most part there is but one yet sometimes there are more whereof some cleave very strongly to the Womb others very slightly if women miscarry of them before the 2d Month as I said before they are call'd false Conceptions and when they keep them longer and that this strange body begins to grow bigger then they are called Moles and here you must know that your false Conceptions are more Membranous and sometimes full of corrupted Seed but your Moles are altogether fleshy they cleave to the Womb almost always and are sustained by the blood with which it is always furnished just as plants are by the moisture of the Earth Sometimes there is a Child together with a Mole from which it is sometimes divided and sometimes cleaving to its body which puts it in great danger of being Monstrous or mishaken because of the Compression which this strange body causeth to the little Infant as yet being but very tender Thus having at large given you my Opinion concerning Moles and false Conceptions their causes signs and differences there remains now nothing more concerning this matter to be demonstrated but the manner how they ought to be drawn forth of the Womb. And now seeing that these things contained in the Womb are wholly unnatural their expulsion must be procured as soon as possible may be the which is very difficult to be performed when these strange Bodies cleave so fast to the Womb and especially the Mole therefore to avoid the abundance of accidents and inconveniences as near as may be that these unnatural things will produce they must be endeavoured to be expell'd as soon as may be and for the Mola you must before you come to the Manual Operation try if by any means you can to cause the Woman to expel it of her self to the which purpose you are to administer to her strong and sharp clysters to stir up throws for to open the Womb to give way to it moistning also and loosening the Womb with softening Oyntments Oyls and Grease not omitting bleeding in the foot if there be occasion Now the Mole will certainly be excluded by these means provided it be but of an indifferent bigness or that it cleave but very little or not at all to the Womb but if it shalâ— stick strongly to the bottom of the Womb or that it be very big the Womam wilâ— hardly be rid of it without the help of a Physitian Chyrurgions or Midwifes hand iâ— which case after that you have placed thâ— Woman conveniently as if you were to fetcâ— a dead Child then slide up your hand into the Womb and therewith draw forth the Mole but if it be so big that it cannot be brought forth whole then 't is wholly the man's work who for this purpose use your crotchet or knife but this is very rare because it is of a tender soft substance much more plyable then a Child's but if you find it be only joyned to the Womb and close fasten'd you must separate it gently with your fingers ends your Nails being paired by putting them by little and little between the Mole and the Womb beginning on that side where it doth not stick so fast to the Womb and so pursuing it until it be quite loosened being mighty careful if you find it grow to too fast of rending or bursting the proper substance of the Womb and proceeding as hereafter I shall speak of for the extraction of a Burthen staying behind in the Womb when the string is broken off For these same Moles never have any string fastened to them nor any burthen from whence they should receive their nourishment but they do of themselves immediately draw their nourishment from the Vessels of the Womb to which they are almost allways joined and sticking in some place and as for the substance of their flesh 't is also much more hard then that of the burthen and sometimes Schyrrhous which is the cause why it is difficult to be separated from the Womb. As to a false Conception although it be much less then a Mole yet it often puts a woman in hazard of her Life by reason of great fluddings which very often happens when the Womb would discharge it self of it and endeavours to expel it the which seldom cease till it be come away because it doth continually endeavour to exclude it whereby the blood is excited to flow away and in a manner squeesed out of the open Vessels Now the safest and best way and remedy for a Woman in this case is to fetch away the false Conception as soon as may be because the Womb can very hardly avoid it of its own nature without artificial help for it being very small the Womans impulse in bearing downwards cannot be so effectual when the Womb is but little distended by so small a body as when it contains a considerable bulk in it for then it is the more strongly compressed with the throws Many times 't is very difficult to fetch away these false Conceptions because the Womb doth not open and dilate it self ordinarily beyond the proportion of what it contains and that being but very little so is its opening which is the reason why the Midwife is sometimes so far from introducing her whole hand that she can scarce get in a few Fingers with which she will be obliged to finish the Operation as well as she may or can by proceeding in the following manner when she hath introduced them Having then very well anointed her hand she must slide up the neck of the Womb into the inward Orifice the which she will find sometimes to be but very little dilated and then very gently put in one of her Fingers the which she must presently turn and bend on every side until that she hath made way for a second and afterwards for a 3d or more if it may be done without violence but many times she hath enough to get in but 2 between which she must take hold of the false Conception as Crabs do with their claws when they fasten upon any thing and then she must gently draw it forth as also the clodded blood which she there shall find and then afterwards undoubtledly the fludding will cease if no part of the Conception be left behind but if the inward Orifice cannot be more dilated then to admit of one Finger and that the fludding is so violent as to endanger the Womans life then is matter and manner to be wholly committed to care and artful industry of the skilful Physitian or Chirurgeon Mid. Now Sir having discoursed so learnedly of these things let us in the next place if you please discourse of the Afterbith SECT XXXIV Of the Secundine or Afterburden and the best and safest way to draw it forth DR Come then Mrs. if you please tell me what the Secundine is Mid. The Secundine is that in which the Infant lyeth in the Womb and may be called a second house or covering made by the
closed there is no possibility of its turning inside out how to remedy it I have told you If she be young and disease new easily expect a cure for a loosening or falling out but if she old and of a long standing 't is so much the more incurable Here do two things 1. reduce the Womb to its place 2. strengthen it and keep it there for the first if it be quite out or turned first make her render Urine and give a Clyster if necessary to empty the Guts then lay her on her back her Hips raised a little higher than her Head foment all with a little wine and water luke-warm and with a soft rag put it up wagging it little and little from side to side and if this be too painful anoint it with Oil of sweet Almonds wiping off the Oil as much as may be after As to the keeping it in its place and strengthening it after let her keep in Bed on her back her Hips a little raised Legs something crossed Thighs joined but the best is to put a pessary up the neck of the Womb the Figures of which you may see some of the Figure of an Egg of the length and bigness of the Womb's neck but these are Subject to fall out and so are not so convenient as those made of a piece of Cork they are to be of a thick circular figure like a small wreath and peirc'd i' th middle with a pretty big hole they must be cover'd with white wax and pretty large pull them out with a Finger to clear them they may be made some round others somewhat square or trianguler the corners must be blunted or rounded While the Lochia flow use nothing else to strengthen and above all swath not her belly but only for a stay for many Midwifes by a strong compression force it more down use a Bed-pan and ly along if possible when she goes to stool keeping her hand all the while on the bottom of her