three Doses adding to each one ounce of Syrup of Violets and a dram of Sal-prunella if the Pain be very violent some Syrup of Poppies may be added to it and a dram of Gum Arabick powdered Broths may be also prepared in the following manner Take of the Roots of Marshmallows half an ounce of Mallows one handful of Liquorish half an ounce of the Seeds of Quinces one dram boil them with Chicken Broth and let it be taken for several Days together The Whey of Goats Milk is also very good a large draught of it being taken at a time and if there be no Feaver milk it self is more effectual especially Asses Milk If the Disease is inveterate Epsom and Tunbridge-waters are very proper Forestus cured himself of a violent Dysury by only using a Decoction of Mallows sweetned with Syrup of Violets a Conserve of Mallows has also done much good an ounce of it having been taken Morning and Evening and three ounces of Mallow-Water being drank presently after the Conserve of the Flowers of Marshmallows is as good or rather better some Practitioners commend the Troches of Alkakengi a dram of them being taken at a Time in some proper Liquor When the Pain is very violent the dipping the Yard in Milk whilst the Urine is rendring or in a Decoction of Mallows and the Seeds of white Poppies does much good in this case A small decoction of Mallows sweetned with Syrup of Violets or with Conserve of Roses is very proper for the ordinary Drink And to ease the Pain Injections may be made for the Passage of the Bladder of Milk an Emulsion of the cold Seeds of Plantane and Whey whereunto may be added the White of an Egg well beaten and a Scruple of the Troches of Alkakengi External Remedies do also much good to qualifie the Heat of Urine as Baths and Fomentations applied to the Pubis and Perinaeum made of a Decoction of cooling Herbs also Liniments made of Oyls of Roses of white-lillies and of Oyntment of Roses and of the white Oyntment with Camphor CHAP. XCV Of a Chlorosis or the Green-Sickness THe Green-Sickness is a vitious Habit of the Body proceeding from Obstructions it is accompanied most commonly with a Palpitation of the Heart Difficulty of Breathing and a longing for absurd things and with an Unfitness for Motion and other Symptoms The Diagnostick manifestly appears by the following Series of Symptoms First The Face and whole Body is pale and sometimes of a leaden livid and green Colour Secondly An Inflation and as it were a Swelling appears upon the Eye-lids the Legs also swell especially about the Ankles Thirdly There is a Dulness and Unwillingness for Motion Fourthly There is a Difficulty of Breathing especially when they move much or go up Stairs Fifthly There is a Palpitation of the Heart upon Motion Sixthly There is a heavy and often a lasting pain of the Head Seventhly The Pulse is quick Eighthly The Sick are drowsie and incline to Sleep Ninthly There is a great Aversion for wholesome Food Lastly The Disease increasing and the Obstructions being multiplied a Suppression of the Courses at length follows which shews the Disease is confirmed As to the Prognostick This Disease most commonly is noâ— dangerous but if it be neglected too much it occasions great Diseases as a Scirrhus Tumours a Dropsie and other grietvous Diseases which at length kill the Patient When the Disease is small and chiefly arises from Obstructions of the Veins of the Womb it is easily cured by Marriage in Young Virgins Women that have had this Disease a long while are either barren or bring forth Children that are Sickly and short liv'd There is great Hopes of Cure when the Courses keep their exact Periods and flow in a due Quantity and Quality The Cure of this Disease is performed by opening Obstructions by purging off the vitious Humours by Correcting the Intemperies of the Bowels and by Strengthning them First therefore A gentle Purging Medicine must be given that is agreeable to the Constitution that the first Region may be only emptied and if the Belly be bound a Glister must be given first of all Afterwards Bleeding must be ordered unless the Disease is very inveterate and the Maid be inclined to a Cachexy But a Vein in the Arm must be opened though the Courses are stopped for at that Time if you should bleed in the Foot the Obstructions of the Veins and of the Womb would be increased That quantity of Blood being taken away that is necessary proper Purges must be used viz. Take of the Pill Coch Major two Scruples of Castor powdered two grains of Peruvian Balsam four Drops make four Pills let her take them at five in the Morning and let her sleep after them Let these Pills be repeated twice or thrice every Morning or every other Morning according to the Strength of the Sick and their Operation After the purging Pills let her take the following Take of the Filings of Steel grains eight with a sufficient quantity of Extract of Wormwood make two Pills to be taken in the Morning and they must be repeated at five in the Afternoon She must continue this Course for thirty Days drinking presently after the Pills a Draught of Wormwood Wine If a Bolus be more pleasing Take of the Conserve of Roman-Wormwood and of the Conserve of the yellow Peel of Oranges each one ounce of candied Angelica and Nutmegs candied and of Venice Treacle each half an ounce of Ginger candied two drams with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Oranges Make an Electuary Take of this Electuary one dram and an half of the Filings of Steel well powdered eight grains with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of Oranges make a Bolus to be taken in the Morning and at five in the afternoon drinking upon it a draught of Wormwood-wine Take of choice Mirrh and of Galbanum each one dram and an half of Castor sixteen grains with a sufficient quantity of Peruvian Balsam make twelve Pills of each dram Let her take three every Night at Bed time drinking upon them three or four Spoonfuls of compound Briony water through the whole Course But if these Pills should purge then the following must be used instead of them Take of Castor one dram of Volatile Salt of Ambar half a dram with a sufficient quantity of Extract of Rue make five and twenty small Pills Let her take three every Night at Bed-time CAHP. XCVI Of the Suppression of the Courses THere is said to be a Suppression of the Courses when in Women of a mature Age that neither give suck nor are with Child the Evacuation of Blood by the Womb which naturally is wont to be monthly seldom or sparingly proceeds or is wholly stopt The Cause of this Suppression is to be referred either to the Womb or to the Vessels of it or to the Blood which flows or ought to flow through them Various Diseases of the Womb may occasion this Suppression namely a
and Ambergrise each six grains with a little white Wax make a Liniment wherewith anoint the said Parts and anoint within with Civet or with natural Indian Balsam Lastly let Plasters be applied to the Perineum and the Loins and let rhem be worn continually Take of the Plaster for the Matrix four ounces of the Plaster of Mastick two ounces of Gum Tachamacha and Caranna each one ounce of the Powder of the Roots of Tormentil and Bistort each three ounces of the Powder of Myrtles two drachms of Aromatic Rosat four scruples moisten them with Oil of Quinces and with a drachm of Oil of Nutmegs spread two Plasters upon Leather the one round for the Pubes and the other square for the Loins CHAP. CVI. Of Miscarriage MIscarriage is the Exclusion of an imperfect or unripe Child and consequently a Child dead in the Womb is not said abortive till it is excluded so that whether alive or dead Child be brought forth not being ripe nor having attained to the just growth in the Womb it is to be termed abortive The causes of Abortion are some Internal some External the Internal may be reduced to four Heads viz. to the Humors to the Child to the Womb and to the Disease of the Mother The Humors may occasion Abortion when they offend in quantity or quality They offend in quantity either by way of excess or defect The quantity is excessive in a Plethora for there being more Blood than is requisit to nourish the Fetus it flows into the Veins of the Womb and is excluded like the monthly Courses and so the Child comes away with it There is too small a quantity of the nutritious Humor when the Child's nourishment is by any means lessened as by Fasting whether volunary or forced and when Women with Child nauseat all sorts of Food or vomit it up again Likewise by reason of a thin Diet in acute Diseases or by an immoderate evacuation of Blood Likewise by reason of extream leanness of the whole Body In respect of the Child Abortion may happen if it be over great so that it cannot by reason of its bulk be contained in the Womb and for this reason little Women often miscarry especially if they are married to Men bigger than ordinary whose Children grow very great and find not in the Womb a space large enough to contain them till they come to their perfect growth also plurality of Children may occasion Abortion as when two or three or more are contained in the Womb at one time The Womb it self occasions Abortion if it be not large and capacious enough to widen it self sufficiently according as the Child grows or if there be any thing preternatural in the Womb as an Inflammation a Scirrhus or Imposthume or the like or if the Womb be over moist and slack so that it cannot contain the Child so well as it ought to do Abortion comes two ways from the Diseases of the Mother First when her Diseases are communicated to the Child whereby it is killed or so weakned that it cannot receive due nourishment nor growth such are continual Fevers and Agues the French Pox and many such like Secondly when the said Diseases of the Mother cause great Evacuations or great Commotions of the Body as large Bleeding from what part of the Body soever Fluxes of the Belly grievous Swooning Falling-sickness Vomiting and a Tenesmus which above all other Diseases is wont to cause Abortion External Causes which further Abortion do