seldome faileth in its operation Two scruples of boiled Rubarb A scruple of Citron myrobalans Halfe an ounce of syrup of Quinces Two ounces and a halfe of Plantane water Mingle them and let her drink it Divers Authors as Rondeletius Hollerius Amatus Lusitanus and others condemn the boiling of Rubarb and the reason is this as things say they become more milde and weake in their operations when they have past the fire so those things which are gentle become more vehement having acquired a new kinde of faculty by the force of the fire this I grant most willingly but in the meane time they purge lesse and binde more which we desire and as for any corrupt quality which the power of the fire may have contributed to it that is easily washt away by the help of Plantane water or the juice of Quinces if you demand whither this humour should be prepared I answer evacuate it without any delay for you must not expect or wait the concoction thereof Binding Glysters will be very usefull you may make them after this manner Take foure drams of the roots of Consolida major The leaves of plantane and horsetayle of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of red Roses Two drams of shaled Pease Boile them in a sufficient quantity of plantane water to nine ounces to the strained liquor add a dram of the Trochischs de Carabe two ounces of syrup of Roses made with dried Roses The whites of two Eggs. Mingle them and make a glyster Or Take foure drams of the greater Comphrey roots The leaves of knotgrasss and plantane of each a handfull As many red Roses as your thumb and two fingers can take up Sumach and Quince seeds of each two drams Three drams of barley parched and beaten to a grosse powder Boile them in a sufficient quantity of plantane water to nine ounces To the strained liquor add two ounces of syrup of Myrtles A dram of terra sigillata Mingle them and make a glyster After these glysters are injected anoint the Matrix with astringent oyntments Take as many plantane leaves as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice Red Roses Mulberry leaves Oake leaves of each halfe the quantity aforesaid A dram of Sumach seeds Boile them gently in foure pints of oyle of Quinces Straine and presse the liquor hard and then put in True Bolearmanick Trochischs de Carabe of each a dram With a sufficient quantity of white wax make a soft oyntment according to art or Take two ounces of unguentum Comitisse Oyle of myrtles and oyle of quinces of each two drams Mingle them and make a liniment You must likewise bath the Matrix with fomentations made after this manner Take the leaves of plantane Knotgrasse Oake leaves Red Roses of each a handfull The seeds of plantane Sumach Quinces of each three drams Boile them in a sufficient quantity of red wine or water wherein steele hath been quenched to three pints use the strained liquor as was said above That which remaines after the straining may be kept for a Poultis unto which you may add oyle of quinces and unguentum Comitisse of each two ounces and mingling them together you have an excellent Poultis But if the disease yield not to these Remedies you may exhibit half a dram of new Treacle or Philonium Persicum or a scruple of the masse of Pils de Cynoglossa if the Patient incline to a Consumption give her Cowes milk prepared rightly with steele to drink in a morning fasting if the evill still persevere and you suspect the heat of the Liver to be the Cause of the disease make an issue in her leg that the Liver may exhale at that vent and the other bowells may evaporate or else let her goe into a Bath the waters whereof run from an iron Mine for these naturally binde and thicken CHAP. IV. Of the coming away of the Courses by Drops of the vehement Symptomes thereof and of the Whites AS the urine irritates the expulsive faculty so many times doth the Menstruum for as that when it is too hot doth prick burn and is frequently pist out so the Menstruum being vehemently hot doth cause an itch and an irritation and produceth a Disease which the Doctours call Stillicidium Vterinum which we may english to be a coming away of the Courses by drops The Disease proceeds from the same Causes as doth the immoderate flowing of the Courses therefore the same Remedies will be also proper to overcome them yet in this present cure you need not prescribe so many Remedies nor so often When any notable Symptomes accompanie this Disease as a vehement burning torments in the Matrix a paine about the secret parts it is called the Stillicide or Dropping of the Matrix from a sharp humour arising through the hot distemper of the Liver and the Kidneys and whereas it takes beginning from a hot distemper from whence sharpe hot and fiery humours are generated your Method must be first to root out the Cause and then to cure the distemper wherefore her body must be cooled her bloud must be thickned and the Flux must be drawn back to the upper parts this is done by a coole Ayre by giving her whey to drinke wherein steele hath been often quenched and lastly you may prescribe for her the cold thickning Dyet which we have set down above You may let her bloud in both armes and appoint the opening of the veine called Salvatella Leeches must be applied to the Hemorrhoids that the adust and melancholly bloud may be drawn out Purge her often with Rubarb and Cassia Syrupe of Violets Citron Myrobalaus Manna Tamarinds Diaprun simpl and the like Simples which gently bring away choler Cooling and thickning Juleps will be very necessary which you may make after this manner Take twelve ounces of plantane water Foure ounces of Rose water Two ounces of Syrupe of the juice of Quinces Mingle them and make a Julep or Take the waters of Plantane Purselane of each eight ounces Syrup of Poppy Syrupe of râ—stharrow of each an ounce and a half Mingle them and make a Julep If the chiefest fault lie in the Kidneys Take ten ounces of Bean water distilled The waters of Plantane Mallowes of each two ounces Syrupe of Myrtles Syrupe of Poppy of each an ounce A scruple and a halfe of Lapis Prunelle Mingle them and make a Julep But note if the Patient have a hot Liver and a cold stomack it will be convenient to lessen the quantity of the distilled mallow water or to prescribe an equall part of Rose water the vertue whereof strengthens the inward parts Baths made with binding Simples are highly profitable in this Disease for they doe not onely attemper the sharpnesse of the humours but they drive the humours to the outward parts and so defend and fortifie the Matrix from that annoyance which they threatned unto it and in a while the Flux is stayed Whey although it be Diureticall and
in their Matrices doe frequently fall into the Falling Sicknesse This is easily known for imminent windie humours and rumblings in her belly doe presage it her stomack swells her mind is confused her eyes are dim and when she is ready to fall into a fit of the Epilepsie or Falling Sicknesse she may perceive a tingling noyse in her eares a giddinesse circumagitation or turning round in her head she is sad in her minde disquieted in her body troubled with the passion of the heart and not seldome with sounding fits 't is a sad spectacle to behold her in this condition from which if she be not seasonably delivered she is very likely to fall into an Apoplexy this we have learn't from Galen who in his third book de Locis and 5. chapt saith Epilepticks doe often degenerate into a melancholy madnesse and so on the contrary for this melancholy mood turnes to the Falling Sicknesse when the humour invades either the body or the minde or if that darke vapour becloud the minde inducing a dimnesse or gloominesse in the thoughts with sadnesse despaire and deep melancholy if the spirits which are bright and cleare in their own nature be obscured with the foggy commerce of black vapours the very presence of them dismayeth terrifies and discomposeth the minde or if a confluence of those vapours assault the body that is the braine and the nerves they produce the Falling Sicknesse This requires a twofold cure one in the Fit the other after the Fit In the Fit you must quicken and excite the animall faculty and force back those poisonous vapours that are stealing from the Matrix to invade the upper â—parts then the winde must be expelled the wayes kept open and the thick humour must be got out of the body by rubbing the parts by tying straight ligatures about her legs by fomentations and baths made with the leaves of penniroyall motherwort thyâ—ne nip camomile salt vinegar and water softning Glysters are so usefull that you must not forget to inject them you may make them thus Take the leaves of motherwort Penniroyall Birthwort of each a handfull Rosemary Mint of each a handfull Two drams of fennill seedâ— Boile them in a sufficient quantity of water to nine ounces straine and presse out the liquor and then add Hiera picra Galeni Diapâ—enicon of each an ounce A dram of sal gemme Mingle them and make a glyster or Take the roots of Elecampane Restharrow of each foure drams The leaves of Marjoram Motherwort Birthwort of each a handfull The tops of Dill Camomile Flowers of each halfe a handfull Two drams of Annise seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water to nine ounces to the liquor which you presse out add An ounce and a halfe of Diaphenicon Mass pill fetidaâ— De heira cum Agarico of each two scruples Oyle of Dill Camamile Butter of each halfe an ounce Mingle them and make a glyster If necessitie urge you and the strength of the Patient will beare it you may prescribe a sharper glyster to draw the humours from the farthest distant parts and to imitate the nature and effects of a Purge be this for an example to you Take half an ounce of Polypody roots Two drams of Mechoaca The leaves of Sage Rosemary Betony of each a handfull Halfe an ounce of bastard Saffron seeds Two drams of Agarick As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers Boile them in a sufficient quantity of honied water to ten ounces straine and preâ—â—e out the liquor and add An ounce of Hiera Logodii A dram of the Masse of Pills of Cochia Ten graines of Troch Alhandal Half a dram of sal gemme Mingle them and make a glyster For this being a most acute Disease requires the utmost tryalls of art that it may not degenerate as it is very prone to doe into a true Apoplexy To the Matrix to make a sudden dispatch of the Cure apply Carminitive fomentations and bath the privie parts to break and expell the winde After the use of the Fomentation apply oyle of Castor oyle of wormewood and inâ—ect odoriferous Pessaries of musk amber Civet made up with gallia Moschat and a piece of Cotton according to the secret rules of Art to the nose you must hold stinking things as sagapenum galbanum assa fetida Castor rue and the like When the Fit is approaching Hippoâ—rates adviseth to open a veine in the Ankle and this advice is magnified and aplauded by Galen in his book de Rigore Chapt. 8. neither may you forget to apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoids or the calfes of her legs for they will suck out the feculent and dreggish humour that is impacted in the Matrix Cordialls must be administred as Treacle Mithridate Alkermes Confection de Hyacyntha and the like or if you please compound them after this manner Take the hoofe of an Elk. The wood of Misletoe of the Oake of each two drams The skull of a man newly dead of some violent death Hartsâ—orne of each two drams Pearle prepared Burnt Ivory Mastick of each a dram and a half The powder of Rosemary Stechas Sage of each a scruple The species Diacastor Diaccumin of each a scruple With a sufficient quantitie of honey of roses and Syrupe of Stechas make a mixture If the Disease become againe indigested and crude prescribe another Purge of Aloes Hiera Picra Benedicta Laxativa or Turbith but that the ignorant may not be rashly precipitated into some erroneous composition we shall limit him to this prescription Take two scruples of the masse of Pills de Hiera cum agarico Ten graines of pill faetidae Troch Alhandal Diagrydium of each five graines With a sufficient quantity of Syrupe of Stechas make nine Pills Sometimes the retention of the Seed is the Cause of these Symptomes which if they be so vehement that the former remedies cannot tame them proceed as followeth Take Storax in powder Aloes in powder White agarick of each two drams The juice of the hearb Mercury The juice of the wild Cucumber of each three drams A sufficient quantity of Turpentine With a piece of Cotton make a pessary according to art put it up and move it up and down till the superfluous seed be ejaculated If the â—ick woman have many Fits in a day certaine it is that the disease is fixt and rooted in the Head wherefore in such cases I have known no better remedy then an actuall cauterizing in the hinder part of the head from whence as from an Issue that virulent and luxuriant humour which is the cause of this most dangerous disease may at last have a vent In the intermission of the Fits you musâ— open a vein in her Ankle this is not my counsell onely but Galen enjoynes the same remedy for in his book de Cur. ration peâ— sang missionem he saith if you will prevent the Falling Sicknesse cut the Scyrhenâ— that is the veine in the Ankle afterward
