most part there is but one yet sometimes there are more whereof some cleave very strongly to the Womb others very slightly if women miscarry of them before the 2d Month as I said before they are call'd false Conceptions and when they keep them longer and that this strange body begins to grow bigger then they are called Moles and here you must know that your false Conceptions are more Membranous and sometimes full of corrupted Seed but your Moles are altogether fleshy they cleave to the Womb almost always and are sustained by the blood with which it is always furnished just as plants are by the moisture of the Earth Sometimes there is a Child together with a Mole from which it is sometimes divided and sometimes cleaving to its body which puts it in great danger of being Monstrous or mishaken because of the Compression which this strange body causeth to the little Infant as yet being but very tender Thus having at large given you my Opinion concerning Moles and false Conceptions their causes signs and differences there remains now nothing more concerning this matter to be demonstrated but the manner how they ought to be drawn forth of the Womb. And now seeing that these things contained in the Womb are wholly unnatural their expulsion must be procured as soon as possible may be the which is very difficult to be performed when these strange Bodies cleave so fast to the Womb and especially the Mole therefore to avoid the abundance of accidents and inconveniences as near as may be that these unnatural things will produce they must be endeavoured to be expell'd as soon as may be and for the Mola you must before you come to the Manual Operation try if by any means you can to cause the Woman to expel it of her self to the which purpose you are to administer to her strong and sharp clysters to stir up throws for to open the Womb to give way to it moistning also and loosening the Womb with softening Oyntments Oyls and Grease not omitting bleeding in the foot if there be occasion Now the Mole will certainly be excluded by these means provided it be but of an indifferent bigness or that it cleave but very little or not at all to the Womb but if it shalâ— stick strongly to the bottom of the Womb or that it be very big the Womam wilâ— hardly be rid of it without the help of a Physitian Chyrurgions or Midwifes hand iâ— which case after that you have placed thâ— Woman conveniently as if you were to fetcâ— a dead Child then slide up your hand into the Womb and therewith draw forth the Mole but if it be so big that it cannot be brought forth whole then 't is wholly the man's work who for this purpose use your crotchet or knife but this is very rare because it is of a tender soft substance much more plyable then a Child's but if you find it be only joyned to the Womb and close fasten'd you must separate it gently with your fingers ends your Nails being paired by putting them by little and little between the Mole and the Womb beginning on that side where it doth not stick so fast to the Womb and so pursuing it until it be quite loosened being mighty careful if you find it grow to too fast of rending or bursting the proper substance of the Womb and proceeding as hereafter I shall speak of for the extraction of a Burthen staying behind in the Womb when the string is broken off For these same Moles never have any string fastened to them nor any burthen from whence they should receive their nourishment but they do of themselves immediately draw their nourishment from the Vessels of the Womb to which they are almost allways joined and sticking in some place and as for the substance of their flesh 't is also much more hard then that of the burthen and sometimes Schyrrhous which is the cause why it is difficult to be separated from the Womb. As to a false Conception although it be much less then a Mole yet it often puts a woman in hazard of her Life by reason of great fluddings which very often happens when the Womb would discharge it self of it and endeavours to expel it the which seldom cease till it be come away because it doth continually endeavour to exclude it whereby the blood is excited to flow away and in a manner squeesed out of the open Vessels Now the safest and best way and remedy for a Woman in this case is to fetch away the false Conception as soon as may be because the Womb can very hardly avoid it of its own nature without artificial help for it being very small the Womans impulse in bearing downwards cannot be so effectual when the Womb is but little distended by so small a body as when it contains a considerable bulk in it for then it is the more strongly compressed with the throws Many times 't is very difficult to fetch away these false Conceptions because the Womb doth not open and dilate it self ordinarily beyond the proportion of what it contains and that being but very little so is its opening which is the reason why the Midwife is sometimes so far from introducing her whole hand that she can scarce get in a few Fingers with which she will be obliged to finish the Operation as well as she may or can by proceeding in the following manner when she hath introduced them Having then very well anointed her hand she must slide up the neck of the Womb into the inward Orifice the which she will find sometimes to be but very little dilated and then very gently put in one of her Fingers the which she must presently turn and bend on every side until that she hath made way for a second and afterwards for a 3d or more if it may be done without violence but many times she hath enough to get in but 2 between which she must take hold of the false Conception as Crabs do with their claws when they fasten upon any thing and then she must gently draw it forth as also the clodded blood which she there shall find and then afterwards undoubtledly the fludding will cease if no part of the Conception be left behind but if the inward Orifice cannot be more dilated then to admit of one Finger and that the fludding is so violent as to endanger the Womans life then is matter and manner to be wholly committed to care and artful industry of the skilful Physitian or Chirurgeon Mid. Now Sir having discoursed so learnedly of these things let us in the next place if you please discourse of the Afterbith SECT XXXIV Of the Secundine or Afterburden and the best and safest way to draw it forth DR Come then Mrs. if you please tell me what the Secundine is Mid. The Secundine is that in which the Infant lyeth in the Womb and may be called a second house or covering made by the
