with it to the veins of the womb and stops them This thick blood comes from a cold distemper of the stomach liver and spleen from thick and gross food and drinking cold water when the Terms flow Lib. de venae sec adversus Erasistrat So thought Galen in his time of the Roman women that drank Snow-water and had few or no courses Straightness is when the body of the womb is made thicker either by Nature or other causes as a cold and dry or hot and dry distemper Thirdly Straitness is from compression of the vessels by a Scirrhus or hardness of the parts adjacent as the straight gut or by the stone in the bladder and the womb displaced Fourthly The flesh may grow together by a membrane that grows to the vessels or a scar after a wound Or after a mischance when the veins annexed to the Secundine grow so together that they cannot be opened of which in the first Question They are not the same in women and Virgins The Signs for blood stopt in Virgins goes to and fro changeth the colour and brings Feavers especially the white Feaver or Green-sickness But in women it goes more to the womb and brings Symptomes loathing vomiting and Pica Galen hath other signs as heaviness 8. De lo. aff c. 5. a lazy pain in the loyns neck and behind in the head that reacheth to the roots of the eyes from the spreading of the blood stopt through the whole body This laziness is chiefly in the thighs and leggs by reason of the veins there consenting with the womb And are of a green complexion and hairy with a beard and shrill voice You may know women with child from such as want their Terms only by proper signs First the women with child keep their colour but the other are pale and ill-coloured they are merry the other sad 2. Their Symptoms daily grow milder but in the other they daily grow worse 3. You may feel the child move 4. It is perceived in a month You shall know from what causes the terms are stopt thus If the Liver be cold there is no blood made that is superfluous and there are signs of a cold Liver and you may know that blood is not sent to the Womb when there is no heaviness pain or tumor about the Womb the Liver or Spleen are stopt The Prognostick If it be from Flegm or Melancholy which is often there are signs of their abounding as laziness paleness seldom pulse crude urin Hippoc. de morb mulier Gal. 6. de loc aff c. 5. Hippoc. 5. aphor 23. Hippocrates saith That if the Terms stop there are diseases in the Womb Tumors Imposthumes Ulcers and Barrenness and diseases in the whole Body Green-sickness Leucophlegmacy Dropsie Vomiting of blood Heart-ach Cough And the longer they have been stopt the harder they are to be opened If the blood stopt go out at the Nose it is good If it have great Symptoms there is fear of death You must not give Medicines to move the terms to extenuate lean persons nor to such as want blood and have a weak Liver but they must be fed high Com. in 6. epid 3. c. 29. First see if blood abound and then after a Lenitive open a Vein and let that blood which is in the Veins be drawn to the Womb. Galen took three pints of blood at three times from a lean Woman and cured her of an old stopping of the Terms You must open the Ankle-veins the first day the right the next the left four or five daies before the time Or you may cup and scarrifie the Legs And bind the parts below and rub them after general Evacuation opening of the Haemorrhoids doth hurt and so do Issues because they draw from the Womb. Hiera picra half an ounce or Pills de Tribus or Hiera simple are good first Then prepare As Take water of Mugwort Calamints Maiden-hair each three ounces Syrup of the five Roots and of Mugwort each two ounces make it for two Doses Or Take opening Roots half an ounce Madder Burnet each three ounces Mugwort Bettony Germander Calamints each a handful red Pease half a handful flowers of Bugloss Dill each a pugil boil and sweeten it with Sugar For flegmatick Bodies take the Decoction of Guajacum Sassaphras Dittany for fifteen daies without sweating Then evacuate with Agarick Mechoacan Turbith Scammony Coloquintida black Hellebore As Take Agarick two drams infuse it in Mugwort-water two ounces Oxymel an ounce strain and the Extract of Mechoacan a scruple Or Take opening Roots half an ounce Mugwort Bettony each two pugils Senna half an ounce Agarick two drams Fennel and Aniseed each a scruple Galangal half a dram Rosemary-flowers a pugil infuse them to three ounces and half add syrup of Senna an ounce and half Cinnamon-water half a dram Or if they drink Wine Take Turbith Mechoacan Agarick each two drams Senna an ounce and half Maiden-hair Balm Rosemary each two pugils Cinnamon Galangal each a dram hang them in Wine give six ounces with half an ounce of Manna Or Take Diaturbith with Rhubarb half an ounce Mechoacan two drams Agarick a dram Diarrhodon Cinnamon each half a dram Steel prepared a dram with Raisons make an Electuary give as much as a Walnut Or give Pills of Agarick foetida and so continue purging and preparing if the matter be stubborn Or Take Agarick two drams Madder a dram with Syrup of Mugwort make Pills Or Take Aloes three drams de Tribus one dram with juyce of Savin make Pills If the stomach is foul give a Vomit lest it get into the veins Par. 1. sec 2. ca. 2. Then give provokers of the Terms which are hot and thin about the time they used to flow they are three degrees in strength and many sorts of Medicines are made of them A Powder Take Cinnamon a dram Amber a scruple Saffron half a scruple Or Take Troches of Mirrh of Wall-flowers each a scruple Saffron five grains Or Take Castor Penny-royal each a scruple with Wine or proper Waters Physical Wine Take Madder-roots an ounce Orris half an ounce Balm Penny-royal Mugwort Rosemary each a handful Wall-flowers half a pugil Cinnamon an ounce Galangal half an ounce with Wine give four ounces Or Take the Decoction of red Pease Or Take Smallage Fennel-roots each half an ounce Mugwort Bettony Penny-royal Balm each a handful red Pease half an handful Juniper-berries half an ounce Wall-flowers a pugil boil and sweeten it Or Take ten ounces of it with three ounces of Mugwort for three doses Quercetan commends this Take Gromwel-seeds Anise Misleto of the Oak each three drams Dittany a dram Saffron a scruple bruise and keep them twenty four hours in Wine then boyl them give four ounces for three daies together Or make the Womans Aqua vitae Or Take Balm Bettony Penny-royal Mugwort Nep Motherwort Dittany each four handfuls Wine thirty pints distil them add three handfuls of each herbs and distil them again
half an ounce with good Wine distil them give a spoonful or two Apply outwardly a Cataplasm of Rue Mugwort Chamomil Dill Calamints Nip Penny-royal Thyme with Oyl of Rue Cheir Chamomil and make Baths of the same Bags of Milium Salt Chamomil-flowers Melilot Bayberries Cummin Fennel-seed or lay a Plaister of Bayberries Let Clysters to expel wind be put into the womb As Take Calamints Agnus castus Rue each half an handful Anniseeds Costus Cinnamon each two drams boil them in Wine for half a pint Apply a Cupping-glass with much flame to the Breast and over against the Womb. Use Sulphur-baths and Spaw-waters inward and outward for they expel wind If it come from cold after Child-bearing and she is not well purged by her Terms heat the womb and purge and give strong Wine Let the Diet be hot cutting and attenuating The Diet. with things that expel wind and little at a time Question Whether the wind is in the Cavity when there is Inflation of the Womb It is so by Experience though some deny it nor is there any cause why wind should not be bred in the womb as well as in any other part both by reason of the Excrements that come thither and the natural heat that turns them into wind these also stretch the womb though it be thick as in Dropsies and Conception Also the retentive or altering faculty of the womb is never idle so that when it receives diseased and unfruitful seed it suffers it not to corrupt but turns it into wind As Hippocrates writes When the Womb is stretched by wind from the Belly Lib. de nat pueri women think they have conceived Chap. 11. Of the Dropsie of the Womb. THey are also deceived and think they are with child when there is water that swells the womb Ves lib. 6. de corp hum Fab. Mar. Do de hist me mira l. 4. c. 21. Tetrab 6.4 ser 4. c. 79. this is a Dropsie of the womb This water is either in the Cavity or between the Coats of the womb or in its Vessels Vesalius Marcellus Donatus shew that water is in the Cavity for it doth not presently by its plenty or quality force its passage out because the Orifice is not alwaies open and Nature gathers it by degrees and is used to it Aetius saith There are sometimes Bladders of water in the womb And Christopher Vega saith that Leonora thought that she had gone 6 months and then voided sixty Bladders of water and seven pieces of flesh like that of the Spleen in Membranes Lib. 4. obser cent 2. obser 56. The Causes There is sometimes a Dropsie of the Womb with Conception as Schenstius and William Fabricius saith of his own wife Are gathering of water from moistness mixed with the terms and from an evil Sanguification in the Liver and Spleen from their weakness or from errors in Diet or from weakness of the womb from hard travel or often mischances cold air or water or whatsoever hurts the heat of the womb Also stoppage of the terms doth cause gathering of water for the water useth to be evacuated with them Many take this for the only cause Sometimes the tunicles of the womb may be divided in some place and water may be gathered between them Hippocrates saith the terms are fewer The Signs 1. De morb mulier and cease before the time the bottom of the Belly swells and the Paps are soft without Milk and she thinks she is with child By these you know it is a Dropsie But because Doctors and Midwives are often deceived you must distinguish this from other Swellings When a woman is sound and useth a sound man the womb by degrees swells and the child moves in its time but often there is a Dropsie with Conception before or after therefore in a Dropsie the tumor is equal according to the largeness of the womb and belly and not pointed as in a woman with child Secondly If the woman be in years and hath not conceived before and hath a good colour it is a sign of a Dropsie rather then a Conception If the tenth month be past and the child moves not nor the Breasts swell but are soft say there is Dropsie of the womb Thirdly In a true Conception women are better after some months and the Symptoms abate but in a Dropsie they increase still It is distinguished from a Mole by the weight in the bottom of the Belly From an inflation because the Belly is stretched in that and sounds being stricken but is soft in a Dropsie It differs from the Dropsie of the Belly because the Face is pale or wane in that from the distemper of the Liver there is thirst but in the Womb-dropsie she is of a good colour except the Liver be also bad It differs from Inflamation in the womb for that is with a constant Feaver and the Symptoms of it and from other tumors which are harder but in a Dropsie of the womb if the Belly be pressed it yields You shall know whether it be from the fault in the womb principally or from some other part thus If the Woman be of a good colour and there were only some diseases and causes that might hurt the womb as abortion hard travel stoppage of terms or too many of them then the womb is chiefly affected But if there be signs of a distemper in the whole body or in the Liver or Spleen and the colour is bad it is consent from other parts You shall know whether the water be in Bladders or in the Cavity of the womb thus If you find the Orifice of the womb closed and there is little pain it is in the Cavity But if the Orifice be open and there is great pain it is in Bladders or without the Cavity The Prognostick If the humor in the womb be not corrupt this disease is of long continuance but may be easily cured It is easier cured in the cavity then when it is in bladders and between the tunicles A woman after Conception having a Dropsie of the womb her child dieth and she is in danger The Cure When it is from stoppage of terms and new and the strength firm open a Vein in the Legs otherwise bleed not Purge according to the Humor with respect to the Womb as in Chap. 6. of a cold Distemper Then purge Water Take Angelica and Madder roots each half an ounce Calamints Penny-royal Mugwort Lovage each a handful Savin a pugil boil them in Wine and sweeten it with Sugar Or make Broaths with the same Take Dianisum Diagalangal each half a dram Oyl of Aniseeds Cloves each five drops Sugar three ounces make Rouls Inject into the Womb as in Dropsies Take Asarum roots three drams Penny-royal Calamints each half a handful Savin a pugil Mechoacan a dram Aniseed Cummin each half a dram boil them and take six ounces strained Oyl of Elder and Orris each an ounce make a Clyster Or use Pessaries Take
a mans head Paraeus l. 23. c. 36. sometimes the whole womb is a Scirrhus sometimes only part of it The immediate Cause The Causes is a thick earthy humor as natural melancholy when a thick humor is gathered in the womb there is a Scirrhus without inflamation aforegoing this is usual in melancholy women and such as are not clensed by their terms or have the Pica or green-sickness and are fifty years old Other humors somtimes breed a Scirrhus after inflamation when cold astringents have been used disorderly for when the humor is fixed to the part and hardned The same may be from hot discussers which send forth the thin matter in an inflamation and fasten the thick The Signs The tumor is to be felt it yields not and is without pain the terms flow not at first or very little afterwards there is a great flux of blood If an inflamation went before and the part is heavy and burthened it is a Sign of a Scirrhus She is unweeldy sloathful and you may know from what humor it is by the signs of the humors predominating in the body and the part pained will shew you in what place it is The Prognostick A Scirrhus easily turns to a Cancer And when the terms are stopt there is a Dropsie of the womb or belly It is easier cured in the neck then in the womb it self The Cure Moisten and heat the cold and dry humor with Borage Bugloss Fumitory Succory Epithymum Polypody Then purge with Polypody Senna black Hellebore and the like As Take roots of Althaea Lillies each two ounces Mallows Violets Althaea Brank-ursine each a handful Mugwort Calamints Chamomil-flowers each half a handful Foenugreek and Linseed each half an ounce boyl them for a Fomentation or Bath or to a Cataplasm with Linseed Foenugreek each an ounce Figs six Orris powder two drams Saffron half a dram Hens-grease and Oyl of sweet Almonds as much as is fit Or Take Bdellium Ammoniacum Galbanum each as much as you please beat them in a Mortar with Oyl de Been and Lillies add Mucilage of Foenugreek Linseed Figs make a Liniment or with Wax a Plaister Or Take Oyl of Capers Lillies sweet Almonds Jesamine each an ounce fresh Butter Hens-grease Goose-grease each half an ounce Mucilage of Foenugreek Althaea and Oyntment of Althaea each six drams Ammoniacum dissolved in Wine an ounce with Wax make an Oyntment Make Injections thus Take Bdellium dissolved in Wine Oyl of sweet Almonds Lillies Chamomil each two ounces marrow of a Veal bone Hens-grease each an ounce with the Yelk of an Egg. In a bastard Scirrhus you may use Healers and Digesters better and Ammoniacum and hotter Fat 's Internal Medicines are Steel c. of which in Obstruction of the Womb and Scirrhus of the Spleen As for Diet abstain from breeders of gross and slimy humors and from hot dryers Cancer of the Womb. What may be said of this is said before only a Cancer may seize upon the substance of the womb but it is more usually in the neck of it Chap. 15. Of the displacing of the Womb and first of the Ascent of it WHen the womb falls out of the Privities it is called Procidentia uteri this is ordinary But the ascent or going up of the womb is more unknown Eustach rud lib. 2. pract c. 5. Many grave Anatomists hold That the womb doth ascend if sweet things are applied to the Nose If to the Privities that it descends If stinking Scents come the womb flies from them and it is to be seen by breathing altered and by some meats that the womb greedily desires and catcheth up 6. De lo. off c. 5. Galen overthrows this Opinion and saith that the womb doth move after a sort and ascend but it is very little and not to be demonstrated Nor can it arise to the Stomach it is tied with such strong Ligaments to its place and when it falls out the Ligaments are extended by moisture and falling of it down And there is no reason why the Ligaments though loose or wet it should go up so speedily and come down again For falling down is by degrees and it is not soon brought up again And though it be enlarged in Conception it is by degrees and equally not suddenly in one side Nor as the Ligaments made very loose in Conception and the bottom of the womb is not tied the Ligaments being only on the sides But this cannot be denied which women affirm that they feel a body or ball moving about the Navel and a Physitian or Midwife may feel it Therefore let us inquire what it is if it be not a womb That Body which you may feel stir is the Stones and that blind Vessel which Fallopius found out which he compared to the great end of a Trumpet called Fallopius his Trumpet For the Stones hang and the body of the Trumpet is like a Pipe loose and moving and when they are full and swell with corrupt Seed and Vapors they move to and fro and ascend as high as the navel And the stones with the Trumpet make this round tumor of the Womb Antropogo lib. 2. c. 34. The Causes which is felt in women as Riolanus observes Whatsoever makes corrupt seed in the stones of a woman and fills them with evil vapors or wind is the cause of which in suffocation of the womb For the cause is like in both only in suffocation the Symptoms are worse because the evil vapors are then more freely carried by the veins arteries and nerves afflict the principal part The woman and others may feel a round body and she findeth a pain at her heart The Signs and short breath without sleeping or doting or other Symptoms and there were causes that disturbed the womb It is not dangerous yet not to be slighted The Prognostick for it may turn to the strangling of the womb when these evil vapors move to the noble parts Let the aim be at the corrupt seed The Cure and vapors which must be discussed and evacuated as in suffocation of the womb Chap. 16. Of falling out of the Womb. SOmetimes it falls to the middle of the thighs The Causes or to the knees almost or hangs a little out The Womb changeth its place when the ligaments by which it is bound to the other parts are not in order There are four two above broad and membranous that come from the Peritonaeum and two below that are nervous round and hollow Besides it is bound to the great vessels by veins and arteries and to the back by nerves Now the place is changed when it is down another way or when the ligaments are loose and it falls down by its own weight It is drawn on one side when the terms are stopt the veins and arteries are full those namely which go to the womb if it be a mole on the one side the liver and spleen cause it by
