that meanes the Matrix will both be drawne backe and also retained and held still being reduced into her proper place But that the Matrix being reduced and brought into the wombe may remaine and continue there nor suddenly fall downe againe it must be strengthened according to these precepts and rules following First let the woman lie a whole day upon her backe after the reducing of the Matrix into her proper place But the next day let her sit in a bathe boiled with these herbes about the space of one houre Take red Roses Myrtles seede of Sumach A Bathe leaves of the Medler-tree of a Service-tree the bark of an Oke Acornes Origanum Sage Rue Comfrey of each a handfull let them all be mixed and beaten together and let a decoction or bathe be made with them in raine water or in water in which burning-iron hath beene quenched When she commeth out of the bathe let her drinke this powder boiled in Wine very hot Take Rue Mugwoort of each halfe a handfull Castofeum two drams mingle them and make a powder of them Then take the best white Wine so much as sufficeth straine it and to the straining adde two drams of Mithridate And let a hot Potion be made of it Afterward the secrets are to be Fomented and bathed nine daies together and likewise Pessaries are to be used A Plaister And the tenth day this Plaister following spread upon white Leather shall be laid to the lowest part of the belly and to remaine there for some weekes together But let the Cerot or Plaister be made in this manner Take Frankincense Masticke Opopanax Turpentine Galbanum Serapium Rosine of the Pine-tree Styrax liquida Colophonie of each two drams yellow wax three drams temper them together and let a Cerot be made with them Or else Take Galbanum halfe a dram Gallia Muscata one dram Cloves halfe a dram Rosine of the Pine-tree and Colophonie so much as sufficeth mixe them and let a Cerot or Cerecloth be made of them We let passe here of set purpose nor without great cause something in this Cure which is onely knowne to the learned and skilfull which may be demanded of them so often as neede shall require Further you shall consider that when the aforesaid sicknesse shall arise from cold wind or over-much moistnesse of the Matrix that you must proceede altogether in the same manner which wee have prescribed and set downe before discoursing of the windie and waterish false conception named Mola I say concerning a Tympany and Hydropsie CHAP. X. Of the superfluities of the Termes and of the Cure of the same EVen as the Termes may be stopped contrary to the course of Nature so they may issue forth too immoderately contrary to the custome of Nature and as by them being stopped so by them flowing abundantly many diseases are caused unto women as Hippocrates doth advise us But as the naturall issue of the Termes which otherwise we call the Menstruall The unnatural issuing forth of the Termes or monthly purgation should issue forth every Moone naturally in women being well disposed in body and age I say from the third or fourth day after the new-Moone untill the eighth day although in this case there be many differences of ages complexions and disposition of body so wee say that issuing forth of the Termes not to be naturall which passeth beyond that time And we say that this doth happen two waies that is outward and inward Causes The outward causes are these Externall Causes as if some little veine be broken in the mouth or necke of the Matrix through immoderate exercise or some hurt chancing unto it as over-lifting stroke fall violence or exulceration Also some such like thing may be caused by aborcement and hard birth and also by the ulcers or fores of the Matrix Notwithstanding it happeneth sometime that Fluxes and issues are found to be in women conceived with childe every moneth yet they are never the weaker by them neither doe they substract or withdraw any nourishment from the Infant Inward causes are to be judged and discerned from Nature it selfe or from the blood Internall Causes From Nature when shee being strong doth expell the blood or being feeble and weake cannot hold or retaine it For the blood when it is too hot or sharp or over cold and thinne againe when by idlenesse immoderate meate and drinke too much nourishment is afforded to the blood Moreover certaine signes doe happen Signes of the Causes by which it may certainly be found out whether they come from an outward or inward cause If the Flux happen from an outward cause as from a veine being broken through some immoderate exercise by some hurt or fall then the colour of the blood will be red at the first but by and by blackish or blacke If it issue forth straight-way it will appeare in his naturall colour but being retained sometime in the Matrix it will issue forth with an ugly and thicke colour if it shall remaine there long it will be altogether full of corrupt matter But if the blood shall issue forth because of ulcers and sores of the Matrix First it will be cleare and thin but by by it wil be ful of filthy matter without all colour If the strong and mighty force of Nature doe expell it then it will be done without paine that also the body is alleviated and eased by it because Nature voideth no more of that which is ingendred but that which is superfluous either in quality or quantity If it shall happen by defect of retentive vertue it will issue forth by drops by little and little and disorderly without any intermission and the woman which shall be affected and afflicted with this issue shall waxe pale leane and very feeble in all her members but the blood doth retaine still his naturall colour and flowing abroad it doth not burne bite or molest with any paines But the cause of this Flux for the most part doth happen to women having passed beyond the fiftieth yeere when as their Termes doe generally depart away When it chanceth to young women oftentimes it h ppeneth by vehement and grievous fits of a Tertian Quartan Ague and paines of the head For these things doe dissipate and drive away Naturall vertue and power and do easily bring upon them such a Flux and immoderate issue If it proceed and be caused by intemperate heate or acrimony and egernesse of the blood the issue doth burne bite inflame and corrode the entrance and mouth of the Matrix The woman pained with this passion doth endure intolerable thirst and her lips are grieved with chaps bred and caused by most sharpe and hot vapours of the blood fuming and steaming upward Most grievous dolours and paines are felt in the niples of the Dugs by reason of the affinity and fellowship that they have with the Matrix The blood resembleth the colour of Saffron and is
and Vallesian bathes with the waters of Embs so also sterility and difficulty of ingendring have very great help and succour by them whereby they are caused and increased as by an unconvenient diet by the permutation and change of accustomed aire by drinking of the water of Ice and by bathes Further barrennesse may be judged to proceede from the disposition and quality of the generative members For it commeth to passe that not a few infirmities and grievances doe happen to them by reason of which man and wife are not onely made impotent and barren but are unfit to dwell together husbands with their wives and wives with their husbands In which place the strictnesse and narrownesse of the mouth of the Matrix doth very much disprofit and annoy by which it falleth out that not only the Termes being stopped doe let and hinder generation but moreover also doe breed and bring forth very many other evills Againe when the secrets themselves are too wide or too strait and therefore are not convenient neither for conception nor generation Retention and staying of the Termes causeth the same thing which doth much distemper and molest the Matrix and suffocateth and choketh the seede cast forth into the wombe through abundance of evill humours Among women also they which are over man-like are not so apt for generation and among men those which are more effeminate and woman-like than is requisite For these women almost universally doe want the issuing forth of the Termes at their due seasons and also the nourishing humours And such men being intemperatly cold and moist cannot send forth seed possessed with a generative vertue Hitherto pertaineth both the weake and feeble attractive power of the Matrix and also the sudden alteration of the same For the attractive and expulsive vertue of the Matrix either too strong or weake doe equally cause the difficulty of ingendering Likewise the maladies of the Matrix tumours inflammations ulcers Apostemes the mouths of the veines named Acetabula being broken the Termes issuing forth immoderately or stopped and such like things doe afford and minister great occasion to the same difficulty Many also say the veines placed behinde the eares to wit which give way to the spirits which the braine communicateth and imparteth to the seed being cut asunder to be a cause to the same difficulty and debility of ingendering as Hippocrates admonisheth They affirme that the incision of the bladder doth bring the same which of it selfe it is deadly There are also many things which being taken doe properly procure sterility and barrennesse as Camphire Hemlocke and other herbes and roots like unto these and all things