Bed-pan and sometimes when they have least expected it At the same time to prevent a Feaver or many other accidents which usually happen she may be let blood in the Arm or Foot according as it shall be convenient and strengthen'd that the cadaverous vapors coming from the putrifaction of the burthen ascend not to the heart and noble parts which must be done by good cordials often used not such as are made of Treacle and Methridate c. for which no reason can be given but their specific or rather imaginary Faculties and are fitter to cause vomiting then comfort the heart But with true Cordials which are such as yield good nourishment and at the same time comfort the stomach without offending it as those drugs do which are only good for those that sell them Wherefore I must order her good broths and gellies and to drink Orengade or Limonade or to put some Syrup of Lemons in her refreshing Liquors or if she be free from a Feaver a little wine and water mixed which is the best and most natural of all Cordials Besides other remedies must be provided according to the accidents that happen by reason of the staying behind of the burthen always remembring to bring it away as soon as possible for as long as it stays in the Womb the woman feels great pains continually almost like them before her Child was born and until the whole be voided the pains will still be repeated although in vain unless the matter be well disposed before but the lesser the piece is of the retained burthen the more difficult 't is many times to be expelled because the impulse the woman can make by helping her throws are not so great when the matter contained in the Womb is small as when 't is of a considerable bigness for then 't is more strongly thrust and compress'd which is the reason why a woman miscarries with greater difficulty then when brought to bed at her full time And here you must know there are divers Midwifes who having broken the Navil-string as before said leave their work imperfect and commit the rest to nature's work but very often the poor woman dyes because of the great mischiefs which usually happen before the suppuration of the burthen so retained The which to avoid when they meet with the like case I would advise them to fetch it away as I have directed or if they find themselves uncapable to do it because the hand must be put up into the Womb which is more properly the work of a Physitian or Chyrurgion expert in those cases then let them immediately send for one that so he may be able before the Womb closeth to introduce his hand for the longer 't is deferr'd the more difficult will the work be Dr. Hitherto very well Mrs. Eutrap have you exprest your knowledge and experience in your Art even from the first generation and formation of the Child in the Womb to the bringing of it safely forth into the world But yet good Mrs. Eutrapelia there are divers Women that will many times be asking you your advice concerning other distempers that usually attend them both before Child-birth as Barreness c. and also after they are delivered of their Child both inward and outward because their modesty prompts them rather to come to you than to the Physitian or Chyrurgion therefore I would have you to let me know how far your skill and knowledge extends as to these matters because that if you should at any time be mistaken in your measures in the cure of any of those diseases I shall freely and candidly assist you with the best of my directions to set all right and streight as they say and in good order Mid. Honoured Sir I am so extreamly oblig'd to you for this kind offer that I know not which way to express my acknowledgment and I shall most readily answer your request and therefore shall first begin with a discourse of Barrenness PART II. SECT I. Of Barrenness and the several kinds thereof MId BArrenness is 1. Natural 2. Vnnatural 3. Accidental Natural is when the instrument of Generation being perfect in both Sexes no unlawful or unskilful means used to cause it yet the Woman remains naturally Barren neither Age or Diseases or natural defect hindring yet she Conceives not The reason of this may be 1. When both Sexes are of a Complexion 2. Want of Love a 3d may be the letting Virgins blood i' th Arm before their Courses come down or other ill administration of internal and external remedies 4. A loss of carnal Copulation when Sexes come to the School of Venus either not at all or so coldly that as good never a whit as nere the better and this is from a cold Distemper and is cured by such things as heat and nourish 2. Unnatural that is diabolical to prevent which Authors have left several ways as to carry the Herb St. Johns wort about them which is call'd a driver away of Devils or a Plaister thereof applied to the Reins with many others 3. Accidental which comes by some casual infirmity upon the body of either Sex at a time the which being taken away the