Belly but haveing cleansed well then use astringent injections and respect must be had to the whole habit of body to dry up the humors by a course of Physick and she must keep her Bed for 5 or 6 weeks Sometimes by the great throws she endures in Labor the fundament falls out now if the Child be very forward i' th passage 't will be enough to hinder it if possible before it happens perswading her not to help her throws so much but if it be down she must stay till the Child be born for it will be difficult before without bruising the Gut then reduce it as the Womb giving no Clysters for straining will cause it SECT IV. Of the bruises and rents of the outward parts of the Womb caused by Labors THese happen from the bigness of the Child's head which makes her cry in her first-Labor that the Midwife scratches those parts when 't is the head makes a separation of the parts and bruises and somtimes rents them of which they are not insensible after Labors These must not be neglected least they turn to malignant Ulcers then as soon as she 's lay'd if there be only simple bruises apply the Pultis before directed to those parts to ease pain very warm for 5 or 6 hours then lay some few rags dipt in Oil of St. John's wort on each side and renewing them twice or thrice a day foment with Barley water and Honey of Roses and when she makes water defend them with fine rags If the bruises be great and inflam'd and an Impostume follows it must be open'd and cur'd by the Chyrurgeon as also when by an unlucky accident the Privity and Fundament is rent in one which when cur'd she will be oblig'd if she happen to be with Child to prevent the like to anoint the parts with soft'ning Oils and Ointments and forbear helping her throws too strongly at once but usually when these parts have been once rent 't is very difficult to prevent the like because the scar streightens the parts Lastly if by neglecting such a rent the Lips be cicatriz'd and the cure be desired 't is the Chyrurgeons business SECT V. Of the After-pains IF these come from wind i' th Bowels it runs from side to side and sometimes towards the Womb to prevent this some give of Oil of sweet Almonds and syrup of Maiden-hair each 2 ounces immediately after Child-birth and to those that loath Oil I prefer warm broth or caudle and give a Clyster and repeat it as need is if it cease not thus 't is maintained by some other cause If from some strange body i' th Womb see to cast it out If her clensings be suddenly stop'd give Clysters to draw down use hot foments to the bearing place bleed i' th Foot and if full i' th Arm first Rest alone will fortifie and unite the stretching or breaking o' th Womb's cords but never forget in all pains to mind the Lochia SECT VI. Of the Lochia whence they come if good or bad their stopping and what ensues THere flows waterish humors from the Womb as soon as the Child is born besides those before when the Skins break which are often bloody because mostly blood's mixt with them but immediately after the burden is loosen'd there flows pure blood but after the 1st day there comes waterish humors when the Vessels close then they become thickish by heat more or less as they come in greater or lesser quantity and the length of time they stay there and then they resemble troubled milk which makes People believe 't is Breast milk Now I believe the cause of their change of colour consistance and diminution of â—heir quantity to be no other then that in â—he suppuration of a great wound as soon â—s 't is made it bleeds fresh and much but â—fter it yeilds only bloodish humors then a white matter so you must imagine there is a kind of wound made by loosening the burden from the Womb and what comes from it is the Lochia so that they are not what hath stay'd in and about the Womb during all the time of Child-bearing for that 's the Secundine neither is their any certain rule for their quantity and continuance being according to the Season Country Age Temper more or less hot or moist the habit more or less full and Vessels remaining long or short time open but 't is finish'd commonly in 15 or 20 days but after a mischance the less the fetus is and the less time she is gone with Child the less are the Lochia If they be fresh but the 3 or 4 first days they are good else 't is a pure bloody flux which will be very dangerous if of no ill scent without sharpness so we know the Womb 's without inflammation or corruption and if they flow in so great quantity as to cause Faintings or Convulsions she 's in danger of death or very much weaken'd grows lean and pale Legs and Thighs swell and becomes Dropsical The
Bed-pan and sometimes when they have least expected it At the same time to prevent a Feaver or many other accidents which usually happen she may be let blood in the Arm or Foot according as it shall be convenient and strengthen'd that the cadaverous vapors coming from the putrifaction of the burthen ascend not to the heart and noble parts which must be done by good cordials often used not such as are made of Treacle and Methridate c. for which no reason can be given but their specific or rather imaginary Faculties and are fitter to cause vomiting then comfort the heart But with true Cordials which are such as yield good nourishment and at the same time comfort the stomach without offending it as those drugs do which are only good for those that sell them Wherefore I must order her good broths and gellies and to drink Orengade or Limonade or to put some Syrup of Lemons in her refreshing Liquors or if she be free from a Feaver a little wine and water mixed which is the best and most natural of all Cordials Besides other remedies must be provided according to the accidents that happen by reason of the staying behind of the burthen always remembring to bring it away as soon as possible for as long as it stays in the Womb the woman feels great pains continually almost like them before her Child was born and until the whole be voided the pains will still be repeated although in vain unless the matter be well disposed before but the lesser the piece is of the retained burthen the more difficult 't is many times to be expelled because the impulse the woman can make by helping her throws are not so great when the matter contained in the Womb is small as when 't is of a considerable bigness for then 't is more strongly thrust and compress'd which is the reason why a woman miscarries with greater difficulty then when brought to bed at her full time And here you must know there are divers Midwifes who having broken the Navil-string as before said leave their work imperfect and commit the rest to nature's work but very often the poor woman dyes because of the great mischiefs which usually happen before the suppuration of the burthen so retained The which to avoid when they meet with the like case I would advise them to fetch it away as I have directed or if they find themselves uncapable to do it because the hand must be put up into the Womb which is more properly the work of a Physitian or Chyrurgion expert in those cases then let them immediately send for one that so he may be able before the Womb closeth to introduce his hand for the longer 't is deferr'd the more difficult will the work be Dr. Hitherto very well Mrs. Eutrap have you exprest your knowledge and experience in your Art even from the first generation and formation of the Child in the Womb to the bringing of it safely forth into the world But yet good Mrs. Eutrapelia there are divers Women that will many times be asking you your advice concerning other distempers that usually attend them both before Child-birth as Barreness c. and also after they are delivered of their Child both inward and outward because their modesty prompts them rather to come to you than to the Physitian or Chyrurgion therefore I would have you to let me know how far your skill and knowledge extends as to these matters because that if you should at any time be mistaken in your measures in the cure of any of those diseases I shall freely and candidly assist you with the best of my directions to set all right and streight as they say and in good order Mid. Honoured Sir I am so extreamly oblig'd to you for this kind offer that I know not which way to express my acknowledgment and I shall most readily