the liver-veins on the right side or the spleen on the left as they are filled more or less It also falls down by the loosning of the parts to which it is fastned but how that can be it is not clear 1. 2. De morb mulier Hippocrates saith It comes from external causes as from cold of the feet or loins from leaping or fear cutting of wood or running down a hill and the like these make the ligaments moist and loose Also it may be from cold after child-bearing getting into the womb when the terms flow sitting upon a cold stone and the like Platerus Others say It comes from the solution of the connexion of the fibrous neck and the parts adjacent and that is from the weight of the womb descending this we deny not But when the ligaments must be loose or broken But women in a dropsie could not be said not to have the womb fall down if it came only from loosness But the cause in them is the saltness of the water which dries more then it moistneth The Signs If there be a little tumor within or without the privities like a skin stretched or a weight felt about the privities it is only a descent of the womb but if there be a tumor like a Goose-Egg and a hole at the bottom there is at first a great pain in the parts to which the womb is fastned as the loyns the bottom of the belly and the privities and the Os sacrum from the stretching or breaking of the ligaments but a little after the pain abateth and there is an impediment in walking Sometimes blood comes forth from the breach of the vessels and the dung and urine are stopt and a Feaver and Convulsion When it is near it is easily cured when old The Prognostick it is hard to be cured but not deadly only it is troublesom and nasty It hinders conception and keeps terms from flowing orderly If it be with pain Feaver or Convulsion it is deadly especially in women with Child That which comes from corrosion of the ligaments is dangerous First put it up before the air alter it The Cure or it be inflamed or swollen Therefore first give a Clyster to remove the excrements Then lay her upon her back with her legs abroad and thighs lifted up her head down and take the tumor in your hands and thrust it in without violence If it be swollen by alteration and cold foment it with the Decoction of Mallows Althaea Line Foenugreek-seed Chamomil-flowers Bayberries and anoint it with oyl of Lillies and Hens-grease If there be an inflammation Roder a. casuo de morb mul. 1. 2. c. 17. put it not up yet It may be frighted in by shewing of red hot iron and acting as if you would burn it First sprinkle upon it the powder of Mastich Frankincense and the like As Take Frankincense Mastich each two drams Sarcocol steept in Milk a dram Mummy Pomegranate-flowers Sanguis Draconis each half a dram When it is put up let her lie with her leggs stretched one upon the other for eight or ten dayes and make a Pessary like a Pear of Cork or Spung put into the womb dipt in sharp wine or juyce of Acacia with powder of Sanguis Draconis Bole Mastich or the Countesses Oyntment with Galbanum and Bdellium Apply a Cupping-glass with great flame under the navel or paps or to both kidnies and lay this Plaister to the back Take Opopanax two ounces Storax liquid half an ounce Frankincense Mastich Pitch Bole each two drams with Wax make a Plaister Or Take Labdanum a dram and half Frankincense Mastich each half a dram wood Aloes Cloves Spike each a dram Ash coloured Amber-greece four grains Musk half a scruple make two round Plaisters to be laid on each side the Navel Make a Fume of a Snail skin salted or of Garlick and let it be taken in by a Funnel Use astringent Fomentations of Bramble leaves Plantane Horstails Mirtles each two handfuls Wormwood two pugils Pomegranate-flowers half an ounce boil them in wine and water Or inject this with a Syringe Take Comfrey-roots an ounce Snakeweed Pomgranate-flowers each half an ounce Rupture-wort two drams Yarrow Mugwort each half an ounce boil them in red Wine Then use Sulphur Baths To strengthen the Womb Take Harts-horn Bayes each a dram Mirrh half a dram make a powder for two doses give it with sharp Wine Or Take Zedoary Parsnep-seeds Crabs eyes prepared each a dram Nutmeg half a dram give a dram in powder but use astringents warily lest you stop the courses and cause worse mischief If it fall out from evil humors that flow to the womb and loosen the ligaments purge the body and then use dryers as the decoction of China Sarsa and Guajacum To keep it in its place make Roulers and Ligatures as for the Rupture and use Pessaries into the bottom of the womb that may force it to remain Lib. de partu Caesar sect 6. cap. 3. 4. of which Francis Rousset hath written at large and shews that they neither hinder Conception nor bring any inconvenience nay that they help Conception and retain it and cure this disease perfectly And Gaspar Bauhinus confirms the same in his Appendix to Rousset You may use Circles or Balls instead of Pessaries As Take roots of wild Vine make round Circles or Balls of them greater or less as the neck of the womb is Then Take Virgins Wax melted with white Rosin or Turpentine dip the balls in till they are fit put one in the neck of the womb that will hold in being just fit let it not be taken out till it fall out and then put in another if she be not cured If it gangrene and sphacelate cut it quite off Lib. de partu Caes sect 4. cap. 5. hist 6. Ibid. sect 4. cap. 5. if she fear cutting take it off by Ligature of which Rousset who shews the way and saith that it may be cut off without danger of life He tells also of the place where you must cut and in Sect. 4. de partu Caesareo where the Ligature is to be made Let the diet be drying and astringent and glewing as Rice Starch Quinces Pears green Cheese Avoid Summer-fruits Let the Wine be astringent and red The Cure of the inclining of the Womb. When it inclines to the sides after Universals apply Cupping-glasses to the other side and let her still lie on the other side and let the Midwife anoint her finger with Oyl of sweet Almonds and draw it a little by degrees to the other side Chap. 17. Of the Rupture of the Womb. FEw Physitians have seen this I never read of any but once I saw it of which in my Institutions lib. 2. part 1. cap. 9. Chap. 18. Of Wounds and breaking of the Womb. The Signs IT is seldom wounded by reason of the divers defences it hath but sometimes the Chirurgions wound it in
Sope Stavisacre each a dram quick Brimstone half an ounce Quick-silver 2 drams with Rose-vinegar and Hens-grease make an Oyntment Let the meat be of good juyce cooling and moistning Take heed of Spices sharp and salt meats Chap. 3. Of pain in the Womb. THere is pain in the body of the womb with other diseases sometimes as the Colick-pains woven in the bottom of the Belly and in the Loins and Hips and is called the pain of the Womb. It is often in women with child as the inflammation of the womb It is burning and beating it binds the Belly and stops the Urin. The Causes Solution of unity is the cause of all pains and this is from the stretching of the Womb and its Vessels or corrosion Stretching is from wind or clotted blood in the cavity of it and when Nature cannot expel it by reason of the straitness of the part there is pain Also pain is from stretching of the vessels before the terms flow when they are close and the blood thick and this pain is increased by external cold especially after heat Sometimes there is a gathering of humors about the womb when the terms flow and are foul and they get into the membranes and stretch them The same may be from corrupt Seed that stretcheth the vessels Or from sharpness and corrosion in the neck of the womb The Signs when sharp humors flow through it and twitch it The pain is manifest but let us look at the signs of the causes If it be from clotted blood there was a flux of the same and the pain is fixed about the orifice of the womb If there were external causes the patient will relate If it be from Seed there is suffocation of the Womb. The greater the cause is The Prognostick The Cure and the more vehement it works the more is the danger If there be pain and fear of fainting look to that before the cause with Anodynes and Narcoticks if need be If it be from wind see inflation of the Womb. If it be from clotted blood dissolve and evacuate it with hot and attenuating Medicines made into Fomentations Baths and Oyntments It is good to apply Treacle to the region of the Womb or put it in with Rue and Honey Or give a Clyster to the Womb of Rue Foenugreek-seed and Oyl of Rue and Orris Or give Treacle and Cinnamon-water If the vessels of the womb are not open enough for the terms See in the stoppage of the terms If there be wind make a Clyster thus Take Mercury Mugwort Calamints Penny-royal each a handful Chamomil and Melilot-flowers each half a handful Faenugreek and Linseed each an ounce boyl them in a pint strained dissolve Hiera Benedicta laxativa each half an ounce make a Clyster Give Mugwort Zedoary-water Essence of Castor Treacle or Womans Aqua vitae of which before Make a Clyster for the Womb thus Take Mugwort Calamints Bettony each half a handful Gith Cummin Carrot Aniseeds each a dram Spike Schoenanth Nutmeg Cinnamon each a dram boyl them in Wine Then fill an Ox bladder half full with Oyl of Lillies and Dill and apply it to the belly Or Take Oyl of Lillies Orris each an ounce distilled Oyl of Angelica a dram Goose and Hens grease each half an ounce Mucilage of Line and Faenugreek-seed made with Mugwort-water each three drams seeds of Cummin Carrots Caraway each a dram with Wax make a soft Oyntment Or Take Pellitory two handfuls Mercury a handful beat them add Chamomil-flowers Cummin Anise Carrots-seeds each a dram two yelks of Eggs and Oyl of Lillies make a Cataplasm for the Belly Apply Plaisters to the Navel and Cupping-glasses with great flame to the Region of the womb or dry Fomentations of Oats Milium Anise Cummin Carrot-seed in a Bag. And use Pessaries as Take Harts Marrow Turpentine Wax Goose-grease each three drams Saffron a dram yelks of Eggs seven with Oyl of Lillies make Pessaries If the humors and wind is malignant mix Scorronera Bezear seeds and roots of Angelica water of Zedoary Treacle Mithridate and the like in Suffocation of the womb Chap. 4. Of the Diseases of the Womb that come from sweet scents and stinks THere is a particular Symptom in the womb which breeds great admiration that it delights in sweet scents and is offended with stinks And it is certain for if Musk Civit or the like be but put to the Nose of the woman that is subject to fits of the Mother they grow sick and if the same be put to their privities and stinks to the Nose the fit of the Mother ceaseth It is hard to give the reason of this many wise Men have given their opinion but they disagree among themselves and satisfie me not neither do I promise to satisfie others But it is probable to me that the womb is not delighted with scents as scents for the privities have no smelling and the sense of smelling doth not reach so far but the quality by which it is well or ill is occult and not to be explained and to be separated from the odours If any ask what the quality is I answer There are many qualities in Nature that are hid from our senses and yet we cannot deny them because we see their effects as the quality in a Dogs Nose we cannot apprehend but the Dog perceives it But how these qualities come to the womb Quomodo uterus bene olentia recipiat is by no other way but by the open way by the privities by which Spirits get into the womb and in the suffocation of the womb sweet things profit because they strengthen it by a peculiar quality to disperse the venemous air and draw down the spirits and humors But if they be put to the Nose Quomodo bene olentia hystericis noceant the womb consents by the Sympathy of the organ of smelling and the brain with it This is by the Nerves and Arteries for the heart is presently refreshed with a sweet scent because it presently pierceth into it being spiritual and there is a great consent of the womb with the brain and the smelling as is seen by the tryal of Barrenness by a Fume from Hippocrates 5. Aphor. But we must observe that sweet scents are acceptable to all Wombs and stinks are not but the same Symptomes are not in all Women from them for they who have a Womb of a good constitution with no evil humors in it endure sweet things well and delight in them but they who are unclean hate sweet things and osten fall into fits by them because while the womb is delighted with that sweet and hidden quality with which it hath a peculiar Sympathy the evil humors that lie in the Womb especially if there be any corruption from Seed and the Seed also are stirred and when the Spirits flie up they take the bad humors with them and send bad vapors to the heart which cause suffocation and others Symptoms But when the
terms flowed not orderly in their youth are splenitick and Hypochondriack in their age The Signs It is known by a pain in the left side and breast to the throat there is short breath often belching the belly is bound they are sad and solitary When thin blood grows hot there is inflammation over all the body and chiefly the face which suddenly vanisheth and there are other signs of Hypochondriacks These cannot endure sweet scents to their nose The Prognostick The Cure If it be not speedily cured it turns to worse diseases as the Schirrhus of the spleen The blood is commonly too hot therefore open a vein especially when it is from the terms stopt You may also open the Haemorrhoids and then purge gently and often with Pills of Tartar by Quercetan of Ammoniacum of Aristolochia or Birthwort by Fernel or give Steel and things as in the Hypochondriack diseases lib. 3. part 5. and in the Chapter of Terms stopt and Melancholy from the Womb. Chap. 11. Of the Distemper of the Liver from the Womb and of a Beard growing by consent from the Womb. THe Womb hath many and great veins more then other parts If then there be too much blood in them it easily goes back to the hollow vein and choaks the heat of the Liver and so the Liver is distempered according to the humor It breeds crude and flegmatick bood which sent over the body causeth a Cachexy and what diseases come by the Liver are by consent from the womb as in stoppage of the Terms and Green-sickness Hippocrates speaks of a womans Beard in Phaetusa the Wife of Pythius 6 Epid. sec 8. aph 45. for hairs have their beginning and growth from the reliques of the nourishment of the noble parts that is from the excrementitious part of the blood And if terms be stopt and vitious humors that use to be evacuated with them are sent over the body they cause divers Diseases and Symptoms and among the rest the body of a woman is made hairy and she hath a Beard which is rare Chap. 12. Of the Diseases of the Stomach that come from the Womb. SOmetimes from consent with the womb the appetite is lost diminished increased or depraved or there is Hickets or vomiting belching pain or heart-ach The Causes This is when malignant vapors the way being large rise from the arteries of the womb and go to the coeliack artery and through the Hypogastrick And if they are hot they cause thirst if cold they hurt concoction and many times cause strong symptoms from their malignity and occult qualities whose causes are not known Hence it is that women desire absurd things as these vapors get into divers parts of the stomach The Signs You may know when the stomach is affected by consent from the womb because the Symptoms abate and return again when the vapor comes to the stomach there are also other signs of the womb distempered and of the Spleen and Mesentery by the vessels of which the matter is sent from the womb to the stomach The Prognostick The Symptoms are worse when they come from the womb then when they come from the stomach first nor are they curable except the womb be first cured The Cure It is to be directed to the womb and stomach For if it come only by consent and there is no disease by propriety when you have cured the womb the stomach disease vanisheth of it self if you do but strengthen the stomach If the stomach be first affected look only to that Therefore first evacuate the humors that stick in the stomach as we shewed in its Distemper with matter or the humors will be infected by the malignant vapors A Vomit is here proper To help the Womb see for the Mother-fits and Suffocation and for the Chapter of the Distemper of the womb with matter then strengthen the Stomach thus Take Aromaticum Rosatum a dram Extract of Angelica half a scruple Oyl of Cloves Cinnamon each five drops with Sugar two ounces make Rouls Or give Pills of Aloes and Mastich often THE FOURTH BOOK THE FOURTH SECTION Of the Symptoms which are in Conception Chap. 1. Of the desire of Venery hurt THere are two Symptoms in women about copulation The first lechery lost when she doth not willingly entertain a man or cannot long endure him or if she endures she finds little or no pleasure no more than if she were outwardly handled The other is too great lust as in Frenzy of the womb when they cannot be satisfied by many men Causes The defect of appetite in lust is from defect of seed or when it is cold or there wants Spirits in the Seed-vessels The causes of want of Seed are Lib. 3. Par. 9. Sect. 2. C. 1. Sometimes it is from evil conformation of the Seed-vessels Women discover this to their Husbands that go to the Physitians for counsel The Signs These women have not fruitful feed The Prognostick The Cure and therefore are barren For that see Lib. 3. Of Barrenness of Men where are Liniments and Oyntments for the Loyns and Privities of women but that she may take more pleasure let the man anoint the head of his Yard with Civet or Hens-gall or the gall of a Pickrel Too much Letchery not of it self hinders Conception but wandring Lust that follows Letchery doth The Causes are the same with those of Womb-Frenzy as plenty of seed sharpness and commotion sharpness of seed from hot meat and Medicines that provoke lust and sharp humors in the womb and seed Thus lust or lechery is abated by Medicines that extinguish the plenty of seed and allay its sharpness Chap. 2. Of Barrenness and want of Conception Man or Woman may be lustful and copulate and yet there may be no conception or she may conceive too many as Twins or more or have one conception after another which is called Superfoetation or she conceives a Mole or Monster Conception is of fruitful seed spent by a man and mixed with a womans seed to perfection for the making of a child by the retentive and altering faculty of the womb hence it is necessary that both seeds be fruitful that is hot full of Spirits and well tempered and a fit subject for a Soul and that both spend at a time and there be mixed and retained together to produce a child Also the sucking of the womb is necessary and that it should lay it up and embrace it so that there be no space between the Seed and the Womb. Sometimes the womb greedily snatcheth and embraceth the seed but doth not keep it but lets it come forth two or three dayes after or keeps it to no purpose and brings it not to action as in a false conception or mole Moreover there must be blood in readiness to get the child or besprinkle it when it is first formed and to nourish it after Therefore if terms be wanting as in girls or be stopt or