effect ceaseth 't is sometimes from the Man but most commonly from the Woman for Mans instruments of Generation being perfect and he in health I know no accidental cause in him And the chief cause in Women lyes in her Womb as the stopping of the flowers or overflowing the Flux of the Womb its falling down inflamation windiness heat and dryness in all which I shall be brief because if there be difficulty you are to have recourse to the learned Physitian 1. Then the Terms stop 1. Naturally 2. Vnnaturally they stop naturally in some about the 50th year in some before rarely till 55. the unnatural cause is 1. much exercise 2. in fat Women the Veins are narrow and blood turns to fat 3. by long sickness 4. when they have the piles in lieu of their Terms 5. a hot or cold distemper of the Womb 6. care fear grief c. I shall speak here only of the 5th for causes of the last being taken away the effect ceases and the rest the ingenious Midwife will remedy Now seeing these stoppings come usually from default of the Womb the best way to help it is by strengthening the Womb first then you shall prepare your way if there be occasion let blood i' th the foot if she be not full of humors if she be then in the Arm first which I have most commonly known to do alone then if need be give her a draught of White-wine wherein an handful of Centaury or stinking Arach hath been boiled and if there be a pain in the head add an handful of Verven or some Parcely roots Fennel or Lowage c. not forgetting in fulness of humors to purge with half a dram of Extractum Rudii and as much Pil. Mastichinae mixt made into 12 Pills whereof take 3 at
diseases ensue upon their stopping are almost innumerable so that to bring them down let her avoid all troubles of Spirit lye quiet with her Head and Breast a little rais'd if Feaverish use only broths with a little gelly above all shun cold drink give Clysters and foment her lower parts rub her Thighs and Legs downwards and bath them too and apply large Cupping-Glasses to the uppermost part of the inside of her Thighs bleed i' th Arm first if very full of humors for i' th Foot would draw too much to the Womb. SECT VII Of the Inflammation c. of the Womb. THis is very dangerous and the death of most caused from the Lochia stopt or bruise by two hard swathes falling out o' th Womb c. an Impostume or Cancer follows a bruise if not death wherefore temper the heat and humors first extracting or causing the expulsion of strange things remaining i' th Womb using not the least violence with Veal or Pullet broth with Lettice Purselan Succory Sorrel abstain from Wine keep quiet in Bed with anodine Clysters and bleed i' th Arm not i' th Foot reiterate it because 't is very pressing till the greatest part of fulness be a little evacuated an inflammation diminished then i' th Foot if need injecting in the Womb Barley water with Oil of Violets or milk An Apostume Schyrrhus or Cancer is the Physitians or Chyrurgions work SECT VIII Of the Inflammation and Apostemation of the Breasts THe Breasts being made of a spungy substance easily receive in too great abundance the humors flowing to them from all parts by blood being over-heat by throws and pains in travel and so are soon inflam'd being then painfully stretch'd to which helps the suppression of the Lochia and a fulness of the whole Body or it may happen from having been too streight lac'd some blow or bruise by lying upon them or for not giveing the Child milk Now convenient remedies are speedily to be applied lest dangerous symptoms follow wherefore the certainst means to hinder the Flux of so great quantity of blood to the Breasts is to procure a large evacuation of the Lochia the habit of the body is to be emptied by bleeding i' th the Arm after i' th Foot chasing into the breasts Oil of Roses and Vinegar beat together laying upon them unguentum refrigerens Galeni or unguentum album and a 3d part of populeon mixt or a pultis of the setlings in a Cutler's Grinstone-trough Oil of Roses and a little Vinegar mixt together If the pain continue great take the crums of white bread and milk with Oil of Roses and the yelks of raw Eggs upon all these may compresses be laid dipt in Vinegar and water or plantain water When you have emptied the greatest part of the humors and the height of the Inflammation is past then draw the milk or else unless it be turn'd to matter pure Honey laid to them resolves milk or a Cabbage leaf anointed therewith being first a little wither'd and the hard stalks and veins taken away lace not too streight nor apply course clothes A whole red Cabbage boil'd in River water to a pap and well bruised in a wooden or Marble Mortar and pulp'd through a Sieve adding Oil of Comomil is a very good pultis Let her dyet be cool not very nourishing keep her body open lying on her Back in Bed all the while stir her Arms as little as may be and after the 14th or 15th day of her delivery being sufficiently cleansed and inflammation abated and no longer Feaverish purge her once or twice and if for all these the swelling goes not down but she feels great beating and pain a hardness more in one place then another of a livid color and soft i' th middle 't is certain 't will apostemate then apply ripening Medicines as a pultis of Mallows Marsh-Mallows with their roots Lilly roots and Linseed bruis'd boil'd to pap and pulp'd through a sieve then add a good quantity of Hogs Grease or Basilicon laying a little cloth thick spread with Basilicon upon the place where 't is likely soonest to break and the pultis all over it renewing it 12 hours after continuing till it be full ripe then if it open not of it self it must be open'd by a Lancet or Incision knife which being the Chirurgeon's work he is to