some of them kill the Child others draw away it 's nourishment and others dissolve those Bands wherewith the Child is fastned to the Womb. The Child is killed by great Commotions of the Mind as by Anger Sadness Frights and the like by Meats earnestly longed for and not obtained by strong purging Medicines by things that provoke the Courses and by those things that expel the Child and by such things as are reckoned by a Specifick Quality to destroy the Child in the Womb by abominable Smells especially the stink of a Candle ill put out Violent Exercise dissolves the Bands that fasten the Child to the Womb as Dancing Running Riding Jolting in a Coach or Cart carrying or lifting from the Ground a heavy Weight a violent Fall a Blow on the Belly vehement Motion of the Belly by Coughing Vomiting Looseness Sneezing Convulsions Crying-out immoderate or over-wanton Embraces and in a word vehement motion of the Arms the turning a Wheel or doing some such work may exceedingly promote Abortion The Signs of present Abortion are manifest of themselves but such as go before Abortion and prognosticate the same are these An unusual heaviness of the Loins and Hips an unwillingness to stir Appetite gone shivering and shaking coming by Fits pain of the Head especially about the Roots of the Eyes a straitening of the Sides and Belly above the Navel the flagging or falling and extenuation of the Dugs but if frequent pains and almost continual Torment the Reins and Loins reaching towards the Share as far as the Os sacrum with endeavours to evacuate the Womb certainly the Woman will shortly miscarry If from violent external Causes such as are a Blow a Fall and the like vehement Pain and Perturbation arise in a Woman with Child she ought to keep her Bed three days or longer As to the Prognosticks Women are more endangered by Abortion than by a true and timely Birth because it is more violent and unseasonable for as in ripe Fruit the Stalks are loosened from the Boughs and the Fruit falls off of it self so in a natural Birth the Vessels and Ligaments wherewith the Child is tyed to the Womb are loosened and untyed as it were of their own accord which in Abortion must needs be vioiently broken asunder Abortion is most dangerous in the sixth seventh and eighth Month. Our ordinary Women say A miscarrying Woman is half with Child again The Cure of Abortion consists in Preservation for that which is past cannot be helpt But all the Symtoms which follow Abortion are the same which accompany Women duly brought to bed The preservation from Abortion consists principally in these two things the one concerns the Woman before she is with Child and the other when she is with Child Before the Woman is with Child all Indispositions of the Body which are wont to cause Abortion must be removed as fulness of Blood ill Humours and peculiar Diseases of the Womb viz. Intemperies Swellings Ulcers and the like Fulness of Blood opens the Veins of the Womb or strangles the Infant while it is in the Womb this if it be a pure and simple Plenitude may be cured by Blood-letting such as shall answer the quantity of Blood superabounding A Cacochymy is either Cholerick and partaking of Acrimony so as to open the Orifices of the Veins or by provoking Nature it stirs up the expulsive Faculty whereby the Child comes to be expelled with those ill Humours or it suffocates the Child by reason of
Carminative Medicines be applied below the Navel of the Patient such are Bags of Anniseeds Fennel-seeds Fenugreek-seeds Flowers of Camomile Elder Rosemary and Stechas mixed together or a Rose-cake fried in a Pan with rich Canary and sprinkled with Powder of Nutmegs and Coriander-seeds or the Gaul of a Wether newly kill'd or his Lungs laid on warm If by these means the pains cease not let a Glister be injected made of Wine and Oil wherein two drachms of Philonium Romanum may be dissolved or Narcoticks may be given inwardly in a small quantity to allay the violence of the Humors and Wind as we are wont to do in the pains of the Cholick But if by reason of contumacious pains that will not be asswaged or of the violence of some external cause Blood begins to come away Medicines that cause Revulsion are to be applied to turn the course of the Blood from the Womb such are Frictions of the upper parts and painful Ligatures also Cupping-glasses fastened to the Shoulder-blades under the Dugs and under the short Ribs on both sides and if the Woman be full of Blood it will not be amiss to take some blood from her when she begins to void blood and especially before it begins to come and the blood must be taken away at several times a little at once And if the flux of blood continues we must proceed to an astringent and thickening Diet and Medicines and so the Powders and Electuaries before described may be administred also juice of Plantain new drawn and syrup of Poppies to the quantity of an ounce with Powder of Bole-armenick or Dragons-blood Also binding and astringent Fomentations may be used outwardly made of Pomgranate-peels Cypress-nuts Acorn-cups Baclaustins Grape-stones and the like boiled in Smiths water and red Wine Or a little bag full of red Roses and Balaustins may be boiled and applied hot to the Patient's Belly The above-mentioned Plasters and Cere-cloaths may be used and to bind more make a Pultiss of astringent Powders with Turpentine and whites of Eggs spread it upon Tow or course Flax and apply it to the Navel and Reins warm The Tow that is to be applied to the Navel must be moistened with Wine that which is to be apply'd to the Kidnies with Vinegar The two following Medicines are accounted Secrets and it is believed they will certainly retain the Child in the Womb if they be used before it be torn from the Vessels of the Womb. Take of Leaves of Gold number twelve of Spodium one drachm the Cock's treading of three Eggs not addled mix all very well till the Gold be broken into small pieces afterwards dissolve them in a draught of white Wine and give it three Mornings following At the same time let the following Cataplasm be applied Take of Male-frankincense powdered two ounces the whites of five Eggs let them be stirr'd together over hot Coals add Turpentine to make them stick then spread them upon Tow and lay them upon her Navel as hot as she can possibly endure them twice a day Morning and Evening on the three days aforesaid CHAP. CVII Of hard Labour THAT is said to be hard Labour which does not observe the due and ordinary course of Nature and longer time is spent in it and the pains are more violent than usual and the Symptoms that accompany it are more grievous Many Causes may be assigned of it both external and internal The internal depend on the Mother the Womb or the Child As to the Mother the natural weakness of the whole Body may make the Labour difficult or her Age she being too young or too old or it may be occasioned by Diseases which she had with her Big-belly Leanness and too much dryness of the Body or Fat compressing the Passages of the Womb the ill conformation of the Bones encompassing the Womb as in those that are Lame may also occasion it Wind swelling the Bowels a Stone or a preternatural Tumour in the Bladder that presses the Womb may be the cause so may the ill constitution of the Lungs or of the parts serving Respiration For the holding of the Breath is very necessary to help the exclusion of the Child As to the Womb various Diseases of it may render the Delivery difficult as Tumors Ulcers Obstructions and the like As to the Child hard Labour is occasion'd when by reason it is dead or putrified or any way diseased it cannot confer any thing to its own exclusion Also when the Body or Head of it is large or when there are many So Twins most commonly cause hard Labour or when it is ill situated as when the Hands or the Feet offer first or when one Hand or one Foot comes out or when it is doubled or when the Membranes break too soon so that the Water flows out and leaves the Orifice of the Womb dry at the time of exclusion or when the Membranes are too thick so that they cannot be easily broken by the Child The external causes depend on things necessary and contingent things necessary are those which are commonly call'd Non-natural so cold and dry Air and a North-wind are very injurious to Women in Labour because they bind the Body and drive the Blood and Spirits to the inner Parts and they are very injurious to the Child coming from so warm a place also hot Weather dissipates the Spirits and weakens the Child and causes a Fever in an ill habit of Body Crude Aliments and such as are difficultly concocted and those that bind taken in great quantity before Labour do render it difficult the Stomach being weakened and the common Passages contracted which ought to be very open in this case Drowsiness hinders the action of the Mother and Child and shews that Nature is weak The unseasonable motion of the Woman much retards the delivery as when she refuses upon occasion to stand walk lie or sit or flings her self about unadvisedly so that the Child can not be born the right way being turned preposterously by the restlesness of the Mother The retention of such things as should be evacuated at the time of Labour as of Urine that swells the Bladder or Excrements in the right Gut the Hemorrhoids also much swelled narrow the neck of the Womb and so hinder Natures endeavours And lastly violent Passions of the Mind as Fear Sorrow and Anger make the Labour difficult To things contingent ought to be referred a Blow a Fall or a Wound which may much obstruct Labour also the By-standers which ought to assist the Woman viz. strong Women and Maids which may lift her up just at the time of Delivery especially a skilful Midwife which ought to advise in every matter for if she be unskilful she may make the Labour difficult For sometimes the Midwife orders the Woman to endeavour an Expulsion and to stop her Breath when the Ligaments of the Fetus stick firmly to the Womb so that the Woman is tired before the time of her Delivery