gone as in old Folk expect no Conception If they flow not by reason of labour and too much exercise the conception is not hindered if there be but blood enough to form the child Hence it is that women that are brought in bed conceive again before they have their terms If all these be right there is conception otherwise she is barren which is an impotency of the womb that keeps it from sucking in of the seed or from retaining or from nourishing it and bringing it into act The Causes The first is impotency in copulation from the closing of the womb of which before or other evil conformation of the privities or an ulcer or tumor in the neck of the womb The second is the breeding of unfruitful seed from distemper of the vessels and stones or too tender and delicate a constitution In men at eighteen in women at fourteen and men seldom get children after sixty and women seldom bear them after sixty As for evil conformation to breed seed Faelix Plat. lib. 1. obser tit de vitalis motus defectu some have wanted Seed-vessels or they were not in their places Some women are barren by the first Husband and have children by the second because there must be a certain proportion between both seeds and if they be wanting they are barren which proportion is hard to be explained and almost impossible for we must not stay in the first qualities for there are occult qualities in seed by which they agree or disagree The third cause is when the womb sucks not in the seed nor receives it in a right manner as when the attractate faculty is hurt or hindered by divers distempers of the Womb or when a woman hates her husband Attraction is hindered by tumors or ulcers in the Womb or by its being displaced 5. Aph. 46. as Hippocrates They who being too fat and conceive not the mouth of their Womb is stopt up with the Cawl and they conceive not till they are lean But the more probable reason of not conceiving is the matter of the seed turning into fat The fourth cause is the retension of the seed hurt by a moist distemper then the Womb is weak and the fibres are loose so that it cannot contract it self to retain and the seed by reason of its sliminess cannot stick there Also if the Womb be too thick not fleshy and soft and be not sprinkled with blood as it is in some by birth which makes them barren and in some after they cease to conceive If the orifice of the womb gape after hard travel and abortion by which the fibres are loosned and weakned and the retention of the seed hurt And if a woman after Copulation cough neese cry out dance or be angry or frighted the same may be The fifth cause of Barrenness is the hurt of the altering faculty which brings in the form and act into seed for if there be not a due proportion between the womb and the seed there is Barrenness as Seeds are choaked in Marshy-ground or die or are burnt in dry and sandy ground so mans Seed is suffocated in a moist womb 5. Aph. 52. and dryed up in a hot Hippocrates speaks of the true proportion of the womb as it is fit to cherish this or that seed thus Women that have thick and cold wombs conceive not and they whose womb is too moist for they quench the seed Nor do they conceive that have dry and burning wombs for the seed is corrupted in them for want of nourishment They who are of a mean temper between these are fruitful The last cause of Barrenness is want of Menstrual-blood which is necessary for the first formation of the child Therefore Nurses that have much milk conceive because the blood is carried to the Breasts Therefore all these causes are reduced either to impotency in Copulation or distemper of the Stones and Seed-vessels or evil conformation or a cold and moist distemper of the Womb which cannot attract detain and alter the seed sometimes a hot and dry distemper that cannot nourish the seed or from the enlarging of the Orifice after Child-bearing or from Humors or being displaced or the straitness of the Vessels or want of Terms or too many Hence we may gather that barrenness is oftner from a fault in the women than the men for in men there is nothing required but fruitful seed spent into a fruitful womb But women besides the meeting of their own seed must receive retain and nourish the mans and afford matter for the forming of the child in which divers accidents happen and any of these will cause Barrenness Mark also in these kinds of causes that some do not properly cause barrenness but only hinder Conception for a time as the closing of the womb smalness of the privities these do not simply cause barrenness Some bring other external causes Ioa. Anglicus cap. de steril as eating the heart of a Deer or if she wear Jet about her or if Harts-tongue be hanged about her bed if she walk over the Terms of another or tread upon them unawares or anoint with them or put the juyce of Mints into her womb Some are born so from a fault in the womb The Differences others are not simply barren but in respect of the man and when they have another Husband are fruitful Some are barren till the constitution of the womb be changed Some bring forth at first and then by some fault grow barren How shall we know that a Women is Barre First see if the fault be in the man or woman The Signs Lib. 3. Of Sterility in Men. For women see if they are apt to Venery or not or receive the Yard fitly 2. Search if she hath good seed answerable to the man or whether she hath used quenchers of seed You may know that she spendeth little or no Seed if she hath little or no pleasure in the act Unfruitful Seed is known by a disease in the womb a cold and moist distemper the signs whereof are mentioned a foul body shews the same for good seed cannot be made of bad blood It is hard to find whether the two seeds have the right proportion or the womb agree with the mans seed Yet temperate with temperate are very fruitful because they are both of a good constitution But intemperate couples are barren but if one temper be good it may mend the other and she may conceive If it come from a Medicine that destroys the seed she will tell If Inchantment be the cause though they love yet they cannot copulate Or whereas they loved each other now they fall out without a cause Ask the woman how her womb doth attract retain and cherish the seed If it have a tumor or have matter or not Whether there be a natural hereditary imperfection Enquire concerning her Family if many were barren whether she hath had hard travel or abortion Whether the
an action of the womb after fruitful seed both male and female is received mixed and nourished and its strength is stirred up to do its office Seed and Coema differ seed is that which comes from both male and female but Coema is that which is mixed of both and is called Conception which produceth a child This Conception is presently when two seeds meets in the womb in less then seven hours after they are spent if the heat of the Womb preserve them Nature is not idle a moment but presently falls to conformation Lib. de genit Therefore Hippocrates saith that the beginning of Conception is to be reckoned from the day that the Seed is retained and if she conceives not from the weakness of the seeds or womb the seed will fall out in seven days for Hippocrates saith Lib. de septim partu 3. De hist ani c. 3. That Conception and Abortion are judged in the same time as a disease health and death are judged And Aristotle saith If seed remains within till the seventh day there is certain Conception As for Formation the Soul lying in the seed makes its own house for all acknowledge a forming faculty and you must then suppose there is a substance from whence this faculty flows And though Aristotle saith that seed is a living creature in power not that there is not the essence of the Soul in the seed and that it is not a living creature in respect of the first act but because it is not come to the second act for want of fit Instruments which being perfected it hath the second act and all its operations which for defect of Organs it cannot produce There are divers opinions of the time of Formation they are best that say the membranes are first made which wrap the child with the Navel-vessels by which it is joyned to the Mothers womb and receives nourishment for the child Then all other parts are made sooner or later as the child requires for dignity or necessity We intend here to speak of womens diseases Therefore there are three things required for the Formation of a Child 1. Fruitful seed from both parents in which the Soul remains that hath a forming quality to make its own habitation 2. The Mothers blood is required to enlarge the Child to perfection 3. There is required a good constitution of the womb to nourish the seed and stir the concealed force If these three be right there is a child that is sound and perfect that will be born but if any of these be wanting there are Twins or more and other faults of which in order Chap. 5. Of the Generation of Twins and many Children NAture hath ordained that a woman should conceive but one child in these and other Countries especially and that every year yet in many places she hath more one had five at every birth twenty at four lyings in A Margaret the Countess of Holsterne in the time of the Emperour Henry the Seventh had three hundred sixty four at one labour And another Countess in the time of Frederick the Eleventh had five hundred and fourteen children at once being Boys these are so seldom that they seem incredible I speak nothing of the Causes of such Monstrous Productions but of Twins or Three The Causes or Four It is certain they are got at one time and this differs from Superfoetation which is at many times And you must not impute it to the divers Cells of the womb for women have no such Cells but only a Line that divides the left-side from the right but it comes from the division of the seed into divers parts and the least forming force in the side is compleat and makes a child of every part of it And because the cavity of the womb cannot admit so many parts of seed being no bigger than a Bean and if it do admit them how can the seed be divided at one copulation into so many parts I suppose that such women have naturally a larger womb so that much seed is divided And as Twins are begot at the same time so they have but one Placenta or part that receives the Navel-vessels of both but they have their several Coats It is hard to know whether a woman have conceived Twins onely their belly is not even The Signs but divided with seams and wrinkles and the weight is commonly greater and the motion is not one not alike If a woman have two children and be weak The Prognostick she is in danger in her travel Twins of one Sex are more lively then of both Sexes And one is by experience weaker and shorter lived then the other Chap. 6. Of Superfoetation IT is seldom that a woman hath many children at divers Copulations but it is sometimes and is called Superfoetation that is a new conception after a former 5. Aphor. 15. Though Hippocrates writes That the mouth of the Womb after Conception is so shut that you cannot put in a Needles point yet a woman with child may take such pleasure after that she may a little open the womb to receive seed again and draw it in which may form another child The Causes Therefore the Cause is the pleasure the woman hath which opens the womb again to attract seed And it is necessary that the seed received be in its proper membrane and peculiar receptacle The Differences These come sometimes sooner sometimes later sometimes the same day or the following sometimes longer after Sometimes they have a third Superfoetation so that they have two living children and one mischance The Signs It is known only by the motion of the Infant when it is conceived long after the first The Prognostick It is dangerous for the Mother for fear of abortion and for loss of much blood by two births at no great distance of time The Cure It is best to leave the whole work to Nature and women ought to take heed of Superfoetation therefore after they have conceived let them meddle no more Chap. 7. Of the ill Formation of the Child IN the Formation of the child there are divers Symptoms 1. In the weakness of the child 2. The parts are more or fewer to which you may refer Hermaphrodites 3. The parts are greater or less as Dwarffs or Gyants 4. There is some part out of place or shape as Histories shew abundantly You must find the Causes in the seeds terms The Causes womb and error in Formation the cause of these is the action hurt of the forming faculty This is not always from it self but from the unfitness of the matter and fault in the place which keeps it from the intention for actions of active things are not but in a disposed patient Sometimes there is an extraordinary cause as imagination when the Mother is frighted or imagineth strange things or longeth vehemently for some meat which if she have not the child hath a mark of the colour
Conserve of red Roses two drams red Coral and Mastich each a scruple give it presently Use the Countesses Oyntment outwardly to the Loyns Reins Pecten and Perinaeum Or Take Oyl of Roses Mirtles Mastich Quinces each two ounces Oyl of Mints an ounce Bdellium dissolved in Vinegar liquid Storax each two ounces Oyl of Nutmegs by expression a dram with Wax make an Oyntment Of the same with Pitch Rosin Colophony you may make Plaisters Let her hold a Load-stone in her hand or tie it to her navel or wear an Eagle-stone under her Arm-pits or Coral Jaspar Smaragds Diamonds If these will not keep the Child up you must give over Astringents and use Lenitives Question Whether the straitness of the Womb is the cause of Abortion Hippocrates 1. de morb saith Lib. de super lib. de steril That the Womb may cause Abortion if they be windy thick great or little And he shews in another place That Abortion may be from the straitness of the womb And in another place he saith 3. De nat fac c. 12. If a woman in the third fourth or fifth month miscarry often and at the same time it is because the womb will not stretch And Galen confirms the same and it stands to reason for natural birth is when the womb cannot contain the child for its growth Therefore if it be preternaturally too little it is the cause of Abortion And though Nature hath made the womb to hold the child yet if it be not made large enough it cannot contain it so the stomach is sometimes so strait that it cannot hold an indifferent quantity of meat as others can Chap. 3. Of the Signs of Natural Birth and the manner and government of such as bring forth AT her time of her being to be delivered let her take heed of astringents and thickners but let her eat meat of easie concoction and of good juyce and sit every fourth day in a hot Bath Of Mallows Foenugreek Linseed Mugwort and Chamomil-flowers and after let her back loyns belly and privities be anointed with the Mucilage of Althaea-seed and Oyl of Lillies and let the child be strengthned But when she hath pains from the navel to the groyns and in the back then the ligaments and vessels are broken by which the child grows to the womb And because the Womb violently strains to discharge it the membranous fibres are extended and commonly there are very great pains and throws or the child will not be born and it is an evil sign when throws cease because the expulsive faculty is weakned And let not the Midwife provoke throws till the time When the Membranes are broken the water flows out that comes from the urin and sweat of the child first little then more then waterish blood and the orifice of the womb begins to open to let out the child And before this time you must not provoke throws Then let the Midwife put her finger into the orifice of the womb and she shall perceive something round and hard as an Egg. Let her not lie on her back flat but with her back up that she may breathe more freely After the child is born you must press the blood in the Navel-vessels towards the navel of the Infant and take heed that you lose not much blood in cutting of the Navel-string for it hath destroyed weak children and you must labour to fetch out the Secundine with the child and if it be in the womb anoint your hands with warm Oyl and put them into the womb and fetch it out Chap. 5. Of Natural hard Travel THough Child-bearing since Eves sin is ordained to be painful as a punishment thereof yet sometimes it is more painful then ordinary The first is from the mother The Causes and the expulsive faculty 2. From the Child 3. From the passage From the mother as when the womb is weak and the mother is not active to expel from weakness or diseases or want of spirits of which Hippocrates It is from the Birth when they are Twins or more and both strive to go forth at a time 5. Aphor. 55. or if the child stick to a Mole or be so weak that it cannot break the membrane or if it be too big all over or in the head only or if the Navel-vessels are twisted about his neck It is from the passages when the membranes are thick the orifice too strait Fabric cent 3. obs 57. and the neck of the womb is not open sufficiently as in such as labour of the first child or are very fat The passages are pressed and straitned by tumors in the adjacent parts or when the bones are too firm and will not open then the mother and child are both in danger or when the passages are not slippery or when they are broken too soon by reason of the thin membranes or the water flows forth sooner then it ought You may know hard travel by faint throws The Signs that come at a great distance And you must consider all things concerning the Mother Womb and child The Prognostick In hard Travel the mother and child are in danger and the Perinaeum sometimes breaks with the skin from the Privities to the Arse-hole If a woman be four dayes in Travel the child scarce escapes The Cure All things that move the Terms are good to make easie delivery As Myrrh white Amber in white Wine or Lilly-water two scruples or a dram some give a drop of Oyl of Amber in Vervain-water or a scruple of mineral Borax or half a dram but begin with gentle things as a spoonful of Cinnamon-water Or Take Cassia Lignea Dittany each a dram Cinnamon half a dram Saffron a scruple make a Powder give a dram Or Take Borax mineral a dram Cassia Lignea a scruple Saffron six grains give it in Sack Or Take Cassia Lignea a dram Dittany Amber each half a dram Cinnamon Borax each a dram and half Saffron a scruple give half a dram Or give some drops of Oyl of Hazel in convenient Liquor or two or three drops of Oyl of Cinnamon in Vervain-water some prepare the secundine thus Take the Navel-string and dry it in an Oven Take two drams of the Powder Cinnamon a dram Saffron half a scruple with juyce of Savin make Troches give two drams or wash the Secundine in Wine and bake it in a pot then wash it in Endive-water and wine Take half a dram of it long Pepper Galangal each half a dram Plantane and Endive-feed each a dram and half Lavender-seed four scruples make a Powder Or Take Labdanum two drams Storax calamite Benzoin each half a dram Musk and Amber-grease each six grains make a Powder or Troches for a fume Or use Pessaries to provoke the Birth Take Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar an ounce Myrrh two drams Saffron a dram with Oyl of Orris make a Pessary An Oyntment for the Pecten and Navel Take Oyl of Keir two ounces juyce of
