in small Wine and let the Diet be moderate but in no wise let Vinegar be used therewith nor upon any other occasion And in so observing the Humours will be dilated dissipated and transfused by which means the Complexion will return and the Body be lively and full of vigour And now since Barrenness daily occasions discontent and that discontent creates difference between Man and Wife or by immoderate grief frequently easts the Woman into one or other violent Distemper I shall somewhat largely treat thereof This defect comes divers ways but most commonly through the defect of the Genitals Vessels Blood or Menstrum and of these I shall discourse in their order and then proceed to mention other matters Relating to the same subject The defect then in the Genitals frequently happens in Women through the strict closure of the mouth of the Womb which by that means denies the Seed entrance or through the narrowness of the parts or share-bone that will not admit the Yard entrance or many times by reason of some Ulcers of excrecencies in the neck of the Womb to which may be added the defect of the Seed by reason of some Distemper in the Generative Vessels which the Woman may perceive by the little or no satisfaction she receives in the act of copulation sometimes again Children are wanting when the Woman being too young her Courses are not come down or that she is so old they cease to flow For t is the opinion of the Learned that when the Courses are wanting the Man labours in vain and further it may be attributed to the want of Seed when there is not a due proportion of either Party or when by reason of some cold moist Humours flowing into the Womb it loseth it's attractive force and cannot draw the Seed to its proper place or station Now if the Orifice of the Womb be closed that the Seed cannot enter it must be opened by incision or rather the two wings or Nymphae which many times extend themselves over the Clytoris so far that the Yard cannot pass the neck of the Womb and subject to this defect in Nature are many Women especially in hot Countries but most of all in Egypt where the Chyrurgeons are forced with Silver Instruments to make way for the Instrument of Generation a thing not altogether unpracticable in England In case the neck of the Womb be so strait that the Yard cannot enter then is the case to be inquired into whether it be naturally so or proceed from some swelling or Schirrhus either within or without and if any such thing appears it is for the most part incureable but if it be a natural straitness then supple it with a Tent dipped in Oyl of Roses and the white of Eggs and drink Chamomile Posser sweetned with Sugar-Candia morning and evening and by the operation thereof the Womb which is of a reaching quality will in all parts distend and give way to the Instrument of Generation or if it so happen in a young Woman Nature will increase the passage and time produce things fitting to their mutual Satisfaction but let no man by violence endeavour in attempting Copulation to force the Passage lest he break the Vessels nay indanger the Bladder it self which has been broke with such violent Intrusion and so cost the Woman her life If the neck of the Womb be ulcerated or any Excresenses happen there which equally hinder Copulation then may they be known by the pain and shooting upon the least compressure and the issuing forth of putrid Humours and sometimes Blood if the Ulcers be great and the Terms flow the Water hot pains arising in the fore part of the Head and oftentimes they occasion gentle Fevers And these Obstructions of Generation happen divers ways as from external causes viz. Rash Physick hard Labour or excessive Copulation from internal causes as the Corruption of the Secundine the Courses too long retained or obstructed heat and overflowing of the Urinal Vessels Virulent Gonorrhaeas Pox Inflammation turned into Apostume Humours flowing from divers parts of the Body and setling there all which must be duely considered Now some are in the outward part and may be the easier come at and external plications as are most convenient applied thereto but those that cannot be come at must be cured if possible by injection the best injection in this case is as follows viz. Break four Eggs and take the Whites only the which beat with an equal quantity of Rose-water mingled with Plantain-water Litherage of Gold Camphire Bole-Armonick Ceruse of each a dram half a dram of Green Copperas all which well beaten dissolved and mixed together strained through a fine Cloath and with a Syrringe inject it Morning and Evening till the grief cease and if it smart that it cannot be well endured you may sometimes inject warm Milk to cleanse the puttified matter Others there are that are not so violent and therefore admit of any easie Cure nâ—t being so deep known by a putrid Greenish matter that flows from them To cure this take Water wherein Barley has been boiled Honey of Roses new Milk and Sugar with the decoction of Lentils and after