do it SECT IX Of the curdling of the Milk in the Breasts BEcause her Body was much mov'd dureing Labor in the beginning of Child-bed her Milk is not well purified and is mixt with many other humors which if 01 they are then sent to the Breasts in too great quantity cause an Inflammation but when the Child hath suck'd 15 or 20 or more days then only the Milk without other mixture contain'd there which sometimes curdles and the Brests become hard and rugged without any redness and the separation of all the kernels fill'd with curdled Milk may easily be perceived she finds a great pain and cannot milk them with a shivering chiefly about the middle of her Back like Ice which is usually follow'd by a Feaver of 24 hours long and sometimes less if it do not turn into an Inflammation of the Breasts which it will undoubtedly do if it be not emâ—ied scater'd and dissolv'd This clodding comes mostly because the Breasts are not fully drawn either for that she hath too much Milk or the Child is too weak to such all or because she doth not desire to be a Nurse for the Milk staying in the Breasts looseth its sweetness and by sowring curdles This may also happen from taking cold or not covering her Breasts The readiest and surest remedy from what cause soever is speedily to draw the Breasts till they be empty'd and if the Child cannot because she is hard milched let a Woman till it comes freely and then the Child will and that she may not after breed more Milk then the Child can draw let her dyet breed but little nourishment and keep her body always open But when she neither can nor will be Nurse then her Breasts must not be drawn for drawing more humors the Disease will return if not again emptied Wherefore 't is necessary to prevent comeing of any more Milk and to scatter that which is there by empting the fulness of the body by bleeding i' th Arm and Foot and strong Clysters and purging if needfull and to resolve the curdled Milk apply a pultis of pure Honey or of powder of Linseed Fenugreek Beans and Vetches boild in a decoction of Sage Smallage Fennel Milk adding Oil of Camomil anointing with the Oil first SECT X. Of Choping c. and loss of the Nipples WOmen are subject the first time to have their Niples chop'd which is unsufferable and the more if hard milch'd as the first time when the Milk hath not yet made way through the small holes of the Niples which are not yet thorowly open'd and then the Child takes more pains to suck
in the Womb near the time of Travel H How the umbilical vessels are inserted into the Navil of the Infant SECT VII Of the several natural situations of the Infant in the Mothers Womb according to the different times of Child-bearing WHen the Woman is young with Child the little creature call'd the Embryo is always of a round Figure a little longish having the back-bone moderately turn'd inwards the thighs folded and a little raised to which the legs are so joined that the heels touch the buttocks the arms are bending and the hands placed upon the knees towards which the head is inclining forwards so that the chin toucheth the breast In this posture it resembles one sitting to void his excrements and stooping down his head to see what comes from him It s back bone is at that time placed towards the Mothers the head uppermost the face forward and the feet downward and proportionably to its growth it extends its members by little and little which were exactly folded in the first Month This posture it usually keeps till the 7th or 8th month at which time the head being grown big is carryed downwards by its weight towards the inward orifice of the Womb tumbling as it were over its head so that then the Feet are uppermost and the Face towards the Mothers great gut when the posture happens otherwise 't is unnatural and both Male and Female lie thus because the Child's face coming upwards will be extreamly bruised and its Nose wholy flatted because of the bones hardness in the passage Note further when the Child hath changed its first Situation being not yet accustomed to this last it stirs and torments it self so much sometimes that the woman by reason of the pain she feels is apt to believe she is in labor and if this circumstance be well consider'd you will find it to be that first pretended indeavour which Authors imagine the Child makes to be born the 7th month and not being able to accomplish it it stays till the 9th c. But this is a great mistake for if the Child turns it self so with the head downwards or rather is turned it is but by a natural disposition of the weight of the upper parts of the body and if it stir much at that time and soon after it is not from a desire to be born but from the inconvenience it receives from this new posture to which it was not before accustomed and it begins to turn thus sometimes from the 7th month rarely before but by accident often about the 8th and sometimes the 9th only and at other times also it doth not turn at all as we may easily perceive in those that come in their first Situation that is with their Feet foremost When there are many Children they ought to come in the same Figure if it be a natural Birth as when there is but one but usually by their different motions they incommode one another that for the most part one presents wrong in time of labour yea and before which is the cause that one comes often with the head the other with the feet or some worse posture and sometimes both come wrong However the Infant may be settled in the Mothers belly or in whatever fashion it represents it self at the birth if it be not according to the posture before said it is always against nature SECT VIII Of difficult births whether they proceed from Causes external or internal DIfficult