which offend and hurt the braine kidnies and testicles being the principall members of generations Hitherto also belongeth many other things Externall causes as over much repletion emptinesse immoderate exercises intemperate heat deadly cold Likewise Theophrastus doth attribute a certaine peculiar force to some waters to cause sterility For the most part diversity of complexions hath the superiority among the causes when man and wife doe want the due temperature of the qualities But where they shall be mixed yea but little they shall be able to ingender more easily Old age also of it selfe in men and women doth hinder generation through the defect of humours although it be found by experience as yet that many men being threescore and ten or foure-score yeeres of age have begotten children Lastly there is also a great cause of sterility which happeneth by the witchcraft of Witches Let it suffice to have spoken these things concerning the evident and knowne causes of barrennesse Signes of barrennesse Moreover there are many signes whereby the difficulty of conceiving or begetting children may be noted and observed The first are to be taken from the constitution and habit of the privie members as if they be diseased with any corruption or defect or be too large or too strait and narrow they are knowne not to be apt and fit for generation The seed also is unfit if it be too hot or too cold which thing they say may not onely be observed by the colour of the urine but also of the substance of the same Also many judge of sterility and fruitfulnesse by the habite and colour of the body that the women which are of a pale colour are supposed to be also more moist than others If they be more moist they are not so apt to retaine and cheerish the seed This experiment following is put in practice of some When they goe about to make a triall concerning the unfruitfulnesse or fertility of any one they poure the urine of the party on Barley If this sprout out within tenne daies they acknowledge it for a signe of fruitfulnesse if it doe not they acknowledge it for a certaine argument of sterility and barrennesse But others pouring the urine upon Huskes or Bran if they see wormes to be bred and ingendered in it doe observe a signe of barrennesse from that Hippocrates doth counsell us to search out this thing by fumes made underneath so that if a fume being used underneath be perceived above by smelling the woman being close covered about the lower parts then hee saith it may be thought to be a signe of fruitfulnesse because the secret members are not strict and narrow If it be not perceived by smelling at the nostrills he saith it is a very certaine note and signe of the strictnesse and narrownesse of the Matrix and so consequently of barrennesse Some would have the same thing to be found out by annoynting the corners of the eyes with liquid oyntments so that if the oyntments of some kindes of colours being laid upon the corners of the eyes doe not change the colour of the spittle then it should be a signe of constipation and stopping and therefore of barrennesse also because the eyes are members communicating with the seede because they quickely sinke downe and waxe hollow when it is immoderatly sent forth and dispersed Some old women likewise have their signes by which they observe whether the greater sterility or unfruitfulnesse be in the husband or in his wife for they sprinkle two hand fulls of Sage laid severally by themselves with urine one of them with the urine of the man and the other with the urine of the woman and they say that the handfull which shall wither first is a testimony of barrennesse of the party with whose urine it was sprinkled and watered They receive the same experiments also by Beanes and Barley that whose part doth sprout first in him or her they thinke there is most fertility and fruitfulnesse Further wee must consider here also that fruitfull women and such as are apt to ingender children doe sooner seeme to be old in the outward habite of body than those which are barren and fruitlesse also they waxe leane sooner and become weake notwithstanding they live more healthfull in their old age than they which never
what great profit it is to have an exact knowledge of this Tractat. Chap. 3 Of the condition of the Infant in the wombe also of the care and duty belonging to women conceived with child Chap. 4 How the Infant is conditioned and in what state he is the fifth sixth seventh and eighth moneth And also of the difference of the sexe and formes Chap. 5 Of certaine Precepts very necessary for women conceived with child even to the houre of the birth by reason of divers chances Chap. 6 The third Booke of the birth and of all manner of remedies which may concerne women in time of child-birth and also their Infants Of the due and lawfull time of the birth and of the forme and manner of it and also of the paines and dolours of women in time of their travell and labour Chap. 1. Of the office of Midwives and of the apt forme and fashion of their Stoole or Chaire Chap. 2 Of certaine naturall Precepts and Medicines furthering and easing the slownesse and difficulty of the birth Chap. 3 How the Secundines or after-burden may have an easie passage if it stay behinde Chap. 4 Of the usage and ordering of the woman in child-bed and of the Infant being newly borne Chap. 5 How and with what Instruments children sticking in the wombe and being dead are to be brought forth Chap. 6 The fourth Booke of the differences and varieties of an unnatuarall birth and of the cure and remedies of them Of the first forme and fashion of a birth not naturall and how it is to be remedied Chap. 1 Of the second Chap. 2 Of the third Chap. 3 Of the fourth Chap 4 Of the fifth Chap. 5 Of the sixth Chap. 6 Of the seventh Chap. 7 Of the eighth Chap 8 Of the ninth Chap. 9 Of the tenth Chap. 10 Of the eleventh Ch. 11 Of the twelfth Chap. 12 Of the thirteenth Ch. 13 Of the fourteenth Ch. 14 Of the fifteenth Cha. 15 The fifth Booke of the false conception named Mola and other false tumors of the womb Also of aborcements and certaine Monsters and likewise of the divers signes of conception Of the deceiving conception Mola and of other falsly supposed conceptions Chap. 1 Of the cure of the false conception Mola and other false tumours and swellings of the womb Chap 2 Of unperfect children and also of monstrous births Chap. 3 Of the causes and signes of aborcement or untimely births and also of all manner of cures of such as suffer abortion Chap. 4 Of the signes of Conception Chap. 5 Whether men and women may ingender or conceive children of Divells and Spirits and againe whether Divells and Spirits may have children by men and women Chap. 6 The sixth Booke of divers causes of sterility and barrennesse and of the speciall maladies of the Matrix and also of the divers remedies of all of them Of the sterility of men and women also of the causes and signes of the same Chap. 1 Of the cure and remedy of sterility and barrennesse proceeding from phlegme Chap. 2 Of the cure of sterility arising from the cholericke humidities and moistures of the Matrix Chap. 3 Of the cure of barrennesse if it proceed from superfluous bloody humours of the Matrix Chap. 4 Of the cure of sterility proceeding from a melancholie humour Chap. 5 Of the remedy of sterility proceeding from overmuch heat drinesse moisture and coldnesse Ch. 6 Of certaine generall Precepts serving for the curing of the barrennesse of men and women Chap. 7 Of the suffocation or choking of the Mattrix and of the causes and cure of the same Chap. 8 Of the praecipitation or falling downe of the Matrix and of the causes and cure of it Chap. 9 Of the superfluities of the Termes and of the cure of the same Chap. 10 Of the causes and cure of the stopping of the Termes Chap. 11 THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE Generation of Man CHAP. I. Of the Generative or Begetting Seede how and in what manner it hath his beginning WE observe the naturall Procreation of man The procreation of man such as the generation and beginning of Plants or Herbes to be altogether such as we perceive the Generation beginning of Plants or Herbes of every kinde to be For as they every one of them from the seede of his kinde cast into the wombe of the earth doe bud or increase and doe naturally grow to the perfect forme of his proper Nature So man also being a reasonable creature according to the quality of his body doth naturally draw his originall beginning from the Sperme and Seede of man projected and cast forth into the wombe of woman as into a field But that matter of Generation which we call Sperme or Seede What the begetting seed is by his originall and nature is onely a superfluous humour the residue and remainder I say of the nutriment and food and the superfluity of the third concoction or gestion in the body derived and conveyed along through the hidden and secret organs or instruments from the chiefest members of the body unto the generative parts and serveth for Generation From whence it hath its beginning And it hath his beginning and breeding from the residues and remnants of all the meats belonging to the nourishment of man after they be altered and transmuted even to the third Concoction of the superfluity of which concocted food collected