spirits from the extreme parts which doe carry their respective objects into the brain so is raciocination by the retention of the said objects that is by the memory of such-like sensible perception as we said before that the notion of sounds or colours is nothing else but the remembrance of such things seen or heard Now these objects are retained or this sensible perception is remembred by the fixation of those spirits wherein the said objects do abide So that as the spirits are fixed and continued in the substance of the brain even so are the objects treasured up together with the spirits the comparison of which past objects with others that are present or to come is called ratiocination The spirits being pure of themselves would by their continuall motion be so attenuated that they could not be contained in the body if they had not a refrigeratory the brain to contemper and allay them by virtue hereof the sensories are shut up and sleep is caused that there may be a reparation made for those spirits which were lost while the sensories were open Whereas notwithstanding the coldnesse of the brain some spirits doe continually lose themselves in the aire it is out of the great providence of Nature that thereby they may make the aire a fit medium betwixt the sence and the object So we see the spirits for smelling do disperse themselves in the aire indifferently but the visive spirits are not scattered except in the illuminated aire It will be too tedious to discourse at large how the object by how much it is more pleasant by so much it doth the more entice out the spirits and how the exercise of the several senses upon pleasant objects doth become hypnoticall It is sufficient to know that as the spirits were the first movers in mans body upon whose motion all other natural actions do depend even so all actions cease when the spirits cease to move And as life doth commence by the motion of the spirits even so the cessation of this motion is the next and immediate cause of death whether it be by solution of continuity in some principal organ whereby the spirits are made incapable of keeping their circuit or by some mercuriall vapour which doth suddenly or by degrees intercept their motion or else by something which is stupefying that doth suddenly thicken them I say by what accident soever the motion of the spirits is staid death must necessarily ensue thereupon And no man ever yet dyed either a natural death or by any accident whatsoever but the next and immediate cause of his death was the cessation of the motion of his spirits We call that a naturall death when the spirits are not violently intercepted or discontinued but as by degrees they are thickned and have a slower motion as is evident by the slownesse of the pulse dimnesse of light thicknesse of hearing coldnesse of the body c. so in processe of time they are wholly staid although nothing violent doth happen unto them Thus we see that both the beginning increase state and declination of mans life doth depend wholly upon the motion of the spirits as also all circumstances contained in the said beginning increase state and declination As nutrition auction excretion voluntary motion sense ratiocination and whatsoever else is comprehended under these And as the spirits do governe the body within it selfe so by the mediation thereof all things else doe operate upon the body not onely that which nourisheth and increaseth but whatsoever purgeth vomiteth procureth sweat c. hath its qualities first received by the spirits and from thence communicated to the humours or parts according to the particular natures of such like qualities Aloes and Colocynth taken inwardly purge the body and so they do by outward application Terpentine taken inwardly provoketh urine and emplaisters of terpentine applyed to the back and belly do the like Emplaisters of Ammoniacum dissolve and mollifie scirrhous tumours no otherwise than Ammoniacum taken inwardly doth dissolve scirrosities of the liver and spleen Lapis haematites dragons blood bole c. stop a flux whether inwardly exhibited or outwardly applyed Quicksilver taken inwardly procureth salivation and so it doth by outward application Pills and plaisters of Asa Faetida are both good against the rising of the wombe Unctions of Brimstone cure the itch and so doth Brimstone taken inwardly In a word all things whatsoever have their operation alike upon the body whether they be used inwardly or outwardly But this could not be if the operation of those things which doe alter the body was not performed by the immediate act of the spirits neither could the spirits so act if they had not both a circular motion betwixt the centre and the surface whereby they do keepe a correspondence between all the diversity of parts of the body and did not also expatiate themselves at some small distance from the surface whereby they doe take into the body the infection of the aire There is nothing whatsoever which is not continually spending its spirits in the aire as is demonstrable in all things which are subject to wax old I meane not onely living creatures in the course of their life but even vegetables and the parts of living creatures which we call druggs unto which we ascribe several virtues Let them be kept never so choicely yet they will in time decay and lose the said virtues which we ascribe unto them the reason is because they doe subsist and preserve themselves that time they do continue by this expence of their virtues that is their spirits in the aire otherwise they should suddenly be corrupted And if they be so attenuated that they may be and are taken into the body of man or if they be contiguous to his body they doe the like Now the spirits of mans body as they are alwaies moving out and returning into the body they doe continually lay hold on that which they find in the aire to be most agreeable to their owne nature that is something which is most