births from external causes may be either first from excessive heat dissolving the strength of the women or secondly excessive cold condensing the womb or thirdly from sweet things often applied to the nostrils of the woman that by smelling to sweet things she may recover her strength and faintings for sweet smells do attract the womb upwards and so render the birth more difficult Difficult birth from internal causes may be either first from the woman secondly from the womb thirdly from the infant fourthly from the membranes of the womb 1. From the woman as when she is too angry too fearful or too modest or if she be in age above 40 years from whence the muscles of the womb may be concluded to be dry and so the less extenfible or when she is so thick and fat that the passages be narrow Or 2. From the womb it self as when it is so small and nature so weak and feeble that it cannot expell the birth Or if there be any inflammation or unnatural affect in the privities be it the stone or piles or extraordinary costiveness all which may so compress the womb with their weight that it cannot expel the birth 3. Is from the infant it self as if it be of an unusual bigness of a great head or a monstrous birth hydropical full of wind dead in the womb or lying there in a posture beyond nature as when it comes overthwart with the feet forward and not the head or if the thigh before the head 4. From the membranes of the womb as when they are so forcibly broken by the child in the womb that the moysture floweth thence leaving the infant behind that when the child should come forth that moysture faileth and so the membranes being dryer maketh the birth the more difficult or when it is firm and solid that it is broken with much difficulty and so makes the labour the harder And here we cannot but take notice how those Authors who have not the perfect knowledge of the parts of a Womans body attained to by Anatomy do admire and cannot as they say conceive how it is possible that an Infant so big can pass in time of labour through an opening of the Womb so small some of them being of opinion that the Womans share-bone is seperated at that time to enlarge the passage without which it would be impossible for the Infant to have room enough to be born and therefore Women that are a little antiquated suffer in their first labors more than others because their share-bone cannot so easily be seperated which often kills their Children in their passage others again are of opinion that it is the flank-bone which is disjointed from the hoop-bone for the same purpose and say both the one and the other of them viz. That these bones thus separated at the hour of labor are thereto so disposed by degrees a little before by the fly my humors which flow forth from about the Womb and then mollifie the grisles and cords which at other times join them firmly together But both these opinions are as different from truth as reason for Anatomy convinceth us clearly that the Womb by no means toucheth these places whereby to moisten and soften them by its humors as likewise that these bones are so joined by the gristle that it is very difficult to seperate them with a knife especially the flank-bone from the hoop-bone and almost impossible in some elderly Women without great violence although Ambrose Parry a most
much ado to introduce one only with which she must do her operation with the half of the fingers ends of the other hand put up as far as necessary afterwards let her excite and procure the childs birth as directed before Then sometimes the child comes with its face first having its head turn'd back in which posture it is very difficult it should be born and if it long remain so the face will be so black and blew and swell'd that at first sight it will appear monstrous which comes as well by the compression of it in that place as by the Midwives fingers handling it too rudely when she endeavor'd to place it in a better posture There was a certain Woman whose Child came with its Face so black and mishapen as soon as it was born as is usual in such cases that it looked like a black Moor as soon as the Mother saw it she said she alwaies fear'd her Child would be so monstrous because when she was young with Child of it she fixt her looks very much upon a black moor wherefore she wished or at least wise car'd not though it dyed rather than she said she should behold a Child so monstrously disfigured as it then appear'd but she soon chang'd her mind when she was made sensible that this blackness was occasion'd only by reason that it came into the World with its face forwards and that assuredly in three or four days it would wear away as accordingly it happen'd having often anointed it with oyl of sweet Almonds as she was order'd and when the Child came to be about a 12 month old you could have scarcely seen a fairer Now to deliver this birth the Midwife must observe the same manner as in that wheâ—… the Child comes with the side of the head being careful to work gently to avoid bruising the Face But here note that if it should chance thaâ— the Childs hand or hands should come with either of these births which for the mosâ— part happens rather than any other part iâ— will hinder the birth by reason it takes up part of the passage and for the most parâ— cause the head to lean on one side To remedy this as soon as 't is preceived that one hand presents together with the head it must be prevented from coming down more or ingaging farther in the passage wherefore the Midwife having plac'd the Woman on the bed with her head a little lower than her hips must in the next place put and guide back the Childs head with her own as much as may be or both hands iâ— they came both down for to