Apozem Every other morning let her have foure ounces of it fasting If all these things prove ineffectuall infuse a whole night six graines of Antimony in wine and let her drinke it if her body be strong enough to abide the conflict of the medicine for besides that it draws back the humours from the Matrix by provoking to Vomit it likewise purgeth away by stool that tenacious phlegmatick and thick humour which is the cause of the Disease Wormewood beere is not unwholsome for her or instead thereof prescribe to her beer wherein China roots have been infused for this disperseth the humour to the skin and dries up the superfluous moisture for the same purpose we advise with Galen that a Bath of hot sand be prepared that after the use thereof the body be well rubbed and anointed with honey heated by the fire then as we prescribed above make an Issue in her knee CHAP. V. Of the Complication of the Menstruum with other Diseases THe Complication of the Menstruum with other Diseases is hard to be known and not easie to be cured for if any woman be sick of any Disease and if her Courses be supprest or appeare not the Physitians are at a stand what is most fit during this Judication to be done for it we follow the motions of Nature who worketh rightly and open a vein in the ankle this will not cure the Disease which is rooted in the upper parts And if you draw bloud from the arme you pervert the course and order of Nature to the great disadvantage of the sick woman But you will say in such a case as this what is to be done I shall tell you in few words The Disease is either vehement or moderate and of long continuance if the Courses appeare or come down in a disease of long continuance you may defer the opening of a vein till a more convenient season be it either a vein in the arme or in the ankle which you intended to cut for you can doe no hurt by omitting or at least suspending this remedy But if the Disease be acute and require a speedy evacuation you must observe whither the Menstruum be answerable to the plentie of bloud which abounds in the body if her Courses come down according to the prescription of Hippocrates you must not be busie but leave the whole matter to Nature of the same opinion is Galen also for saith he if at that time when you are letting bloud it should so fall out that her Courses come down or that she should on a suddeu have the Piles you must desist from phlebotomy and commit the whole businesse to Nature if you are satisfied that the Menstruum commeth away in a sufficient quantity but otherwise take from her so much bloud as may make good the deficiency of her Courses But if a burning Fever be upon her if she have not her Courses according to custome and to the satisfaction of her own desires then this defect must be supplied with medicines by opening a veine in her ankle applying Cuppinglasses with scarification to the calfes of her legs or Leeches to the Hemorrhoids to take away the superfluity of the bloud One thing must be considered namely if a woman after her delivery have a burning Fever upon her her Courses actually flowing whither it be lawfull in regard of the vehemence of the Fever to open the upper veines Fernelius Valeriola Amatus Lusitanus and divers others of good account assent the lawfulnesse and expediency thereof for although some have imagined that if the upper veines be opened the bloud will ascend to the upper parts yet if it be true which they imagine more profit and advantage will accrew thereby to the sick woman then hurt or danger for when a veine in the ankle is cut although it bring down the Courses and supply the defective motion of Nature in respect of the part particularly affected yet is it not equally prevalent against a most vehement inflammation nor altogether so profitable in a most acute disease because the bloud must be drawn out from some vessell that is nearer to the part affected that the conjunctive cause may be taken away and although by cutting a vein in the ankle we can draw the whole masse of bloud out of the body yet the bloud is not so fitly taken from one part as from another for in a Quinsey or a Pleurisey 't is more commodious to open the Basilick veine to temper the heat then any other veine in the whole body CHAP. VI. Of hard swellings in the Breasts THe Breasts are naturally thin spongy or fungous and loose for this reason they are apt to entertaine any crude and melancholy humours flowing to them either from the Matrix or from any other parts these if they are not rightly and duly expelled they breed painefull yea malignant and cankerd Vlcers wherefore you must addresse your selfe to the Cure without any truce or delay and this consists in three things in prescribing a Diet in the manuall operations of Surgery and in outward and inward Medicines Let her therefore make choise of a puâ—e ayre let her drink be small beer boiled with annise and snakeweed let her meat be of good concoction and easie distribution as Mutton broth Cock broth and rosted Chickens let her avoid meats that thicken the bloud as milke cheese bacon fish and the like open a veine if she have not her Courses in her ankle or cut the Basilick veine twice or thrice to ease the Liver the Spleen and the Kidneys as the multitude of bloud shall require it Note that the humour must be prepared and attempted with this Apozem Take the roots of Succhory Polipody of each an ounce The barke of the root of the Caper and Tamarisk tree of each halfe an ounce The leaves of Buglos Fumitary Balme of each a handfull Two drams of Fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of barley water to two pints and to the strained liquor add Syrupe of Borage Syrupe of fumitary of each an ounce and a halfe Ten graines of Spirit of Vitriol Mingle them and make an Apozem Because the humour is thick and dreggish you must purge her body severall times till it be perfectly cleansed this may be done with this decoction following Take an ounce of Polypody of the oake The leaves Fumitary Hops Borage Endive of each a handfull Epithymum Century the less of each halfe a handfull Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water to two pints and in the strained liquor infuse a whole night An ounce of Sena Foure drams of Rubarb Agarick Troch Creame of Tartar of each two drams Epithymum and The flowers of borage buglos and rosemary of each as many as you can grasp between your thumb and two fingers at twice Two drams of annise seeds In the morning give it one or two bublings straine and presse it and to the liquor add Syrupe of violets Syrupe of fumitary of each
an ounce Make an Apozem or Take the leaves of buglos Fumitary of each a handfull Balme Germander of each halfe a handfull As much Epithymum as you can containe between your thumb and two fingers Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of whey to a pint and a halfe infuse for a night in the strained liquor Six drams of Sena Two drams of white Agarick A dram and a half of annise seeds In the morning presse out the liquor hard and add Syrupe of Violets Syrupe of fumitary of each an ounce and a halfe Mingle them for an Apozem Confectio Hamech and Diacricu will be highly profitable so also are Pils de Lapid Lazuli Sometimes you may prescribe glysters to temper the melancholy humour as for example Take the leaves of Mallowes Marishmallowes Violets of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of bran Two drams of fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of barley water to nine ounces in the strained liquor put in Confectio Hamech Diacatholicon of each an ounce An ounce and a halfe of oyle of violets Mingle them and make a glyster or Take half an ounce of Polypody roots The leaves of buglos Fumitary Violets of each a handfull Foure ounces of sena As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers Two drams of fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of Cock broth to nine ounces to the strained liquor add Diaprun Laxativum Confectio Hamech of each an ounce Half an ounce of Syrup of Violets A dram of Sal gemme Mingle them and make a glyster Leeches applied to the Fundament may much promote the Cure The event may likewise gratifie your triall if you prescribe Cordials Treacle Mithridate Lozenges of Pearle Alkermes and the like which with their coldnesse drynesse and cordiall vertue retaine the spirits correct the bloud even when it is putrifying and preserve the bowells in their due Symmetry and naturall constitution Note that you may not forget to wash her legs with a decoction of Hops Violets Fumitary Roses Mallowes and Vine leaves If by the advantage of time it prove a cankerd and a creeping Vlcer you must not vex and discompose the Patient with many or strong Medicines but you must institute a palliative Cure for Galen boasteth that he thus cured a woman who had a Cancer in her breast for when the thinner part was brought away it became thicker more full of putrefaction and subject to exulcerate for it is undenyable as the same Author affirmeth that the vehemence of the remedies inflame the humor and set it on fire by that acrimonius quality which is naturally in them Almost all Authors agree that Issues are convenient for they supply the stead of Purges and Phlebotomy as Guido a good writer witnesseth in his book de Cauteriis The end of the first Book of Womens Diseases THE SECOND BOOK Written by NICHOLAS FONTANUS OF Womens Diseases The first Chapter OF the Mother THat Disease which we commonly call the Mother the Physitians terme the Strangulation or Suffocation of the Matrix and sometimes the Ascent of the Matrix Gaâ—â—n took it to be a drawing back of the Maâ—â—ix to the upper parts Hereupon some of the Ancients conceived the Matrix to be some stragling Creature wandring too and fro thorough severall parts to which phantasticall conceit Fernelius Eugenius and Laurentius contributed a credulous Assent for though a woman be dead yet can you not with an ordinary strength remove the Matrix from the naturall place neither is that reason which Fernelius alledgeth of any moment who saith that in these diseases he hath toucht it upwards seeing that this is not the true Matrix but a grosse windie swelling of a roundish figure and somewhat resembling the Matrix you will say the Matrix doth remove and slip from its proper place I grant it for by reason of the moisture wherewith those parts abound the Matrix is loosened and exceedingly stretched and this is the truth of the whole matter The Cause of this Disease is twofold the Retention of the Seed and the Menstruum which are the materiall cause and a cold and moist distemper of the Matrix breeding phlegmatick and thick juices which is the efficient cause for when the Seed is retained and the Menstruum hath not the customary and usuall vent they burthen the Matrix and choak and extinguish the heat thereof then upon the diminishing of the naturall heat windy humours are bred especially in the Matrix which by nature is a cold nervous and bloudlesse part after the same manner if the seed be kept too long it disturbeth the Function of the spiritous parts and the Midriffe it oppresseth the heart causeth fainting and sounding