rot or provoke the part but things that by experience take away pain as Nightshade-water Snails boyled and Frogs in Oyl and with ashes of Frogs made into an Oyntment or Medicines of Lead As Take Oyl of Roses two ounces juyce of Nightshade-berries an ounce and half Ceruss washed Sugar of Lead each a dram Pompholygos half an ounce mix them in a Leaden Mortar till they are thick Or use Cray-fish-ashes and the ashes of the inward rind of an Ash-tree or Herb Robert Lib. 2. De cur vulner C. 3. Cent. 3. Obs 87. Arcaeus teacheth how to cut them out and then burn the part if they be deep and ulcerated But Fabricius shews that you must burn after to consume the reliques and stop the blood after it is cleansed Take Herb Robert Verbascum or Moulin Scabious Caprifolium or Honey-suckles Dill Mans-grease each equal parts burn them take three ounces and with six ounces of Nightshade-water in a Leaden-Mortar mix them After cutting out the root purge melancholy often and provoke Terms or Haemorrhoids lest it return Give Treacle Mithridate with juyce of Borage Sorrel Cray-fish-broath and Asses-milk Ant. Chalmiteus This Water is good against all Cancers Take Moulin-roots Clowns all-heal each two ounces Dropwort Ceterach Herb Robert Agrimony Tormentil Scabious Avens Flaxweed each a handful Nettle-seed three drams Elder and Rosemary-flowers each a pugil boil and sweeten it with Sugar Foment and wash the Cancer with one part of it and let the dreggs be applied as a Pultis Fuchsius his blessed Powder Take white Arsenick that shineth not like glass an ounce powder it pour Aqua vitae upon it and pour it off add fresh Aqua vitae every third day for fifteen dayes Then Take roots of great Dragons gathered in July or August sliced and dried in the wind two ounces Thirdly Take bright clear Soote of the Chimney three drams make a powder Keep it close stopt in a glass the older the better use it not till after a year For a pallative Cure keep it from increasing and take away pain with this Water Take Scrophularia-roots and Herb Roberts each a handful Lambs-tongue Night-shade Bugloss Borage Purslane Eye-bright Bettony each half a handful a Frog and two whites of Eggs with Quince-seeds and Foenugreek each an ounce Rose and Eye-bright-water each a pint distil them in a Leaden Still Use not Cancers as other Ulcers for Emollients Lib. 6. c. 30. Healers and Drawers exasperate and kill with great pain Chap. 8. Of Ulcers and Fistulaes of the Breasts AFter Universals dry up the Milk and if the Breasts hang down bind them up that the humors flow not down and move not the Arm on that side Then cleanse it with the Decoction of Rhapontick Zedoary and Agrimony Heal thus Take strong Wine five quarts Rhois Obsoniorum Cypress-nuts each four ounces green Galls two ounces boyl them to the Consistence of Honey If you fear a Fistula enlarge the Orifice and take away the Callus and heal it as an ordinary Ulcer Chap. 9. Of straitness of the Passages of the Breasts WHen the Veins and Arteries are not wide enough to contain Blood to be turned there is no Milk They are stopt by thick humors The Causes as the vessels of the womb are the cause is the stoppage of the terms or hard tumors in the Breasts that stop or press When the nipple hath no hole for the Child to suck it is from the birth or a wound or scar after an Ulcer The Signs There is little milk and the Breasts pine If the Breasts swell and milk cannot be suckt out the fault is in the paps or the veins of milk The Prognostick An obstruction from gross humors may be cured If it be from a Scirrhus or Scar after an Ulcer it is incurable and so the Nipple born without a hole The Cure If it be from thick humors or blood attenuate it with proper things as Fennel Dill Parsley Anniseeds Pease Rocket-seed or Earth-worms made into Caraplasms or Fomentations Often rubbing of the Breasts opens the Milk-veins Chap. 10. Of strange things bred in the Breasts HAirs Stones and Worms have been found in the Breasts A Worm breeds from putrid blood Bald. Ronsaeus miscel epist 10. Lib. de occult na mira c. 12. and is like a hair the same may be in the back and navel as I shewed And a good Author writes That a woman pained in her breasts could not be eased till Imposthumes broke and worms came forth Levinus Lemnius saw Stones that grew in the Breast Chap. 11. Of the Diseases of Nipples THey are either wanting or lie hid one or both which hinders giving suck If it be from the birth it is scarce cured as also when the Nipple is eaten off by an Ulcer When they come forth first Amatus Lusit cur med cent 5. cur 31. use a sucking Instrument and then apply Puppy-dogs to suck If there be no hole from birth or ulcer healed it is incurable if it be a little often sucking will enlarge it The clefts in the Nipples is an usual evil and causeth great pain in Nurses and if it continue long it turns to foul ulcers that they cannot give suck To prevent this evil in the two last months of being with child wear two cups of Wax over the Nipples with a little Rosin They are cured thus with Oyl of Wax Mirtles Oyntment of Lead Tutty Or Take Tutty prepared a scruple Allum half a dram Camphire six grains with Capons-grease and Oyntment of Roses make an Oyntment Or. Take Pomatum an ounce and half Mastich a scruple Powder of Gum Traganth and red Roses each half a scruple Or Take Oyntment of Lead Pomatum each half an ounce Frankincense Bole each half a scruple mix them When the Infant is to suck wash the Breasts first with white Wine and Rose-water That the Child may suck without pain to the woman let her have a Tin or Silver Nipple and cover it with the Pap of a new killed Cow and let the child suck that THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART THE SECOND SECTION Of the Symptomes of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of want of Milk and not giving Suck THere are many Causes of want of Milk either there is little Blood to breed it or the milk-making Faculty in the Breast that makes Milk is not right or the Instruments for blood-making are distempered Sometimes the matter is consumed by a Feaver or fasting when they loath meat or from care or labour evacuations sweats or loose belly Or from weakness of the Infant that cannot draw hard Also sadness fear and the like may hinder blood from flowing to the Breasts Milk is wanting when the Breasts are flaggy The Signs and swell not and little milk is sucked out The signs of the Causes thus If it be from the Liver there will be signs of its distemper if from great evacuation that is known the fault is known to be in the breasts
from the first confirmation De passion mulier c. 20. when by Natures error the passage from the straight Gut goes to the Womb. Chap. 2. Of the Mentula or Yard in a Woman THe Alae or Wings in the Privities of a Woman are of soft spongy flesh like a Cocks-comb in shape and colour the part at the top is hard and nervous and swells like a Yard in Venery with much spirit This part sometimes is as big as a mans Yard and such women were thought to be turned into men It is from too much nourishment of the part The Causes from the looseness of it by often handling It is not safe to cut it off presently The Cure but first use Driers and Discussers with things that a little astringe then gentle Causticks without causing pain as burnt Allum Aegyptiacum Take Aegyptiacum Oyl of Mastick Roses Wax each half an ounce If these will not do then cut it off or tie it with a Ligature of Silk or Horse-hair till it mortifie Aetius teacheth the way of Amputation Tetrabser 4. c. 103. he calls it the Nympha or Clitoris between both the Wings but take heed you cause not pain or Inflammation After cutting wash with Wine with Mirtles Bayes Roses Pomgranate flowers boiled in it and Cypress nuts and lay on an astringent Powder Some Excrescences grow like a tail and fill the Privities they differ from a Clitoris for the desire of Venery is increased in that and the rubbing of the Cloaths upon it cause lust but in an Excrescence of flesh they cannot for pain endure Copulation but you may cut off this better than a Clitoris because it is all superfluous Chap. 3. Of Atretae or Closures and straitness of the Neck and Mouth of the Womb. THey are threefold Is it either in the Orifice or the Neck or in the middle it is alwaies hurtful either to Copulation or the Terms or to Conception and Child-bearing I saw one that had the first the Orifice was very little only fit to purge the Terms and receive Seed she conceived and the Midwives discovered in time of Child-bearing and the Chirurgion opened it and she was happily delivered but how the Seed was spent into it is not to be understood Lib. de ab sana morb cau cap. 78. Flesh or a Membrane is from evil conformation or a Wound or Ulcer of which Benivenius Fabricus and Hildanus The Cleft also may be closed by a Wound or Ulcer as in a woman who with the French Pox had all eaten off and it grew together after only there was a little passage for Urin. This is either when the sides grow together from an Ulcer or when proud flesh stops it up which is sometimes in the French Pox. When it is in the Privities it is to be seen The Signs but when in the Neck or Orifice of the Womb it is not known but when the Terms are to flow or when they copulate and it is either broken by the force of blood or there is pain and being Virgins they are taken to be with child for if it last long the womb swells and the whole body is blewish These either hinder the Terms from the neck of the womb or from the veins of it If inflammation or ulcer was before this disease may be suspected to be if there the closing be by the Membrane the place is white if by Flesh it is red And it is known by the touch for the Membrane is harder then Flesh The inconveniences are great The Prognostick either in Copulation Conception or Child-bearing especially for the Child cannot get forth without hazard of it self or mother It is easier cured when it is from a Membrane only because it is easily cut or broken that in the Orifice of the Womb is not to be cured because the instruments cannot reach it Take away that which stops the passage The Cure a Membrane that is outward is easily cut but if it be in the neck of the Womb or be flesh it is hard For if the cut be large there is pain and bleeding and the wound is hard to be cured because the neck of the Bladder is easily hurt thereby Uvierus teacheth this Operation in his Observations And Hippocrates in his Book of Sterility shews how a Membrane may be taken away without cutting If flesh grow from an ulcer after purging use Driers and Discussers to diminish it with Frankincense Birthwort Roses Pomgranate flowers Mastick Mirrh Aloes c. as in Chap. 2. Nicol. Florentius Some think this Disease may come from driness but it is incredible If it come from a hard tumor soften and dissolve it with Butter Oyl of sweet Almonds Lillies c. Chap. 4. Of Pustles and Roughness of the Privities ROughness and Itching come from Pustles in the neck of the Womb and Privities with scurff and swellings which itch and pain The Causes They are from an adust humor malignant and sharp which abounding evacuate themselves by these loose and moist parts and their sticking exasperate the flesh this is in the French Pox. The Signs The Prognostick The Cure They declare it themselves It is stubborn long and infectious to men and hard to be cured If the adust sharp humors come from the whole body prepare with Borrage Fumitory Succory Endive and the like then evacuate them with Senna Epithimum Syrup of Apples Violets Roses Catholicon Confection Hamech pills of Fumitory Tartar Let blood if there be fulness first in the Arm then in the Ancle but if it be from the French Pox first use Guajacum and Sarsa and the like Foment the part often with a hot Decoction of Dock roots Fumitory Hops Pellitory or use this Oyntment Take Plantane and Rose-water each four ounces Sal gem Niter Allum each three drams Sublimate a dram and half boil them to the third part strain them and add Verdigreece a scruple then use gentler means two days after till the Pustles fall off and new flesh appear and then use the Oyntment again Let the Diet be to resist evil humors of good Juice avoid salt sharp and sour things Chap. 5. Of Condyloma in the Neck of the Womb. COndyloma is a tubercle or excrescence with heat and pain for these parts are wrinkled and when the wrinkles swell there is a Condyloma Sometimes it is without Inflammation and soft or with Inflammation and hard It is usual in the Privities and Fundament of such as have the French Pox. They are from a sharp malignant humour The Causes which is alwaies in the Pox and sometimes they follow hard Clefts or Chaps They are pain and burning The Signs the skin is wrinkled and when they are many they are like a Bunch of Grapes They are hard to be cured The Prognostick if they are from the Pox first cure that and then they often vanish of themselves After general Evacuations proper against the Pox use Tropicks
The Cure first see if there be Inflammation and then abate pain As Take Oyl of Linseed and Roses each an ounce Oyl of Eggs half an ounce mix them in a Leaden Mortar Or Take Pellitory Mallows Althaea each half a handful Chamomil-flowers two pugils Linseed and Foenugreek each half an ounce Boil them to a pint add Oyl of Roses three ounces inject it with a Syringe If there be no Inflamation use Driers and Repellers as Vervain Ivy Acacia Pomegranate-peels and flowers for Baths and Fomentations and after add Discussers as Chamomil and Thyme If it be old and hard first soften it with the same and after thrice using them use Digesters and Driers that are strong as a Powder Take round Birthwort a dram Savin Hermodactils burnt each two drams burnt Allum two drams red Lead a dram Calcitis half a dram sprinkle it upon the loofe flesh Or Take Aloes Frankincense Mirrh each a dram Ammoniacum dissolved in Vinegar a dram and half Allum two drams red Lead two drams Galls half a dram Turpentine Oyl of Tartar each a dram with Oyl of Roses and Wax make an Oyntment This is very strong Take Turpentine an ounce Oyl of Nutmegs two ounces read Lead two drams Allum Vitriol each a dram Verdegreece half a dram Sublimate a scruple with Wax make an Oyntment or of Balsom of Mercury Tetrab 4. serm l. c. 3. If Medicines will not do the Ancients advise Burning of which see Aetius Chap. 7. Of Warts in the Neck of the Privities of the Womb. THey are from a gross feculent and malignant humor sent to the skin turned to a Node The Signs They are known by their shape the malignant are known by their hardness and heat and blewness filth and pain The Prognostick They are often hard to be cured because the pox is with them and they are in a place to which Medicines are hard to be applied and to continue The Myrmeciae are not cut off but they leave a great ulcer the Thymi and Clavi grow again Acrochordones once cut leave no root After Universals and order of diet The Cure either use Medicines or cut or burn them to discuss then use Sage dried with Figs Organ Rue burnt dry Savin Frankincense with Wine and Vinegar or Snakes skins with Figs these also dry These corrode eat and burn as juyce of wild Cowcumbers with Salt Milk of Figgs Sheeps-dung Goats-gall with Niter Aqua fortis Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur Butter of Antimony Take heed that you hurt not the parts adjacent but defend them with Bole sealed Earth Rose-water and Vinegar if you put the Corrosives into Nut-shells change them twice or thrice in a day and wash the part with a cleansing Decoction and then cut or burn Chap. 7. Of the Haemorrhoids of the Womb. THe veins that end in the neck of the womb often swell like the Haemorrhoids it is from gross blood that comes to these veins out of the time of the terms Inordinate flux of terms may occasion it The Causes when they flow out of the usual time they grow thick and cannot get out of the veins but swell them They are to be touched The Signs and with a Speculum matricis to be seen There is pain and bleeding without order she is pale and lazy The Cure Correct the blood purge and bleed in the arm to derive and revel of which in the diseases of the womb If pain be abate it by sitting in a Decoction of Mallows Althaea Chamomel Melilot flowers Moulin Linseed Foenugreek of which also make Fomentations and Oyntments with Butter Populeon and Opium if there be pain Take Populeon Oyl of Roses and sweet Almonds fresh Butter each half an ounce Saffron a scruple with the yelk of an Egg make an Oyntment Or Take Mucilage of Quinces Althaea each half an ounce Oyl of Roses and Hens-grease each a dram the yelk of an Egg and Saffron half a dram mix them in a Leaden Mortar If pain be gone or abated and they bleed not use Dryers of Bole Earth of Lemnos Acacia Ceruss froath of Silver Lead burnt and washed long Birthwort Allum Verdigreece If they swell with blood evaporate it or foment with the Decoction of Mallows Althaea Pellitory Chamomil-flowers Moulin Melilot seeds of Line and Foenugreek If they do not good open them by Fig-leaves rub'd upon them or by Horsleeches of which Chap. 2. If there be proud flesh take it off as is shewed If they bleed gently let Nature alone to the work for it is good and frees from other diseases If the flux be great and abate the strength open a vein in the arm divers times and do as in overflowing of the Terms Question How do the Haemorrhoids differ from the Terms flowing or stopt Mercurialis saith That though a flux of Terms be immoderate yet it hath its periods and is without pain and makes not the body lean but it is contrary in the Haemorrhoids But this is not true for the body is not made lean alwaies by the Haemorrhoids nor do the Courses keep their periods alwaies Besides the pain which is almost alwaies in the Haemorrhoids they differ in that the terms flow from the veins of the womb and its neck but the Haemorrhoids are when the blood flows too much to the veins that nourish the privities and sticks or is evacuated Chap. 8. Of Ulcers in the Neck of the Womb. THey are seldome cured in the body of the womb and they are simple and clean or sordid and malignant Are a flux of sharp humors that lasts long in the Pox and Gonorrhaea Corrupt after-births The Causes and courses after child-bearing detained inflammations turned to imposthumes these are the internal The external are sharp Medicines hard travel a great child taken out by force violent lechery wounds falls strokes Are pain and constant biting that increaseth The Signs especially in copulation or when Wine or Hydromel is injected You may also see it with a Speculum also there is matter gentle or filthy if the ulcer go towards the bladder they piss hot and often there is pain in the roots of the eyes to the hands and fingers fainting and a little Feaver sometimes The external Causes are to be related by the Patient If it be from the Pox or Gonorrhoea the signs of them will appear of which Hippocrates They are hard to be cured because they are in a part fit to receive humors soft and moist and that hath consent with many parts Hence are divers Symptoms the great old and foul are worst when they corrode and are hollow they are seldome cured they that may easily have Medicines applied to them are easiest cured The Cure First stop the flux of humors to the part if it be either from the whole body or any part And amend the distemper of the womb that it may neither breed nor receive bad humors If the French Pox be with it resist that first If there
same scents are put to the privities the womb is refreshed with them and the Spirits are quiet or move to the scents And so the humors if there be any are still or else move downward But stinks on the contrary by reason of their Antipathy with the Womb voided by the Spirits and so the humors move downwards and often there is an abortion thereby What is spoken of sweet Scents may be understood of all sweet things and this is our Judgement in a matter so difficult THE FOURTH BOOK THE SECOND SECTION Of the Symptoms in the Terms and other Fluxes of the Womb. Chap 1. Of the Flux of the Terms BY Divine providence the blood which is voided every month is kept in when there is a Child For if it be its Nature it is not ill but only superfluous till they conceive nor is it more an Excrement then Seed and Milk The terms commonly begin at fourteen and then the hair appears on the privities the breasts swell and women begin to be lecherous and the blood can no longer stay in the Veins but breaks out at the Veins of the Womb. In some they begin at twelve and they are very lustful commonly and of shorter lives they continue till fifty and some till sixty and then stop In some they begin at seventeen or eighteen And in some they stop before fifty according to the variety of Nature and Diet. Nature doth not send forth every day what is gathered but staies till the plenty offends and doth only once in a month otherwise it would be filthy and unpleasant and hinder Conception Nor do they flow at one time in all exactly but there are twenty two daies or at most thirty between the purgings In some they last three daies which was usual in the time of Hippocrates In some four or five or more as their Liver is greater or their diet is higher or lower Hippocrates saith they should bleed but a pint and half or two pints this is is not alike in all but differs in respect of age and diet As for the quality it must not be too thick nor too thin but of a middle substance without scent of a red colour yellower in cholerick persons in melancholick black in flegmatick whiter and it must flow without any great Symptom The passages are the veins of the womb being double from the double branch on both sides it the Spermatick and Hypogastrick that they may evacuate superfluities from all parts And from this Description of a natural Flux you may gather what is preternatural Question Whether can a Woman conceive that never had Terms They are called by some Flowers because they go before Conception as flowers do before fruit but many have conceived that never had their flowers being hotter by Nature as the Indians that never had any Flowers and Viragoes that use more exercise but if these have no more blood then will nourish their body they are barren If any thing abound that is not required for nourishment of the parts and is so much that Nature cannot endure it in the body the Womb draws it to it when it hath conceived to make up the child of which hereafter Question 2. Whether Menstruous blood is only superfluous in quantity or bad in respect of quality Writers disagree about this Some say it is bad in quantity and quality and venomous by the effects as making Ivory obscure and infecting Looking-glasses corrupting Wine by a Vapor from the Body of a Woman that hath her Flowers Others say they offend only in plenty for if it were venomous it would not be a whole month in the body and it could not from the child nor would Nature make Milk of it Therefore menstruous blood only offends in quantity and not in any manifest or hidden quality But it hath strange qualities when it is mixed with bad humors or is kept too long in the Body to be corrupted and cause great Symptoms but this is when it is mixed with bad humors or is out of its Vessels and so corrupt Question 3. Of the Text of Aristotle 7. de hist. Animalium cap. 2. and how it is to be understood Aristotle writes thus 7. De histo ani c. 2. Constantly every month some have their Terms but most in the third as if he should say Few women have their courses every month but many have them every third month This is against Galen and against experience For it is certain that among six hundred women scarce one hath them every third month Therefore this is either an errour in the Greek Text or in the Translation or great Men do often lie which is probable and so did Aristotle in this of Physick therefore it is in vain to defend their Errour Chap. 2. Of the Terms flowing too soon ORdinarily they begin at fourteen but many have had them sooner A child of eleven daies old had a bloody humor flowing Her saxonia vidit venetiis ser 6. part 5. c. 16. from the Privities Another of five years old had every month a moderate flux Fernel reports that a Girl of eight years old had the terms but are rare and for the most part very lecherous and short lived Chap. 3. Of want and stopping of the Terms SOme Women have them not till eighteen or twenty Some before and then they stop for a time without either giving suck or being with child Some have been without them three five or seven months and then they came again This is an evil constitution or suppression of that which it ought to flow from the fault of the blood and stoppage of the passages The Causes When Terms are wanting either blood is wanting or stopt It is wanting either because it is not made or dispersed or turned to other uses for nature being more sollicitous to preserve the individual person then to propagate the species spends it in preserving of the person Blood is not made from divers causes as age cold constitution of Liver Heart or a disease which distempers the bowels Or often bleeding from great Vessels or from having many issues which take from the blood It is spent other waies as before ripe age and when women are with child or give suck or in hot Natures and fat women in whom it is turned to fat It is in vain to provoke Terms in these They are either external evident causes of stopping of the Terms as too great labour troubles sadness fear but these last do not only waste the blood but cool and corrupt it and cause obstructions 2. Epid. sec 8. in fine as Hippocrates speaks of Phatusa the wife of Pytheus The proper causes are the straitness of the passage or evil conformation of the parts through which it should flow Or the closing of the womb of which we spake but I speak here of the vessels The usual cause of obstructions is thick slimy humors from the blood too thick or mixed with melancholy which comes