and gathered together in his proper and due manner it is evident that the same is ingendred according to the constitution of the age and nature For there is made a threefold concoction of any meat Three Concoctions altered and converted into the nourishment of the living creature even to generation of Seed that concoction neverthelesse following which is the purest of all concoctions For the food being Concoction 1 sent downe into the stomacke by chewing streight way the pure nutriment which is ordained to the other part the dry excrement being driven downeward thorow the guts to the belly through the sucking veines named in Latine Meseraicae carryed as it were to one gate flowing out of innumerable chanels is brought to the Liver Where to the disposition of the former concoction made in the stomacke there is forthwith made the second concoction in the Concoction 2 Liver of the food derived unto it the superfluous matter being separated that is to say both kinds of choler and the waterish humor drawne and attracted by the emulgent vessels in Latine Vasa emulgentia that it being strained thorow the Kidnies might descend down into the Bladder then the remnant and residue refined and cleansed in the Liver by this concoction that is to say blood is conveyed over to the heart to receive his vitall administration and office In Concoction 3 the heart againe is made the third concoction of the food being received at one time For there blood having taken unto it vitall and lively Spirit being diffused and sent abroad throughout the severall members
of the whole Feature although it be crude and indigested which is form'd fashion'd by the seed of man received into it the same seed being turned into vitall spirit which like a workman doth proportion and fashion this matter like a Smith plating and smoothing his rude piece of Iron upon the Anvill But Galen declareth Galens opinion that both the seedes confused and mingled together in the Matrix are the first matter of the Feature and so truly that with out the due mixture of these nothing can be conceived nor ingendred Yet although the mixture of these may be made equall notwithstanding it is out of all doubt that the quality of them is not alike The seede of man more hot and thick than womans for the seed of man doth exceed womans seed in heate and thicknesse which incomparison of mans seed is more moist and cold and therefore also it is manifest that it is more waterish yea in respect of the temperature The womans seed affordeth the like helpe as mans doth in framing the Feature But neverthelesse although they differ so much in quality the womans seed doth yeeld and afford the like help and furtherance in framing the Feature that the seede of man doth so that the seeds doe mutually grow and increase at once together by the vertue of both of them Further when as menstruous blood is the matter of womans seed that as well the beginning of this as of mans seede may be evident unto us we must understand What the Termes are that the Termes named in Latin Menstruum are no other thing a naturall consideration being had of them than the excrement of the third concoction or digestion gathered together and voyded every moneth named the monethly Purgation of the Latine words Every woman of a sound constitution ought to have her naturall and monethly purgation mensis Lunaris for every woman being of that age which may indure this Purgation so that her body be of a sound and healthfull constitution ought naturally to be Purged and cleansed from this superfluous matter every moneth And for the same cause the Germans do name this Purgation Flowers because even as the trees which doe not blossome and send forth flowerrs either through age or corruption of Nature doe not fructifie nor bring forth fruit Without naturall purgation in due seâ—ion women cannot conceive nor ingender so also every woman deprived of these Flowers I say of this purging in her due season by the course of Nature can neither conceive nor ingender being like unto an unfruitfull and a barren man destitute and deprived of the same vertue and faculty of ingendring either by some defect or corruption or because naturall heat is exhausted and wasted by his over-moist and cold complexion CHAP. III. Of the three Coates wherewith the Feature is invironed defended and covered THe little roome or coffin being ingendred after the conception the vitall Spirit inclosed in the same rouseth and putteth forth it selfe and then the defences or caules are ingendred to the Feature conceived And first truely of the uttermost face and superficies of the seede because of the waterish moisture and humidity of womens seede is ingendred a thin and slender membrane or caule which by reason of his moist quality is extended and stretched abroad at the first being so transparent and cleare that we may see thorow it The first coat or caule of the Feature is named Chorion but after the birth it is contracted and drawne together into a little heape named Chorion or Secundae Besides of the superfluous humidity and moisture of this there are ingendred also two other little coats or caules which doe protect and defend the Feature from superfluous and noisome things as from the Termes retained and stopped after conception Two little coats or caules ingendred which defend the Feature from hurt and also from other superfluities which neither serve nor are profitable to the nourishment nor increase of the Feature but doe rather hurt and offend yet neverthelesse they are retained in the Matrix betweene the caules named Secundae even untill the time of the birth then they issue forth a breach being made by themselves or they are set at liberty by the helpe of the Midwife Therefore the second coat or caule The second coat or caule is named Biles named of the Arabians Biles of the Grecians Allantoides adjacent and lying neere to the connexed and united parts of the Feature incloseth and infoldeth all inferiour things from the Navell which caule is wrinckled and somewhat pleated not unlike to a pleated garment into which the urine and sweats doe distill and also other sharpe and eager humors if any doe flow and issue from the nature and ripe Feature and are detained there even untill the time of birth For now the Infants growne to greater maturity and ripenesse doe not void and expell urine by the urine-pipes and conduits to the privie parts out of this vault but by certaine passages thorow the Navell Therefore the Feature is fortified and defended from the urine and other noysome humours by that coat or infolder lest he should be molested and grieved with the acrimony and sharpnesse of them or else gather some impurity or uncleanesse unto him CHAP. IIII. Of the three faculties disposing and governing the body and of the spirit it selfe NOw the Seedes both of man and woman being mingled blended and inclosed together eft-soones the force or faculty the power and might I say of the soule essentially attributed to it to performe and accomplish her actions in the body doth appeare and shew forth it selfe and beginneth to worke conveniently almost in a three-fold manner The first faculty is naturall The first faculty and vertue is naturall being the mover and foundation of the other faculties common both to living Creatures and to Plants This by and by from the time of Generation doth worke even untill the perfection of that which is ingendred namely by augmenting and nourishing And it hath his place and seat in the Liver and from thence is dispersed and sent abroad by veines into the whole body But the operation of it at first appearance is found to be three-fold Thy altering or changing faculty the which some doe call the immutative faculty which first generally immuteth and altereth the substance of the Seede and also converteth and digesteth it 1. The altering or changing faculty from that which it was before into the substance of the severall parts that every one of them may be distinctly composed and made and particularly inclining againe into that substance by those mixed qualities and elementary faculties by heat and moisture effecteth and frameth the softer substance such as flesh is in living Creatures but in Plants or Herbes the flowers and the pith by heate and drinesse it frameth the heart is living Creatures in Plants or Herbes is maketh the roots by cold and moisture in