fits bindeth as it were and girteth about the parts and seemes in such a manner to stop the breath that the sick woman is in danger to be strangled her puls is sometimes weake various and obscure she hath inward discontents and anxieties and is most commonly invaded by at least very subject unto Convulsion fits she lies as if she were astonished and void of sense and from her belly you may heare rumbling and murmuring noises she breatheth so weakly that it is scarce discernable and indeed she is so sad an object that the by-standers may easily mistake her to be dead The drowsie and sleepy disease called Carus differs from this because they who are affected with it have the use of their breath free without any molestation and it differs from a Catalepsy another drowsie disease casting the sick into a profound and dead sleep because they who are taken with that lie without any motion but they who have the mother are tormented with Convulsion fits their legs and their hands are stretched and wrythed into unusuall figures and strange postures and by this it is distinguished from an Apoplexy unto which it is exceeding like Galen wondreth how these women can live who are troubled with these cruell fits of the Mother without any puls or breathing in as much as it is impossible for one that liveth not to breath or for one that breatheth not to live for so long as we live so long we breath To this I answer that although these women live without respiration yet doe they not live without transpiration for this being performed thorough the pores of the skin by the motion of the arteries conserves the symmetry of the vitall heat for then that small heat retiring to the heart as to a Castle may bepreserved by this benefit of transpiration alone Now to procure an assurance whither the woman be living or dead hold a feather or a looking-glasseâ—to her mouth if the former stir or the latter be spotted it is an undoubted signe that she liveth This is a most acute Disease and soone dispatcheth the sick woman especially if it took beginning from some very contagious and poisonous vapours lecherous women and lusty widowes that are prone and apt to Venery are most subject
parts of the Matrix partly by reason of the suppressed Menstruum and partly by some violent labour or some vehement Abortivenesse or by some cold distemper and winde in the Matrix The swelling is discernable by the touch and if you lay your fingers upon her Matrix the print of them remaines if the Patient turne her selfe from one side to anoâ—her the waterish humour immediately â—alls down on that â—ide within you may â—erceive a rumbling noise of waters her Courses are stopped she falsly surmiseth â—hat she is with Childe the breasts grow â—ank and there is no appearance of milke She feeles some difficulty to fetch her â—reath she is troubled with passions of the minde she is tormented with thirst complaines of heat in all the parts of the body is apt to nauseate subject to a paine in her heart and all other things molest her that usually accompany a true Dropsey and that in regard of a salt and waterish phlegme â—etained in the hollow parts of the Matrix and communicated thorough the common wayes to the upper provinces of the body It differs from an inflammation in the Matrix because this is consociated with a Fever continually burning all the parts of the body but in a Dropsey of the Matrix the heat is more gentle and temperate all things are lockt up in the Matrix that is nothing worth the mentioning comes from thence in an inflammation but in a Dropsey a waterish slimy and stinking excrement floweth away This is a Chronicall Disease and doth not quickly either destroy or take leave of the Patient It differs also from the windinesse which swells the Matrix for in that the swelling is not so great the flesh is not so pale and shining neither is there so much winde and it is easily differenced from a Schirrus for in this you may feele a great hardnesse but in the Dropsey the flesh is soft and lanke The Dropsey in the Matrix is a direfull disease whereby the upper parts being vitiated sometimes the whole body is drawn into consent and then the naturall heat of the Matrix is diminished and indeed the oeconomy of this part onely is not disturbed but the universall strength of the influent heat is by degrees extinguisht Wherefore you must begin the Cure without any procrastination or carelesse delayes by a heating and drying diet the forme quantity quality and manner whereof we have set down already at large in the Chapter of a swelling in the Matrix Allow her pure wine for her drinke that is sincere wine or else wormewood wine or if it seeme pleasant to her boile china roots with Annise seeds Cinamon and Agrimony in water for her to drink or alter her beer with China or wormewood or Century All moist things must be avoided and the ayre must be artificially heated unlesse you can settle her in an ayre which is naturally hot Among the universall remedies you must omit Phlebotomy for this exhausts the hot substance and weakens the naturall heat cooleth the body extinguisheth the inborne preservative yet this rule is not so strict or so generall but that sometimes it may be lawfull yea necessary to cut a veine when her Courses are supprest or when the Piles are stopt yea if she be young and in the flower of her youth it may be requisite to let her bloud in the spring of the yeare especially if the constitution of the weather be agreeable and the constitution of her body temperate and sanguine but otherwise never or at least very sparingly and that in the Ankle Purge the first regions of her body with Diasenua Mechoaca or Diaphenicon the thick viscous and waterish humours neverthelesse being first prepared specially with such remedies as we have commended unto you above and although the waterish humours may be purged out without staying for their concoction because water neither concocts nor waxeth thick according to Galen in his book de purgand Med. Facult yet to expell the winde and to open the obstructions wherewith the upper parts are infested I praise those things which are good to break winde to unlock the passages and to purge out the humours this is commodiously performed with wormewood agrimony fennill Maidenhaire the juice of the Florentine Flowerdeluce Sena the roots of Parsly Feâ—nill Sparagus Butchersbroom and Alexander boiled after this manner Take the last named five roots of each half anounce Three drams of danewort roots The leaves of wormewood Water agrimony Maidenhaire of each a handfull Six drams of Sena An onnce of the juice of Ireos roots Boile them in a sufficient quantity of Barley water to two pints unto the strained liquor clarified with the white of an Egg add Two ounces of Syrupe Byzant simpl An ounce of Syrupe of wormewood Mingle them and make an Apozem When the humor is prepared exhibit pills de Hiera cum agarico to the quantity of a dram Antimony warily administred is a divine medicine and so are the Trochischs Alhandal for these irresistably bring away those thick and clammy humours which stick so fast to the Matrix afterwards the Matrix must be strengthned and the windy humours must be expelled with Lozenges made according to this manner Take the Electuary Diacinnamomum Diagalanga Dialacea of each halfe a dram Two ounces of sugar dissolved in Cinamon-water According to Art make them into Lozenges or Take an ounce of old Treacle Two drams of aromaticum rosatum With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of wormewood make a mixture The Oyntments Plaisters and Poultisses which are mentioned above must be applyed to the secret parts issues also and scarifications will be convenient as we have already taught Pessaries likewise may bee made after this forme following Take Troch Alhandal Troch de agarico The best Aloes of each two drams A dram of Elaterium which is the juice of the wilde Cucumber inspissated The yolke of an Egg Unsalted Butter The juice of Mercury of each three drams With a sufficient quantity of wax a piece of Cotton and a piece of taffata make a pessary This being administred apply the Fomentation following to her privie parts Take danewort roots newly gathered The roots of the Florentine Flowerdeluce The roots Cucumer asicrin of each six drams The flowers of Camomile Melilot of each two handfulls A handfull of the tops of Dill Juniper berries Laurell berries of each halfe an ounce Boile them in a suffâ—icient quantity of wormewood water distilled to foure pints to the strained liquor add Oyle of Lillies Laurell berries of each three ounces Use it as was said above CHAP. VII Of the falling down of the Matrix THe Matrix sometimes falleth down upon the lower parts and this disease the Physitians call the Descent of the Matrix this is resembled to a pare or a gooseegg as it is small or great as there are many Causes of this disease namely a hard labour and a frequent bringing forth of children miscarrying a bringing away of the dead child
from wine and all such meatâ— as are spiced with cinamon and Ginger Let her meat be of easie concoction and distribution potentially cold and moist that is cold and moist in their qualities and operation though they be actually hot when she eats them it would be superfluous to name them having already sufficiently spoken of them in the precedent Chapter of a hot diâ—â—â—per in the 〈◊〉 and an inflammation in the Matrix It will be convenient to draw bloud from the basilick vein in the right arme and if the hot distemper be thecause that the Patient hath not her Courses cut a veine in her ankle Moreover you may prepare 〈◊〉 and moistning Juleps after this manner Take Syrup of Violets and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of each two ounces Twelve ounces of Endive water Six drops of Spirit of vitrioll mingle them or Take Syrup of borage and Syrupe of pur selane of each an ounce and a halfe A decoction of 〈◊〉 with cucumber citruâ— gourd and melon seeds of each a dram and a halfe take a pint and a halfe of the decoction mingled with the Syrups and let her drink it at three doses 〈◊〉 a Purge 〈◊〉 to evacuate choler Take three drams of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A scruple and a halfe of citron seeds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a night in a sufficient quantity of a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two ounces and a 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 straine and presse them and to the liquor add three drams of the Electuary Diaprunlaxative Halfe an ounce of Syrupe of Violets by infusion mingle them and give it in the morning Whey of it selfe is exceeding wholsome or else you may thus compound it for your Patient Take an ounce of borage roots Two handfulls of sorrell leaves with the roots Endive and borage leaves of each a handfull Six drams of tamarinds Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of whey to a quart and in the strained liquor infuse for a whole night Halfe an ounce of choise rubarb Two scruples of Cinamon In the morning let them bubble a little over a gentle fire and when you have prest them hard add Three ounces of Syrupe of roses laxative Mingle them together for an Apozem Which is of most excellent vertue to correct the heat and distemper of all the veynes and principall parts this Bath also will be very effectuall to coole the body Take foure handfulls of vine leaves The leaves of mallowes violets and endive of each two handfulls A handfull and a halfe of bran A handfull of salt Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of water to eight quarts let her hold her feet in the strained water two or three houres together You may likewise prepare fomentations of the hearbs aforesaid and bath the privities the Liver and the Reynes of the back and afterwards you may make use of this oyntment Take two ounces of unguent infrigidantis Galeni An ounce of Cerat Sautalâ—n Oyle of roses and oyle of violets of each halfe an ounce Two drams of the powder of red corall Halfe an ounce of vinegar of roses With a sufficient quantity of white wax make an oyntment according to Art Take the liquor which is distilled out of Cockles Snailes or Frogs mingle it with Saccharum perlutum and give