Acatiae Hypocistidos of â—ach one Ounce and a half dryed Mâ—nt one Ounce Bean-Meal three Ounces boyl all â—hese in Plantain water and maâ—e of it two â—laisters apply one bâ—fore and the other behind If the blood flows from those veinâ— which are terminated in the neck of the Matrix then it is not called the overflowing 〈◊〉 the Terms but the Emerhoids of the Womb 〈◊〉 Yet the same Cure will serve them both onlâ— the instrumental Cure will a little differ foâ— in the Uterine Emorhoids the ends of thâ— veins hang over like little Teats or Pusheâ— which must be taken away by incision and theâ— the veins closed up with Aloes fine Bolâ— burnt Allom Troch de Terra sigil Myrrhâ— Mastick with the juyce of Comfrey and Knoâ—â—grass laid Plaister-wise thereto The Air must be cold and dry all motioâ— of the body is forbidden Let her Meat 〈◊〉 Pheasant Patridge Mountain-Birds Coney 〈◊〉 Calf's Feet c. And let her Beer be miâ—â— with the juyce of Pomgranates and Quinces CHAP. IV. Of the Weeping of the Womb. THe weeping of the Womb is an unnatuâ—â— flux of blood coming from the Womâ— by drops or after the manner of Tears causâ—â— violent Pains in the same keeping neither â—â—riod nor time By some it is referred unâ—â— the immoderate Evacuation of the Coursâ— yet they are distinguisht in the quantity aâ— manner of their flowing in that they flow copiously and freely In this continually tho' by little and little and that with great Pain and Difficulty wherefore it is likened unto the Strangury The Cause is in the faculty instrument or matter In the faculty by being enfeebled that it cannot expel the blood and the blood resting there makes the parts of the Womb grow hard and stretcheth the vessels from whence proceeds the pain in the Womb. In the instrument by the narrowness of the Passages Lastly It may be in the matter of the blood which may offend in too great a quantity or in an evil-quality it being gross and thick that it cannot flow forth as it ought to do but by drops The Signs will best appear by the Relation of the Patient Hereupon will ensue pains in the head stomach and back with inflammations suffocaâ—ions and excoriations of the Matrix If the strengeh of the Patient will permit â—irst open a vein in the Arm rub the upper â—arts and let her Arms be corded that the â—orce of the blood may be carried backward Then apply such things as may laxate and â—olify the stretching of the Womb and asâ—wage the sharpness of the Blood as Cataplasms â—ade of Bran Linseed Fenugreek Meliâ—ote Mallows Mercury and Atriplex If the â—lood be viscous and gross add thereto Mugwort Calamint Dictam and Betony And let her take of Venice-Treacle the quantity of a Nutmeg with Syrup of Mugwort every morning Anoint the places with Oyl
Take Specierum Diambrae Diamosci Dulcis Diacalamenti Diacinnamomi Diacimini Troch de Myrrha of each 2 drams Sugar one Pound with Bettony water make Lozenges Take of them two hours before Meals Apply to the bottom of the belly as hot as may be indured a little bag of Camomile Cummin and Melilote boyled in Oyl of Rue Anoint the belly and secret parts with Vnguentum Agrippae and Vnguentum AREGON mingling therewith Oyl of Ireos Cover the lower parts of the belly with the plaister of Bay-berries or with a Cataplasm made of Cummin Camomile Briony Roots adding thereto Cows and Goats dung Our Moderns ascribe a great vertue to Tobacco water distilled and poured into the Womb by a Metrenchyta Take of Baum Southern wood Organ Wormwood Calamint Bay-leaves Marjoram of each one handful Juniper-berries 4 drams with water make a Decoction Of this may be made Fomentations Injections and Insessions Make Pessaries of Styrax Aloes with the Roots of Dictam Aristolochia and Gentian Instead of this you may use the Pessary prescribed pag. 130. Let her take of Electuarium Aromaticum Diasatyrion and Eringo Roots condited every Morning The air must be hot and dry Moderate exercise is allowed Much sleep is forbidden She may eat the flesh of Partridges Larks Chickens Mountain-birds Hares Conies c. Let her drink be thin Wine CHAP. XI Of the Mola or False Conception THis disease is called of the Greeks MVLE and the cause of this denomination is taken from the load or heavy weight of it it being a Mole or great lump of hard flesh burdening the Womb. It is defined to be an inarticulate piece of flesh without form begotten in the Matrix as it were a true Conception In which definition we are to note two things First in that a Mole is said to be inarticulate and without form it differs from Monsters which are both Formata and Articulata Secondly it is said to be as it were a true Conception which puts a difference between a true Conception and a Mole which difference holds good three ways First in the Genus in that a Mole cannot be said to be animal Sâ—condly in the Species because it hath no humane figure and bears not the Character of a man Thirdly in the Individuum for it hath no affinity with the Parent either in the whole Body or any Particle of the same Cause About the cause of this affect amongst learned Authors I find variety of Judgements Some are of opinion that if the Womans seed goes into the Womb and not the Mans thereof is the Mole produced Others there be that affirm it is ingendred of the menstruous Blood But if these two were granted then Maids by having their Courses or through nocturnal