using remedies suitable and fitting which brings me to the cure c. Cure The cure consisteth in preservation for that which is past cannot be helped And The preservation from abortion or miscarriage hath two principal parts or heads The one concerning the woman before she is with child the other when she is with child Before the woman is with child all evil disposition of body which are wont to cause miscarriage must be removed as fulness of blood badness of humors and peculiar diseases of the womb c. Concerning all which advice must be taken of some able Doctor with suitable medicines for this would be too large a field for me at this time to walk or take a turn in But then When she is with child how to prevent her miscarriage I shall here insert that which may do good and be serviceable Besides then that medicine which I have already given for the stopping the overflowing of the courses which is excellent in this case being taken as is there directed I shall adâ—e Take Kermes berries and Tormentil and Bislort roots of each half an ounce Mastick two drams Date stones and shavings of Ivory of each one dram powder them and mix them into the form of an Electuary with syrup of Coral and then mix that with Conserve of red roses and Quinces of each two ounces take the quantity of a Chesnut three times a day morning at four a clock afternoon and at going to bed Hang an Aegle stone Jasper or Smaragds stone about the neck or a piece of Coral in Tiffany make a Plaister with those salves called viz. Emp. pro Matrice Contra Rupturum of each alike and apply it to the region of the share and loins and to the end that the woman may receive good and benefit she must rest her self and keep her self as quiet as possible she can both in her body and mind also she must abstain from genital imbracements c. Moreover this I have observed that by the best and highest graduated means that could be gotten sometimes miscarriage will not be prevented without blood-letting therefore sometimes to some persons to prevent from this evil blood-letting is absolutely necessary yet I dare not say but I have holpen many without bleeding by some secret Arcanums and specifical medicines safe to be taken that my industry in the Art of Chymistry hath made me master of God blessing my endeavours But thirdly of hard child-birth Hard travel in child bearing is such as keep not the due and ordinary laws of nature taking up longer time than ordinary and accompanied with more vehement pains than are usual and other more grievous symptoms Signs Hard travel is known both by the childing woman and by the assistants but especially by the Midwife 1. If the woman continue longer time than ordinary in labour as two three four or more days whereas a truly natural child-birth ought to be accomplished within the space of twelve or twenty four hours at farthest 2. It s a sign of a hard labour if the womans pains be weak and are long before they return and that more especially if her pains be more about her back than privities 3. If the woman be weak and the child weak moving slowly or be either too fat or too lean usually there are hard labours or be crooked also 4. Sometimes hard labour is occasioned by the diseases of the womb 5. Sometimes from the greatness and false situation of the child and 6. Sometimes also hard labour may be guessed at if the water flow from the woman or part of it before its true time which ought but immediately to proceede the birth for this signifies that the after-birth is stronger than ordinary which can hardly be broken c. Cure In pity to poor women in this case though occasioned by sin I shall lay down some choice and excellent observations and medicines in order for their good not at this time at all medling with any directions to or manual operation of the Midwife The observations are these 1. Let the woman lay off all her rings yea and those that are about her also 2. Let her forbear eating any thing that is astringent or binding especially at that time 3. Let her endeavour to be as chearful and lively as possible she may for sleepiness and sottishness do slacken the endeavours both of mother and child 4. Let her also keep her mind free from fear passion sadness anger wroth c. 5. Let her have a Midwife of whom she hath a good conceit and let no woman be about her that there is the least cause or suspicion of prejudice or non-affection 6. Let her not stir unseasonably nor agitate or move to and from unduly fearing it may prevent the child issuing in a fitting posture 7. Let her have her husband if she require or desire it to come into the room to her as often as the man may be rightly constituted and the nature of the work will permit I do not know whether a man kissing his wife at that time have any vertue in it or no but this I know for a certain truth that many good women some I could name have suffered abundantly in this case yea and some so much that their lives have been lost thereby for being denied this priviledge they dying if not undelivered yet not till all is gone and spent that should afterward revive and comfort her and she nearer to the grave than a bed I lay down this the rather because there hath been such evident good success upon the mans presence in several deliveries even immediately that it 's a pity it is not if serviceable to the woman wisely and discreetly put in practice no oftner And besides because I know no substantial reason or ground either from Scripture History nor nature why a man rightly and duly qualified should not have and injoy that priviledge at convenient seasons to visit his wife as in any other dangerous sickness or distemper Weigh what I say well before you judge 8. Let her