it her to drink as a most effectuall remedy against this Disease A decoction of young Chickens boiled with prunes and borage leaves and taken every morning upon an empty stomack doth refresh the body strengthen the spirits moisten the Matrix cleanseth away the foulnesse that groweth in those parts and very powerfully resists the causes of 〈◊〉 When unfruitfulnesse proceedeth from 〈◊〉 cold distemper you must observe a contrary method of cure as for example The ayre must incline to hot and dry the 〈◊〉 must be also 〈◊〉 hot and dry and because this cold distemper is perpetually consociated with moisture whereby cloudy and grosse vapours get into the Matrix which is cold and nervous therefore it will be requiste to correct this coldnesse to take away the moisture and to consume and dissipate those windy vapours from 〈◊〉 you may gather that this is a very frequent cause of barrennesse and 〈◊〉 and so likewise are flatulent and windy humours for they extreamely swell the Matrix so that the seâ—d cannot be perfectly 〈◊〉 neither can the child be held fast by the 〈◊〉 When you attempt the Cure abstaine from Phlebotomy unlesse it be preparative onely to diâ—burthen the oppressed vessells when the Patient is in the spring of her yeares and at the Spring of the yeare least by taking away the bloud the spirits should be wasted the humours should become more cold and indigested which otherwise were not the bloud prodigally â—et out might be seasonably â—â—â—octed and this you may observe with the learned Ferâ—â—liuâ— to prescribe a Purge before you open a veine in crude bodies that the first region may be cleansed if any man shall rashly proceed to a contrary course doubtlesse with great disadvantange to the Patient he shall pervert the right order of Nature for when as he hath emptied the veines by Phâ—ebotomy he will fill them again with that filthy accumulation of corrupt humours which they suck in with greedinesse from the first places and so he shall not lessen but double the disease the Purge may be made as followeth Take a dram and a halfe of the whitest agarick Two drams of bastard Saffron seeds A struple of Ginger Halfe a dram of Anâ—â—â—eeds Macerate them a whole night in a sufficient quantity of marjorâ—m waterâ— to three ounces in the morning presse them hard and add Diaphenicon and Diaenicum of each halfe an ounce Mingle them and let her drink it in the morning If her body be not sufficiently open give the same potion every third day or else prescribe this Glyster following Take nine ounces of a mollifying decoction made with marjoram and groundpine or germander of each a handfull Diacarthamum and Diaphenicon of each an ounce An ounce and a halfe of honey of roses strained Mingle them and make a Glyster When you have thoroughly purged the body and taken away the cause the parts must be strengthned and the distemper must be corrected with these pills Take a dram of right lign aloes beaten to powder Two scruples of aloes rosat Musk and amber of each a scruple With a sufficient quantity of alkermes make thirty five pills Let her swallow five of them or fewer every morning they are exceedingly provocative and withall they strengthen the braine the heart the liver and the Matrix when the man and the woman intend conjunction let him anoint his yard with oyle of mastick and wormewood mingled with a few graines of musk and civet and let the woman also anoynt her privie parts therewith as well within as without for by this meanes there is raised a mutuall inclination to Venery and the seed is received with a greater pleasure and is more duely retained and elaborated reason it selfe will convince us that sweating remedies made of
drams of fennill seeds Boile them to nine ounces in a sufficient quantity of a decoction of an old hen and to the strained liquor add Two ounces of honey of roses strained An ounce of new butter Make a Glyster This being given you must strengthen the stomack with the stomachicall Plaister already prescribed and with these Lozenges Take a dram of aromaticum rosatum in the species Red corall and pearl prepared of each half a dram With two ounces and a halfe of white Sugar dissolved in a sufficient quantity of â—ose water make little Lozenges according â—o Art or Take old Conserve of red roses Roman wormewood The Conserve of Quinces of each an ounce Halfe an ounce of the Conserve of Acacia A dram and a halfe of aromaticum rosaâ—um in the species A dram of the Trochichs de carabe Two scruples of red corall prepared With a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Pomegranets make a mixture Sometimes the Vomiting is accompanied with yexing and they both proceed from the same causes and therefore may both be cured with the same remedies but if it be of long continuance the most rationall and best grounded proceeding is to apply a Cuppinglasse to the mouth of the stomack with a mighty flame After all these follow two more namely spitting of Bloud and a Cough the former whereof is cured by cutting a veine in the Ankle which kinde of remedy is approved by Hippocrates in the thirty two Aphorisme of his fifth book saying a woman is freed from spitting or vomiting bloud if the menstruum breake forth and frequent experience justifies this truth for divers women by the omission hereof as Galen hath observed in his booke of Letting Bloud fell into the Tissick and other most lamentable diseases But the Cough is twofold either dry or moist the cause of the former is a certaine contagious vapour communicated to the spiritous parts provoking the Midriffe the Lungs and the other instruments of breathing to expell whatsoever is faultie and offensive the cause of the latter is a crude and raw humour ascending up from the Matrix to the Chest and sticking fast unto it This is cured by rubbing the parts and tying straight Ligatures about them by Pessaries Glysters Cuppinglasses opening a veine in her ankle by Electuaries Ptisans expectorating Potions to cleanse away the bad humour by laying on Emplastrum Resumptivum Pectorale or Vnguentum de Althaea among which you must mingle Cummin seeds and Saffron After the same manner Women in Child-bed are troubled to fetch their breath because by a mutuall and frequent stretching and compression of the Chest the vapours are transmitted to the Lungs and they who feele themselves molested with such vapours do seldome escape that Cough we last mentioned Moreover to this Catalogue belongeth the Pleurisie which is a most acute and therefore a most dangerous disease this you may discerne by these signes following an acute and burning Fever a Cough difficultie to fetch breath a pricking paine and a hard pulse Open a veine and you overcome this disease without any further remedy but the question will be in what part of the body I answer if it be a most violent Pleurisie that torments the sick if her Courses come down after a right manner and yet the evill abates not then cut a veine in her ankle but if this availe not so as the Patients life is now in danger then open a veine in her arme especially if she be full of bloud that the vitious humour may be drawn away from the inflamed place and seasonably evacuated this advice of mine is justified by the approbation of Mercurialis Mercatus Alphonsus a Castro Meschius Valeriola and the learned Zacutus Lusitanus neither will it be incovenient if you interchange this administration of phlebotomy namely first to draw bloud from the ankle then from the arme then from the ankle againe and so keeping turnes as need shall require for thus you will give ease both to the part inflamed and likewise to the Matrix which is the part mandant or that from whence the evill is communicated and distributed to the other regions This being carefully performed your next designe must be to mitigate and take away the paine with fomentations liniments Electuaries and Ptisans Take an ounce of the roots of marish mallowes The leaves of mallowes marish mallows and white Maidenhaire of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of the flowers of dwarf-elder Annise and Line seeds of each halfe an ounce Boyle them in water to a quart and give her the strained liquor to drinke at severall times then Take a dram of unguentum de Althaea The Axungia of a hen and new butter of each halfe an ounce Two ounces of oyle of sweet Almonds Mingle them and make an oyntment then Take Syrup of Violets compound and Syrup of Maidenhaire of each an ounce and a halfe Mingle them and make a mixture to be licked from the point of a knife Afterwards Take two ounces of cleansed barley An ounce of raisins pickt stoned and washt Two drams of the best Licoras Boile them in raine water to a quart and give her the strained liquor to drinke Note that in all diseases of the Membranes the upper part of the throate and the Jawes yea and in the Falling-Sicknesse the Apoplexy the Palsie and the Convulsions you must begin the Cure by letting bloud if plentie of bloud give occasion to the Disease The swelling of the feet is the last of all those Symptomes which invade a woman after her Delivery and this proceeds from a disorderly and negligent Diet during the time of her being with Childe for by that meanes raw humours are bread in her body which after her Delivery settle in her legs as being cold parts full of nerves and far distant from the Liver which is the fountaine of bloud in which places you shall perceive soft kinde of swellings which being crusht down retaine the print of your fingers This must be cured with strengthning administrations and such medicines as are good to expell the raw humours and likewise with such as will moderately binde for should you give her strong binders you would thereby allure the humours towards the upper parts therefore to avoide that errour prepare this Bath following Take two ounces of marish mallow roots The leaves of mallowes Mint Wormewood Sage Rosemary of each two handfulls The leaves of red roses and camomile Of each a handfull An ounce of Laurell Berries Saltpeter Sulphur of each half an ounce Boile them to eight pints in a sufficient quantity of water wherein steele hath been often quenched and let her put her feet into the strained liquor Then take the dreggish substance which remaines after the straining of the said liquor and add to it The meale of Orobus And Lupines of each three ounces Foure ounces of Oxymel With a sufficient quantity of brine made with the juice of Lemmons reduce them into the forme of a Poultis and lay it