and add Fennel-seed Calamus Cinnamon Cassia lignea Cardamoms each half an ounce distil them again Or give Syrup of Calamints Mugwort Or Take water of Penny-royal Savin Calamints each four ounces Syrup of Mugwort four ounces Cinnamon-water an ounce give it at four times Rouls Take Extract of Savin a scruple of Angelica half a scruple of Elicampane six grains Oyl of Cinnamon five drops of Cloves two drops with Sugar dissolved in Balm-water Or make an Electuary of Steel six ounces Cassia lignea Cinnamon each two drams Cloves a dram Raisins two ounces with Sugar dissolved in Mugwort-water Or Take Troches of Mirrh a dram Extract of Gentian and Savin each a scruple Castor half a scruple make Pills give two scruples or give every third day Pills of Hiera Use outward Medicines but provoke not sweat by them Take Althaea and Lilly-roots each two ounces Birthwort an ounce Mallows Mercury Mugwort Savin Motherwort Calamint Penny-royal Marjoram Bayes each two handfuls flowers of Chamomil Lavender Cheir each a handful Foenugreek-seed an ounce Juniper and Bayberries each half a handful boil them in Water foment with Spunges And then anoint with this Take Oyl of Lillies an ounce of Lavender-seeds stilled half a dram Calamints and Gith-powder each a dram Storax Calamite a scruple To Virgins that must take no Pessaries give Fumes with the head defended they will open the mouths of the vessels and cut thick humors As Take Mirrh Bdellium Storax each a dram Benzoin two scruples Gallia moschata Ivet each half a scruple with liquid Storax make Troches Then use Clysters and Injections into the Womb with Purgers As Take Calamints Penny-royal each a handful Gith-seed Turbith each a dram Coloquintida half a dram boyl it in Wine inject it into the Womb. If it be hot after it inject the Decoction of Mallows with Milk or Barley-water And because the neck of the womb lies upon the strait gut give Clysters Take Lilly-roots an ounce Orris Valerian each half an ounce Mercury two handfuls Mugwort Savin each a handful Chamomil Lavender-flowers each a pugil Caraway Gith-seed each a dram boyl add Hiera and Benedicta laxativa each half an ounce Oyl of Cheir two drams Electuary of Bayberries half an ounce If she be no Virgin put Mercury bruised in a Bag for a Pessary with Centuary-flowers Or Garlick beaten with Oyl of Spike Begin still with the mildest as Mugwort Mercury Penny-royal Marjoram Rue and then add Mucilages and Juyces to loosen the womb let not Pessaries lie long lest they cause a Feaver If it be from a tumor provoke not the Terms but look to the tumor Let diet be hot and attenuating of good juyce with Parsley Savory Rosemary Cloves Cinnamon Little sleep and much exercise Question 1. Whether are the other Causes of stoppage of the Terms Some say the blood going to other parts is a cause but it is rather contrary and the suppression of terms is cause of that For the Veins of the Womb are large enough to evacuate blood Others say The strength of the womb is a cause which thickens the Vessels that they receive blood But the Womb is made to receive it when it abounds Others accuse the strength which is to be denied but when it is so strong that it is too hot or too dry and will not receive the blood and that is a sign of weakness But there must be strength in the whole body to cast out superfluous blood or there will be other mischiefs Question 2. What Veins must be opened when the Terms are stopt Authors disagree in this as Aetius and Galen Lib. de sang miss cap. 11 18 19. who alwaies speaks of the Ankle-veins and most are of his mind being it is rational For a Vein opened in the Arm doth rather revel from the Womb then draw the blood to it But in the Ankle brings it to its place and opens Obstructions and doth both lessen and bring blood to the womb and move that which is in the womb fixed Open the Ankle therefore twice or thrice Lib. de sang miss adver craesis rather then the Arm once Therefore Galen commends Hippocrates that he opened a Vein in the Ankle in the Servant of Schimarg though she had a Plethory But in other diseases of the womb as Inflammation dropping or too many terms it is good to open a vein in the Arm. The Saphaena is opened by putting the foot in warm water before and after Question 3. At what time must a Vein be opened against the stoppage of the Terms Galen saith It must be when Nature may be helped be the blood moved that is three or four daies before the usual time of their coming as if she had been always in the full of the Moon and they have been stopt some months Bleed three or four daies before the full to put Nature in mind of her duty and to make the blood run again Chap. 4. Of Fewness of the Terms IT is when they flow less then they use or ought to flow The Causes It is either from the blood or in the expulsive Faculty in the passages As if blood be little the terms are few and slow If the retentive Faculty is weak and the expulsive strong they come at due time but in small quantity If the terms are slow the fault is in the quality of the blood being too thick Also straitness of the passages may be a cause for if they be not wide enough the blood cannot flow freely The Signs The patient will tell the disease but the cause of it is to be found in the Chapter aforegoing Few Terms from little blood is not dangerous if they be stopt from thick blood The Prognostick there follow Diseases as Erysipelas Scirrhus or Cancer See the Chapter aforegoing for the Cure The Causes and if it be from thickness of blood it is often cured by a general purge for the whole Body Chap. 5. Of Dropping of the Terms THis is a Flux and lasts long and there is pain The blood flows not conveniently at the due time and manner and the privities are alwaies wet as when the urin drops Are from the blood and the passages of it The Causes and the retentive faculty as when the blood is too thick and sharp which stir up Nature to let it out and because it stretcheth the Membranes there is pain Also the weakness of the retentive faculty is a cause The women declare it The Signs but if it be from thick blood and sharp and straight passages there is a stretching pain about the womb If it be from crudity of blood and weakness of the retentive faculty the blood flows without pain and is not much felt It is troublesom to women and if it last long The Prognostick The Cure causeth Ulcers and Inflammations It is all in mending of the thick and sharp blood and in opening the passages which are the two chief causes of it of which
we spake at large If blood be superfluous loose it not nor open the Ankle-vein lest you draw it more to the Womb but take away the Cacochymy If it be from weakness of the retentive Faculty strengthen the womb with Dryers and Astringents Chap. 6. Of the overflowing of the Terms IT is when it is too much or too long and hurts any Woman and brings diseases but a certain proportion of bleeding is not to be defined but too much is lost when the actions are hurt The Causes Gal. 3. de symp Causis c. 2. 5. aph com 57. The immediate Cause is the opening of the Vessels and the immediate Cause is the blood in quantity or quality offending or by its force or disorderly motion Vessels are opened by Anastomisis Diapedesis Diaeresis or ruption or by Diaurosis or corrosion Anastomosis is from a moist distemper of the Vessels which loosneth the Orifices or from external causes as Baths hot and moist or use of Aloes The flux is seldom too great from a Diapedesis for it is but a sweating through Ruption is from Plethory when the terms have long been stopped and then break out and when the blood is hot by Air Baths c. The outward causes are falls strokes hard travel great burthens lifted Erosion is from sharp blood or humor or from Medicines that corode as Pessaries long kept For this great Flux is chiefly from the Veins in the bottom of the Womb. The Signs The Flux of Blood is too great when the strength abateth and Cachexy follows with paleness swollen feet and the blood that comes from the bottome of the Womb is blacker and clotted That from the neck redder and thinner The signs of the causes If it be from much blood there are signs of plethory and it easily clotted together If the blood be sharp and cholerick it is putrified in the womb you shall know waterish blood by its colour and the signs of that humour abounding and if you dip a clout in it and dry it in the shade you may see it If the womb be too moist such causes went before If it be from breaking of Veins they will tell you of violence If it be from corrosion it is little and slow sometimes pure sometimes serous It weakneth the whole Body The Prognostick the Liver and Bowels there is Swounding the Whites and paleness and Dropsie sometimes That which hath been long is hard to be cured and causeth death and in an old woman it is deadly If there be fulness abate the blood Indications and keep it from flowing to the womb revel it repel cool and astringe it that it may not flow so fast and then amend the blood If it is from plenty of blood The Cure open the Liver-veins in the right Arm bleed little and often because it makes better revulsion and weakens not open the Salvetella if there be weakness Gal. 5. aph com 50. and cup the Back and Breast against the Liver beneath the Paps where are Veins from the womb cup not beneath but in the Shoulders or Back and Arm with Scarification but scarifie not under the Breasts Bind and rub the arms and shoulders and temper and thicken the sharp thin humors with Decoctions and water of Plantane Purslane Sorrel Knot-grass Shepheards-purse Pomegranate-Syrup and of dried Roses Sorrel Purslane Coral Conserve of Roses Bole sealed Earth If it be urgent use Narcoticks Syrup of Poppies Treacle Philonium Laudanum If it still continue it is fed with Choler therefore purge it with Syrup of Roses Manna Rhubarb Senna If it be fed with serous blood help the Reins that do not their duty and the Liver and sweat with China You must not provoke urin but use astringents As Take the juyce of Ass-dung Syrup of Mirtles each half an ounce Plantane-water an ounce Give it her and let her not know what it is Decoctions Take Comfrey-roots Tormentil each two drams Purslane Plantane each a handful boil them add to six ounces Syrup of Currans Quinces Mirtles each six drams give it at twice Or Take Syrup of Purslane juyce of Nettles each two ounces Purslane-water four ounces Troches of Amber of sealed Earth each a dram Blood-stone half a dram give two spoonfuls every day A Water Take eight pints of water with Starch Barley-meal and Rice dried Roses a handful juyce of Yarrow Plantane each half a pint Comfrey-roots and all three ounces Horstail Blood-wort each half a handful Pears and Quinces Pomegranate-flowers all Sanders each half an ounce Mastich an ounce Distil them and give two ounces with half an ounce of Syrup of Roses or Purslane Electuaries Conserve of Roses two ounces Quinces an ounce and half Troches of burnt Ivory and sealed Earth each a dram Crocus Martis Bole red coral prepared Mastich each half a dram with Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary Powders Take Mastich red Coral prepared each a dram Pearl Smaragds prepared each a scruple Blood-stone half a scruple Bole half a dram make a powder Michael Paschal cured many with this Powder Lib. de curat morb cap. 55. Take two Egg-shells burnt Frankincense Mastich each half an ounce Pearl red Coral and Amber each two drams Blood-stone Smaragds prepared each half a scruple Barley-flour two pugils whites of four Eggs with steeled water make Cakes Give from half a dram to a dram in powder with Trotter-broath in the morning Or give every day a dram of the powder of Mulberry-tree roots Or Ex petrafores to Take plump Turtle drawn and pluckt wash it in Rose-water and red Wine put an ounce of Mastich in the belly of it stick it on and roast it and bast it with Vinegar of Roses Then put it into a glass close luted to be dried in an Oven then beat all of it to powder Give a spoonful with Plantane-water or an astringent Decoction Anoint the bottome of the Belly Reins and Groyns with the dropping of it Or make Rouls thus Take Bole half a dram Magistery of Coral a dram Pearl prepared a scruple Sorrel and Plantane-seed each half a dram Aromatiacum rosatum Traganth each half a dram with Sugar dissolved in Plantane-water make Rouls In the use of cold Astringents take heed you stop not the Veins and the heat be cooled If these help not use Narcoticks as Troches of sealed Earths and Amber with Opium these astringe also Use no Pessaries except the Veins in the neck of the Womb be open As Take Snakeweed Tormentil each half an ounce Pomegranate-flowers Plantane-seed each two drams Comfry-roots half an ounce Frankincense Mastich each a dram Acacia Sanguis Draconis each two scruples Blood-stone Starch each a dram and half with the white of an Egg and Gum traganth dissolved in Rose-water make Pessaries with red Silk Womb-Clysters Take juyce of Yarrow Solomons-seal each two ounces Mucilage of Gum Arabick made in Plantane-water two ounces make a Clyster A Fume Take Frankincense Mastich each two drams Mirtles Labdanum each a
dram red Roses Pomegranate-flowers each half a dram with Gum traganth make Troches to be burnt Oyntments Take Oyl of Mirtles Quinces each two ounces juyce of Plantane Solomons-seal Horse-tail each an ounce boil the juyces away add Bole Plantane-seed Mirtle-berries Ceruss each half an ounce with Wax make an Oyntment Or use the Countesses Oyntment to the Loins and Pecten Cataplasms Take Quinces Pearls boiled in red Wine add Bole Mastich Sanguis Draconis Acacia make a Cataplasm or a Cerot Or Take Sorrel and Plantane-seed Purslane-seed Bole Sanguis Draconis each two drams Frankincense Mastich Mirrh each three drams Turpentine an ounce with juyce of Plantane and Yarrow and Wax make a Cerot after the Juyces are boiled away Fomentations are better than Baths for they make the humors flow more Let them be astringent and cool Or wash the Legs and Hips in cold water Lay Epithems to the Liver Oyntments Cerots or Plaisters If Choler offend give Rhubarb and Conserve of Roses to evacuate the Cacochymy If blood flow from a vein broken use Coral Bole Mirtles Comphry Acacia Hypocistis or apply a Pultis of whites of Eggs and astringent Powders If it come from a vessel corroded use stoppers and glutinaters that are slimy as Dropwort-roots a dram with a rear Egg. Let the diet be as the Physick is In a flux from plethory eat little and that of little nourishment and in other cases give things to close the vessels Sleep long and use little Venery little or no exercise Anger hurts and other passions Question Whether Frictions or Ligatures in the Legs may be made for Revulsion Hippocrates and Galen are misconstrued in his 8. Book of Blood-letting and they are not to be used in the flux of the Terms Chap. 7. Of the Terms-flowing with pain and Symptoms THe Symptoms are pain in the Loyns or Thighs Head-ach biting at the mouth of the Stomach pain in the Belly and Loyns fainting They are as in suppression of Terms The Causes but less vehement and are in them that have not conceived There is obstruction thick and gross blood that stretcheth the vessels and the blood flows not orderly A little before the Terms there is head-ach The Signs biting at the stomach pain in the loyns and bottom of the stomach with beating at the heart and fainting When the pain is from thick blood it comes forth in clodds and the pain is worse than before If it be from wind it is sudden and staies not in a place and there is rumbling in the belly The Prognostick Take heed it turn not to the stoppage of terms if it be neglected It is greater in barren women and Virgins then in those who have had children The Cure Take away the cause if they be thick humors evacuate them after they are prepared If sharp temper them These attenuate blood water of Grass-roots Maidenhair Decoctions of the opening Roots Syrup of Maidenhair of the five Roots Treacle and the like in the stoppage of the Terms Against pain use the Fomentations and Oyntments in the Chapter of pain of the Womb. Chap. 8. Of evil discoloured Terms THis is called the Terms depraved by bad humors and so they are voided The Causes Blood is foul either from evil diet or evil humors or stoppage of it The humors are flegm choler or melancholy mixed with it and then the Terms are either pale blew green or black and stinking or white and flegmatick They are so from a fault in the stomach The pale and yellow are from too great heat in the Liver The black are from the spleen disordered The Signs That blood which is natural is different from the bad in colour and substance it is like that of a new slain sheep nor thicker nor thinner and the bad Terms come not seasonably but sooner or later of which Hippocrates Lib. de morb mulier You may know by the colour what humor predominates and by the substance The flegmatick and melancholy are long in coming and the cholerick waterish Terms come quicker The more they differ from the natural state The Prognostick the worse they are black and stinking are worst The mattery are worst of all If these flow seven eight or nine daies she is cured if they ulcerate the womb she is barren Hippocrates saith The Cure 5. Aphor. 36. they must be purged and prepared with proper things as we shewed in the distempers of the womb But take heed that you move not the Terms when you attenuate for that will melt the serous humors and fix them more in the vessels use neither Vinegar nor sharp things After purging consume the reliques by sweat if choler be in fault that must not be sweated out discuss it with warm Baths and do so in melancholy Use Pessaries Fomentations and Fumes to the womb Give Treacle Mithridate or the Decoction of Angelica-roots if cold humors are the cause Chap. 9. Of Terms coming before their time THese shew an ill constitution And it is a depraved excretion of the Terms that comes for the time often for sometimes they flow sooner or twice in a month The immediate Cause is hurt of the retentive and expulsive faculty The Causes so that the blood flows not or sooner or later or oftner the cause why they come sooner is in the blood that stirs up the expulsive faculty in the whole body or in the womb sometimes all causes meet the blood is too much or too sharp and hot and if the retentive faculty in the womb be weak and the expulsive strong and of quick sense it is sooner A fall stroke or passion are the evident Causes The Signs They will relate it and the signs of the causes are these If it be from much blood there are the signs of plethory heat thinness and sharp humors are known by the distemper of the whole The weakness of the retentive faculty and loosness of the vessels is known from a loose and moist habit of body The Prognostick The Cure It is not dangerous but troublesome and hinders conception If they come too soon from hurt in the faculty provoked by too much plethory Let blood use a spare diet and much exercise If it be from sharp blood temper it by good diet and Medicines as in the cholerick distemper of the womb Use Baths of Iron-water that corrects the distempers of the bowels then evacuate If it come from the retentive faculty and loosness of the vessels correct the cold and moist distemper with gentle astringents If it be from a stroke or fall cure it as the vessels opened are cured of which before Chap. 10. Of the Terms that come after their usual time WHen they stay longer then ordinary and return without order at no set time the causes are little and thick blood straitness of the passages weakness of the expulsive faculty and dulness Either of these causes may stop the Terms but if all meet the disease is