keep her breath and retain her strength till the right and true time of travel comes This I intimate because there have been many I have known some that have suffered upon this account especially young women who think they are bound and that it is their wisdom to do as the good wives bid them and its common amongst them though but stragling degenerate and wild pains to bid them stop their mouths hold their breath and strain downwards whereas indeed such pains should be let pass without such observation and the woman not put to spend her spirits and strength till it may do her good viz. when the water is complete and judged ready to or hath broke then let her strive and strain what she is able and not before fearing if she do when that time comes her strength and spirits may be impaired and for want thereof the child may not immediately follow the water and
hands in order by Gods blessing to cure the most inveterate diseases which probably might have been also communicated only chymical operation is required in most of them 4. To further your ability to do Only to know is not so commendable nor so sufficient as to do also in order thereunto I humbly offer you supplies to help you 1. To compound medicines 2. To direct medicines 3. So supply others with medicines 1. In order to help you in the composition of medicines I do not only tell you such a Mineral such a Vegetable such an Animal is good for such and such a disease but I discover unto you how they must be ordered compounded or mixed and with what and when as also the several quantities both of the one and the other that so the medicine may not be defective but compleat to all intents and purposes whereunto a medicine is applyed or administred 2. In order to help you to a direct medicine It would be little or no advantage especially in some particular medicines for you to understand the making of such and such a good medicine if withall you were not able to give directions as to the taking of the same as what dose must be given what time it must be given and how it must vary at what time in what disease or to what person with the observations that ought to be both before and after the takeing thereof therefore in this regard also I have not been wanting but have annexed to the receipts what ought in order to their taking be observed or taken notice of 3. In order to supply others with medicines besides the delight that most Ladies and Gentlewomen have in looking into Physick and medicines I doubt not but also charity is as a spur unto many that so they may not do something to please their senses only and in some measure serve themselves but to to help and redress the griefs and maladies of their poor neighbours which are not able to help themselves other ways Those noble spirits may here be further furnished in order to such a good work which to provoke unto if my small mite shall be found concerned and they receive good thereby I should be glad and rejoyce Thus courteous Ladies and Gentlewomen I have in a plain stile without Eloquence or Complement that not becoming such a work Apologized unto you it is all I shall say in the case at this time only I beseech you to pardon me in respect to the subject being necessary weighty inrespect to the method being easie though plain in respect of the language being as sober as the case would allow in respect of the brevity being full though short in some particulars and to accept of the pains of him who as now in this case so at all times and in all cases is ready to assist and serve you In testimony of which I subscribe my self Your humble Servant and ready helper in time of need N. S. WOMENS DISEASES DISCOVERED AND Their CURE offered GOD was wonderful in the Creation but most wonderful in the Creation of Man and out of him Woman Man being the most curious piece and woman no way inferiour in that being made compleat like unto man save only with some difference in both respecting generation which parts in women as they are distinct and peculiar so they are accompanied with distinct and peculiar diseases of which I treat And those are called womens discases which come from the defect of that part distinct from men viz. the Womb the Mother or Matrix which was appointed by God to be the field of Nature to receive the seed of man and woman for the procreation and continuation of mankind the parts of it are two Os uteri the mouth and fundus the bottom of the womb In figure it 's like a pear or Cupping-glass having no distinct cell as the womb of beasts have It is framed of two membrances the external springeth from the Perisonleum the internal is full of small holes where the womb covers the Intestinum rectum and by those small holes the course or menstrual blood issueth For noâ—tishment it hath both veins and arteries springing from the Vasa preparantia ramus hypogastricus and from Hâ—pâ—gastricae The sinews appertaining to 〈…〉 from the sixth conjugation and are small It hath also four Ligaments 〈◊〉 above and two below the two uppermost are loose and soft that they might admit dilatation with the womb when a woman is with child or constriction when she is not The two lowermost are nervious round and hollow and go down to the groyn by the production of the Peritonceum fortified by the Glandules and this causeth that pain that women sometimes feel after conception in the inside of the thigh And by these vessels arteries veins and nerves the womb hath consent with all the rest of the body occasioning as Democrâ—â—us to Hippocrates by letter signifies six hundred miseries and innumerable calamities of which we shall briefly treat passing what might be said concerning the adjuncts viz. Cunnuâ— Testicles or