them gentle Astringents must be applied Some again are sordid having much contagious Humour flowing from them to cure which stronger Medicaments must be applied others there are that eat into the Flesh having a green Contagion flowing from them to cleanse which Aloes and Wormwood concocted in white Wine are most requisite Another sort of Ulcers there are which appear long cating away the skin from off the Neck of the Wood and are discerned by the Blood and pain the occasion immediatly upon the concression appearing in the Neck of the Womb much like Chilblains occasioned by ill lying extraordinary Venery by violent inflammation or flux of sharp humours The best cureafter a gentle purge is an astringent Glyster and after that to anoint them with the Grease that fryes out of a Ladle often used in a Kitchen when it is held to the fire mixed with an oyntment called Pomarum if the defect be in the Seed through tenderness of age in the Woman so that her menstrual Blood not coming down flow not to it then the best remedy is convenient diet moderate exercise and temperate Air together with patience in the main till nature in process of time operates so effectually that all things appear and conspire to mutual satisfaction If the Woman be stricten in years and it cease to be with her after the Custom of Women that is her Courses are stayed which in some happens sooner and in some later and between 44 and 55 with all them unless strong preparatives viz. an Extraordinary diet easie longing and moderate exercise restore them those Woman must despair of further Generation for as the learned in this Art frequently observe where there is neither Buds nor Blossoms there can to no Fruit. If any obstruction happen in the Vessels of Generation
force of the Seed perform the work by degrees distinguishing the parts and rendering the form perfect Now as the life of every other Creature as it is testified in the 17 Chapter of Levitie is is in the Blood so the life of Man consisteth in the Soul the which although subject to passion by reason of the gross composture of the Body in which it has a temporary confinement yet it is immortal and cannot in it self corrupt or suffer change it being a spark of the divine mind and a blast of Almighty Breath that distinguishes Man from other Creatures and renders him immortal and that every man has a peculiar Soul it plainly appears by the vast difference between the Wit Judgment Opinion Manners Affections c. in men And this David observes when he says God hath in particular fashioned the Heart and Minds of all Men and has given to every one it s own Being and a Soul of its own Nature Hence Solomon rejoyced that God had given him a happy Soul and a Body agreeable and suitable to it It has caused many Disputes amongst the Learned especially Philosopers in what part of the Body the Soul chuseth to reside and some have given their opinion that its resident is in the middle of the Heart and from thence communicates it self to every part which Solomon in the Fourth of his Proverbs seems to assert when he says Keep thy Heart with all thy diligence because Life proceedeth therefrom but many curious Physicians scarching the Works of Nature in Man's Anatomy c. do give it as their Opinion that its chief Seat is in the Brain from whence proceed the Senses Faculties and Actions diffusing the operations of the Soul through all parts of the Body whereby it is enlivened with heat and force but it doth communicate particular force to be Heart by Arteries Catotides or sleepy Arteries that part upon the Throat the which if they happen to be broke or cut cause Barrenness and if stopped they become Apoplectick for there must necessarily be some ways through which the Spirits animal and vital may have intercourse and convey native heat from the Soul For although the Soul is said to reside in one place it operates in every part exercising every Member which are the Souls Instruments by which she manifesteth her pow'r but if it so happen that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune the Work is confuied as it may appear in the case of Idiots Madmen c. Though in some of them the Soul by forcibly working recovers her supernatural vigor they become right after a long dispondency of mind and in some it is lost in this life For as fire under ashes nor the Sun obscured from our sight by thick Clouds afford not their full lustre so the soul overwhelmed in moist or faulty matter is darkned and Reason thereby overclouded and although reason shines less in Children than in those that are arrived to maturity yet no man must imagine that the Soul is an Infant and grows up with the Child for then would it again decay but it suits it self to the weakness of Nature and the imbecility of Body wherein it is placed that it may the better operate And as the Body is more and more capable of receiving its influence so it shews it self in its prper lustre having its force and indowments at the time it enters the formed Child in the Womb for