answer your request and therefore shall first begin with a discourse of Barrenness PART II. SECT I. Of Barrenness and the several kinds thereof MId BArrenness is 1. Natural 2. Vnnatural 3. Accidental Natural is when the instrument of Generation being perfect in both Sexes no unlawful or unskilful means used to cause it yet the Woman remains naturally Barren neither Age or Diseases or natural defect hindring yet she Conceives not The reason of this may be 1. When both Sexes are of a Complexion 2. Want of Love a 3d may be the letting Virgins blood i' th Arm before their Courses come down or other ill administration of internal and external remedies 4. A loss of carnal Copulation when Sexes come to the School of Venus either not at all or so coldly that as good never a whit as nere the better and this is from a cold Distemper and is cured by such things as heat and nourish 2. Unnatural that is diabolical to prevent which Authors have left several ways as to carry the Herb St. Johns wort about them which is call'd a driver away of Devils or a Plaister thereof applied to the Reins with many others 3. Accidental which comes by some casual infirmity upon the body of either Sex at a time the which being taken away the effect ceaseth 't is sometimes from the Man but most commonly from the Woman for Mans instruments of Generation being perfect and he in health I know no accidental cause in him And the chief cause in Women lyes in her Womb as the stopping of the flowers or overflowing the Flux of the Womb its falling down inflamation windiness heat and dryness in all which I shall be brief because if there be difficulty you are to have recourse to the learned Physitian 1. Then the Terms stop 1. Naturally 2. Vnnaturally they stop naturally in some about the 50th year in some before rarely till 55. the unnatural cause is 1. much exercise 2. in fat Women the Veins are narrow and blood turns to fat 3. by long sickness 4. when they have the piles in lieu of their Terms 5. a hot or cold distemper of the Womb 6. care fear grief c. I shall speak here only of the 5th for causes of the last being taken away the effect ceases and the rest the ingenious Midwife will remedy Now seeing these stoppings come usually from default of the Womb the best way to help it is by strengthening the Womb first then you shall prepare your way if there be occasion let blood i' th the foot if she be not full of humors if she be then in the Arm first which I have most commonly known to do alone then if need be give her a draught of White-wine wherein an handful of Centaury or stinking Arach hath been boiled and if there be a pain in the head add an handful of Verven or some Parcely roots Fennel or Lowage c. not forgetting in fulness of humors to purge with half a dram of Extractum Rudii and as much Pil. Mastichinae mixt made into 12 Pills whereof take 3 at
of the World and than which there can hardly happen a greater defamation to the Female Sex Insomuch as some like Rachel have cry'd out to their Husbands for Children or else their Lives will lye on 't rather than endure the reproach of Barrenness and some Women have preferr'd their maids to their Husbands so that their Child might be reputed theirs to take away the blemish of Barrenness But you shall find but few Women of their minds now a days so then we shall in the first place speak of the causes of this so odious and distateful a Disease and then of their removing for you know 't is an old saying and true take away the cause and the effect will consequently cease Now the chief method of finding out all causes which do or may bring damage to the faculties of the body is no other then the knowledge of the means whereby these faculties perform their Actions in the time of health and soundness of body And whereas to the producing of any natural Conception there is a necessity of distinction of both Sexes and a conjunction and carnal Copulation of the Man and Woman without which no Generation can be effected As for that story of a certain Maids conceiving with Child by standing in a Bath where some Mans seed had been cast the Womb drawing it to it as the Load-stone doth Iron or Jet straw it was either a miracle in Nature or she so gave out to save her bacon and so no ways belongs to our purpose and having before declared the manner in other Sect. Therefore we shall here lay down the manifest causes of Barrenness from either Sex so that neither may be unjustly blamed where they happen for since the Women have in this case a great interest and damage too if the fault be in the Man because they may often help their Husbands defect and in so doing pleasure themselves we shall not therefore omit to treat of the causes thereof which may happen to men and moreover there being a necessity that both Sexes be furnished with fit and proper Instruments for the work of Generation as the man with a Yard c. and a Woman with a Womb c. Then even reason will tell you that if there chance to be any defect or dissaffection in nature in any of the Members of either Sex belonging to this work of Generation the fruitfulness or Conception must necessarily be hindred impaired or quite and clear abolished To begin then first with what belongs to the Mans side one cause of Barrenness laid down by many Authors is the over-much length of the Yard by reason whereof the Seed is too much cooled in the passage before it can be injected home into the Womb. But though this be a somewhat probable and plausable reason yet I am of opinion that it is but weak and will not hold water with those of greater reason for all Souls are not endued with a like proportion of reason for the Seed passing through the pipe of the Yard is kept hot enough the generative Spirits at that time oft flocking to the Yard to assist it in so great a work and the like being performed on the Woman's part I cannot see how it can be any ways possible it should take cold in its journey but on the contrary side it may be rationally imagin'd that the long Yard is most fit and commodious for Conception by sending Seed to the inmost and furthermost parts of the Womb and so most likely to be there retained its due time And now others on the contrary side will have the short Yard the cause of rendring Men unfruitful and these I think have more reason on their side because it cannot so well inject the Seed into the Womb as you heard before But indeed neither can this be a firm reason for unfruitfulness in Man since 't is confirmed by experience that such an one hath begot Children likewise But a greater reason of unfruitfulness in the man may be some vitiousness or defect in his Yard as if it be crooked or if any of its Ligaments be writhed or broken or bruised whereby the passages through which the seed should flow be corrupt stop'd or vitiated or some Disease or imperfection be either in the proper or Neighbor parts thereof Another cause of Barrenness by defect of the Yard is a too much weakness and tenderness thereof it being not strongly enough erected to inject the Seed into the Womb. Then another cause in Men may be some vice in the Stones as if they be oppressed with any Inflammation or swelling or wound or ulcer Also the Man may be Barren from his want of Seed or if it be nought as in the Running of the Reins or Venereal Disease Glutony or Drunkenness c. and then too frequent Carnal Copulation is a cause of Barrenness because it attracteth the Seedy moisture from the Stones before 't is sufficiently prepared and concocted as all other members of the body by institution of nature use to draw their accustomed juice to themselves so now if any one by daily Copulation draws out all the moisture of his Seed then do the Stones draw the moist humors from the upper Veins to themselves and so having but a little blood in them they are forced of necessity to cast it out raw and thus the stones being deprived of the moisture of their veins draw the same from the upper veins and the upper veins from all the parts of the body for their proper nutriment to the great damage of the body robbing the same of the vital Spirits It is therefore no wonder if those that use immoderate Copulation are very weak in their bodies seeing the whole body is thereby depriv'd of its best and purest blood and vital Spirits insomuch as those that have been too much addicted to that pleasure have killed themselves in the Act can it then be a wonder that such Seed is not fit for Generation And having now shewn the causes of Barrenness in Men we shall now discourse of those in Women Now the causes of Barrenness in Women proceed either from the Age or evil temper of the Womb and its vicious conformation and parts depending on it or the indisposition of the whole habit of the body The evil form of the womb renders Women barren according to the great Hippocrates the Prince of all Physitians as if the mouth or neck of the Womb be turned backwards towards the great Gut or a side out of its place contrary from the Privities if it appear too big or if it be fallen down before the Privities to which may be added when 't is so narrow that it cannot admit the Yard to enter and when 't is wholly or in part closed by some inward or outward skin which is very rare if at all or by a swelling collosity or cicatrice c. But then it is not sufficient that the Mans Yard enter the Neck which is the