Sala says That he has used with very good success Mercurius Vitae in this Case four or five grains at a time and that it does powerfully exclude a dead Child and is better than other Remedies But it must be used with great Caution because it is a violent Medicine If after having tried Medicines a long while the Child cannot be ejected Chirurgical Operation must be used that is perform'd either by Instruments or by the Hand alone CHAP. CIX Of the Secundine retained IN a Natural Birth the Secundine is wont most commonly to be excluded presently after the Child yet sometimes it is retained whereby the Life is much endangered The internal causes of this Retention are too great a thickness of the Coats so that they stick firmly to the sides of the Womb the swelling of them by an afflux of Humors occasioned by hard Labour and the shutting of the Mouth of the Womb after the exclusion of the Fetus The external causes are coldness of the Air whereby the Secundine is expelled and the orifice of the Womb shut certain Perfumes whereby the Womb is allur'd upwards violent Passions of the Mind as fear and sudden Frights the perversness of the Woman who will not abide in such a position or use such Endeavours as are requisite the weight of the Child whereby the Navel is broken the Secundine remaining within the unskilfulness of the Midwife who cuts the Umbilical Vessels too soon or does not hold them in her left hand as she ought for if they are let go they are drawn back into the Womb and are hid there with the Secundine whereas it ought they serve for the extraction of the Secundine It is easie to be known when the Secundine is retained in the Womb but sometimes a piece of it is separated and remains in the Womb which is not so easily found yet it may be known for that the Womb after delivery endeavours to eject something But tho' its endeavours are but small a sense of Heat and Pain is perceived in the Womb and after a few Days a cadaverous Smell exhales from the Womb. The retention of the Secundine is very dangerous and if it continues some Days an acute Fever Nauseousness Fainting difficulty of Breathing Coldness of the extream Parts Epileptick and Hysterick Fits and at length Death follow The Secundine retained is expelled by the same Remedies which were proposed for a dead Child to which may be added some Specificks delivered by Authors Gesner and Augenius commend much the Testicles of a Horse cut in pieces and dried in an Oven as much of the Powder of them as may be contained with three Fingers being taken in Chicken-Broath and it may be repeated twice or thrice upon occasion Rulandus says He has given with success thirty Drops of the Oil of Juniper Some order the Woman to bite an Onyon three or four times and to swallow the Juice and presently after to drink a small draught of Wine by which she may be soon relieved Forestus mentions a Widwife who received the following Secret from a Jewish Physician He took the Leaves of Green Lovage and pressed out the Juice with good Rhenish-Wine and gave a Draught of it Angelus Sala commends Mercurius Vitae as before in a dead Child To these things may be added Sneezing-Powders Fomentations Liniments and other things both external and internal described above for difficult Labour The following Decoction has been very succesful Take of Vinegar of Roses four or five quarts of the Leaves and Berries of Bayes each three handfuls one Rose-Cake cut in pieces Boil them and with the Decoction hot wash the Hips and Legs from the Groin to the Feet for a long while To this Decoction may conveniently be added of Myrrh and both the Birth-Worts each one ounce But among other things the Hand of a skilful Surgeon may do much before the Inflammation and Inflation are increased for so the Secundine may be gently drawn out and the Woman freed from all the Symptoms and Fatigue of Medicines If the Secundine cannot be ejected by any means but sticks firmly to the Womb and putrifies there Suppuratives must be injected mixed with things that cleanse that that which is putrified may be drawn out by degrees to this purpose Rondoletius commends Basilicon especially being dissolv'd in the following Decoction Take of the Leaves of Mallows with the Roots three handfuls of the Roots of both the Birth-worts each six drachms of Flax-seeds and Fenugreek-seeds each half an ounce of Violets one handful of the Flowers of Camomel and the lesser Centaury each half an handful Make a Decoction in Water mingle Oil with it if you would have it suppurate much but if you more design to cleanse add a little Vnguentum Aegyptiacum CHAP. CX Of a Suppression of the Child-bed Purgations THere is so great a Flux of Humors from all parts of the Womb when a Woman is with Child and during the Commotion in her Labour that in case there be not afterwards sufficient Evacuation of them the Woman is in great danger of very ill Accidents and sometimes of Death it self because these Humors corrupting by their stay there will certainly cause a great Inflammation And this is the reason why the Suppression of the Lochia is one of the worst and most dangerous Symptoms which can befal a Woman after Delivery especially if they happen to be totally and suddenly stopt the first three or four days which is the time they should come down plentifully for then follow an acute Fever great Pains in the Head Pains in the Breast Reins and Loins Suffocation of the Mother and an Inflammation which is suddenly communicated to the Belly which becomes very much swell'd and blown up there happens also a great difficulty in Breathing Choakings Palpitation of the Heart Fainting Convulsions and often Death it self if the Suppression continues and if the Woman over-lives it she is in danger of an Abscess in the Womb and afterwards of a Cancer or there may happen great Imposthumes in the Belly also the Gout Sciatica and Lameness or an Inflammation and Abscess in the Breast The Causes of the Stoppage of the Lochia proceed either from a great Loosness because a great Evacuation that way turns the Lochia and makes them stop or any strong Passion of the Mind so do great Colds and cold Drink To bring the Lochia well down let the Woman avoid all Perturbations of Spirit which may stop them let her lie in Bed with her Head and Breast a little raised keeping her self very quiet that so the Humors may be carried downwards by their natural tendency Let her observe a good Diet somewhat hot and moist and apply an Hysterick Plaster to her Navel Take of the Conserves of Roman Wormwood and of Rue each one ounce of the Troches of Myrrh two drachms of Castor English Saffron Volatil Salt of Sal Armoniack and of Assa Fetida each half a drachm with a sufficient quantity of the
THE Store-house of Physical Practice Being a General TREATISE OF THE Causes and Signs OF ALL DISEASES AFFLICTING Human Bodies TOGETHER With the Shortest Plainest and Safest way of Curing them by Method Medicine and Diet. To which is added for the Benefit of Young Practisers several choice Forms of Medicines used by the London Physicians By JOHN PECHEY of the College of Physicians in London LONDON Printed for Henry Bonwicke at the Red Lyon in St. Paul's Church-yard MDCXCV HONOR VIRTUTIS PRAEMIUM THE PREFACE I Believe nothing has so much obstructed the Improvement of the Art of Physick as the late unaccountable Humour of Romancing on the Nature and the Causes of Diseases For in many of our modern Authors the greatest part of the Paper is wasted about flourishing a Whimsoe to make it pass for a probable Supposition and hence the noble Art is term'd conjectural so that in some of them scarce a Page can be spared for the Cure that which is the main of the Business being huddled up or touch'd on by the by Whereas Reason and Argument are not the true Tests of Physick nor indeed of any thing else when Experience the great Baffler of Speculation can determine the Matter And which is strange this unkind usage of the Art is privileg'd by a sort of Men who are set apart for the well ordering of Physick and these Broachers of Whimsies dignified with the Titles of Philosophers and Virtuoso's From what has been said the following plain Practice must expect but cold Entertainment with the speculative Physician but such as mind and study Practice will I question not patronize the Vndertaking when upon the perusal they find in this One Treatise the Sum and Substance of several voluminous Authors it being a Collection of such Methods and Medicines as I thought best and most useful But it is chiefly design'd for young Practisers and may serve as their Vade Mecum where they may readily turn to any Disease and at once view the Diagnosticks and Cure And here it may not be improper to add briefly for the Benefit of young Physicians some Directions relating to Study and Practice And first spend not too much time upon Anatomy Chymistry and Herbs for tho' the knowledge of these is not only ornamental but useful too yet if you consume the greatest part of your time in these Preliminaries you will be as foppish as those young Sparks that give themselves up to Dancing and Fiddling and neglect Arms and History the true Accomplishments of a Gentleman But above all be not inveigled with an Hypothesis the bane of Art In the next place associate with such practical Physicians as make their own Medicines and assist in the making of Medicines and see their Practice for by this means such being usually call'd in at the beginning of the Disease you may observe a whole process of Cure whereas those that only prescribe are seldom sent for till the Disease is incurable Moreover add Reading to Practice and every day let some time be allotted for Study and so you will be confirm'd and in a great measure freed from those anxious and vexatious Thoughts that continually afflict Physicians when they are not incouraged and strengthen'd by the assistance of good Authors Is it not therefore most adviseable to abate something of the gayity of Youth and to apply in time to serious Matters that thereby you may procure a lasting Peace with your Selves and a comfortable