the Substance of it can receive nothing less And thus much to prove that the Soul comes not from the Parents Seed but is infused by God and the next thing now to be handled is its Immortality and thereby I shall demonstrate the certainty of the Resurrection That the Soul of Man is a divine Ray infused by God I have already made apparent and now come to shew you that whatever immediately proceeds from him must participate of his Nature and from thence consequently be as Immortal as it 's Original for although all other Creatures are indued with life and motion yet wnat they a reasonable Soul and from thence 't is concluded their life is in their Blood and that being corruptible they perish and after their expiring are no more But Man being endued with a reasonable Soul and stamped with the divine Image is of a different nature and tho' his Body be corruptible yet his Soul cannot perish but must when it is expunged its earthly Tabernacle return to God that gave it either to receive reward or punishment now that the body can sin of it self is impossible because wanting the Soul it cannot act nor proceed to any thing either good or evil for could it do so additional sins might be accumulated even in the Grave but 't is plain that after death there is a cessation for as Death leaves us so judgment finds us And St. John in the fifth Chapter of his Gospel tells us That the hour shall come that all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and they that have done well shall come forth to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil to the Resurrection of Condemnation And Holy Job in the fourteenth and nineteenth Chapter speaking to the same purposes says For I know that my Redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth And though after my Skin Worms destroy my body yet in my Flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my self and mine Eyes shall behold and not another though my Reins be consumed within me By this 't is plainly proved that the Soul is made of immortal Essence incapable of death having a place assigned it after its separation from the Body till the day of the general Resurrection not in the Grave but in a Mansion prepared by the Almighty for its Reception and that through the mighty working of him that is able to subdue all things to himself it shall again enter the same Body that was laid down tho' the dust thereof be scattered to the four Winds of Heaven nay such force and vigour shall it have that it shall as it were take up the Body for Job positively says I shall rise out of the Earth at the last day c. Which being applicable to the future Tense may be meant two ways I shall or will rise for plainly foreseeing the Resurrection he claimed it as the promise of his Creator Nay so far were the Heathens by the light of Nature from doubting the immortality of the Soul that Plato in his Phaedro thus reasons viz. What consists not of Elements saith he is immortal and can neve dye The Soul is not made of Elements nor of created matter but came from God and therefore it cannot dye c. Then may it be without difficulty granted that the body which has been a long Companion of the Souls will once again enjoy it never more to be separated for the Body at the Resurrection shall be incorruptible
matter of the Skin Nails that are very smooth do come and by degrees harden she had instead of Nails a thin Skin or Film as for her Toes there was not the least appearance of Nailes about them by reason they wanted the heat that was communicated to the Fingers from the nearness of the Heart These and the like weighty matters being considered and above all one Gentlewoman of quality that assisted affirming that she had been the Mother of 19 Children and that divers of them had been born and lived a 7 Months they without favour to any party made their report that the infant was a Child of 7 Months and so must be accounted though it was born within the seventh Month for that in such cases the revolution or circute of the Moon ought to be observed which perfects it self in 4 bare weeks or somewhat less then 28 days in which space of her revolution the Blood being agitated by the Moons force the Courses of the Woman flow from them which being spent and the Matrix cleansed from the Menstrual Blood which happens on the 5th day then if on the 7th day a Man lye with his Wife the copulation is most natural and the conception best and a Child then gotten may be born in the 7th Month and prove very healthful so that upon this report the supposed Father was pronounced innocent upon proof that he was a hundred miles distance all that month in which the Child was begot own as for the Mother she strongly denied that she knew the Father being forced in the dark and that through fear and surprize was left in ignorance though Physitians are of opinion that if a Woman prove with Child it cannot be accounted a Rape for unless she cast forth her Seed to commix with the Man which imploys a willingness in her to be