make us acknowledge the profound wisedome of God wee are put in mind to acknowledge and learne from such a cunning and artificiall frame of our body the most profound and deep wisdome of God and his admirable goodnesse also the end of our state and condition that is to say his glory and our salvation and alwaies to utter and expresse our greatest gratuity and thankefulnesse to so great and wonderfull a Work-master and Creator CHAP. IIII. Of the Condition of the Infant in the wombe also of the care and duty belonging to women conceived with childe THe seede conceived even unto the forty and fift day is changed into the due and perfect forme and shape of the Infant and then by the judgement of some learned men is receiveth life and therefore afterward ought not to be called a Feature but an Infant although as yet When the conception is called an Infant by reason of his tender and feeble condition and state he wanteth motion For then hee is most like to a tender flower and blossome of trees which is easily cast downe and dejected with any blast of wind and raine Great heed to be taken by women with child of affrightments immoderate joy sorrow c. and for that cause there is neede of very great caution and heed to be taken that no perill and danger may happen to them which are with childe by any manner of meanes either by sudden feare affrightments by fire lightening thunder with monstrous and hideous aspects and sights of men and beasts by immoderate joy sorrow and lamentation or by untemperate exercise and motion of running leaping riding or by surfeit or repletion by meate and drinke or that they being taken with any disease doe not use sharpe and violent medicines using the counsell of unskilfull Physicians Againe The wicked Art of old witches and harlots not to be used that they use not the wicked Arts and policies of old Witches and Harlots for removing and punishing of whom the care and charge ought most specially to belong unto the Magistrates to wit being the fathers of the people For how many Virgins how many Widdowe 's also ensnared and intangled with these Arts and divellish practices Cruell murders cōmitted by the divellish arts of witches have committed cruell and more than brutish murders of their tender Babes and Infants But of many I will declare a few which those pestilent and damnable wretches have used most freely thorow the whole world the rest I will leave to the consideration of others at least the mischievous practices of these being somewhat discovered The arts and acts of Harlots and Witches When first being deflowred and robbed of their best Iewell they have perceived some alteration to be caused in them as variable appetites a loathing of their accustomed meate and drinke continuall vomiting dispositions to parbrake in the morning passions and paines of the heart swoonings paines of the teeth by and by instructed with evill Arts they make the first experiments by lacing in themselves strait and hard that they may extinguish and destroy the Feature conceived in the wombe They lace themselves very strait But when they perceive no helpe thereby they assay and attempt greater matters going by the instinct of the Divell to some old Witch very skilfull in curing these diseases They goe to some old Witch and famous by long experience asking and questioning with them about the cure and remedie of the stopping of their Termes desiring a medicine and counsell to procure them to issue For they say that they being stopped doe breed and bring those paines about the Midriffe and thighes and also to procure many vomits The old witch adviseth them of meanes The old Witch not ignorant of the matter willeth them to enquire for medicines of Apothecaries also to gather some herbes in a certaine place willing and advising them that they use them in Wine that they take the vapour of some that they put some of them in their shooes that with some boiled in water they wash their feete and legges morning and evening also that they drinke of the docoction of some of them morning and evening But when this cure and remedy doth not profit she willeth them to open the veines in the feet The opening of the veines in the feet destroyeth that which is conceived in the wombe which being done that perisheth by and by which was conceived in the womb Sometime Fathers Masters and Mistresses of the house observing and marking this thing and also some other besides and conjecturing as the matter is indeed Their precences streight-way they pretend and make a shew that they are troubled with wringings and gripings in the belly with paines of the brest and head and do shadow and dissemble the truth of the matter But the issue of their termes returning when they know they are free and delivered from the Feature These murthering arts imparted to others they impart and communicate likewise those murthering arts and cruell practices to others that thereby many murthers of sillie Infants are committed Besides also many Midwives and also Chirurgions and unskilfull Physicians sometimes over-credulous doe counsell advise such things to great evill and mischiefe But it is the part and office of a godly and religious Magistrate both to observe prevent all these things Now let us returne to the matter The motion of the Infant in the wombe After the third and fourth moneth from the conception the Infant doth begin to move and stirre himselfe in the wombe and somewhat to display and stretch out himselfe and also to enlarge and amplifie his narrow little Cottage whereby it commeth to passe that the wombe beginneth to swell and to be amplified and extended into length How the Infant about the time of the birth is disposed breadth and profundity But about or towards the time of the birth the Infant inclineth and boweth downward with the face toward the knees draweth both his legges to him casteth and throweth both his hands above his knees his nostrils being placed in the midst being rolled and wrapped together on a heap in manner of a Globe with his former part looking on the backe of his mother but turning his hinder part to the belly of his mother And although some Anatomists doe thinke otherwise notwithstanding wee finde it so by often experience and set it forth to be viewed in this annexed Figure CHAP. V. How the Infant is conditioned and in what state he is the fift sixt seventh and eight Moneth and also the difference of the Sex and formes AFter the third and fourth Moneth the Infant useth more plentifull and copious nourishment and doth prosper 〈◊〉 and increase more and more with it untill 〈◊〉 time of birth and deliverance shall come 〈◊〉 we must know The Infant home the sixt moneth cannot live when he shall be born 〈…〉 not able to retaine life 〈…〉 although
one ounce of Saffron halfe a scruple Mace Savine of each one scruple of clarified Hony halfe a pound Confect and make the Electuary with the water of Baulme and Mugwoort in which are decocted Fenegreke Lineseed Iuniper-berries of each one spoonfull Further when the labouring woman shall be weakned effeeblished by these impediments you must give her in her broth to comfort and strengthen her the Species or sorts of the Electuary named Laetificans or Manus Christi Pearled or Diamargariton CHAP. IIII. How the Secundines or after-burden may have an easie passage if it stay behinde THe Secundines or after-birth The causes of the secundines being hindred the Infant being borne may be stopped and hindred by many meanes First by the debility and weaknesse of the Matrix which happeneth by the violence of the child and by his frequent and often moving also by the difficulty and hardnesse of the birth and also by the continuall stretching and restriction or closing together of the Matrix by which it is so weakned and feeblished that her strength and power which otherwise by nature it is wont it cannot expell the Secundines Next if the Secundines being intangled tied or remaine affixed within the Matrix which thing often commeth to passe through abundance of superfluous humour detained in the wombe by which abundance the Secundines or after-birth are easily glewed and cleave to the Matrix molested and grieved with these humours These Secundines or infolders of the infant shall be by no other meanes unloosed and expulsed than by the hand of the Midwife being conveyed inwardly Thirdly they are stopped if the child being borne by and by all the waters are flowne away which are in the Matrix of which the Secundines being destitute are exiccated and dried and also the Matrix the necke or privie passage thereof are made more rough because of that siccity and drinesse For those waters must make the way slippery both for the Infant and the Secundines Wherefore these waters being slipped away the wombe shall be annointed with oiles and juyces within and without Fourthly they are hindred when the mouth of the Matrix doth swell because of the anguish paines of the birth as it often falleth out unlesse this evill be declined and prevented by diligent and provident care Fifthly when in the first birth the mouth or port-passage of the Matrix is as yet over-straight and narrow And for that same cause when the women shall be grosse and fat Women grosse and fat delivered with more paine they are more painfully and hardly delivered of the child and Secundines Therefore whensoever they shall be stopped and linger somewhat behinde by any cause whatsoever the Midwife shall imploy all her labour and diligence that she may procure them to proceed forth and to have a free passage Suffocation of the Matrix For the retention of them doth cause suffocation and choking of the Matrix and ingendreth many evills For when as the second-birth shall be detained and kept within it beginneth soone to putrefie and rot whereby an evill stincking pestiferous fume and vapour will ascend upward to the stomacke heart and Midriffe and consequently to the braine by which paines of the head and of the parts about the heart fainting of the spirits many swoonings and cold sweats doe ensue so that danger of death also the two deadly diseases named the Apoplexie which is a sudden benumming of the senses and the Epilepsie or Falling sicknesse are continually to be feared The Apoplexy and Epilepsie to be feared For the