worse For if blood be not bred in such a quantity that may prick Nature forward to expel it the purging of it is differed till there be enough to stir up Nature to expel it If thick humors are in the blood the passage stopt and the faculty weak the Terms must needs be disordered and the purging of them differed longer If it be from want of blood The Signs she hath either lived poor in diet or exercised too much and she finds no inconvenience by the want of her Terms If it be from gross slimy blood there are signs of Cachochymy The weakness of the faculty is known by the cold distemper of the womb It is not so dangerous as stoppage of the terms The Prognostick but it is bad enough in a plethorick or cacochymical body If little blood be use a fuller diet The Cure and exercise not If blood be gross and foul make it thin and cut it and after Preparatives let the humors mixed therewith be evacuated It is good to purge presently after the Terms and to use Calamints and to purge often Also four or five dayes before the Terms scarifie the ankles and hold the feet in warm water rub the legs apply Cupping-glasses without Scarification to the inside of the thighs and use Fumes and Pessaries Anoint the bottom of the belly with things to provoke the Terms If there be a numness use things against the Palsie Chap. 11. Of the Terms voided another way SOmetimes they come out at the Nose or are vomited up or flow out by the Haemorrhoid veins 1. De morb mul. 5. apho 32. obser medit c. 15. Lib. 1. de affect mul. c. 7. The Causes Hence Hippocrates saith that a woman that vomits blood is cured by having her Terms or by a Bloody-flux Sometimes they are pissed forth Dodonaeus saies That they come out at the eyes like tears sometimes Amatus Lusitanus saith they will come forth at the Teats of the breasts and at the navel at the little finger or ring finger every month as Mercatas observed thrice Are stoppage of the Terms from straitness of the vessels in the womb or evil conformation of the womb The Prognostick It is more troublesome then dangerous and hinders conception It is best when they come out at the Nose for it is a part that Nature useth to disburden her self by The Cure First Bring the blood to the womb again and abate it Open the ankle-vein three daies before she begins to bleed Or cup the thighs or rub them Or use Baths Fomentations Oyntments Womb-Clysters Pessaries and the like mentioned in Suppression of the Terms Chap. 12. Of the Whites IT is a foul excretion from the womb white and sometimes blew or green or reddish nor at a set time nor every month but disorderly longer or shorter Before or after the Terms and when they are stopt Virgins seldom have this disease and women with child have it sometimes It differs from the running of the reins for it is in less quantity whiter and thicker and at a greater distance It differs from night pollution which is only in sleep with the imagination of Venery The immediate Cause is an excrementitious humor flegm choler or melancholy The Causes Sometimes it is like waterish blood It is gathered in the whole body or in the stomach liver or spleen For they who have crudities in the stomach are subject to this disease Sometimes the womb alone is distempered after often mischances or when the womb is very cold and moist This matter flows through the veins of the womb or of the neck of it which use to carry blood and Nature abuseth them to carry excrements especially if they are bred in the womb The remote causes are whatsoever doth breed bad humors some have it after strong purges or long bathing Sometimes they are pale sometimes blew red The Differences waterish and green sometimes slimy or cold or sharp or stinking In young people it is reddish The face is discoloured the urin thick The Signs there is loathing and heart-ach If the humor be sharp and corrupt there is a Feaver If it be flegmatick and much the ligaments of the Womb are loose and it falls out thus Hippocrates Lib. de natur mulierum and there are saith he swelled eyes evil colour and short breathing If it be not bred in the womb the humor is from a Cacochymy If it be from a fault in another part the signs of that will appear If it come only from the Womb there will be but little If from the whole body there will be more The Prognostick It is often long with little inconvenience but it must be looked to lest it be worse for it often breaks ulcers Cachexy falling out of the womb Consumption Fainting Convulsions when the matter is sent to the brain or nerves And the worse the humor is the greater is the disease The Cure It must not be suddenly stopt lest it go to the noble parts First see whether it be from the whole body or any part or from the Womb it self If from the whole body which is often make general evacuation and turn the humors from the womb and keep a good diet lest they come again I allow not bleeding in the arm if the terms be stopt for they cause a Cacochymy which admits no bleeding Moreover the mass of blood may be made foul by them therefore find out whether it comes from Cacochymy or Plethory And when it is most like to come from Cacochymy bleed not Therefore if flegm abound which is most usual after general purging consume the reliques with Guajacum and Sarsa and a drying diet and by provoking Urin of which hereafter If sharp and cholerick humors abound temper them with gentle astringents as Succory Endive Sorrel to prepare purge with Rhubarb Triphera Persica aggregative Pills and Pills of Rhubarb If it be melancholy do as in melancholy If it be water cure it as Galen did the Wife of Boethus c. 8. lib. de prognost ad Posth If it be in the stomach liver or the like prevent it from increase and because it is most about the stomach give a Vomit but not too strong Then strengthen the stomach with hot and dry Medicines If Choler abound the Distemper is hot and then cool it If it come from the Womb do as I shewed from what cause soever it is Baths are good to evacuate and divert and strengthen and take away a moist distemper provided they are proper for the Constitution Use Dryers and Astringents As Take Conserve of red Roses four ounces of Succory two ounces red Coral Snakeweed Tormentil-roots Ivory each two drams with Syrup of Mirtles make an Electuary Or Take red Coral Bole sealed Earth each an ounce Pearl prepared a scruple Mastich half a dram Cypress-roots two scruples Mace half a scruple with Sugar of Roses as much as all make a powder Or Take
Diarrhodon a dram Sanders a scruple Coriander two drams Mastich Coral each a dram with Sugar make Troches But use not these Astringents till the Body be purged lest the waterish humors be stopt and the Belly swell but you may use hot Dryers safely as Treacle Mithridate with Conserve of Roses and Wormwood As Take Conserve of Rosemary-flowers an ounce Diacorus two drams Diarrhodon Aromaticum Rosatum each a dram red Coral prepared a dram and half Treacle two drams with syrup of Citron-peels make an Electuary And left the womb be hurt with evil humors inject the Decoction of Barley Honey of Roses and Whey with Syrup of dried Roses Or of Wormwood Mints Motherwort red Roses Allum And then use a Fume of Frankincense Labdanum Mastich Sanders Nutmeg red Roses Avoid crude and moist things and Fish Milk and all sweet Meats and Salt Forbear Suppers drink red Wine sleep and wake moderately lie not upon the Back lest the Loyns be heated and the humors sent to the Womb. Question Whether are Diureticks good in the Whites Diureticks that provoke urin do also provoke terms therefore the reliques of the humors would be carried by them to the womb but these move the terms secondarily but if the Body be well purged first they will not make the Flux greater but bring it out by urin Chap. 13. Of a Gonorrhoea THe running of the Reins may be in all women that are fit for a man for it is the flux of natural Seed It is in men and women from the French Pox but when stinking humors do flow it is not properly called a Gonorrhoea The Causes The chief cause is the weakness of the retentive faculty and the loosness and largeness of the Seed-vessels the Causes of these are shewed in the Gonorrhoea of men The Signs The Woman will declare it and the greatness and the colour For if it be white and little and thick and at distance it is a true Gonorrhoea The Prognostick The Cure If it continue it brings a Consumption and Barrenness The Cure of a Gonorrhoea and night pollution is Pract. 3. but I shall add this if it come from plenty of Seed The Buds of the Salix or Willow is good with Wine If it be from weakness of the retentive faculty give Caster half a scruple and use Astringents to the Belly Reins and Stones or a Bath of Willow-leaves Mirtles Quinces each two handfuls Rosemary red Roses each a handful Cypress-nuts three ounces Let her sit in up to the Navel And apply Bags of the same to the Loyns Kidnies Privities and anoint after with Oyl of Mastich and Mirtles Chap. 14. Of strange things voided by the Womb. THere is matter often voided by the Womb of which before And sometimes stones and gravel breed in the womb Hippoc. 5. epid letr 4. ser 4. c. 98. as Aetius and Peter Salius Diversus speaks of a Nun that after a pain that no Medicine could cure voided a rough stone as big as a Ducks Egg and then she was at ease but a foul Flux of the Womb followed of which she died Worms Garcias Lopius writes that he saw a woman Lib. var. lect c. 13. that voided many Ascarides of the Womb. THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD SECTION Of the Symptoms that befal all Virgins and Women in their Wombs after they are ripe of Age. Chap. 1. Of Virginity IT is the integrity of Womens Privities not violated by Man but what are the signs of Virginity is a Question I think thus Question 1. Whether doth the Hymen which is the sign of Virginity appear in all Women Some say there is no such thing and if a Membrane be there it is preternatural and a disease in the Organ called the Closing of the Womb. Some famous Physitians and Anatomists say There is a Hymen which is the sign of Virginity It is they say a Membrane wrinkled with Caruncles like Mirtle-berries like the bud of a Rose half blown hence came the word Deflower I think with the Ancients that there is something in these parts that distinguisheth Virgins from Women which is violated in the first Copulation many say they have it and we may believe them For it is certain that there is an alteration at first in Virgins which causeth pain and bleeding which is a sign of Virginity But what this is it is not yet known manifestly Some say it is a nervous Membrane with small Veins which bleed at the first bout Some say there are four Caruncles tied together with small Membranes Some have observed a fleshy Circle about the Nymphae with obscure little Veins which makes the Membrane not to be nervous but fleshy To be short I suppose it to be certain that the part which receives the Yard is not in them that have used a man as in Virgins nor is it alike in all and this hath caused the diversity of Opinions in Anatomists Moreover this is not found in all Virgins because some are very lustful and when it itcheth they put in their finger or some other thing and break the Membrane sometimes the Midwives break it Question 2. Whether do all Virgins at the first bout our Copulation bleed The Africans had a Custome to shut the Bridegroom and the Bride up in a Chamber Ex Leone Africans after they were married till they prepared the Wedding-dinner And an Old Woman stood at the door to receive a bloody sheet from the Bridegroom that she might shew it in triumph to all the Guests and that then they might feast with joy And if there was no Blood to be seen the Bride was to be sent home to her Friends with disgrace and the Guests went sadly home without their Dinner Some say from Experience that some honest Virgins have lost their Maiden-heads without bleeding and that it is a certain sign of Virginity when they bleed and when they do not they are not to be censured as unchast I hold that young Virgins will bleed but when they are in years by reason of the long continuance of the Terms the parts are harder and longer and if the mans yard be small there is no necessity of bleeding Or if the Girle was wanton afore and by long handling hath dilated the part or broke it there is no blood after Copulation Therefore Deut. chap. 20. the Law of Moses is taken for that which hapneth often and for the most part And there can be no more gathered from hence but bleeding is an undoubted sign of Virginity The same may be said of the African Custome Question 3. Whether is the straitness of the Privities a sign of Virginity The Privities are straiter in some according to age habit of body and other circumstances and Virgins are straiter then VVomen that have been at it But I deny that straitness is a certain Argument of Virginity For after many acts of Venery it may be made so strait by astringent Medicines that Whores may be taken for Virgins as
we shewed concerning a Wench that was married and to appear a Virgin she used a Bath of Comfrey-roots Question 4. Whether is Milk in the Breasts a sign of Virginity lost Some say That there can be no Milk in the Breasts till a woman hath conceived and Virgins have neither the cause nor the end why milk is made And the terms stopt do rather corrupt then turn to milk And though there be alwayes in the Breasts a faculty to make milk yet doth it not shew its power but upon an object and for some end Some say That Virgins may have Milk 5. Aph. 39. Gal. in com Lib. 3. anat c. 4. com in aphoris lib. 5.39 and urge this saying of Hippocrates If any have Milk when she is neither with Child nor Breeding their terms are stopt Galen is of the same opinion and thought it be seldom yet he saith it is possible And Alexander Benedictus and Christopher de Vega saw it We shall not contradict Hippocrates and Experience but there is a twofold milk The one of Virgins the other of those that have brought forth or conceived The first is made of blood that cannot get out at the womb but goes to the Breasts and this is nothing but a superfluous nourishment of the Breasts that turns milk by the faculty of the Breasts without the company of a man or conception The other is only when there is a child of this Milk it is true what Hippocrates writes It is a certain sign of a Mole Cit. loc de morb mulierum when great bellied women have no milk in their Breasts And true milk in the Breasts is a sign of a live child in the Womb. These Milks differ in respect of the blood and diversity of the veins that bring it to the Breasts and though both are white yet that of Virgins is thinnest nor is it so much nor so sweet this may breed in the Veins according to Aristotle from the superfluous nourishment of the Breasts and if Virgins have it 1. De hist. ani c. 12. they are not to be termed unchast Chap. 2. Of the Green-sickness or white Feaver THis is in Virgins fit for a man it is called the Virgins Disease and the white Feaver not that there is alwayes a Feaver but because their Face is like people in a Feaver It is thus defined The Virgins Disease is the changing of the natural colour into a pale and green with faintness heaviness of body loathing of meat palpitation of Heart difficult breathing sadness swelling of the Feet Eye-lids and Face from depraved nourishment The â—auses The first Cause is stoppage of Terms the next is the gathering of bad humors For when the way to the womb is stopt the blood returns to the great Vessels and Bowels and choaks their heat and stops the vessels and spoils the making of blood and then there are crudities which being brought to the habit of the body cannot be united perfectly to the parts and cause a Cachexy which is the way to a Dropsie and Leucophlegmacy and divers Symptoms The causes of the obstructions of the Vessels of the Womb are crude humors and flegmatick slimy blood from evil diet and drinking of Vinegar or eating raw Corn Chalk Ashes Lime Earth Clay and the like There is a pale and green colour The Signs the Face is swollen and the Eye-brows in the morning after sleep especially the Ankles swell and the whole Body is loose and moist from much water the Legs are lazy the Pulse is little and often in the Neck Temples and Back The heart beats the breath is short when they go up stairs they loath meat Some have the Pica or desire to eat absurd things The terms are stopt the Hypochondria are swollen Sometimes they vomit If vapors fly to the Head there is thirst and head-ach and if Melancholy be mixed the animal actions are hurt These are not all in all people but most are in most and in some all It it often turned to a Dropsie The Prognostick Some after death have had a Scirrhus hard Liver Some die suddenly the Heart being oppressed If the stomach be much afflicted it is dangerous and they loath meat much If it come from the womb alone it is easier cured It is best to begin in the Spring or Summer The Cure after a Clyster open a Vein in the Ankle Then heat the thick cold humor and make it thin and because it is too much to be purged at once prepare and purge often and mix attenuaters and cutters with your purges When the humors are above the stomach and Mesentery it is good to vomit those that can easily vomit and to give Liver-Physick or Spleen or Womb-Physick even as in Leâ—cophlegmacy see the Chapter of Terms stopt But in this Disease alwayes consider the Liver Spleen and Mesentery the obstructions of which are cured with things mentioned At first open the obstructions of these parts with some few things that provoke terms and after give more Thus Take opening Roots an ounce Madder Eryngus Orris Elicampane Citron-peels dried Sarsa each half an ounce Mugwort Agrimony Germander each a handful Savin two pugils Carthamus-seeds an ounce Senna two ounces Mechoacan Agarick each half an ounce Stoechas-flower two pugils Fennel Aniseed Galangal each two drams boil them to a pint and half sweeten it and add Cinnamon-water three drams Or infuse them all with Sea-wormwood half a handful common Wormwood two pugils Or Take Agarick Pills of Rhubarb each a dram Quercetan 's Pills of Tartar and of Ammoniacum each half a dram Spike a scruple Oyl of Cinnamon three drops Extract of Wormwood half a scruple make Pills give a scruple an hour before meat Or Take juyce of Mercury clarified Honey or Sugar each an ounce add Gith-seed Senna each two drams Mechoacan a dram make a Mass or give Conserve of Marigold-flowers Steel is an excellent Remedy after Preparatives with proper Drinks or Ingredients And if the Vessels of the stomach are stopt give a Vomit and then gross powder of Steel Hoc laudat Mercatus If the Mesentery be stopt Take Diarrhodon Diacurcuma Agarick each a dram Carthamus seeds two drams red Dock-roots Carrot-seed each a dram and half Cloves a dram Steel prepared two ounces with clarified Honey make an Electuary give two or four drams If she vomit stop it not If the Liver be chiefly stopt let the Steel be finely powdered And take of it half a pound add eight ounces of Wine in a glass set it in the embers stir it and let it boil twelve simmers till you see it froath and grow a little thick then pour the froath and all into another Vessel Do thus four times and then let it be gently boiled till it be thick as Honey Then Take Parsley Carrot-seed Diacurcuma Diarrhodon each a dram and half Cinnamon a dram Steel prepared six drams with Honey make an Electuary give three drams or five after excercise If