a Copartner in the Act the Child cannot be formed but my opinion is that poor silly Girls strugling to defend themselves in case of such violence and not in such fear and perplexity regarding the nicety of containing their Humour the Seminary Vessels by an natural proneness will open and the Seed in such cases whether they desire it or not will flow to commix with the Man 's in the Matrix and by coagulating with the Blood that descends to nourish it will form the Child and thus much for these particulars For for Copulation it ought not to be had unless the Parties be in health lest it turn to the disadvantage of the Childen so begotten creating in them through the abundant ill humour divers lingering and languishing Diseases wherefore Health is no where better to be discerned than by the Genitals of the Man wherefore Midwives and other skilful Women in former days were wont to see the Testicles of Children thereby to conjecture or guess at their temper and state of Body and young men may know thereby the Signs or Symptoms of life and death for if the cases of the Testicles be loose and feeble and the Cods fall down it denotes the natural faculties and vital Spirits whichare the props of Life are fallen but if the Secret parts be wrinkled and raised up the Yard at any occasion so requiring standing stif it is a Sign all will be well but that the Event may exactly answer the Prediction it is necessary to consider what part of the Body the disease possesseth for if it chance to be the upper part that is afflicted as he Head or Stomach then will it not so well appear by the Members which frequently are unconcerned with such grievances but the lower part of the body exactly sympathizing with them their liveliness on the contrary makes it apparent for Natures force and the Spirits that have their intercourse first manifest themselves therein which occasions Midwives often to feel the Genitals of Children to know in what part the grief is resident and whether life or death be portended thereby the Symptom being strongly communicated by the Vessels that have their intercourse with the principal Seats of Life CHAP. IX The cause of the Green sickness in Virgins with its Symptoms and Directions for its cure Together with the chiefest occasion of Barrenness in Women and by what means to remove the Cause and render them fruitful THE sormer of these ill conveniencies is too apparent in Virgins especially such as are of a Flegmatick Complexion evidently shewing it self by discolouring the Face in making it look green pale or of a dusky yellow which proceeds from raw undigested humours nor only does it appear to the Eye but sensibly afflicts such as it possesses with difficulty of breathing pains in the Head Palpitation of the Heart unusual beating and small throbings of the Arteries in the Temples Neck and Back many times casting them into Fevers if the humour be very vicious also loathing of meat and distension of the Hypocondrick part by reason of the inordinate reflux of menstruous Blood to the greater Vessels and by reason of the abundance of humour the whole body is often troubled with swelling or if not at least the Thighs Legs and Ankles all above the Heels Now this affliction proceeds from crude raw and undigested Humours arising from the suppression of the monthly Courses by reason of the natural narrowness of the Vessels or their accidental Contraction by violent motion but oftner through eating Chalk Oat-meal Tobacco-pipes Loame Starch Nutmegs and drinking of Vinegar for thereby an ill Concoction in the Bowels is occasioned and the Humours moreover contracted into the habit of the body become habitual and concordant with it many of these Afflictions happen through the long Retention of the Seed when Virgins are ripe for the Act of Generation which vitiating the Vessels spread it into evil Humours Therefore the first thing necessary to eradicate the Cause is matrimonial Conjunction and such Copulation as may prove to the satisfaction of her that is afflicted for by that means the Humours being diffused and dispressed they will soon wast 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 such a Conjunction cannot be had so soon as necessity requires then let the Damsel blood in the Heel and if she be about 16 you may do it likewise in the Arm though sufer her not to bleed overmuch especially if any pure blood come forth for then the vitiated Humour clinging to the Veins will stay behind and that bloods loss render her less capable to oppose them If the diseases be of any continuance then is itto be eradicated by purgation preparation of the Humour being first considered 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 Agrick Juice of Lavin Succorrina and for the unobstructing of the Humour take prepared Steel Bazoar-stone the Root of Scorzonera and Oyl of Christal