stones of women they having such things as well as men only differing in situation quantity frame substance temperature c. Having therefore given you a definition of the womb I know it is needless to tell you the place or situation of it all knowing that I come now to speak of its diseases and cures Observe therefore with me a threefold division of the womb viz. The Vessels Body of the womb or cavity Parts serving for the noblest act of generation Each of these three have their several diseases First From the distemper of the vessels of the womb and the preternatural causes Come 1. Chlorosis or Green-sickness 2. Stoppage of the Courses 3. Immoderateness thereof 4. The Whites 5. Rage or madness of the womb 6. The Mother fits Secondly In the body or cavity of the Womb are 1. Inflamations 2. Ulcers 3. Scyrrhus 4. Cancer 5. Gangrene 6. Dropsie 7. Falling down 8. Shutting up thereof These hindring generation but by accident Thirdly The diseases which are in respect of conception generation breeding and bringing forth are 1. Barrenness 2. Acute and chronical diseases of women with child 3. Abortion or miscarriage 4. Difficult bringing forth 5. A dead child 6. Secundine or after-birth retained 7. Immoderate flux-blood 8. Suppression of blood 9. Acute diseases of women in child-bed Of all which in order and as plain and brief as may be only I must premise three things First that you may not expect to have me so large as to give you an account of these diseases in a general way as their differences causes signes prognosticks c. only the definition of the disease the signes and cures thereof and that the most principal thereby informing your judgements as to do your selves right which is the end of my writing Secondly That you may not expect this Book to be stuffed with multiplicity of receipts or needless medicines but the
are free from them more or less Signs are needless be felt sufficiently and demonstration thereof from the women Cure According to Authors ought to be varied according to those several causes producing this troublesome affliction and therefore say they sometimes these gripings come from plenty of blood its thickness sharpness too much clotted and the narrowness of the vessel through which it is to pass forth the womb endeavouring new expulsion stirreth up pain Furthermore they say these gripings are caused by winds or by cold received into the womb and sometimes gripings be caused by a sharp cholerick humor each of which requiring a different cure I am not here to dispute with Authority as to the causes of these gripings only this I do conceive that the ill affection of the Archeus of those parts at that time ushers in both the cause and the effect so that one only medicine as I have several times proved upon different constitutions and parties hath been sufficient to remove and that suddenly those troublesome pains by Gods blessing but that medicine being of a Chymical preparation it would signifie nothing unless to the Sons of Art to whom I write not now however that I may not leave you destitute no more in this than in other cases I shall give you a receipt or two which have been found to many of force and efficacy in this case and indeed are pertinent thereunto Having given her therefore oil of sweet Almonds new drawn three ounces with one ounce and an half of syrup of Violets And administred a Glister made with milk Camomil flowers and the yolks of eggs let her take of this powder viz. Take Date and Peach kernels of each half a dram Nutmegs four scruples powder of Dâ—amargaritum Calidum two drams Aniseed one dram Cinnamon two scruples Saffron ten grains Sugar the weight of all the rest make all into a very fine powder and give thereof in wine twice or thrice a day two drams at a time Anointing her belly two or three times with oil of Dill Camomil and Rue of each alike doing of it so that no cold may be taken 9. Of acute diseases of women in child-bed What we said before touching the acute diseases of women with child we may now repeat touching the acute diseases of women in child-bed being of the same essence and signs with the like diseases in women which are not with child Now those acute diseases are for the most part continual feavers both essential and also symptomical which accompany inward inflamations c. Yet there is a peculiar sort of feaver which almost befalls all women in child-bed which is called by them the feaver of their milk which is wont to befall them about the third or fourth day after they are brought to bed when the milk begins to encrease in their breast and for the satisfaction of those who know not and desire to know It ariseth from the reflux of blood from the womb to the dugs and the motion and agitation thereof which kind of feaver needs not any medicine because usually within three or four days viz. about the ninth day after her delivery it is finished by sweat and from this consideration it is that I always where it may be perswade all women in this case never to rise till the tenth day after being brought to bed danger then being over As for signs and cures as to this head the one is needless being the same with other persons and the other being dangerous and the hourly advice especially in some cases and attendance of the Doctor needful together with those various symptoms that do arise you may not expect from me here not but that I am willing to direct but the consequences ensuing diseases in this case administrations being not legal are so dangerous and pernicious that if I did subscribe in that nature yet it must be with no encouragement to the use of them without advice for these and such like reasons I forbear intimating any remedies in this