spirituous and doe carry it into the body and whatsoever they find in the stomack and guts of a spirituous nature they do likewise carry it into the more inward parts viz. into the veins and arteries and afterwards perhaps into the nerves so that whensoever any medicament whether drug or composition happeneth within the reach of the spirits the body is thereby altered and so much the more by how much the parts of the said medicament are separated because thereby its atomes are more speedily scattered Here we must know that the medicine acts not primarily upon the spirits but the spirits upon the medicine although afterwards they do accidentally suffer hence it is that emplasters do performe no alteration upon a mortifyed part neither do external things act at such a distance whereunto the spirits of the body cannot come to lay hold upon the spirits atomes or qualities thereof I could make a closer illustration of
the spirits of the body acting upon the spirits of the medicament by almost infinite of examples but for brevities sake I shall propound two or three Let any one swallow ten or twelve seeds of coloquintida whole he shall have the seeds again in his excrements yet notwithstanding his body shall be purged this is a sufficient argument to convince any one that it is the spirits of the medicine that purgeth Let the seeds of coloquintida be powdered and mixed with honey and then spread upon leather and applyed to the belly and this also purgeth this is another cogent argument to demonstrate that as the spirits of medicaments do operate even so they are carryed by the spirits into the body Three seeds of coloquintida in powder purge as much as twelve seeds whole This at the first sight should seeme to be an argument to prove that it is the substance of things that worketh but when we seriously consider that the seeds whole do also worke although not so powerfully and that purging medicines do also work by outward applicacation we must conclude that the reason why the seeds powdered worke more than the seeds whole is because the spirits of medicines being lock'd closer up in their parts do disperse themselves but moderately whereas after they are opened and their parts separated they doe fly away with more alacrity hence it is that all manner of drugs if they be kept entire doe retain their virtues longer then when they are powdered Here we may take notice of a vulgar errour which is generally received concerning the virtues of simples which they say are either actually or in power as if the body did reduce them out of power into act I confesse the heat and moisture of the body may so soften them and open their parts that they may spend their virtues faster no otherwise than as if they were infused or decocted but I deny that there is any essentiall difference between their power and their action because they do alwaies act although according to severall circumstances with more or lesse vigour but this concerns not our present purpose Those things that alter the body doe not onely in a generall way make evident these positions which we have delivered in that it doth plainly appeare that it is their spirits which doe act upon the spirits of mans body c. But they doe also confirme the same if we consider them severally in their private and particular operations as for example Cordials and such things as are spirituous are commonly given with good successe indifferently unto all that faint and swound away although such like fainting or swounding in several persons doth proceed from severall causes the reason of this is because the result of all things which do injury to the body is the fixing stopping or intercepting of the spirits so that such like cordials which have power to rescue the arrested spirits do for the present revive the body in that they doe move the said spirits which are the cause of all other motion Those things which doe violently purge if they be given without any preparative unto those bodies wherein there is a tenacity of humours they doe commonly cause Syncopes or sudden faintings away The reason is because the atomes of such like purging medicines finding those passages bolted up through which they should enter into the intestines are immediately carryed into the nerves where they doe intercept or confound the regular motion of the spirits The reason also wherefore purging and vomiting medicines do oftentimes procure sweat is because their spirits are carryed into the nerves Opium doth allay pain and doth cause sleep the reason of the first is because it thickens the spirits and intercepts their motion towards the brain The reason of the second also is because it doth by condensing the spirits shut up the sensories Those things which are drying and astringent as china guajacum sarsaparilla conserve of red roses vitriolated c. do oftentimes prove analepticall The reason is because they do fix the spirits which are the chief instruments of nutrition Camphor causeth sleep by attenuating the spirits and causing expence thereof Milke and some other things which being eaten are straightway converted into a milky nature as almonds the foure greater cooling seeds c. do resist drunkennesse The reason is because they do precipitate the spirituous part of beer wine or any other liquor which would sly up into the brain and disturbe the regular motion of the spâ—riâ—s â—o we see posset drink is lesse vapoâ—ous than beer or ale because the spâ—râ—â—s of the said beer or ale are precipitated with milke Sâ—l Pâ—â—unellae Vinegar and al acide juices are proficuous in pestilentiall diseases The reason is because they do precipitate that mercuriall vapour which doth intercept the motion of the spirits No otherwise than Aqua fortis which is made of vitriol and saltpeter doth precipitate and tame quicksilver and make it lesse fluid and vaporous New milke warme from the cow and milke suck'd from a womans breast is a great