discovered by many Symptoms as when Nature fringes the obscure parts and their Terms flow at the time appointed which is usually in the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Year of their Age when as the Seed increaseth in some sooner and in others later according to their Habits or Constitutions And the Blood which is no longer taken to augment their Bodies abounding incites their Minds and Imaginations to Venery And by the Retention of the Seed many times it falls out that they are cruelly afflicted with fainting Fits and strangling of the Mother for all learned Physicians are of Opinion that more harm comes by the Seed corrupting than by their Courses being unseasonably obstructed for the Seed derogates to a venomous quality and from the effects thereof arise the Swarth and weasel Colour in Maids when they begin to be in Love and desirous of Copulation as also their short Breathings Tremblings and Pantings of the Heart The Expulsive Faculties being moved to cast out the superfluous Humour But if they happen to be Married to their own Content these afflictions vanish and their native Beauty returns more gay than before nor is their eager gazing desiring to associate themselves with Men a lesser sign that Nature prompts them to desire what she ordain'd Their due of which sometimes being by obdurate Parents debarred in a lawful way breaking the bounds of modesty rather than enduring such violent Agitations and Conflicts within themselves they satiate their desire in unlawful Love The same may in all Particulars be observed in young brisk Widows whom Death that Enemy of sweet Conjugal Love has separated from the Bosom of their Husbands At fourteen Years of Age commonly the Terms in Virgins begins to flow and then they are capable of Conceiving and so continue generally till forty four at what time for the most part the Eflux being stayed they are no longer capable of Generation unless such as are exceeding healthful strong of body and have used themselves to Temperance who have appear'd to be delivered of Children till fifty five Years but such Prodigies rarely happen although the Terms extend sarther in some Women than in others but many times such Eflux proceeds not from any natural cause but by reason of some violent straining or other violence and does often endanger the life of the Party And therefore young Men that marry Women surmounting the Age aforesaid if they expect Children unless by Miracle must labour against the Wind though if an old Man that is not worn out by Diseases and Incontinency marry a brisk lively Lass there is hopes even to threescore and ten and some that are extraordinary lusty till fourscore Hypocrates that Famous and Learned Physician is of Opinion that a Youth at 16 years or between that and 17 having much vital strength may be capable of getting Children and that force and heat of Procreating matter continually increases till 45 50 65. and at the end of the latter begins to flagg the Seed by little and little becoming unfruitful the natural Spirits being extinguished and the humours dried up and in general most Physicians at this day do observe it but as to particulars as I have before mentioned it often happeneth otherwise nay 't is reported by a credible Author that in the Reign of Erecus King of Sweedland a Man was married at a Hundred years old to a Bride of Thirty and had many Children by her but looked so fresh that such as knew him not took him not to exceed half that Age. In Campania where the Air is temperate serene and calm men of 80 years usually marry young Virgins and have Children by them which argues that Age in men hinders not Procreation unless they be exhausted in their Youth and their Members shriveled up If any ask why a Women is sooner barren than a Man I answer the Cause is the natural Heat which is more predominant in the latter than in the former for since a Woman is more moist than a Man as her Courses do most evidently demonstrate as also the softness of her Body 't is also apparent that he doth exceed her in Native heat and as for that heat it is the chief thing that concocts the Humours and changes them into the substance of the Seed which Aliment the Woman wanting grows fat when a Man by reason of that heat melts his fat by degrees and his Humours are dissolved but by the benefit thereof they are elaborated into Seed and this may for the better Confirmation of what I propose be added That the Woman is not so strong as a Man nor so wise and prudent nor hath so much reason nor is so ingenious in contriving her Affairs whereby the Faculties are hindered in their operation And so I conclude my Assertion CHAP. II. General and particular Rules laid down by Learned Physicians how to proceed in getting a Male or Female Child and of the Embrio and perfect Birth and the Season sittest for Copulation WHen a young likely Couple have entred the holy State of Wedlock are desirous of mutual enjoyment for Generation sake which is the chief end for which Wedlock was ordain'd and rather covet to be blessed with one Sex than another let them know first for certain that the Success of such things depends upon Divine Providence