it by one Sometimes there is only short breath sometimes the animal actions are hurt the whole Body is cold from a malignant vapor sent up from the Womb. The Causes The immediate Cause is a vapour malignant and venomous sent up by the Arteries Veins and Nerves that hurt the actions of the parts it goes to This vapor is like air or wind thin and little but very strong to get presently through the whole Body It chiefly ascends to the Gullet and causeth choaking as eating of Mushrooms Hellebore and other poysons There is often short difficult breathing with Heart-ach Vomiting and Loathing If the vapor go first to the heart the motion of it ceaseth and there is swounding and she falls down If it go to the Brain the animal actions are hurt When seed and terms corrupt in the Womb with other bad humors they breed this evil vapor because they are the best substance and the beginning of generation they are worst when corrupted especially seed to hurt the whole Body Gal. cit 1. Sometimes it is in Women with child when they have not their after-purging but evil humors are left and corrupt in the Womb. The chief cause of this humor is in the trumpet of the womb and stones the body of which is hollow and loose the stones being in Bladders and have hollowness full of water which in hysterical women is yellow and thicker then ordinary Vesal de corp human Fabr. lib. 5. c. 15. This trumpet and the stones are often taken from the womb it self when they are swollen with corrupt seed and humors and wind and reach to the Navel of which in the Chapter of Ascent of the Womb. This disease is breeding sooner or longer as the matter is more or less sometimes corrupt humors lie still and if they be stirred they send a venom or vapor to the whole body Now in women subject to this disease sweet scents to the Nose or taken in or anger will move these humors and vapors They are according to the variety of the Symptoms and efficient cause or venomous humors The Differences for corrupt blood especially seed puts on another Nature That Suffocation is at hand The Signs it appears by laziness weakness of the Legs paleness sad countenance and the motion of something like a Ball in the Belly with noise like Frogs Snakes or Crows so that some think it is devillish There is also Belching Yawning Yexing short Wind Heart-beating Loathing Dulness Laughter at the coming of the fit from the vapor getting into the Membrane of the Breast that tickle them some cry some both laugh and cry These Symptoms increase when the fit comes and the Jaws are closed that she seems to be choaked and sense and motion is gone or depraved Some have Convulsions some hear what is done about them but cannot speak the pulse is less the whole body is cold and the Eyes shut as if they were dead When the fit declines humors flow from the Privities the Guts rumble the Eyes open the Cheeks grow red and the body warm the animal actions return and the Patient sighs and comes to her self It is known to be from corrupt seed if the terms are in order and short breath and low voice Suffocation and Convulsions and all Symptoms are then more vehement and at the end of the fit there flows a humour like seed out of the privities It is from the terms if they be stopt or flow not orderly and if there be a disease in the womb it is neither from the seed nor the terms The Prognostick 1. If there come Swounding or a great Convulsion or quenching of natural heat it is deadly 2. Suffocation from corrupt seed is more dangerous then that which is from the terms mixt with melancholick humors 3. The longer it lasts and the worse the Symptoms the more is the danger It ceaseth in young Women when they begin to bear children 4. The oftner the fit comes the more you may fear the quenching of the natural heat by weakning of the Heart often and if she foam at the mouth she dies The Cure of the Fit In the fit you must discuss the malignant vapors that rise from the womb and turn it from the principal parts and you must evacuate the matter that breeds it and prevent its return Call upon her loud pluck the hairs of her privities and Ears make strong Ligatures and Frictions cup the Legs and Thighs and Groyns hold stinks to the Nose as Partridge-feathers burnt hairs Leather Horn Castor Assa-foetida Galbanum Oyl of Amber Rue the warts on Horses legs dried and the powder upon coals burnt makes a Fume which if taken in the nose suddenly raised them Apply sweet Scents to the Privities as Civet Musk Gallia and Alipta moschata or powder of Cloves Or Take Storax calamita Benzoin each a dram Gallia moschata half a scruple make Troches with Gum traganth and let the Fume be taken into the VVomb by a Fennel A Liniment Take Storax Benzoin each a dram Gallia moschata half a scruple Civet four grains liquid Storax half a scruple with Cotton put it into the Womb. Clysters to discuss wind draw down the matter Take the Carminative Decoction a pint Electuary of Hiera six drams Benedicta laxativa an ounce Oyl of Rue and Bayberries each a dram Use VVomb-clysters and Pessaries to women that have known man Take Electuary of Hiera and Diaphaenicon each two drams Turpentine half an ounce Honey of Mercury an ounce Castor half a dram with Wooll make a Pessary Oyl of Tin applied to the Navel doth remove the fit Or Rue Castor and sneesing Powders As Take white Hellebore half a scruple long Pepper and Ginger each half a dram or put Oyl of Amber into the Nose and Ears Apply to the VVomb this Take Oyl of Rue Bayes each two ounces Cummin-seed Castor dissolved in Vinegar each two drams with Wax make a Liniment Or use a Plaister of Galbanum Castor and Assa-foetida A Compound distilled VVater Take Zedoary Parsnep-seeds Lovage-roots each two ounces Mirrh Castor each half an ounce Piony-roots four ounces Misleto of the Oak gathered in the wain of the Moon three ounces and water of Motherwort four ounces and half Spirit of Wine a pint and half steep them eight daies distil and give a spoonful with Tile-flower or Mugwort-water or Oyl of Amber some drops Or Take Castor Assa-foetida each a scruple Pepper half a scruple with syrup of Mugwort make Pills give three The Cure out of the Fit First prevent the seed from corrupting in the womb and if it be corrupt evacuate it presently with Womb-Clysters and Pessaries then disperse the reliques and strengthen the womb But first give a general Purge that is gentle often and use things that prevent the breeding of Seed Strengthen with Plaisters and Oyntments to the Region of the Womb. As Take liquid Storax two drams Avens Agnus castus seeds Angelica each half a dram
Alipta moschata a scruple Oyl of Nard Lillies and white Wax make an Oyntment Or Take seeds of Agnus castus a dram all Sanders each half a dram white Rose-powder a dram Tacamahacca a scruple Amber two scruples Alipta moschata half an ounce with Turpentine Labdanum and Wax make a Plaister If she be a Virgin let her be married If it be from Terms stopt see in the Chapter of that This disease is neither from seed nor blood nor humors if they be not corrupted after a peculiar manner If it be from the womb distempered give the Infusion of an ounce of Briony root in white Wine once in a week for a year at bed time or this Hysterical Water Take Lovage-roots Piony Angelica Zedoary each an ounce Misleto of the Oak gathered in the wane of the Moon two ounces Mints Balm Calamints Bettony each a handful Carrot Parsnep-seed Castor each half an ounce distil them in white Wine and water of Motherwort after eight daies infusion Or Take Briony Valerian Spignel Angelica-roots each half an ounce Balm Calamints Penny-royal Bettony each half a handful boyl them in Wine add Syrup of Mugwort an ounce give it at thrice Vitriol of Iron one grain with two grains of Sugar given in Wine some weeks is excellent Or Take Cummin-seed wild Parsnep-seeds each a dram give a dram in powder Or Take Faecula Brionae two drams Cummin-seed Parsnep-seed each a dram Amber half a dram Cloves two scruples Cinnamon a scruple make a powder Pills Take Castor a scruple Assa-foetida half a scruple Mirrh Galbanum Sagapenum each a scruple with Honey of Mercury make Pills take half a scruple or a scruple often Or Take Treacle or Mithridate Apply Plaisters or Liniments to the region of the Womb thus Take old Treacle half an ounce Agnus castus seeds a dram Oyl of Angelica and Cummin-seeds each two drams with Plaister of Bayberries Or make Oyntments of the same Question 1. What preternatural disease is the Suffocation of the Womb properly Some say it is a cold distemper in quality changed they say right but coldness is not the chief Symptom Others say it is respiration hurt by Syneope or Convulsion But it cannot be defined by one Symptom For sometimes the animal actions are hurt and there is a Megrim Delirium Convulsion and sense and motion are gone Nor is it strange that so small a vapor should bring such Symptoms for it hath an occult venom in it which is strong Gal. 6. de lo. off c. 5. for it goes many ways and to many parts Question 2. What is the true Cause of the fits of the Mother I say it is the malignant vapors that flie up from the womb for it doth not work by a manifest quality 4. De lo. aff c. 5. but by a venom which Galen saith is like that of a Torpedo or Phalanx or Scorpion which are little in bulk but do great mischief being enemies to the vital spirits and heart by which there is a coldness all over and short breath from the actions of the heart hurt For when the heart is hurt or the vital Spirits either suffocated or corrupted there are no good animal Spirits bred and they not flowing to the nerves and muscles hinder the motion of the breast Also this malignant vapor is an enemy to the animal Spirits and makes doting and Convulsions when it gets to the brain The Cause of these vapors are corrupt seed and terms for while they are in their proper vessels they change not their nature And the seed is not alwaies pure but mixed with evil humors and the seed vessels are sometimes swollen and distempered Moreover the corruption is from the womb in a peculiar manner for as Fernelius saith The place from whence comes life is also the breeder of the most deadly poison Question 3. It is good to give Wine in a fit of the Mother Hippocrates and Avicen quarrel about this 1. De nat mulierum The first allows Wine because they are weak and nothing sooner refresheth But Avicen is for water and forbids flesh for they increase Seed and Blood But in the time of the fit Wine is proper and Avicen doth not speak of the fit but of the diet out of the fit when it comes from plenty of seed and blood nor will a little Wine in the time of the fit get presently to the Womb. Chap. 5. Of the Frenzie of the Womb. IT is a great and foul Symptom of the Womb both in Virgins and Widdows and such as have known man These are mad for Lust and invite men and lie down to them and it differs from salacity because in that there is no Delirium It is an immoderate desire of Venery that makes women almost mad or a Delirium from an immoderate desire of Venery it is without a Feaver and with heat and tends to madness There are degrees in it for modest women have it but will not for shame declare it and die of Consumptions Others will not conceal it but speak their thoughts bawdily and follow men and sollicite them shamelesly as Hippocrates writes in his Book of Virgins Diseases The immediate Cause is plenty of hot and The Causes sharp Seed against Nature but next unto that which is natural it is a little biting swelling and forcing Nature to let it out by lechery The brain is only hurt by consent and the animal actions by an external error or too vehement object The part first affected is the womb in the Nymphae which grows hot and swells but the Nymphae are not properly the seat of Venery but the Clitoris which was called by the same name anciently The heat and sharpness of Seed is from the heat of the womb that breeds it from hot humors in the womb and hot blood The outward Causes are hot meats spiced strong wine and the like that heat the privities idleness pleasure and dancing and reading of bawdy Histories The Signs They find their lust to boyl at first and for shame will not declare it they are sad and silent and their eyes turn to and fro with lust and if any speak of Venery they blush and the pulse changeth when the brain consenteth reason is perverted and modesty is overcome then they prate are lustful and angry sometimes they cry or laugh without a cause they follow men and sollicite them for copulation Some will lie with any one they meet The Prognostick The Cure It is a sordid disease curable at first but if neglected it turns to madness Let Virgins that have it before reason is subverted be in company with chast Maidens or be married And be let blood to abate heat of blood and sharpness of Seed very often there is no better remedy Then temper and evacuate the humors if they be adust and there be madness use stronger Then have a Bath of Lettice Willow Water-lillies Vine-leaves Purslane Venus-navel red Roses Violets Water-lillies Let her sit twice a
seed comes away presently after or at a distance after some dayes if so then the womans seed is unfruitful or there is a distemper in the womb that keeps it from cherishing the seed If the Terms be wanting they are Viragoes and have hair on their Chins or they are fat and seed turns into fat or they are very lean because they want blood 5. Aph. 59. Hippocrates proves Barrenness thus Put a Fume saith he under the coats of a Woman and let her be close cloathed about and if the scent come to the Nose she is not barren and he bids you put Garlick cleansed into the womb and if she smell of it at the mouth she is fruitful The Prognostick A natural bad disposition that causeth Barrenness is not curable Hippocrates saith 2. Prognos 3. That Barrenness from Ulcers is hard to be cured A woman that conceives not from disagreement with her husbands constitution by another husband or in time may be cured or some distemper that causeth sterility may be mended by Physick Take away the causes The Cure amend the distemper of the womb whether with matter or without matter is to be mended which causeth either no Seed or that which is unfruitful or not convenient See Part I. Sect. 2. Chap. 1. The Medicines of an occult quality are best As Take Rocket-seed Siler montane each half a dram Ivory-shavings Cinnamon Nutmeg each a dram Musk in such as may three grains white Sanders three drams make a Powder give a dram with Wine Or Take Species Diamoschu Diambra each a dram the Matrix of a Hare a Bores-stones and the Yard of a Stagg each half a dram Nutmeg Cinnamon Cloves Rocket-seed wild Parsnep-seed each a dram Musk Amber each four grains with Sugar as much as all give two drams in Wine A Confection Take sweet Almonds Pistachaes Pine-Nuts Hazel-Nuts each an ounce Citron-peels Ginger Cloves Cinnamon each half a dram Rocket-seed two drams give a spoonful at bed-time Or make this March-pane Take sweet Almonds four ounces Pine Pistachaes Hazel-nuts each two ounces Diambra Diamoschu each a dram Ivory half a dram Cinnamon half an ounce An Electuary Take Conserve of Rosemary six ounces Dogs-stones candied two ounces Orobus Schinks-reins Bores-stones Sows-wombs Deers-privities Ivory Turnep-seed Fennel Nettle-seed Rocket Clary wild Mustard each two drams Pine-nuts sweet Almonds each half an ounce Diamoschu dulcis a dram Oyl of Nutmeg by expression two drams with Syrup of Bettony make an Electuary Or use Triphera without Opium Or use Baths Insessions Fomentations Fumes and Baths after Terms for five days Take Briony Masterwort-roots Mercury Mug-wort Penny-royal Marjoram Bayes Sage Motherwort Juniper-berries and tops make a Bath Or use Sulphur-baths of Allum Niter Bitumen these do much good A Fume Take Labdanum Storax calamite Benzoin each two drams Wood Aloes a scruple Musk six grains with infusion of Traganth made in Rose-water make Troches Make Pessaries of green Mercury and Motherwort Or Take Mastich Storax liquid each half an ounce Balm Nep Mercury each a dram Cloves Nutmeg each half a dram Civet half a scruple with Wax make a Pessary After Baths and Fumes anoint the Pecten and Navel with this Take Oyl of Keir half an ounce Oyl distilled of Marjoram a scruple of Cloves half a scruple of Nutmegs by expression a dram Storax liquid two drams Civet and Musk each six grains with Wax make a Liniment After bathing let her have a Bag upon her Belly of Balm Calamints Mints Motherwort and Wine Let her wear Plaisters upon her Loins and Perinaeum till the week before her Terms As Take the Plaister for the Mother an ounce Storax liquid Caranna each two drams Gallia moschata half a dram Oyl of Cloves half a scruple of Nutmegs by expression a dram with Oyl of Keir make a Plaister If the Womb be too loose and slippery use Clysters of juyce of Mercury with Honey-baths Pessaries Fumes and other astringent Topicks that strengthen If the mouth of the Womb gape make a Decoction in Wine of Mirtles Mastich Wood-Vines Olives Wormwood Cypress-roots Comfrey Snakeweed Cinquefoyl red Roses Pomegranate flowers foment the Privities or with powder of Mastich Frankincense Allum Wood-Aloes make a Fume Other Diseases are to be cured as before shewed Let it be to increase seed of much good juyce The Diet. In the time of Copulation avoid passions anger sadness fear Let love be invited and if it burn there will many spirits flie to the Womb and Privities Chap. 3. Of Barrenness for the time and Conceiving seldom SOme Conceive the seventh eighth or ninth year after wedding some presently but not after the first any more or not in many years after If Virgins marry afore fourteen The Causes they conceive not or if the constitution of the womb be bad or the Seed Some conceive not from the disagreementt of Seeds till their constitution be changed They who want Terms The Signs or have them disorderly or are sickly seldom or never conceive with child or have had hard travel or a dead child Some are weakned so that after the first child they have no strength to conceive All these will be related whether she be married too soon or had hard travel or aborted or had a dead child or a Mole If these were not the Seed and Womb have not a just proportion with the mans but it may be altered by age The Prognostick If the womb be much hurt after hard travel or any thing turn in it or broken they seldom conceive again And if a woman marry at a ripe age and have no remarkable Disease and conceive not presently she is not to be accounted barren because some private indisposition hinders Conception which after may be altered and she may prove fruitful The Cure A woman that marries too young after she hath once conceived and then ceaseth must use Venery sparingly till she grow older that she may recover the strength she lost in her first travel And if a woman marry at ripe years and conceives not by reason of the driness of her Womb let her use Baths Fomentations and emollient Pessaries If she conceive not from weakness strengthen the Womb and let her not use Venery often If Virgins be sick from seed retained or terms let them marry But if there be a fault in the Liver or Spleen or the whole body that may be increased by Venery it is better that they be cured before they be married And if they cannot be cured let them not be married If the Womb be distempered by Birth or a Disease cure it as in diseases of the Womb. If it be from a Mole or Flux of blood cure it as it hath and shall be shewed If it be from a dead child first cleanse it with juyce of Mercury and then put Treacle or Mithridate dissolved into the womb or with a Pessary or give them outwardly Chap. 4. Of Conception and Forming of the Child COnception is