Repose for Age For tho' many pleasant Surprizes daily occur in Youth that make the World for a time a very agreeable Habitation yet the continual Reflections on the Follies of it in our fading Years render the Mind sour and uneasy To conclude I shall add one short Note which I desire all young Physicians to observe well viz. That you have a regard to the predominant Symptom for in many Cases you must for a time desist from the method of curing the Original Disease and immediately bend all your force against the urgent Symptom otherwise the Patient will be destroy'd before the Disease can be cur'd From the Angel and Crown in Bazing-lane London January the 22d 1694 5. THE INDEX A. ABscess of the Stomach 215 After-pains 421 Agues 499 Albugo 46 Anasarca 265 Apoplexy 14 Appetite lost 188 Asthma 127 B. BArrenness 396 Belching 193 Bladders in the Eye 59 Bladder inflamed 288 Bleeding at Nose 100 C. CAncer of the Womb 384 Cancer of the Cornea 61 Catalepsis 18 Carus 14 Catarrh 28 Celiac passion 240 Childrens Convulsions 9 Childrens Diseases 429 Dead Child 415 Child-bed Purgations suppressed 419 Cholera morbus 205 Cholic 222 Cholic bilious 229 Cholic hysteric 233 Clorosis 314 Coma 14 Consumption 152 Convulsion 25 Coryza 98 Costiveness 238 Courses stopt 316 Courses immoderate 355 D. DEafness 72 Diabetes 302 Dilatation of the Pupil 43 Diarrhaea 242 Diseases of the glassy Humour 37 Diseases of the christalline Humour 38 Diseases of the watery Humour 39 Acute Diseases in Child-bed 425 Dropsie 257 Dropsie of the Womb 388 Dysury 311 E. EArs Noise in them 78 Ears Pain in them 79 Ears Things coming out of them 88 Empyâ—ma 149 Encanâ—his 67 Epiphora 68 F. FAinting 179 Falling-sickness 6 Falling of the Vvea 64 Fever pestilential 464 Fever continual 482 Fever scarlet 493 Fevers of Children 494 Fevers intermitting 502 Fistula Lachrimalis 64 Flux bloody 245 Flux of the Hemorrhoids immoderate 254 Forms of Medicines 527 G. GIddiness 4 Gout 451 Green-sickness 314 Gums ulcerated 119 Gums bleeding 120 Gutta serena 32 H. HEad-ach 30 Heart trembling of it 183 Hicops 197 Hypochondriack Diseases 358 Hysteric Diseases ibib I. JAundice 255 Jaws ulcerated 121 Inflamation of the Tongue 103 Inflamation of the Stomach 215 Inflation of the Womb 388 Iliac passion 236 Incontinence of Vrine 303 Itch 522 L. LAbour hard 410 Lethargy 14 Loosness 242 Lyentery 240 M. MAdness 3 Matter collected under the Cornea 58 Measles 478 Miscarriage 401 Mouth ulcerated 121 N. NArrowness of the Pupil 46 Nauseousness 193 Nephritic pain 284 Night-mare 12 Nostrills Ill scent in them 97 Nurse choice of one 429 O. OPthalmia 49 Over-purging 504 Ozaena 90 P. PAlpitation of the Heart 183 Palsie 19 Palsie of the Tongue 109 Peripneumonia 136 Bastard Peripneumonia 146 Phrensie 1 Piles 254 Piles painful ibid Pimples in the Face 522 Plague 464 Pleurisie 130 Polypus 92 Small Pox 467 French Pox 505 Q. QUinsie 126 R. RAnula under the Tongue 105 Reins inflamed 288 Rheumatism 461 Rickets 440 Rhyas 67 Rupture of the Cornea 63 S. SArcoma 92 Schirrhus of the Womb 381 Scurvy 268 Secundine retain'd 416 Smelling lost 95 Sneezing 99 Spitting of Blood 100 Spots in the Eyes 46 Spots in the Face 522 Stomach-pain 207 Stone in the Kidnies 284 Stone in the Bladder 286 Stranguary 307 Suffusion 39 Swooning 179 T. TAsting diminish'd 107 Teeth black 117 Tenesmus 249 Timpany 262 Trembling 28 Tumors of the Tongue 103 U. ULcers of the Tunicks of the Eye 60 Ulcers of the Nostrils 90 Ulcers of
that it be not altogether taken away lest the contrary Distemper viz. a Rhyas be produced CHAP. XXX Of an Epiphora BY the Name of an Epiphora in general a flux of Humours into any part whatsoever is understood Nevertheless it is most commonly taken for the flux of a thin Humour from the Eyes which is also called involuntary Tears which use to flow from the Corners of the Eyes continually To the Production of these Tears which preternaturally flow from the Eyes the ill disposition both of the part sending and the part receiving do concurr The part which sends is the Brain which being affected with a cold or hot Intemperies generates watery Humours and sends them to the inferior Parts which are fit to receive them The recipient Part is the gland by the greater Corner of the Eye and the Caruncle placed above the same Corner The thinness or thickness of which Parts or any other weakness is the Cause why they so easily receive the Humouts that flow into them This Humour is carried from the Brain into the Corners of the Eyes sometimes by the internal Veins and sometimes by the external The Humour causing an Epiphora is sometimes cold and then it produces no other Inconvenience to the Sick but the troublesomness of the Fluxion But sometimes it is accompanied with Saltness and Sharpness and then it produces Pain Redness and also the Exulceration of the Eye-lids As to the Prognostick A new Epiphora occasioned by external Causes is easily cured especially in those that are Young When it is of long continuance and in an old Person it is very hard to be cured That which proceeds from other Distempers as from an Oegylops Fistula Lachrimalis and the like altogether depends upon the Cure of those Diseases The Cure of this Disease consists in taking away of the Fluxion and in strengthening the recipient Part. The Fluxion is to be removed by Evacuation Revulsion and Derivation of the Peccant Humour and the strengthening of the Part from which it is transmitted The Peccant or Serous Humour abounding in the Brain is evacuated by Bleeding and Purging Bleeding in a cold Intemperies of the Brain is not proper unless there appears manifest Signs of a Plethora But in a hot Intemperies when the Humours are sharp Bleeding is very proper and may be repeated twice or thrice if it be needful Such Purging Medicines must be used as agree with the Nature of the Patient Revulsion of the Humour must be made by Cupping-Glasses applied to the Shoulders often by Blisters frequently applied to the Neck or by Issues in the hinder Part of the Head or in the Arms. Forestus says when the Disease is obstinate a Blister applied to the forepart of the Head does much good For Derivation Leeches applied behind the Ears are proper and Masticatories used in a Morning And least the Humours once evacuated should be generated again the Brain must be strengthened and dried and if it be of a cold Intemperies such things must be used as are proper to correct it if of a hot such coolling Medicines must be used as peculiarly respect the Head And whilst the foresaid Remedies are in use Topical Remedies must be applied to the Part receiving and first if the Humour flows by the external Veins astringents must be applied to the Forehead and Temples and if the Fluxion proceed from an hot an acrid Humour the following Cataplasm must be applied Take of Bole Armenic Dragons Blood Balaustines and of Myrtles each one dram and an half of Acacia and Hypocistis each one dram of Frankincense and Mastich each two scruples of red Roses one pugil pouder them and mix them with the white of an Egg and a little Vinegar make a Cataplasm wrap it in a Rag and apply it to the foresaid Parts and when 't is dry renew it If it be occasioned by a cold Humour the following Cerate must be applied Take of Frankincense and Mastick each one dram and an half of Gum Anime Tacamahacca and Blood-stone each one dram of Gum Juniper two scruples of Turpentine and Wax a sufficient quantity make a Cerate But to the part affected astringent and drying Collyria must be applied made in the following manner Take of Tutty prepared one dram of Sarcocol moistned half a dram of Frankincense and Mastich each half a scruple of Spikenard grains six make Troches mix them with the White of an Egg and Juice of Quinces and apply them to the Corner of the Eye Or Take of Aloes Cypress Nuts Frankincense Mastich Myrrh each two drams of prepared Tutty Sarcocol moistned each one dram and an half of Dragons Blood Barberries Summach Red Roses each one scruple powder them finely and mix them with Fennel-water and make a Collyrium When the Fluxion is hot the following is best Take of white Troches of Rhasis without Opium of Sarcocol moistned of Acacia and Olibanum each one dram of the Stones of Myrobalans burn'd of white and red Coral each half a dram of Pearls half a scruple of the Juice of Pomgranates boil'd half away a sufficient quantity Make a Collyrium If redness of the Eyes accompanies an Epiphora the following is proper Take of grains of Sumach bruised one scruple of Plantane-water one ounce infuse them for some time then press then out hard and add of Rose-water and Eye-bright-water and of the White of an Egg well beaten each half an ounce of Sugar-Candy finely powder'd one scruple Make a Collyrium CHAP. XXXI Of the Disease of the Eye called Unguis Oculorum IT is a hard and nervous Membrane that arises from the greater Angle of the Eye it first covers the White of the Eye and then the Black and the whole Pupil and so it hinders Sight Sometimes it is thin and white and sometimes fleshy and consists of many bloody Veins This Disease arises from an Ulcer of the Flesh in the Angle of the Eye upon which account an inequality arises in the part which in time grows to this covering It is difficultly cured for the sharp Medicines that are necessary for taking it off must be used leasurely and by degrees by reason of the exquisite Sense of the Eye When it is of a moderate bigness it may be cured by Medicines but when it hath extended it self to the Black of the Eye and is become inverate it can be cured only by manual Operation When it is thick and hard and of a blackish Colour it is of a Cancerous Nature and can never be cured The Cure must be directed to the antecedent and conjunct Cause With respect to the antecedent Cause such course of Diet must be ordered as hath been propos'd for other Diseases of the Eyes arising from Fluxion Evacuations and Revulsions are also to be used and after sufficient Evacuation such Topicks are to be applied as may consume it beginning with those that are gentle such as are prescribed for taking off Spots but if they are not sufficient stronger must be used Forestus