give way to the Childs head which done she must proceed aâ— before SECT XXV How to deliver a Woman when the Childs Head is born and the Womb closeth about its Neck DR Very well Mrs. Eutrapelia you have now given us a farther account of your very good judgment in your Art in your dextrous ingenious way of bringing a Woman to bed in the last posture But now I would desire you to let me know how you will deliver a Woman of her Child when its head is born but yet the Womb closeth about its Neck Mid. Truely Sir to deliver this Woman is not so easie abusiness as may be imagin'd by reason that a small delay herein may cause the strangling of the Child And here you must observe that the Child comes naturally with the Head first because by its bigness and hardness the passage might be the better made and opened for the other parts of the body the which usually pass afterwards without pain but yet notwithstanding sometimes the Head is so small and the shoulders so large that without a very great difficulty they cannot pass which makes the Child remain often in the passage after the head is born And this accident may likewise happen sometimes for not having been careful to lose no time in drawing forth the Child by the head to the end the shoulders might at the same instant follow in the same place the head possest Now when I meet with this Figure I must by all possible means seek speedily to deliver the poor Child out of this prison or rather snare or collar in which it is caught for fear as I said before it come by delay to be strangl'd to prevent which I must endeavour to cause the shoulders immediately to follow by gently drawing its Head sometimes by the sides of it and sometimes with one hand under the chin and the other behind its head and so doing by turns on the one side and the other to facilitate the operation the better being very careful and circumspect that the Navil-string be not entangled about its Neck as also not to draw it forth with too much violence for fear least it may happen as I once saw the Head to be pulled from the Shoulders But if the Shoulders come not with gentle pulling then I must slide up my fingers on both sides under the Arm-pits with which turning them inwards I may by little and little draw forth the Soulders but if when they are in the passage and totally disengaged if I cannot get the rest forth by still keeping my fingers under the Arm-pits I may be very confident there is some other hindrance and that it is certainly monstrous in some part of its body or that as it for the most part happens in this case it is hydropical in the belly for which cause it is impossible it should be born before the belly be pierced to evacuate the waters and then it will easily be accomplish'd but this being the expert Physitian or Chirurgion's parts to perform I shall leave it wholly to them SECT XXVI When the Navil-string comes first DR Now Mrs. Eutrapelia I would know of you how you behave your self when you have a labor presented to you wherein the Childs Navil-string comes first Mid. Here Sir you must note That an Infant doth not always present with the belly when the navil-string comes first for though it presents naturally as to the Figure of its body that is with its Head first yet sometimes the Navil-string falls down and comes before it for which cause the Child is in much danger of death especially if the labor be not very quick because the blood that ought to pass and repass through those Vessels which compose it for to nourish and keep the Child alive whilst it continues in the Womb being coagulated hinders the circulation which ought to be there made which happens as well by the contusion as the cold those Vessels receive being much pressed in the passage when it comes together with the Head or any other part as also because the blood doth there coagulate as is said by reason of the cold which it takes by the coming forth of the Navil-string But though this accident may cause the Infants sudden death 't is not so much for lack of nourishment without which it may pass a whole
of the World and than which there can hardly happen a greater defamation to the Female Sex Insomuch as some like Rachel have cry'd out to their Husbands for Children or else their Lives will lye on 't rather than endure the reproach of Barrenness and some Women have preferr'd their maids to their Husbands so that their Child might be reputed theirs to take away the blemish of Barrenness But you shall find but few Women of their minds now a days so then we shall in the first place speak of the causes of this so odious and distateful a Disease and then of their removing for you know 't is an old saying and true take away the cause and the effect will consequently cease Now the chief method of finding out all causes which do or may bring damage to the faculties of the body is no other then the knowledge of the means whereby these faculties perform their Actions in the time of health and soundness of body And whereas to the producing of any natural Conception there is a necessity of distinction of both Sexes and a conjunction and carnal Copulation of the Man and Woman without which no Generation can be effected As for that story of a certain Maids conceiving with Child by standing in a Bath where some Mans seed had been cast the Womb drawing it to it as the Load-stone doth Iron or Jet straw it was either a miracle in Nature or she so gave out to save her bacon and so no ways belongs to our purpose and having before declared the manner in other Sect. Therefore we shall here lay down the manifest causes of Barrenness from either Sex so that neither may be unjustly blamed where they happen for since the Women have in this case a great interest and