restorative The reason is because it doth in a more than ordinary manner increase the spirits which are the chief instruments of nutrition Those things which are knowne by experience to be hurtfull to the eyes and to dimme the sight as garlick lettice colewort c. do it upon no other account than by thickning the visive spirits and on the contrary where the eye sight is not perfect it is oftentimes helped by such things as do rarifie the said spirits as fennell betony Eyebright c. Here we must take notice that condensation and rarefaction are not of themselves hurtfull or profitable to the sight but as they do retard or accelerate the motion of the visive spirits which is the next and immediate cause of seeing they do by consequence become hurtfull or profitable The water of the sperm of froggs preventeth the spreading of a gangrene by intercepting the spirits which would carry the septick quality of the extreme part gangrenated nearer unto the centre of the body In contused wounds the part is preserved from mortification by injecting of spirit of wine into the wound or fomenting the part therewith the reason is because it doth both comfort the spirits rarefie the pores that so the motion of the spirits in the part may not be hindred Adde hereunto the virtue of actual heat in any manner of distemper whatsoever either outward or inward They that are well versed in chirurgicall operations cannot but know the efficacy of hot stupes And so in feaverish distempers those things which are given actually hot provided they nourish not too much do sooner quench thirst and abate the praeternatural heat of the body than cooling Iulapes The reason is because heat doth open the pores and by consequence make way for the spirits to move This motion of the spirits Courteour Reader is that we did intend in this inconsiderable treatise to propound unto thee Wherewith we were loath on a sudden to interrupt thee thinking it more convenient first to broach some tenets which are involved in it under the notion of Paradoxes Yet we presume that upon serious consideration thou wilt looke upon all we have here written as Orthodox And that for two reasons First because all operations of externall things upon mans body are reducible to reason upon this account And secondly because there is no contradiction in the whole Series of our discourse but each position doth so confirme another that in the whole there is such a symmetrie as doth become the simplicity of truth FINIS
originall either from repletion or inanition from fullnesse or emptinesse The stopping of the months doth produce at first a generall cachexy or evill habit of body that is want of appetite disgestion indisposednesse to exercise dullnesse and drowsynesse c. This cachexy if it be not taken away by bleeding purging sweating abstinence or the like doth beget some other disease unto which the body is most enclined The distempers which doe generally ensue hereupon are paines in the head back and other parts of the body intermitting feavers the black and yeallow jaundise difficulty of breathing the dropsy the scurvy the plurisy the squinancy c. Such like diseases do most frequently happen upon the obstruction of the monthly course Yet is not the body wholly exempted from any other distemper whatsoever upon this account whereof fullnesse is the cause For by the retention of the months not onely the grosser par s of the humors do putrefy but even â—he thinner parts thereof or spirits may become more disposed to receive and cherish the seedâ— of pestilentiality whereby the bâ—dy is rendred more obnoxious to those epidemicall diseases Viz the small Pox the Measells the spotted Feaver the Purples the Plague or whaâ—soever other contagious disease As the retention of the months doth procreate all manner of diseases which have their originall from repletion Even so from the immoderate flowing of the same do proceed those other distempers which are the of-springs of inanition Viz convulsions cramps syncopes c. Of which it wil be too tedious to say any thing in particular Having generally considered the error in quantity committed by the retention or immoderate expulsion of the months from whence may proceed all those diseases in Women which are common unto all Mankinde we come now to take notice of the evill quality of the humors so retained or expelled from whence proceed diseases of the wombe and such as are peculiar unto Women The wombe is a tender part nervous and exquisitely sensible apt to receive a various impression according to the diversity of the quality of the humor which is cast into it and contained in it Sharpe and bilious humors ulcerate the wombe melancholick juice hardeneth it and breeds a Scirrhus therein hot bloud doth inflame it crude and indigested humors putrefy and cause a suffocation thereof which is called the hystericall passion And so is it humected dryed cancerated c. According to the nature of the humor which it receives Those humors which hurt the wombe have other passages appointed them by Nature by which they might be expell'd without prejudice to the parts through which they pass such is the tendernesse of the wombe in respect of other parts as the bladder the intestines the pores and other particular emunctories Now when these or some of these by any cause whatsoever are stopt whereby there is some offensive humor retain'd which should but cannot by these passages be expell'd Nature out of her providence to the whole is forc'd to throw out this offensive humor into the tender wombe which presently receives the impression thereof and suffers more or lesse after a diverse manner according to the quality of the humor Sometimes the wombe suffers by procatarcticall or outward causes it may be indurated by cold injections it may be inflam'd by too hot a pessary and by too long continuance of too sharpe a pessary it may be ulcerated What prudence then and religion is there