with juice of Oranges or Lemons Verjuice or rose vinegar or eat after Meals a little Marmelade of Quinces and she must forbear fat meat and sauces for they soften the Skins of the Stomach which are weak and loose by vomitings and also sweet sauces But if for all this that it continues although the Woman be above half gone 't is a clear sign there are cleave corrupt humors to the inward sides of the Stomach which must be purged by stool to effect which give half a dram of Rhubard a dram or two at most of Sena infuss'd in posset-Ale to which streined add an ounce of Syrup of Succory which dissolves the humors and in voiding them comforts the parts or you may give her Cassia and Tamarinds always adding a little Rhubarb or syrup of Succory compound If once be not enough repeat it some few days respite between If it continues for all this you must rest here lest some worse thing happen for she is then in great danger of miscarrying and if the Hiccoup takes them from too much emptiness by vomiting and purging 't is very bad as Hippocrates Prince and oracle of Physick teacheth us As for great Cupping-glasses which some advice to be applied to the Stomach to keep it in its place I believe it 's a chip in Potage because the Stomach is loose and no way cleaving to this upper part of the Belly But since these vomitings cool and weaken it I should advise them to wear a piece of Scarlet or Flannel or Lamb-skin which would help digestion SECT IV. Of the pains of the Back Loins Reins and Hips ALL these Accidents are but the effects of the widening of the Womb and the compression it makes on the Neighboring parts by its weight These are greater the first time she is with Child for afterwards the Womb only receives the same dimensions it had before and the cords which hold it in its natural place as well round as large suffer a greater stress being much drawn and streightned by the bigness and weight of the Womb to wit the large ones those of the Back and Loins which answer to the Reins because these two strings are strongly fast'ned towards these parts and the round ones cause those of the Groins Share and Thighs where they end These are sometimes so much stretch'd by this weight and higness of the Womb that they are torn chiefly if the Woman chance to have a false step which causes very great pains and other worse accidents as it happened to a certain Woman being six months gone of her first Child who felt the like after she had stumbled and perceived at the same time something crack towards her Reins and Loins which was one of the large cords made a noise by the suddain jolt she receiv'd at the same instant she felt extream pains in her Reins and Loins and all one side of her belly which caused her immediately to vomit very often with much violence and the next day was taken with a great continued Feaver which lasted seven or eight days without being able to sleep or rest one hour all that time she vomited all she took with a strong and frequent Hiccoup and great pains which seem'd as if they would hasten her Labor which I was very apprehensive of as also of her death but by the help of God causing her immediately to be put to Bed where she rested 12 whole days she was thrice let blood in her Arm on several days and took a grain of Laudanum at twice in the yelk of an Egg a little to ease her violent pains by giving her rest taking also from time to time good strengthening Cordials so that all these Symptoms which at first seemed desperate ceased by little and little and she went out her full time and then was happily delivered of a Son which lived 15 months notwithstanding all those mischievours accidents befel her which were enough to have kil'd half a dozen others but God sometimes is pleased to work Miracles by nature assisted with remedies fit for the purpose as well as by his Grace And also the Womb causeth the pains of the Hips by its weight in bearing too much upon them And assure your selves there is nothing will ease all these pains better then to rest in Bed and bleed i' th Arm if there be any great extension or breaking of any cord of the Womb as was in this case and when the Womb bears too much upon the Hips if she cannot keep her Bed she must support her Belly with a broad swaith SECT V. Of the pains of the Breasts AS soon as a Woman conceives her monthly blood wanting ordinary evatuation and she daily breeding blood there is a necessity she consuming but little whilst first with Child that the Vessels being too full should discharge part as it doth upon the parts dispos'd to receive it such as the kernelly parts especially the Breasts which suck up a great quantity of it which swelling them causes this pain which she feels and happens also to those whose Terms are only stop'd To ease her we ought in the beginning to leave it to Nature the chief Physitian and she must only have a care she receive no blows thereon nor be streight laced but after the third or fourth month the blood being still sent to the Breasts in great store 't is much better to evacuate it by bleeding in the Arm then to turn it back upon some other part by repercussive or binding Medicines because it cannot flow to any part where it can do less hurt than these and to shun the accident oâ— which Hippocrates speaks in his 40th Aphorism of the 5th book If Blood be carried in too great abundance to the Breasts it shews thâ— Woman is in danger of being Frantick because of the transport which may be madâ— thence of the brain whcih is voided by moderate bleeding i' th Arm and a regular cooling dyet moderately nourishing SECT VI. Of involuntary voiding and stoping of Urine THE seat of the Bladder which is just upon the Womb is sufficient to instruct us why Women with Child are sometimes troubled with difficulty of Urine and why often they cannot hold their water which is caused 2 ways 1. because the Womb by its bigness and weight presses the bladder so that 't is hindred from its ordinary extension and so incapable of containing a reasonable quantity of Urine which is the cause the bigger she grows and the nearer her time the oftner she's compelled to make water 2. if the weighty burthen of the Womb doth very much press the bottom of the bladder it forceth the Woman to make water every moment but if the neck of it be pressed it is fil'd full with Urine being not able to expel it because the Sphincter Muscle in this compression cannot be opened to let it out which causes great pain Sometimes by its sharpness stirs up the bladder often by pricking it to discharge it self and