case and you may not blame me remembring that sins of omission are less than sins of commission yet that you may see I am willing to enlighten your judgment and inform you as far as I may accept and seriously view these few and weighty observations An acute disease befals a child-bed woman either in the beginning or in the middle or in the end of her lying in Now mark If it happen in the beginning and the woman be plentifully purged there must be no other evacuation blood-letting is forbid Nature being rightly and conveniently about her operations But if the child-bed purgations be suppressed or flow sparingly if there be necessary occasion the inferior veins may be opened and a pretty good quantity of blood taken away because at that time the child-bed purgations of blood ought by the appointment of nature to be plentiful Next If an acute disease happen in the middle time of her lying in there is to be considered whether the Morbifick matter be contained in one particular place or whether it be dispersed through the veins and whether the woman hath been conveniently purged or not in regard of quantity If the disease proceed from matter scattered abroad as in feavers and the woman not fully purged the lower veins may be opened having two good indications one is the Morbifick matter will thereby be diminished and the other is her natural flux or purgations provoked But if the woman have been sufficiently purged yet if the disease get ground and the natural evacuation be not sufficient for the disease the inferior veins must be opened notwithstanding and so much blood must be taken away as is convenient and the disease may require And so the further from her delivery or the more dayes or weeks from her labour if there be a necessity from any diseases or feavers either essential or symptomical the more boldness may be in bleeding and that especially if the patient be surprized with any particular acute disease as the Plurifie Inflamation of the Lungs Quinzy and the like and so much concerning blood-letting to women in child-bed The next observations will be concerning Purging comprehended in these following maxims While the child-bed purgations do naturally flow a purge is never to be administred fearing a diverting of nature from her business But if the child bed purgations be not kindly consider whether their fault consist in quantity or quality If they offend in quantity so as to be too little the woman being not purged sufficiently or not at all as it were After all other remedies fit to procure these purgations have been given in vain and the Morbifick matter appear digested ten or twelve dayes being past since her being brought to bed according to the more or less urgency of the disease she may be purged gently but no strong Physick must be given her If her child-bed purgations offend only in quality so that a white flux or some other
Pensiveness and sadness 6. Several pains as the Head Heart c. Cure Omitting Blood-letting in this case the first thing is to cleanse the body of the peccant humors and therefore give this following Vomit in the first place viz. Infusion of Crocus Metallorum one ounce Syrup of Squils half an ounce mixed and give it in a morning fasting blood-warm give Posset and keep warm after it c. The next day save one take this Purge Rosin of Jalap ten grains Cinnamon in fine powder half a scruple mix them and take it in a little Chicken broth and drink of the broth afterwards take it in a morning After this all those things spoke of in the immoderate flux of the Courses may be given unto which I shall only adde a decoction made with Lig. vita Sassafras China and red Rose-leaves sweetned with syrup of Coral Quinces or Spearmint of which let her take daily half a pint for a moneth together But possible some good woman or other may judge my pains in this disease might have been spared many having had it for many years without hurt or danger to such I would say not without dammage for though in one respect this disease may be called good because not attended with danger of Death yet observe it may be accounted bad yea a very bad and stubborn disease forasmuch as the flux of evill humors having once taken this course is very hardly turned out of its channel because the womb is the draught of the whole body so that if this infirmity get head it may and commonly doth bring many other Evils upon the Patient viz. 1. Barrenness 2. Falling down of the womb 3. Exulceration 4. Cachexia or evil habit of body 5. Dropsie 6. Consumption c. And therefore having those Evils attending it I think it concerns me to endeavour to remove it as other diseases to which purpose I have as for the rest made provision of other things if those directed to shall fail And so I pass to the next and that is Rage or Madness from the Womb. Womb-fery is a sort of madness arising from abundance of Seed being Acrimonious and hot transcending the bounds of Nature thereby causing a vehement and unbridled desire of carnal imbracement which desire dethrones the rational faculty so far that the Patient utters wanton and lascivious Speeches c. Signs may easily be gathered by what is said but because it is wont to discover it self gradually by little and little I shall briefly relate its progress in the beginning whilst the party injoys their understanding they are more sad and silent than ordinary but sometimes with a wanton rowling eye and ruddy countenance especially when mention is made of matters belonging to bodily lust for then both Breath and Pulse changeth which hath occasioned sometimes some whispers from me to compose themselves to some inclinable to this infirmity Afterwards when the disease is exasperated