Matrix cannot corrupt in the body without most dangerous evill But the while the Secundine is retained and stopped the women are to be refreshed and cherrished with convenient meate and drinke How the Secundines are to be expelled and strength is to be added to them I say with sops decocted with the yolkes onely of Egges and old wine with Sugar sprinckled with Saffron and Cinamome or with brothes made of Capons or Hens in like manner seasoned with Cinamon and Saffron Fumes Afterward let there be made fumes to be received into the wombe over the coales of Saffron not beaten Castoreum Myrrh Cinamome of every one of them the waight of one or two Beanes But let the labouring-woman be closely covered underneath that the perfume may come onely to the Matrix Let this thing be done untill the fume doe faile made of those particulars Elleborus or sneesing powder to be blowne into the nostrills Afterward a little of Elleborus or some other powder causing sneesing is to be blowne into her nostrills her mouth is to be kept close her breath to be held in and sneesing and sternutation to be provoked as wee have before declared But if neither these things doe drive it forth you shall give her Cassia or Cinamome rather the waight of a nut Saffron and the Cinamome the bignesse of two Beanes beaten to powder to be drunke in broth made of red Cicers But this not succeeding nor taking effect give to her the draught warme described before in the third Chapter after the taking of the which Elleborus and Opoponax to be used when shee hath rested a little let a little of Elleborus and Opoponax wrapped in pure wooll be conveyed into the necke or prive passage of the Matrix and without all doubt shee shall be speedily delivered of the after-birth It expelleth dead children For this is of so great vertue and efficacie that it forcibly expelleth dead children also with the Secundines In this case also it will not a little profit to annoint the Matrix for expelling and driving forth the Secundines or second-birth with the ointment named Vnguentum Basilicum If none of these things shall expell it and there shall be such great danger that it is to be despaired of the life of the labouring woman Pills her husband or kinsfolkes consenting give her seven Pills of this description following which being taken let her lie downe on her bed untill the vertue of them shall provoke and stirre up fresh paines and labours and shall begin to expell and send forth the Secundine For these are of such great power and vertue that they are able to expell a dead child and the Secundines also at once Nothing to be done without the counsell of a skilfull Physician Yet for all that let nothing be done without the counsell of a skilfull Physician Take Castoreum Myrrhe Storax liquida of each one scruple the rinde of Cassia or rather Cinamome Aristolochia rotunda sent from Lions of each halfe a scruple Agaricum halfe an ounce Diagridion six graines Saffron Siler montanum Savine of each three graines Opium Thebaicum Assa foetida of each one graine Commixe and temper them with Cassia extracted so much as sufficeth and make it into the forme of Pills like unto Pease And let her take seven of these with the water of Peniroyall or Mugwoort A
Ephesius the sonne of Demostratus when hee hated women had carnall company with an Asse which in processe of time brought forth a most beautifull Maiden-childe named Onoscelin Aristotle being author of it in the second of his Paradoxes And againe when as Fulvius Stellus did disdaine and hate women he had carnall company with a Mare which the Months of bearing being passed over brought forth a very beautifull Maiden-child which he named Epona peradventure Hippona A Goddesse which taketh care of Horses And indeede there is a goddesse of this name which taketh care of Horses as Agesilaus writeth in his third booke of the affaires of Italy Againe of one Fulvius and a Mare the Maiden-child Hippo is said to be borne as wee reade in Plutarch And even as Nature doth change and alter her self in man In Helvetia A Mare brought forth a colt or rather a Cowe so experience doth teach that it may also happen so in beasts For among the Helvetians a Mare being covered of a Bull at the due time brought forth a colt In France a Mare brought forth a colt the hinder part like a Hart. onely having horses feet but in shape haire and taile he was like unto a Cowe And in France a Mare being covered of a Hart brought forth a colt in the hinder part like unto a Hart whom no other Horse could equall match in running and Ludovicus the King received him for a gift of the owner CHAP. IIII. Of the causes and signes of aborcement or untimely births and also of all manner of cure of such as suffer abortion WE must understand The causes of aborcement are two-fold that it happeneth from inward and outward causes that women suffer aborcement that is to say bring forth an immature Feature or an untimely fruit The inward causes Inward causes are considered from the Feature it selfe or from the Matrix If it happen by the Feature it is caused for that the Cotilidons are over-weake which are veines by which the conception is tied and fastned in the Matrix by whose feeblenesse and weaknesse the mouthes or specks of the veines in the Matrix named in Latine Acetabula are caused to be quickly dissolved and broken and aborcement doth follow Againe if the coats or caules also wherein the childe is wrapped and infolded in the womb be loosed dissolved and broken through debility and weaknesse and the retained and inclosed humours doe issue forth by which fluxe the Matrix is made slippery and feeblish and the Feature destitute of moist nourishment doe perish and be destroyed and also likewise if venomous humours flow and issue forth and stirre and pricke forward the expulsive faculty of the Matrix It chanceth also sometime that abortion is caused in respect of the Matrix by an inward cause that happeneth when the woman is weake and waxing feeble and faint doth substract and withdraw nourishment from the Feature that it hath no augmentation nor sufficient matter to ingender and procreate the members Further in respect of the Matrix the wide and ample largenesse of the mouth of the Matrix and the immoderate humidity and moistnesse of the same the evill disposition and distemperature of the qualities also ventosity or vapours inclosed within the Matrix and the ulcers and Apostumations of the same doe minister and afford a cause and occasion of aborcement And also other maladies and infirmities as an immoderat flux of blood an unkinde loosenesse of the belly the disease Tenasmus which is a desire to goe to stoole when nothing can be voided the cough Tenasmus continuall sneesing and what things soever do shake the body over-much yea likewise every sharp sicknesse which doth so molest the body of the woman that it disperseth the nutriments of the Feature Outward causes Besides the externall or outward causes which chance outwardly and hasten and procure aborcement are also many such as are falls running leaping or dauncing riding immoderate exercise and blowes Also inconvenient and intemperate application and use of things which are without the body as of the aire too hot or too cold For great coldnesse doth destroy the Feature but overmuch heate intercepteth and keepeth away the aire from the Infant and stifleth and strangleth him in the wombe Hot bathes also effect the same thing if women doe use them the first three moneths after conception Also noysome stinckes and savours doe provoke and procure abortion as of Lamps or Candles newly put out as Aristotle witnesseth Likewise an intemperate using of unkinde meate and drinke as by the greedy desire of an unnaturall appetite to eate immoderate store of Salt to eate coales dirt or such things by which naughty and corrupt humours or hurtfull drinesse is caused and procured Also great hunger doth hurt the Feature very much and over-much repletion and surfeting the waies and passages of nourishment being soone stopped doth suffocate and choke him Further immoderate exercise intemperate labours immoderate sleep also unseasonable and over-much watching or continuall sluggishnesse and slothfulnesse doe harme and endamage the Feature Likewise other accidents and chances such as are sudden fury great danger exceeding great feare over-much sorrow sudden joy dull appetite desire of things not to be gotten immoderate Venus unfaciable lust And these things concerning the causes Moreover the signes of aborcement to come Signes of aborcement whether they proceed from internall or externall causes are two-fold First before conception there are some fore-shewing tokens belonging to these women which are wont to abort and bring forth unripe fruit as superfluous moisture sudden and unaccustomed fatnesse as if they wax fat contrary to their nature which alwaies were wont to be of a leane and slender body Or such women will suffer aborcement which have a continuall paine about the Kidnies or else doe suddenly fall into other perilous and dangerous diseases Next after conception be thou most certaine and sure of an aborcement to ensue by these signes and notes when you shall perceive the dugs suddenly to waxe soft and lancke which before were plump and hard if immeasurable fluxes and the Flowers shall issue forth continually Further also if the shivering Agues coldnesse and paines of the head with a mistinesse and dimnesse of the eyes shall suddenly ceaze upon the woman conceived with childe All which things do prognosticate and signifie that Aborcement shall follow quickly after How it is to be observed that the childe is dead in the wombe But that the Feature is dead in the wombe hereby it is evident when no motion is felt any more in the wombe when the eyes of the impregnant and conceived woman doe wax hollow when her colour is changed into a swartish whitenesse when great wringings and gripings happen about the Navell and loynes whereby it cōmeth to passe that the lower parts are pressed and clunged together The Strangury and Tenasmus do happen Also the Strangury and Tenasmus doe happen the former