cur'd of this bearing down after she 's layd than before for then the Cords will be easier strengthen'd and she may then use pessaries which she cannot so well with Child The help for this from any cause is to keep her Bed or swaith her and if she have difficulty in urining help her self by lifting up her belly with both hands but if humors cause this let her keep a drying dyet as Rost-meat c. and refrain Copulation streight lacing and above all when in Labor take care that neither by throws nor birth of the Child nor violent drawing the burthen that she get not a falling out of the Womb instead of a bearing down or weight which is soon done if the method taught in the birth of a Child when its Head thrusts the Neck of the Womb forth before it be not well observed SECT XIII Of the Dropsie of the Womb c. THese waters are either bred in the Womb or brought thither from some other parts as in the Dropsie of the belly it passes by traâ—sudation through the porous substance of the Skins of the Womb and these have deceived the Midwifes as well as patients who having along time hoped and been made to hope for a Child at length find nothing but waters whereof some have voided a pailful of which are many relations by Physitians and Chirurgeons These are bred i' th Womb when 't is too cold or weakned by a violent Labor before or from suppression of filthy humors When these are sent to the Womb from other parts they are never wrapt in a particular skin but retain'd only by its exact closure and flow away as soon as it begins to open but when bred in the Womb which is for the most part after Copulation if the seed be too cold waterish or corrupt they are then sometimes contained within the Skin which hinder the patients from a speedy discharge of them She going with it almost as long as with a Child and this is it perswades them they are with Child But 't is easie to avoid being deceiv'd if you take notice of the Signs of a true Conception for in a Dropsie her brests are fallen have no Milk nor finds her self quicken at the usual time but a bubling of moved waters a greater weight in her Belly and more equal the Womb Hips Thighs and Legs swell and worse Colour in her Face and as it may come alone so it may accompany a true Conception the waters being contained in the Womb without the Childs Skin Some have voided 3 or 4 quarts above 2 months before they were brought to Bed and then they are contained in the Womb without the Skins or else the Child would be forc'd to be born presently after they are voided The best Remedy is to wait patiently the time of delivery observing a dry dyet but if 't is only contained in the Womb use diuretics and endeavour to procure her Courses and to destroy by purges the cause of the Generation of such superfluities of which the Womb is so full sometimes that it dischargeth some on the outward parts and chiefly the nearest as the Lips of the Privities which are so swell'd that they are quite blown up and in some are so big that they can't close their Thighs and hinders walking now because this may be inconvenient to her during Labor it will be requisite to remedy it before which must be done by a Lancet all along the Lips then applying compresses dipt in astringent wine Leeches though less painful are not so proper because their small Orifices close again as soon as remov'd but the other may be made as big or little as one will and kept open by ointment as long as is fit SECT XIV Of Abortion and its causes WHen a Woman Sir i' th beginning casts forth what she had retain'd by Conception 't is an Effiuxion of the Seed if a false Conception 't is an Expulsion but when the infant's form'd and begins to live if it come before time ordain'd by Nature 't is an Abortion and we say in general that every sharp Disease easily causes it in particular all the accidents before mentioned as also a great noise as Cannon of Thunder claps watching fasting stinks c. if she Miscarries without any of these accidents Hippocrates says any Woman indifferently corpulent miscarrying the 2d or 3d month without manifest cause 't is because the inward closers of the Womb's Vessels are full of viscous filth whereby they cant retain the weight of the fetus which is loosned from it to this are Phlegmatic Women Subject and who have the whites much which make the Womb slippery and loose Likewise the passions of the mind cause great hurt chiefly Choler but above all sudden fear There are other causes which may be said to proceed from the Infant as when its monstrous or hath an unnatural Situation If we find one or more of the said accidents and she hath a great heaviness in her belly falling like a ball on that side she turns and there comes stinking humors from her 't is a sign she will miscarry of a dead Child Now she is in more danger of her Life when she miscarries then at full time and in danger of miscarrying always if she miscarry at first because of the violent motion caused by frequent Copulation but they may preserve their fruit when their love is a little moderated We have taught before to prevent each accident Who are subject to Abortion must rest or keep in Bed refrein Copulation 〈◊〉 soon as she thinks she 's with Child avoiding diuretics and openers and be loose drest wear low-heel'd Shoos with broad Soals Her rest must be 5 or 6 or 9 or 15 days during which time may be applied to her belly compresses steep'd in Aromatic and Astringent Wine Some Midwifes giving Crimson silk minc'd small in the yelk of an Egg or Scarlet grains and Treddles of several Eggs put into a yelk is superstitious as if entring the Stomach it were able to fortifie the Womb and Child and keep it there PART III. Of Diseases and Symptoms happening to Women after Child-birth SECT I. Of Remedies for the Brests and lower parts of the Belly of Women newly delivered and how to draw back the Milk Mid. AS soon Sir as the Woman is deliver'd and burthen come away I see that a fludding follow not its loosening if not apply presently a soft closure 5 or 6 double to the Womb that done carry her to Bed removing all foul Linnen a little raising her Head and Body putting down her Legs and Thighs with a small pillow if she will under her hands lying on her back Then the best thing under the Sun to give her is a good broth and so leave her to sleep waking apply this pultis over the bottom of her Belly and Privities take 2 ounces of Oil of Sweet Almonds 2 or 3 new laid Eggs stir them together in a pipkin over hot Embers
when 't is thick apply it indifferently warm taking away the closures and clods of blood renew this if need be after 5 or 6 hours then make a decoction of Barley Linseed and Chervil or Marsh-Mallows and Violet leaves adding an ounce of honey of Roses to a pint and foment the bearing place Lukewarm 3 or 4 times a day for the first 5 or 6 days some use only milk and others Barley water After 10 or 12 days fortifie the parts with a decoction of Province Roses Plantan leaves and roots and Smith's water The 2d day use loose swaths with a large square bolster over the Belly till the 8th day taking it off i' th mean time often to anoint her Belly if it be sore with Oil of sweet Almonds and St. John's wort mixt then begin to swaith her streighter If she will not be a Nurse apply remedies to the Breasts to drive back the Milk if she will Nurse them keep her warm with soft clothes and if you fear too much blood carrying to them anoint them with Oil of Roses and a little Vinegar beat together and lay on fine Linnen dipt in 't let her not suck the Child the same day she 's deliver'd but stay 6 or 7 days In driving back the Milk some remedies hinder flowing of humors to the Breasts others scatter and in part dissolve the Milk therein Of the first sort are the last ointment or unguentum populeon and unguentum album equally mixt spread upon Linnen and applied Of the 2d is a Pultis made of Linseed Fenugreek Beans and Vetches powder'd boiled with the decoction of Chervil or Sage with Honey and Saffron some apply Honey only others rub the Breasts with Honey and lay on a red Cabbage leaf a little dryed the stalks taken away having great care she take not cold and above all procure ample voiding of the clensings by keeping the belly open by Clysters provoking them then the Milk will soon vanish SECT II. Of Fludding after Child-birth OF that preceding Labor before this blood now flows more abundantly by how much 't is hotter or mov'd by a long and hard Labor and the Woman 's full of blood and besides what 's said note sometimes this blood continuing to flow and remaining i' th bottom o th' Womb becomes clotted which causeth a new Flud and continues by Fits and i' th intervals there comes away some wheyishness of the imprison'd blood which dissolves and makes some ignorant People think the Flux is stop'd tho it continue flowing within wherein it stops only by the clotted blood when which comes away it begins a fresh This is a more dangerous accident then any can happen to one newly lay'd which dispatches her so soon if in great