required in that practitioner whether physitian or Chirurgion that is concerned in the cure of diseases in the wombe How possible is it for an unskilfull hand to ulcerate or inflame the wombe in attempting by pessary to cure the hystericall passion So likewise in the cure of any other distemper of the wombe as also of all other diseases which are peculiar to Women without much prudence skill and caution there is much danger CHAP. II. To Procure the months FIrst of all take notice of the patients pulse which you shall observe to be either too quick too flow or moderate If her pulse be quicker than ordinary it will be convenient for her to be let bloud if slower than is usuall to healthful Women the best way is to refrain bleeding if her pulse be moderate Viz neither too quick nor too slow she may bleed or not bleed according to these following conditâ—ons The patient must be lett bloud upon a moderate pulse if she doe sometimes bleed at nose or if she have paine in her head or in her back or in any of her sides or if she be naturally subject to warts or have a wenn in any part of her for all these are signes of a melancholick constitution wherein letting blood is in the first place required She must not bleed upon a moderate pulse if her leggs be subject to swell and pit or if she be sick after her meat or if she be very drowsy and enclin'd to sleep much for these are signes of a Phlegmatick Constitution wherein letting blood is some what dangerous in regard of a dropsie I have set down severally the signes whereby may be known whether it will be necessary for her to bleed or not to bleed yet often times these signes which I distinguish mâ—y happen together in the same body as the same Woman which hath pain in her head sides or back which I call signes that letting blood is requisite may also have a swelling in her legs which of it self is a signe that letting blood is not necessary in this case it will be Convenient for her to bleed for these several signes concurring are an argument that she doth labour with a plechora or fulness of humours which must be emptied by letting blood which is the most general Evacuation Bloud must be taken away upon this occasion alwaies from those veins which are in the lower parts of the body it is most commom to let bloud in one of the feet yet if the Patient have a pain in her back or in the hinder part of her head it will be more proper for her to bleed with leaches in the Haemorrhoidal veins if she have pain in any of her sides or in the side of her head she must bleed in the foot of the same side where the pain is Except her feet or ancles swell then must she not bleed in the foot least thereby the â—umors of her body be too much called down But let her rather bleed in the vein under the ham If she have pain on both sides alike or athwart her chest or if she have no pain it will be most convenient for her to bleed in the left foot because the spleen is on the left side whose fulness and stopping is commonly the cause of this distemper After bloud-letting the next thing in order to be done is vomiting But if the Patient upon bleeding perceive a Manifest alteration to the better it will be wisdome to let her alone some time and to observe whether
Nature having some part of her load taken of be not able to govern the rest the better and whether she may not by the helpe of convenient diet and moderate Exercise without Physick do the rest of what is to be done But in those bodies which are Cacochymous or of evil juice bleeding will not be sufficient wherefore they must as I said after bleeding proceed to vomiting and others which are not let bloud must begin with a vomit Vomits are of several natures and may be contrived into several forms as into a Pill a Potion a bole c. all which I shall at present pass by and propound one onely Vomit which is so safe that it may be given to a Child of a year old and doth agree with all constitutions all ages and all diseases wherein Vomiting is necessary The Vomit which I mean is Oxymel of Squills The dose of it is from one ounce to 3 ounces it is of the consistence of a Syrupe wherefore the best way to take it is to mix it with 5 or 6 spoonefulls of posset drink and so to drink it down upon a full Stomack about foure in the afternoone having dined 2 or 3 houres before This Oxymel of squills will either Purge or Vomit or both according to the Constitution of the body and the nature of the Superfluous humour Let her intermit two days betwixt Vomiting and bleeding The next day after her Vomit let her begin to take of a Chalybeate Electuary let her take the quantity of a nutmeg of it at a time twice every day viz in the morning fasting and at 4 in the afternoon so long as it shall last let her be sure to exercise alwaies immediately after the taking of her Chalybeate Electuary if she be of a hot Constitution let her make use of the first Electuary if cold let her take the second if moderate the third The first Chalybeate Electuary for hot Constitutions TAke Conserve of Berberies 3 ounces Conserve of wood sorrel 2 ounces prepared steele one ounce red coral prepared Cream of Tartar of each a Dram Oyle of Vitriol twenty drops Syrupe of Lemons as much as is sufficient to make it up into an Electuary The second Chalybeate Electuary for cold Constitutions TAke Conserve of Scurvigrass foure ounces Tartarum Vitriolatum Salt of Steele Species Diagalanga of each a Dram with Syrupe of Coral as much as is sufficient make it up into an Electuary The third Electuary for moderate Constitutions TAke Conserve of Scurvigrass 3 ounces Conserve of Berberies two ounces red Coral prepared a Dram prepared Steele 6 Drams Syrupe of Wood sorrel an ounce Oyle of Sulphur thirty drops mix them together into an Electuary After the use of any one of these Electuaries according to the manner above written there will remaine nothing else to be done but onely for the Patient once or twice a day