that manner as wee have declared in the Cure of dispersing Ventositie and windie matter Divers experiments leting Abortion Furthermore other experiments also are approved A little bone which they call Saltus or Astragalus Leporis to bee carried about the woman and to drinke of it daily the stomacke being empty Also the stone named Lapis-stellatus so enchased in gold or silver that it may touch the naked body Some women beare about them a claw taken from the foot of a Beare Also the ashes gathered together of a Hedgehog being burnt and tempered with oyle affordeth an oyntment very commodious and profitable for this affection and passion Little wormes are found underneath herbes which if they be hanged alive on the womans necke shee shall never Aborte neither bring forth before due season as some are bold to promise and let the truth of the matter depend upon their credit For they say they have such great efficacy to hinder the birth that the woman cannot be delivered unlesse they bee removed Wherefore they admonish that they must bee alwaies removed and taken away in time Also the stone named Lapis Aetiles which some say is found in an Eagles nest is proved against Aborcements and over hastie birthes which in like manner is reported to further and promote a lingring and over-flow birth 10. There are likewise some other external things which chance outwardly and for all that doe cause aborting to women by a naturall cause as if a woman-conceived with childe doe tread upon a serpent viper the egge of a Crow as some doe write or a dead serpent with two heads named Amphisbaena Some also doth attribute this property to Castoreum carried in the bosome But if it happen that the Termes issue forth after Conception 11. they are not straight way to be stopped unlesse the woman become weake with Flowing of them If they issue forth moderately this thing is to bee permitted because they signifie that much slyminesse and distempered humours and abundance of bloud is deteyned in the wombe If they flow forth more copiously they shall bee stayed and restreyned with Acacia Hypocisthis and Lin-seed sodden in water to be used by a bathe or Fomentation If the legs shal be swoln which thing often time happeneth the three former monethes regard is to bee had of the liver and stomacke that they may bee lightened and eased from superfluous humors and let meats bee given them of another quality If the liver grow hard to women-conceived with childe it is a hard thing to remedy it because as Galen witnesseth in this passion they are not able to endure strong medicines Wherefore the most gentlest shall bee administred to them But because it falleth out that dead Features sometime doe proceed forth more slowly and sometimes never even as the Secundines doe wee must understand that most great dangers doe happen to women also sicknesses swooning failing of life especially in sommer-time by reason of venemous vapours fuming and flying upward from the putrefying Feature and so greatly vexing and molesting the heart and the brain that oftentimes they are deprived of the use of reason and understanding Therefore all care is to bee used and imployed that dead Features may speedily be expelled the poore women freed from so great dangers which thing how it may bee done wee have taught in the former books by a large discourse CHAP. V. Of the signes of Conception ALthough it be a hard thing to know the true conception of women yet we may give a coniecture by many signes and attaine unto it by some arguments confirmed and ratified by experience It is credited for certaine signe of conception if the woman the tenth day or some day sooner after shee had company carnally with man shall perceive the Termes to bee white or red by reason of humours also the stopping and retention of the Termes is accompted for a signe yet it deceiveth because it happeneth also often times without conception Therefore this being omitted wee will prosecute other notes and signes taken from the body of the woman herselfe concerning true conception every member and part examined and first the beginning shall proceed from the head The paines of the head swimming of the brain and dymnesse of the eyes if they concurre and chance together doe signifie conception The apples of the eyes are lessened The eyes swell and are changed into a swartish colour The little veines doe waxe red and begin to swell with bloud The eyes sinke downe into the head The eye-lids become feeble Divers colours are seene in the eyes and perceived in a looking-glasse Red pimples doe arise in the face The little veines placed betwixt the nose and eyes are swolne with bloud and are seene more clearely and plainely than they were wont The veine under the tongue waxeth greenish The necke is hot the backe-bone cold The veines and arteries are full the pulses are easily perceived The veines situated in the breast at first wax blacke afterward begin to be yellow or to be of a blewish-colour The dugs begin to swell and wax hard with paines The nipples beginne to be reddish If cold water be drunke a coldnesse is felt in the breasts A loathing and refusing of meat and drinke creepeth upon the woman Divers appetites longings are ingendred A destruction and decay of Naturall appetite and desire is caused and procured A continuall casting and parbreaking and weakenesse of the stomach Sower and slow belchings A loathing of wine A disordered and intemperate beating of the heart Sudden ioyes after these sudden sorrowes Wringings and gripings about the Navell Paine of the loynes The lower part of the belly is affected with swellings There are inward compunctions and prickings in the body The seed is reteyned seaven daies after carnal company A coldnesse and chilnesse of the outward members after the act of Generation The attractive faculty and vertue of the Matrix is increased The Matrix is dryed by and by A great delight and pleasure in the Venerious act but after conception a disdayning of Venus The Matrix is restreyned and closed But because this thing is procured by other causes also it may bee observed and noted by an infallible and certaine difference when it foresheweth conception For then it is slender and soft but if it be restreyned and closed for any other cause as by too much heate or swelling then it remayneth harder The secret parts of the woman are wrinkled even unto the seaventh moneth The wombe waxeth round and swelleth About the beginning of Conception paines of the belly and backe 〈◊〉 felt as it were beating The Termes or Flowres are stopped For the veines from whence they doe flow carrie and conveigh by the mouthes and speckes named Acetabula bloud to nourish the Feature through the Navel and some of that matter is drawne upward to the breasts where it is transmitted and changed into milke For so also Hippocrates admonisheth us saying
stones bones iron and innumerable such like things through the Matrix all which things verily the wicked Spirit had subtilly and maliciously conveyed underneath and brought in The same Vincentius citeth some other Histories serving to this matter and question in the twenty sixt and twenty seventh Chapter of his Booke named Naturale Speculum Namely that a certaine young-man caught a woman by the haire of the head bathing her selfe in the Sea about the evening whom he tooke to wife after he had brought her home to his house and begot a sonne by her But she not speaking a word at all hitherto that her husband compelled her to speake moved by instigation of others which said she was a spirit making a shew as if hee would murther the child begotten of her unlesse shee would declare her of-spring But shee having uttered forth sorrowfull things to have vanished away and also to have drowned this childe washing himselfe in the Sea being growne to ripenesse of age and that hee was afterward found in no place cast out to the shore side Therefore that hee was not a true man although he was borne and brought up in shape of a true man Moreover that many did believe that this spirit which by a false apparition did seeme to be a woman The Divell named Succubus to be a divell which is named Succubus It is not unlike to this which hee bringeth forth in the aforesaid place Namely that at Colonia Agrippina many Noble men sate in Councell in a certaine Palace sometime neere the shore of the river Rhenus which while by chance they did looke downe into the water did see a certaine souldier carried in a little boat a Swanne swimming before drawing the