and the straight gut for saith he when that part is inflamed then the urine commeth away by drops and the Patient hath frequent desires and solicitations to goe to stoole but but without any performance Womens diseases are divided into foure Classes whereof the first containeth the diseases that are common to all women the second comprehendeth such as are peculiar to Widowes and Virgins The third specifieth those Affects that concern barren women and such as are fruitfull And the fourth treateth of such diseases as befall Women with Childe and Nurses of all which we shall now speak one after another in their order Those diseases that are common both to widowes and wives both to barren women and women that are fruitfull as also to your Maids and Virgins proceed from the retention or stoppage of their Courses as the most universall and most usuall cause when these come from them in a due and regular manner their bodies are preserved from most terrible diseases but otherwise they are immediately subject to the falling Sickness the Palsie the Consumption the Whites the Mother Melancholy Burning Fevers the Dropsey inward inflammations of all the principall parts the suppression of the urine nauseating vomiting loathing of meat yexing and a continuall paine in the Head arising from ill vapours communicated from the Matrix to the Braine Wives are more healthfull then Widowes or Virgins because they are refreshed with the mans seed and ejaculate their own which being excluded the cause of the evill is taken away This is evident from the words of Hippocrates who adviseth young Maids to marrie when they are thus troubled that women have stones and seed no true Anatomist will denie the womans seed I confess in regard of the small quantity of heat is more imperfect then the seed of the mans yet is it most absolute in it selfe and fit for Generation Another cause also may be added besides that which is alledged from Hippocrates namely that married women by lying with their husbands doe loosen the passages of the seed and so the Courses come down more easily thorow them Now in Virgins it falls out otherwise because the bloud is stopped by the constipation and obstruction of the veines and being stopped putrifies from which putrifaction grosse vapours doe arise and from thence heavinesse of minde and dulnesse of spirit a benummednesse of the parts timorousnesse and an aptness to be frighted with a sudden propensitie to fall into fits of the Mother by reason of much bloud oppressing and burthening the heart also continuall anxiety sadness aud want of sleep with idle talking and an alienation of the minde but that which most commonly afflicts them is a difficulty and paine to fetch their breath for the chest by a continuall dialatation and compression draweth the bloud from the Matrix to it selfe in a large proportion and sometimes produceth asthmaticall effects But what shall we say concerning Widowes who lye fallow and live sequestred from these Venereous Conjunctions we must conclude that if they be young of a black complexion and hairie and are likewise somewhat discoloured in their cheeks that they have a spirit of salacity and feele within themselves a frequent titillation their seed being hot and prurient doth irritate and inflame them to Venery neither is this concupiscence allaid and qualified but by provoking the ejaculation of the seed as Galen propounds the advice in the example of a widow who was afflicted with intolerable symptomes till the abundance of the spermatick humour was diminished by the hand of a skilfull Midwife and a convenient oyntment which passage will also furnish us with this argument that the use of Venery is exceeding wholsome if the woman will confine her selfe to the â—awes of moderation so that she feele no wearisomnesse nor weaknesse in her body after those pleasing conflicts Most certaine it is that barren women are more tormented with sicknesse then those that are fruitfull because they who have children live in a more healthfull condition by reason of the opening of the veines and the comming away of the superfluous bloud which being of an earthy and feculent substance must needs introduce prodigious symptomes in the bodies of other women who have no seasonable meanes to vent and purge it out and daily experience doth witnesse it to the private consideration of such women that very many obstructions breed in their Livers Mesenteries and Matrices That women in Child bed also and such as nurse their owne children are subject to most bitter and vehement affects Galen doth daily teach us by an undeniable reason for whereas the childe in the wombe is nourished by the sweetest fattest and most elaborate part of the menstruous Bloud in its own nature filthy and dreggish when the woman is delivered that bloud is forcibly evacuated by a criticall kinde of motion and violent ebullition whereupon the spirits are exhausted and the feeble creature is precipitated into mortall infirmities as fainting fits incredible torments and frequent soundings Many times also besides that perticular fulnesse of the womb through the swelling and strutting of the veines such women all the time that they be great with childe are oppressed with an abundance of ill humours contracted and heaped up together by a bad diet after which the upper parts of their bodies are many times most wofully inflamed After the same manner also Nurses are tormented with sore breasts painfull swellings Ulcers and Cancers and the like cruell diseases by reason that the Menstruum floweth in an unmeasurable quantitie to the breasts and there settles But now by the permission of Heaven we shall set down a particular Explanation of these Diseases CHAP. II. The suppression of the Courses THe suppression of the Courses is an interception or stoppage of that usuall evacuation of bloud which is wont to flow from the Matrix every month There is a twofold cause hereof one inward the other outward the inward cause is also manifold for sometimes it is one kinde of distemper sometimes another and sometimes againe a humour is the cause thereof the distemper is either hot or cold and concerning the former this is controverted among the Doctors how a hot distemper can stay the Courses for if we will credit the bâ—st Authors or submit our judgements to the generall Vote of Philosophy it is the property of heat to open to rarifie to make thin and to dilate as on the contrary it is the property of cold to obstruct to thicken to binde and to condensate the answer is easie and obvious wherefore we say that heat properly doth not stay the Courses but onely by accident as namely by attenuation dissipating and consuming the thinner parts of the Menstruum for any humour is reasonably conceived to become more drie and thick when the thinner part thereof is wasted away and againe the thicker and dryer it is it must needs be so much the more unapt to be expelled and this is the reason that sturdie
to it but married women that injoy the company of their husbands and such as are with childe are seldome invaded by it You must apply your Remedies in the fit and after the fit in the fit the humour must be drawn back with rubbing the parts tying painfull Ligatures about them and â—upplying Cuppinglasses with scariffication to the calfes of her legs have such Glysters in readinesse as will take away the paine dissolve draw back and purge out the thick humours you may compound them by these formes following Take halfe an ounce of Elecampane roots The leaves of rue penniroyall Motherwort and pellitory of the wall of each a handâ—ull Three drams of sena Bran Camomile flowers and the tops of Dill of each halfe a handfull Bastard Saffron and Annise seeds of each â—wo drams Boile them in a sufficient quantitie of birthwort water to nine ounces to the strained liquor being squeezed and prest very hard add Diaphenicon and benedicta laxativa of each an ounce Oyle of dill and oyle of rue of each sâ—â— drams Halfe an ounce of butter A dram and a halfe of salt Mingle them and make a Glyster Carminative medicines must be laid upoâ— the whole inward region as fomentationâ— made of the leaves of Rue Motherwort Penniroyall the flowers of Melilot and Camâ—mile or unguent de Althea with the oyle of Camomile Dill and Rue for this looseneth the passages by opening the pores anâ— expelling the winde pessaries may be puâ— up made with Civet Musk and Amber but you must affront her nose with stinâ—ing odours as the steame of brimstone tâ—â— smoke ascending from old shoes burnâ—â— Partridge feathers sagapenum galbanum assâ—fetida and the like cast into the fire because the Matrix doth as it were abhor retreat and flie from these things whereaâ— sweet things doe allure to them But some curious braine may here demand why sweet things held to the nosâ— doe breed the fits of the Mother and on the contrary stinking things appease those fits I answer sweet things applyed to the Matrix in regard that they are hot doe expell the winde cut into the slow and tenacious phlegm and afterwards purge it out but stinking things applied to the Nose consume the ascending vapours with their heat but you may still demand if hot stinking things be good to break the winde why may they not be laid to the Matrix as well as sweet things I answer the Matrix embraceth and meeteth sweet odours and perfumes but unsavory and stinking sents it abhors and flies from for 't is â— most certaine truth that every creature even by naturall instinct shunneth inconveniences and affecteth things convenient If the evill still increase and if the Virgin be of a good habit fleshie and for a long time hath not had her Courses or for too long a time hath had them the safest course although upon the approach of the Fit will be to open a veine in the ankle without delay especially if any excretion of bloud appear either at the nose or at the mouth for as Hippocrates hath excellently taught us as the coming down of the Courses is a present Remedie for those who vomit bloud so in a body that is plethorick by reason that the Menstruum hath been long suppressed you may help a woman who vomits bloud if you cut one of her lower veines the same opinion is favoured by Galen in his Commentry saying in this case we ought to endeavour an evacuation namely such an one as is correspondent to nature when she is obedient to her own lawes After the Phlebotomy if her body â—e strong and the Disease continue apply Cuppinglasses with scarification to her thighes Leeches to the Hemorrhoids and with iterated Glysters and medicines given again and again into the body purge out the Melancholy juices Many who are more rash then learned more bold then skilfull because of the cold and the winde which are the causes of this Disease at the beginning will unadvisedly be offering wine to the sick which being odoriferous is apt to allure the Matrix to the upper parts therefore I counsell all those that value the health of their friends to forbeare this temerity yet if she faint and her spirits be so far spent that she swounds or is ready to swound in such an exigence you may allow her wine yet in a small quantity When the Fit is over let her live soberly and feed upon hot meats that yield a thin and subtle nourishment and be very carefull to preserve her self least she fall into a Relaps hearbs and roots and such thinge as thicken the bloud or are hard to digest must be no part of her diet Wormewood beer may be allowed her or in her beer mingle Cinamon water or boile Annise seeds or China roots in it The humour must be prepared with cutting Syrups as Rhodomell Syrupe of Wormewood Syrupe of Mint or Syrupe of the five roots You may prescribe the Purge of Mechoâ—aca Hiera Picra pills of agarick of Hiera with Confectio Hamech or Sena You must open a veine in the anklâ— again and because this thick and stubborne humour will not obey a single evacution you must also purge her body againe with agarick hellebore Pills of Mastick or of Rubarb Steele taken in powder or mingled among the other medicines will much advance the Cure so will an Issue and an artificiall Bath made with Sulphur or a decoction of Salsa parilla Guaiacum and China Lastly if the Disease take beginning from the seed because in Physick no peculiar or elective purging medicine is consecrated to it you must lessen her diet enjoyne her an abstinence from hot wine and let her continually weare plates of lead upon her back for it is most certaine that these doe diminish the seed if the Patient for twelve mornings together upon an empty stomack drink three ounces of a decoction of agnus castus seeds boiled with six graines of Camphire CHAP. II. Of the Epilepsy in the Matrix And the severall kindes thereof PHysitians reckon up a twofold Epilepsy in the Matrix one by Consent the other by Propriety the Cause of this is a thick viscous and slow humour obstructing the hollow parts of the Nerves the cause of that is a cold distemper of the Matrix and a contagious vapour assaulting and shaking the Braine and the nervouâ— parts for when the animall faculty strives to expell that humour or vapour from it selfe the hollow parts of the Nerves are crusht together and the passages are stopt and thus there happens a constipation or an obstruction the insides of the Nerves being as it were straightned bound and closed up together That there is such a Disease as an Epilâ—psy by Consent we are warranted by Galen to beleeve who in his book deâ— Locis propounds the example of a boy who being lame in his legs fell afterwards into an Epilepsy and after the same manner Virgins who are troubled with obstructions winde or a malignant vapour