polutions might be subject unto the same which never any yet were The true cause of this fleshy Mole proceeds both from the Man and from the Woman from corrupt or Barren Seed in the Man and from the menstruous Blood in the Woman both mixed together in the Cavity of the Womb where Nature finding her self weak yet desiring to maintain the perpetuity of her Speâ—ies labours to bring forth a vitious Conception rather than nonâ— And so instead of a living Creature generates a lump of â—lesh Signs The signs of a Mole are these The Months are supprest the appetite is depraved the brests swell and the Belly is puffed up and waxeth hard Thus far the signs of a breeding Woman and of one that beareth a Mole are all one I will now shew you how they differ The first sign of difference is taken from the motion of a Mole it may be felt to move in the Womb before the third Month which the Infant cannot Yet that motion cannot be understood of any intelligent power in the Mole but of the faculty of the Womb and of the seminal Spirits diffused through the substance of the Mole for it lives not a life animal but vegitative in the manner of a Plant. Secondly in a Mole the belly is suddenly puft up but in a true Conception the belly is first retracted and then riseth again by degrees Thirdly the belly being prest with the hand the Mole gives way and the hand being taken away it returns to the place again But a Child in the Womb though prest with the hand moves not presently and being removed returns slowly or not at all Lastly the Child continues in the Womb not above Eleven Months but a Mole continues some times four or five Years more or less according as it is fastened in the Matrix I have known when a Mole hath fallen away in four or five Months If it remains until the Eleventh Month the legs wax feeble and the whole body consumes only the swelling of the belly still increaseth which makes some think they are Hydropical though there be little reason for it for in the Dropsie leâ—s swell and grow big but in a Mole they consume and wither Prognosticks If at the delivery of a Mole the Flux of Blood be great it shews the more danger because the parts of nutrition having been vitiated by the flowing back of the superfluous humours whereby the natural heat is consumed and then parting with so much blood the Woman thereby is so weakned in all her facultâ—es that she can hardly subsist Cure We are taught in the School of Hippocrates that Phlebotomy causeth abortion by taking away that nourishment which should sustain the life of the Child Wherefore that this vitious Conception may be deprived of that vegetative sap by which it lives open the liver vein and then the Saphena on both feet Fasten Cupping glasses to the loins and sides of the belly which done let the Uterine parts be first Mollified and then the expulsive faculty provoked to expel the burden To laxate the Ligatures of the Male Take Mallows with the roots 3 handfuls Camomile Melilote Pellitory of the wall Violet leaves Mercury Roots of Fennel Parsley of each 2 handfuls Line-seed Fenugreek of each one pound boyl them in water and let her sit therein up to the Navel At the going out of the Bath Anoint the Privities and Reins with this Unguent following Take oyl of Camomile Lillies and sweet Almonds of each one Ounce fresh Butter Labdani Ammoniaci of each half an Ounce with the Oyl of Lineseed make an Unguent Or instead of this may be used Unguentum Agrippae or Dialthaea Take of Mercury Roots of Althea of each half a handful Fol. Branchae Ursinae half a handful Lineseed Barley-meal of each 6 ounces boyl all these with Water and Honey and make a Plaister Make Pessaries of the Gum Galbanum Bdelium Ammoniacum Figs Hogs-suet and Honey After the ligaments of the Mole are loosed let the expulsive faculty be stirred up to expell the Mole for effecting of which all Medicaments may be used which are proper to bring down the Courses Take Troch de Myrrha one Ounce Castor Aristolochia Gentians Dictam of each half an ounce make a
saith Avicen he is Weak and Infirm and therefore being then cast into cold Air his Spirits cannot but sink Cause Untimely Birth may be caused by Cold for as it maketh the Fruit of the Tree to wither and fall down before it be Ripe so doth it Nip the Fruit of the Womb before it comes to full Perfection and make it to be Abortive Sometimes by Humidity weakening the Faculty that the Fruit cannot be restrain'd until the due time by Dryness or Emptiness defrauding the Child of his Nourishment by one of the three Alvine Fluxes by Phlebotomy and other Evacuations by Inflammations of the Womb and by other sharp Diseases Sometimes it is caused by Joy Laughter Anger and especially by Fear for in all but in that especially the Heat forsakes the Womb and runs to the Heart to help there and so the Cold strikes into the Matrix whereby the Ligaments are Relaxt and so Abortion follows Wherefore Plato in his time Commanded that the Women should shun all Temptations of great Joy and Pleasure and likewise avoid all Occasions of Fear and Grief Abortion also may be caused by the Corruption of the Air by filthy Odours and especially by the smell of the Snuff of a Candle also by Falls Blows violent Exercise Leaping Dancing c. Signs Signs of future Abortion are Extenuation of the Brests with a Flux of watrish milk pain in the Womb heaviness in the Head