little boat with a silver chaine put upon his neck suddenly to leap upon the shore the Swan being sent away with the little boat there to have married a wife and to have begotten many children of her And some yeeres being ended the empty boat swimming backe againe and the Swanne swimming before it as hee did before time that the same souldier did returne againe into the same boat and to have appeared to no man againe and that his children lived there a long time But many have believed that he was a Divel whom they named Incubus who dwelling so long with the woman and so many yeeres in the shape of a man having used such great coozenages and deceits did shew forth counterfeited tumours of her wombe and counterfeited births children conveyed underneath taken by stealth from some other place Whether the Divell may conceive seed of men and by the same seed cast forth into women ingender or not But whereas many doe labour by this perswasion and contend that the Divell named Succubus may be able to conceive seede from man and by and by being changed into a Divell named Incubus to cast forth the same seede into the wombe of a woman and of her to ingender a man as it is most false so it ought to deserve no credit at all For it is most contrary and repugnant both to Religion and also to Nature For if this were possible with how many monsters of wilde beasts had wee seene mankinde so long space of time to have beene tormented and vexed of such a great enemy of mankind by the change and alteration of seeds made in brute beasts men and women Wherefore Conciliator in his Booke de Medicina the twenty and fifth Difference determineth well of these things saying Wee must know that the testicles or stones of man are the principall parts of the generative or begetting vertues but not the sole or onely parts because the beginning of Generation is not caused by them alone neither are they alone able to perfect Generation For the first beginning is from the heart by reason of vitall and lively faculty and vertue reposed and laid up in the same so that no living thing can be ingendered without the helpe and aid of the power and vertue of it For at last the vertue and faculty of the testicles doe consist by vitall vertue and naturall heat Wherefore that the Divell named in Latine Succubus may be able to conceive with men and being changed into the Divell termed Incubus may cast forth the same seede conceived into women and beget a man is not only a fabulous thing to be spoken but also impious wicked and odious to be believed But whether the Divell hath power to steale to carry from one place to another to convey and change children one for another is a matter that needeth no great enquiry For that some such like thing may be brought to passe some time wee must understand but that it is not done by his owne power but by the permission of the most just and omnipotent God for the sinnes of men especially when wicked Parents having no religious care of their children do not strengthen and fortifie them with the blessing of God and overwhelme them with the curse of the Divell Therefore let all because they are the children of God learne to bring them up religiously and to consecrate them to God and not to object them to the maledictions of the Divell The sixth Booke Of the divers causes of Sterility and barrennesse and of the speciall maladies of the Matrix and also of the divers remedies of all of them CHAP. I. Of the Sterilitie of men and women also of the cause and signes of the same WEe say that sterility or barrennesse of which wee have purposed to speak at this present is not onely a disability and unaptnesse of bringing forth children in women contracted and caused by some cause that may be corrected and remedied but in men also of ingendering and sending forth fruitfull seede Aristotle attributeth this disability and impotency principally to fat men and women because of the evill proportion and ill disposition of the generative members that is to say in whom the seed is procured and derived from a more remote place and so vitall spirit inclosed in it doth vanish away sooner by that delay But not onely that habite and disposition of the body is a cause but there are many other causes also besides of this difficulty and infirmitie For when we see oftentimes man and wife joyned together not to ingender and beget children but being separated both of them to procreate children and on the contrary part that those which being coupled together doe beget children are not fruitfull when they are separated it must needes be that without doubt there is some hidden cause Where wee thinke it will not be an unprofitable thing to declare and bring forth those things which are best knowne For there are many outward and inward causes which doe concurre together in this case But as fertility and fruitfulnesse hath his helpes and furtherances by many outward things as in a convenient diet in an accustomed temperature of the aire by bathes warme by nature such as are the Helvetian
panting of the heart shortnesse of breath distemperature of reason because of vapours mixed with the spirits a debility and weakenesse of all the members cold sweates continuall paine in the wombe And indeed evill humours retained and increased in the wombe doe cause and breed all these things partly neere unto it partly removed farther from it which distemper and molest the braine and other members of the body by stopping and intercepting naturall heat proceeding from the heart untill they suffocate and destroy all the senses at once and also the strength and forces of the body But in the cure of the present fit of this sicknesse first you shall mingle Salt with Vinegar The cure of the present fit in the suffocation of the Matrix and shall rub the uttermost parts of the members of the body I meane the soles of the feete and palmes of the hands and pulses of the armes afterward binders being tied neere unto the secrets the hips and hammes you shall apply cupping-glasses neere unto the place without Scarification Afterward you shall apply to her nostrills all things which being burnt have a strong and stinking savor as Castoreum Assa Foetida Feathers Haire Leather Horne Hooses of Horses or Kine or such like things For these things stirre up and move the Animal spirit being as it were asleepe which by and by inforced with such a stinking favour making haste to come to the braine by the nerves and instruments for the purpose doth stirre up the motive facultie in the same Moreover this motion by the great force of this strong savour commeth to the heart with the Animal Spirit where both of them together doe repaire vitall spirit in the same being oppressed and as it were laid asleepe At last all of them joyned together doe oppose themselves against the Matrix rising up towards the Midriffe and stir up the expulsive force of it so that the corrupt humours being expelled which are in it the Matrix may fall downe and give more roome and space unto the superiour vitall Organs or Instruments In this case the dung of a Horse fed with Oates boiled in the best Wine drunke very hot is very much approved Also halfe a dram of the confection Diacastoreum taken in broth made of a Hen. An Vnguent Likewise such an Vnguent may be prepared wherewith her secrets may be annoynted inwardly which suffereth this swooning Take Muske one scruple Gallia Muscata one dram Oile of Lillies two ounces Temper them and make an Vnguent Suffumigations also being thus prepared Suffumigations from which a fume may ascend up to the nostrills will profit in this case Take Castoreum Galbanum dissolved in Vinegar of each halfe an ounce Brimstone one ounce Assa Foetida one dram If you prepare these Fumes or Trochiskes you shall confect them with Oile of Castoreum But if you would use them with Vinegar you shall put pure and cleane wooll into her nostrills dipped in Vinegar in which these powders are dissolved or you shall apply it outwardly to them But if this deadly malady shall proceed from the Termes being retained in the Matrix or from corrupt seede it may be cured in the same manner as wee will declare in the Chapters following But if the cause of this disease shall come from cold it will be the wisest course to use hot bathes when due purgation hath beene performed such as are the bathes in that part of Germany which is named Helvetia A certaine diet and order of bathing being prescribed and set downe of a skilfull Physician because that water doth consist of much Brimstone and some Allome it sooner resolveth dispelleth and driveth away cold heateth the Matrix and comforteth all other Members and parts of the body of a woman CHAP. IX Of the Precipitation or falling downe of the Matrix of the causes and cure of the same THe Precipitation of the Matrix is the departure and digression of the Matrix from her naturall place into some other place or the comming forth and outward appearing of it through the privities This hapneth either by a fall blow or some other vehement hurt or through wind inclosed in the Matrix or corrupt humours or by the intemperate moistnesse putrefying the ligaments and binders of the same or else through difficulty and painfulnesse of Aborcement or the birth and negligence of Midwives or by violent extraction and pulling forth of the