he commands the preparation of that cold and thick humour which may be effected by this Apozem following Take the roots of fennill Small Aristolochy Elecampane of each foure drams The roots of Dittany Piony of each two drams The leaves of Nip Penniroyall Calamint Sage of each a handfull The flowers of Stechas Rosemary of each as much as you caâ— graspe between your thumb and two fingers at twice A dram of annise seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of water wherein steele hath been inâ—used to two pints To the strained liquor add An ounce and a half of Syrupe of Stechas An ounce of oxymell Scilliticum Mingle them and make an Apozem After you have prepared the humour purge the body with this composition following Take two drams and a halfe of Sena Three scruples of white agarick A dram of annise seeds A scruple of Ginger Macerate them for a night in a sufficient quantity of parsley water in the morning give them one or two bublings and to the liquor which you presse out I meane three ounces of it Add two scruples of Mass Pill Feâ—id Mingle them for a Potion or You may prescribe some other mixture to purge phlegm and more valiantly to break and expell winde or make ready this plaister following to be applied to her Navell and her secret parts Take three ounces of bistort roâ—ts Lign Aloes Sautali moschatelin Nâ—tmegs Barbarâ—es Dill of each two drams Cinamon Cloves Scevanth Caâ—amile flowers of each a dram Male frankincense or Olibanum Mastick Trochischs de Gallia Moschata Storax calimata Red â—torax or each a scruple Seven graines and a halfe of musk Three ounces and a halfe of yellow wax An ounce and an halfe of â—urpentine A pound of pure ladanum Nine ounces of ship Pitch Mingle them and according to Art make a Plaister If the contumacity of the â—vill be such as not to yield to all these remedies make Issues in the legs and if those also prove ineffectuall my last recourse is to a decoction of Guaâ—acum wood wherewith the learned Jachinus as he avâ—rreth in his Commentaries upon Almansor hath cured many of this Disease CHAP. III. Of Melancholy proceeding from the Matrix THis hath one and the same Cause with the Epilepsy namely the retention of the Seed and the suppression of the Menstruum which being earthy and not obtaining a vent they putrifie beget vapours which doe not onely assault the braine but they oppresse the heart also and the Midriffe for when a gloomy and black vapour ascends to the braine the principall parts and their instruments are depraved and the animall spirit which is the chiefest instument of the soule and in its own nature cleare and perspicuous is rendred darke and obscure The true signes of this disease are sadnesse fearfulnesse anxiety of minde and severall figures or postures of unquietnesse appearing in the body They despaire they doate they talke idely especially at that time when they expect their Courses in these you may observe a depraved motion of the principall Members because the temperament of the braine is perverted by that cold and dry humour moreover they are unwilling to dye they cannot sleep they have no stomack to their meat and being taken with a strange loathing of aliment their bodies waste and consume sometimes they imagine that they undergoe the torments of damned soules in Hell they weep without any cause they groan they lament anon againe they laugh desire to goe into some by coâ—neâ—s and according to the inward discompoâ—ure of their miâ—des they turne vary and alter their gestures and countenances into severall figures sometimes they have a conceit that they are talking with Angels sometimes they murmur sometimes they sing certainly there is not a more strange and wonderfull disease for in severall persons it bewrayeth a thousand severall ridiculous and antick behaviours He sees the difficulty of this Cure both in regard of the Symptomes and the stubbornesse of the disease who understands it to be a cold and dry affect for there is no doubt but the braine labours under a cold and dry distemper and how much drienesse resisteth the best medicines is not unknown to Philosophers for as it is of a dull and sluggish action so are there many resistances and from thence comes the danger because it easily degenerates into â—â—veing and raging madnesse or into the Falling Sicknesse or into an Apoplexy and it is held incurâ—ble if the braine be primarily affected because in continuance of time it takes so deep a root that no Magazine of Remedies no stratagems of Art can remove it Wherefore you must be very carefull when you undertake the Cure as for her Diet let it incline to hot and moist assigne her a gently breathing ayre boile her drink with the rooâ—s of buglos angelica and snakeweed with the leaves of hops buglos balme and fumiâ—ary allow her white Wine that is small and well sented let her be indulgent to her sleeps avoiding cares pensivenesse and troublesome thoughts if her body be costive make it and keep it soluble Venery is wholsome for melancholy persons provided that it be acted seasonably and with moderation Hippocrates placed the whole hope of the Cure in the evacuation of that excrement commanding as we have said above such Virgins to marry To facilitate the Revulsion and the evacuation of the humour loosen the belly with moistning Suppositories and Glysters observe their composition Take two scruples of the species Hiera piâ—ra Ten graines of Troch Alhandal Halfe a dram of common Salt With a sufficient quantity of honey boiled to a due thicknesse make a Suppository or Take a scruple and a halfe of Hiera Picra in the species Trochishs of agarick Troch Alhandall of each a scruple Halfe a dram of Sal gemme With a sufficient quantity of honey according to art make a Suppository Take the roots of Elecampane Polypody of each foure drams The leaves of mallowes Violets Balme Pellitory on the wall Mercury of each a handfull Ten good prunes Five drams of Sena As much Epithymum as your thumb and two fingers can grasp Two drams of annise seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of fuâ—â—tary water to nine ounces when you have strained and prest out the liquor add Diaprun Laxat Diaphenicon of each an ounce An ounce and a halfe of oyle of Violets A dâ—am of Sal gemme Mingle them and make a glyster Or Take the leaves of Buglos Borage Balme of each a handfull Halfe a handfull of Violets Foure drams of Sena Halfe an ounce of the roots of black Hellebore As much Epithymum as you can take up between your thumb and two fingers A dram of fennill seeds Boile them in a sufficient quantity of broth made of a sheepshead and guts soundly wash't before you put them into the pot and to ten ounces of the liquor which you press out add An ounce of Diaprun Laxat Halfe an ounce of Confectio Hamech An ounce and a halfe of
be rough and full of haire it is a signe that they are fruitfull the wiser sort of Physitians know that much haire is an undeniable argument of much heat and of the strength of that heat which driveth out those fuliginous humours whereof those haires are generated Those women that have black haire are more apt for Venery then any other complexion because they are hotter and have their Courses in a more plentifull manner which Courses how conducible they are to make her fruitfull is manifest to any ordinary capacity because the menstruous blood is one of the Principles of our generation Other sorts of barren women must be referred to this Catalogue as those that are luxuriant and the whorish crew the former because by frequent coition their bodies become empty of seed and if any at that time be ejaculated it is not fit for generation because Nature is not allowed time enough to elaborate and concoct it and the latter sort conceive not partly by reason that many and various seeds are mingled together and partly also by reason of their frequent cohabitation with men whereby the neck of the Matrix is made so slippery that it cannot retaine the mans seed It will not be impertinent to enquire at what time women begin to have their Courses I answer that for the most part they begin when the Virgin is twelve years of age and end when she hath attained to forty five and in all that intercourse of time women are held capable of children but if any Auhors will affirme that women may conceive before and after those forenamed periods of time we also affirme that this is not ordinary but very rare and 〈◊〉 de menstruâ— sanguine in the chapter de ita 〈◊〉 Conceptione admiranda and he will straight demand whither a woman can conceive without the Menstruum I answer negatively for when either Principle of Generation is defective there can be no conception if you still obtrude upon me that many women have conceived without the Menstruum I grant it to be true if you speak of the outward Menstruum namely that which we call their monethly Courses but if you meane it of the inward that is of that which runneth out of the vessells into the Matrix for conception sake you are deceived for no woman can conceive without this inward menstruum you will ask againe peradventure can a woman conceive without pleasure and whither it be absolutely necessary that the seeds should be intermingled and that the man and the woman should both spend at one and the same point of time to the first I answer that they enjoy an unspeakable pleasure although that conduceth little or nothing to conception and to the second I affirme that it is not necessary that they both spend at one time although I confesse that may facilitate and much help conception but that it is sufficient if the seed be received into the Matrix and rightly concocted for there is in the womans seed such an earnest covetous and greedie desire to embrace and be united with the seed of the man that although the man spend after the woman yet she sucks it in and the conception is nevertâ—â—lessâ— perfect Thus we have declared unto you with all possible observation of modest expressions the Causes of barrennesse in generarall and the signes of such men and womâ—â— that are unâ—ruitfull by which 〈◊〉 you may discerne the particular constitution of either sex It would be needlesse to set down any prognostick signes because from a true consideration of the precedent notes you may raise an unerring determination whither the fault be in the man or the woman Let us now advance to the cure we have said that there is a threefold kinde of barrennesse Naturall Respeâ—tive and that which is contracted by force disease that which comes from the Nativity of the Patient is incurable but that which is comparative in relation to the woman or the man may have help from artificiall administrations for if the man or the woman be unfruitfull through an excesse of the first qualities that intemperance must be corrected how to bring this to passe now heare and understand if any man thoroughly knoweth how to cure that barrennesse which comes by sicknesse the same man will be able to particularize every cause that introduceth unfruitfulnesse Now this barrennesse that happens by reason of some disease must be cured by a distinct observation of the cause whereupon it hath dependance if it proceed from an Vlcer that Vlcer must be cured if it arise from frequent coition the incontinent person must curb her or his appetite if the Ayre be a suspected cause remove to another place if any poyson hath got into the body by the power and malignity whereof the spirit which is in the seed is weakned and dulled you must prescribe remedies of Bezar stone and apply such medicines to the privities as have a faculty to resist poyson If the party be bewitched as it often comes to passe even by the malicious art of the Devill or his instruments besides the ordinary helpâ— you must indeavour to subdue the evill with other meanes as the learned Fernelius hath taught us in his booke de abditis rerum causis for some diseases and remedies exceed the limits and boundaries of Nature If slendernesse be the cause of unfruitfullnesse you must nourish and fatten the body with meats that yeild good juyce and with moistning baths and you must be carefull to avoid evacuations and all other things which weaken the strength and exhaust the spirits If fatnesse hinder fruitfulnesse the body must be extenuated made lean dried and rub'd and all other meanes must be used to dissolve and evacuate the thick juycâ—s the Patient must accustome her selfe to much exercise refraine from anger and all passions of the minde and content her selfe with little spleen for these things introduce leannesse bring down the body and take away all grossenesse and corpulency for the same purpose also you may frequent the Bath and hot houses for sweating doth much extenuate a fat body If the Affect be produced by an excesse of the first foure qualities as we have already intimated that hot distemper must be corrected by a various administration of remedies in contrariety to that excesse first with a cold and moist ayre for in such cases a hot ayre weakens our strength and drawes 〈◊〉 the naturall heat to the circumference inflames dissolves and enervates the faculties of the Matrix and because a hot distemper cannot long continue sâ—mple and uncompounded but in a short space associâ—â—â—s to it selfe a dry distemper therefore the aliments must be moyst to resist the increase of that drought which is not cured without much trouble and difficulty if it be once introduced into the Matrix which by Nature iâ— a dry and nervous part wherefore let her drinke be potentially moist as small beer or a decoction of burley but enjoyn her an abstinence