quantity that there 's often scarce time to remedy it so that you are immediately to apply remedies both to stop and turn back from the places whence it flows to which end if it be a false Conception piece of the burthen or clotted blood use all diligence to fetch them away or cause them to be speedily expell'd but if it flows and nothing remain bleed her i' th Arm not so much to empty the fulness as to turn the course lay her body equally flat not raised and keep quiet without turning from side to side nor must the upper part of her Belly be swath'd or bolstered keep her Chamber a little cool and not too warm in Bed All forbid Clysters lest they say humors be cal'd down but the contrary hath been experimentally found that great fluddings have been stopt by pretty strong clensing ones But if for all this the Flud continues then to the last Remedy which is to lay her upon fresh Straw with a single cloth upon it and no Quilt applying cloths wet in Vinegar and water along her Loins and if in the Winter a little warm give every half hour a little strong broth with a few spoonfuls of Gelly and between whiles the yelk of a new laid Egg give her not too much food at a time drinking red Wine with a little water wherein Iron hath been quenched If all this prevail not she will be in danger of her life SECT III. Of the bearing down and falling out of the Womb and Fundament of a Woman newly layd ANd here I shall make 2 sorts of Bearing down and 2 sorts of falling forth which differ but in degree for the first is when the Womb only bears down and comes not forth the 2d when it comes out of the Body The first sort of bearing down is when the full body of the Womb falls into the Neck in such manner as putting up a Finger you may feel the Orifice very near the 2d when the Womb being yet lower one can clearly perceive this Orifice quite without The falling out is twofold too in one the Womb comes quite forth but is not turn'd inside out nor can its inside be seen only its orifice which appears at the end of a great fleshy Mass which makes the body of the Womb and this is cal'd a falling forth of the Womb the other is cal'd a perversion or turning inside out most dangerous for you may perceive all even and without any Orifice and thus it seems to be only a great piece of bloody flesh almost like a Mans Cod which hangs between her Thighs and that which is wonderful in this case is the Womb the infants house goes forth at the Gate which is the inner Orifice A loosening or breaking of the Cords causes the bearing down which comes from hard Labor who have many whites are subject to it and heavy Children Coughing Sneezings a fall going in a Coach or Horseback great lifts burdens lifting the Arms too high and putting them over their head looseness great pains and needings all which shake and thrust the Womb downwards when with Child and the cords being loosened or broken cannot keep it up so that a bearing down doth easily follow the Birth of a Child but the most ordinary cause is violent travel when a Child cometh wrong and cannot be born so or hath too big an head or the inner Orifice not enough opened for the Womb is violently forced down and yet the Child can't advance into the passage because the cords are so rent or loosen'd or when the Secondine sticking close to the bottom is pul'd away on a sudden or too violently and much sooner if putting up the hand as when the String 's broke one pulls the body of the Womb instead of the After-birth but your directions will prevent this She feels a great weight at the bottom of her Belly extream pain i' th Reins and Loins and a bloodish moisture passes through this Mass of Flesh hanging between her Legs A loosening may happen to all Women a falling out but seldom a perfect perversion never but upon or immediately after a delivery because the inner Orifice is then almost as wide as its bottom but not at other times when
diseases ensue upon their stopping are almost innumerable so that to bring them down let her avoid all troubles of Spirit lye quiet with her Head and Breast a little rais'd if Feaverish use only broths with a little gelly above all shun cold drink give Clysters and foment her lower parts rub her Thighs and Legs downwards and bath them too and apply large Cupping-Glasses to the uppermost part of the inside of her Thighs bleed i' th Arm first if very full of humors for i' th Foot would draw too much to the Womb. SECT VII Of the Inflammation c. of the Womb. THis is very dangerous and the death of most caused from the Lochia stopt or bruise by two hard swathes falling out o' th Womb c. an Impostume or Cancer follows a bruise if not death wherefore temper the heat and humors first extracting or causing the expulsion of strange things remaining i' th Womb using not the least violence with Veal or Pullet broth with Lettice Purselan Succory Sorrel abstain from Wine keep quiet in Bed with anodine Clysters and bleed i' th Arm not i' th Foot reiterate it because 't is very pressing till the greatest part of fulness be a little evacuated an inflammation diminished then i' th Foot if need injecting in the Womb Barley water with Oil of Violets or milk An Apostume Schyrrhus or Cancer is the Physitians or Chyrurgions work SECT VIII Of the Inflammation and Apostemation of the Breasts THe Breasts being made of a spungy substance easily receive in too great abundance the humors flowing to them from all parts by blood being over-heat by throws and pains in travel and so are soon inflam'd being then painfully stretch'd to which helps the suppression of the Lochia and a fulness of the whole Body or it may happen from having been too streight lac'd some blow or bruise by lying upon them or for not giveing the Child milk Now convenient remedies are speedily to be applied lest dangerous symptoms follow wherefore the certainst means to hinder the Flux of so great quantity of blood to the Breasts is to procure a large evacuation of the Lochia the habit of the body is to be emptied by bleeding i' th the Arm after i' th Foot chasing into the breasts Oil of Roses and Vinegar beat together laying upon them unguentum refrigerens Galeni or unguentum album and a 3d part of populeon mixt or a pultis of the setlings in a Cutler's Grinstone-trough Oil of Roses and a little Vinegar mixt together If the pain continue great take the crums of white bread and milk with Oil of Roses and the yelks of raw Eggs upon all these may compresses be laid dipt in Vinegar and water or plantain water When you have emptied the greatest part of the humors and the height of the Inflammation is past then draw the milk or else unless it be turn'd to matter pure Honey laid to them resolves milk or a Cabbage leaf anointed therewith being first a little wither'd and the hard stalks and veins taken away lace not too streight nor apply course clothes A whole red Cabbage boil'd in River water to a pap and well bruised in a wooden or Marble Mortar and pulp'd through a Sieve adding Oil of Comomil is a very good pultis Let her dyet be cool not very nourishing keep her body open lying on her Back in Bed all the while stir her Arms as little as may be and after the 14th or 15th day of her delivery being sufficiently cleansed and inflammation abated and no longer Feaverish purge her once or twice and if for all these the swelling goes not down but she feels great beating and pain a hardness more in one place then another of a livid color and soft i' th middle 't is certain 't will apostemate then apply ripening Medicines as a pultis of Mallows Marsh-Mallows with their roots Lilly roots and Linseed bruis'd boil'd to pap and pulp'd through a sieve then add a good quantity of Hogs Grease or Basilicon laying a little cloth thick spread with Basilicon upon the place where 't is likely soonest to break and the pultis all over it renewing it 12 hours after continuing till it be full ripe then if it open not of it self it must be open'd by a Lancet or Incision knife which being the Chirurgeon's work he is to do it SECT IX Of the curdling of the Milk in the Breasts BEcause her Body was much mov'd dureing Labor in the beginning of Child-bed her Milk is not well purified and is mixt with many other humors which if 01 they are then sent to the Breasts in too great quantity cause an Inflammation but when the