tho' secondary causes must be actual and instrumental therein and those are especially two First the Genital Humour which proceeds partly from the Brain and partly from the Liver the Fountain of Blood then the spirit that is conveyed by Arteries from the Heart by force whereof the Yard is erected and made capable to eject the Seed and partly it flows from the whole Body without exception To which may be added the Appetite and desire to Copulation which fires the Imagination with unusual Fancies or by the sight and feeling a brisk charming Beauty whose wit and liveliness may much incite and more inflame the Courage but if Nature be infeebled then are there fit artificial Remedies to restore it viz. such meats as most conduce to the affording such aliment as proves to make Seed abound and restore the decaies of Nature that the Faculties may freely opporate for as Dung and well manuring restores Ground that is worn out and heartless even so seasonable and proper Diet opporates to the restoring the faint heart weak spirit coldness and dryness of the Genital Parts and reduceth the weakness of the Nerves to their Temperament and removes Impediments obstructing the Procreation of Children Then since the Diet may and will alter the evil state of the Body to a better it is necessary that such as are subject to Barrenness should eat such meat only as tend to render them fruitful and among such things as are inducing and stirring up thereto are all meats of good juice that nourish well and makes the body lively and full of sap of which Faculty are all hot moist meats for according to Gallen the substance of Seed is
Sex are so unlike each other in Substance Composition Scituation Figure Action and Use that nothing is more unequal and by how much more all other parts of the body the Brests excepted which in Women swell more because of their secondary use have an exact resemblance so much the more in resemblance are the Genital parts of one Sex compared with the other unalike and if their Figure he thus different much more is their use for Women contribute the matter but Men the form in case of Generation The Venerial Appetite also proceeds from different causes for in Men it proceeds from a desire of Emission and in Women from a desire of Completion in Women also the chiefest of those parts are concave and apt to receive but in Men they are only porous and in a Woman Solid These things considered I cannot but wonder added he how any one can imagine that the Genital Member of Female Births should be changed into those that belong to Males since by those parts only the difference and distinction of Sexes is made nor can I well impute the reason of this vulgar Error to any thing but the mistake of unexpert Midwives who have been deceived by the evil conformation of the parts which in some Male Births may have happened to have had some small protrusion not to have been discerned as appeared by the example of a Child Christned at Paris by the Name of Joan as if it had been a Girl when as afterwards it proved a Boy and on the contrary the over-far extension of the Clytoris in Female Births may have occasioned the like mistakes Thus far Plinaeus proceeds in the negative yet notwithstanding his negation there are not wanting divers learned Physicians that have asserted the affirmative of which number Galen is one a Man saith he is different from a Woman in nothing else but having his Genital members without his body and this is certain that if Nature having formed a Man would convert him into a Woman she hath no other task to perform but to turn his Genital member inward a Woman into a Man by doing the contrary But this is to be understood of the Child when it is in the Womb and not perfectly formed for divers times Nature hath made a Female Child and it has so remained in the Belly of the Mother for a month or two and afterward plenty of heat increasing in the Genital Members upon some occasion they have issued forth and the Child has become a Male yet retaining some certain Gestures unbefitting the Masculine Sex as Female Actions a shrill Voice and more feeble than ordinary contrariwise Nature often having made a Male and cold Humours flowing to it the Genitals have been inverted yet still retaining a Man like fashion both in Voice and Gesture Now these opinions considered I am rather inclinable to believe the latter as a thing altogether probable for there is not that vast difference between the Members of the two Sexes as Plinaeus would have us believe there is for the Woman has in a manner the same Members with the Man though they appear not outwardly but are inverted for the conveniency of Generation the main difference being that one is more solid than the other and that the chief reason of changing Sexes is and must be attributed to heat or cold suddainly or stowly contracted which operates according to its greater or lesser force And thus much for these two particulars leaving which I shall proceed to lay down seasonable and necessary