mortified through the abundance of crude humours which many times settle in them You may securely speedily and gently accomplish the cure by strengthning and disâ—olving remedies In the first place therefore provide a bath with chalybeated water Saltpeter Sulphur Wormewood Stechaz Rosemary and Camomile in this liquor let her wash her lips her thighes her legs and her feet and when she washeth them let her also rub them soundly If her flesh grow very soft and lank so that you feare a mortification apply this Poultis following which will exceedingly comfort her Take two handfulls of Wormewood Meale of Vetches Meale of beanes Meale of barley of each an ounce and a halfe An ounce of Bran. With a sufficient quantity of oxymel and a brine made with lemon pills according to art make your Poultis If the coldnesse of the part be such that you feare a gangreen there is nothing will more certainly prevent it then Scarification for by this meanes the part is ventilated and preserved from putrifaction Strengthning remedies must sometimes be exhibited to expell the winde yet you must administer them with a good diet consisting of drying and corroborating things as Treacle Mithridate and other drying confections and powders Diacinnamonium aromaticum rosatum Diarrhodon Abba t is unto which we may well adjoyne a decoction of China and Salsaparilla with a little stick of cinamon and a few annise seeds Note that these remedies may properly be accommodated to the cure of the disease called the Vterine Flux which happens sometimes to women when they are ready to lye down by reason that there is an excessive abundance of humour in their bodies or else because the childe in their bellies is very large and great CHAP. VIII Of Costiveness in Women with Childe THe inner part of the humour being spent upon the nourishment of the childe in the womans belly the dregs grow hard and when Nature striveth to cast them out by a strong and vehement indeavour the Matrix suffers a compression by which compression the childe is offended the Cotyledons are loosened and many times the woman miscarrieth and the child proves abortive The belly must be sollicited but not with glysters because they hurt the childe especially if it be grown to some bignesse but with Suppositaries made with hogsgrease and five or â—xgraines of Diagryâ—ium for these will irritate Her meat should be of a moistening and mollifying quality as mallow and borage leaves eaten with butter and Sugar fat pottage also is good for her in which if she complaine of no torments you may boyle polypoda sena and prunes Manna above all other things is in present case to be preferred and next to it we commend Syrup of roses laxative and Syrupe of Violets made with a frequently iterated infusion Sometimes you may prescribe this Julep Take the waters of borage Fumitary of each eight ounces Three ounces of Syrup of Violets Mingle them and make a Julep Forbeare the use of sharp medicines for they worke with an unnecessary vehemence and not seldome cause Abortivenesse Unto this disease we adjoyne a loosenes which hapneth when women are of a cold constitution and full of crudities or when they have a weake belly Sometimes also it happens by their inordinate Longings when they wish for a greater variety of dishes then they are able to concoct for then many times what they have so greedily devoured passeth down into the guts without digestion and causeth a loosnesse through the weaknesse of the retentive facultie We have learnt from Hippocrates to accouâ—t this among the dangerous diseases for in the fifth brok of his Aphorismes he hath these words If a woman with childe be troubled with a great loosnesse 't is to be feared that she will miscarry and note well the reason hereof for when she is thus afflicted the good and the bad goe away together the childe is defrauded of its due nourishment and so perisheth You must presently strive to stay the loosnesse with binding and thickning meats as quinces rubarb beer wherein steele hath been often infused or else you may prescribe this Potion following Take a handfull of plantane leaves The seeds of flux wort The seeds of Sumach of each a dram Boyle them in a sufficient quantity of red wine to a pint and a halfe to the strained liquor add Srrupe of Comphrey Syrupe of Quinces of each an ounce Make a Potion Boile or steep annise seeds in her drinkes and apply the same fomentations oyntments and plaisters as we have already commended unto against Vomiting But if the excrements be slimy putrified and stinke you must not neglect the use of Rubarb gently rosted and of myrobalans slightly rosted for these doe not onely purge but they binde withall and strengthen the parts Sometimes you may exhibit Philonium Persicum Requiem Nicholai or Pill de Cynoglossa but with a sober caution the quantity is a scruple or at the most but two scruples and that when the other things have proved unsuccessefull and also when the strength of the Patient will allow the taking of them CHAP. IX Of the flowing away of Bloud from the Matrices of women with Childe ALthough we made mention of this disease in the first booke where we treated of the immoderate flowing of the Courses yet we conceive it may be worth our labour and the Readers thanks to add a few things which in the Chapter aforesaid were purposely omitted by us Bloud then floweth immoderately from the Matrix either when the lips thereof are unlockt or when the vessells are open or lastly by transcolation The inward cause of these symptomes is an extreame heat or thinnesse in the bloud which either eats asunder the vessells or rarefies the tunicles thereof the outward causes are all those things which have a power to make thin to heat to open to rarefie and to subtilize the bloud as immoderate cares of the minde long watchings a continuall use of hot meats as dishes pepperd and spiced also drinking too much wine yet you may exhibit a glasse of Claret wine in a moderate quantity to refresh her spirits provided that no Fever be suspected and that her Matrix be not inflamed The signes of this evill are manifest for the spirits are deficient the heat is diminished the face groweth pale the feet swell the strength decayes the meat is forsaken and no sleep can be obtained The danger of this Flux is unknown I suppose to few women for seeing that our naturall heat hath its chiefe and sole perseverance in the bloud the losse of that bloud in an immoderate quantity must needs exhaust the spirits weaken the body and at length when the naturall heat is almost extinguisht and the sanguification is depraved there will undoubtedly supervene either a Dropsey or a Consumption When you begin the Cure keep the Patient in a darke roome and let the ayre be cold and dry or if naturally it be not so make it so by art her meat should
they apply to the privie parts Take unguentum de Althaea Vnguentum Resumptivum of each an ounce Oyle of white lillies Oyle of Dill Hensgrease of each halfe an ounce Saffron Dittany beaten to powder of each two drams With a sufficient quanty of wax make an oyntment But if nature be culpable in both namely in the weaknesse of the Mother and the expulsive faculty and also in the strength of the retentive then against one you must administer corroborating medicines as hath already been said and to rectifie the other fault you must adhibit loosening remedies such namely as are recited above CHAP. III. Of the Retained Secundine GAlen in his book de usu partium hath rekoned up three membranes which enwrap the childe in the wombe the first whereof is called Ammios this on every side is spread over the whole childe and receiveth the childs sweat that it may swim in it The second is named Allantoeides or Intestinalis or as others name it better Vrinaculum whose use 〈◊〉 to receive the urine the third is called Chorion our Midwives call it the Secundine which is nothing else but a multitude and connexion of vessells and membranes thorough which as by little springs or rivolets the child draweth bloud and ayre these membranes are burst when the childe begins to kick his way out into the world from whence that liquor distilleth as we have noted above which makes the passages slippery after the nativity of the childe these membranes are excerned but if they chance to be retained they introduce most outragious Symptomes and a disease of number in the excesse The Causes of the retention are diverse for many times the Matrix is confirmed after the childe is borne many times the immoderate passions of the minde make nature forget her selfe in his duty sometimes odoriferous things draw the Matrix upwards and so nature is disturbed in her purposes of exclusion an unseasonable drinking of cold water is a very frequent cause of it and so are grosse meats that stuffe the body and thicken the bloud You may know by the Midwives relation that the Secundine is retained unto whom if she be skillfull you ought at the command of Hippocrates yield up your beliefe or you may conjecture it if the woman be sad in minde subject to faint and swound full of tossing and unquietnesse if she feele a heavinesse in her wombe or a round substance like unto a fixt and immoveable ball This is a most lamentable disease for if the Secundine be retained for any considerable time it putrifies and communicates poisonous exhalations to the principall parts as the heart the brain the liver from whence arise swounding fits anxiety of minde giddinesse in the head and direfull torments Wherefore let it be the Midwives care with all speed to attempt the cure bringing down the Secundine with her fingers besmeared with oyle and let her hold fast the umbilicall vessells till the Secundine follow but what if it remaine behinde then according to the Oracle of Hippocrates delivered in the fortieth Aphorisme of his fifth book you may exhibit sneâ—zing medicines to the nostrills for these by that motion compresse the upper parts and the expulsive faculty being irritated out comes the Secundine Take black pepper Mustard seed Sagapenum of each a dram and a halfe Tobacco Castor White hellebore of each a dram A scruple of Euphorbium Make a fine powder of them and upon the point of a knife or thorow a quill let her sniffe up a little of it at a time or you may prescribe this Potion for two Doses it hath often done the Cure Take eight ounces of penniroyall water An ounce and a halfe of aqua Hysterica Two scruples of Castor in powder Mingle them for a Potion to be taken at twice or Take two scruples of the Trochischs de Carabre A scruple of Borace Halfe an ounce of the Syrup of juice of betony Three ounces of a decoction of Savine Mingle them for a Draught Suffumigations are also very profitable to bring away the Secundine Take Storax Benjamin Lign aloes of each two ounces Musk Civet of each a scruple Make a pessarie of them adding Vnguentum Agrippe and the juice of Mercury Liniments must not be omitted made with unguentum de Althaea de Agrippa oyle of Almonds and oyle of Dill fomentations and halfe tubs are equally necessary made of a decoction of camomile pellitory of the wall Motherwort Birthwort Origanum Sage Savine annise fennill and Line seeds unto all which may be added oyle of Almonds and oyle of Dill Glysters