Child hath suck'd 15 or 20 or more days then only the Milk without other mixture contain'd there which sometimes curdles and the Brests become hard and rugged without any redness and the separation of all the kernels fill'd with curdled Milk may easily be perceived she finds a great pain and cannot milk them with a shivering chiefly about the middle of her Back like Ice which is usually follow'd by a Feaver of 24 hours long and sometimes less if it do not turn into an Inflammation of the Breasts which it will undoubtedly do if it be not emâ—ied scater'd and dissolv'd This clodding comes mostly because the Breasts are not fully drawn either for that she hath too much Milk or the Child is too weak to such all or because she doth not desire to be a Nurse for the Milk staying in the Breasts looseth its sweetness and by sowring curdles This may also happen from taking cold or not covering her Breasts The readiest and surest remedy from what cause soever is speedily to draw the Breasts till they be empty'd and if the Child cannot because she is hard milched let a Woman till it comes freely and then the Child will and that she may not after breed more Milk then the Child can draw let her dyet breed but little nourishment and keep her body always open But when she neither can nor will be Nurse then her Breasts must not be drawn for drawing more humors the Disease will return if not again emptied Wherefore 't is necessary to prevent comeing of any more Milk and to scatter that which is there by empting the fulness of the body by bleeding i' th Arm and Foot and strong Clysters and purging if needfull and to resolve the curdled Milk apply a pultis of pure Honey or of powder of Linseed Fenugreek Beans and Vetches boild in a decoction of Sage Smallage Fennel Milk adding Oil of Camomil anointing with the Oil first SECT X. Of Choping c. and loss of the Nipples WOmen are subject the first time to have their Niples chop'd which is unsufferable and the more if hard milch'd as the first time when the Milk hath not yet made way through the small holes of the Niples which are not yet thorowly open'd and then the Child takes more pains to suck
continually refuses the Breast tosses too and fro if from wind it breaks wind and is gone if from humors 't is constant from tough Flegm the Belly 's bound and dung slimy from sharp humors there 's sign of them if the pain last long Convulsions or Falling-sickness follow If from crude humors and wind give first a Clyster of Chicken Mutton or Veal broth 3 or 4 ounces adding Honey of Roses one ounce with the yelk of an Egg or give it some Oil of sweet Almonds with Sugar-candy and a few Anniseeds powdered a scuple or so which purges new born Babes from green choler and stinking Flegm if given with Sugar pap it allays the pains of the Belly Anoint the Belly with Oil of Dil and foment it with a decoction of Camomil flowers Dil tops and Bays twice a day If pain be from corrupt sharp Milk give Honey of Roses or syrup of Succory with Rubarb or a Clyster of the decoction of bran with Honey or syrup of Roses and anoint as before The puffing comes from too much sucking and not concocting which is cured by a thinner dyet that crudities may be concocted and purging with Honey of Roses SECT XIV Of the Flux of the Belly IF from breeding of Teeth see the signs if from outward cold there are signs of no other causes if from crude humors there 's wind belching and flegmatick excrements but if they be yellow green c. 't is from a hot and sharp humor If it last long stop it if black excrements be voided with a Feaver 't is bad The Child needs not cure so much as the Nurse mend the Milk or change the Nurse and let her not eat green fruit and things of hard concoction If it suck not take away the causes with Honey of Roses then if the cause be hot give syrup of Quinces dry'd Roses Myrtles with a little fine Bole-Armonack Sanguis Draconis or terra sigillata If the cause be cold and excrements white give syrup of Mastick and Mints SECT XV. Of Costiveness IT is from a cold and dry distemper in some from the Birth or from slimy Flegm that wraps the dung which sticks in the Guts this is from bad Milk when the Nurse eats gross food slimy and binding or drinks little or from an hot distemper of the Liver or Kidneys that dryes the excrements or if Choler stirs not up the expulsive faculty then the dung is white and the body yellow Children are more healthful with a loose Belly 't is cured by observing contraries as all other Diseases are from slimy Flegm give Honey of Roses correct the distemper of the Liver c. with syrup of Violets and cooling Emulsions as before In want of Choler the decoction of Grass roots Fennel Sparagus Maiden-hair In all which you may give sometimes Clysters and Suppositories SECT XVI Of Worms THey are known by a stinking Breath troublesome sleep gnashing of Teeth bawling dry Cough Vomiting Hiccups great thirst swell'd Belly or bound or too loose when the Belly is empty and they want food there 's a cold sweat over the Face and an high color with sudden paleness sometimes a Feaver and Convulsion which ceaseth presently First 'T is best to prevent them by eating meats of good juice with Oranges and Lemons c. and avoiding sweet clammy meats Flesh and Fruits If there be Worms kill them with powder of Corraline Wormseed Harts horn or infuse 8 or 10 grains of Mercurius dulcis all Night in Grass Borage or Bugloss water pouring them from the Mercury and give the Child the water The waters with the juices are very good Some apply a Plaister of Aloes to the Navil There is no better thing under the Sun then to infuse a dram or 2 of Sena in water and put some of the juices to it when 't is strain'd Use varieties that the Worms may not be to familiar with one SECT XVII Of the Rupture IF this be from a Gut keep the Belly open keep the Child from crying avoiding motion lay it upon its back thrust it up gently then apply an Emplaster of ad Herniam or Casaris If from water anoint with oil of Elder Bays Rue c. or apply a pultis of powder of Beans Linseed Fenugreek Camomil flowers with these Oils SECT XVIII Of Bunching out and Inflammation of the Navil IF the Midwife left too much of it that it bunches out it is more troublesome then dangerous if the rim of the Belly be loose it starts not much out and is not bigger by crying and wind stretches it out then use a pultis of Cummin Bay-berries Lupines powdered with red Wine then use an Astringent Plaister as in Ruptures and roul it If the rim be broken first put in the Gut then bind it close after you have apply'd an astringent Plaister and given Medicines as against Ruptures The Inflammation is from pain when 't is not well tyed which draws blood to it There 's redness hardness heat and beating if it turn to an Impostume and breaks the Guts come forth and the Child usually dyes if not presently hope by a skilful Chyrurgeon First abate the Inflammation with Vnguentum album and Populeon c. and repel the blood with a dram of Frankincense Acacia and Fleabean seed of each half a dram made into a pultis with some white of an Egg. SECT XIX Of the falling out of the Fundament WHen the Muscle that shuts it is loose then it comes forth if it come from moisture 't is hard to be cur'd especially if there be a looseness for then Medicines cannot lye on If with streining if it be swel'd foment it with a decoction of Mallow and Marsh-mallows or anoint with oil of Lillies then keep it in with astringents as take red Roses Pomegranate pills and flowers Cypress Nuts each half an ounce Sumach Frankincense Mastick each 2 drams boil'd in red Wine foment it with spunge then sprinkle on this powder red Roses and Pomegranates flowers each half a dram Frankincense Mastick each a dram laid upon a clout and kept to the Fundament SECT XX. Of difficulty and stopping of Urine 'T Is caused from thick humors and the Stone that stops the Bladder it s voided by drops and is thick then let a Surgeon try with a Catheter if there be a Stone and if it be not presently cured it turns to one and all natural evacuation in Children being stopt is dangerous Evacuate the humors with Honey of Roses Cassia white Wine and water or take the blood of an Hare dry'd to powder 1 ounce Saxifrage roots powdered 6 drams give from a scruple to half a dram in white Wine or Saxifrage