instructions or directions for Midwives c. opening in that discourse a Cabinet of many rare Secrets not vulgarly known and indeed only fiting to be known to such as may observe and put them in practice for the publick good and in no wise convert them to obscenity CHAP. XI A Midwife how she ought to be qualified THose that undertake this great task ought by no means to enter upon it rashly or unadvisedly but with all imaginable caution well eighing and preconsidering that she is accountable for all the mischief that befalls thro' her wilful ignorance or neglect therefore let not unskilful Women take upon them this Office barely upon pretence of their Maturity of Years and Child-bearing for in such for the most part there are divers things wanting that ought to be observed which is the occasion so many Women and Children are lost now as for a Midwife in relation to her Person these things ought to be observed viz. She must not be too old nor too young neither extraordinary fat nor weakned by leanness but in a good habit of Body not subject to Diseases Fear nor sudden Frights her Body well shaped and neat in her attire her Hand smooth and small her Nails ever paired short not suffering any Rings to be upon her Fingers during the time she is doing her Office nor any thing upon her Wrists that may obstruct and to these ought to be added Activity a convenient Strength with much cution and diligence not subject to Drowziness nor Impatience As for her Manners she ought to be courteous affable sober chast and not subject to Passion bountiful and compassionate to the Poor and not covetous when she attends upon the Rich. Her Temper chearful and pleasant that she may the better comfort her Patients in their Afflictions nor must she at any time make over-much hast tho' her business be urgeht in another place lest by indangering the Mother or the Child she disgrace her Self and forfeit Heavens Blessing upon her Endeavours for the future Of Spirit she ought to be prudent wary and cunning but above all to have the fear of God before her Eyes and to imploy the Talent he has lent her to his Glory CHAP. XII Things worthy to be observed by Midwives tending to their Advancement and what they ought to avoid c. LET her that undertakes this Office attended with many circumstances of danger and disgrace take good heed to what I shall relate In the first place let her be diligent to leave nothing unsearched which may be advantagious to her practice never imagining her self so perfect but she may add to her Knowledge by study and experience yet never let her apply any remedies in that case unless she has tryed them or known them tryed with Success or at least is conscious of their force that they will do no harm doing nothing in that nature to practice upon poor or rich but speaking freely of what she knows and giving reason for the farther Confirmation thereof by no means daring to give directions for such Medicines as will cause Abortion to pleasure those that have unlawfully conceived which to do is a high degree of Wickedness and may be ranked with Murther but if any come to her with specious pretences let her send them to able Physicians and neither for fair words nor lucre be won to hearken to them If she be sent for let her know to whom she goes
injuries unless so fenced by nature so Womens Stones being internal and less subject to casualty are covered with one Tunicle or Membrane the which though it closely adhere to them yet are they likewise half covered with the Peritonaeum The different or Ejaculatory Vessels are two obscure passages one on either side nothing differing from the Spermatick veins in substance rise they do on one part from the bottom of the Womb not reaching from their other extremity either to the Stones or any other part but shut up and unpassable adhearing to the Womb as the Colon does to the blind Gut and winding half way about the Stones are every way remote to them yet though they touch them not they are tyed to them by certain Membranes resembling the Wings of a Batt or Flutter-mouse through which certain Veins and Arteries passing from the Stones end in these beginning or may be termed here to have their passages proceeding from the corners of the Womb to the Stones and are accounted the proper Ligaments by which the Stones and the Womb are united and strongly knit together and these Ligaments in Women are the Cremesters in Men Of which I shall speak more largely when I come to describe the Masculine parts conducing to Generation CHAP. XV. A Discourse of the Vse and Action of the several Parts in Woman appropriated to Generation c. THE Externals commonly called the Privy Member re designed to cover the great Orifice and that to receive the Yard and give passage to the Birth and Urin. The use of the Wings and Knobs like Mirtle-berries are for the security of the internal parts shutting the Orifice and Neck of the Bladder and by their sweliing up cause Titulation and Defire in those parts and also to obstruct the