must also be injected and with good successe you may continually rub her hips and her thighes tye ligatures about her legs apply Cuppinglasses and cut a veine in her ankle When the Secundine is ejected or drawn out give the woman Cordialls as Bezoar stone Treacle Confect de hyacintha or Alkermes all which things are of undoubted vertue to restraine the malignity of the vapours sometimes a Mole remaineth in the Matrix after the birth which by reason of the congealed bloud and the fleshiâ— substance whereof it is compounded is as difficult to cure as the retention of the Secundine wherefore you must indeavour to expell that by the help of those remedies which we have prescribed above in the chapter of a Mola and here also a little above Note the difference betweene the Secundine and a Mole this is fixt and unmoveable but that is moveable from one place to another in a Mole or when a woman is troubled with that halfe conception so called a black and clotted bloud drops from the Matrix which upon the retention of the Secundine appeares not CHAP. IV. Of the Dead Childe CErtaine it is that the Childe dyes in the Mothers wombe for many causes the first of these is an inward cause as a defect of aliment or the corruption of it the second is a most vehement burning Fever which by the excessive heat thereof wastes the spirits and destroyes the naturall heat The third cause is an unseasonable evacuation of bloud at the nose the mouth the Matrix or by phlebotomy The fourth is an exuperance or an immoderate predominancy of humours in the body The fifth is a great quantity of moysture loosening the vessells The fixth is some vehement medicine The first outward cause is some blow the second a Cough the third vociferations or loud and clamorous yawlings the fourth sneezing the fifth sad tydings the fixth some horrible and dreadfull sights The Childe may be known to be dead by a coldnesse about the Mothers navell and by a kinde of fixt and immoveable weight in her belly by a bad taste in her mouth and by her stinking breath Use your utmost activity and cunning to bring away the dead childe both by inward administrations and by outward applications inwardly let her take this Potion Take a a dram of the Trochishs of myrrhe Castor Storax Borace of each ten graines Foure ounces of a decoction of
to the swelled feet But if the humour fall down againe into the legs by reason of an habituall distemper in the upper parts you must either make an issue upon the knee or else provoke her to sweat with a decoction of Salsaparilla and China roots for by the vertue of these Simples the humour is made thin and more apt for expulsion aud the lower parts wax more firme and strong CHAP. VIII Of an inflammation in the Matrix after a womans Delivery THe Cause of an Inflammation in the Matrix is a hot and boiling bloud retained in the vessells and putrifying The signes are a paine in her secret Parts a vehement Fever much heat swelling and a great itching about all the parts of the Matrix hereupon the woman becomes very prone to fainting fits to lye as if she were stupified to talke idely and the like by reason of the consent between the Matrix and the other parts as we have already shewed Lastly she can neither goe to stoole nor make water without great difficulty because the parts are so exceedingly swelled This is a most terrible disease as well in regard of the Symptomes as of the Imposthume which if it be broken leaves behinde it an incurable Vlcer from whence filthy and noysome exhalations are communicated to the principall parts which is an unerring signe of Death The Cure is Universall and Particular the universall is the opening of a veine in the ankle regard being had onely to the part inflamed and the motion of nature but afterwards we deny not but it may be expedient and efficacious to draw bloud from the arme in respect of the Fever The Particular is accomplisht by lenifying medicines and by washing the part the one is done by a Cataplasm made after this manner Take two ounces of the crums of white Bread The Pap of rosted apples The Pulp of cassia newly drawn out of each an ounce Half an ounce of the mucilage of Fleabane seeds Ten graines of Saffron Make a Cataplasme according to Art But if the Inflammation seeme to hasten to suppuration which you may perceive by the Fever and the vehemence of the paine then you must discreetly assist Nature by an application of suppurating medicines but by no meanes adventure to give her a purge remedies of the former sort are as follow Take an ounce of marish mallow roots The leaves of mallowes And marish mallowes of each a handfull and a halfe Line seed Fenugreek of each halfe an ounce Boile them in a sufficient quantity of breast-milke unto softnesse pulp them thorough a Sieve and add to the pulp Two ounces of Hogs-grease An ounce of oyle of roses Make your Cataplasm When you have overcome the Imposthume use this Injection with a Syringe Take six ounces of a decoction made with wole barley and rose leaves An ounce and a halfe of honey of roses strained Make an Injection and wash the ulcerated part very often every day till the paine cease and the Vlcer be healed though she continue the use thereof for weeks months and yeares CHAP. IX Of too little and too much Milke WAnt of milk ariseth from these three severall Causes First from the fault of the milk Secondly from some impediment which hinders the transmission of the milke to the breasts or if it be transmited it is not retained Thirdly a penury or lack of bloud either for want of necessary food or by reason of some immoderate issue of bloud from the Matrix or from some other part The Signes of these things are the slendernesse of the breast a sharp taste in the milke and a bad smell other signes you need none because the disease is manifest of it selfe in the meane time you must take heed that this corrupt milke doe not settle in the Breasts and exulcerate them wherefore beginning with the first cause you must correct and amend the faults of the milke by purging out the bad juice if phlegme abound give her hot things not onely to purge her but also to nourish her body if choler be predominant prescribe cooling and moistning things But when the Breasts doe neither draw the bloud nor retaine it you must be solicitous to strengthen the Breasts by drawing bloud unto them to this purpose you must rub her body apply fomentations and Cataplasmes that will moderately heat and expell made of marish mallow roots the leaves of Violets mallowes melilot fenugreek the crum of white breead and the yolks of Eggs. Moreover if the parts want nourishment then let her feed upon the choicest dishes or at least appoint such things for her as are good to increase bloud and milke as eggs butter milke boiled with fennill parsnips and the like Rock her to sleep by peaceable and sweet admonitions and exercise your wits to keep her from anger melancholy and all other perturbations of the minde It will not be hurtfull but rather expedient to allow her the use of good wine but then remember to put into it the powder of earth wormes 〈◊〉 to this is the immoderate plâ—â—ty and superfluitie of the milke which you may easily discerne by that which comes away therefore if you suspect that the bloud will congeale and grow clotted then lessen the abundance of the mike with a thin and spare diet enjoyne her to be very abstemious and moderate in her drinke and if her Courses be stopped open a veine in her ankle but otherwise in her arme rub her legs and use all other meanes to divert the bloud from the Breasts but above all things let her use Exercise which is the best remedie in this case Yet if the bloud be congealed and if by the exhalation of the thinner part the rest wax thick then you must administer attenuating and drying medicines to cut make thin and dissolve the clotted bloud of this sort are Emplastrum de muciloginibus and emplastrum de Meliloto among which you may mingle the juice of Smallage and Frankincense CHAP. X. Of the Inflammations of the Breasts VVOmens Breasts those delicate and tender parts are not only frequently afflicted with the congealing of the bloud but they are likewise very apt to be inflamed by reason of a mixt plenty of bloud and milke whereby they â—well exceedingly looke of a high red colour and are full of paine and sorenesse This Inflammation is accompanied with a Fever which the Physitians call Lactaria that is by Interpretation the Fever of the milke or the milky Fever and the learned Midwives call it Pila because presently unlesse the Breasts be wâ—ll chafed and rubbed there appeareth to the touch an exact resemblance of a Ball This taketh not beginning from any venomous humour contained in the Breasts but is rather to be accounted a Symptome driven to the Breasts by the motion of Nature and the bloud it is likewise very hardly distinguishable from a true Fever in which all the signes are conspicuous and manifest as appeare in this the swelling in the Breasts onely being excepted which is not some Ball accidently swallowed with the drinke as many learned men have vainely and irrationally surmised for how is it possible that a Ball should slip from the stomack thorough those slender passages of the Messentery and the Liver the hollow veine and the Axillary veines to the region of the Breasts therefore in my Judgment it is a phlegmatick matter ravelled as it were by the burning heat of the part into long threads as it happeneth to the slow matter contained in the Kidneys and the Bladder If the Fever and the Inflammation be urgent you must immediately command a veine in her ankle to be opened if it happen presently after her delivery but if a moneth be overpast let the Basilick vein on the same side be opened You must prescribe medicines to râ—pell the humour but be carefull that they be not extreame cold least the humour should retire back to the principall parts a Glyster also must be first injected and you may afterwards prescribe this Poultis following which will mollifie and dissolve the humour and be very profitable Take an ounce of marish mallow roots The leaves of mallowes Violets Flantane of each a handfull and a halfe Boile them altogether in milke to softnesse and pulp them thorough a Sieve and to the pulp add Foure ounces of the crum of white Bread A scruple of Saffron Mingle them and make a Poultis Many times the Breasts and the Nipples are full of chaps which exceedingly torment and paine a woman these are caused by a sharp waterish humour falling down upon them and may be cured with mallowes boiled in breast-milke or with the white of an egg or with Lilly leaves moistned in oyle or with Vnguentum Pompholygos or which will exceed all the former with oyle of Nutmegs among which you may mingle bolearmenick with Cerus and some drops of oyle of Lead or some other oyle by it self CHAP. XI Of wrinckles remaining in the Matrix after a Womans Delivery and of the meanes to contract the Matrix VVHen a woman is delivered there appeare Chaps or Wrinckles by reason of the coming forth of the Childe and the flux of the Menstruum these we have often cured with gentle astringent medicines having first administred this Injection thorough a Syringe Take halfe an ounce of Comphrey roots Two drams of Cyprus nuts Pomegranet flowers Red roses of each as many as you can containe between your thumb and two fingers at twice Myrtle seeds Shumach seeds of each a dram Boile them in a sufficient quantity of red wine to sixteen ounces and reserve the strained liquor for an Injection or Take a dram of Comphrey roots Cyprus nuts and the seeds of rhois Of each halfe a dram As many red roses as your thumb and two fingers can grasp Beat them to a grosse powder and with an ounce of unguent Pompholygos and a piece of Cotton make a Pessary With the same medicines intermingliâ—n some other things that are greater binders you may help the loosenesse and widenesse of the secret parts which if they be not seasonably and prudently contracted may possibly be a cause that the woman will have no more Children Some Midwives use water wherein steele hath been infused which we dislike not provided that when you boile the water you put in a quantity of Sumach seeds Medlar seeds and red Roses FINIS