damage too if the fault be in the Man because they may often help their Husbands defect and in so doing pleasure themselves we shall not therefore omit to treat of the causes thereof which may happen to men and moreover there being a necessity that both Sexes be furnished with fit and proper Instruments for the work of Generation as the man with a Yard c. and a Woman with a Womb c. Then even reason will tell you that if there chance to be any defect or dissaffection in nature in any of the Members of either Sex belonging to this work of Generation the fruitfulness or Conception must necessarily be hindred impaired or quite and clear abolished To begin then first with what belongs to the Mans side one cause of Barrenness laid down by many Authors is the over-much length of the Yard by reason whereof the Seed is too much cooled in the passage before it can be injected home into the Womb. But though this be a somewhat probable and plausable reason yet I am of opinion that it is but weak and will not hold water with those of greater reason for all Souls are not endued with a like proportion of reason for the Seed passing through the pipe of the Yard is kept hot enough the generative Spirits at that time oft flocking to the Yard to assist it in so great a work and the like being performed on the Woman's part I cannot see how it can be any ways possible it should take cold in its journey but on the contrary side it may be rationally imagin'd that the long Yard is most fit and commodious for Conception by sending Seed to the inmost and furthermost parts of the Womb and so most likely to be there retained its due time And now others on the contrary side will have the short Yard the cause of rendring Men unfruitful and these I think have more reason on their side because it cannot so well inject the Seed into the Womb as you heard before But indeed neither can this be a firm reason for unfruitfulness in Man since 't is confirmed by experience that such an one hath begot Children likewise But a greater reason of unfruitfulness in the man may be some vitiousness or defect in his Yard as if it be crooked or if any of its Ligaments be writhed or broken or bruised whereby the passages through which the seed should flow be corrupt stop'd or vitiated or some Disease or imperfection be either in the proper or Neighbor parts thereof Another cause of Barrenness by defect of the Yard is a too much weakness and tenderness thereof it being not strongly enough erected to inject the Seed into the Womb. Then another cause in Men may be some vice in the Stones as if they be oppressed with any Inflammation or swelling or wound or ulcer Also the Man may be Barren from his want of Seed or if it be nought as in the Running of the Reins or Venereal Disease Glutony or Drunkenness c. and then too frequent Carnal Copulation is a cause of Barrenness because it attracteth the Seedy moisture from the Stones before 't is sufficiently prepared and concocted as all other members of the body by institution of nature use to draw their accustomed juice to themselves so now if any one by daily Copulation draws out all the moisture of his Seed then do the Stones draw the moist humors from the upper Veins to themselves and so having but a little blood in them they are forced of necessity to cast it out raw and thus the stones being deprived of the moisture of their veins draw the same from the upper veins and the upper veins from all the parts of the body for their proper nutriment to the great damage of the body robbing the same of the vital Spirits It is therefore no wonder if those that use immoderate Copulation are very weak in their bodies seeing the whole body is thereby depriv'd of its best and purest blood and vital Spirits insomuch as those that have been too much addicted to that pleasure have killed themselves in the Act can it then be a wonder that such Seed is not fit for Generation And having now shewn the causes of Barrenness in Men we shall now discourse of those in Women Now the causes of Barrenness in Women proceed either from the Age or evil temper of the Womb and its vicious conformation and parts depending on it or the indisposition of the whole habit of the body The evil form of the womb renders Women barren according to the great Hippocrates the Prince of all Physitians as if the mouth or neck of the Womb be turned backwards towards the great Gut or a side out of its place contrary from the Privities if it appear too big or if it be fallen down before the Privities to which may be added when 't is so narrow that it cannot admit the Yard to enter and when 't is wholly or in part closed by some inward or outward skin which is very rare if at all or by a swelling collosity or cicatrice c. But then it is not sufficient that the Mans Yard enter the Neck which is the
Anti-Chamber to the Womb for if in the act of Copulation he knock at the door which is the inward orifice and it be not opened all is to no purpose and this may likewise be hindred from opening by some callosity proceeding from abundance of ill humors which usually flow from the Matrix or from some swelling which may happen to it or also by some part which may so press it that it cannot open to receive the Seed as the cawl doth in fat Women according to Hippocrates who says they cannot conceive till they grow lean But the most frequent reason why this orifice opens not in this Act to receive the seed is the insensibility of some Women who take no pleasure in the Venereal Act but when they have an appetite the Womb being covetuous of the Seed opens it self to receive it The same Hippocrates seems to have noted all the signs and causes of Barrenness from the evil temper of the Womb when he saith in