water SECT XXI Of not holding Urine THis comes from a cold and moist distemper which weakens the Muscle that should close the orifice of the Bladder and when much water pricks it it suffers it to come forth sometimes a stone hurts it that it cannot do its duty First then alter the distemper dry and consume the Flegm let the Nurse have a Dyet with Sage Hysop Marjoram c. â—et not the Child drink much SECT XXII Of Leanness and Betwitching IF from little or bad Milk remedy it or from Worms or Worms in the Skin which is known by putting the Child into a Bath and rubbing it with Honey and Bread and then you will see they will put forth their heads like Ash coloured and black hairs in the Back Arms or Legs and all Musculous parts and stick in the Skin and they breed of slimy Matter shut up in the Capillar veins which turns to Worms from transpiration hindred If you find no other outward or inward cause you may suspect a venomous vapour or Witch-craft If for want of Milk change your Nurse or if she have any disease or be contrary to the constitution of the Child If from worms in the Skin when you see their heads appear by rubbing and as before kill them with a Rasor or Crust of Bread If from an occult quality or Witchcraft 't is hard to be cured because we know not the nature of the malignity There are many superstitious things carried about against Witchcraft some having Amber and Coral about the Childs neck If it be from a dry distemper of the whole body there is no better remedy then bathing often in a decoction of Mallows Marsh-Mallows Brankustine Sheeps-head c. anointing after with Oil of sweet Almonds and if it be hot and dry add Lettice Endive Violets Poppy-heads and Onions and after with Oil of Roses and Violets FINIS P. 265 P. 247 P. 95 P. 95 P. 99 P. 46
symptomatick from the weakness of her Stomach and will vanish as soon as it is fortified which may be promoted if she take before and after meals some of that burnt wine spoke of before for the Cough or a little good Hippocras or right Canary or eat a little Marmalade of quinces before meals and wear a Lamb-skin upon the pit of her Stomach be sure to give no purge for this is only caused by weakness If it be a Diarrhea simply voiding such excrements as are in the Guts and some superfluous humors which nature hath sent to be expelled and it be gentle and continue not long she will feel no damage by it and so 't is good to leave it to nature without interrupting it in the beginning but if it continue above 4 or 5 days 't is a sign there are ill humors cleaven to the inside of the Guts and ought to be expell'd by some light purge after which it will certainly cease But if for all fit purges it changes into a Dysentery she is then in danger of miscarrying which must be prevented if possible therefore having purged the ill humor and hindering that no more be engendred by Chicken or Veal broths c. with cooling herbs pap with the yelk of an Egg well boild let her quench Iron or Steel in her drink which must be small beer or water with a little strong or wine if she be not Feaverish for then half a spoonful of syrup of Quinces or Pomgranates is better and she may eat a little Marmalade of Quince or other strengtheners if she was purg'd before and because there is always great gripes they must be appeas'd by Clysters made of the broth of a Calves or Sheeps head well boild with 2 ounces of oil of Violets or good Milk and the yelk of an Egg after the use of these as long as is judged necessary which she must keep as long as she can you must proceed to clensers made with Mallows and Marsh-mallows with hony of Roses and then binding ones in which must be neither oil nor hony beginning first with gentlest made of Rose-water with Lettice and Plantain water then to stronger of the roots and leaves of Plantain tapsus barbatus horse-tail province Roses rind of Pomgranates in Smiths water adding of sealed earth and Dragons blood of each 2 drams you may also foment the Fundament Of the monthly blood before and if it be from to much blood 't wil do her a kindness SECT XI Of Fluddings THe Courses come at accustomed times without pain distilling by little and little from the Wombs Neck during pregnancy and then wholly ceaseth but these come with pain from the Wombs bottom and almost on a sudden in great abundance and continue without intermission except some clods formed there seem sometimes to lessen the accident by stopping for a small time the place whence they flow but it soon returns with greater violence and after follows death to the Mother and Child if not prevented by delivering the Woman If the Fludding happen when young with Child it 's usually because of some false Conception or Mole of which the Womb endeavours to discharge it self by which it opens some of the Vessels in its bottom whence the blood ceases not to flow till it hath cast out the strange bodies it contain'd the subtiller the blood is the more it flows but when this happens to one truely Conceiv'd at whatever time it proceeds likewise from the opening of the Vessels of the Womb's fund caused by some blow slip c. and chiefly because the secundine separating in part if not wholly from the inside of the Wombs bottom to which it ought to stick to receive the Mothers blood for the Childs nouriture leaves open all the Orifices of the Vessels where it joyned and so follows a great flux of blood which never ceases till she be brought a Bed yet I do not intend it should be done as soon as perceiv'd for some small fluddings have been stop'd by lying quietly in Bed bleeding i' th Arm and the use of Remedies mention'd in the menstruous Flux and it may be but an ordinary monthly Flux and then 't is good leaving the Labor to nature provided she hath strength and accompanied with no other ill accident but when she falls into Convulsions and Faintings 't is absolutely necessary she be deliver'd whether she be at her count or no pains or throws or no for there is no other way to save both their Lives You must not always expect pains and throws to force and forward Labor in these dangerous accidents for though they come at the beginning they usually cease as soon as it comes to Faintings and Convulsions neither must it be put off till the Womb be opened enough for this Flux moistens and the weakness loosens it so that it may then be as easily widen'd as if there had been abundance of strong throws Wherefore let the Midwife introduce her Fingers anointed with Oil or Butter 2 or 3 at a time and all by degrees and at last her whole Hand and if she find the waters not broke break them and then whatever part of the Child presents though the head provided it be not i' th Birth let her search for the Feet and draw it forth by them observing the circumstances in delivery of a Child with the Feet first because there 's better hold so that if the Feet lye not ready seek for them which is easier done at that time then another because the Fluddings make the Womb slippery then fetch the after-burthen which in these cases cleaves but little being careful not to leave so much as a clod i' th Womb lest it continue the Fludding In this case many Women and Children have perished for want of this operation and many escaped death by being timely succor'd Guilemeau a Famous French Chirurgion mentions 6 or 7 Histories to confirm this and Moriceau by his experience avers it and in the case of his own Sister too long here to relate You are always here to give good strengthning broths gellies and a little good Wine and smell to rose Vinegar and to prevent the blood Fludding in great quantity open a vein i' th Arm or bind her Arm with fillets above her Elbow and lay cloaths upon her Reins wet in water and Vinegar but if this proceeds from the parting of the after-burden she must be delivered as soon as may be though she were but 3 or 4 months gone because all must be broughâ— away whether false Conception Mole or Child SECT XII Of the Weight of the Womb c. THis is often caused by the stretching of the large Cords of the Womb and this will cause an hinderance of Copulation and a numness in her Hips sleepiness in her Thighs and difficulty of Urine and going to stool chiefly towards her latter reckonings because it presseth down the Bladder and great Gut being seated between both But she may be easier