they begin to scold weep and ever and anon to fall out laughing they speak many things without time and reason out of which no certain sign can be gathered A while after they repent of their solly until another fit take them by reason of the inordinate motion of the peccant matter which observes no certain period in its fermentation c. Cure The cure of this disease tends to correct the hot distemper of the bowels especially of the womb and the blood and seed likewise to evacuate the sharp humors and seminal matter offending In order thereto let blood pretty plentyfully and reiterate the same if the person be plethorick or abounding with blood then give this Purge Take of the Pill Lapis Lazuli half a dram oyl of Amber mixed therewith four drops make it into several Pills and take them in a morning fasting drinking Posset-drink after it according as usually is done in taking Physick give this twice a week for a moneth together and in the mean time let the party take of this following Electuary twice a day when she takes no Pills viz. Take Conserve of the flowers of Water-Lillies Violets and Agnus Castus of each one ounce Conserve of Roses and Lettice of each two ounces Coral prepared half an ounce Syrup of Violets enough to make it into a body Whey drunk often and plentifully is good in this disease and Issues made in the thighs and legs But in regard of the immediate cause seeing the evacuation of the sharp and corrupted seed may cure this disease my further advice is that at the beginning of the disease before the Patient begins manifestly to rave or in the space between her fits when she is pretty well to marry her for so the womb being satisfied and the offensive matter contained in its Vessels being emptied the Patient may peradventure be cured but if the party cannot so conveniently be married or her condition bare not that estate all lawful means must be used by rubbing or tickling by a skilful Midwife that so an evacuation of the over abounding Sperm may be And if still this disease continue you may understand other things are to be done with expedition and therefore as for others so for this I am not with some secret Arcanums and Specifical medicines tryed and experienced to several effectually to my content as well as those concerned both in mony Credit and Honour few reaching this disease but my self as well as the other madness which men also are liable to c. But then next Is the Mother-fits or Womb-sickness When seed and menstrual blood are retained in women besides the intent of nature they putrifie corrupt and attain a venomous quallity from which according to Galens Doctrine vapours are elevated and carried to divers parts of the body occasiâ—ning several Symptoms the chief going under the name of Mother-fits the womb sometimes being elevated also The signs such as shew the disease approaching and such as shew the disease strengthned 1. Signs that shew the disease approaching are these 1. A noise in their lower belly 2. Belching or inclination to Vomit 3. Wearinesses yawnings and stretchings 4. A sad look pale face Secondly Signs of the disease strengthned 1. A sense of strangling as if they had swallowed a great morsel and it stuck in their throat 2. Stoppage of breath and suffocation increased 3. In conclusion all their vital and animal actions are deprived diminished or abâ—â—â—â—d 4. And from hence springs Ravings Convulsions and other grievous symptoms but this disease being pretty well known by almost every old woman I shall say no more as to the signs but come to the Cure which is double 1. In the Fit 2. Out of the Fit Cure In the fit those vapouts which cause it are to be discussed and drawn back from the part affected the humors contained in the womb which send up these vapours it would be well if we knew which way must be voided and the womb if removed out of its proper seat restored to the same again In
unnatural colour do proceed from her the matter being ripe she may in the latter part of her lying in be safely and advantageously be purged But this must ever be minded and observed that by how much the longer a childing woman is distant from the day of her bringing to bed by so much the more safely as in bleeding may she be purged and so contrary wise For experience hath taught us that women wanting their child-bed purgations if after the seventh or ninth day they are taken with a looseness they commonly escape but if the looseness seize upon them the first day viz. on the second third or fourth for the most part they die and that is all I shall offer in observation concerning those two great evacuations bleeding and purging and so end my discourse only for the better direction of women or nurses in order to inform the Physician in the necessary point of time or knowledge of the disease first seizing the party I shall briefly answer this acute and difficult question Quest Whether the computation of the dayes of the womans sickness ought to be made from the beginning of her disease or from the day in which she is delivered of her child Ans If the birth of the child were natural attended with no grievous symptoms and the child-bed purgations were as they should be and the feaver comes some dayes after the account ought not to be made from the day of the childs birth but from the day the feaver began which was provoked by some other preternatural cause viz. Evil humors lurking within the body or from some external cause But if the child-birth were hard and besides the course of nature and the feaver arose after three or four days we must reckon from the day of the childs-birth because then the whole order of the body began to be overthrown and the humors to be disturbed