Secundine whereby it falleth out that the ligaments and stay-bands of it are broken and the Matrix is throwne downe suddenly to issue forth This removing of the Matrix is caused in a diverse manner that is to say toward the right or left side or lower and into the fore-part and hinder part of the body But although the causes of these diseases may easily be judged and discerned by these things going before yet they may as yet be divided into outward and inward Outward causes are Outward Causes falling blowes or strokes some hurt lifting of some thing which is of great waight swift running leaping dauncing unseasonable riding all immoderate exercise and such things as are like unto them Also long sitting upon the cold earth or cold pavement long-tarrying in cold water over-much and often drinking of cold water Also the violent breaking forth of the child the hard and painfull birth the rashnesse of the Midwives the violent extraction of the Secundine often coughing great crying out vehement sneesing The disease Tenasmus binding the body and all these things do minister occasions to the Matrix to fall downe Inward Causes The inward causes are long stopping of the Flowers with whose weight the Matrix being pressed downward doth suddenly descend and fall downe the ligaments and binders thereof being oftentimes broken in sunder Also humours inclosed in the same wind enforcing it and removing it from her place Likewise over-much humidity and moisture putrefying and corrupting the ligaments or tying-bands and by that infection enforcing it to issue forth The signes of this disease are not unlike to the causes Signes The party will easily rehearse the signes of the outward causes Whosoever is grieved with this disease But the inward signes are to be considered according unto the removing of the Matrix For if it bend toward Diaphragma or the Midriffe without any strangling or choking wee may perceive that the woman doth feele paines and heaving above the Navell to feele a round lumpe like a Globe in her belly to fetch her breath and wind very short and quicke as though her bowells were swiftly crushed together with the hand a dimnesse of the eyes paine of the head loathing of meat and often belchings going before and accompanying it sometimes also a sound of the belly being heard especially when as the removing from her place shall arise from wind inclosed in the same But if it shall fall downe to the lower parts then many paines shall be about the kidnies loynes and secret members and a round
Plantane the lesser or Ribwoort Galls Psidia of each one dram Let all of them be mixed and incorporated with juyce of Plantane and Rue and let Pessaries be made of them Or else take unripe Galls burn'd quenched with Vinegar two drams Gumme Arabick halfe a dram Sanguis Draconis powder of the roots of Walwoort or Asse-eare Sumach Masticke Acorn-cups Hypocisthidos Acacia Harts-horne burnt Colophony Myrrh drosse of Iron of each one dram Camphire one scruple mingle and incorporate all together with the juyce of Knot-grasse Housleeke Night-shade Wormegrasse or Stonegrasse and of Plantane as much as sufficeth and let a Pessary be made of it Or otherwise Take the ashes of Egs-shels burn'd the shels of Crab-fish Sanguis Draconis Bole Armenie Oxe-dung dried of each two drams leaves of Silver or Gold most diligently beaten one dram Haire of Goats of Hares Cotton all burned of each halfe a dram temper them with the juyce of Rue and Plantane so much as may suffice and let a Pessary be made of it But if intemperate heate of the blood shall inforce the Fluxe If the Flux do arise from the heate of the blood how it is to be cured and shall ingender great thirst the diet shall be directed to a cold and dry temperature and the use of all outward things to be ordained and disposed of as they may strengthen and make the body prosper Let her drinke Water wherein red-hot Steele hath beene quenched mingled with syrup of Pomegranates And such an Electuary may first be prepared of which let her eate morning and evening and after meat a little morsell the bignesse of a Chesse-nut Take old conserve of Roses one ounce Diaolibanum two ounces red Corall prepared one dram Pearles prepared one scruple Cummin-seed infused the space of a day in Vinegar one dram and a halfe dry Mints foure scruples Olibanum two scruples Mastick Cypress-nuts roots of Bistort of each halfe a dram Spica Indica one scruple Let al things that are to be beaten to powder be powdred and let an Electuary gilded be made of them being tempered with syrup of Pomegranates so much as sufficeth Also she shall use these pills following five of them taken in the morning or three houres before supper the waight of a dram Take Frankincense Mastick Mumia Allom Harts-horne burn'd washed Cypresse-nuts Runnet of a Hare or Kid of each a dram Gumme Arabicke one dram mixe them and let a masse or lumpe be made wherewith pills may be formed with the juyce of the Thistle named Carduus Mariae our Ladies Thistle or white Thistle Here also Pilulae de Bdellio prepared with the juyce of a Leeke This Plaister prepared either in a hard or liquid forme after the manner of an Vnguent shall have great efficacy by annointing the woman with it before and behind Take oile of Masticke two ounces oile of Myrtles juyce of Mints red Roses of each one ounce powder of Mastick two ounces Cypressenuts Mumia Bistort Olibanum Myrtles red Roses of each two drams Chalk burnt Allom Galls Acorne-cups of each one dram Bole Armeniack Terra Sigillata of each halfe a dram white Waxe so much as sufficeth and let a Plaister be made of them After shee hath beene annointed with this Vnguent shee shall weare this Cere-cloth following continually laid before and behind upon her Take Masticke one dram and a halfe Ladanum Olibanum of each two drams Galls Cypresse-nuts Bistort Mumia of each one dram Myrrhe Galbanum Terra sigillata of each two scruples temper them with Oyle of Masticke and Wax so much as sufficeth and let a Cere-cloth bee made of it which being spred over white Leather must bee laid upon the woman before and behind afflicted with this unnaturall flux Hot Bathes do profit and availe in this case not such as consist of Brimstone but of Copper and Allome But if the flux of blood shall arise only from a cold cause then you must proceed altogether in the same manner as we have prescribed before in curing barrennesse engendered of a phlegmaticke humour CHAP. XI Of the the Causes and Cure of the stopping of the Termes BVt because in the former Chapter we have given instructions concerning the immoderate Fluxes and issuings of the Termes and of the Cure of the same The next thing is that wee should also speake a little concerning the retention and stopping of them For thereby many sicknesses and diseases are bred and ingendred if they be detained contrary to Nature nor doe not issue forth in such a quantity as they should every Moone in women well disposed in respect of age and constitution of body And we must understand that this happeneth by outward and inward Causes Outward causes of the stopping of the Termes Externall causes are the aire intemperately hot cold and dry meats over hot and binding whereby the humours are burned the body dried and concoctions are hindred also meats which are too cold congealing and freezing as it were the rest of the humours of the body by their coldnesse and letting them from issuing forth by restraining and binding them To these causes also these following doe pertaine too much watching immoderat fasting every unseasonable and sudden commotion or perturbation of the body as great anger sudden fury great sadnesse great lamentation over-much solitarinesse great labour any great diseases sharp fits a Quartane Fever paine of the Head the Fever Hecticke too much fatnesse issuing forth of the blood of the nostrils or any other member Vlcers and great Apostems Inward causes Inward causes are partly bred by the corruption of some humour and partly without the corruption of any humour Causes without the corruption of the humour are over-much heat coldnesse and drinesse For to those which are cholericke the humours are exsiccated and dried up through immoderate heat and therefore the Termes are stopped But to the melancholicke The corruption of the qualities the same thing happeneth by immoderate coldnesse and drinesse But when they happen without the corruption of the humour we must allege the qualities to be the cause and we may observe certaine signes from what quality they doe proceede and againe whether from a simple or a compound quality If they happen from coldnesse and drinesse the issue of the Termes is little the colour will be pale no desire of Venus the urine thin white and without any convenient subsidence or grounds in the bottome If they chance from hotnesse and drinesse the Termes will be few the colour redder the greater desire of Venus the urine thinne reddish but almost no subsidence or dregs in the bottome of it But for the most part this retention and stopping of the Termes The corruption of the humours doth happen by the corruption and fault of some humour as of Phlegme Choler and Melancholy but not of blood at all because they are onely retained and stopped through the other humours bearing sway in the blood Moreover common signes by which it is