does not only cause Pain there but it also stops the Urine just as if there were a Stone whereas there is none But this last kind seizing the Bladder happens very seldom That which resembles the Stone in the Kidnies is not so rare both use to invade those Women who are much weak'ned by Hysterick Fits coming frequently and whose health of Body is much impaired Sometimes falling upon the Stomach it causes câ—ntinual Vomiting and sometimes a Looseness when it is setled upon the Guts But no Pain accompanies either of these Symptoms though oftentimes in both the green Humours appear Both these kinds are familiar with those that are weak'ned by the Hysterick Fits coming frequently And as this Disease afflicts almost all the inward Parts so sometimes it seizes all the outward Parts and the musculous Flesh occasioning Pain and sometimes a Tumour in the Jaws Shoulders Hands Thighs Legs in which kind that Tumour which swells the Legs is more conspicuous than the rest But whereas in Hydropical Swellings these two things may be always taken notice of viz. That the swelling is most in the Evening and that the Finger prest upon it leaves a pit In this Tumour the swelling is most in the Morning nor does it yield to the Finger or leave any mark behind it and for the most part it only swells one of the Legs As to other things if you mind the largeness of it or its superficies it is so very like Hydropical Swellings that the Patient can scarce be brought to believe that it is any other Disease nor can the Teeth free themselves from the assaults of this Disease tho' they are not hollow and tho' there is no apparent defluxion that may occasion the Pain yet it is no whit gentler nor shorter nor easier cured But these Pains and Tumours which afflict the outward Parts chiefly seize those Women that are in a manner quite destroyed by a long series of Hysterick Fits and by the force of them But among all the Torments of this Disease there is none so common as a pain in the Back which most certainly all feel how little soever they are afflicted with this Disease Moreover this is common to the foresaid Pains that the place on which they were will not bear touching after they are gone but is tender and akes just as if it were soundly beaten But this tenderness goes off by degrees And this is worth observing That often a notable Cold of the external Parts makes way for these Symptoms which for the most part does not go off till the Fit ends which Cold I have observed is almost like that by which a Carcass grows stiff yet the Pulse is good And moreover all Hysterick Women which I have hitherto taken care of complain of a dejection and sinking of the Spirits and when they would shew the place where the sinking of the Spirits is they point to the region of the Lungs Lastly every one knows that Hysterick Women sometimes laugh excessively and sometimes cry as much without any real cause for either But among all the Symptoms that accompany this Disease this is the most proper and almost inseparable viz. a Urine as clear as Rock-water and this Hysterick Women evacuate plentifully which I find by diligent Enquiry is in almost all the pathognomonic sign of this Disease which we call Hysterick in Women and Hypochondriack in Men and I have sometimes observed in Men that presently after making Water of a Citron colour yea almost the next moment being suddenly seized with some violent commotion of the Mind they make Water as clear as Cristal and in a great quantity with a continued violent Stream and continue ill till the Urine comes to its wonted colour and then the Fit goes off And it happens to all Hysterical and Hypochondriacal People that sometimes they belch up ill Fumes as often as they eat tho' they eat only moderately and according as they have an Appetite and sometimes the Wind that comes from the Stomach is sower just like Vinegar Nor are they unhappy upon this account only viz. That their Bodies are so ill affected and as it were tottering like ruined Houses just about to fall for their Minds are more diseased than their Bodies and an incureable desperation is mixed with the very nature of the Disease and what the Roman Orator said of the Superstitions exactly agrees with these melancholy People Sleep says he seems to be a Refuge to the Laborious and Careful but from thence Cares and Fears arise whilst only Funerals and Apparitions of their deceased Friends are represented in Dreams and they are so tormented in Body and Mind that one would think their Lives were a Purgatory wherein they were to purifie themselves and to expiate Crimes committed in some other State Nor does this happen only to mad People but also to those who if you except those Impetuosities of Mind are very prudent and judicious and who much excel for deep thought and wisdom in Speech others who 's Minds were never excited by these Provokments to thinking But this dreadful condition of Mind which we have above described seizes on those only that have much and a long while conflicted with this Disease and have been at length wholly vanquished by it especially if Adversity care or trouble of Mind or hard Study or the like join'd with an ill habit of Body have added Oil to the Flame A day would scarce be sufficient to reckon up all the Symptoms belonging to Hysterick Diseases and I think Democritus reckoned pretty right though he mistook the cause of the Disease when he said in an Epistle to Hippocrates That the Womb was the cause of six hundred Miseries and of innumerable Calamities The procatarctick or external causes of this Disease are either violent motions of the Body or which is much oftener vehement commotions of the Mind But to these disorders of the Mind which are usually the occasions of this Disease is to be added emptiness of the Stomach by reason of long Fasting immoderate Bleeding and a Vomit or Purge that works too much As to the internal efficient Causes in my Opinion those Diseases which we call Hysterick in Women and Hypochondriack in Men proceed from a confusion of the Spirits The origin and antecedent cause of this confusion is a weak constitution of the Spirits In order to the Cure I order That 8 ounces of Blood be taken from the right Arm and that the following Plaster be applied to the Navel Take of Galbanum dissolv'd in tincture of Castor and strain'd three drachms of Tacamacha two drachms mix them make a Plaster The next Morning let her make use of the following Pills Take of the Pill Coch. major two scruples of Castor powder'd two grains of peruvian Balsam four drops make four Pills let her take them at five in the Morning and sleep after them Repeat them twice or thrice every Morning or every other Morning according to their operation and
Difficult Labour is known both by the Woman by the By-standers and especially by the Midwife And first if the Woman continue a long time in Labour viz. two three four or more days whereas a natural Birth is finished in 24 hours Another Sign of difficult Labour is languid pains returning at long Intervals also the pains tending backward rather than forward But the Causes of difficult Labour may be known by the Womans Relation and most commonly upon sight So the weakness of the Woman or leanness or over-fatness may be seen by the habit of Body The Diseases of the Womb may be known by their proper Signs the weakness of the Child by the weak and slow motion of it But the signs of a dead Child may be known by the following Chapter The bigness of the Child may be judged of by the stature of the Parents especially if a gigantick Man be married to a dwarfish Woman But when there are none of these Causes and the Womans and Childs endeavours are strong and yet the Labour is difficult it is a sign that the Secundine is so strong that it cannot be easily broken and this will be confirmed if no water or moisture flows out in Labour The preposterous figure of the Fetus may be perceived by the Midwife and other things as has been said by sight As to the Prognostick difficult Labour is of it self dangerous and sometimes the Woman and sometimes the Child and sometimes both are extinguished If a Woman continue in Labour four days she will hardly escape Sleepy Diseases and Convulsions coming upon hard Labour are most commonly deadly Sneesing coming upon hard Labour is good As to the Cure of hard Labour First all those things which retard it must as much as may be be removed afterwards Medicines that further Labour must be methodically administred And first it is common with Women to give a spoonful or two of Cinnamon-water or Cinnamon powdered with a little Saffron or half a drachm of Confection of Alkerms in broath or half a scruple of Saffron alone in some broath or every hour in a little VVine Or Take of Oil of sweet Almonds and of white Wine each two ounces of Saffron and Cinnamon each twelve grains of Confection of Alkermes half a drachm of syrup of Maiden-hair one ounce and an half mingle them make a Potion If these things are not sufficient the following may be used which I have frequently found very effectual Take of Dittany of Crete and both the Birthworts and of Troches of Myrrh each half a scruple of Saffron and Cinnamon each twelve grains of Confection of Alkermes half a drachm of Cinnamon-water half an ounce of Orange-flower-water and of Mugwort-water each one ounce make a Potion Oil of Ambar of Cinnamon and extract of Saffron are very effectual in a small quantity viz. five grains of extract of Saffron four or five drops of Oil of Cinnamon twelve or fifteen drops of Oil of Ambar in VVine Broath or some other Liquor Sneesing hastens Delivery it may be provoked by the following Powder Take of white Hellebore half a drachm of long Pepper one scruple of Castor five grains make a Powder let the quantity of a Pease be blown up into the Nostrils But difficult Labour must be helpt not only with inward Remedies proposed but also with external let the Midwife therefore frequently anoint the VVomb with the Oils