which was followed by the feaver c. And thus have I finished my treating of womens diseases by Gods blessing whom I pray that these my plain lines may be as candidly received and practised as I in love tendred and offered them that he may have honour and glory by this work both by the writer and reader hereof Unto the latter of which I further address my self in order to their information that I assume the cure of all diseases curable in men or women of all such diseases they are incident to as well as men besides these treated of before and children with six sorts of medicines and no more for all ages constitutions and complexions only the Dose variable The possibility and compleatness of it by reason of those multitude of medicines that are now in use may seem strange to most but to those that understand nature 't is casie and wisdom to agree and consent to such doctrine or truths And that the world may comprehend and imbrace this truth I am now as treating of the medicines so of the possibility and real truth thereof nay further that the best speedy furest and safest way of curing diseases is with a few good medicines and not many compositions but of these things else where Only here take the names and operations of these medicines and so I proceed a little to shew the errors of women in many things appertaining to Physick having finished their diseases curable by Physick These six sorts of medicines are called and their operation is as followeth 1. Pul. Febrifuga Whose operation is chiefly by vomit and sweat the principal medicine for Agues The first inventor thereof Riverlus Physician to the present King of France 2. Ext. Magistrali Whose operation is chiefly by stool 3. Pil. Nigra Whose operation is chiefly by sweating 4. Tinct Sividalis Whose operation is chiefly by urine 5. Laudanum Astringentum Whose operation is chiefly binding the body And 6. Elix Cordialis Whose operation is chiefly to comfort refresh and strengthen both vital natural and animal spirits and all the sunctions of nature being temperate in quality sublime in operation and penetrating in working Now I would have any one shew me such a disease unto which as proper remedies either more or fewer of these medicines may not be administred successefully if they can And that each of them are universal in their classes or their kind I shall sufficiently prove else where Besides these and so I tell you all the chief medicines that I am or desire to be master of except some secret Aroanums and specifical medicines proper only for women before mentioned I have a noble and precious Liquor which I call viam vitae in order to the preservation of health and so consequently a prolongation of life fitted for all Ages Sexes and constitutions and no doubt but happy will those be that use the same with prayer and supplication in the concernments of their bodily or healthful state it being also in this great time of Contagion experienced to be of great force in the preservation and cure of the Plague But this by way of digression yet I hope not altogether unsuitable nor impertinent I come now according to promise looking upon this equally necessary with the other to refute some errors commonly imbraced as truth amongst some women yea by some men also concerning the subject that I am upon And herein you may not think that I will undertake the confutation of all but only of those which I judge most pernicious and rediculous and they are these 1. Some are of the opinion that the Sex and whether a woman be with child or no may be known barely by the urine 2. Some also are of the opinion that the husband breeds his wives child 3. Some are opinion that it is hurtful for the sick to change his linnen very often 4. Some are of the opinion that nothing but hot drinks are to be given to a woman in child-bed 5. Some are of opinion that medicines Chymically prepared are dangerous 6. Some are of the opinion that bleeding and purging are hurtful for women with child 7. Some are of opinion that Gold boiled in broths is a great cordial and good for Consumptions 8. Some have wrong opinions about their choice of Nurses c. A refutation I intend of all these read them soberly judge them wisely and practice conscionably 1. Some are of the opinion that the Sex and whether a woman be with child or no can barely be known by the urine This is a great error and mistake in women notwithstanding I know it is common especially in the latter case for women to send their waters to the Doctors on purpose But that neither the sex nor gravidity can be discerned and discovered barely by the urine I will demonstrate 1. Concerning the sex indeed the urine of a young man an old man a man a woman be different each from other but mark it is only in colour consistance which seeing they may be changed by divers other causes it will not properly shew