Savin an ounce of Leeks and Mercury each half an ounce boyl them to the consumption of the juyce add Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar half an ounce Myrrh two drams Storax liquid a dram round Birthwort Sowbread Cinnamon each half a dram Saffron a scruple with wax make an Oyntment Also neesing provoke the Birth and Amulets 5. Aphor. 35. Levi. Lemn de oc nat mir lib. 4. c. 12. as a Snakes-skin about her middle the Eagle-stone bound to her thigh If weakness be the cause refresh her with Wine and sops to the nose Confect Alkermes Diamosc Diamarg If there be Twins let the Midwife order them with her hands and help the foremost If the passages be not slippery use an emollient Fomentation and Oyl of sweet Almonds Hens or Ducks-grease c. If the belly be bound give a Clyster or Suppository When Medicine will not do it Aetius tetra 4. c. 23. break the Membrane with the fingers dipt in Oyl or cut them When the Child is still-born let the Midwife chew Spices and blow in its mouth or drop Aqua-vitae in it or anoint it with Honey Chap. 6. Of a vitious disorderly Birth or difficulty preternatural IF the hand come not forth first and the hands and feet are upwards there is an ill birth Hippocrates reckons two causes The Causes the largeness of the womb Lib. de nat pu and disorderly motion of the mother from pain also the thickness of the membrane which when it cannot break with the head it attemps to do with the feet and hands The Signs The Midwife may perceive in what figure the child comes forth The Prognostick All disorderly coming forth is dangerous to mother and child but there is least danger when both feet come forth this is called by the Latins Partus Agrippinus The Cure Let the Midwife reduce it into the cavity of the womb when it comes not forth right and place it right When the feet cannot be thrust upwards let the Midwife supple the parts with Oyl and take hold of the arm and help it and give neesings Let her alwaies labour to put the child in a right posture by moving it with her hand or taking the mother from the bed and compose her in such a posture as may bring the child into a right posture and that soon Chap. 7. Of a slow Birth THis is when the Child is longer coming forth then ordinarily Epistol lo. 2. 29. epis of this Massa writes That a Venetian Matron conceived of a husband of seventy years of age and brought forth a child in the fifteenth month blind and without hands which lived five months Consil 85. ad christ vuolcken Cardanus writes That his father said he was born in the thirteenth month And Mercurialis writes thus That it was never seen or written that a woman had a live child four years in her belly c. but these are rare and miraculous The cause is the weakness of the seed and want of heat in the womb which makes the expulsive faculty weak Chap. 8. Of a Child dead in the Womb. WHen at the time of Child-birth there is pain and breaking forth of water which ceaseth presently without delivery the child remaining in the womb then the mother or child dies or both When the travel is vehement from divers causes they may also cause no birth The Causes for either the more she may lose her strength and the child not come forth or both may die And if the child be weak and move little or the mother may be weak and the child great the travel is hard and both die or if the child come not forth in a right posture Or if the passages are ill proportioned Fabri cent 1. obs 64. 67. as when the bones of the Pubes do not give way or when there is Schirrhus or other tumor that straitneth the passages there is no delivery Or the child dies by a disease for want of nourishment or a fall stroak or leap or passion in the mother Search if the child be living or dead The Signs for if it be dead it will hurt the mother by rotting and if the mother die and child be alive take it out before the mother be buried A child is known to be dead if the Mother and Midwife perceive no motion but it is raised by any strengtheners given and when the mother moves from side to side it moves like a stone or when the face and lips of the mother are pale and her extream parts livid and the breasts that were plump are fallen her breath stinks water and stinking matter flows from the womb there is a Feaver horrour and fainting or Convulsion or if the Secundine come forth before the Child The Prognostick If a dead child be not presently taken out the mother is in great danger there are great Symptomes and strange diseases of which see Francis Rousset and others The Cure When the child comes not forth in time and is alive it must be taken out by the Midwife or Chyrurgion by cutting the belly and womb of which in the Chapter following If it be dead you must drive or take it out before it stinks either by Medicines or Chyrurgery The Medicines are such as stir up the expulsive faculty but they must be stronger then before because the motion of the child ceaseth as Take Savin round Birthwort Troches of Mirrh Castor each a dram Cinnamon half an ounce Saffron a scruple give a dram with Savin-water Or Take Borax Savin Dittany each an ounce Mirrh Asarum-roots Cinnamon Saffron each half a dram make a Powder give a dram Purge first and put her in an emollient Bath and anoint about the womb with Oyl of Lillies sweet Almonds Chamomil Hens and Goose-grease Foment to get out the child with a Decoction of Mercury Orris wild Cowcumber Stoechas Broom-flowers Then anoint the Privities and Loyns with Oyntment of Sowbread Or Take Coloquintida Agarick Birthwort each a dram make a powder add Ammoniacum dissolved in Wine Ox-gall each two drams with Oyl of Keir make an Oyntment Or this Pessary Take Birthwort Orris black Hellebore Coloquintida Mirrh each a dram powdered add Ammoniacum dissolved in Wine Ox-gall each two drams Or make a Fume with Asses-hoof burnt or Galbanum or Castor and let it be taken in with a Funnel If these will not do use Chyrurgery It is done with the hand only or with instruments of which Aegineta and Aetius Lib. 6. c. 23. terrab serm 4. cap. 23. Charles Stephens shews how to use the hand without instruments When you know the child is dead saith he place the woman in the best posture and tye her so very fast c. see the rest John Bauhin takes the same course out of Schenks Observations And because the strength faileth Lib. 5. cap. 2. de disect part corpore human refresh her and abate pain cherish the torn parts and
make a Pessary The stronger are of the Decoction of wild Cowcumber Coloquintida Staphisacre Hellebore Honey and gall of an Ox. Fumes are made of Cassia lignea Nard Mugwort Savin Penny-royal Dittany Or Take Myrrh Castor Galbanum each half a dram Opopanax Cinnamon each a dram with Honey make Troches for to be burnt Then foment the Belly with the Decoction of those Plants Or Take Lupine-meal an ounce powder of Wormwood half an ounce Mirrh Rue each three drams with Ox-gall and Honey make a Cataplasm If it come not forth give a Womb-clyster of the Decoction of Sage Mugwort Mercury Calamints Penny-royal If all fail inject things to suppurate into the womb and let it be turned to matter and come out by degrees and inject strengtheners into the womb Of the Mole left after Child-bearing You may know it by the signs of a Mole mentioned she hath no ease after travel there is pain in the navel back and groyns and much clotted blood comes away and yet she hath no ease the Cure is mentioned before in the Mole Chap. 3. Of the Purgation after Child-bearing diminished or detained THis is not alike in all women for in some women the blood is fresh in others it is waterish cholerick or melancholick And some bleed more then others according to the constitution and Countrey It is either not at all or too much or too little The Causes When they are stopt or lessened the vessels are too strait or the blood flows another way or it is too thick or the vessels of the womb are pressed from its position the blood is drawn away by passions fears or goes hastily to the breasts The Signs The just quantity is not to be defined when it is stopt the belly swells the pain is in the bottom of the belly and groyns there is chilness and a Feaver after it fainting weak swift unequal pulse there is soot in the urin Sometimes the belly inflamed or she voids blew or black clodds or blood The Prognostick Gal. 1. epid com 3. t. 21. The Cure It is bad of it self to have any thing left after Child-bearing and worse if it staies long and grows melancholick therefore it is a cause of many diseases First endeavor to evacuate the blood from the womb by Frictions Ligatures and Cupping if they will not do open a vein in the foot Then open the passages with external and internal meats anoint the Belly with loosning Oyls or foment thus Take Lilly-roots Birthwort Briony Angelica each half an ounce Mercury Mugwort Penny-royal Savin Calamints each a handful Tansey Chamomil and Elder-flowers each half a handful Faenugreek and Linseed each two drams bruise them grosly and put them in a bag and boyl them in Water and Wine lay it to the Privities and bottom of the Belly Give emollient Clysters and if some dayes are past purge with Agarick Rhubarb Senna Or Take Lilly-roots Althaea each half an ounce Birthworts two drams Pellitory Mercury Althaea each a handful Calamints Chamomil Elder-flowers each two pugils Foenugreek and Linseed each two drams boyl them to ten ounces strained add Oyl of Dill Lillies each an ounce Hiera simple half an ounce Oyntment of Sowbread three drams make a Clyster Or give Pessaries that provoke the Terms Give things to melt and attenuate the blood As Take opening Roots three drams Bettony Maiden-hair Endive Schoenanth each two pugils Anise Fennel-seed each a scruple red Pease a spoonful boyl them to a pint and half add Cinnamon-water two drams syrup of the five Roots three ounces give four ounces Chap. 4. Of too great a flux of blood after Child-bearing THat is too much which makes weak It is blood abounding which hath been gathered nine months in the womb The Causes It is thick or spends the Spirits and weakens The Signs There is loathing of meat pain the Hypochondria belly-ach weak and often pulse dark sight noise in the ears fainting and Convulsion It is dangerous when long The Prognostick Hippoc. 9. aphor 55. The Cure and with fainting and Convulsion Therefore observe the Pulse lest she dye suddenly See what strength she hath and stop it not suddenly If it be not very great order a dyet of roasted Hens basted with red Wine or Pomegranate of Starch Almonds Rice Quinces Conserve of Roses steeled Water and make Revulsions use gentle things and strengthen the loose passages Anoint the belly with Oyl of Roses Mirtles cup under the breasts and sides without scarrification Apply a Cataplasm of red Roses Bole and Rose-water to the Liver Then use stronger and give a higher diet often in small quantity and give Syrups to stop blood As Take old Conserve of Roses two ounces of Tormentil an ounce of Quinces without species half an ounce Bole red Coral each half a dram with syrup of Currans and Coral make an Electuary Anoint the belly with the Oyntment of the Countess and other Astringents or use Astringent Fomentations or let her take into the womb a Fume of Mastich Frankincense red Roses c. Then open a vein in the arm and let blood by degrees See Sect. 2. Chap. 6. Of Overflowing of the Terms Chap. 5. Of the pains after Travel and torments in the Belly THese are not in the body and bottom of the womb but in the vessels and membranes by which the womb hangs and that goes to the sides and belly The Causes They are from a constant labour in travel when the bottom of the womb is pricked to send forth from cold air let into it or clotted blood detained or sharp blood sticking to the womb and pricking it The Signs They are in the womb it self you may know if they came from cold by what hath been done and clotted blood will manifest it self The Prognostick The Cure They weaken much and are very troublesome therefore they must be abated First take away the cause or abate the pain and make that which hurts the womb fit to be evacuated by these Pills Take Cinnamon a dram Saffron a scruple Diacymini Diagalangal Zedoary each half a dram make a Powder give a dram in Penny-royal or Cinnamon-water Or Take of Cummin-seed steept in Spirit of Wine and dried again a dram Ameos-seed and Ginger each half a dram Cinnamon a scruple Castor half a scruple make a Powder If she faint add Cordial Waters As Take Diacyminum a dram Diamargariton frigid Citron-peels Zedoary each half a dram make a Powder If she be cholerick or the humor thin and sharp cure it as a Cholick from Choler As Take Syrup of Violets Borage each an ounce Mucilage of Quince-seeds made with Violet-water half an ounce water of Borage Scorzonera each two ounces give it at twice Extenuate the humors and loosen the passages outwardly Take Bean-flour Faenugreek and Linseed each an ounce Chamomil-flowers and Cummin-seeds each half an ounce boyl them in Oyl of Lillies for a Cataplasm You may fume the womb with Decoctions of Herbs Chap.
a Feaver that will come long after Travel If the Lochia flow not in due time or be stopt then the blood and foul humors go back to the great Veins and Liver Hippocr 1. epid tex 21. The Signs and make a putrid Feaver or inflame those parts A Feaver from milk comes the fourth day and there is heaviness of back and shoulders and the Lochia flow well it not there is the sign of a Feaver If the humors putrifie in the womb there is foul stinking matter voided the belly is swollen and is pained when toucht If the Feaver be not from milk and the Lochia flow it comes from bad humors especially if when she was big with child she kept not a good diet A Feaver from milk is without danger The Prognostick and ceaseth the eighth or tenth day that which comes from suppression of the Lochia or After-flux is dangerous and often deadly except there follow a flux of the belly If black stinking matter flow from the womb they escape If the Feaver come from a Cacochymy before Delivery it is worse because it argues much humors which Nature cannot discharge by the after-flux and the strength is dejected by hard travel A Feaver from milk requires only good diet The Cure and sweating must not be hindred for it cures That which is from stoppage or diminishing of the Lochia must be cured by provoking the after-flux or by another evacuation instead of it as purging bleeding in the foot to provoke the flux or by scarifying the thighs and legs after cupping while the time is that the after-flux should be not afterwards For if that time be past if strength permit open a vein in the arm and bleed plentifully For purging some purge them in a Pleurisie after the seventh day Valer. lib. 5. obs 10. merc 4. de morb mul. c. 11. but beware by reason of the weakness after travel and because Purges may hinder the after-flux which is dangerous it is good to evacuate only by the womb but if the flux of blood cease and Nature would purge something from the womb you may give a gentle Purge of Rhubarb Cassia Manna Syrup of Roses Senna Alterers are thus to be ordered Avoid too cold and sharp things lest the evacuation by the womb should be disturbed by cold things The Diet. Let it be thin the first daies of lying in then thicker and so increasing take heed of too much drink especially of cold drink Question What Veins are to be opened in Women that lie in and have a Pleurisie They have Symptomatical Feavers also from inflammation of the Pleura Jaws or Liver because some of the foul humors are sent to some private part and make an inflammation to which the Feaver is joyned and the causes are as before mentioned If there be a Pleurisie she is in great danger The Question is Whether she must bleed above or below I say thus First This Feaver is not properly Symptomatical but primary and hath the inflammation its associate while nature sends part of the matter to the Pleura or other part Secondly Note That Nature is in an error while she sends the vitious humors which she should expel by the womb to the Pleura Thirdly Note That the vitious motion of Nature is not to be helped therefore which should be done if you should presently open a vein in the arm but the blood is to be voided by the womb which is Natures way Fourthly If the Pleurisie be not abated by opening a vein in the ankle for revulsion but the Symptoms continue or increase you must not continue to open the veins beneath because they evacuate not from the part affected which is necessary in such a dangerous disease It is a sign that the matter is fastned to the part that it cannot again be brought to the womb by revulsion Therefore then you may open a vein in the arm on the same side to evacuate and drive the blood from the part or there about or she will be in danger of death And fear not that Nature will be taken from her ordinary motion towards the womb thereby for the vein that was opened in the foot prevented that and if you fear any danger you may prevent it by Frictions and cupping of the leggs while you let blood in the arm And you may give Clysters that may cause the humors moving upwards to come down and loosen the passages of the womb that blood may flow out the better As Take Pellitory of the Wall Mallows Althaea red Coleworts each a handful Chammomil-flowers half a handful Foenugreek and Linseed each half an ounce boyl them in Water to a pint strained add lenitive Electuary an ounce Diacatholicon or Cassia half an ounce Oyl of Violets two ounces make a Clyster If the Feaver abate and the time of the flux of the Lochia be past give a gentle Purge Cure the rest as an ordinary Pleurisie onely take heed that while the After flux lasts you give no binding Medicine Also she may have a Quinzy while she lies in while the vicious matter flows to the jaws The Cure of which bleeding is to be done as in the Pleurisie but the rest is to be done as in the Quinzy And if the Liver be inflamed by the motion of the humors to it you must bleed as in the Pleurisie and Quinzy Yet it is not so needful in the Arm as in the Pleurisie by reason of the greater distance of the Liver from the Arm for the Pleura and the Breast are nearer and consent more with the Arms but the Vein in the Legg is near to the hollow Vein as the distribution of the upper Veins to the Arms. The rest of the Cure of the Inflammation of the Liver is in Lib. 3. onely observe that you must not use too great Coolers or Binders in women in Child-bed but things that are of thin parts lest the flux called Lochia or After-blood should be stopped THE FOURTH BOOK THE THIRD PART Of the Diseases of Womens Breasts THE FIRST SECTION Of Diseases of the Breasts Chap. 1. Of the increased number of Breasts and greatness extraordinary THough Nature hath ordained two in all Women Card. l. 8. c. 43. de rerum varice Cabrol obs 7. yet some have Breasts like Men others have had two on each side that had Milk The figure of the Breasts is round pointed at the nipple a little it ought not to be soft nor hard and of an indifferent bigness and it is better they be indifferent though they hold not so much milk lest they be subject to Cancers and Inflammations and when they are too big they have not a temperate heat The Causes of over-great Breasts is much blood and the strength of heat attracting and concocting it these are remote causes but the immediate cause is the largeness of the passages and loosness which is in the first conformation and furthered by idleness much sleep and few terms and