his 62 th Aphorism book 5. that all such Women whose Womb is cold and close cannot conceive nor they who have it too moist because the Seed is extinguished in it and likewise such who have it too dry and hot because for want of aliment the seed corrupts but such as are of a moderate temper are fruitful Of all which in my opinion the most common is the cortinual moisture of the Womb fed by an abundance of the whites with which many are much inconvenienced the humors of the whole dody being accustomed to stear their course this way which can very hardly be turned away when inveterate and the Womb being imbued with these vicious moistures becomes inwardly so unctious and slippery that the seed though glutinous cannot cleave to it nor be retained within it and that 's the cause it slips away immediately or shortly after 't is received Barrenness may also proceed from the whole habit as when a Woman is too old or too young for the Seed of the young is not prolific neither have they menstruous blood both which are requisite to fruitfulness and that of the aged is in small quantity and too cold who likewise want menstruous blood then an universal distemper though of convenient years renders them Barren as when they are Hectick Dropsical Sickly c. and especially so much the more as the whole parts are fallen from their temper and natural constitution There are however many Women which seem Barren for a long time by reason of some of the aforementioned reasons yea till 35 or 40 years old and sometimes longer who yet at last conceive being cured of the distempers which hindered them and having changed their temperament by their Age. Now some of these Barrennesses may be cured by removing their causes and procuring the dispositions needful to fertility yea of those proceeding from an universal intemperament by reducing their body by a convenient regiment to a good order according to their respective dispositions Wherefore if one have the Neck of the Womb narrow and not from some of the causes abovesaid she ought to be joyned to a Man whose Yard is proportionable and if that will not do which happens very seldom she must relax it and open it with softning oils and ointments If it be compressed by any humor it must be resolved and suppurated according to its nature and situation having always a care to prevent the corruption of these parts which are very subject to it being hot and moist because the Womb serves as a sink by which all the bad humors of the body are purged so that you must take great care that these swellings turn not to a Cancer When the Neck is not clear by reason of any scar after a rent caused by some violence or hard labor or after an Ulcer which caused the two sides to be agglutinated whether inwardly or outwardly it must be seperated which being the Chirurgeon's work I here omit it If the inward orifice of the Womb be displac'd it may be in some sort remedied by making the Woman observe a convenient posture in the act of Generation and if the whites or other impurities of the Womb cause Barrenness they must be helped by evacuations purgations and a regular dyet concerning which the learned Physitian is to be consulted Mid. Thus far Sir having heard your account of the signs and causes of Fertility and Sterility I having heard learned men discourse of Superfetation I would humbly intreat you Sir that you would please to let me hear your opinion about that matter Dr. That you shall willingly good Mrs. Eutrapelia and therefore I shall begin first to tell you what it is SECT II. Of Superfaetation Dr. SVperfaetation according to the discription of Hippocrates is a repeated conception that is when a Woman being already with Child conceives again the 2 d time now there is a great dispute about this for we see daily Bitches Sows and Rabits have divers young but with one Copulation which may make us judge the same of a Woman some will have this to be by Superfetation but there are signs by which we may know the difference whether both Children were begot at once or one after the other That which makes many believe there can be no such thing as superfetation is because as soon as a Woman hath conceived her Womb closeth firmly so that the Man's seed absolutely necessary to conception finding no place nor entry cannot be received nor contained in it so as to cause this 2d conception To this may be added That a bearing Woman dischargeth her seed which is as necessary as a Mans by a Vessel which terminates on the side of the outward part of the inward Orifice which seed by this means is shed into the Neck of the Womb and not into the bottom as it ought for this purpose However it may be said in answer to these objections which are very strong that though the Womb be clos'd c. yet this general rule may have some exception so that it may be sometimes opened to let pass some slimy excrements which by their stay offend it or chiefly when a Woman is animated with an earnest desire of Copulation in the heat of which action she sometimes dischargeth by the passage that terminates in the bottom of the Womb which being opened by the impetuous endeavor of the seed more then ordinarily over-heated and this Orifice being at the same time a little opened if the Man's seed be darted into it at the same moment 't is thought a Woman may then conceive again This may be confirmed by a story of a Servant related by Pliny who having the same day copulated with two several Persons brought forth two Children the one resembling her Master the other his Proctor and also by a story of another Woman who had two Children one like her Husband and the other like her Galant but this different resemblance doth not always prove superfetation because sometimes different