of Lillies sweet Almonds Linseed and the like and let the Belly be fomented with an emollient decoction of the Roots of Marsh-mallows Lillies the leaves of Mallows Violets Mugwort of Linseeds Fenugreek-seeds of the flowers of Camomile and Melilot Sharp Glisters are to be injected by the irritation of which the expulsive faculty of the VVomb will be stimulated and the Guts being emptied thereby there will be more room for the VVomb Anoint the Navel with Oil of Ambar and such things as are thought to help Delivery by a specifick quality are to be used as the Eagle's-stone the Load-stone Storax Calamint and the like bound to the Hips and if the Woman has any Gems about her as in Rings or the like they must be pull'd off for many Women think that such things retain the Child by a specifick Quality If the Child seem to be weak it must be refreshed by giving strengthening things to the Mother as hot Wine Confection of Alkermes Cinnamon-water and the like If the Child begins to come forth preposterously as with one Arm or first with the foot or the like the Midwife must thrust them back and turn the Child right which may be done by placing the VVoman in a Bed upon her back with her Head low and her feet high and then force the Child gently into the VVomb and then the Midwife must endeavour to turn it right viz. to turn the Face towards the Mothers back and the Buttocks and Legs must be elevated towards the Mothers Navel and so she must hasten a legitimate Birth But all hopes of Delivery being past or the Mother being near Death some Authors propose the Cesarian Section whereof Franciscus Rossetus wrote an excellent Treatise wherein he endeavours to shew by many Arguments that it may sometimes succeed But because this operation is dangerous and very terrible it ought rarely or never to be attempted by a prudent Physician if he values his own Reputation CHAP. CVIII Of a Dead Child WHen the Child is dead the Motion of it ceases which either the Mother felt before in the Womb or the Midwife with her Hand a greater sense of weight with Pain afflicts the Belly when the Woman turns from side to side she perceives the Child fall like a Stone from one part to another the Belly feels cold the natural Heat being extinguish'd and the Spirits dissipated which were contained in the Child the Eyes are hollow the Face and Lips pale the extream parts cold and livid the Breasts flaccid and at length the Child putrifying a fetid Ichor and Sanies flows from the Womb an ill and strong smell exhales from the Woman's Body and her Breath stinks If the Secundine be excluded before the Fetus it is a certain Sign that the Child is dead The whole Cure consists in the exclusion or extraction of the Child Take of the Leaves of Savin dryed of the Roots of round Birthwort of the Troches of Myrrh and of Castor each one drachm of Cinnamon half a drachm of Saffron one scruple Mingle them make a Powder whereof let her take one drachm in Savin Water In the mean while apply to the Pubes Privities and Perineum an emolient Decoction After the Fomentation anoint the Parts with the Ointment de Arthanita and let a Pessary be put up the Privities Take of the Roots of round Birthwort Orris black Helebore of Coloquintida and Myrrh each one drachm of Galbanum and opopanax each half a drachm With Ox-Gall make a Pessary It is also proper if the Strength be sufficient to give a Purge Angelus
Syrup of the five opening Roots make an Electuary Let her take the quantity of a large Nutmeg every third Hour drinking upon it three or four spoonfuls of the following Mixture Take of the Water of Penny Royal and Balm each three ounces of compound Briony-Water two ounces of Syrup of Mugwort three ounces and an half of Saffron two drachms of Castor tied up in a Rag and hanged in the Glass one scruple mingle them If these things are used presently upon the Suppression they generally take it off But if they have been used so long that all the quantity is taken and the Lochia are still stopt in this case we may use Laudanum for once but it is best to mix it with hysterick things For instance Take of liquid Laudanum sixteen drops in a spoonful of compound Briony-water Or Take of solid Laudanum one grain and an half of Assa Fetida one scruple and an half Make two Pills But it must be carefully noted that if upon once taking the Business is not done Opium by no means must be repeated again But having waited a while to see what it will do we must return again to Emmenagoges mix'd with Hystericks and afterwards we must Inject a Glister But what was said before of Opium is also to be taken notice of in respect of Glisters for unless the first bring down the Lochia nothing is to be hoped for from more These things therefore being done it is safest and the duty of a prudent Physician to wait and see what Time will do for every Day the Danger will lessen and if the Sick live over the twentieth Day she will be in a manner out of Danger for then she will be able to bear that Method which is fittest to conquer the Diseases which were occasioned by the Suppression of the Lochia CHAP. CXI Of After-Pains PAins happen so frequently to Women in Childbed that few are free from them but they seldom require the Physicians help because they usually cease in two or three Days But if they are sharp and continue longer they are forced to send for Physicians who before they prescribe ought to enquire into the causes of the Pains The chief Causes therefore of Pains after Labour are a great quantity of Blood the Thickness and Acrimony of it and the Narrowness of the Vessels for when the Veins of the Womb have ceased to evacuate Blood for nine Months and when that is heaped up in a great quantity and also grows thick and acrimonious by it's long stay it occasions Pain while it passes through the narrow Passages which returns by Intervals as often as the Womb endeavours the Evacuation of the Blood And when that is over the Pain ceases till more Blood endeavours to come out These Pains are also sometimes occasioned by Wind or cold received into the Womb but the Pain seldom happens from these Causes This Pain is distinguished from other Pains that are wont to afflict the Belly by the continuance or Intervals which follow the Evacuation of Blood and Women can easily distinguish them themselves The thick Blood easily coagulates but the thin is known by its thinness and fresh colour If the Pain arises from Wind it is more wandring and possesses more parts of the Belly nor does it follow the Intervals of the Evacuation of Blood If cold Air be admitted into the Womb it may be known by those things which have been done about the Woman These Pains are not dangerous but are most commonly very troublesome and therefore are to be taken off or asswaged as soon as may be As to the Cure the Vessels of the Womb must be relaxed and the thickness of the Blood attenuated and its Acrimony qualified all which may be done by the following means And first the Woman's Belly must be gently swathed that it may subside and not move hither and thither as it often happens after Delivery upon so sudden an evacuation and then give of Oil of Almonds fresh drawn three ounces mixed with an ounce and an half of Syrup of Violets And Glisters may be injected made of Milk and Sugar and Yolks of Eggs or they may be prepared of a Decoction of Camomel-flowers and of Mugwort in Chicken-broath adding to them Oil of Lillies and Yolks of Eggs. And the Belly of the Woman must be anointed with Carminitive and Aperitive Oils as with Oil of Dill Rue Jasmin or with the following which is very effectual which may be prepared for this use in due season and kept in the Shops Take of the Roots of round Birth-wort of Orris and Peony each one ounce of Cyprus half an ounce of the dried Leaves of Mugwort Feverfew wild Marjoram Calaminth Pennyroyal Dittany of Creet of Wormwood Savin Rue Bettony and Sage each one handful of the Flowers of Rosemary Stechas Lavender Camomel Dill S. John's Wort Elder each half an handful of the Grains of Lawrel and Juniper each half an ounce of Cummin the Seeds of Rue Peony Daucas of the Chast Tree each three drachms of Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon and Ginger each two drachms of Storax and Myrrh each one ounce Bruise them and cut them and infuse them in three quarts of old Oil adding a litte White-Wine keep them in an earthen Vessel well stopt for the space of a Week then boil them upon hot Ashes four or five hours then press out the Oil and keep it for use If you have it not ready prepared you may boil the Simples upon occasion with equal parts of Oil and White-Wine to the consumption of the Wine afterwards press out the Oil. A Fomentation may be also made of a Decoction of Mugwort Feverfew Baulm of the Leaves of Bays and Calaminth of the Seeds of Daucas Cummin and Caraways of the Flowers of Wall-flower and Camomel made in Water and White-Wine or in Milk Or the following Cataplasm may be applied Take of Onions boil'd in Water number three or four bruise them in a Mortar and add to them of the Seeds of Cummin and Flax bruised each one handful With a sufficient quantity of the Flowers of Camomel and Barly-meal make a Cataplasm and if there be occasion add a little of the Water wherein the Onions were boil'd Spread it upon a cloath and apply it hot to the Navel It is also proper to cover the Belly with a Sheep's-skin fresh flea'd off and applied hot for the Heat of it is very agreeable it eases the Pain and keeps the Belly from wrinkling And the following things may be taken inwardly Take of the Seeds of Daucas powdered one drachm of White-Wine three ounces Mingle them and give it twice in a day Or Take of Nutmegs Aniseeds and Cinamon each one scruple Mingle them make a Powder give it with White-wine or one scruple of Oil of Nutmegs with Broath Forestus used the Flowers of Camomel in Beer or a Decoction of Camomel and Mugwort in Chicken-Broath with good Success It is good presently after Delivery to give the Broath of an