whether it be mans or womans for a cholerick woman after exercise and the use of hot meats will make higher coloured urine than a flegmatick man moreover she which hath a feaver or some other disease without doubt changes her urine in some respects according to the nature of the disease how is it then possible for to discover sex by the urine I must be brief but consider what is said and it is sufficient to convince that there is no certainty in it and it is but rashness for any to pronounce or others to expect any such thing by the urine 2. Concerning women with child I would not have you think but that my pains to discover the same by urine hath not been wanting but much and that I am not without those observations and tokens left by Authors to posterity but never yet could I answer my own desires herein yet I have several times divined by urine women to be with child and so it sell out but I must say that what I said nay further what ever any say in this case was and is but conjectural and there is no certainty nor knowledge thereof in urine which I demonstrate thus Although most times and in most persons with child the urine is altered indeed either in one respect or other yet we are to understand that the urine is not changed by the gravidity it self but only by the suppression of the courses which as it cannot be denyed may alter the urine by the reflux of blood and excrements into the veins But that same change of urine may appear in maids by the stopping of their courses yea or in other diseases that arise from the like suppression as also in obstructions of other internal parts so that urine will manifest here no proper or peculiar thing besides if the woman with child be sick the urine may be so changed by the violence of the disease that all the signs of being with child if there were any would be obliterate Certainly if such a thing could have been those famous Physicians whose works are the dictators to all pis Prophets would never have been deceived in their own wives in this case of being with child till it evidently appeared by the infants motion as they have left for the observation of Posterity however in other things the fathers of pis Lectures Now I know many will say I have carried mine and others waters and such and such a Doctor hath told me right and he can tell To this I only say so can and do I often but this I say it cannot barely be done by urine as before demonstrated and what other ways we have to conjecture by in such cases I would freely discover only fearing that the times and seasons for the discovery of such things are not yet come 2. Some are of the opinion that the Husband breeds his wives child a common error This is an error common only to England for ought ever I could read or understand and of all errors this seems most worthy to be laughed at that the husband should be thought to be sick and troubled with the same symptoms wherewith a woman with child is wont having not the same cause to procure it It is true women with child in the first moneth of their conception are wont to be troubled with very many and sundry symproms especially Cacochymick and impure bodies but observe this is not without some cause which usually is from the retention of the courses for seeing nature is wont to use that flux not only for the purging out of superfluous blood but of corrupt and vicious humors also such blood being retent and kept in they are likewise retained and that blood retained by reason of the smallness of the young one in the beginning of her gravidity is not all spent for the nourishment thereof doth putrifie and hath recourse either to the noble parts or at least anoys them with filthy vapors which it sends forth from whence arise the foresaid symptoms in the stomach intrails belly head and the whole body as vomiting loathing of meat unsatiable longing and lusting gripings dizziness of the head and such like seeing therefore the husband hath not in him the causes of these effects but his wife only it stands with reason that she only should be sick what if the husband be sick when his wife breeds a child I hope it is not a Contagious disease he is not infected by his wife no that distemper may happen through some default of his own body Indeed it is no new thing for husbands and wives to be sick together but it is a wonder and hitherto a thing unknown that gravidity or a womans being with child is a Contagious or catching disease and that not other women but men only whom nature hath freed from this kind of travel should be infected therewith Besides it is observed that the symptoms do not happen to all women or at least not all to every one and yet it often falls out that when the woman is in good health the husband is sick yea sometimes being many miles off but if he induce that by his wives being with child how comes it to pass that she continues well at the same time for observe this maxime in Philosophy That natural causes do sooner work upon the near than upon the remote subject And for that cause seeing the woman carries about her such noxious humors she should be sooner yea and more grievously sick I know something might be said of simpathy antipathy contagion fascination and such like trifles but if these things be so I Query why do not maids and widdows who are very often troubled with the like symptoms through suppression of their courses infect their bed-fellows and familiars seeing there is the same cause and sympathy with some of them But note and in this maxime I shew you one great natural cause why many being with and in the houses of those infected of the Plague this great Visitation and yet escaped themselves alone To cause a contagion Not only the efficacy of the agent but also a disposition and analogy in the patient is requisite I shall say no more in this case because by the very relating of it the absurdity of this error doth appear 3. Some are of the opinion that it is hurtful to change the linnen very often in time of sickness This error seems to me to spread most amongst the common people for they think that the sick by changing their linnen are weakned and enfeebled thereby which indeed is not true for it doth rather strengthen them and revive them only great care must be had in changing of the linnen that the party catch no cold for by long keeping of their linnen there are three inconveniencies do happen to the sick viz. 1. The transpiration of the body is hindred 2. Sweat and filth are kept in their shirts which do putrifie and contract an ill savour 3. The