unaccustomed Weariness in the Hips and Thighs flowing of the Courses Signs foretelling the Fruit to be dead in the Womb are hollowness of the Eyes grief in the Head anguish horrours paleness of the Face and Lips gnawing of the Stomach no motion of the Infant coldness and loosness of the mouth of the Womb the thickness of the Belly which was above is fallen down watrish and bloody Excrements comes from the Matrix CHAP. XIV Direction for Breeding Women THe prevention of Untimely Birth consists in the taking away of the aforementioned Causes which must be effected both before and after Conception Before Conception If the Body be over hot Cold Dry or Moist correct it with the Contraries if Cacochimical Purge it if Plethorical open the Liver Vein if too Gross Extenuate it if too Lean Corroborate and Nourish it all Diseases of the Womb must be removed as I have shewed After Conception let the Air be Temperate Sleep not overmuch avoid Watching Exercise of Body Passions of the Mind loud Clamours and filthy Smells Sweet Odours also are to be rejected of those that are Hysterical Abstain from all things which provoke either the Urine or Courses also from Salt sharp and windy Meats a moderate Diet shall be observed If the Excrements of the Guts be retained Lenifie the Belly with Clysters made of the Decoction of Mallows Violets with Sugar and common Oyl Or make Broath with Borrage Bugloss Beets Mallows taking in the same a little Manna On the Contrary if she be troubled with Loosness of the Belly let it not be frayed without the Judgment of a Physitian for all Uterine Fluxes have a malign Quality in them which must be Evacuated before the Flux be stayed The Cough is another Accident which accompanieth breeding Women and puts them into great danger of Miscarrying so by continual Distillation falling from the Brain to prevent which shave away the Hair on the Coronal and Sagittal Commissure and apply thereon this Plaister Take Resinae half an Ounce Ladani one Dram Citron-peels Ligni Aloes Olibani of each one Scruple Stirachis Liquidae et Siccae a sufficient Quantity dissolve the Gums in Vinegar and make a Plaister At night going to Bed let her take the Fume of these Trochisks cast upon the Coals Take of Frankincense Stirax pouder of Red Roses of each one dram and a half Sandarachae 3 Drams Mastick Benjamin Amber of each one Dram with Turpentine make Trochisks Apply a Cautery to the Nape of the Neck and every Night let her take of these Pills following Take Hypocistidis Terrae Sigillatae fine Bole of each half an Ounce Bistort Acatiae Stinacis Calamitae of each two drams Cloves one Dram with Syrup of Mirtles make Pills In breeding Women there is a corrupted matter generated which flowing to the ventricle dejecteth the appetite and causeth vomitting and the stomach being weak not able to digest this matter soâ—etime sends it unto the guts whereby is caused a flux of the belly which greatly stirreth up the faculty of the Womb. For the eschewing therefore of all these dangers the stomach shall be corroborated as followeth Take Ligni Aloes Nutmeg of each one dram Mace Cloves Mastick â—adanum of each 2 Scruples Oyl of Spike one Ounce Musk 2 grains Oyl of Mastick Quinces Wormwood of each half an Ounce make an Unguent for the stomach to be applied before Meals Instead hereof may be used Cerotum Stomachale Galeni Take of conserve of Borage Bugloss Anthos of each half an Ounce Confect de Hyacintho Lemon Pills condited Specierum Diamarg Pulv. de Gemmis of each 2 drams Nutmeg Diambrae of each 2 Scruples Peony-Roots Dâ—acoralli of each one dram with Syrup of Roses make an Electuary of which she shall take twice a day two hours before Meals Another accident which perplexeth Women with Child is swelling of the legs which happens the first three Months by superfluous humours falling down from the stomach and liver for the cure whereof Take of Oyl of Roses 2 drams Salt Vinegar of each a dram shake them altogether until the salt be dissolved and anoint the legs hot therewith chafing it in with the hand But purging is more proper if it may be done without danger as it may in the fourth 5th and 6th Month of pregnation for a Child in the Womb is compared to an Apple on the tree The first three months it is weak and tender subject with the Apple to fall away but afterwards the Membranes being strengthened the fruit remains firmly fattened in the Womb not apt to mischances and so it continues until the seventh month then growing near the time of maturity the ligaments are again relaxt like unto the Apple that is almost ripe and grow looser every day until the time of delivery If therefore her Body hath need of purging she way purge without danger in the 4th 5th or 6th month but not before nor after unless in some sharp disease in which the Mother and Child both are like to perish Apply Plaisters and Unguents to the reins to strengthen the fruit of the Womb. Take of Gum Arabick Galangale Bistort Hypocistid Storax of each one dram Fine bole Nutmeg Mastick Belaust Sang Draconis Myrtle-berries one dram and half Wax and Turpentine a sufficient quantity Make a Plaister Apply it to the reins in the Winter time and remove it every 14 days lest the reins be over hot therewith In the interim anoint the privities and reins with Vnguentum Comitissae But if it be summer time and the reins hot this plaister following is