old Cock early in the Morning fasting for three Days with a little Cinnamon and Saffron The following Powder taken presently after Delivery preserves the Woman from Pain in a wonderful manner and some think if a Woman takes it the first Lying in she will never be troubled in Child-bed with these kind of Pains Take of Comfry dried one drachm of the Kernels of Peach-Stones and of Nutmegs each two scruples of Ambar half a drachm of Ambergrise half a scruple Make a Powder whereof let her take a drachm with White-Wine and if there be a Fever with Broath Let her use for her ordinary Drink a Decoction of Mugwort and Cinnamon When the Pains arise from Cholerick and Acrid Humors they must be cured in a manner the same way as the Cholick occasioned by Choler For instance Take of Syrup of Violets and of Borrage each one ounce of the Mucilage of the Seeds of Quinces extracted with Violet-Water half an ounce of Borrage and Scorzonera-Water each three ounces mingle them make a Julep for two Doses Or Take of Oil of Sweet Almonds two ounces of Syrup of Violets one ounce of Borrage Water half an ounce Mingle them for one draught External Medicines that loosen and mollifie the Passages must be applied Child-bed Women after Delivery are often troubled with a Pain in the Groin it may be taken off by applying a Plaster of Galbanum and Assafetida to the Navel in the middle whereof some grains of Musk must be placed CHAP. CXII Of the Acute Diseases of Women in Child-bed THE Fever from Milk whilst the Child-bed Purgations proceed right seldom lasts beyond three Days for about that Time it usually goes off by a great Sweat coming of its own accord But this Intemperies occasioned by the coming of the Milk is somewhat heightned and continues longer when the Milk flows plentifully to the Breasts and is not milkt out but repelled For by its going back as well as its coming there is a Disturbance in the whole Body usually which comes more certainly if the Milk be driven violently back by Repelling Topicks Some common Rules are to be observed concerning the Coming of the Milk or in driving of it back If the Milk flow too freely into the Breasts that the Inflammation of them and the immoderate Effervescence of the Blood may be prevented a thin and spare Diet must be ordered viz. of Broath without Flesh and the Breasts must be often sucked and if it be not thought convenient that the Woman should give Suck it is customary on the First or Third day of Lying-in to apply over the Breasts moderately Astringent Cere-cloaths But this kind of Remedy must be used with Caution lest the Milk should be Excluded altogether or too hastily and so cause a disorder in the Blood and a putrid or malignant Fever of which we shall speak next Women with Child by reason their Bodies are ill affected are as it were infected with a Pestilential Contagion and so are very subject to a putrid or rather malignant Fever This Fever seizes Child-bed Women at various Seasons and upon several Occasions sometimes presently after Delivery especially if it has been difficult and hard sometimes on the first sometimes on the second third or fourth Week but the later it begins the better it goes off It begins and proceeds most commonly in the following manner After a previous Indisposition the Fever begins most commonly with a Shaking and Shivering which Heat presently follows and after that Sweat the first or second day fits of Heat and Cold succeed one another and then all the Blood being inflamed the Lochia if they were not suppressed before flow but little or quite stop If the Disease be acute and of quick motion it comes to its height the third or fourth day the Heat is violent and the Thirst very much the Pulse vehement and quick Watchings obstinate there is great Restlessness so that the Sick tumble from one side of the Bed to the other continually the Urin is thick and red and there are many other grievous Symptoms when this Fever is in its State no Crisis is to be expected for I never saw this Disease go off by a critical Sweat for when the Blood has a while Boyled the adust Matter being presently translated to the Brain dangerous disorders of the Genus Nervosum are occasioned and convulsive motions of the Tendons and inflations of the Bowels like Mother Fits and sometimes a Phrensie or Delirium and often a Stupoâ— and loss of Speech follow and the Strength is suddenly dejected almost in all without any manifest Cause the Pulse is weak and unequal and the Sick soon die And if any chance to escape the flux of the Courses being restored or a Loosness happening they recover difficultly after a long Sickness The acute Diseases of Women in Childbed are not always according to the manner of the fore-mentioned Fever but sometimes they are accompanied with some great Symptom as with a Quinsie Pleurisie Peripneumonia Bloody-flux Small-pox and the like Of these a Quinsie Pleurisie and Peripneumunia by reason of the great similitude of the Cause and analogy of the Cure may be considered together Presently at their first beginning we must endeavour that the Blood fixed any where and beginning to be Extravasated be restored to Circulation lest an Imposthume should be occasioned wherefore internal Remedies which free the Blood from Coagulation must be used of which sort are Diaphoreticks abounding with Volatile Salt as Spirit of Harts-horne and Soot Urin also Testaceous and Bezoartick Powders Lapis Prunella Decoctions and Juleps made of Vegetables that force Urine and the Courses with all which must be mixed such things as have been found by Experience to have been proper for Uterine Diseases Moreover Discutient Medicines which disperse the Matter Impacted such are Liniments Fomentations and Cataplasms must be carefully applied to the Parts affected In the mean while the violent Motion and immoderate Effervescence of the Blood must be driven far from thence and the Filth must be driven as much as possible downwards To this end Frictions Ligatures Epispasticks and if there be occasion Cupping-glasses must be applied about the Legs and Feet if the Disease be very violent Bleeding is indicated and unless there be a Plethora in the whole Body and the Inflammation be very acute in the Part affected it will be best to open a Vein in the Foot or to apply Leeches to the Hemorrhoidal Veins But if necessity urge we may Bleed in the Arm and afterwards if it can be admitted in the Foot But you must take notice that Bleeding must be cautiously used in these Cases for unless it does good which I have seldom found the Sick is in worse condition the Pulse being thereby rendred weaker A Dissentery is very often deadly and so much the rather because such things as qualifie the Blood and that moderately bind are Indicated but the flux of the Lochia forbid the use of them
Wherefore in this case till she has been well Purged by a long flux of the Lochia the fierceness of the Symptoms must at present be only appeased The Indications of the Small-pox are not only contrary to those above-described but also to one another for the flux of the Lochia must be moderately restrained but in the mean while the Efflorescence of the Blood and gentle Sweating must be continued For seeing a twofold venomous Ferment is in this Disease and the corrupt Particles of the Blood are to be carried out two ways we must take care that the least and narrowest Passage do not draw all the Matter or more than it can let out Wherefore lest the Lochia flowing plentifully should turn inward the Venom that is inclined to go off by Sweat the course of Diet must be somewhat changed and first such things as are of an Alexipharmick and astringent nature must be boyled with their Broaths as the Roots of Tormentil and Bistort also Powders Juleps and Electuaries endued with such Vertues must be given at due Intervals and in this case the Woman must be no ways allowed Flesh or the Broath of it not must she Rise but she must be kept as quiet as is possible and the whole Business must be left in a manner to God and Nature All Women in Child-bed have an inbred Venom and they ought to be careful of it and to avoid it as much as the greatest Malignity Wherefore they ought to use an exact course of Diet whereby the Impurities of the Blood and Humours may be purged in Child-bed without the danger of a Fever and that the disorders of the Womb may be heal'd and their strength weakned by Delivery may be restored To which end three things are to be minded First An exact course of Diet must be ordered viz. That they be fed for a Week at least with Water-Gruel sometimes made with Beer sometimes made with Water mix'd with Whitewine or with Panada and other things of easie Digestion Secondly They must take great care that they do not catch Cold whereby the Pores and the Lochia may be stopt wherefore let them continue in Bed at least till the Tenth day Thirdly The Lochia must be gently provoked to this end Midwives when after hard Labour there is danger of a stoppage of the Lochia give Sperma Caeti Irish Slates Powdered or White Wine tinctured with Saffron and they make the Gruel with Water and White Wine wherein as also in Posset Drink they Boyl Marygold Flowers the Leaves of Penny-royal or Mugwort CHAP. CXIII Of Childrens Diseases Of ordering them and of the Choice of a Nurse A Child which during the stay in its Mother's Belly had no other Nourishment but the Blood it received by the umbilical Vessels hath for want of that after its Birth need to take some by the Mouth and Suck Breast-Milk however it is not good to give it Suck as soon as it is Born to prevent that so sudden a Change as well in respect of the difference of Nourishment as the manner of receiving it lest it cause some alteration in its Health First therefore empty the Phlegm out of its Stomach by giving it the first three or four days some Wine and Sugar to cut and loosen it to prevent the Milk he shall take from Corrupting it being mixed with this viscous Phlegm wherefore it is best to stay until the next day before you give it Suck It were to be wished that the Mother shou'd not give it Suck until the Eighth day of her Child-bed at