unvoluntary passage of the Urine The Action of the Clytoris is like that of the Yard viz. Erection where Erection is for motion and attraction of the Seed The action and the use of the Neck of the Womb is equal with that of the Yard viz. Erection occasioned divers ways First in case of Copulation it is erected and made strait for the passage of the Yard to the Womb. Secondly whilst the Passage is repleated with Spirit and vital Blood it becomes more strait for embracing the Yard as for the conveniency of Erection it is twofold First for as much as if the neck of the Womb was not erected the Yard could have no convenient Passage to the Womb. Secondly the Affrication which occasions the Seed to issue forth could be no other ways nay to this we may add that it hinders any hurt or damage that might ensue through the violent Concussion of the Yard during the time of Copulation As for the Vessels that pass through the neck of the Womb their Office is to repleat it with Blood and Spirit that still as the moisture consumes by the heat contracted there in Copulation it may by those Vessels be renewed and the menstruous Blood at unseasonable times for its Efflux be kept back nor are these all their Offices for they contribute Nutriment towards the Child when in the Womb. The Womb it self has many properties attributed to it as First Attraction of the Seed by Familiar Sympathy Secondly It retains it which is properly called Conception Thirdly It cherishes and changes the Seed continuing so to do till it by the help of Nature frames the Child and brings it to perfection and then it strongly operates in sending forth the Birth when the time of its remaining there is expired dilating and spreading it self in a wonderful manner and indeed is the Field of Mans Generation being designed for no other purpose and so aptly removed from the Senses that nothing of Injury can proceed from thence retaining in it self a power and strength to operate and cast forth the Birth unless by accident or the like it be rendered deficient When to strengthen and inable it besides the helps of Nature sundry Remendies are to be applied by skilful hands Direction For which shall be hereafter mentioned The Utility of the preparing Vessels are taken from their Original and from the incertion of the right vein proceeding from the hallow and the left from the emulgent vein as in men that hot and pure Blood may more abundantly flow from the right vein for the Procreation of Males and that serous and watery Blood may proceed from the emulgent vein for the procreation of Females The Vessels in this kind are much shorter in Women than in Men by reason of their nearness to the Stones which defect is yet lengthened and made good by the many Intricacies or Windings to which those Vessels are subject for in the middle way they derive themselves into two branches though different in magnitude for one being greater than the other passes to the Stones conveying matter for composition of Seed and the lesser to the Womb scattering there such Nutriment as it extracts from other parts of the Body as for the Arteries they afford the Blood which is more full of Spirit to perfect the Seed The Stones in Women are greatly useful for where they are defective Generation is at an end by reason they operate in preparing the Seed as those in Men and by reason the Woman is colder than the Man therefore are they seated within that they should have the more heat to cherish them and for that cause are they covered only with one Tunicle that the heat may have the easier access though by reason of their softness they cannot perfect so substantial a Seed as those of Men as being cherished with less heat that the remainder might supply the inferiour parts Their figure is not exactly round but depressed that the small meanders of the veins dispersed through the Members from the Stones to the different Vessels might have more room to be inserted for the attraction of the Seed by the Substance of the Stones the inequality contributing to the longer stay of the Seed in those meandring Vessels nor is rugedness or unevenness of them less conducing thereto CHAP. XVI Of Conception and the infallible Signs thereof as also whether it be a Male or Female that is conceived or both at once commonly called Twins THE next thing convenient to be observed in this Treatise and as it falls in course is Conception and its Symptoms very material and worthy of note not only by Midwives but all young Women Now the signs of Conception 3 or 4 days after convenient and satisfactory Copulation are Pains in the Head Virtigo and dimness of the Eyes the Aples of the Eyes decrease the Eyes themselves swell and become of a dull or dark colour their veins waxing red and shut with Blood Again if the Eyes sink the Eybrows grow loose various colours appear in the Eyes and little red Pimples suddainly arise in the Face and almost as suddainly disappear Thirdly if the Veins between the Eyes and Nose are exteuded with Blood the Veins