to drink a cup of white wine mixt with 2 or 3 spoonefuls of Syrupe of mugwort this she may continue a fortnight or 3 weeks together Let her diet be cheifly Flesh meat Broth and the Gravy of Meat let her drink be new Beer let her by all means abstain from Fish Water-gruel and Gritts it is good now and then to boyle in her broth the roots of Fennel Smallage Butchers-broome Parsley and Asparagus If there shall be a greater fulness of bloud than ordinary in the body it will be more safe and convenient to let her bloud first in the arm and then two dayes after in the foot and so to proceed according to the aforesaid method Yet if she bleed at the Nose or vomit bloud let her not bleed in the arm by any means but onely in the lower parts of the body and apply Cupping-glasses with scarification unto her thighs Some have had their Months procured by taking the quantity of a Nutmeg of old Leaven mixt with the like quantity of Sugar for three or four dayes together These following Pils provoke the Months in some women without any other means whatsoever Give the patient two of them every night when she goes to bed for the space of three weeks together The Pils Take Myrrh three drams Aristolochia rotunda two drams Agarick Cinnamon dictamnus Creticus of each a dram Saffron two scruples Spikenard half a dram with as much syrupe or rather juyce of Mugwort as shall be sufficient make them into a Mass out of which make small Pils as big as Peas The juyce of the white Flower de Luce root provoketh the Months if it be given to the patient in the morning fasting for three mornings together four five or sixe spoonfuls at a time according to the strength of the patient about the time when she expects her monthly evacuation The juyces of Penny royal and Balm are sometimes effectual but they are of less force then the juyce of the white Flower de luce root wherefore they are fittest to be given to those that are of weak constitutions CHAP. III. To stop the immoderate flowing of the Months LEt a large Cupping glasse be applyed once or twice to each breast without scarification This doth immediately stop the immoderate flowing of months and to those that are of a healthful temperament having fallen into this distemper by some accident as a fright or the like this alone will be sufficient But others whose distemper doth proceed from an inward cause after the application of Cupping glasses to their breasts which doth at present stay the effect must take something inwardly to take away the cause least the effect returne again The cause is alwaies either a sharp cholerick humour in the body or else a thin putrid and watrish moisture The difference of the causes may be known by the difference of the signes If the patient be naturally of a hot temper and be subject unto flushing heats into the neck and face and for matter of diet hath delighted in Salt meats Mustard Pepper c. from hence the cause will appear to be a sharp cholerick humour for which let her take three or four spoonfuls at a time of this following Julape three or four times a day for a fortnight or three weeks together and after that let her take the quantity of a Nutmeg at a time of this following Electuary in the morning fasting at four in the afternoon and at night to bedward until she shall perceive the cause to be abated The Julape TAke Plantain water twelve ounces syrupe of Violets six ounces oyl of Vitriol so much as shall make it very tart shake them together in a glass The Electuary is onely a mixture of conserve of Barberies and red Coral Take conserve of Barberies three ounces red Coral prepared three drams mixe them together Once in five or sixe days let her purge with lenitive Electuary Let her by no means eat any flesh meat or broth of meat But let her diet be Water-gruel Panado Cream of barley and such like thickening and cooling diet Let her drink
be small Beer or rather small Ale If the cause be a thin and putrid humour it will appear by that which comes from her which will be discoloured and stinking Let her first take this following purging Potion The Potion TAke Sena three drams Rubarb and Agarick of each a dram Caruay seeds and Coriander seeds prepared of each half a dram infuse them in a quarter of a pinte of White-wine for the space of twelve houres Strain them and put to the strained liquor an ounce and half of syrupe of Roses and five drops of oyl of Vitriol Give it her to drink in a morning fasting with due observation according to the usual manner of purging After she hath purged let her take plentifully of conserve of Red-roses vitriolated for the space of a week then let her purge again as formerly After that continue her with this following Electuary until she be well The Electuary TAke conserve of Red-roses vitriolated four ounces conserve of Barberies two ounces Lapis haematites two drams Dragons blood a dram and half Crocus Martis a dram with as much syrupe of Quinces as shall be sufficient make it into an Electuary of which give her the quantity of a small nut five or sixe times a day If her flux return before her body be altered stay it by a second application of Cupping-glasses to her breasts as above written Let her diet be the same with that before mentioned For flesh meat doth beget both a sharp and also a putrid humour in the body whereupon it is so strictly forbidden immediately after child-birth besides upon the account of a Feaver lest it should put either a sharpness or else a putrefaction upon the bloud and thereby cause a greater flux It is a common observation that they that are much inclin'd to the immoderate flowing of the Months are almost continually bound in their bodies which is oftentimes the cause wherefore this immoderate Flux doth so long continue For Nature endeavouring to discharge her self of some superfluous humour by the common sink of the body the Guts finding that passage stopt throws it out by that passage which is most open