soonest and it is best if she stay three Weeks or a Month for in that time she will be well Purged by the Lochia and the Blood will be much more pure besides the small holes of the Nipples are not at first sufficiently opened and therefore it is necessary for a Woman to Suck first But often poor People cannot observe so many Precautions and such Mothers are obliged to give their Children Suck from the first day and likewise others will not suffer any but themselves to do it In this case let her Breasts be a little drawn by some old Woman or some lusty sucking Child or they may Draw them themselves If the Nurse has much Milk she must not give the Child any thing else at least the first two Months As to the quantity of Milk the Child ought to suck it must be proportionable to his Age and Strength in the beginning he must not suck too much nor too often afterwards by little and little let it be daily augmented until he may take his fill but he may suck at any time night or day After the Child has suck'd two or three Months more or less according as one finds he needs stronger Nourishment give him then Pap made of Flower and Milk though but little at first and not too thick lest his Stomach may be overcharged When the Child has taken Pap thus made which must be but once a day especially in the Morning or twice at most the Nurse may give it a little suck to the end that being washed down into the Stomach the Digestion may be the better and easier made There are many Women who give their Children Pap as soon as they are Born and Nurses who have little Milk ordinarily do so to hinder their Crying as they will do when they are Hungry But sometimes this of it self is enough to kill them because of the Indigestion and Obstruction it occasions which by reason of its gross and viscous consistence can scarce find Passage through the Stomach and Guts which at the beginning are weak and not sufficiently opened and dilated whereby there happens to Children great Oppressions difficulty of Breathing Gripes Swellings Pains of the Belly and often Death Wherefore do not give it the Child till after the first or second Month at soonest and if you forbore it three or four Months he would thrive the better provided the Nurse does not want Milk When he is in the Cradle let it be so turned as it may be towards the Fire the Candle or the Chamber Window that having the Light directly in its Face he may not be allured to look continually on one side for doing so often his Sight will be so perverted that he will grow Squint-ey'd Wherefore for the better secucurity throw some Covering over the head of the Cradle Many Children are so Grip'd that they can't forbear Crying night nor day and some die so and this is very often the first and most common Disease that happens to little Infants after their Birth To remedy all these Pains which Women generally call Gripes respect must be had to their different Causes As to that which is the general cause viz. The too sudden change of the Nourishment you must forbear giving the Child Suck till the next day lest the Milk being mix'd with the Phlegm which is in the Stomach corrupt and at first it must Suck but little until it
sufficient quantity to make it pleasantly acid Take of the Leaves of Plantain and of Nettles each a sufficient quantity beat them together in a Marble-Mortar and press out the Juice clarifie it and give six spoonfuls of it cold three or four times in a day After the first Purge apply the following Plaster to the Region of the Loins Take of the Plasters of Diapalma and ad herniam each equal parts mix them and spread them upon Leather A cooling and thickning Diet must be ordered only it may be proper to allow once or twice a day a small Glass of Claret which tho' it be not so proper because it is apt to raise an ebullition yet it may be allowed to recover the Strength This Method may be also used to prevent Miscarriage but the Juices and the Purges must be omitted CHAP. XCVI Of the Whites THis obstinate and lasting Disease may be cured by Bleeding once and by purging with two Scruples of Pill Coch. major four times and by the following Corroboratives Take of Venice Treacle one ounce and an half of the Conserve of the yellow Peel of Oranges one ounce of Diascordium half an ounce of Ginger candied and Nutmegs candied each three drachms of compound Powder of Crabs-eyes one drachm and an half of the outward Peel of Pomgranates of the Roots of Spanish Angelica and of the Troches of Lemnian Earth each one drachm of Bole-armenick two scruples of Gum Arabick half a drachm with a sufficient quantity of Syrup of dried Roses make an Electuary whereof let her take the quantity of a large Nutmeg in the morning and at five in the afternoon and at night drinking upon it six spoonfuls of the following Infusion Take of the Roots of Elecampane Masterwort Angelica and Gentian each half an ounce of the Leaves of roman Wormwood white Horehound the lesser Centaury and Calaminth each one handful of Juniper Berries one ounce Cut them small and infuse them in five pints of Canary-Wine let them stand in Infusion and strain them only as you use them Through the whole course of Corroboratives purging must not be used for every Evacuation spoils what the Corroborative has done CHAP. XCVII Of Hysterick and Hypochondriack Diseases THese Diseases if I calculate right are the most frequent of all chronical Diseases and as Fevers with those Diseases that appertain to them if they are compared with chronical taken altogether make two thirds so Hysterical Diseases at least those that go under that Name are half the remaining third that is chronical Diseases are half Hysterick for very few Women which Sex contains half of grown People are wholly free from all kinds of Hysterick Diseases if you except those who being accustomed to Labour live hardly yea many of those Men that live sedentary Lives and are wont to study hard are afflicted with the same Disease and though heretofore Hysterical Symptoms were always reckoned to proceed from a vicious Womb yet if we compare Hypochondriack Symptoms which were supposed to proceed from Obstructions of the Spleen or Bowels or from some other I know not what Obstructions with Women's Hysterick Symptoms an Egg is scarce more like an Egg than these Symptoms are like one another in all respects But it must be confessed that Women are much more subject to this kind of Disease than Men. This Disease is not only frequent but so wonderfully various that it resembles almost all the Diseases poor Mortals are subject to for whatever Part it seats it self in it presently produces such Symptoms as belong to it and unless the Physician be very sagacious and very skilful he will be mistaken and suppose that tâ—ese Symptoms proceed from an essential Disease of this or that part and not from an histerical Distemper Sometimes for instance it possesses the Head and occasions an Apoplexy which also ends in an Hemiplâ—gy and this seizes Women very often after Delivery or it is occasioned by hard Labour or some violent commotion of the Mind Sometimes it produces violent Convulsions very like an Epilepsy the Belly and Bowels swelling toward the Throat the Patient strugling so violently that though at other times her Strength is but ordinary she now can scarce be held by all the strength of the By-standers uttering some odd and inarticulat sounds and striking her Breast Women who are accustomed to this Disease commonly called Mother-fits are generally extraordinary Sanguine and have a habit of Body almost like that of a Virago Sometimes it possesses the outward part of the Head betwixt the Pericranium and Skull causing violent Pain continually fixed in one part which may be covered with the top of your Thumb and violent Vomiting accompanies this Pain I call this Species Clavus Hystericus chiefly afflicting those that have the Green-sickness Sometimes falling upon the vital Parts it occasions so great a palpitation of the Heart that the Women who are afflicted with it may verily believe that the By-standers may hear the sound of the Heart thumping upon the Ribs This kind chiefly afflicts those that are of a thin habit of Body and of a weak Constitution and who look almost tabid and also young Maids that have the Green-sickness Sometimes the Patient coughs almost without intermission but expectorates nothing This kind of Hysterick-cough is very rare and chiefly invades Women that abound in Flegm Sometimes rushing violently upon the Colon and the Region under the Scrobiculum Cordis it occasions violent Pain much like the Iliack Passion and the Woman vomits exceedingly ejecting a certain green Matter somewhat like that they call porraceous Bile and sometimes Matter of an unusual colour And often after the Sick have been almost destroyed by the said Pain which would tire a stoical Apathy and reachings to vomit for many days at length it is carried off by the Jaundice tincturing the superficies of the Body like Saffron Moreover the Sick is oppressed by an anguish of mind and wholly despairs of recovery with dejection of mind and as it were a certain desperation as certainly accompanies this kind of Hysterick Disease as the Pain and Vomiting above-mentioned This kind chiefly invades those that are of a lax and crude habit of Body and those that have suffered much in bringing forth great Children When this Disease falls upon one of the Kidnies it plainly represents by the Pain it causes there a Nephritick Fit and not only by that sort of Pain and by the place it rages in but also by the violent Vomitings that accompanies it and for that sometimes the Pain extends it self through the passage of the Ureter so that it is very difficult to know whether these Symptoms proceed from the Stone or from some Hysterick Disease unless perchance some unlucky Accident disturbing the Woman's mind a little before she was taken ill of the vomiting of green Matter shews that the Symptoms rather proceed from an Hysterick Disease than from the Stone Nor is the Bladder free from this false Symptom for it