Wherefore whatsoever is given to stop this immoderate flowing of the Months it will be to no purpose except a due regard be had to the keeping of the Patients body soluble which must not be by strong and violent purgers but by such Medicines as do but gently purge and withall have a power to cool the body and allay the sharpness of humours of which sort are Catholicon Lenitive Electuary Diaprunum syrupe of Damask roses c. The same things which are commonly given unto those that bleed much at the nose or vomit bloud are also very good in this case As the juices of Plantain and Nettles the powder of Colophony Dragons bloud Lapis haematites the powder of Acorn cups the powder of Comfrey â—â—ots c. But above all things let the Patient be conversant in a cool ayr In the Summer time let the room wherein she is be cooled with green boughs and let water be sprinkled upon the floor and in the Winter time let there be little or no fire in the room Vpon a Miscarriage and sometimes after Childe-bearing it hath been observed that the bloud which the Patient voids being drunk in White wine doth immediately stay the immoderate Flux Insomuch that many Midwives account this as a great secret and mixe it privately lest they should communicate their skill to others I have some acquaintance with a Gentlewoman who could by no means possibly be cured who was brought so weak with this continual flux of bloud that she alwayes fainted away when she was but turned in her bed insomuch that her friends and Physitians despaired of her life seeing that all those means which have been effectual to others proved not at all succesful to her At length she was advised to have a live Toad put up in a Napkin and bound to her back which was no sooner done but her flux of bloud was staid from thence forward and to the admiration of all this Gentlewoman was thereby recovered CHAP. IIII. For the rising of the Matrix or Womb called commonly the Mother THe present paroxysme or fit is first to be abated After that the cause must be taken away otherwise upon the least disturbance of minde during her whole life time she must expect several fits in the like Nature To abate the present fit first of all apply a Cupping-glass to her navel after it hath continued on some few minutes take it off and lay two or three grains of Civet received into a little cotton or lint upon her navel and keep it on with a plaister of Galbanum as broad as the mouth of a Cupping glass Let the plaister remain on so long as it will stick Then proceed to take away the cause but in the mean time lest the fit should return before the cause be wholly abated give her now and then as often as you please a spoonfull or two of compound Pyony-water sweetned with white Sugar-candy and let her sometimes take a whift or two of Tobacco in a pipe or if she observe a fit approaching let another take tobacco and blow the smoak to her for this is better then the smoak of feathers or Assafoetida The cause of this distemper is a putrid humour collected in the womb proceeding from too great a quantity of bloud in respect of the patients strength to govern it First breath a vein in the right arm to the quantity of seven ounces of bloud The next day after if the patient be of a sanguine complexion or melancholick let her bloud in the foot to the quantity of about eight or nine ounces The day after bleeding give her this following Clyster The Clyster TAke Mugwort Penny royal the flowers of Centuary of each a small handful Chammomile and Mellilot flowers of each half a handful Bayberries and Cummin-seeds bruised of each two drams French barley half an ounce boyl them in a pinte and half of water until half be wasted strain away the liquor and dissolve therein an ounce of Diaphaenicon the yolk of an egge and two drams of Venice-terpentine washt The Venice terpentine must be first mixt with the Yolk of the egge in a mortar and so be incorporated into the rest of the liquor by degrees The next day after her Clyster let her purge with three four or five pils of Extractum Rudii more or less according to the constitution of her body whether easie or hard to work upon The day after purging let her make use of this following Pessary The Pessary TAke Mugwort and Feaversue of each half a handful Diaphaenicon and Venice terpentine of each six drams species hiera picra three drams beat them together into a mass then make a little bag of sarcenet shaped like unto a suppository but let it be bigger both in thickness and length Then crowd so much of the mass into it
and break all his bones then boyl him in sixe quarts of Water with these following ingredients in an earthen or iron pot close covered over a gentle fire until the liquor when it is cold shall be of the consistence of a Gelley Strain it and sweeten it with double refined sugar and let her drink a porrenger of it at a time three or four times in a day for the space of thirty or forty dayes The Ingredients RAspt Harts horn six ounces the roots of China and Sarsaparilla of each an ounce and half Shepheards purse a handful Bistort roots an ounce Cinamon half an ounce Nutmeg and large Mace of each a dram In the mean time let her swallow three small Pills made out of this following Mass every other night when she goes to bed The Mass for Pills TAke Aloes three drams Myrrh two drams the gum of Guajacum a dram Saffron half a dram Make them all into fine powder and with as much syrupe of Mugwort as is sufficient beat them into a Mass or Paste out of which let her form Pills as she shall have occasion After she hath done taking her pills and gelley let her return to her usual Diet onely let her be sure to quench a gad of Steel in all the Beer she drinks The dryness of the womb doth also cause sterility in that the womb is thereby rendered incapable of making its application to the seed so soon as it is injected for if the seed be not immediately embraced by the contraction and application of the womb unto it it cannot ferment and consequently it doth become useless for generation From the defect of moisture proceedeth a scirrhosity or hardness in the womb unto which hardness we must have a respect in our prescriptions as well as unto the alteration of the whole body Let her make three small Pills out of this following Mass and swallow them down every morning fasting for the space of ten dayes together always exercising after them The Mass for Pills TAke Aloes three drams Gum Ammoniacum dissolv'd in Vinegar two drams salt of Steel a dram Crabs eyes and Tartarum vitriolatum of each half a dram with as much Oxymel of Squills as shall be sufficient make them up into a Mass according to art After ten dayes let her begin to bath in a Semicupium that is to sit in an artificial Bath up to her navel let her first continue half an hour in the Bath and so longer and longer by degrees that in her latter bathings she may continue a full hour or more Boyl a good quantity of these following ingredients in so much water as that when they are sufficiently boyled there may be liquor enough for her to sit up to the navel therein in a convenient Tub or bathing vessel Let not the ingredients be taken out of the liquor wherein she doth bath Let her bath one day give her a Clyster the second day and the third day let her take three of the same pills whereof she took every morning before her bathing Let her continue this course for the space of 30 days The Clyster which she is to take every third day is as follows The Clyster TAke Mallows Mercury Beets Chamomile and Mellilot flowers of each half a handful Aniseeds half an ounce boyl them in a pinte and half of water until half be wasted strain away the ingredients and dissolve in the strained liquor brown Sugar two ounces the yolk of one Egg Castle-soap one dram Let there be injected into her womb with a Matrix-Syringe some of the aforefaid Clyster about a quarter of an hour before she takes it Clyster-wise This by Gods blessing will make her that is barren a happy mother and take away her reproach amongst women But before she useth the aforesaid means let her be very certain whether the distemper of her womb be from driness or from moisture which shee shall know by these following signes If the distemper of the womb proceed from driness there is oftentimes felt a sensible hardness therein which is called a Callus proceeding from a melancholick juyce in the body She is scarce satisfied with the act of Venus She hath commonly a heat and driness in her hands She is much inclined to Warts in other parts of her body She commonly disgests her meat well But if from moisture she is of weak disgestion She hath never any appetite to her meat immediately after sleep She is often sick or sleepy after meat She hath a heaviness like unto a weight in her head She is listless and indisposed to exercise By such like signes it is not hard to determine certainly the true cause of Sterility in any woman whatsoever Mineral waters which come from Iron Mines do sometimes help those that are barren The frequent use of Sage is much commended by ancient Writers the reason is because it is rough and fixing and consequently it doth correct the slipperiness of the womb The Cock-treadings of three new laid Eggs dissolved in four or five spoonfuls of Vinegar and drunk down about half a quarter of an hour after she hath had to do with her husband is accounted a great secret CHAP. X. To cause speedy delivery in Childe-birth BE sure her appointed time be come before you attempt to use meanes for the hastening of her delivery Give her nothing which nourisheth but onely those things which have a Physical respect to her present condition I am of opinion that they which have difficult and long Labours are hindered by the too much indulgence of those that are about them in giving them nourishing things as they think to support nature whereas in several respects nature is thereby prevented from doing those offices which are suitable to the present condition of the Patient Let her wholly abstain from all things that nourish Let a Suppository be put up made of Honey and Salt according to art and after that is com'd away put up another Boyl three or four handfuls of Mugwort a little while in Spring water then strain it from the liquor and put the hearb into a bag and apply it warm to her navel They which are so good accountants as to know to a day the time of their Travail may assure themselves of easie and speedy labour if three or four dayes before they do observe a strict and sparing diet A dram of Myrrh powdered and given to drink in white Wine causeth speedy Delivery Some have used Irish Slate with good success others do commonly use Sperma Caeti or Bezoar And some Midwives give onely the powder of Aristolochia or Birth-wort because that doth after a more powerful manner cause speedy Delivery then those before mentioned But this is fittest to be given to those that are of strong constitutions CHAP. XI To expel the Secondine or After-birth THe same things which cause speedy Delivery do also help to expel the After-birth or part thereof if it be broken and left behinde in the body Yet
notwithstanding all means used sometimes there is some part of the After-birth left behinde which cannot speedily be brought away but doth putrifie in the wombe and doth cause dangerous symptomes and oftentimes death I would therefore advise all Midwives to be sure that the whole After-birth come away in its proper time so soon as the Childe is born without mangling or tearing which may be done with ease speed and safety by putting up their whole hand into the body and therewith gently separating the same from the walls of the womb I confess they that trust to the strength of the Navel-string which I presume most do have scarce the After-birth of one in twenty broken Yet it is great pity that one in a hundred should suffer in the like nature there being such a way and means to prevent it whereupon there is no other inconvenience doth ensue Upon all occasions when I have been called to cases of great difficulty I have ever made sure with the After-birth by putting up my whole hand as afore-said and with what success they which have had experience do well know Neither have I ever observ'd any inconvenience ensuing which makes me bold to counsel all Midwives to do the like CHAP. XII For the over-flowing of Milk in womens Breasts MAny women are inclined to this distemper which proceeds either from the weakness of the breasts the retentive faculty thereof being lost or else from the waterish temperament of the Mass of bloud or humours contained in the Veins and Arteries and in some women there are both these causes Let her drink a quarter of a pinte of this following Apozeme in a morning fasting at four in the afternoon and at night to bed-ward so long as it shall last The Apozeme Take Guajacum four ounces China Sassafras and Sarsaparilla of each an ounce Liquorice an ounce and half Agrimony and Betony of each a handful Raisins stoned four ounces infuse them all night in two gallons of warm water in the morning boyl them in a Vessel close covered until half be wasted Strain away the ingredients and drink the liquor as aforesaid After she hath taken this Apozeme let her take the quantity of a Nutmeg of conserve of red Roses vitriolated three or four times a day untill her constitution be altered Let her all this while wear upon her Breasts plaisters of Oxycroceum CHAP. XIII To dry up the Milk in womens Breasts TAke Vnguentum Populeon and Diachylon Plaister of each an ounce and half melt them together and when it is almost cold stir into it two drams of the powder of Alabaster and a dram of Lapis calaminaris finely powdered Make two large plaisters hereof and apply them to her breasts Let her wear black wool in her armpits If this succeed not let her purge with a dram of Pilulae Cochiae If after her purging she perceive not her Milk to dry up give her the Apozeme in the fore-going Chapter For the over-flowing of Milk c. CHAP. XIV For an Ulcer in the Womb. FIrst take away eight ounces of bloud more or less according to the Patients strength from her right arm the next day after her bleeding let her begin to take of this following Electuary let her continue the same for the space of one and twenty days give her the quantity of a Nutmeg of it at a time twice a day viz. in the morning fasting and at four in the afternoon in the mean time once in seven days let her purge with this following Potion The Electuary Take conserve of Scurvy-grass four ounces conserve of Roman Wormwood two ounces Crabs eyes finely powdered three drams Tartarum Viâ—riolatum a dram and half salt of Steel a dram w th as much syrupe of Mint as shall be sufficient mix them together into an Electuary The purging Potion Take Sena three drams Rubarb a dram Agarick half a dram Coriander seeds prepared a scruplâ— Spikenard ten grains infuse them in four ounces of white Wine for the space of twelve houres strain away the ingredients and dissolve in the strained liquor syrupe of Roses solutive an ounce Manna half an ounce oyl of Vitriol seven drops After she hath taken one and twenty dayes of her Electuary and purged thrice viz every seventh day let her drink of this following Apozeme for the space of one and twenty dayes more eight or nine spoonâ—uls at a time every morning fasting and at night to bed-ward The Apozeme Take the roots of China and Sarsaparilla of each an ounce and half Agrimony Mugwort Sanicle Shepheards purse of each half a handful Liquorice an ounce and half boyl them in three quarts of water until half be wasted strain away the ingâ—edâ—ents and sweeten the liquor with syrupe of Mint whereof let her drink as aforesaid During the time of taking her Apozeme let her use injections twice a day viz. in the morning and at four in the afternoon Let her use this following injection in the morning and the next after in the afternoon The Injection for the morning Boyl a quarter of a pound of Guajacum in two quarts of water until half be wasted then dissolve in the strained liquor Calcanthum Romanum called commonly the Celestial stone two drams The stone will of it selfe dissolve in the liquor being put therein The Injection for the Afternoon Take the flowers of St. Johns wort Plantain Knot-grass Shepheards purse and Horse-tail of each a handful red Rose leaves half a handful Bistort roots an ounce and half boyl them in four pintes of Spring water until half be wasted strain away the ingredients and reserve the liquor for your use putting thereto four ounces of syrupe of dried Roses After she hath made use of these injections and taken her Apozeme as aforesaid let her drink until she be well twice or thrice in a day a draught of Whay wherein some Vulnerary herbs have been steeped or boyled of which sort are Avens Bugle Comfrey St. Johns wort Dandelion Agrimony Hony-suckles Mugwort Mint Plantain Ribwort c. Let her eat no flesh-meat during the whole time of her cure CHAP. XV. For a Cancer in the Womb. FIrst take away eight ounces of bloud from her left arm the next day after let her begin to take of this following Electuary and Apozeme continuing the same for the space of twenty dayes Give her the quantity of a large Nutmeg of her Electuary every morning fasting and immediately after it let her drink a quarter of a pinte of the Apozeme The Electuary Take conserve of Borage and Bugloss flowers of each two ounces prepared Steel three drams the black ends of the clawes of Crabs finely powdered two drams black Amber that is Jet finely powdered a dram and half oyl of Vitriol twenty drops wiâ—h as much syrupe of Coral as shall be sufficient mix them together into an Electuary The Apozeme Take Garden Scurvigrass three handfuls Fumitary and Maiden hair of each a handful Sena two ounces Pollypody of the Oak